Goin' to the chapel!

August has been the month for weddings, and it has been so much fun for us to celebrate with those we love! 

The first wedding was for Skylar and Lee, and it was so beautiful.  Skylar has been coming to the college Bible study I lead in our home on Thursday nights over the last year, and I have loved getting to know her.  She was just the most beautiful bride! 

David and I got to attend this one with our little loves, and it was so much fun to get all dressed up and enjoy a night out with my love.  My mom sent me this pretty dress months ago, and I didn't think I would ever get to wear it.  Perfect opportunity! 

One of my favorite things at the reception was the photo booth!  It's even more fun to do with sweet friends along for the ride.  

This past weekend, another one of my college girls, Tori, got married in Jackson.  She was the most beautiful bride, and I'm so sad I did not get my picture taken with her.  It's no joke keeping up with four little people at an event such as a wedding, ha! David and the girls went up Friday night for the rehearsal, but I stayed behind with this handsome fella, so he could help one of his favorite friends in all the land celebrate his birthday.  We rode up the wedding on Saturday with Mr. Landon.  

So handsome!

This picture is fuzzy, but I love it so much! 

These are my favorite faces.  Like ever.  And how adorable the way Tilly is looking up at her daddy, precious! 

Silly faces! 

Mr. Landon and Miss Katie were there too.  They are like family, and I just don't know what we would do without them.  

See what I mean.  

And this guy.  I am so thankful to be doing life with him.  We have a picture of us in this very same pose at my sister's wedding over 12 years ago.  I may have to bust it out this Thursday for my #tbt ;)

Happy 6th birthday, Tilly!

On Tuesday, August 19, our Tilly girl turned the big 6! I can hardly believe it!  That morning she awakened early and ran through the house screaming, "It's my birthday! It's my birthday!" So cute and memorable, she is.  

I interviewed Tilly for her birthday, so here are her replies for this year: 

1. What is your favorite color?  teal

2. What is your favorite toy? Palace pet.

3. What is your favorite fruit? Grapes and watermelon. 

4. What is your favorite tv show? Austin and Ally.

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Ham and mayonnaise sandwich. 

Daddy with the birthday girl.  

6. What is your favorite outfit?  Pink and yellow dress. 

7. What is your favorite game? Red light, green light.

8. What is your favorite snack? Popcorn.

9. What is your favorite animal? Cats.

10. What is your favorite song? Shake it for me, girl!

The big 3 on their way to school.  I love that they all wanted to be together this day, not always the case.  

11. What is your favorite book? Tilly the Truth Fairy

12. Who is your best friend? Sidney and Hannah

13. What is your favorite cereal? Lucky Charms. 

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Jump on the trampoline.

15. What is your favorite drink? Punch.  

Mommy with the birthday girl.  I got to take treats to Tilly's class to enjoy after their lunch.  

16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas and Halloween.

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Lovey.

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Waffles.

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Firehouse subs.

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A Princess.  

Oh, how I love her!  She had the biggest smile on her face the whole day long.  

Summer and Tilly with Mrs. Pittman.  She is in her third year of O'Dell children and won't know what to do next year not having one, ha! We are truly thankful for her investment in our family.  

After school, we surprised Tilly and one of her favorite friends, Sidney with a play date!  They were sooo excited! 

A very special friend, Mrs. Ward, brought over cookies from Jody's and a card for the birthday girl.  She does this for each of our children, so special.  

So, UPS delivered a long, skinny box at the end of the previous week and Tilly has been chomping at the bit all week to open it.  

We were all pretty confident about what was in the box, Tilly's first American Girl Doll.  

Tilly chose the look-a-like doll with short brown hair and glasses.  Thank you, T, for such a special gift.  

Keeping with tradition, we let the birthday girl choose where to eat supper, and she chose Firehouse Subs.  I am thankful they aren't quite big enough to realize that they could choose places like Outback or Longhorn, ha!  We will stick with Taco Bell and Firehouse for now ;) After supper, we headed home to open the rest of her presents.  She also got to FaceTime Papa and Gigi and the Calhouns.  Happy birthday, sweet Tilly!  It was such a treat to get to celebrate your little life! We love you to the moon and back a whole bunch of times! 

Story is in preK!

Last week was jammed full of fun at our house.  The big 3 became adjusted to being at school all day every day.  Tilly celebrated her 6th (!) birthday, and Story had her last first day of preschool.  It was the last first day of preschool for our whole family, in fact.  That's a whole bunch for this momma's heart to take on, ha! 

