Beach Bound 2015 (Memorial Day Weekend) Part 1

Usually we head out to our favorite little beach spot in July for a few days of paradise. This year however with Hensley going back to school so early (July 28th this year!) and with Andy getting 5 days off of work unexpectedly we decided that even though it was a holiday weekend, we were going for it!

Off we went with little to no planning, a quick call to the best beach hotel EVER and our room was booked and our gas tank full. We were off for 4 days of pure beach bliss!

On the long drive down!

So worth it! This place is paradise.

Did not take us 2 minutes to hop in the pool!

We loved just hanging out by the pool, getting in some beach time and getting dinner at Uncle Vinny's. We were so glad to be at our little piece of paradise. 

Day two was BEAUTIFUL! We didn't see a drop of rain or a cloud in the sky the whole we were at the beach in fact! We decided to take this day and ride the ferry over to Southport to see what it had to offer and eat some great lunch! 

It was a beautiful ride over on the ferry. It was perfect weather :) After a one hour ride over we arrived at Southport.

Southport was recently named the number one happiest seaside town in America. It's a quiet town with lots of great seafood restaurants and awesome little shops. It was pretty busy considering it was a holiday weekend. We had eat at a little place called Provision and Company a few years back and it was so good we decided to go again, despite the one hour wait for a table. There is no lack of beautiful spots in Southport so we grabbed a cold drink and took a stroll to look around.

The hour flew by and soon it was time to EAT!!!

Our view was awesome but I think we were so hungry we were a bit delirious so .... we took selfies :)

We ate tons of crab cakes and peel and eat shrimp and enjoyed each other and the beautiful view.

Soon it was time to say goodbye and head back to the ferry.... only one problem...it was full! 

Instead of waiting an hour for the next one we decided to use that hour to shop :) Hensley got some really cute toys and I got some pretty awesome Christmas ornaments. Something I have started to do when we visit a new place or go on vacation I try to get an Christmas ornament to remember our trip. I think it will be awesome to decorate our tree many years from now and it covered in ornaments from all the adventures we have been on! 

Unfortunately, when we got back for the next ferry it was also full. We realized it was best to stay in line and wait out the hour for the next one. Luckily we had some sweet taffy to pass the time. We spent a lot longer then we intended to at Southport and we were more then ready to get back to the island.

Hensley was so ready to just be back at the hotel relaxing in the hot tub. If you can't tell from the picture below. 

Part two coming soon!

Take Me Out To The Ball Game!

It's baseball season, ya'll! 

Hensley has always loved baseball and even though the place we use to play at started taking it way too serious and not so fun for the kids, we weren't going to let that deter him. We decided to play baseball in the same recreational organization as we did football since we had so much fun there. 

It was a fabulous experience and we were blessed to have some great parents help out and an amazing coach! I decided to just do a little post about how much fun Hensley had and share a few photos. I didn't take a lot this season because I was too busy cheering him on! 

They did several weeks of practice before they started the games and he was already loving it. The coach was so friendly and very upfront that he was there to have fun and to make it fun for the kids first and foremost. With so many local rec teams being all about the stats and the parents taking it way too seriously it was a breath of fresh air. 

Legs locked, arms up, bat back! Swing for the fences! 

Look at that stance! 

My sweet baseball playing boy!

 His little team mates were so so so cute! They all did so well and made such progress! I think it's so amazing how little ones just come together with 11 other little ones and instantly make friendships and have fun :) I pray that this always continues in Hensley's life and that he always makes friends so easily and has a great time wherever he goes. 

A few weeks after the season finished up his coach arranged a little ice cream party at a local ice cream shop for all the kids to hang out some and get their trophies! Hensley was so excited! 

I may be biased but I see Hensley playing all these different sports and he always seems to excel. He adapts and catches on quickly to most things. I hope he will always be so motivated to excel as he is now. I hope he will always want to reach a little farther, run a little faster, and hit a little harder. 

Swing for the fences buddy, and always always slide when possible :) 

Pass the Tissue! Kindergarten Graduation was too much for me!

10 months ago Hensley couldn't read.

He couldn't add or subtract too well.

He couldn't imagine being gone from me for 8 hours a day 5 days a week.

He didn't know what a syllable was.

Opening a milk carton wasn't even something he had done before. 

He had a small (but amazing) group of friends. 

And the thought of pulling up to a building and dropping him off at the front for him to walk in a be fine with it was not something he would ever smile about. 

