Friday's Facts!

1. It is HOT outside (like you didn't know that)!! I have to get up early and stay up late to get errands run and stuff done. I know I'm only 24 but this heat has me beat.
2. Only 4 more weeks of summer school left. I have learned so much and really enjoyed my classes. In one of the classes I had to tape a counseling session and bring it in to be viewed and critiqued by the class...ahhh! I can't believe I am approaching the end of this journey. I am registering for the fall today and then after that I have the spring semester until I am DONE!! It doesn't seem real yet; it probably won't until I am walking across the stage and get my diploma.
3. Tonight is family night with Dwight's family and I am excited! Dinner and a movie. :)
4. I got a massage yesterday and it was AMAZING. I told Dwight that when the time is right, that will be my one weekly indulgence. Ha!
5. The kids go home tonight for the weekend. I'm going to miss them but I will probably get some extra R&R.
6. I have A LOT of homework I need to do this weekend: research papers, visit a 12-step program and write a professional review, visit a drug treatment center, take a test, read etc. It gets overwhelming at times so I usually just pick one or two things each week and do it. I don't know what I'll do with myself when I am out of school. It's been my life for going on 6 years between undergrad and now graduate school.
7. I can't believe June is almost over. The 4th of July will be here before we know it. Dwight and I are hosting the celebrations at our house and having both our families over!
8. Brianna got her hair cut this week, now it's the boy's turn. Dwight cuts their hair so I'm going to have him do that today.
9. The other day Dwight came home and said "The house looks great, babe. You are a great stay at home mom/wife." I love that man!
10. TGIF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A day of fun with my kids!

I love being a momma. :)

Today, I took Bri Bri to get her hair trimmed, it had gotten so long.

I talked to her mom first and got the go ahead and off we went!

Here she is 3 inches shorter. This little girl is BEAUTIFUL and I feel like I can say that since I had nothing to do with it. Ha!

The back. Don't you just love those curls?!?

I took the boys with me even though Dwight offered to keep them. They really are all so well behaved and never give us a problem when we go out. I took a couple of cars for them to play with and that's exactly what they did for about an hour as Brianna got her hair cut.

Afterwards we grabbed a cookie from Great American Cookie (aka the BEST cookies ever) for a treat!

After our cookies I took them to the indoor mall playground and let them run around/slide/climb for a bit.

It wore them out, clearly...

I love how Tristan is holding onto Brianna, I know it was no accident. He is definitely the protector of the crew and he will hold your hand/put it on your leg or arm as he sleeps. Its so sweet that even at the age of 3 years old he has that desire to protect his big sis. She will have NO problems growing up; can you imagine having brothers that are 6'10 and 6'8?!?! Let's all say a prayer for her future boyfriend now. Ha!

Is it bad that I waited for the kids to fall asleep to eat my cookie (and pick up a sonic dr. pepper)?

Yes, that's right. I held onto my cookie for over an hour so I could enjoy it and a an ice cold drink in silence.

I'm such a mom now!! Ha ha

I called Dwight when we got home and had him carry them each up so they could continue their naps but of course that didn't last! That's okay, they got a good cat nap in the car.

After dinner the kids got to enjoy some ice cream and chalking on the porch.

Dwight had to coach for a couple hours tonight so I had to bathe all 3 kids (so glad they take showers now), read 3 bedtime stories (each kid gets to pick out a book) plus 2 Bible stories (my book choice) and say prayers. After the kids were down I did a load of laundry, washed dishes and vacuumed. I always feel like

super-mom after an evening alone with them. Ha!!

Thankfully my hubs is home now so we are going to enjoy a movie together!

Good night :)



A Breath of Fresh Air

Sunday, on our way home from Dallas, Dwight and I made the rounds and picked up these 3 love bugs of ours. It was a breath of fresh air after our weekend. They were all SO excited to see us and each other. :) Later that night we joined Dwight's business partner for a cook out at their house.

The kids had to play on the neighborhood playground for a few minutes (despite the awful heat/humitity).

The kids love Mrs. Robin and Mr. Wayne.

