It just all happened so fast!

So our June has been very FULL and exciting.. It just all happened so FAST!.. I want to write a quick update on everything we've done in June. CRAZY... Now.. for the rest of the summer....

Last Day of School.. Cort graduated from Kindergarten.



The first weekend in June was Kate's Dance Recital... See previous post.. It was wonderful and we were so proud of Kate. She looked absolutely beautiful and danced her heart out. She smiled and gave it her all. After looking at her in recital makeup, Chad has put double locks on her bedroom doors and is now monitoring her cell phone... Just Kidding.. but her growing up is making me very nervous. And, by the way, she will not be wearing makeup for awhile.

Kate with her BFF, Maddie



The first week of June Caroline had gymnastics camp from 8-2 and Cort did VBS at Highland. This is where he asked Jesus to live in his heart. AMEN. And somewhere during that week I had my birthday. This was also the week of the boy's swimming lessons where Clayton learned to swim.





The next week all of the kids did VBS at First Baptist Woodway. And CLAYTON TURNED FOUR. He had a fun little rainy party at the Waco Water Park.




This was Clayton's little family party on his actual birthday. The cute monster cake was only 5.99 from HEB Hewitt. It as the perfect size.. just fyi..


June 19th we left for FLORIDA to visit with Chad's mom and sister and their families and we also fit in a trip to visit my family in Baton Rouge. It was amazing and beautiful and so much fun! We stayed here at Eden Condominums. in unit E204. We're excited to go back.








June 29th- All three older kids left for Camp. More to come on that later.

I have Him in my head... but I want Him in my heart.

Today was my 37th birthday!! I can't believe I am that old. It just seems like yesterday I was a little girl having an outside summer birthday party with a handful of neighborhood friends. Now... I'm a mom with kiddos asking me questions, needing me and wanting everything.
Chad and the kids made it a very special day for me. He took half the day off and we went to Ninfas and to see the movie "UP". Chad surprised me with my Baylor ring. One of the diamonds had fallen out, so I hadn't worn it for years. He took it and had the diamond replaced and the ring fixed for me. I'm so excited!
But.. not nearly as excited as I am that Cort decided this week at VBS that he wants to live for Jesus.... Here's the story.

I had decided sometime ago that my kids would do VBS at FB Woodway this year. Honestly for no other reason than that Clayton could attend... they accept 4 year olds and HBC doesn't.. and just because of convenience of location. That's honestly it. So, I hadn't even considered signing the children up for HBC VBS.

Well, Monday morning I woke up and realized that Caroline had gymnastics camp all week, Kate basically lives at friends houses, and Cort and Clayton would just be hanging with me all week... probaby in the Y nursery. I felt like maybe Cort should do VBS at Highland. I know the Jerusalem Marketplace curriculum would be something new for him and something he would really enjoy, so I woke him up and loaded him in the car to HBC.

It just couldn't have worked out better. We lined up to have him registered and he was able to get in a group with his two "besties".. CJ and Shep. I knew this was going to be a fun time for him. Sure enough, the first day he came home talking about how much he loved VBS.. which he was calling " Victory Bible Study".. His own Acronym I guess. He continued to tell me everyday about the stories he was learning at VBS.... the Bible Characters and the activities.

The next few days he got up so excited and anxious to go to "Victory Bible Study". I realized that on Thursday he had an appt. scheduled to have some pictures made, so I had planned on him missing VBS that day. Well, he wouldn't hear of it. He insisted that I call to move the pictures so he could be there. I did, and the photographer graciously offered us an afternoon appointment.

As it would turn out, Thursday Auntie Joy presented the children with the Plan of Salvation. Cort told me he immediately knew that he wanted to pray that, but it was suggested that maybe he was too young.

Well, today I picked him up from VBS and sure enough he told his leader that he understands and that he " knows he has Jesus in his head, but now he wants him in his heart". Can I just tell you what it felt like for me as a mom to see my precious little son make a decision to follow Christ?? I'm so proud of him and so excited for his decision.

More than ANYTHING ever for my children, I want Jesus to live and REIGN in their hearts. I'm so thankful for the workers at VBS (Ruby Kidd) and for the Lord for piercing Cort's heart, ordaining this moment for him and for prompting me on Monday morning to take Cort to Bible School at HBC. I know it was be something that will be a precious memory to him.. and me FOREVER!

I have told several friends and family members this before, but I believe the Lord is preparing Cort for something amazing. There is something inside his heart I see that is a geniune desire to be close to the Lord. I am so excited to see what the Lord has planned for Cort's future. Hopefully it doesn't involve a foreign country far away, or some kind of life of celibacy (we want lots of grandkids), but I'm certain it's going to be something that will put his outgoing personality and leadership qualities together to furthur the Kingdom! I can't WAIT to see what it is... well, yes I can.. for now, I just want to enjoy my little boy!

Kate's Dance Recital

Besides a little Zumba here and there, I'm not much of a dancer and I guess I never have been. I didn't have the body type for dancing growing up and never took. But, this is NOT true for Kate. She loves dance and is really quite good at it. She has the long legs for it and the passion to do it.

