Happy 6th Birthday Kelsey!!

September 15, 2006- after 23 1/2 of the longest, intense, emtion filled hours in my whole life Kelsey Ann was born. She came into this world with a pop (literally--I had a nurse jump on me) and hasn't slowed down yet.

I can't believe my baby girl is 6 years old! She is the best thing that has ever happened to me :) I was young, some say too young, but I am a firm believer to this day that God has a huge plan for both of us.

Kelsey is the biggest dreamer I know, she reminds me of myself. It looks like she is going to take after my passion for horses, which makes me smile as big as I can. She is so so smart...sometimes too smart. My mom called her a pleaser the other day, and that couldn't be more true. She tries so hard to please everyone all the time. She is so caring and has such a gentle heart. We saw a sign the other day for a lost dog and she got so upset because that family was missing their dog...but she said maybe god made him an angel dog just like Rocko...I cried. She is an amazing big sister and is so patient with Hayden. Although she is def a girl and has some major attitude and hormone...watch out teen years. I am beyond blessed to be her mom.

Being a mom isnt easy at any age, becoming a mom at 19 is even harder. Kelsey has shown me so much the past 6 years and has made me realize how strong I am.

I love you Bug-- you will always be my little ladybug :)

Right after Kelsey was born



Cowgirl from birth



Happy 1st Birthday

First zoo trip

Halloween 2007

Happy 2nd Birthday

 I skipped a few years, but I couldn't pick anymore pictures and I didn't want to totally overload the post with pictures.

Happy 5th Birthday

Rodeo 9/2012

Kindergarten :)

We have made it through Kelsey's first week and a half of school! She seems to really be having a great time. She is exhausted though in the afternoons so bed time comes really early. It is good for mommy though...I get a little down time after the kids go to bed. I thought I would have a huge problem getting up in the mornings to get Kelsey, Hayden and myself out the door and have to actually worry about what she looks like. I have found as long as I do as much as I can the night before the mornings go very smoothly. It is so funny to pick Hayden up from daycare and hear him say "lets so get Kelsey, some days my mom drops her off at home, some days I pick her up from my parents house. It all depends on my work schedule.

Here are some pictures of her on the first day:

Goodbye Pre-k, Hello Kindergarten

Tomorrow is Kelsey's prek "graduation", I have mixed emotions. I am so excited for her about next year, but I am SO sad that my little girl is growing up. She has changed and grown so much this year alone. We had a lot of things happen and I just can't believe how she changed from a little girl to a little young woman.

She is so grown up...well she has always acted very grown up, but it is different now. This morning when I was asking Hayden what color his trucks were Kelsey was next to him saying all the colors in Spanish as I said them in English...ummm...I don't even know my colors in Spanish! She shared my excitement when Hayden peed on the potty for the first time also! She was next to me jumping up and down screaming with excitement. She is so caring and thoughtful and it seems like she already knows what to say when you need to hear it. The simplest "mommy i love you" always comes at a much needed time with her around. Her teachers said she is a leader in the classroom...well she is a leader all the time...and sometimes a pretty bossy one! She always talks about playing with the boys...TROUBLE!!

I think I am the saddest about the group of kids that are getting split up next year. She has been in the same class with about 3 other kids since they were 1-2 years old. We already had to say good bye to one of their long time teachers (Mrs. Shari) who we still see! But after this summer we are going to have to say good-bye to these friends also. I hope and pray that we will stay in touch through the years, with facebook that will help so much, but I don't want Kelsey to forget them! Her "boyfriends" have brought us so much laughter these past few years...everyone always cracked up when she used to tell us she had 2 boyfriends. Just last night she was telling me we needed to stay in touch with one of the boys in her class because she thinks when they are adults like me and daddy he wants to marry her...

This was Kelsey's 5th Birthday Party 9/2011

Kelsey and Shelby 10/2011

 Halloween 2011





Beach Vacation 12/2011

Big girl haircut!! 1/2012

Kindergarten Testing 2/2012



Easter 2012





1st lost tooth! 5/2012

Moe's Wednesdays 5/23/2012

I will have more pictures of the graduation ceremony and the after party :) I am determined to get some pictures of Kelsey and her "boys"!