I had to get a pic of them running up to their house to ring the doorbell with pure joy!

We cooked out, swam, talked and had a relaxing evening.

They each took turns sliding to daddy, going in the caves and practicing their swimming moves. :)

This morning I let Dwight get some extra rest while I took the kids to the Monday morning movies we have been enjoying the summer. The featured film was Rio and they loved it!

I am so thankful for the gift of our precious children. They make each day more fun, happier, blessed and exciting. We're on summer schedule so Bri and Amari will be spending a lot of time during the week with us instead of the weekend. I have lots of fun stuff planned!



A Hard Weekend

This weekend was hard.

We had to say goodbye to Dwight's precious Granny.

Although many tears were shed, there is great peace knowing she is healed and whole with her Maker.

I think the hardest part for me was seeing my husband hurt; he loved his grandma just like our kids love theirs. Friday afternoon (after getting my hair cut again...see pictures below, it's short!) we headed out to Dallas for the weekend. Mimi kept Tristan and Brianna and Amari stayed home. I am so thankful we took the time away to allow ourselves to grieve and be alone, just us and God.

My precious mother in law hosted us and a few family members at her house. It amazed me that even though she lost her mother, she was taking care of everyone and making sure we were okay.

Even though this weekend was hard, it was healing. I got to spend some quality girl time with Dwight's mother, aunt and sister; one on one and as a group. I'll always cherish that time. I got to visit places that Dwight grew up, hear countless memories re-told of his childhood...I got to laugh hard and cry hard.

Friday after the viewing we needed to get away and just be so we took a late night drive to In -N- Out Burger. It was my first time eating there and it was so YUM!

Some goood comfort food. :)

I have loved Dwight for many years now; but it amazes me how that love changes and grows as we continue to go through different seasons of life. I feel like our love went to an even deeper level this weekend. I simply can't imagine doing life with anyone else. It was so neat to hear his family members who hadn't seen him in a long time comment on how he had grown up so much and seemed so mature. I even overheard someone say, "Your wife got you straightened out!" Ha! The truth is, God is the one responsible for who this man is today. He has a testimony like none I've ever heard. Be expecting a post from him soon, he told me the other day he wants to write an entry. :)

We scarfed down our food just as soon as we got it.

Afterwards it was time to go home and reflect. 3am quickly came and our pillows were calling our name.

Even though exhaustion had hit, our human minds were still trying to understand that even though we will miss Granny, she is in Paradise.

Saturday was the funeral and it was the hardest part of the weekend.

I think we're still all in shock. Dwight's grandma helped raise him...like my mom has with Tristan.

I see how much Tristan loves his Mimi and I hurt because I know that's how Dwight loved his Granny.

The day was spent surrounded by family and friends, honoring the life of "Mother Moore" and celebrating her "home-going". She is home. She is healed. She is happy and wants us to be too. Last night all the grandkids went to her house, I had never been before. Dwight took me room by room and showed me old pictures, told me stories about growing up, and let me see a part of his life that I never have before. It was a great way to end the weekend and I am so glad we took our time through this process.

Please keep our family in your prayers as we continue to grieve our lost yet celebrate the life she lived.



Summer Lovin'

Dwight makes random appearances in some of the blog posts but not near as consistent as I'd like.

Mostly because he is a guy who doesn't love to take pictures; but also because I don't always think to go grab my camera when we have time to ourselves. Well this post is ALL about my main squeeze so get ready for picture overload of my hubs!

A couple of weeks ago, on a Monday night after I had class and picked up Tristan's from Mimi's, we came home and daddy put little man to bed. It started lightening and thundering so Dwight asked if I wanted to go sit on the porch and watch. It was beautiful! We were talking and laughing, adoring how great our God is, even in the midst of a storm. I know in our own personal lives we have seen our own "storms" and experienced the presence of God during them. It's so sweet to sit and watch one in the natural with my husband and know that it too will pass.

(I promise Dwight isn't alway shirt-less...Ha!)

Dwight was all about the lightening and told me to go grab my camera so we could take pics. WHAT?!?!

