a small experiment

First post in a very long time, and I think I know why.  

Life is busy.  Everyone has a busy life.  I need to "declutter" a LOT.  I am starting with a little break from social media.  The first one to go is facebook.  I deleted the app off of my phone and I think that is a good start.  I would much rather spend my extra time after the kids go to bed blogging and documenting our life or spending time with Robin. 

Back in December Robin and I started Dave Ramsey.  This has been one of the hardest things we have done together, but so rewarding.  We have a budget and we stick to it.  Freeing up social media will help us to be able to spend our free time with our heads out of devices and spending time playing with our children and planning meals and most importantly sticking to our budget and becoming DEBT FREE!  WE are almost there--NO credit cards, GONE-PAID OFF!  By the end of 2015 we will be completely debt free but our mortgage.  Dave works and we are happier than we have ever been.  Money no longer rules us, WE rule the money!

Alice took dancing for the first time ever.  I would say she has found her niche.  I really was amazed at how good she is.  Her instructor would tell me she had it, but I was stunned when I saw her perform.  

The above picture was her ballet dance to Jesus Loves me by 

Chris Tomlin.  When I tell you this would make the hair on the back of your neck stand, its no joke. I cried during dress rehearsal and during the recital.  It was that powerful!  I am so thankful for the dance studio we chose.  Not only is she my friend, she is a Godly woman who incorporates christian music in her recitals. 

Fast forward 2 days to May 18th.  It was the worst day of our 14 years of marriage.  We said goodbye to our beloved Drake King.  It has truly been gut wrenching on us.  Some say, he was just a dog.  We say, he was our very best friend.  He loved us.  He didn't argue.  He was the first "person" I said good morning to every morning (everyone else sleeps while I enjoy coffee).  He had coffee with me, just me and him.  He sat with me every.single.night.  He was our dog son before we had kids.  I kissed the same spot between his eyes and above his eye for 15 years many times a day.  Drake was 15, we miss him and think about him at ALL the time.

We ended a wonderful 2014-2015 school year with the wild girl headed to Kindergarten and wild man headed to 4th grade.  How in the world do we have a Kindergartner and 4th grader?!?  Wiley made all A's and brought home The Best Manners Award.  We could not be prouder.  This summer we plan on lots of fun things outside that are completely FREE.  We have made our summer list and I have made my summer to do list as well.  The kids have a wonderful babysitter this summer who we love dearly and she helps me keep the house clean.  She is 23 and it couldn't work out more perfect for us.  

Pre-K 4 graduation for our cupcake Alice Taylor

My next post will be all about this little boy.  He has truly blown Robin and I away with baseball this year. 

Merry Christmas

As this year comes to an end, I have definitely not blogged in 2014.  My goal for 2015 is to get back into documenting The Kings!

MERRY CHRISTMAS 

Wiley 8

Alice 4

May the Christmas season fill your home with joy, your heart with love, and your life with laughter.

::Attention Robin::

I thought that I would give the 'ole blog some attention.  Robin was just saying the other day that he missed reading.  I have been using my "real camera" like crazy lately and trying to put down the "device" more.  Saturday the children and I traveled to Birmingham to watch my niece in her dance recital.  On the way home, Wiley said "Momma, Maisie did really good dancing, she was the best one".  

Robin and the children made my Mother's Day extra special this year!  He snuck out of the house and brought back breakfast.  Breakfast in bed and fresh coffee was served to me in bed and it was marvelous.  A day of Sunday School, Church and visiting with family was good for this Momma's soul.  

Last weekend we celebrated Alice turning FOUR.  How is it possible that our baby girl is 4?!  Life is getting easier with her everyday.  We now skip naps when we can and stay up on Friday nights late.  

The evening of her Birthday we went to a crawfish boil.  The kids had a great time swimming and yard baseball.  Robin ate his weight that night and so did I.  It was a good end to Alice's birthday!

Summer is quickly approaching and we can hardly wait!  Wiley is going to two camps this summer and he couldn't be more excited.  Both of them are out of town, one in June and one in July.  Its so hard to believe that he is old enough for away camps already.  We have a mini vacay coming up next month.  I am so excited to finally meet IN PERSON my friend Katie, who I met through blogging.  We have been friends for over two years.  Strangely we have become the best of friends and talk every week via email, text or on the phone.  Our husbands have been joking a lot lately about if we really are who we say we are!!!  In late July we will go to the beach.  Wiley made the cutest Summer Bucket List.  I found it on a little piece of paper in the very bottom of his backpack.  We hope to do all the little fun things he has planned for us.   

