We'll Do Anything For Free Food

Chick-Fil-A is a staple in our home.  Not only do we love the food, we can actually all eat for less than $25, which for our family of 5 is cheap.  Gavin no longer eats a kid's meal!!!  The employees at our Seneca Chick-Fil-A are especially wonderful and make our family feel so special.  And, if you offer us free food, we'll do whatever we need to do so we can partake.  So, here are the Odoms as cows...

Boyle Cousin Camp 2013

Over the summer, Nate and Lila joined Mimi, myself and the boys for a week of fun in Dacula.  I took loads of pictures (yeah!) and promised a book to commemorate our fun, which I haven't done (boo!).  The kids really do love spending time together and the boys are constantly asking to go to Nate's house.  We truly cherish our time together.

Everyday, we started out with a morning bike ride.  It was about the only time of day that it wasn't ridiculously hot or raining.

 

After riding bikes and while Levi took his morning nap, I took the big kids down to the pool for morning swim.  They could have stayed there all day.  Pools are the best part of summer!

The boys played a little tennis while Miss Lila would swing at the playground.

Little Bit learned how to walk while we were at Mimi's!

My dad and I took the big boys to the Gwinnett Braves game.  The boys had fun, enjoyed their Dippin' Dots and let dad and I watch a little bit of the game.  

At the movies to see Despicable Me 2.

Our eventful trip to the Yellow Game Ranch.  It was incredibly muddy because it had rained a lot that week.  I am not a huge fan of this "zoo" but at least they have the deer confined to their own area, so they are no longer able to nibble on your clothes. 

Relaxing after our lunch at chinese!  

Now that we are heading into spring, we are planning our 2014 Boyle Cousins Camp, and I know the boys can't wait.  We are so blessed with such a wonderful family!

Baseball 2013

Noah joined his first t-ball team last spring.  The boy loves sports!  If he could be outside playing football, soccer, baseball, basketball or golf at all times, he'd be a happy camper.  His favorite sport varies with what time of year it is and seems to coincide with whatever sport David is playing at church.  So, when this little guy got a glove, some baseball pants, and his own helmet, he was in heaven.  David id great with kiddos, so he was willing to coach the team.  I'm not sure if he'll be able to coach baseball when they actually "play" the game, but for now, David enjoys teaching the kids to run the bases.

 Ready for their first game.

 I'm sure the first of many pictures posed with a bat!

And of course, we had to get some black eye block.

Noah got 4 homeruns and a bazillion base hits...granted there were no players covering any base and their were no outs in the game.  Go Rays!

What a Difference a Year Makes

I've been looking back over the pictures on my phone from the past year, and I can't help but be a bit sad at how quickly my baby has become a toddler.  He's a sweet, inquisitive, hungry, smart toddler, but a little bit of his baby gets lost each day. The photos I was looking at were taken over the last year, but what a difference a year makes!

Learning to climb the stairs.     March 2013

 Watching his first Masters.      April 2013

 At his first Clemson baseball game.  Go Dawgs!      April 2013

 The infamous sleeping picture.          June 2013

 About to take his first step.        July 2013

 We'll do anything for free food!         July 2013

 The boys loves a hat!          July 2013

 And he loves the sand!         August 2013

 Oh, the cottage...           September 2013

 Sporting Nate's hat!        September 2013

Another hat!         October 2013

World's cutest rockstar!         October 2013

Levi's first hair cut!            November 2013

One of the sweetest faces ever.             December 2013

And now he can climb bunk beds too!          January 2014

Kindergarten Graduation

We head to Back to School tonight to meet Noah's (2nd) Kindergarten teacher, so I thought I would post some pics from his (1st) Kindergarten Graduation.  Noah had a wonderful year with Ms. Mahl.  It was the perfect decision for him to double up on kindergarten.  He learned how to read, really enjoys math, and became more and more confident in the classroom setting.  Oh Noah, can be silly with the best of 'em, so another year to grow in maturity will not hurt a bit.  

Getting ready to toss his graduation hat!

 Noah and his best bud! We will really miss seeing him every day!

 Thanks for a great year Ms. M!

 Mimi and Paka came to celebrate.

 The two amigos!  Gavin can't wait to start at Trinity this year!

Happy 1st Birthday Levi!

Oh wow!  Little man is one year old!  What a quick, amazing year!  It's hard to believe how much a baby changes from birth to their first birthday, but even though this is my third go around, I am still amazed at what happens in a year.  I am thankful to have a full memory bank from Levi's first year.  Levi really has been a joy from the moment I met him. I can remember thinking he was too easy and that he would wake up and start being fussy sooner or later.  Nope.  Levi is a dream.  A real dream.  I am not sure if there will be anymore Odom babies, so if that is so, I have "ended" on a perfect note.

Levi, you are such a treasure to me.  God designed you and placed you here for a reason.  I know it with all that I have.  I see it in you.  Thank you for lighting up the room with your smile.  I love how you are starting to point to everything, throw a ball(usually with your left hand), enjoy standing in the dishwasher, say "uh-oh" when you drop your paci, reach for me, and pull all the folded clothes out of the laundry basket.  You are on the brink of walking, but currently get too excited to take your first step!  Thankfully, you love eating all sorts of good foods, such as, peas, black beans, green beans, avocados, cheese and yogurt.  I love you, little bug.  You are more than blessing to me, and I am so thankful God gave you to me.  He is so good!

  

Happy 6th Birthday Noah!

My big man is 6!  Like I said in the last blog post, I feel like he's officially a kid now.  He can get his own drink, brush his own teeth, read his own books, play his own video games...he doesn't need me anymore!!! Okay, I'm being a little overdramatic, but you get my point!

Noah, you are growing into such an incredible young man.  You continue to amaze me with your growing confidence and independent spirit.  I am thankful that you still enjoy cuddling with me every once in awhile, and that you have such a gentle and protective way with Levi.  You are a super athlete and have just started taking on the role of a "gamer" in our house.  Thanks for the goofy faces, silly voices and opera excerpts.  God has big plans for you, Noah!  You are going to do awesome at "big school"...but I am going to miss eating lunch with you everyday...

Birthday Boy! David faithfully wore his mustache.  It did not go with my outfit!

He's convinced he will be playing on the PGA tour at age 7!

Noah's birthday morning.  The Odom girls were here to celebrate!