The Growing Caldwell Family

We started Mother's Day weekend off going to watch Olivia play baseball! Charlie gave me a beautiful bouquet that he picked out! This was also when the Northern Lights were on display throughout much of the South so we made a late night ride to Wedowee in hopes of seeing them. I don't think we could see them, but we did have beautiful views of the night sky.  Olivia very sweetly picked out an Owala bottle for me since I didn't have one. So thoughtful! Sissy picked out a beautiful towel for me while she was visiting Mount Vernon and she painted a card for me.  Sissy also made this frame for Lovie using a laser cutting machine at school. The frame lists all the places they visited while in Jackson Hole! Having given me his bouquet, Charlie also had a sweet card.  After gifts and a fantastic steak lunch cooked by Aaron, Charlie decided it was warm enough for a swim! So glad we could be together to celebrate all the love between us!  

Lovie celebrated her birthday with a trip to Las Vegas and seeing Adele in concert, but we wanted to celebrate with her too! This was a milestone birthday, so I wanted her to feel special.  Sarah Graves also had big ideas to make Lovie feel special - Bucee's party! Two cakes meant two times to sing and make wishes! Lovie does so much to make us feel loved and takes such good care of all of us. I hope she felt that same love reflected back to her for her special day.   

While we could all be together, we spent time celebrating Lovie's Birthday! Jeanne' made cinnamon rolls, fruit dip, and monte cristo sandwiches for brunch. It was so yum! There was a specialty drink, too! We named it the Wedowee Sunrise . We did presents and cake too. The cake was my contribution - caramel cake! This one was so good! Even those who aren't dessert fans liked this one! This guy was looking so cute!  

After being gone for a couple of weeks, the kids were beyond excited when Lovie surprised them at chapel!

Our busy Sunday continued with a delicious and oh so fun birthday dinner for Movie at Cheesecake Factory. 

Sarah Graves has a spirit for adventure! When we mentioned that she was old enough to fly alone to visit her grandparents in Louisiana, she didn't hesitate to say she wanted to do it! The crew at Southwest took fantastic care of her! Granny, Aunt Arden, and Austin were there to pick her up. She was a little upset that her bag was misplaced, but they quickly found it. During the week she went to VBS with Austin and Grancy and Aunt Arden volunteered. I think she had a great time. The last day was dress like a Roman day and Grancy made sure she was decked out in a super cute toga dress! j Sissy with Ella and Lily - granddaughters of Grancy's good friend and neighbor. A trip to the trampoline park was a lot of un! She forgot her glasses there and they haven't turned up since! We figure some little girl is going around Shreveport showing off her new rainbow glasses!  Sarah Graves spent part of the week with Grandaddy and MiMi. If she hadn...

Aaron is away at training this week, so Lovie is staying with us.  She is sleeping over every night this week! Sarah Graves is thrilled to have Lovie stay at our house!  If it were up to Sarah Graves, we would all live on a compound together.  Isn't that what every child wants, all their favorite people in one place all the time? I have appreciated all the help.  The evenings are hectic enough, but doing it by yourself is just exhausting.  It has been nice to have someone there to talk to once the kids are in bed.  I am not used to having anyone to help me get SG ready in the mornings and I could definitely get used to that!  If Lovie and Pops ever want to move in, I would be happy. We have missed daddy a lot while he is gone and one of those reasons is his patience getting Charlie back to sleep.  I can usually get him down the first time, but the frequent wake ups after that start to wear on me.  We have done alright though and once Ch...

Yesterday we made the trip to Baton Rouge so that our sweet boy could be baptized with his extended family around him.  I was nervous about making the drive with two little ones, but my parents helped out and it worked okay. Mom and Dad drove me and the kids so that I could sit in the third row seat and be their personal driving assistant.  Charlie seemed to do better being able to see a face and Sarah Graves liked having me there to read to her, set up her iPod, and get the iPad for her.   We made several stops for snacks, potty break, and nursing.  Sarah Graves loves going into the gas station and picking something out with Pops! Aaron left after work and made the trip quickly by himself.  He didn't seem disappointed not to ride with an infant and toddler. Probably the best entertainment for her was watching the season of Caillou that I downloaded and put on the iPad.  She loves that show and it seems to relax her.   We were really late ...

I am so grateful to my Mom for all the time that she spends with us.  She is a big help with the two of them and I love getting to spend time with her.   Lovie comes many mornings to bring Sarah Graves to school, hang out with me and Charlie, and keep things fun.  I hope one day I can be this helpful with my grandchildren.