This weekend was the much anticipated Dance Recital for Jenni Holley Dance Studio. Kate has been so excited about this as dance is now "her thing". She is part of the Junior Company at Jenni Holley and has thoroughly enjoyed it.

This past weekend we had three recitals. Yes, that's right... I sat through three recitals and actually enjoyed each one of them. I was so proud of Kate and what a great job she did.

I just thought I'd share some pictures.




This was her ballet costume. She was just gorgeous in it.


This was her jazz costume where she danced to " Dancing In the Streets".


Yes, Chad went too! I think he enjoyed watching Kate dance, but did not enjoy seeing her in so much makeup and with leotards on showcasing her long legs!


This was my favorite costume and favorite dance. It was tap to " It Don't Mean A Thing"... So cute!

What a pretty leap! Kate is in the yellow!

This was Le Jazz Hot with her whole company.. Senior, Teen and Junior. It was incredible. And yes, friends.. You counted correctly. I had to purchase 5 different costumes for the recital. If you've ever had a dancer, then you feel my pain. But, it was well worth it to see the smile on her face and the fun she had doing it.

My Violinist

I just wanted to share some pictures of Kate at her spring Orchestra concert. I'm so proud of her for sticking it out this year and working to learn the violin. She has done so well and really enjoys playing. She has chosen to keep it up and continue in Orchestra as her elective for 6th grade as well.

I think it suits her so well. She's very detailed and studious and enjoys practicing the music. Sometimes the practice gets a little... well....frustrating inside the house, but anyone who has a child that plays an instrument knows that practice is a must.

This also leads to me to point out another advantage of Midway Schools. Kate has been able to learn her violin and get excellent instruction at school during classroom hours. We have had to pay for no outside lessons, and her concert was actually impressive for first year Orchestra students. It was delightful. Yeah Midway!!

Keep up the good work, Kate.

Heart of a Child

This morning as I was getting Cort ready for school, I was talking to him about his Awanas for tonight. We were covering what jewels he's earned and what he still needs to do. One of the requirements is for the club members to bring a friend to Awanas. Well, this is impossible for me because my cup runneth over with children on Wednesday nights. So, the alternative is to pray for a friend.

So, this morning I told Cort that we need to pray for a friend.. anyone. He stood there for a short minute and said, "I'd like to pray for Thomas." I know he doesnt have a friend named Thomas at school, church, baseball... anywhere... Don't know Thomas. I say "Are you sure Cort?"... he's sure... we pray for Thomas.. who we don't know.

About 3 minutes passes.. he's eating his breakfast, I pick up my iphone and check my email. I get an email from Gary Rhodes, and read it aloud to Chad as he's standing right next to Cort. It reads like this:

Dear Choir,
I am very saddened to give you the tragic news that Jolie Gant was killed in a car accident yesterday. Please pray for her son, Thomas as he has lost his mother."
Gary

Cort is listening and says... "Did you just say, Thomas?" I was so distracted by the terrible news, that I didn't even hear the child's name. But, my 6 year old son did. He looked at me with the... see Mom... look.. Just so sure of his decision to pray for Thomas.

Cort has never met Jolie Gant, a fellow alto in choir and friend, nor does he know Thomas, as Thomas is much older than he. Some would say this was just a coincidence. I would like to believe that my Lord, who is amazing, can speak through the heart of a child and place another on his heart to pray for.

Amazing Morning!

Cort's First Baseball Game

If you've known Cort very long, you know that his LOVE is sports. He has has a glove and ball in his hand since he could walk... and I'm not exaggerating. He has spent countless hours having his Daddy "throw" to him from the couch. SO.... Cort FINALLY being able to play REAL baseball has been a huge deal! Sure, he's played tball, but according to Cort.. that was no challenge. So, I thought I'd have to mark the moment where Cort had his FIRST REAL game!



This would be my son excited after he just got someone out at first base. He loved playing first base for his first game!


This is Cort getting a good solid base hit on his very first pitch on his first at bat... Can you tell I'm just a little proud?

Easter with the Castles

This was Easter Sunday after church. We don't have any pictures as a whole family because Daddy was serving at the church before and after service. There was a lot to be done!

This was the Lifegroup Easter Egg Hunt at our house!



More Easter morning pictures! It was a beautiful service and a fun day!


We took the kids to The Embassy Suites next to the Dallas Galleria on Good Friday night. The kids LOVE that hotel. The hotel ran a special for the night. We enjoyed it very much because all of the suites offer a seperate room for mom and dad, a nice indoor pool/ hot tub, a made to order breakfast, and two huge flatscreen tvs.. The main event is the gorgeous swans that swim around the hotel. We LOVE watching them.
We also took the girls to American Girl Doll store at the Galleria. I'm so thrilled that my 11 year old still wants to go to the doll store.

This was Cort's first time to ice skate... watch the video.. he says... I'm gonna fall, Daddy! So cute....