A big weekend for this 7 year old...

Well, it has happened again...another year older for our beautiful Reese!  She had a big weekend, her birthday and her first official race!

Reese wanted to have a swim party...and in February those are few and far between...but an indoor pool is just what we needed!   She picked out the design of the cake she wanted, icing and everything...I think it turned out so cute!

Inside the lifetime facility having cake and snacks before heading out to swim.

Wild and worn out!

 She went on a little daddy/daughter outing for a treat and a day to drive the golf cart for daddy!

Reese's school particiaptes in the Kids Mercedes Marathon.  They run each day at school during P.E. and they run enough to total 25.1 miles...and then on race day all of the children who want to run in a mile race to complete their marathon!  I ran with her and she is a speedy little thing!

Daddy found us as we were almost finished!

Race is over, proud of her medal for sure!

Bebe came to watch and make the weekend even better.

Reese is growing up so fast, but we are so proud of who she is becoming.  She has loved every minute of first grade and made the transition from a small Christian half day Kindergarten to a public full day 1st grade without missing a beat.  Reese loves her teacher and has made so many new friends.  I pray that her love for school only grows as does her love for God and people.

Reese asked Jesus into her heart this year, which was such a tender moment for Jason and I both.  It was 100% her idea and she prayed exactly what was on her heart.  We pray that God continues to pull strongly on her heart strings to bring her close to Him and that she will choose to shine for Him even in times when it is easy to fade into the crowds.

Reese still loves ballet and gymnastics and Jason and I are hoping to get her involved in a team sport soon.  Her love for drawing has grown leaps and bounds and she and I spent a lot of time doing that together.  Her reading has improved so much and I pray that she will continue to grow in confidence and love for that.  Happy 7th birthday to our sweet Reese.

This one turned 3...

Our little has turned 3!  With all of the winter storm craziness we had to reschedule Brynlee's birthday two times...but in the end she had the celebration she wanted...a cupcake celebration!  We had sandwiches in the shape of cupcakes, cupcakes to color, cupcakes to paint, cupcakes to decorate and eat and of course cookies in the shapes of cupcakes to take home and decorate.  She had a handful of her sweet little friend over and they colored, crafted, ate and played princess to their little hearts content!

Brynlee is truly our little spunky monkey!  She has the most contagious laugh (one that I hope she never looses), loves to flash a smile and give a hug to whoever and keeps us on our toes with her ability to throw a fit in a second and then have you smiling and laughing the next minute!  Talking about cupcakes, one thing I hope to never forget is that she still calls them "CUPCAPES" its so darn cute, I never correct her and get onto anyone who does!  She adores her sissies and takes any opportunity she can to be all up in their business!  She is my partner in crime each day cleaning the house, grocery shopping, running to the church for a meeting, reading books, cooking, ect.  You name it, she does it with me...most of the time without complaining.  We love our little Brynlee Boo as we call her, I love watching her grow and though I would like to stop it...I love the process.

The big three year old getting ready to open her presents

This was a "family" present that we gave the girls on Bryn's birthday for them all to share...and huge hit and surprisingly no fighting over it!

Digging into her "cupcape"

Messy, but a happy girl

There is really not a better picture to sum up Brynlee's personality that this one!  She likes to put her shoes on herself (hence they are on the wrong feet, and they are her sisters), she loves to wear sunglasses (again not hers) and she is a ham!  We love you Bryn!

Snow storm 2014

Well now much removed from the horrible snow storm of 2014 it doesn't seem as bad..but wow what a day that was.  Tuesday morning Reese left for school and then about an hour later I was loading up these two to head to the church with me while I had a meeting.  We were greeted by some snow flurries.

When I told them it was snowing outside they were jumping up and down and screaming inside the house to go out.  We then stood outside for 10 minutes trying to catch snowflakes on our tongues.

During my meeting the snow continued to fall, and to be honest I did not think anything of it.  We never get much snow...but I knew Reese's school would probably close soon, but it would be fine because our church is literally across the road from her school street. 

Reese's school called to announce they were letting the children out...we walked outside the church...to a beautiful site, I had no idea that this beautiful site was not going to end pretty.  

To make a very long story a little shorter...we drove across and picked up Reese and then headed home....but sadly I nor did the entire city of Birmingham realize how dangerous this snow would be.  As I headed down the road on the other side of the school (which is a hill, there are pretty much not a whole lot of roads in Birmingham that are not hills) I saw a parking lot of cars that had slid into each other or into things.