Catch up with the Carrig's

I know I know...I have been a horrible blogger lately!

We have just been so busy these days with life in general. I am going to do a quick run down of the family and how everyone is doing... and there will be pictures :)

Travis and Brittany:
-We planted our first garden together this year... so excited. Everyday when I get home seeing my little plants growing makes me so excited. We planted about 30 corn plants and each seed we planted sprouted, that makes me very very happy. We also have cucumbers, squash, zucchini, all kinds of peppers, tomatoes, and strawberries. Here is our little garden earlier this week. Excuse the weeds and the timbers.... I rolled out the right side timber bc it was to close to my tomato plants, so now it looks really redneck :)

Kelsey:

-She has had a LOT going on these days. Her ballet recital was on Tuesday at her pre-k, way to cute! I love watching little kids dance. I decided when I was watching her that she is a natural and we are signing her up to continue dance next year.

- I go help out at a barn now on the weekends and Kelsey has gone with me a few times...now she thinks she gets to go every time. But last weekend she got to ride for a minute and seeing her that excited just made me want a horse now so I can start teaching her.



Hayden:

-He is going to be 2 in a few days! I am in total denial on my baby getting so big. He is such a little man these days.

- His speech is improving everyday and his little personality comes out a little more everyday. He is all boy all the time, but we wouldn't have it any other way.

Tonka:

-He turned 4 months on the 23rd, and he living his puppy dreams. This dog can be so sneaky! He is def going to be a big boy! When I took him to the vet a few weeks ago he was 35lbs and I can say he has probably gained 10 more pounds since then.

-We were really blessed to be able to get him because he is a pretty boy---and he knows it to!

For now I think that is it.... Hopefully I will get some more blogging time soon! We have tons coming up in the next few weeks.

Take care Yall!



Easter Recap..family updates!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter! Ours was a great day :) We went to Mass early with my parents and then headed to my Grandparents house to have a family brunch. I think the priests all got together and decided that this year was going to be very serious in terms of homily's go. Fr. Frank did an amazing job and said everything that needed to be said in a way where everyone sitting there could understand it. It was very eye opening, even Travis whispered in my ear..wow this guy is awesome!

The Easter bunny visited the kids, but not the extent of some pictures I have seen. They both go bubble guns and a chocolate bunny...along with a HUGE container of refill bubbles to share. I don't like that some people treat Easter like Christmas. It has turned into such a Hallmark holiday...not right at all. I do love eating jellybeans and Reece's eggs, but lets not forget why we are celebrating in the first place.

We got the coveted letter this past weekend with the decision for Kelsey's school. She is accepted!!! I am thrilled and feel very blessed to have this opportunity for her. She is over the moon excited and thinks that she should start now :)

I have some pictures from Easter to share...

Updates

I have been out of work a LOT the past week so I haven't had time to even think about blogging.

- Hayden has been a sick little boy.. started off as a stomach bug...fast forward a week..and yesterday after him throwing up all over me I took him to the doctor. He has a double ear infection... We were lucky enough to get in with the ENT the same day and he is scheduled to have tubes put in on Monday. I am so ready for him to feel better and not have to live on antibiotics.

- We got Kelsey's test scores back from her assessment. Her overall score is a 98 out of a possible 99! I am thrilled and so proud of her. She is such a smart little girl!

- Last week, since I was out with Hayden and then off on Friday (for Hayden and Kelsey was out of school) we headed down to spend the night with Travis at his dads. It was nice to spend some time with him :) The kids loved spending time with their grandparents.

Friday afternoon, I went to get a haircut and took Hayden with me...It was somewhat surreal for me to drive down the roads I used to drive everyday. It felt like I was dreaming. I don't know why I go over there all the time. I think it has finally hit me that we have moved on with our lives and grown up..

