First Week of Summer

First week of summer we.....played in the hose pipe (back off if you don't call it that and find me weird ok!)

Kept the most adorable two little boys ever!
Shopped with two adorable twins that I love soooo much!
Sat on the front porch and ate watermelon.

Went on a kyak trip and saved a few friends while we were at it.  (That's a freaking story in itself!)

Soaked up a lot of sun.

And enjoyed every moment of morning talk shows!

This summers off thing is a pretty sweet gig!  It took me all week, but I think I'm finally used to things slowing down!  Graduate courses began again today.  Luckily they are online this summer and I won't have to venture in daily.  Also, Music Man rehearsals are in full force this week!  It's looking like there will be much more fun in store this week too!

The Graduate

We aren't quite sure where the past 2 weeks went in the Maholland home, but we do know one thing.  They were very good days!  John's brother, my brother-in-law, graduated from high school.  We had them over for dinner that night, we enjoyed a graduation celebration with family and friends, we had the choir and their families over for dinner, we had the choirs first spring concert, I've been working on practicing for the Music Man production this summer, and we celebrated my last day of the school year.  Shoo.  It kind of  fatigues me going through it all again.  It was a week filled with excitement that's for sure!

We are so proud of Andrew and all that he has accomplished.  We have watched Andrew become such a strong and firm man of God.  He stands in his beliefs and stands up for himself.  We are so very proud of the man he has become this year!  After graduation we enjoyed a small get together at our house for appetizers and gifts for Andrew and his girl friend.

They both graduated this year.  The next day I spent all morning rehearsing for the Music Man (I'm Marian--come out and enjoy some entertainment the end of June, first of July.  It's going to be a massive production)  We then helped the Mahollands set up for Andrew's big celebration.

We enjoyed our afternoon and evening over there celebrating our sweet brother.

It's hard to believe that summer is here.  The first school year teaching is over.  I woke up late this morning and had a problem sitting still.  It's something I'm not used to.  For once in our lives we have really been enjoying family and friends to the max.  John has a new job now where we can have a normal schedule.  It has been beyond the biggest blessing from God.  We are very thankful for all of our time that we now have to make more memories with family and friends!

He got me through!

God blessed me with an amazing opportunity this year.  He gave me the chance to meet new people and help change lives.  He amazed me with giving me courage when I needed it most.  He shined through me every day as I asked.  He sent me encouragement through others when He knew I needed it at every moment.  I was able to develop relationships with new adults, with students, with the community.  When I look back on all that has occurred this year, it is mind blowing as to how one human being could possibly have successfully done it all.  And the answer is, I didn't and HE did.  He got me through the time I ran out of the classroom vomiting, He got me through the time I received a phone call that Granddaddy was gone, the phone call when Adam was life flighted to Vandy non responsive.  He got me through the days I had to bite my tongue.  He got me through the days that I left with more energy I started with.  He got me through the days when I cried I was so moved and touched by the greatness of our students.  He got me through all of the night classes, exams, papers, masters courses.   He got me through the snow, the late nights, the early morning wake ups thinking about concerts and performances.  He got me through it ALL.  For this, I am pleased.  For this, I am thankful.  For this, I am praising God from Whom ALL blessings flow!  This is a gift from Him.  For this, I stand amazed.  Thank you God for this blessing of my first year of teaching!

A Little Bit of Everything

Since Easter, we have enjoyed several things here and there!
The Show Choir that I direct competed in Atlanta, Georgia.  We toured the CNN Center and the Coca-Cola Factory.  After we competed, we enjoyed Six Flags.  I was honestly really nervous about this trip.  It was one of those defining "I'm a big kid now" moments.  They seem to be happening more and more these days.  I suppose that's appropriate.  The choir did a phenomenal job!  I was so proud of them!

 They moved me to tears with their voices.  They were so excited after they sang their songs.  They all ran backstage and started hugging each other and high fiving.  I LOVED this moment.  It was special.  It was then that I felt as if I had successfully accomplished my goals for them this year.  And we did!  We won 3rd place with an Excellent rating.

This was a huge accomplishment for us!  I can't say enough how proud I am of them!  They are so adorable!  We will be celebrating our first year together in a cook out at our home very soon!  We can't wait to give them a special celebration for their achievements!
Also on the calendar was John's cousin, Beth's wedding.  Her parents had purchased a home over 5 years ago.  In fact, the first time I met all of them was at this house on their first day of renovating it.  They have worked so hard on this house and have finally completed it to an amazing home!  Beth's wedding took place at their home in their front yard.  (The Maholland boys are too handsome!)

It was a very beautiful wedding. It was very shabby chic!

Congrats Beth and Seth!
Just when we thought April was when we would be the busiest, our calendar piled full of events in May.  I can't believe the amount of things we are going to get to do in the following days and weeks!  Look out for a lot of posts and a lot of exciting things!!

Easter

A new coming tradition on our family is having a huge Easter egg hunt.  We celebrated for the second year yesterday and had a blast.  Last year was a lot simpler.  The kids were little and we spent most of the time showing them how to decorate eggs and how to pick up eggs during the hunt.

This year was more of a wild goose chase and making sure they didn't splatter egg paint on their dresses and shirts.  It was a lot more eventful and a whole lot more fun this year!

All of the kids were adorable and were so excited to do all that was planned!

