Father Daughter Ball 2019

Michael sailed home just in time for the annual Father Daughter Ball!  This was their third year, and it's always so magical.

This year's theme was tropical, complete with steel drums and fruity drinks with little umbrellas.

Breaking it down on the dance floor with Daddy!  This year's gift from the dads was pearls ~ Teary ceremony with dads on bended knee.  So sweet.  I texted Michael repeatedly throughout the evening to make sure he was taking pictures of the girls with their friends, but that was a major fail.  He only got this one picture of the girls with Taylor McCawley - poor Riley was sick.  Both girls had tons of friends there, but they focused on Daddy.  And that's okay.

This year they replaced the carriage ride with a stretch limo! I've still never been in one in my life!  Michael got a limo for our wedding, but it was really just a fancy white car.  Not a true limo experience.  The girls' had one with full neon lighting and tropical bar!  What a fun memory.

Meanwhile, the boys and I enjoyed our own night of bonding.  First I must offer my apologies to parents will small children driving around Lake Morton tonight... We bought Wesley a Mexican wrestling mask while on our cruise, and he’s been putting it to good use:

We had our own date night with Burger 21 and Coldstone.  Texting with Michael while he was at the ball was entertaining at times...

I found this in Carigan's little program.  Sweet, sweet, special memories! 

The Cow Tippers

Wesley had a hilarious role in the LCS spring play.  This year instead of doing separate middle school and high school productions, they combined for a single spring play.  I knew it meant Wesley would have a lesser role, but I have to admit I was a little disappointed when I drilled him about his character and he said he only had a few lines.  I thought he was just being a good sport when he said it was the role he wanted.  Turns out the reason he only says a few lines is because he plays a husband that can't get a a word in, with his best friend's sister playing his wife.  I love it that I had no idea what his role was about, because we about died laughing when we came for opening night.  Wesley and Emma stole the show!  They are absolutely hilarious, and despite Wesley's few words, it involved a lot of great acting.  So proud of this kid!

"Sit down, Vern... Just not your head, Vern... Stand up, Vern... Shut up, Vern..."

The Shakespeare converts.

TJ and Hyatt supported Wes and Jacob from the audience this time.

Thanks to Pastor Joel for coming to see the play, and of course, we can't tell you how much we love Mrs. Evans!

Mrs. Latham and Mrs. Snyder - Such special musical mentors that love on our kids!

Late night after party at Village Inn following the final performance.  This was a fun one! 

We now rejoin our regular show already in progress...

Grandma took these pictures while were were gone. They've been enjoying the new porch furniture I got for Christmas! Wesley and Anna Kate always get up pretty willingly in the mornings... Carigan and Tate not so much. They take their time lounging in my bed until someone drags them out.

We missed Valentine's Day with the kids, but Grandma had it covered! I also left treats for them before we set sail. The night before we got home, Grandma dropped Carigan off at Kerrigan's, where she had half of third grade spent the night. God bless Heather. She texted me photos:

They had the new Waffle House all to themselves! Briana, Addie, Anna, Selah, Carigan, Kerrigan, Audrey, Emma, Evelyn, Riley, Katie & Isabel.

We got home and picked up Carigan, and she crashed out before we did:

Sunday morning we visited Highlands so we could attend the potluck honoring Nana Susan and Charlie Faulkner. They are moving to Alabama, and we are so sad.  They have been such sweet adopted grandparents who loved on our kids when they had no grandparents close by. They've been an incredible blessing to our family. They will take a piece of our hearts with them to Alabama.

My little George Washington... still wearing it around the house days after bringing it home from school.

Our little baller is gearing up for the spring season!

Fun times in the car while we wait in the K5 lot every day for Bubby to get out of middle school. Tate likes to hang out of the window behind me.^   And our tabebuia tree is in full bloom!

We have new neighbors... The woman that owned both the front house and the back cottage where YaYa lived sold them, and YaYa had to move after nearly 30 years in that cottage. We are sad she had to leave, but she didn't go far - She found a cute little rental on Tennessee near Nineteen Sixty-One. We met the new neighbors, Scott and Amie, and they only have the furry kind of children. Tate managed to win Kelly over; Amie says she rarely lets people touch her unless she knows them very well.

Wes has been what you could call lackluster in his enthusiasm for piano this year. Thankfully, Mrs. Latham will text me to tell on him when he's unprepared. She's actually very sweet and loves him very much. I took this picture to prove to her he was practicing.