following their lead

Kinsey copies EVERYTHING the kids do so I always remind them to be good leaders so she'll copy the positive behaviors. (Clearly it goes both ways and she mimics the not so good things too....but we're working on it!) The other day while I was getting dinner ready Braden and Cailey were off playing upstairs while Kinsey was at my feet. The next thing I know she had 'SET' the table! Without being asked...without help or direction...my two year old set the table! It's amazing to me to see how much earlier kids do things when they have older siblings because I KNOW I didn't have Cailey set the table when she was two. (We did start her early though...but I think she was 3). I was so excited and tried to give her the 'B' plate (our celebration plate-something our other kids strive for and rejoice over) for showing initiative, but she said NO and wanted her Minnie Mouse plate! She doesn't understand that it was special, but oh well!

everything was crooked, but she
tried her best and I was so proud!

beating the heat!

fearful no more! it only took 3 days
in the pool for her to start 'swimming'
away from me!

group pic....reece and cailey had a blast
jumping into the pool OVER and OVER!

still my cautious boy, but does
AWESOME with a vest, turtle, or wings
(he does NOT like to get his face wet)

after school swim:)!


precious moment!!

pool tag! i was chasing these fun kids ALL over the pool...
then reece wanted a piggie back ride to tag the girls:)

they all finally 'got' me:)

Yesterday we met friends at the pool (for the third time this week:). It was SO nice and refreshing to be in the water and I had a blast playing with everyone. I've always loved playing in the pool with the kiddos and honestly have never sat out and read a magazine, etc. while they were swimming. (Not that I think there is anything wrong with that...it's just not me.) I just LOVE to be with them in the water (when it's over 60 degrees:)! It'll be hard for me as they grow up and make friends and don't want mommy around anymore (boo hoo!!!) As for now we will spend as many days in the pool as possible...and I can't WAIT for Cailey to be done with school so I don't have to worry about early naps anymore:)!!! (Only three weeks to go!!!) Thanks to our sweet friends who let us come with them!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM/NONNY!!!

"happy, happy, happy anniversary..."

DATING LIFE:

graduation...then two weeks later:

MARRIED LIFE (PRE CHILDREN):
*all these were taken in MA*

i was nine months pregnant in this one:)

Brian did a great job of telling the story...now I want to provide the pics!! These are all before we moved..I had to save something for next year:)! People who TRULY know us understand that I am a SPOILED wife! Brian does so many things for our family above and beyond providing. He gets up with them early in the morning so I can sleep...he makes Cailey's lunch and takes her to school...he helps with the laundry...and the grocery shopping...and the cooking...and the cleaning. This has changed over the years according to our situation (and my health). I am so thankful for you Brian and I love you so much! You were by my side during 7 surgeries or hospital stays, being homeless with a baby, being jobless and during infertility treatments. We've made it through a lot...and God has truly blessed me with you. Thank you for loving me, for being patient when I'm not, for knowing what to say, for holding me when I cry, for backing me up, for putting up with me:), and for loving our children so deeply. I can't wait to see what the future holds for us:)
*Happy Anniversary to Laura and Geof who were married at the same time on the same day of the same year as us!*
**and yes...this was worth breaking MY one post a day rule:)
***which pic do you like best???

Happy Anniversary!!!

Brian here. I am interrupting Heather's normal blogging to announce that today is our ninth anniversary. Heather and I met in 1995 when she came to UNC Greensboro as a freshman and I was a junior. We were part of a sign language and mime choir called Vision. Our first date came on November 23rd, 1996 after she had made it known a week earlier that she liked me. From there it was a roller coaster mainly because I am hard headed about relationships but nonetheless God had purposed us for each other and in August, 1998 I proposed and on June 5th, 1999 we were married at the Hickory Grove Advent Christian Church in Four Oaks, NC. My late father officiated the ceremony. Life really has been 150 mph since then. A month later we moved to Massachusetts so I could attend seminary and that is where we had Cailey. We moved back to NC in 2003 and I starting working in IT while Heather stayed home with Cailey and then Braden(2004) and then Kinsey(2006) Never wanting to be idle, Heather also has a knack for finding flexible part time jobs to help out the family such as teaching preschool.

Heather is a wonderful wife and mother. She always knows the right things to say to the kids to ease a situation. She is constantly attentive to the fact they should be playing games or doing something educational rather than just sitting around. As my wife she always brings out the best in me since I am laid back and bit of a procrastinator. She is also smart and beautiful with a quick wit and playful personality. She was truly meant for me and I love her even more than I did nine years ago.

So happy anniversary Heather Marie. Have a great day.

Cubbie Awards!

Braden had his last night of Awanas (until the fall) on Sunday night. He got his 'bear pin' for finishing the WHOLE book...way to go bud! He was given a stuffed bear and a wooden cross too. After all the awards were handed out he enjoyed a FEAST for dinner:) You can tell by the plate he LOVES fruits and veggies...and yes, he DID eat it all!!

Abigail Marie

Abigail (Abby) Marie is our new niece! (She's my brother's new baby.) She is actually not so new, but we just met her this past weekend. Abby was born on March 19th, 2008- which is a special day to us for another friend's birthday too:). She is SO calm and laid back and the kiddos LOVED holding her!

all of Nonny and Poppy's grandkids!

First Swim!

Our summer has officially started! Today we had our first day at the pool with friends. The kids haven't been swimming in a LONG time so I didn't know how they would do. Kinsey (previously my daredevil) was TERRIFIED!! I was completely shocked...last year she would jump in even if there was no one to catch her! By the end of our swim today she had warmed up to it, but was still not as 'free' as last year. (Hopefully she'll get to that point again because I already have enough cautious ones:). Braden (previously my cautious one) did AWESOME! He loved the water wings and was swimming all over the place. Then I took off the wings and put on the vest which he did NOT like. He immediately flipped over on his back and went under the water. After I helped him practice for a while he got the hang of it. I like the vests a lot better because he can move his arms better:). Cailey did great as well. She is still not swimming completely, but can go under and get diving sticks, and does great with the vest on! We are going to have an AWESOME summer at the pool!!!

this is deceiving...kinsey didn't swim much without
someone holding her

sorry austin and reece....you guys were too fast for me
to get your pictures...next time!!

Camping Trip

Friday night the men from our Sunday school class took the kids 'camping' in the Lyon's backyard. They ate dinner, played "duck, duck, goose," read stories, ate smores, and best of all SLEPT in a tent:)!! Our kids went right to sleep...something I had worried about with them being together. The next morning they woke up, had pancakes, and ended the fun with a 'hike'. It was so successful they are talking about doing it again in the fall!

Cailey, "my favorite part was taking a picture with all the girls"

Braden, "my favorite part was roasting marshmallows"