Fast forward 10 months later and we have a thriving, happy, independent, smart, social, extremely funny little boy who has accomplished every one of those things and many many more. Was it not just yesterday that I sent him off down the big hallway with tears in my eyes. Struggling to see the road on my way home and feeling so empty inside?

His teachers and classmates each contributed to his success in one way or another and he has made friendships and bonds that will last a lifetime. With his school being so small (only 600 students grades K-12) these friends and teachers will be in his life for a long time to come and I couldn't be happier about that. I am so thankful that it's a consistent and tight knit loving place. I prayed and prayed for teachers and friends who would be good for him, lift him up and love him, and we got just that. We were blessed with a teacher and an assistant who truly loves kids and wants them to grow academically as well as have fun and feel safe and secure. We loved the open communication they kept with us at all times. They celebrated his highs and work right along beside of him when he needed the extra help. They loved the little things about him that we love too. It was wonderful coming in to the classroom and hearing little stories of things they had laughed about with Hensley or to hear them asking him about his football game the night before. They passionately loved each and everyone of the students in the class and wanted nothing but success and greatness for them and they were more then willing to go above and beyond to make sure that happened.  

He hopped in the car each and everyday with a smile on his face and a story to tell. 

Leading up to the end of the year was a very emotional one. There were a lot of award ceremonies, parties, and packing up. It's crazy but I think the saddest park of all the days were the day where we helped clean the classroom and took all the name tags off the desks. Weird I know but it was just so sad!

All the little kids were so cute in their cap and gowns. They looked so grown up. They sang some super cute songs and accepted their diplomas with smiles from ear to ear. They were each so proud of themselves as they should be. Kindergarten is hard. It's a big transition!

We all took pictures afterward in the gym and gathered up our family to take Hensley out to lunch :) His choice...Cracker Barrel. 

Who would thought putting a green robe and cap on my little boy and sending him off to the gym to sing a few songs would put me over the edge?

I think it was knowing that in a blink of an eye my little blue eyed freckle face boy will be walking in this same gym to get his high school diploma........as a mother, the days seem long but the years are so short!

Throwbacks Volume 1 and Mother's Day 2015

Since I regrettably started this blog late (around the time Hensley was 2 and half) I have so many memories and things I wanted to include on here. I so wish I had started it sooner, I really wish I had started it when I found out I was pregnant. But since I didn't I am going to try and post random throwbacks of memories photos and little things from a time long past.  

So here's the first edition. Since Mother's day is this weekend I wanted to go back to my first Mother's day as a mother :) It was a special time and one I'll never forget! 

Hensley was a month old :)

Poor little guy was so jaundice in the beginning. 

Got to not only spend my first Mother's day with this cutie but he also decided it was a great time to show me his first smile and lucky for me it I had my camera handy.

We visited with family and everyone got to enjoy our sweet little boy!

Uncle Brandon with Hensley...I do believe this was the first time he held a baby. He got alot better along the way. 

My sweet grandma couldn't have loved him more! 

I just remembering being so thankful to have him in my arms that day :) 

Fast forward 6 years later.......

Hensley and Andy had been working on a secret project for a few days prior to Mother's Day and he was working on it very intensely!

I woke up on Mother's day with Hensley's little face leaned over into mine, eyes bright and already saying "Happy Mother's Day!"

I finally got to see his secret project and his beautiful handmade card.

In addition to my handmade gifts I was given a new dress and AMAZING shoes :) Time for church!

We had a great service at church and an amazing lunch with our families afterward :) It was nice to just spend time together and talk and make memories.

We came home just spent time together and played the new Pokemon game Hensley got that day from Uncle Brandon :) It was great just being with the people I love.

This year my mom wasn't here with us because her and my step dad are still in Texas. It brought up a range of emotions not being with her on this special. Hopefully she will be here next Mother's Day to celebrate with us.


Luckily for me Mother's Day didn't end on Sunday. Hensley's Mother's Day breakfast at school was on Monday. It was so cute. They had a huge spread for all the mother's and their children. They sang the cutest little song and made us some really really special gifts :)

Hensley really worked hard this year to make me feel special and he did a fabulous job at it. He told me how much he loved me so much over the weekend and he was extra cuddly :) It was truly a special few days.

Happy mothers day to all the amazing mothers out there that I am blessed to know. The day I became a mother changed my life for the better forever. I can't remember life before him and I treasure every moment with him. Waking up this morning with his sweet little face and bed head leaning over me whispering "happy mothers day mommy" is priceless and I am forever grateful to God to trust me with this precious gift of my son. Happy mothers day smile emoticon