The (Younger) Graduate

Last week, Brayden graduated from the Day School at Saint Luke's -- and he'll be going to Kindergarten next year! The graduation ceremony was super cute. I have a video to share, but I haven't had a chance to edit it yet... Why? Because I'm on vacation at the beach! :) I'll show you later. Until then, here is a sweet picture of the proud parents!


Our big graduate


A celebratory cake - everybody gets some sugar!

Brayden's Soccer Season

Brayden finished his first soccer season last weekend and he did an excellent job. He and his team also received medals (and he could NOT have been more excited!). Here are a few pictures of the final day.


The proud parents!


A medal close-up


The glory boys - too cute!

Mother's Day Weekend

As if last weekend wasn't full enough, Sunday was Mother's Day! Interspersed with all the other celebrations going on last weekend were little moments of Mother's Day joy.

Nicole ended her week with a Mother's Day Tea with Brayden at the Day School:

Brayden could not have been more excited to host Nicole

Saturday began with a visit to the Home Depot Kids Workshop where the kids made Mother's Day planters. So sweet!

They even got live flowers to take home!

After the stop at Home Depot, we were off to Brayden's soccer game. The team finally took a group shot (Nicole was behind the camera, dressed for graduation).

A mini-motley crew

...and now I realize that I don't have any pictures from SUNDAY -- the actual DAY! Ah well, I can sum it up with one word: Parcheesi. Brayden's MD gift was Parcheesi and we played it over and over and over...

The Graduate

Nicole is now a Master! We celebrated Nicole's graduation on Saturday where she received a MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. We loaded up the kids and friends and headed to the arena for the ceremony. Here are some of the highlights:

Waiting for the ceremony to begin


I don't know what he's looking at, but it's a great picture of him!


Processing in (and looking around for us)


She found us! Hi!


Hearing her name called, about to walk the stage

NOTE: I'm trying to take video and talk with/manage the kids at the same time (one on each side) ...I'm not naturally this shaky.

With Carrie, waiting for Nic after the ceremony


Running to give Nic a BIG hug!


Layna got hugs, too


Celebrating with Mama


Trying it on for size


Before we know it, he'll have his own

A BIG Weekend -- Poppy's Birthday

This weekend is a BIG weekend of celebrations, with a new one each day. On Friday, Poppy arrived in Birmingham to celebrate Nicole's graduation on Saturday... but let's stick with Friday first.

We went out on Friday night to celebrate Poppy's birthday (a day earlier). We took him to Sweet Bones Alabama and then to 32 Degrees - YUM!

Party hats ON!


Brayden decided to be the birthday triceratops!

Then is was off the 32 Degrees, a frozen yogurt shop that we love. Although we all love ice cream ...Layna seems to love it a little too much!

Draining her bowl. Hilarious.

Alabama Storms and Sermon

Last week was a real struggle around here -- the storms that ripped through the South hit Alabama hard. Please continue to pray for all those effected.

This picture was taken of the tornado only just over a mile from our house:

Incredible!

I had the opportunity to preach today and dealt with a question asked to me by a five-year-old in our Saint Luke's Day School: "Why would God make tornadoes if they are so bad and they hurt people? That question become the basis for my sermon. Click here to go to the church website where you can listen or read it -- and let me know what you think!