What We've Been Up To.....

Tyler earned his yellow belt!!!

Maddie won her first pageant!!
Max had his first birthday and we were so happy to have his party at our house. But somehow I managed to not get a single picture of him. But I do love this one.

Wendy started cake decorating, she made me this one for my 30th birthday.

I just wanted to share this picture with you. The twins spent the night one night not to long ago and we took this picture. Of course all of the girls wanted to see it right away and when I showed it to them Kamden said, "Wow Maddie you sure are bright!".

Airhog Heaven

What a fun night for a little baseball fan! Tyler got to throw the first pitch at an Airhogs game. He was nervous but in the end he was so proud of himself. We new he would would do well but we were all impressed when he did better than the other two grown men that also got to throw out a pitch. That's what happens when you compete with a Joyce boy!

It was so cute when he got to go and practice with the players before the game. He whispered to me, "But mommy those are real baseball players." They were so kind and welcoming to him. And after the third inning he got to go and help prepare the field (which he still talks about getting to hold second base). His daddy and Uncle Jarod got a kick out of a player running by and slapping him on the butt.

Maddie and her Bubbie

Maddie loves to dress up as a princess and you can count on her running to find Tyler as soon as she gets all dolled up. Next to dressing up as a princess, getting married to Bubbie is one of her favorite pastimes. Tyler's pretty nice about the whole thing because I think he's figured out by now that it's easier to just do it than it is to have her following him around screaming at him.

Tyler's Graduation

It seems like just yesterday we were having his first birthday party and now my sweet little boy has graduated kindergarten. It was an adorable ceremony where all the kids sang Bible story songs and then walked across the stage to receive their diplomas.

The Cousins Mini Vacation

At the request of Mawmaw I am going to try to get back on the Blogging wagon and I'm going to start with our quick trip to the Gaylord. We had the unfortunate luck of losing our AC this week at the same time my sister Amy was here visiting with her three kids. So to make us all more comfortable (and to keep his sanity) Jeffrey send us off.


The kids loved all the trains and although it was the most simple one there, it was their favorite.

Tyler was so attached to Ally that she was the only one he cried over when they left.

Five little cousins waiting to go to the pool. I had no idea that they had built a mini water park next the hotel. The kids loved it and it was so much easier than going on a long road trip for a vacation. I'm trying to talk Jeffrey into going back before the summer is over!

My sweet Ally!

Watching the goldfish. I just knew at any second one of the Brewer's were going to fall in.

Magic Kingdom Part 2

Magic Kingdom was without question the kids favorite place ever. Thinking about our time there always makes me smile and ache to go back. I guess that's why so many families do. I know I enjoyed it so much more seeing it through the eyes of my children. For example, this is a picture from a show at Animal Kingdom (my favorite one of the whole trip). I probably spent more time watching the kids faces throughout the whole vacation instead of the entertainment but I don't feel like I out on a thing.

Since there was so much to do at Magic Kindom we broke it up into two parts on the first day so the kids could rest and enjoy the evening.

Tyler was in a rush to get to another ride and was not wanting to pose for this picture but this was one of his favorites. We rode it three times. His absolute favorite ride of all the parks was The Haunted Mansion. We rode that one four times and had to answer a million questions about ghosts.

Having Mawmaw and Pawpaw there with us was the icing on the cake. Can you tell? I wouldn't want to go without them!

This is Tyler exploring the Swiss Family Robinson tree house. He wanted to spend the night there.

For lunch we ate at our first character resturant The Crystal Palace. It featured Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet. The kids loved watching them sign their autograph books and meeting the characters. They had these cute topiaries in the entrance, Eeyore was my favorite.

Maddie wouldn't take her picture with Piglet or Eeyore.

But she loved Tigger and Tyler just loved them all.

How sweet is this? She wouldn't have made it through the trip without her Mawmaw's shoulder to rest on.

The castle at night.

Magic Kingdom Part 1

I know I have taken a horribly long leave of absence from the blogging world but I'm gonna try to get back in the swing of things because I hate to disappoint my fans (all four of you). And because Amanda has given my blog such a beautiful make-over it just needs to be shared with people that will appreciate it. I'm gonna start with our trip to Disney World with Mawmaw and Pawpaw. But because I took over 1,300 pictures I will break it into small segments.

The grand entrance....let the magical moments begin!


Maddie and her best-friend Mawmaw. Btw, I made that dress for her, it has a black M on the front.

I love this picture of Tyler and Pawpaw watching the characters wish us a good morning and welcome us to their home. Who do you think looks more entralled?

So now that we've taken the kids to Disney World and they know how spectacular it is, they ask us nearly EVERYDAY to take them back. As a mater of fact Maddie carries her autograph book around and shows us the picture of Cinderell's castle ask Jeffrey to take her "to the cas on a pane"!

The famous tea cups!

This picture is proballly only funny to those that were there but here's the story: we took a midmorning break to let the kids cool off and have a snack a Donald's Boat, which is full of water spouts and leaky cracks to let the kids splash around in. Well, for whatever reason Maddie prefered just backing her toushy up to this leak and letting it cool her off from behind.

Zurg!

Tyler was SO excited to meet Buzz Lightyear. This was the first character he meet.

Buzz teaching him some moves.

What would Disney World be like without the amazing parades? Notice that Mickey and Donald were both looking right at me!