all the single ladies

as promised...

transformations: exterior

It's time to start transforming our new home! We've been in it for 5 months now and, other than the new driveway and replacement blinds for the sunroom, the house was virtually untouched. And it needs to be touched. So, this weekend, we got to work...

The front of the house, as of March.

The front of the house, as of this weekend.

Can you tell the difference?

Don't be confused: I'm not referring to the massively massive tree that has bloomed in our front yard. Though, yes, that is certainly different.

The shutters! Curtis and I put them up this weekend. Don't they look great?

The shutters have been in the basement since we bought the house because the previous owner had repainted and planned to rehang them. We think they are original to the house!

After borrowing a hammer drill, it was a fairly easy process. Curtis handled most of it, of course. I loaned my muscles when necessary.

Cooper was pretty enthusiastic about it all, too.

Man. He couldn't really contain himself, apparently.

Oh wait. It's something else.
He got chalk on this hands.

Oh, heaven forbid.

Good thing he's so stinkin' cute.

bye bye, schoow! (school)

Lat week, Cooper had to say goodbye to his first two preschool teachers, "Miss Wib" and "Miss Wopa" (Lib and Lopa). Of course, he didn't really have a clue that the "goodbye" was different from any other day. He did ask about them this week though. I think he really attached to them in the 2 or 3 months he was there! They were so compassionate, patient, and fun... and they needed every bit of that for Cooper, I'm sure!

Since the first day of "school" (see above pic), Cooper has loved almost every minute of it. After the first several weeks, he stopped crying when I dropped him off (don't worry- it normally only lasted about 3 seconds after I walked out of the door anyway). The last two days he was there, when I came to pick him up, he asked if he could stay longer. That does a mommy heart good!

Cooper's first class picture:

 I sincerely hope that you can click on that picture and get it big enough to see these kids. Curtis and I cannot stop laughing at how unbelievably awkward Cooper looks, along with most of the other kids. Although, I guess I should be proud because he was clearly following instructions. How else would he ever get into that position??

Want to be introduced?



That is truly one of Curtis and my favorite things right now. Makes me smile every time.

In the end, preschool has been such a blessing for our whole family. I know it's not for everyone at this age, but it was definitely the right move for us. Now, if we can just make it until September!

2nd annual buzz event

It's that time of the year again. The time of year when the sun beats down, the black leather seats become a very bad idea, our electric bill goes through the roof, and my boys start sweating. A lot. The poor things. Their hair basically feels like wearing a toboggan in 90 degree heat (so I hear, anyway). All that to say... this weekend, it was time for the 2nd Annual Chesney Buzz Event!

Remember last year?

Our first experience with the clippers. It wasn't pretty (Cooper had to be restrained half the time), but we got it done.

This year,  they were all smiles! Of course, that was before the clippers came out. 

The Before- aren't my boys cute?

Look at that beautiful hair! People PAY to get hair like that! It will grow back. That's what I keep telling myself.

Did I mention that they have a lot of hair?

A. Lot. Of. Hair. It's amazing.

Then, it began. The only way we could get Cooper to be still was to put on his current favorite DVD- Dr. Seuss. It worked for a few minutes.

Long enough to start this pile. There was so much of it!

Curtis' turn next! He did most of it himself, and then I hesitantly helped out for the "fine-tuning". It is nerve-wracking! Hair cutting is so permanent.

His pile appropriately dwarfed Cooper's and highlighted the crazy difference in their hair color.

The after! Happy boys with cool hair cuts. Pun very much intended.

Annabelle felt left out of the fun.

She didn't need a buzz, though. Apparently she received hers en utero.

Side note- my girl IS getting some hair. Slowly, but surely, we are going to beat the baldness! :)

We finished the event with one of Cooper's favorite activities: jumping from the side of anything.

Ahhhh... feel the breeze across the head...

It's going to be a great summer.

peaks and valleys

A few weeks ago, we invited our dear friends the Kehnes for a last-minute weekend beach trip. They took us up on it and drove the 7 hours just a few days later! So spontaneous of them. :) We were thrilled.

There were lots of old stories, dinners in, belly laughs, Margaritas, and sweet conversations. Kids certainly alter your beach trips, but we made the most of it.

Seth, who has been entertaining us for years, is now the life of the party for Emery. He is head over heels for that that little girl.

And Cooper- he thinks "Sef" is the coolest.

One of the funniest things I've seen in awhile was Seth repeatedly singing "All the single ladies" and teaching Cooper to throw his arms up and dance whenever he heard it. Don't worry- they have it on video so I'll post it soon.

We had some great time on the beach too- the weather was amazing.

Isn't she gorgeous? She's such a Gerber baby. I could've just watched her all day.

Oh wait- I think I did. 

I love this picture. She's so elegant.

Cooper was pretty interested in Emery. With her content and calm personality, I've already decided that Emery is a potential wife. I wonder when I should let him know. :)

Mainly, though, Cooper was on the go. He LOOOOVED every minute on the beach!

Annabelle loved it too, but in a much more relaxed way.

Straight chillin.

Not this girl- she was living it up.

That smile rarely left her face.

It may have had something to do with being near her beautiful mommy.

Yep. I think that was it.

We couldn't have asked for much more from our three days at the beach. We all left happier, refreshed, and even a little sun-kissed!

Only two days after heading back to Knoxville, however, our friends experienced a devastating loss. So, the following weekend, we drove to Tennessee to grieve with them and for them at the Celebration of Life service for Seth's dad. It was heartbreaking.

The thought that I keep having while writing this post is this: 

We consider it such an honor to walk through life with this family- both the joy-filled peaks and the depths of valleys. To me, that is friendship.

Aunt Whitney

James 1:27 says this: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."


How pure of heart is it to be a person who seeks out and cares for those who are "in distress"? When I think of what that would look like, to look after orphans and widows in their distress, I think of my sister Whitney. She has faithfully pursued children in need for years- almost since she was a child herself. She is tenderhearted and strong and she fights for kids that no one else is fighting for. 

This is the main reason why I was so excited to celebrate Whitney's graduation last month. The other one, of course, was the awesome gowns.

Here she is... the beautiful graduate! 

(my camera was on some crazy setting, so you'll have to forgive the blurriness)

The "hooding"! The whoooole family was there, minus Peter (in Spain).

The proud parents.

Isn't he a cutie? That's Matt, Whitney's beau.

 Sisters... gotta love 'em.

 Even the babies came out to celebrate! 

Uncle Kevin is still working on the baby-holding thing. :)

 Annabelle was thrilled. :)

Cooper was pretty pumped about the "grad-ya-ation" too!

Check these out:

Cooper loves his Aunt Whit.

We do too. Congratulations, Whitney!