Carter Celebrates SIX and lost his first tooth!

I have laxed a little with this blog, because I blog mostly on my other blog - Iced Tea in the Afternoon.  I don't usually include personal information or business about my family on that one to keep it separate, but check it out if you haven't already....great info....great recipes....great giveaways....

To catch you up...Carter turned SIX on February 1st! WOW, seems like yesterday.......
We celebrate EVERY year since he was ONE @ Cheeburger Cheeburger in CityPlace. Kind of a tradition to celebrate at the same place every year.  Here are some snap shots from that evening.

Then a few days later on a rockin' Friday night we hit the bowling alley for Carter's "Friend Party".  A lot of fun!  There's nothing like celebrating with all your family and friends around you!

 On our way to the party...All strapped in and excited for a fun Friday night!

 Nothing like the ladies to get the party started with the train dance!

 Daddy Brett was full on at the party he was the bowling coordinator for all the kidlets!

 Nana - Wild as ever!!

 The BIRTHDAY BOY! 

 So exciting to celebrate together!

 I had to include this photo, not one, but two, but three cupcakes.....for the birthday boy...not sure if he ate them all...but knew we needed to make two dozen for some reason!

Look - 3 days after I tuned SIX, I lost my first tooth! 

The tooth was swallowed (oops).

Last Weekend Before School Starts!

The ocean was so calm, like a lake. 

This past Saturday we had a treat out to Palm Beach Pier and breakfast at Benny's on the Beach our all time favorite place to dine at the beach.  Griffin can officially out eat myself and definetely Carter.  It was very warm and humid (love that about FL summer's) so our beach picture was foggy. We ended the day for Papa's 71st birthday and two tuckered out kidlets!

Happy Birtday to my Miracle!

It is so hard to believe that the first year of Griffin's life has passed so quickly.  I know the age-old "unsolicited" advice from EVERYONE- say's... "They are only small for a short while"... is so sadly true!  Being a mom second time around I cherished the time a little more intimate since I think my factory is closing for more children. :(  I always wanted three.  But on a happier note-I can't thank everyone near and dear, close and miles between, friends, family, church leadership, and those I don't even know by name for ALL the prayer and support that came to our family during this year from hot meals to hospital visits to just sitting with me.  I thought I would never see an end to the year or for that matter and end to the endless journey Griffin has endured.  We recently finished our taxes last month and 117 medical appointments for this little fella! WOW!  But I am estatic to report he is doing fantastic, growing by leaps and bounds, and eating us out of the house!  A real change from a year back! 

GOD is so faithful, so good, and such the perfect healer!  If Griffin's testimony from the very beginning of life in the womb with news of a possible brain injury to his prematurty to now a thriving baby isn't a song in GOD's book I don't know what it is that folks don't understand about GOD! 

One of Carter's favorite songs to sing while in the house, in the car, wherever he is to himself is "God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He's so good to me!"  And yes He is!!!

I love you my son! We love you Griffin Cooper Maynard!!

Carter Celebrates His 5th Birthday at Sea World-Orlando

IMAGINE...that big world beneath the sea

Carter, Griffin and Daddy Brett - my boys!

The star of the night show - Shamu Rocks!

A big part of our extended family - Joe & Sarah - They travel with us everywhere and help with the kids - they are the BEST!

Brotherly Love shown while holding hands in the strollers. Griffin would just giggle away when Carter would hold his hand.

This was a new aquarium in the Manta Roller Coaster area-this cool tube you could get in and be a part of the aquarium.

It was all about Carter this weekend! He is surely a sweet guy and I am proud to be his mama!

It's Birthday Week at Our House

Happiest of Days to my BIG 5 year old this week! I love you soooooo much and hate that your getting so big! This has been a fun week celebrating~

Friends from the Womb~ Tiffany is a good friend and classmate at Calvary!

Homemade cake is BEST!!! made by: Carter and Mommy

Celebrating for the 5th year at Cheeburger Cheeburger in City Place. Papa Bill and Dad in the background.

The awaited BIG box from Aunt Char and Uncle Jim in Jersey! Always filled with lot's of goodies and fun! Thank you Aunt Char and Uncle Jim!!

What a GREAT smile!

Ms. Karen is the BEST! She is an amazing lower school teacher at Calvary Christian, we just LOVE her and love her style. She makes every child feel loved, and teaches the Bible to her class just like it should be! I commend her on her BOLD spirit and her ways of the Lord. She has special Birthday songs for the birthday boy!