The sweet teacher I am working for this year encouraged me to come in late so I could take this sweet thing to school on her first day.  Such a gift! You'll notice that we are all smiles and full of excitement, and I was so thankful.  This is a far cry from where we were last year.  

Story and Momma on her first day.  

Story with Daddy.  David took the big 3 to school and then came back home to pick up Story and me, so we could all go together.  I'll keep him.  

So the drop off didn't go as smoothly as I had hoped . . . Miss Gin had to pull Story off of my legs, and she cried, oh she cried.  And momma cried, too.  Whew!  Those first days can be kind of traumatic! My precious friend, Amy, sent me this picture of our two girls to assure me that Story was fine.  Such a sweet friend.  Story and Olly were together last year, and I am thrilled they are together again.  

And then, Miss Lisa, another dear friend sent me this picture of her with Story and Shelby on the playground to reassure me of a good day.  Miss Lisa is Story's assistant and Peyton's mom, Carter's BFF.  I love how the Lord is always in the details.  

When I picked my girl up after school she was all smiles, and even let me take her picture in front (literally) of the school sign since that did not happen that morning, ha! 

That's better.  Happy first day of preK, sweet girl!  We love you so much and are so very proud of you! 

Back to school!

We spent several days preparing for the start of a new school year.  

One thing we did that I loved was prayer walking around our school with some friends and church members.  Our church had members at several schools around our city prayer walking all at the same time.  So powerful! I hope this is something my children will always remember doing before the start of a new school year.  

I took Tilly in early to meet her teacher.  

We just love Mrs. Pittman and are so thankful that another O'Dell will learn from her this year.  Mrs. Pittman teaches T-one at PCS, which is what drew us to the school initially when we moved to Hattiesburg from Atlanta.  It's hard to believe this is the start of our 4th school year here.  T-one is a transitional grade between Kindergarten and First Grade and is just perfect for all of our summer birthday babies.  David and I like to say we are just red-shirting them ;)

Mrs. Pittman, Tilly and me!

On the Monday before the first day of school, some sweet  mommas hosted a little get together for the girls in Summer's class.  I love that they did this, as I think it really relieved some anxiety my Summer was feeling about the first day of school.  The girls wore their pjs and enjoyed doughnuts and a manicure while they got to know their new classmates.  

Summer's nails are all Bobcat blue and ready! 

The sweet girls in Summer's class.  

Monday night was also the start of a new semester at gymnastics, and this year little sister is joining the two big girls.  They all had the best time! I told David that you wouldn't know Story had not been going all along.  She jumped right in and did a great job! 

And the first day of school finally arrived on Tuesday, August 12, for the big three.  

They were sooo excited and woke up super early to get ready for the big day.  

I love that they are all wearing great big smiles on their faces.  

Even this little one jumped up and got ready.  Her school starts a week after the big ones, and she was kind of pitiful each morning when we would leave home.  

New tennis shoes and new backpacks for the first day.  Thank you, T, for our new backpacks! 

Posing with Daddy.  

And Mommy.  

 I snapped this picture one morning this week while we were all getting ready.  It really does take a village, and I love how big brother stepped up to tie little sister's laces.  Precious! 

 Friday, our pre-schooler had Open House at her school where she got to see her classroom and meet her teachers.  

 We are thrilled that Story will have Miss Gin and Miss Lisa as her teachers.  Miss Gin taught Summer and Tilly in preK, so we know Story is in great hands.  Miss Lisa is new to the preschool, but not to our family.  Her son, Peyton, is Carter's BFF. So fun! 

It's really hard to believe that this is our last year with a preschooler.  Kind of emotional, too! 

 And, I'm official again this year! I'll be an assistant in second grade in the mornings.  This will free me up to pick up Story from school each day and be home with her for a few hours before we pick up the big 3.  I am really loving the change so far!  The teacher I work with is a seasoned teacher, and I am already learning so much from her! 

Do y'all have the TimeHop app?  It's one of my very favorites.  I love seeing blasts from the past daily on my phone.  Here we are at the end of the first week of school last year.  They sure have grown up a good bit since then.  I am proud to report that we had another great first week of school this year, and we can't wait to see what's in store for week two.  Monday, will be Story's first full day of preschool, and Tuesday, we will be celebrating someone's birthday! So fun!