we were present. all of us.

I wanted to blog yesterday but I could barely keep my eyes open after our guests left.  I am sure the more I do this... the better I will get. It's crazy that when I don't, I feel guilty. 

Yesterday was the 1st drop dead gorgeous day of the year. It was 82 degrees with some serious wind. It was perfect. I started to think about how all I wanted was spring to come & yesterday  felt like summer but I DEFINITELY wasn't complaining...  

I did something yesterday I have never done before. I let jordan stay home from school just because. I didn't have a reason. Well, deep down I did have a reason... I wanted us all,  jordan, dominic, dycen & I to spend the day together. I wanted us all to be present. To be there enjoying the weather and celebrate the past year of our lives. It has been such a change for all of us and I wanted to celebrate. 

Happy 1st Birthday Dycen Carter!!

 

We celebrated by doing all sorts of fun stuff! A lot of the day was spent talking about Dycen's Carnival Party. It was a success! All of the kids had a blast... 

Enjoy some of my favorite pictures. 

And of course... my FAVORITE FAVORITE!!

Jordan had his first scrimmage right before the birthday party. Oh my gosh was that awesome! I was suppose to leave half way through the game but I couldn't. I needed to be there. There was NO WAY I was leaving... I called my girlfriends from the game and told them I was going to be late to the church to set up. 

It's a good thing I didn't go... he scored his first touchdown and after running through the end zone holding his pointer finger in the air, he turned around and looked at the side line. I was right there... jumping up and down, screaming and yelling like a crazy woman. He looked at me with such a proud look and wanted my approval... it was a moment I will hold on to forever. He smiled for the rest of the game. It was perfect. I was present.

Now back to yesterday... we started out at the park & had a picnic. Lunch was over and everyone was ready to go play. We cleaned up our area and headed for the playground. Dominic ran up to me holding himself... 'Mommy, I gotta go, I gotta go... ' ummm.... i immediately when into panic mode.  Everyone and their mother was at the park. There was kids, dogs, babies, EVERYWHERE. There was no bathroom. What was I going to do? We went to the van and I opened the door for something to jump out at me to help me out. It did! Our car had so much left over stuff in it from the party there was a water bottle staring me right in the face. I quickly dumped it out. I had jordan stand behind dycen's stroller, got between our car and the one next to us and prayed that he would aim right in that water bottle. IT WORKED! I was so relieved. Nobody saw, everyone was happy, we didn't have to find the furthest tree and try not to make it obvious on what we were doing. :) Off to the playground we go.... :)

Jordan couldn't resist the open field. He ran back to the car to get his football. We played catch and ran around like crazy. Moms were swinging their kids in the swings, waiting at the end of slide for their babies, sitting down reading a book while their kids play, chatting with the other Warrenton moms... oh not me, I had my sleeves rolled up and tackled Jordan like it was my job. I threw Dominic in the air and almost dropped him because Dycen came up behind me and wanted a piece. It was pure adrenaline running through my veins and I ate it up... I had to, because at any moment I was gonna tip over and run out of breath. Reason #143 why I need to get in shape. 

We spent the rest of the day with Melissa & Tre. We played 500.  (You have 1 thrower who throws the football to the rest of the group and calls out numbers before they throw, and the first person to 500, wins!)  It was so fun! It brought back so many memories from when I grew up playing with my brothers. 

Since Dominic & Dycen couldn't play... they just hung out on the side lines. It feels so good to be outside.

Then we switched it up to a little kick ball.  That was harder for me because at that point dycen really didn't want to sit down in the leaves and watch us anymore. He was hungry and tired and well... just wanted some attention. First time I ever played a sport with a baby on my hip. GREAT WORKOUT! 

I lit the grill up and the immediate smell of springtime came over our backyard. Spring is here, memories are to be made! T-bones, corn on the cob, pasta and rolls were on the menu. We ate outside, loving every minute of it. What a wonderful day of celebration! What a wonderful day it was. I was present. My boys were present. My family was present. My friends were present. 

& I can't leave out Dominic's idea to feed the deer. Mind you, we have no deer in our backyard. Yes, those are oranges on a stick. The imagination of children is limitless.

Cheers to you Dycen Carter Tapscott! I love you more than words can say!!! 

Happy Tuesday y'all & most importantly, happy birthday sweet boy!

oxox, jess