Mark had been following the Mississippi State baseball team through their journey to the SEC Championship game. I knew that if they had the opportunity to play for the championship on Sunday that he would definitely be in attendance. We worked out some kinks with church responsibilities and Turner and I were able to join Mark for a fun afternoon trip to Birmingham to watch the Bulldogs play! We also got to visit with my sister which was an extra special surprise and treat for all of us!
Turner does love her cowbell and boy it's loud! We are having to train her to lower it just a little or I am going to have a cowbell imprint on my face one of these days!
Notice the wardrobe change before the next picture? It was HOT! Thankfully I had a different shirt for Turner that was much cooler, and also a different shirt for me since I spilled coke on myself on the way in the stadium. Sometimes I have it together and actually prepare for moments such as this!
Seeing this picture reminds me of a funny story - Rebekah had taken Turner to get one of the many treats she bought her while we were at the game. (I think both of them wanted a break from the sun too if you want to know the truth!) While they were gone, Mark started getting text messages from friends all over the country saying they'd seen us on TV. I had no idea the game was televised and expected him to say it was on CSS or some more regional network. No, it was definitely on ESPN3 and friends from Chicago all the way to Jackson, Mississippi were saying they saw us! Of course we were able to find it the next day and there we were! Slightly strange to see yourself on TV!
It was a fun treat to see a SEC Championship win! It was more of a treat to spend a great day at the ballpark with family, and we capped it off with a stop at Dairy Queen for dinner and some ice cream! Good times I tell you.
I knew Turner was very close to swimming at the end of last summer, and we got a sneak preview of how many of her swimming skills she had retained at the beach for Spring Break. I had a feeling she would be swimming this summer, but I didn't realize how confident she'd become over the course of just one week at the pool. I am so incredibly proud of her!
Two Saturdays ago (May 19th) Turner asked us to remove the training wheels from her bike. She had seen Anderson riding without training wheels and wanted to give it a try. We started by having her practice going down our front walkway into the grass, mainly focusing on balance and feeling that split second when it seems you are going to topple. I wish we had video documentation of this stage, but let's just say it required several hands to keep her steady at first and the results were frustrating to her for sure! We tried on Saturday, then again Sunday, and mid-week - all moving toward progress staying balanced as she went from cement to grass.
The following weekend (May 26th) she started to get a little more brave and we moved to the sidewalk with a quick turn into the grass. Direction is not our strength!
On Memorial Day (May 28th), we were astounded at this run down the entire length of the yard, particularly at her readjusting her feet onto the pedals and not freaking out!
Tuesday (May 29th) as we were playing outside I suggested that Turner try on the sidewalk. We gave it several runs with me sticking closely behind her, but I realized quickly she didn't really need my help. Once she realized that same fact, she hasn't looked back since! Wednesday after church she gained tons of confidence riding in a much bigger space (the street) and was self starting without balance assistance from me at all! We took Mark out to show him after he got home around 9pm and he was so excited! She was turning and braking as if this were an old trick. It helps that Anderson rides with her and her competitive nature doesn't want him to out-do her!
These videos were taken this past Saturday (June 2) so this is two weeks after the training wheels came off. Watching her learn this skill and work through the challenges and uncertainties has been a treasured memory for us. She's growing up so quickly, but it's just marvelous to watch a child learn and master a new skill. We are super proud!
I enjoyed a full week of vacation last week and it was precisely what I needed to regroup from the month of May. Turner and I went to the pool every single day, I only fixed my hair and put on makeup twice, and we did a lot playing. It was delightful!
In the evenings last week, I did concentrate on uploading hundreds of pictures/videos and I will be slowly updating the blog to give you a peek into our lives for the last month. Honestly, we've just been so busy and having so much fun there haven't been minutes in the day left to share it all. I'm choosing to enjoy and live the moments fully, blogging as I can find the time!
There were many, many nights spent outside with the neighbors. We haven't always been the "neighborly" type, but we feel truly blessed to have so many children right outside our back door who can share their lives with Turner. We've watched two of the kids learn to ride bikes without training wheels in the last week, and have viewed several sunsets like the one below that make us stop and marvel at the blessing this amazing world.
We spent many, many days at the pool and Turner is swimming up a storm! It is such a treat to have our back door neighbor and buddy Anderson with us at the pool to play!
Mark and I always know that the last two weeks of May are going to be tough. Camp War Eagle training through session #1, combined with the ending of a school year makes for two busy parents and a daughter who is thankfully pretty happy to be wherever she is! At a DMS school dance she finds friends and dances the night away to the "slide to the left" song. (Cha Cha Slide - it's her favorite.) At work with Mark, she makes friends with new CWE staff and convinces them to let her do things she wouldn't normally get to do. ("Turner, Mommy doesn't let you play barbie.com." "I know, but Mommy isn't here right now!")
