Celebrating Bre's 14th Year!

This weekend we celebrated Breann's 14th birthday.  It seems almost unreal that she is a teenager, but she is growing into this incredibly beautiful, caring, and intelligent young lady.  We love our daughter so very much.

 All of us had a great time eating dinner, shopping, and going to the movies to celebrate Bre!  Thanks to all of our family and friends who joined us in making another birthday of Breann's one for her (and us) to remember.  :)


More Photos are in the Members Area.

Happy Birthday, Breann!

Fourteen years ago today, God gave me one of the greatest gifts He has ever blessed me with. It was fourteen years ago today that this world became blessed by a very special person.  This person shows love and care to others, and she is smart, funny, cherishes life, and most importantly she knows who the Lord is. On this day, fourteen years ago, I became blessed to be able to call this very special person my daughter.

While the Lord is first in my life, everyone who knows me well enough knows that what I consider to be one of God's greatest gifts to me is my family. I treasure time with my husband and to be called Mom by our children is a great thing.  My family is definitely one of God's greatest gifts to me.

It's no secret that Justin and I got married when we were really young. While a lot of people have asked if we regret it, our answer has stayed the same, we always have honestly said that we don't regret it, and we'd make the same choice again, if we had the opportunity to live life over. Justin and I also became parents early in life, in fact, we were still teenagers when we had our oldest. It's really something to think that we now have a fourteen year old!

While parents teach their children so many things, and we certainly hope we have done so with our kids (and will continue to do so), our kids have taught us so much as well. Breann was the first baby we had, and she taught us so much more than how to feed a baby, how to change a baby's diaper, and how to get a baby to go to sleep. She also taught us what it felt like to be first time parents, how to run and play with a toddler, and how to snuggle and read a bedtime story at night. While each of our kids have a special place in our hearts and in this world, Breann also has her special place. We believe God has great things planned for each of our kids, and we're so happy to be their parents.

We are so blessed that the Lord chose us to be your parents, Bre. Now, instead of learning to chase after and play with a toddler, I'm learning how to be a Mom of a teenager. I feel like every minute that I'm blessed to spend with you is a gift. I love being your Mom. Happy Birthday my sweet daughter!

Breann's 13th (Glow in the Dark Dance) Birthday Party!

We threw Breann a super cool 13th (Glow in the Dark Dance) Birthday Party this past weekend, if I do say so myself!  Here are some of the photos from it, and more are in the Members Area!  

Breanns 12th Birthday Party!

Today, I celebrate the 12th year of my daughter!  One more year and she will be a teenager, it is so hard to believe she is 12 years old!! 

We celebrated Breann's birthday this past weekend with an owl themed birthday party.  My mom, my husband, and I made the cake.  We had such a great time at the party with family and friends!

    More Photos are in the Members Area!

Happy Eleventh!

It is so hard to believe, my daughter is now 11 years old I remember the baby she used to be and the toddler I used to chase after. Now she is continuously asking me questions for History or something else just to try to make the point that a fifth grader can be smarter. I am doing a pretty good job of helping to prove her right too!

I do know one thing for certain though...from the age I first became a mom at 19 to right now...my children have taught me so much other than just the basics of having to learn about feeding, teething, and all of the rest that comes with being a mom. They did just that, they taught me how to be not only their mom but their friend. They helped me to understand what my mom has said for many years, there truly is nothing like a mother's love. I feel so blessed to be my kids mom!

Speaking of my mom, this birthday of Breann's was also very exciting as my mom got to attend the party with no oxygen tank.



I have photos posted up of the party in the Members Area

Breann's Tenth Birthday!

WOW!  Ten already!!  It just amazes me how fast she is growing up. 

It seems just yesterday they were laying this little bundle of joy upon my belly telling me that I now have a little girl.  She is now in the 4th grade and making super grades in school but even bigger than that she is the person she is becoming via the character she has and represents...she is loving and caring and has this big heart about her!!  Justin and I couldn't be more proud of our daughter...she makes good grades, plays sports, reading is one of her favorite passtimes (her name is one of the top two on the Accelerated Reader list in her whole school and she is motivated to keep it at the top), singing is something she enjoys a lot (and even sang at the county fair this year, but even more than that she uses her voice for God).  I guess my point is...I knew that Justin and I would have super kids, and we really do...Breann and Troy both are the greatest kids we could ever ask for...we are very blessed, but I just didn't know that we could be THIS blessed!!  I guess that is just something you have to experience to believe.  I thank God for both of my kids and I feel very blessed to call Troy my son and Breann my daughter!

