Back to School, First Birthday and Covid-19

A loaded post full of three very big things. Unfortunately, one event overshadowed the rest but we’re blessed to all be healthy and well again. 

One last swim before school begins. We keep swimming through September but the best swimming days are the lazy summer days of freedom!


We made a trip to Owensboro to visit our friends, the Bennett’s. Our last babies are just a month apart! John and Ford, sweet boys of summer 2020.


Ford, John and Mac playing with trucks 

And the girls I’m sure were playing with Bess’s “Butler County Barbie”!


We hooked up our projector and watched a few games and movies outside. This will come easier when attention spans are longer than a few minutes. 


This first day of school came with extra excitement and joy as it felt like a return to normalcy! It’s humbling the things we take for granted. Our big THIRD grader. Braces, crimped hair and wedge sandals-I love this age.

First day of Kindergarten 2.0 for Jack Porter! He’s excited to make new friends and be with Mrs. Cindy and Mrs. Ada again this year. I’m sure he will try to run the show at some point!


Holding Jack back means they will now be three years apart in school. They will still have one year together in high school which this mom is thankful for!

The side by sides get me every year.



Her outfit evolved this year into more of a mature look. I think this will be my last year getting by with a bow too, even if it is small and just to hold her hair back. We gave it a good run and have lots of pictures for reminiscing :)

Second day of school attitude. The new wears off quick!


It’s time to get ready for fall ball so afternoon backyard sessions are a must.


It’s also tumbling and gymnastics season with little brother in tow some weeks. What he would give to join the mats with her!


Determined to meet everyone in this place and do as some damage as possible :)


A little after school Lexia, this boy is a reader now!


August 19th, 2021-John’s first birthday and the day Marcus tested positive for covid. We would all end up testing positive as well and spend a week pretty sick and a total of 19 days quarantined (G had the longest quarantine because she was the last to test positive). It was a rough three weeks. 


Daddy was quarantined to his bedroom on John’s birthday as he was the only one sick at this point. So the kids and I threw a mini party with just the four of us thanks to deliveries from Gammy and Ma. We opted out of a big party and plan to throw a big second birthday bash! Poor guy. I’m thankful he was at a age he had no memory of how his birthday was spent but we did all we could to make him feel loved and special on his day.


Like moving a spare crib into the living room so we could all be together for bedtime.


A crazy day of quarantine and a sweet sibling moment on the steps. The big kids were a big help to me while daddy was sick and a big help to dad once I became sick. It was a team effort!


He loved all of us being home together. Lots of cuddles and spoiling.


Selfies to daddy while he was down and we were up ha! Sadly our up would not last.


It was so hot while we were quarantined. We got outside when we could but we would melt down pretty fast, especially those of us who were symptomatic.


BBW soaps were on sale so I ordered enough to get free shipping. I told the kids to hurry up and smell them before it was too late for us! Sure enough, we enjoyed them a few days before our smell was gone too.


We were blessed with an abundant of friends and family who kept us medicated, comfortable and well fed. It was a great reminder to me to pay it forward for others who were in similar circumstances.

Baseball and Babies

We took the kids to a Hot Rods game in July. It wasn’t miserably hot being it was a night game. We took the Ross boys with us so mom and dad could have a one child evening!


Georgia is ready for Collins to join the crew so she’s now so outnunbered! The cutest clan.


Ice cream right before bedtime and before we drop the boys off was a must :)


John boy was mostly impressed with the popcorn


We celebrated Shi’s birthday in august with an evening out for dinner and drinks. It was so good to catch up with old


Freckles, braces and braids-the recipe for a sweet, growing girl!


A trip to Jackson’s with my girl for summer peaches. 

Side by sides are hard on the heart these days 


These two keep our neighborhood hopping! They are always into something and ready to play 24/7.

This picture represents Jack’s summer, and just Jack in general. Full of life!


VBS (aka FLIP) this year and we took our neighbors Embry and Bo with us. They always love VBS week!


We had a sick boy so cuddles in bed on mommy (with a throw up towel) was what sweet boy needed.


To the doctor we went the next day. Even when he’s down, he’s still ready to wreck a patient room!


More neighborhood fun with a water hose! Looks like the girls has the upper hand. 

A screenshot of one of my favorite videos-Jack on his hoverboard guiding John in his walker. John was living his best life in this moment!


Silly glasses shenanigans while we wait for Jack to be covid tested for the 523rd time. We’re trying to set a record.


Six eyed Jack!


We were pulling in our driveway so I let him hang out the window for our driveway ride. This boy is very hard to say no to :)

June & July

John’s first full summer was a fun one despite still being in the throes of a worldwide pandemic. We didn’t let it stop us from living and making memories, we took necessary precautions and proceeded. It was a sweet season for us!

We waited for Jack’s first birthday before we gave him a haircut and regretted it because he really started to look like a girl! We skipped tradition for John and cut it when we felt he needed it. This boy is sweet as sugar.

We literally laughed throughout the haircut. What baby does that?! What a ham.

His brother definitely did not laugh ha! 


Model baby striking a pose with his new ‘do. We love Barbie, she really is the best barber in all the land. All my boys love her. Jack actually invited her on vacation with us at this visit!

All three of my babies at their first haircut. One content, one mad and one happy-I love how different they all are!


Cousin Wick and big John. He has a lot of big siblings and cousins looking out for him.


This was the appointment we had at Dr. Cohron’s office as soon as we got back from the beach. Trying on glasses was a little tricky. We ordered a pair so it was a few weeks before they were delivered. Everyone loves Jack at Dr. Todd’s office.


Georgia competed in her first pageant and she did amazing! She was so nervous and was the smallest in her group but she was so confident on stage and did everything just perfectly.


We waited until she expressed interest in pageants before we participated, they are not the most enjoyable and stressless event for parents. We had to talk daddy into even letting it happen :) 


The judges were wrong (of course every mom besides one thought that, that’s just part of pageants :)) but she handled it great and it was a great experience for her. She had fun and gained confidence in herself! 

We had a pretty 4th of July this year and hit the pool! 

Jack is our entrepreneur. He started a phase where he put a price tag on everything, including the mustard at our family cookout. 


Our princess looking sun kissed and all-American!


A day at the pool is a day well spent

We went to Ma and Pa’s for supper and to watch the fireworks on the night of the Fourth. Owen got to make the outing!


Marcus took this of me and my biggest baby. I am his favorite person.




Ma and John


Sweet boy watching our home fireworks 


Get out the fireworks and attract all the men of the family 


Our beautiful hydrangea this year, I wish I could take credit for this but she does it all on her own!


Both boys loved sleeping in sleep sacks. We used this one until the zipper busted. 


I think this one was written for me


Lucky brother with the best big sister 


“Georgia’s pies” are her new favorite thing to make. We’ve mastered the triple berry pie. It’s officially made it into our family recipe book. Once a recipe earns a page in our recipe book, it is the highest honor. 


Absolutely delicious! She did most of the lattice work herself.


Big baby in a little car seat :)


We dog sat our doggy niece Zara Jane, let’s just say her and Owen had the best week of their lives HA! We love her.


I didn’t think he could get any cuter, but I was wrong. His first pair of glasses. I love them on him. He has accepted them well and he enjoys the benefit of them, so he wears them well. We’re hopeful he will outgrow this but if not, he’s going to break some hearts in these.


My “J” boys were able to share a lot of clothes this summer when their sizes and seasons worked out as we outgrew the newborn days. This sun suit  is a favorite!

It’s not summer until you’ve had Sno Shack…once a day…not really but these two would be all for it!