- I am on a puppy potty training war path! This little dog needs to figure it out now. I think I am getting annoying to him because I demand he goes outside every 20 mins when we are home. Hopefully something will click in his head really soon or I might go crazy.

I hope everyone is having a great week! The weather here in GA is crazy this year...its like 74 and sunny today!

Let the waiting begin...

Kelsey is going into Kindergarten next year, and for the past 5 years I have planned dreamed of her going to private school. My parents both work at a private Catholic school, I attended a Catholic high school and the difference in public vs private is amazing. I do want to be a teacher, so please don't flame me about going to a private school. These days, at least in GA, public schools teach kids to pass standardized testing. In private school she will have the ability to be challenged and learn, as a plus she will be able to grow in her faith.  Anyway...

Applications were due today. We turned ours in and now we wait. Lots of people ask tell me but you parents work there, she will get in? Not exactly. She is has to go through all the same channels as everyone else. We have "testing" in a few weeks, then we will wait for a response.

We are in no financial way to support her going and the only way for her to go is with something called the Grace Scholarship. It is an amazing program...that might be taken away because legislators are like that. It is a scholarship based on need that could give her the opportunity to attend private school through 12th grade. We are pretty excited and hopeful that it will all work out. My motto for 2012 is Everything happens for a reason, so if it is meant to be it will happen.

For the application we had to write a parent perspective of Kelsey this is what we came up with:

Kelsey loves to learn and explore new things. She has a remarkable memory and will randomly talk about people, events and happenings from 2 or 3 years ago clearly recalling many details even we have forgotten. Kelsey has a very vivid imagination and spends many hours making up her own games and stories.  She enjoys coloring, drawing and crafts. This year Kelsey started taking ballet, she likes to dance around the house pretending to be a princess.  Kelsey is a great big sister; she is very patient when she plays with her little brother.  She is a very kind and caring little girl, a friend to all.

It pretty much sums my girl up in a few sentences!

So keep us in your thoughts and prayers, I will let everyone know the outcome as soon as I know!

Have a great weekend! We are picking up the Levi (puppy) tomorrow, so I will have pictures on Monday :)




I think I am going to this in February! I don't know if I will get every photo loaded everyday, but I will try my hardest!

Hair Cut part 2.

We made it through the haircut without any tears (from kelsey anyway) or meltdowns! She did great! I am so happy with the result, and I think she is to. The smile on her face shows that!

I am sad though. As soon as she cut the bulk of her hair I saw my little baby turn into a little girl. I almost cried....true story. Her long hair gave her a baby face that I was clinging to. Now she looks so grown up and sophiscated. She is ready for Kindergarten! And she was so excited to go to school today and show her "boyfriend" her haircut. She said he wouldn't even reconize her.

Getting it cut....

Finished Product!

 

I can't believe how much older it makes her look!

Kelsey's Hair

 She is a princess in every way and apparently princesses have to have long hair, right? Not anymore!

I am finally standing up to my 5 year old..hahah. and her daddy! Travis loves long hair, but he isn't the one who is ripping out the knots and tangles every morning while she bawls her eyes out. I am taking her to get it cut tonight :)

We have been talking about it a lot lately, and I think now she is actually ok with it....I am ready for a meltdown in a little while. I keep telling her she is getting a big girl hair cut and will look so much older. Lets hope!



It looks shorter than it is, it falls right at her waistband on her pants in the back.



She looks thrilled :)

This will be the first time I have cut off more than an inch in her lifetime...She has only had her hair cut ummm 3 maybe 4 times in her little life!

Family Picture!

This was taken at Kelsey's 5th Birthday party

(We don't normally walk around with our faces painted.)

There will be more pictures of her party coming soon :)

9 Loves

 9 Loves:

1. My husband

2. My kids

3. Spring/ Fall Days

4. UGA Football

5. Warm Sheets

6. Horses

7. Getting sweet pictures from daycare while I work

8. Sweet tea



9. Rocko