Ha! That never happens...for him to suggest we take pics. But I guess that's what summer lovin' will do to you. :) He tried SO hard to capture the lightening and it just wasn't happening... You can see one tiny little strike off in the distance; it does not do the storm justice.

<3

 

Love you to the moon and back!

Tristan will be spending the night with his Mimi tomorrow night and Bri and Amari will be home as Dwight and I spend the night in Dallas with his family and prepare for his grandmother's funeral. It's been an emotional week but it has brought us even closer together. So thankful to do life with this man.



This & That

So much going on in the Coleman household!

Here is a little bit of this and that of what's been happening...

I got my hair cut today. It's pretty short and I think I may go back tomorrow and have them give it a tad bit more of a "swing" to the front of it. I never thought I'd be one of "those" women who gets a short hair cut after having children but, here I am. Ha! Between the Texas heat and not having enough time to do my hair with little kids around; this is a much easier option, I like it! :)

Bri and Amari spent nearly a week with us and we had lots of fun during that time.

I took them all to Tristan's play therapy appointment and the therapist let them all participate in the session. She couldn't get over how well behaved they were. She told me "they listened to everything I said, played great together and are so well adjusted." That made me so happy to hear her say.

 Afterwards we had a playdate with friends!

Tristan and I got in some quality time together this morning and made cinnamon toast together.

I finally got his bedroom curtains up! I still need to get the red ribbon bows to go on them but for now I am just happy they are hung.

Brianna lost her first tooth! She came over last weekend so excited to show me and daddy. Her mom had already texted us an adorable picture of her toothless grin the day before but we acted totally surprised. :)

I know I say this ALL the time...but, these have to be some of THE cutest kids in the world!!

Okay, maybe I am a bit biased, but seriously; they are. :)

I know I also say how talented my mom/Mimi is all the time.

That's true too!

Here is my old room (made over) at her house; she free handed those trees and birds.

Pure God-given talent!

**disclaimer (so my mom doesn't freak for  me posting this pic) this bedroom is in the middle of remodel and therefore is filled with random stuff that will not be there when completed...mom, you can breathe now.

Ha!!

Well we can't put that talent to waste, now can we? Ha!

I found this idea on Pinterest and asked if she could come paint it over mine and Dwight's bed; she agreed.

I LOVE how it turned out. My family has a thing for the brown/teal color scheme, huh?

Dwight coached a tournament last weekend so I got tons of time with these 3 munchins.

They sure can wear me out but boy do they bring me joy!

These guys are the 3 amigos. I love watching them play together!

TV is rarely on in our house because they'd rather be reading, playing pretend school/house, coloring or hopping on one foot across a mat. :)

We came home the other night and the plant my mom got me looked like this.

I was so sad, especially after bragging in the previous post about keeping my other plant alive.

God loves to humble me. Ha! I decided to give it some water and not loose hope just yet...

And I'm glad I didn' t because 20 minutes later this is how it looked!

Dwight loves to surprise me even though I hate surprises.

He had been at work one night and called me to tell me he had to stay late but would be home shortly.

I heard a little knock on the door and in came Amari! He had been out of town for a week so Dwight picked him up a few days early. Tristan was sound asleep on the top bunk but daddy insisted on waking him up so he could see his brother. T was so out of it but quickly came to realize who was there and got SO excited.

They got to stay up for another 35 minutes to play and catch up!

I woke up Monday (the day after Father's Day) to Dwight cooking a full spread breakfast and watching James Robinson (one of my favorite Christian speakers). What a good man he is!!

Having a little girl around melts my heart and is so much fun.

I am so thankful for this sweet daughter of mine, she has a special place in my heart.

I straightened her hair the other night and couldn't believe how long it has gotten.

Up in a bun it goes for bed time or it will be tangles galore in the morning. Ha!

On a much more serious/sad note; Dwight's grandmother passed away this morning. Would you lift his family up in prayer as they mourn the loss of this precious lady they all adored? I am so thankful I got to meet her and she was able to see her grandson mature into the amazing man/father he is.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4