It was too late...as I slowed down, the car continued to go...we were sliding.  I was panicking for sure (on the inside I was dying) on the outside I just said ok girls...its ok we are sliding, just stay in your seats, its ok.  We slid, I had zero control over the car, the steering wheel was doing its own thing.  We finally came to a stop by way of a large brick mailbox which we knocked over!  I could not believe that we knocked it over...nor did I know what to do.  

I had no cell service, my phone could not call anyone.  I finally texted my friend who lived near by, her husband drove to us (he has an all terrain vehicle) and took us to their house.  The girls were freezing and I was in shock.  After a few hours and realizing that we would not be able to get our car, that Jason was stuck downtown...Brad (my friend's husband) tried to drive us home...we got stuck...so he walked with us about 1.5 miles to our house.

Sweet Brad put Brynlee on her shoulders and Reese walked behind...I had been holding Bryn, but Hadley decided she could not walk so I was carrying her.  

 I was so proud of the girls, they were freezing, and we walked what felt like 10 miles and they did great.  

 When we finally got home, our yard was blanketed with snow it was beautiful, but hard to enjoy knowing that most of the city was stuck in their cars without family and without communication.

 Hadley, Brynlee and I were frozen solid and when we got home I stripped them down to defrost before putting them in a warm bath.  Reese, however wanted to fully enjoy the snow in our yard...this had been a fun adventure to her!

 Trying to keep the girls mind off of daddy not being home with us we made some delicious snow ice cream with almond milk...it was great!

 Jason finally made it home the next day.  He luckily stayed with his boss the previous night after leaving his car on the road and walking to their house.  

So for the next few days since school was still out we enjoyed sliding down the hill in our front yard and down our icy street.

We are beyond grateful that we were all ok and so thankful for all of the people who helped us and helped so many others.  Kindness wins...love wins.  The big ole Sequoia took quite a beating from hitting the mailbox and then another car slammed into the side of it...but metal can be fixed!  

101 days and more January Fun!

Reese had her school celebration of 101 days of school this week, so to make it a little fun all of the first grade classrooms have to create hats for the celebration made of 101 and items.  They can choose anything they want (within reason).  Reese wanted to make a crown of sorts...so we set out with contractions paper, feathers, sequins, pom poms and she created a pretty cute hat!

She's  making her 101 face...see it!

Waiting for the 101 hat parade to start...she's so cute. 

(sitting with Anna Kate, Izzie and Wynn)

 In other Beckner news...the red wagon is still getting lots of use and much to Elli's dislike it has become a game to get her in the wagon.  Poor dog.

 A fun outing with most of our small group.  We love Steel City Pops.  

 A little extra Ellie love on a cold January night.

American Girl Cafe

 Well, I felt like the trip to the American Girl store and cafe need a  post all of its own.  Reese and Hadley had both asked for an American Girl doll last year, I went back and forth over whether I should get them one or not.  I felt like Hadley was too young...but having a older sister you want what they have.  We caved...and honestly I am glad, they have loved them.  They each got the My American girl doll that looked like them...or what they wanted them to look like!

So this year as a Christmas present we went to the store and booked lunch at the cafe with all of the girls, their dolls and Bebe.

The cafe does such a great job of making the girls feel so special and making it an experience.  The dolls each had a chair right beside the girls and everyone had their own fancy drink, menu, ect.

One of my favorite pictures of our Sweet Reese

 Hadley was so excited and loved having all of the little things for her Caroline doll.

 Brynlee does not have an American Girl doll yet...thankfully she is fine with that, and I think if she did have one it might not have its head right now!  But she brought her Ariel doll that she got for Christmas and the cafe treated her just like family!

 Sundaes...on the sundaes...these girls were giddy!

 Reese making sure Rachel had enough to eat.

 Reese and Hadley both took their dolls to the American Girl salon to have their ears pierced!  A fun treat, Hadley would like to get her own ears done...but that is not on my agenda anytime soon!

Christmas 2013 and December Fun

December...well this picture does a good job of seeing what it was like!  A lot of baking, a lot of sweets, a lot of smiles and a lot of Fun!

