Look Who Can Ride A Bike!!!

Papa John & Nana gave the boys balance bikes for Christmas. Jackson got the hang of riding it, so Ryan thought he might be ready to ride a real bike. The other evening Ryan took the training wheels off of Jackson's regular bike. He told Jackson to pedal like he did when the training wheels were on it and to balance like he does on his balance bike. Within minutes, Jackson was riding that bike all around the neighborhood! So proud of my big boy!!!

James' Wedding Weekend in Tennessee

I was home for 9 days from Pa's funeral before it was time to head right back to TN. Jackson and Ben were the ring bearers in my cousin James' wedding. I took all 3 kids (without Ryan), but my parents were great helpers! We really enjoyed the trip, and thankfully everything went as smoothly as it possibly could.


Since my mom was already there, Pops and I had the bonding experience of traveling with 3 children. Everyone did great, but it was a lot of work! 

 Once we got there, we went to Cracker Barrel (duh!). Aunt Mary got the boys some new toys. Ben was so excited to show them to his Great Ma.

 Jackson was thrilled that Great Ma's new assisted living home had a wii!!!

 Once again, Ruby brought so much JOY to my grandmother.

 playing piano with pops
(i think Ben looks so much like his tia leah in this picture)

 reading with great ma

 Jackson was an excellent wheel chair pusher!

 Ruby took several naps with her Pops. They have officially bonded!

 Aunt Mary owns a private preschool, so she brought some toys from her school home for the boys to play with while we were there. They loved it!

 Ruby (4 months) with her Great Ma (92). So precious!

 Aunt Mary took the boys to "water day" at her preschool Friday morning. They played in pools and slip n slides. This was after she brought them back...hungry and worn out!

 wedding rehearsal

 there was a lot of this going on as we were waiting

 Ruby & GranMartha

 rehearsal dinner

 Mary did such a good job with the rehearsal dinner. It was beautiful!

 Ben looks a lot like Aunt Barbara too!

We went to visit my grandma one last time before we had to start getting ready for the wedding.

The Wedding! Those are 3 handsome dudes right there.

Those are 3 silly dudes right there!

The 3 sisters

Mary with her sons James & John

Ritchie & Ashleigh with Ruby

I totally bribed the boys. I told them that if the ring bearers do a good job, then they get the biggest piece of wedding cake. It worked! HA!
(the church where the wedding was had a big nursery filled with toys, so we camped out there most of the night)

We went to Columbia to visit my dad's mom. Ben was showing her his toys.

Jackson was showing her the ipad.

My 90 year old grandmama and me!

our attempt at a group shot

We stopped by Carolyn's house just for a minute on our way to the airport. She was so sweet to have toys for my kids there!

 We made it home safely and with everyone still liking each other. :-)

I'm so thankful we were able to spend a great weekend with family!
 Congratulations to James and Jennifer!!!

Cousin Time

Ryan and Kathryn had a wedding to go to a couple weekends ago, so we got to keep James! We had a great time! I think it's so fun that between us we'll have 5 kids in 5 years...yay for cousins! 
 

Tennessee

My dad, brother, Ruby, and I went to Tennessee last week to celebrate Pa's life with the family (my mom had been up there already for a few weeks). I was so grateful to be there. Ruby brought so much joy to my grandma in such a hard time. We enjoyed our time with everyone and look forward to going back this weekend for my cousin's wedding!

 4 generations!

 My Aunt Carolyn (dad's sister) came to the funeral home.

 Uncle Sonny came too. (somehow i missed a pic with Scotty & Tammy!)

 my beautiful cousin Carrie and her precious daughter Sienna

 Sienna loves her Uncle Ben!!!

 My mom was visiting with her 94 year old aunt.

 Ruby enjoyed playing on the floor after being held by so many people for a couple days straight!

 The church had a potluck meal for the family after Pa's memorial service. Those Tennessee Church of Christ women know how to cook.

 My grandma with her 6 grandchildren

 don't ask! ha!

 While we were in TN, we visited my dad's mom in Columbia. She was so happy to meet Ruby!

 they played several games of "pat a cake"

 We had lunch with Carolyn & Reagan!

 We went back to Lebanon before flying home. 

Memaw has the party room!

 love.

 Ruby enjoyed getting all of Pops & GranMartha's attention!

 Sarabeth (my cousin's wife) and Ruby are new best friends. We LOVE Sarabeth and are so glad she's a part of our family now.

Ruby with her grandma & great grandma