This post was for you Robin.  I hope you enjoyed it!  Maybe I can get back into doing this weekly but don't hold your breath. 

Well

I am still here!  I have been terrible about sitting down and blogging about what has been going on in our lives.  So much, in fact that I have neglected documenting it all!  I have to back track all the way to Christmas.  How in the world am I going to do it now?  I am, so be patient!

 

Here is a sneak peak from Alice's Birthday party last month. 

3

 

 

Dear Alice,

 

 

It is so hard to believe you are 3 today.  Time sure does fly by.  You are such a joy to us and your personality is like no other!  You never meet a stranger and always talk to everyone.  You look identical to your Daddy, but he says you act just like me. 

 

 

1.  You eat your brother up and do not like for him to get out of your sight.  When he goes out the front door to play, you have a fit to join him.  You stand on the sidewalk and scream his name until he comes back for you!

 

2.  You are still very attached to me.  I can't get two feet away from you.  You love for me to rock you and hold you! 

 

3.  You love to be read to and always love for your Dad and me to tell you stories.  You favorite story now is the one Daddy tells you about how he found you in the woods under a log and he scooped you up and brought you home.

 

4.  You love TV!  Favorite shows include:

Olivia (still), Bubble Gups as you call them, The Big Bang Theory (Sheldon and Penny as you say), The Fresh Beat Band, and Marvin Marvin.

 

5.  You LOVE to sing and dance.  Taylor Swift is your favorite and you know every word to every song.  Fresh Beat Band is still a favorite CD too!

 

6.  One of my most favorite things about you is, you already LOVE Church.  You have gone since you were about 5 weeks old, Sundays and Wednesday nights!  You BEG to go to Church.  You and Anna just moved up to the Preschool class that I teach now, and it makes me happy and sad at the same time.  My baby girl is growing up!!

 

7.  It melts your Daddy every morning when you ask if you can go to work with him, maybe one day you can!

 

8.  We still have a hard time going out to eat with you.  You will sit about 20 minutes and then you say I DONE!  So normally we have to scarf down our food or let you roam.

 

9.  Baby Dolls, cooking in your kitchen and playing with your dollhouse are among you priorities. 

 

10.  You FINALLY after 12 months will sleep in your big girl bed ALL night.  You were an angel up until your 2nd birthday about sleeping in your crib.  The night we took Wiley to the FBB concert, you leaped out and never went back to your baby bed.  It has taken your Daddy and I an entire year to move you back to your room.  But you did it, just 2 weeks before your 3rd Birthday!

 

11.  You still sleep 12-14 hours a night and take one nap a day (2-3 hours) long and sometimes 2 naps still!

 

12.  You love your "padney still" and "Neanut" goes everywhere with us!  You also still request a Ba-Ba in the morning and night.  AND we still let you have it.  You are our last baby so why not?!!!!

 

13.  Outside is by far you most FAVORITE thing of all!  You love to swim and swing.  I think you would swing hours if I let you.  You want Daddy to play baseball and basketball with you everyday just like your brother!  (He thinks you will be a little athlete) We walk to the "park" most every weekend and you cry when we have to leave.

 

We love you so much Alice Taylor and can't imagine what it was like before you came along.  You complete our family.  I can't wait to watch you grow spiritually and physically.  I thank God for choosing me and your Daddy to be your parents.  We are blessed more than we deserve!

 

I love YOU sister bear!

 

Momma

 



Guess What

I promise to blog this week.  I have fallen off the wagon, but promised myself....and my husband that I am back on it!!!  Stay tuned, if any of you still read!!




 

Sis a few months ago on ONE of her many phone chats with Nana!

7

Dear Wiley,

You are the best son ever.  How many times a week do you hear me say that? I am so thankful that I am your Momma and that you and I are so close.  So many things you say and do make my heart so happy!!

7 things that make me love you more

1.  You always tell me that I am your best friend

2.  You tell me every single day that I am the best Mom ever

3.  Your willingness to always help me with a cheerful heart

4.  You always notice when I dress up and give me the sweetest compliments

5.  I love it when you cook with me

6.  I love our "secrets"

7.  Last but not least, I enjoy every single Friday afternoon that I get to spend with you!  That is "our day" and I love that we always put that afternoon away for quality time!  I am so thankful that God chose Daddy and me to be your parents. Happy 7th Birthday Wild Man, YOU ARE THE BEST SON EVER! 

Love,

Momma