I am a survivor

I somehow managed to survive this last month but looking back on it makes me wonder how. The craziness all started with Levi's graduation. I was beaming with pride the whole time...seriously. It was the longest ceremony I have ever attended which was only made longer by the fact that our kids were having to endure it as well. But it was worth it to see my husband, the Masters Grad, walk across the stage for 3 whole seconds.

This is a post graduation picture. The kids were grumpy and in desperate need of naps. Wish I had thought to take pictures before so that the kids would at least have smiled. Oh well.

Levi was showing Jack his diploma and Jack literally said, "That is really cool, Daddy." Sooooooo sweet.

Levi and his baby girl. I love how her little arm is around his shoulder. She always pats him on the back while he holds her.

I planned a surprise party for Levi's graduation and managed to pull it off, thanks to my sister and brother. It was sooooo hard to keep it a secret. I'm very surprised Levi didn't ask me why I was running around like a crazy person trying to clean every speck of dust before we left for graduation.

We weren't supposed to show up to the party until 7:15 so I had to stall. He never questioned the fact that we stopped at the Harbor to get ice cream, walked all the way to ColdStone and then I decided I didn't really feel like ice cream after all, we walked all the way back to the parking lot, I then decided I needed to pee at Target, we went to Target where I sat in the bathroom talking to my sis, then shopped for Addie some shoes, and then was ready to go home. He never questioned it once. He must be used to my craziness.

The party was perfect and it was so great to have our loved ones celebrate this very special day with us. Thank Kim Cartier for making the most perfect cake. I wish I had a better picture of it but it turned out beautiful and soooooo yummy. In fact, there was not one piece to throw away.




The next weekend was the bridesmaid luncheon which was beautiful but I didn't take any pictures. Laci did a great job picking the place and gifts. We ate lunch at a neat little restaurant in downtown Rockwall called Zanatas. They have amazing food and great house wine. She gave each girl a monogrammed tote bag and big fluffy white robes (which we all wore while getting ready for the wedding.)



Then the following weekend was the lingerie shower and bachelorette party. I had fun with the lingerie party because I kept it very simple and intimate. All the food was very sweet and pink. I made berry cups with cool whip, a double mocha brownie trifle (YUMMMMM), strawberry cupcakes with pretty little pearls on top for decoration, and champagne raspberry sherbet punch. (I bought 15 huge bottles of champagne from Costco for Laci's showers and Levi's graduation party and we still have 9 left!)




The spread.

My absolutely beautiful sister. I don't have any pictures of her opening her gifts but she has more lingerie than Victoria's Secret! And even the grandmothers bought her really cute and pretty sets. This little shower was a lot of fun because it was Laci's best friends, mom, grandmother, mom-in-law, and aunt-in-law and we all just sat around eating sweets, drinking pink punch and oohing and ahhing over all of Laci's pretty little lingerie.


After all the grown-ups left =), we all changed into our less covering clothes, reapplied makeup, pulled out the bachelorette crown, special straws and wand, beaded necklaces and headed out for the real party.

Even though Laci and I are both completely grown, (Laci has been on her own for 2 years and I have a husband and 2 kids) our Daddy DEMANDED that Levi go with us! Can you imagine? Your husband or brother-in-law following you around at a bachelorette party? But it ended up being a really great idea because I was able to have a good time...okay, really good time, the kind where your throw up afterwards, without having to be responsible for all the girls...that was Levi's job. It was so much fun to actually go out and have fun with my baby sister. We are separated by almost 7 years so we never have really hung out as friends but this night definitely set the foundation for a wonderful friendship.

The very next weekend was...dun dun daaaaaaa...the wedding!!!!!! The wedding craziness actually began on Wednesday. We still had a lot of last minute things to take care of such as making the programs, creating the seating chart, making table cards, putting together the favors, and packing for the honeymoon. Between Laci, our mom, grandmother, and myself we managed to get it all accomplished before the wedding. Thursday was the rehearsal and dinner. The rehearsal was kind of crazy. My family was late because we had to go get Jack's tux and when we got there it looked like a wedding was going on so we didn't know where to go. But we finally got to the chapel and realized that another wedding was about to happen, they were just waiting on me so that we could run through the rehearsal first. So we practiced once...kind of, and then were shooed out. It was weird. Later we found out that it was a spur of the moment wedding and everyone was very kind and apologetic about the situation. But the dinner was just perfect and beautiful. Laci's mother-in-law is perfect. I just love her and she planned the dinner at the Dairy Manor. When we arrived there were hors d'oeurves with Portuguese wine served. (Lucy, Laci's mother-in-law is Portuguese) Then dinner was served and Lucy had a viol inst and pianist there to serenade us. A special song was even written for Laci and was played before the mothers made their toasts. It was just beautiful!

The next day was so special to me. I am tearing up just thinking about it. It was my last day with my baby sis before she became a married woman. We got up early and Laci, our mom, and I went and had mani/pedis, picked up our bridesmaid dresses (which were beautiful...Thank you Cassie), went shopping for more lingerie, and then came home to just hang out and tie up loose ends.