After the hunt we all gathered down at my parents house for dinner and a few games of volleyball.  We all had a blast and laughed more than anything!  Our Easter Sunday service at church was wonderful this year.  John and I both love Easter Sunday so much.  It was a bit strange this year with the storms and rain, but it didn't keep us from celebrating to risen Savior that we worship and love so dearly.

After church we had lunch with John's family and enjoyed each others company.  We are a small family, unlike the day before, and had a mini egg hunt for Baylee.

Isn't she a doll!  She loved to hunt for eggs and got so excited every time she found one!
Happy Easter everyone!

The Lady

Way back when in September last year we purchased tickets to what we knew would be an awesome night.  After months and months of waiting, and honestly momentarily forgetting, the time approached us!  Finally, it was time to go see Lady Gaga!

We ate at Margaritaville for dinner and it was delicious!  We really enjoyed all of the people watching all night!

 You may be able to pick out a few interesting outfit selections in the backgrounds of a few pictures.

Her show was phenomenal!  She had a wardrobe change after every song.

Her vocals rocked and her staging was mind blowing!  It was a wonderful way to end my birthday celebrations with John!

A Series Of Fabulous Birthday Events

This year John planned out pretty much an entire week of birthday events for me.  Once I got home from work on Wednesday John had gorgeous potted flowers for me to kick of the week.  We got ready and enjoy a family birthday party at his parents house.  John planned for everyone to be there.  It was an awesome surprise.

His grandparents and my Granny was there.  That was really important to me this year and it meant a lot that he thought of that for me.

We enjoyed grilled hamburgers and delicious cake.

 We had wonderful visits outside on the deck and enjoyed playing with all of the boys. (April gave me this fabulous M for my classroom.  I am so in love with it!)

 (This picture is hilarious!  I think it clearly shows how incredibly patient I am with children! ;-)
It really was a special night to spend with my family.  This picture means a lot to me.

Mourning is something that comes in phases still I suppose.  Apparently on special occasions as well.  I really missed my Granddaddy this night.  I'm sure he was playing his harmonica for me though! :-)
I am so thankful to have in-laws that opened up their house for all of our family.  We really enjoyed our time together with everyone.  We are so blessed to have amazing people in our lives.
Thursday after work John and I worked on our front porch.  I love having a front porch.  I grew up with a huge one and this is where all of the memories were made.  We worked on making ours a special place as well.  We went to our local flower market and got some ferns and a little potted plant to add.  We also got some yellow spray paint to paint his Granddaddy's adirondack chair.  It was the color of our siding and made zero impact on the presence of itself on our porch.  We painted it yellow and it is adorable!

Friday on my birthday John surprised me with a blue adirondack chair and a little table for the porch.  Now we have a his and hers.  It looks fabulous!  Now as soon as our grass comes in this summer we will be good to go!  After presents he took me to Maggiano's and out for dessert at my favorite yogurt shop, PinkBerry.

We had a wonderful night together.  It means the world to me to have a husband that makes days like this so special.

Saturday I was woken up bright and early by Holly and Lindsey with amazing pink cupcakes for breakfast.  My girlfriends had planned out literally an entire day and night filled with awesome girl stuff and different ladies met up with us at different parts of the day!  For the morning, Holly, Lindsey and I met for cupcake breakfasts and headed to the spa for manicures and pedicures.  I hate that I didn't think to get a picture of this.  We were all three having so much fun and being pampered, that was the last thing on my mind!  After manis and pedis my sister April met up with us and we all four enjoyed lunch and a full afternoon filled with lots of shopping.  We all left with several cute things and really enjoyed some shopping therapy and fabulous company!  We then enjoyed dinner at Blue Burrito in Hendersonville and Lindsey, April, and I headed to Sips and Strokes.  This night was "Funky Owl"  We had a great time!  Our table was reserved right up front.

We had great seats!  The instructor for the night even serenaded me with an interesting version of Happy Birthday!  It was hilarious.  We enjoyed each others company here and relaxed with each other while painting a fun picture!

We were all very proud of how ours turned out!  I was proud of April, she even got a little created and made hers a daytime owl instead!  I loved it!  It was SO nice to be with my sister and friends and get to laugh with them!  Afterwards we headed to my friend Leslie's house and Lindsey, Leslie, Sam, and I went to listen to some amazing live music in Nashville.

We enjoyed our night out together and heard some incredible tunes!  All in all it was the perfect birthday!  I honestly couldn't be anymore blessed with an amazing husband, a loving family, and some fabulous girlfriends!  Thank you ALL so much for making my birthday so fabulous and special!  It was definitely one to remember!

Three Years Ago

Three years ago you came into the world my sweet little Adam.  You had a button nose and puffy little lips that you puckered all the time.

We just thought you were so cute.  You are a precious addition and a little miracle that was added to our family.  You gave light and bursts of energy to us as you got older.

You would tell us funny things and grin so big when you saw us laugh.  You turned three today little Adam.

You are growing up.  You are becoming a big boy now!  You love to potty every where you go, you love to read us Going on a Bear Hunt with a great amount of energy, and you love to give me big hugs when I least expect it.

Oh, my little Adam, you are growing up.  You will always be my light and smile in a foggy day.  You are precious.  You are loved by so many.  And you are truly a gift from God.  Today is your day.

Enjoy it sweet Adam.  Happy Birthday!  I love you.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Second Birthday to you House!

You have been such a blessing and such a wonderful place to hold our family.