Amber's Diaper Shower and Dinner

At the end of June, just as I was finishing school and right before we went on vacation Molly planned a shower for our friend Amber.  Amber has a precious little girl Anniston and is due to have a baby boy before summer's end.

Little Bits

 June 16th my brother and his family drove up for a short visit.  Ellie is as sweet as ever and just as taken with Cullen as she has ever bee.  Henry is growing like a weed.  Right after they got here we were able to watch Henry roll over for the first time.  He is such a sweet boy that loves to cuddle.

Memorial Day in Destin

 Allison is the Enforcer- she has a no nonsense approach to parenting.

 Smiles and Sassy Faces are what the weekend was filled with.

 And a little too much time spent sunning and eating.

And the perfect amount of time sitting and talking over coffee.  It was restful and much needed and an answer to prayer.  The Lord looks after his children and provides for us in ways we can't fully grasp.  Sometimes those ways are in cups of coffee, long walks, peaceful sleep, or good laughs with good friends.

Daisy Kent

Daisy Kent has been born.  My favorite cousin, Jason, welcomed his little girl into the world week before last.  While I was closing up the end of school, planning my beach vacation, getting ready to move back in the dorm, baby girl decided to make her debut.  It took over a week for the two of us to be in the same city at the same time.  Finally, Friday I was able to go and hold Miss Priss.  Can't wait for more time together to sit and stare at how beautiful she is.  Welcome to the world Daisy Kent Carter.

May Rewind

 The Fab Five at Graduation

 Sadie and Henry

 My Mini Me

 LHS Graduation

 Memorial Day Welding

Back on Campus for my Last Class of this degree

Back to the Dorm

Today I move back into the dorm.  Just a year ago I was oh so excited to get packed and ready to begin this principal program, and now just a few hours from beginning the end of the program I am not oh so excited, but a little relieved that the end is near.  This year has been filled with ups and downs.  This year has challenged Cullen and me as a couple, pushed me to completely commit to this career, and has grown me as an individual.  And while I walked a couple of weeks ago at graduation I am back on campus to finish the last six hours of my specialist degree.  I am so excited to see my cohort, and I'm excited to meet the new class that is beginning this summer.  And for now I am sitting on the couch procrastinating gathering up my things to move into the dorm....procrastinating a work out...just procrastinating.

Welding Women

 Can you tell how very excited we were about our welding certificates.  I love a certificate, it is like another thing to check of my life long learner to do list.  I absolutely loved learning to weld.  I am the owner of a Mig Welder, but need a helmet before I get busy making bottle trees on my own.  My certificate will be framed in my new office next school year.

Henry's Baptism

 Sweet Henry was baptized on Mother's Day.  He is the most cuddly baby boy I've ever been around.

 His expressions and cooing just melt my heart.

 This is the face of a little girl who is smitten with her Uncle Cullen.  For no reason, I caught her just looking at him and smiling this smile.  Some would think she was up to something, but she wasn't just her way of showing him love.

 Sweet family.

 Sweet Baby

 Seems that this little man is going to love his Uncle Cullen just like his big sister does.

Over the Years

Okay so here are my three graduation pictures from Ole Miss.  2006-M.Ed., 2005- B.A.Ed, 2012- Ed.S

Graduation

 Finally a major portion of this year has come to an end.  Graduation was one of the last major hoops we had to jump through this year.  When I graduated with my Masters I said I would not walk again at graduation until I obtained my Doctoral Degree.  Truth be told I would have stuck to my guns, except the Barksdales who funded this program, like for us to walk, and walk we all did.  All of us except one who decided that he didn't want to leave his six week old at home with one parent and he sat out.  Normally I would have been envious, but this was a really nice time to be with our group.  

 We have been the smallest group to come through the Principal Corps and I think it has been to our advantage.  With such a small group we have gotten to know each other pretty well in the last year.  And graduation was a nice time to sit together and celebrate together.

 Getting ready to walk into convocation I remembered that although I despise convocation my mom says it is her favorite part.  She loves seeing the different schools come into the grove and she says she sits back proud that this was "her University."  I tried to remember that as I walked in, but sadly I was most thankful for technology and wondered how I had made it through two other graduations with out and iPhone.

 The girls of the group.  We have not only had the smallest group but also we had the first group the guys outnumbered the girls.  

 Cullen was a dear showing up with a golf cart to transport us right after the ceremony since it began to rain.

 Of course my mom was there.

And Cullen's parents came by on their way to the baseball game.

Three degrees down...one more to go.