This is before we left for the day's activities.

Mommy and daughter on the day before the big day!

Laci and I stayed up until about 2 just talking, making a wedding playlist, and strategically packing every piece of clothing she owns into one suitcase and carry on. I think she took 40 pairs of panties with her! NO JOKE. I walked back to my house crawled into bed and 5 hours later woke back up and walked back to my parents to have breakfast with my very awake and excited sister. We had breakfast in her bed while watching Beaches. Afterwards, we still had 3 hours before we even needed to get in the shower so we went for a run in the 100 degree weather! We eventually set off for the wedding somehow managing to not forget anything which is amazing considering we had my SUV packed to the ceiling.

All of the pre-wedding stuff was kind of crazy. Laci wanted me and our mom to handle everything so that she could just enjoy her day so I was constantly running back and forth trying to show groomsmen how to dress themselves in a tux, solve the disastrous seating arrangement situation, fix Laci's hair and dress her, pose for pictures, dress my kids, and get myself ready in the process. But it all came together. I cannot say enough that my baby sister made the most beautiful bride I have ever seen in my life! She literally glowed. I didn't take any pictures the whole time but apparently Levi had brought my camera and somebody ended up taking some pictures on it. I was disappointed that I don't have any of Laci in her gown but I will post some as soon as the photographer allows. But there were some pictures of the kids who were the most adorable ring bearer and flower girl ever!

Addie Grace and Grandpa...and Cuddles.

My handsome little man. He loved that he got to actual wear a flower! So cute.

Jack kissed me and then we made him do it again for a picture...the second time wasn't as sweet. You can tell he is too busy looking at the camera.

Then Addie wanted to get in on the kissing action. She loves to kiss her big brother. Anytime Jack kisses me or Levi, Addie immediately runs up to him waiting for her turn.

Now it is Mommy's turn.

Jack loves his Uncle Matt and Uncle Matt's iphone.

My dainty little angle stuffing her face.

More wedding pictures are coming soon. I am just sooooo ready for my sister to come home so I can hear all about the honeymoon and I can tell her about all the behind the scenes wedding craziness that she missed. Plus I just miss my sister.

Countdown to Graduation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is it people!!!! The last week of Levi's grad school!!!!!!!!!!!!! By the time Levi comes home from work on Friday he will have completed all requirements for his masters. YAY!!! This is so huge for us. Levi has been taking classes at SMU for 5 years now and four of those were with kids. It feels like yesterday that we were discussing him going for his masters and 5 years seemed like such a long time. I mean, at that time we didn't even have kids and when we imagined where would be at graduation we hoped we would have kids but that was just crazy to think we would ever be parents. But here we are with two kiddos and Levi will officially graduate next Saturday. I am forcing him to walk at graduation. I need that closure. I need to see it completed. Because although he is the one that went to class, did the homework, and took the tests, it was still a huge burden for me as well. It meant doing a lot of the parenting alone because Daddy was holed up in the office, suffering through proofing his technical writing (we are talking sometimes 50 pages of program speak), being understanding when the trash didn't get taken or the yard didn't get mowed, and the hardest of all...watching my laid-back husband turn into a stressed out crazy man.
This last semester was the absolute worst! We literally only made it through by continuing to remind each other of the very near approaching countdown to graduation. But here we are with 12 days till graduation and 4 until grades are turned in. It is just crazy that it is here. I'm a little nervous about the changes it will or will not bring. By that I just mean that we have never functioned as a family where Levi hasn't been in school so it is just what we know, what we have grown accustomed and comfortable with. And I am also worried that nothing really will change. That life will still be insane but that we will no longer have a countdown, nothing to say, "okay, this craziness will all be over when... ."
But through it all we did it together. And I am so proud of that. I have to be the proudest wife in the whole wide world. Levi never brags about himself. In fact, he is super hard on himself. But I have no problem bragging on him. He somehow manages to continue to impress his bosses and take on more and more responsibility at work, makes practically perfect grades at SMU, spends time with his grandmother every week, finds time to play a few levels of Mario with Jack and rock Addie before bed, and still seems to adore me even though I know I have been less than adorable lately. I don't know how he does it. Even though I try to help in every way possible I still don't see how he juggles it all. He is amazing. My hero. My love. My best friend. My Levi.

My baby sister is getting married this June and today was her bridal shower. I had so much fun planning this shower but when it came down to actually following through with all my plans I was a little overwhelmed. So I have to give a small shout out to my very best friends Joanne and Ashley for working their little tails off along side me the night before. I couldn't ask for better friends! I love you girls so much! And I also need to give major credit to Laci's future mother-in-law, Lucy. She made half of the dishes and provided the cake. Laci is sooooo blessed to have such a beautiful person in her life.

For the shower I went with the theme, "Something Blue" and made everything coordinate with the Tiffany Blue color. We had a champagne brunch which is always fun when you have a bunch of women together giggling after a couple sips of their orange juice. Laci got so many amazing gifts, Kitchen Aid Standing Mixer, Cuisinart Food Processor, Copper pots and pans, Lenox China and towels, 600 thread count sheets, and more! In fact, they are all still piled up on my dining room table and I may just have to go through all of it again before bed and just drool. I think, at least hope, that Laci was pleased with her shower. Now on to the planning the lingerie shower and bachelorette party!!!!