We were baking cookies for Reese and Hadley's ballet classes, I told Bryn she could look and not touch...so she did (she was a close as she could get without touching)

Getting the Christmas Tree has been a fun tradition every year.  While I am sure some of you have great stories of going to a big tree farm and picking out your tree...we prefer to drive straight over to Home Depot after retiring from Thanksgiving travel and the girls and Daddy help us pick the winner!  

I think we picked a good one. The first Christmas in the new house was fun.  We put the real tree upstairs, and then put a large artificial one downstairs for the girls to decorate however.  That was really fun, but still pretty sure I prefer a real tree to artificial anyway!

 Reindeer cupcakes for Hadley's ballet class.  I love making these cute little things, every year for one Christmas party or another we make reindeer cookies or cupcakes.  They are not perfect, they would not win a prize, but the girls and I have fun making them, they taste great and they are cute!  This is always my big lesson to renind the girls that you don't have to do something perfect to do it...I really need to remind myself of that more!

It wouldn't be Christmas time without seeing this big guy.  We did our annual fun night at the ZOO...Zoo Lights Safari and then the girls went and sat with Santa.  Jason and I are trying to balance making sure our girls understand Christmas is about the gift of Jesus God gave to us, that all of our gifts come from Him...we have told them the true story of St. Nicholas but it is hard to get totally away from Santa when society makes it such a huge thing...and I do love the ole guy!

 

I love these girls...being a mom is more than I could have ever asked for.  

This tent was an early Christmas Present that has been tons of fun.  From a fort to a reading nook it was worth every penny.  And speaking of pennies, I actually found it at TJ Maxx and talked the man to mark it down to over 70% off because of a rip in the fabric that I could fix.  It was on sale because it was the floor model...but just shows it never hurst to ask for a better deal.

Like I said, baking was a big part of our December...here the girls and I made cookies and used the cookie cutter shapes to give to neighbors and friends.

 

The Christmas party at Reese's school. They had fun playing a game of hot potato and other fun things.  Her first grade class has been so sweet, I love all of the girls, it truly has been a blessing this year.

By far the best Christmas present and surprise was having uncle Jonathan and Aunt Caitlin come and stay with us a few days before Christmas and give up the surprise of the year that they are pregnant!  I had no idea, no one did!  A miracle for sure...they were not supposed to be able to have children and had begun looking into the adoption process in Texas...and shock...Caitlin was pregnant!  She is due in July and these three little redheads already have their money on a little girl cousin!

Christmas Eve Tradition...Fondu!  Growing up we always did this as a family, and our little family has decided to try and be at our house for Christmas Eve and morning each year...it is hard with travels but we think it is important.  We all love some fondu...the chocolate is the best part for sure.

Christmas morning...these three sleepy heads (well Reese is wide awake, she is just like her mommy, the first one up on Christmas morning, dying to wake everyone else up) waiting to see if they can go downstairs to see what fun things await!

The rest of these are a little out of order...but we headed over to Atlanta on Christmas afternoon to celebrate with my mom, aunts, uncles, cousins and more.  Bebe gave the girls some really cowgirl boots and I guess a little attitude comes with them!

 Eating at the American Girl cafe with Bebe for a Christmas treat was so fun!

Hadley at my Aunt Hollye's house, celebrating Christmas and waiting for present time with Bebe and and Caitlin.

 Ahh, tradition.  The Christmas story family play is something we have almost always done each year with my mom's family.  This year there was a slight twist..normally it is the grandchildren who put on the spectacular show...this year however it was the adults...as in all of my moms brothers and sisters...and well it was something to behold!  

 Celebrating with Pop at his house 

 Bebe always has something fun planned for the girls and this year it was scavenger hunt around the house to find the prized gingerbread man cookies. The girls love the adventure (and the icing)!

 A little after Christmas mexican dinner with one of my besties, Lindsay and her two sweet children. One of my favorite things is to see my girls playing with some of my best friends children.  Hadley has the camera poses down...should I be worried?

 Speaking of friends and children, we headed over to Tuscaloosa for New Years Day to celebrate with  a group of my college sorority girls and all of the children came. It was so fun!

Reese, Addie, and Addie Gail having a little fun

Julie (all the way from Singapore), Audrey, Shannon and Anna Brooke

It was a wonderful Chirstmas, a reminder again of what is important...not thing items inside the packages, but the people who give them, the people you are sitting around the table with, the ones your travel to see, the ones you get a Christmas card from...the relationships, the gift that God has given us...to learn to love others like He loves us!