Anyhow, a little over a week ago was Breann's tenth birthday and it turned out wonderful!  Friends and family attended the party (and my parents even got to watch the party via webcam as they weren't physically able to come to the party as mom just got out of the hospital that day).  It was great that everyone who was able to attend could attend and Breann (as well as the other kids) thought it was super that they could actually be seen on someone else's computer screen a little over a hour away from here while the party was happening.

Breann wanted a Bratz party as she discovered they were created on her birthday, which she thought was just super cool so her wish was our command!

The Invitation...



The Decorations...



Party Time!

And...I LOVE this photo...notice her little hand up to her mouth (although I think she kinda' knew or maybe was hoping...she was SO surprised...she wanted the Beauty and the Beast movie so much as that is currently her favorite movie of all time)!! And...

 

Thanks to everyone for a super-de-duper time!!

Happy tenth baby girl!!

More photos are in the Members Area!

Breann's Ninth Birthday!

Can you believe it?!? We celebrated Breann's ninth birthday this past weekend. She is already nine!

My oldest child has taught me SO MANY things throughout the years. My motherhood experience all began with her and I am grateful to have both of my children and I also feel blessed that I am the one that they call "Mom". I couldn't ask for a better daughter. Motherhood has taught me so many things and although I may not be perfect at this whole mommy thing...I love it! Through experience, love for my family, and God's many, many blessings I have discovered the true meaning of family and life.

Through Breann's nine years, I certainly have learned that I am not the most perfect mother...there was (and still is) a lot of learning to be done, but I want her to always know that I have tried my best at what I do. For example, when Breann broke her wrist (right before we went to Disney)...she fell off of the monkey bars at school and I was so scared...I put on a brave front for my little girl, but I was scared...I didn't know how to take care of her broken arm and had to learn that and didn't even like seeing them have to wheel her into the operating room so they could put her to sleep and set her arm back in place. Her grandparents were there and her dad was on his way, but when my dad asked Breann who she wanted to go back in pre-op with her (as only one person could go) she said she wanted me. I hope she continues to feel (and to know) that I will always be here for her...for as long as I live.

Breann has become one of my best friends. It is odd how when you think a child is too young to understand, they actually "get it" more than you do-that is my Breann. Just like I was there with her broken wrist incident, she has been there for me in my tough times too. Such as...the time we had to stay in the ICU waiting room while my Mom was in ICU on the ventilator and we didn't know what was going to happen with that. I stayed most of the days and nights while my Mom was in the hospital...and my husband and kids never once complained. As a matter of fact, while my husband and son were sleeping in the waiting room's recliner at night, me and my daughter were on a VERY small couch (length wise as well as narrow wise). Certainly not a five-star type of sleeping arrangment, but my kids proved patient, and while I was unsure of how the situation would turn out, I had faith, and Breann was drawing cards for her Mamaw, even though her Mamaw stayed the same for nine days...not awake and not even breathing on her own...Breann kept that hope with me. And...our faith in Christ proved true as my Mom made it through that ordeal and now has Breann's card.

And, there hasn't always been sad times, there has been more good times than not. Like...the first time her dad and I discovered her saying her bedtime prayer by herself...nobody told her to pray and she never asked how to pray...she just did it...like I said, some people sit and study on the right way to even pray...not Breann, she just talked to God without putting any thought into it...and once again, something else you can learn from a child. Other good times...some of the big things such as when we went to see Disney on Ice and then the many vacations we've taken. I've also been blessed enough to share her winning the school's talent show for her grade (she was so happy she cried) and her singing in front of over 300 people at her Aunt Krista's wedding reception, but most importantly I've been there to see her singing in Church (which she continues to do). I've been able to see her graduate from Kindergarten with the top points in her Accelerated Reader program, so she was the only one in her class recognized and it was for that accomplishment (even in 3rd grade she can read at a 5th and 6th grade level). I am happy to say I have even shared more than just the extravagant moments but also the more simple of things such as doing our nails together, and even the time my kids locked me out of the house while it was raining (yes, that is even a good memory)!

Anyhow...I guess what I am trying to say is that I have been blessed nine years thusfar to be able to call Breann my daughter and I couldn't be more proud of her. Like I said, I haven't always been the perfect mother nor she the perfect daughter...I've made my mistakes and she has too...but what counts is that she is the perfect daughter for me and we share the ups as well as the downs together.

I love my daughter, my best friend!


More photos of Breann's Birthday party are in the Members Area!

Breann's Eighth Birthday...

Well...instead of having a birthday party this year, Breann decided she wanted to go to the bowling alley and to Taco Bell. The day consisted of bowling, arcade games at the bowling alley, and Mexican food! :P

More pics. are in the Members Area!