Happy Anniversary!

 

Stephen and I recently celebrated 17 years of wedded bliss :)  

We celebrated with dinner out with friends.

  

On the actual day of our anniversary, Stephen surprised me with homemade mini anniversary cakes he had made for us.  Chocolate buttercream for him and almond buttercream for me.  

The kids wanted us to feed them to each other, which always sounds like a better idea than actually executing it. 

I am blessed to be his wife and cannot imagine a sweeter husband.

Junior Team Tennis-Southerns

 

Treasure Oak, representing the state of Mississippi, did so well at the state level that they were invited to play in Southerns.  

This group of kids represented Mississippi proudly!

We played against Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee and it was some great tennis to watch!  And the tennis complex was humongous!  It contained 52 courts!

 

Luke and Parker waiting to be called on the court.

  

Some well deserved pizza and arcade time :)  

 

Love these tennis boys.

 

It was a fun weekend with just my Luke.  

It is always fun to be able to spend one on one time with each of my kiddos. 

Way to go Luke! I was proud of how you played and carried yourself on the court! 

Happy First Day of School!

 

Addison Kate is starting a new school!

Ocean Springs Upper Elementary

4th Grade, Mrs. Alfonso

 

FOURTH GRADE!!

 

Luke is starting a new school.

Ocean Springs Middle School

7th Grade!

 

Amelia Grace 

Ocean Springs High School

Sophomore year!

 

Stop growing up please!!!

Little Bit and Tennis

 

Addison played a tournament recently and she played her little heart out.  

She made it to the finals and lost in a third set tie breaker!

She was heart broken and was not very thrilled about 2nd place but I was so proud of her!

 

Look at the cutest doubles partners ever!

 

First place in doubles made the smiles appear again!

One tournament, two trophies :)  

Yay Addison!

Rosemary Beach, Florida Vacation

 

We were able to squeeze in one more trip before school started!

We went to gorgeous Rosemary Beach, Florida with Stephen's sister and her boys, and Grandpa Steve.

The kids had an absolute blast playing in the warm Gulf water and playing in the multiple pools.

 

Night swimming=FUN!

 

We rented a big beach house and it was perfect. 

 We never used our car once we got to Rosemary Beach, all the restaurants are a minute walk.

Ice cream after dinner...and my favorite picture of Grandpa Steve ever!  

 

Cousins!

 

Giggling with my littlest nephew, Matthew.

 

Addison loving life.

 

Riding the waves is always a big hit with our kiddos.

  

Beach life.

Wow, lots of tennis

 

The kids all played Junior Team Tennis this summer on their respective teams.  All three of their teams qualified for the State Tournament held in Jackson, MS.

 

This was Addison's first year playing, actually our entire 10 and Under team were first timers so it was very exciting and fun. 

 

Alden and Addison being Alden and Addison.

 

I was one of the coaches for Addison's team.  And it was fun, and stressful.  Ha!

I just so badly wanted to make sure they all had fun, they all got playing time and we still stayed competitive with the other teams.

It was a tough balance but the kids did great.  Especially since it was over 100 heat index everyday.  These little kids were troopers and played awesome!

 

Luke and Parker, buddies and tennis friends since they were teeny.  

 

This is right before our first match.

Go Treasure Oak!!!

 

Sweet 10 and Under team.

 

Luke's team, go Treasure Oak!

 

This girl is a dynamo on the court.  She kills it at the net, loves to volley and all in all, just will not give up.  

She is something to watch.   We needed Addison to play doubles and singles throughout the tournament and she did awesome!

 

Luke and his doubles partners were undefeated at the tournament.

 

Love these two.

 

Rain delay!

 

Addison about to kill a forehand.  

 

One of the few times I was sitting throughout the weekend.  

I get a teensy weensy bit on edge when my kids play tennis so I tend to pace, and clench and gasp and grab people standing next to me.  And it was even worse coaching because then I considered all the kids my babies and wanted them to do their very best.  I was responsible for the line up so then I would second guess it each time and man, after 10-12 hours of that each day, I was exhausted.

 

Amelia's big kid team!

They did great and were the sweetest team, supportive of each other and they had a fun weekend.

 

Amelia has continued to improve and looks like a real tennis player out their on the courts now.  

She played great!

 

The kids loved going back to the hotel at night because they would swim and have giant pillow fights.  

I don't know where they got the energy after all that tennis but they would be running up those hallways chasing each other and laughing.  

 

Another day, more tennis!!!

 

Luke's 12 and Under team.

 

Karem and I coached the 10 and Under team together :)

 

And LOOK AT THIS!!

Our first time at team tennis and we won 2nd place in the state!!

 

We were so proud of these kiddos!!

They definitely gave it their all!

 

 

Yay Addison!

Addison won lots of games for her team in some really tough matches.

She is a fierce competitor. 

 

Luke's team also won 2nd place by only 4 games :(

And we had to forfeit 8 games because one of our girls was a flower girl in a wedding and had to leave for the finals :(

They were heart broken.

But they scored so well that they advanced to sectionals so we are off to Rome, GA in August to compete!

Go Treasure Oak!

 

Molly and Amelia !

 

And then finally the tournament was over and all the kids headed to the pool and had a giant party and were as happy as could be!

 

Chocolate, pool party with friends, a medal for 2nd place=Happy Addison.

 

An epic pillow fight to end the weekend!

 

So, so fun!