Faithful, Loyal, Firm & True...

We had a full weekend!

Saturday morning (way earlier than I'd wanted to be up and about) we hit the road to Tuscaloosa.  My baby brother was finally graduating from college.  We are so proud of him and the fact that I'm not obligated to go to another college graduation until our nieces and nephews start graduating!  I've said it before, I love going to support the graduates but graduation is the most painfully boring thing to sit through.  Barrett did so good.  We fed him a lot of cheerios and he was a happy boy!

College costs how much?

So proud to see him walk across that stage.

John and the kids.  Barrett was over it by this point.  I don't think he liked all the strangers and he was so tired.

Alumni grandkids and spouses.

John and Hope in front of Denny Chimes

After graduation John and Hope hosted us at their home for lunch.  I'm so proud of them.  John has already accepted a full time job at the company he worked with this year.  He actually started today.  And they've bought a great home.  We had all John's favorite food and it was delicious!  

Love this picture of Barrett and my grandmother.

Our family of six.

And what we've grown to.

We had such a great time celebrating all of John's accomplishments.  Patrick and I had to leave a little earlier than we probably would have to pick up Barrett's cake and cupcakes for his party Sunday.  On the way home he had the worst blow out diaper of his life.  His car seat required a washing.  

I can't wait to show you all the adorable pictures from Barrett's Winter ONEderland party.  It was adorable and perfect.  I should get the pictures from the photographer this week.

John's Last 21st Birthday

I thought I'd already posted this.  I guess I was wrong.  So here it is 3 weeks later...

We celebrated my baby brother's last 21st birthday to start the month.  His two requests were a moon bounce and an keg.  We managed to have both the things he requested.  So many friends came to help him celebrate.  It was so special!

Three of John's good friends! 

The siblings.  Patrick, Me, Elizabeth and John.

The family minus the babies and my Patrick, he had to work :(

The birthday boys.  John Maxwell & John Mackey.  It was John Mackey's pure day.  (I didn't realize until this party that my family was apparently the only people that use the term "pure day" to describe your actual birthday)

The cake. I failed to get a good picture of the cake.

Then we re lit the candles for the other John to blow them out.  It worked out nicely they were both named John!

Enjoying the moon bounce.

I pulled out some of my old cheerleading moves.

Pinata time.

Celebratory beer shower.

More bounce house fun.

John and his former identity. 

It was a fun night shared with some of my favorite people.  I wished Patrick could have been there too but we are so thankful for his job so we try not to complain much. 

Happy Birthday baby brother.  I hope you had as much fun at your party as we did!

He's a Big Boy Now

Yesterday my little brother John set out on his own!  He's been "on his own" for the last 3 years in college and doing great but he lived with my sister and cousin.  Well he packed up yesterday and headed north to Muscle Shoals, AL to start his Co-Op job with his Mechanical Engineering major.  He will spend a semester up there then go back to school, he will do three rotations of that (I think) before graduating from The University of Alabama with a BS in Mechanical Engineering! We are so proud of him!  He has really done so well at Alabama.  His grades are good all while working 30-40 hours a week at Lowes and still spending time with his family and friends.  I am so excited for him to have this opportunity!  The company has an apartment for him to live in but he's alone.  Just him!  You can imagine that it's going to be different after growing up with 3 siblings and living with two room mates! And he didn't even get to take his dog.  Daisy is already missing him! She's staying with my parents and everytime the door opens she runs in to see if it's John!   We all can't wait to go visit him!  My older brother and his friend Glen went with him yesterday to help him get settled in and they spent the night! I know they made sure he was just fine before leaving him up all alone!  Here are a few photos before he left yesterday!

Mom is saying "You better behave!"

We're still working on the TakaPicturePhobia.  Believe it or not we've come a long way!

Sibling love! (minus one)

John, I know you won't read this since you don't have internet (and you don't really care what I blog about!) But I'm so proud of you! I know you're going to blow them away up there! Just be yourself!  Can't wait to come visit!

Happy Birthday John!

Today is my baby brother's 20th birthday.  My parents no longer have any teenagers!  It's so weird to me that John is 20.  He is the baby and will always be the baby to us.  John is one of those people that can fix just about anything.  He is also one of those people that you can call if you need anything.  He is such a genuine person and what you see is what you get.  He doesn't try to be something he's not just to impress people.  Now that's not to say that he hasn't gotten in his fair share of trouble but we love him just the same.  He works hard and plays hard.  He is still a big kid at heart and when he and my older brother get together they completely revert back to 10 year olds riding big wheels and scooters.  It's actually pretty funny! 

This is John and his best friend Jeremy (and Ally)

Happy Birthday baby brother!  I hope your day is wonderful and so is your year!