Dear Laci,

I cannot believe my baby sister is getting married! But I have to admit that today you all of a sudden seemed grown up. You looked gorgeous today, absolutely beautiful, stunning. I love who you are...the baby, my sister, my friend. I love that I have a girlfriend that comes over first thing in the morning when neither of us have makeup on (except for whatever is leftover from the day before), when my house is a mess, when my kids are crazy and just sits and has a cup of coffee with me with no other intentions except to just be together.

Marriage is crazy, beautiful, safe, fun, annoying, silly, exciting, passionate, boring, hard, easy, amazing, fast, slow, and so so so worth the work. I am looking forward to watching you continue to shine in your new role as a wife. I love that you have this sweet old-fashioned Julia Child type picture of being of wife and being married. Don't let anyone tell you that it doesn't really look that way...it can if you want it to. You and Peter have so much ahead of you and I look forward to having dinner at your first home together, helping you pick out nursery colors for your babies (triplets according to the bows broke at the shower) and drinking coffee while your crazy kids run around and your house is a mess. I love you little sis and I am so very proud of the beautiful woman you are and wife you soon will be.

Can you hear me now?

When I walked into the office to find the girls talking away on an old corded computer mouse and dvd remote control, I just had to grab my camera. The pictures didn't turn out great thanks to the bright window but I couldn't miss the moment. Plus I think it is hilarious that Addie insisted on wearing her winter coat over her little blue jumper.

Easter/Jack's 4th Birthday

I haven't been taking many pictures lately but I think I definitely made up for it this weekend. We had a ton of Easter parties and I had my camera ready.

You can't really tell from the picture but Addie is wearing her Easter dress from last year. Got to love pillow case dresses!

Jack and his cousin Case.


Jack was so proud of himself even though there wasn't much skill involved in this hunt. We basically just threw the eggs on the ground.

This was the Easter egg hunt for our church party. Jack takes these hunts seriously.

Addie's little bucket ($5 at JBF!!!!) is almost as big as she is.

Thanks Camille for taking this picture. We rarely all get in the picture.

Addie was fascinated with this puddle until she was in it and then she wasn't too thrilled to have her shoes dirty. LOVE the Crocs!!!

Addie is fascinated with every little rock and pebble on the way home from the Lawson's Easter party.

This was our first attempt at Easter/Jack's 4 year old pictures. The kids weren't really in the mood to strike a pose.

Well, except this one. He was being extra annoying and wouldn't look at me or smile. So instead he decided to dance.

Neither kid would smile and both were squinting the whole time. UGH! This could have been super cute. Oh well.

Addie Grace looking pretty in her pettiskirt. I just love this outfit because it made a super cute Easter outfit and Addie is going to wear it as flower girl in my sister's wedding! I love when I get extra wear out of the fancy clothes.

I always think the kissing pictures are the cutest. My house is already covered with pictures of them kissing. I guess I have one more for the collection.

Addie striking a pose but still not smiling.

And now we've had enough. Jack has found a stick that is now a sword and Addie needs a nap.

I tried for one last picture. Jack apparently is doing a Zoolander look while Addie is well, being Addie.

This year we decided to forgo the giant birthday party for Jack and just combine his birthday and our family Easter party. It was soooooo nice. I didn't have to send out invitations, order party favors, or decorate. Plus my family has to love me regardless of the kind of party I throw so it felt very stress free. I wasn't worried about having the cutest cake this year so I just make these cupcakes and stuck some batman toppers in them to give a little birthday flare. I think they turned out pretty cute.

I love this picture because I managed to snap this right when she realized Daddy just caught her sneaking candy.

Then she realized she wasn't getting into trouble and decided to stuff her face with M&Ms.

The kids spent most of Easter riding their vehicles. Little Madi is so brave to ride in the back while crazy Jack is driving!

Addie loves her Tysen.

Jack and his cousin Haley. Such cuties!

I love this picture!!! Jack is starting to think girls are kind of gross and this picture definitely shows it.

This time last year the babies weren't even crawling and here they look so grown up already.

All the little Popes.

Last Easter egg hunt of the year.

Rylan and Jack going through their Easter baskets.

My last attempts at a cute Easter outfit picture. I think Addie had a piece of candy in her mouth.

Rylan wanted me to take his picture. Such a cutie!

After pictures, all the kids changed into their play clothes and then it was birthday time. Jack, of course, wanted to wear his batman shirt. The wind was blowing so we couldn't get the candle to light but Jack didn't care, he just wanted to eat his cupcakes.

Jack was very excited to recieve more Mercy Watson books. It is such a cute series and is a great introduction to chapter books for kids.

This was such a great birthday for Jack and he didn't even care that he had to share it with Easter. Thank you to our sweet family for all the gifts and for spending such a fun day with us. We love you all!