We always know that if we can just make it to Memorial Day, we'll be through the worst of it. This Memorial Day holiday was one of my favorites ever! We went outside mid-morning to wash cars, Turner and Anderson ended up in the sprinkler enhancements that stretched across two yards, and built an umbrella fort to protect them from the evil spray of Mr. Mark's water hose. We finally came inside late in the evening, after Mark grilled some yummy chicken to go with our home cooked vegetables and rosemary potatoes. It was a perfect, restful day filled with family and fun.
Turner and I have gone on walks, chased fireflies, and are daily keeping up with the progress of our garden! The good life for sure - with lots more summer memories to come!
Turner's preschool classes put on their end of the year performance today and it was adorable! Turner really enjoyed singing all the songs about the circus and especially enjoyed swinging across the stage a couple of times as trapeze artist. She had a wonderful year and made such sweet friends this year at preschool!
On the Thursday before Mother's Day, I joined Turner at her preschool for Muffins with Mommy. She made me this beautiful print and I loved the answers to her "Mommy Questionnaire" below.
Turner and her friend Clay love to hug each other!
On Mother's Day, Mark headed up to Shocco Springs for the Camp War Eagle retreat while Turner and I made a day trip to Andalusia to spend Mother's Day with Tootsie and Pop. It was a dreary, rainy day but we enjoyed our time with family!
I am blessed to have the best Mom in the world, a fabulous Mother-in law, and to be the mommy to the sweetest and most wonderful daughter in the world.
The weekend of May 6th has been circled on the calendar of Turner's mind for months! We've been talking about it, preparing for it, rehearsing for it...and let me just say the weekend didn't disappoint!
A little background...
In January, Mark and I asked permission for Turner to join the children's choir/drama group at church called His Kidz. We knew that she liked to perform and sing, but it was also to give her a specific activity on Sunday nights while we were at church. His Kidz is traditionally for children in Kindergarten through 5th grade, but the leaders agreed to let her give it a whirl. I don't think any of us knew her memorization capabilities until this experience, but after a few weeks the leaders assured us she was going to know everyone's part before the final show. Mark and I both secured CD's of the music and I received a DVD video - and for the next three months Mark and I also memorized the program as it was ALL we listened to!
I am grateful for the opportunities this music and drama provided for spiritual discussion in the car and at home as she prepared for the big day. Conversations that start with questions such as, "Mommy, what does confidence mean?" Based on the text of the song, "Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, as our prayers draw us near, to the One who knows our needs before we even call His name." (Still my favorite line of the show.) I am thankful for servants who exhibit the patience of Job to provide this experience for children and enrich their lives both spiritually and musically.
In mid-March they announced the performance date - May 6th at 6:00pm. The same day as Turner's dance recital - at 2:00pm! Talk about a wild day! Add a few more things to the mix for the weekend (like a pool party, a women's brunch, the wedding of a friend, all four grandparents coming into town for the big day) and it becomes an even more exciting weekend!!
As you'd imagine, there are many, many pictures that didn't even make this blog post! Here are a few that will highlight the weekend our "star" was born.
The ladies' brunch on Saturday morning was held at the farm of a dear friend. Different ladies volunteered to use their china to set a table for 6 and you can see the unique backdrop with my china here. It was a neat mix of rustic and classic; sophisticated and simple.
After the brunch, I ran home quickly while my parents picked up Turner from the His Kidz dress rehearsal at church (simultaneously going on during the brunch). Then it was off to a pool party with the His Kidz bunch!
That evening, Mom and I went to one of the most beautiful outdoor weddings I've ever witnessed. The weather was perfect and the decorations were exquisite and perfect for the setting. While we were there, my sweet husband grilled a delicious meal and had it all ready and waiting when we arrived back home.
Sunday was the big day! We snapped a few pictures before we left home in the front yard, but then we arrived at the Performing Arts Center later than we planned so our seats made quality pictures difficult. But as you'll see below, our girl is not afraid to strut her stuff on stage! (Please know I didn't tell her how to pose here...this was of her own choosing.)
First up - her tap routine to a disco number called "Where's My Cookie" by the Cookie Monster. Turner just loved that fringe!
Between numbers I run backstage and change Turner's costumes - here are a few photo ops with friends backstage.
And now for dance #2 - ballet to "You're my Sugar Plum".
We are so blessed to have grandparents and "Auburn grandparents" (Mrs. Norma) who make Turner feel like such a special little girl!
After the recital, we headed home to regroup. Turner was supposed to be at the church by 4:00pm for a brief rehearsal, but since we didn't leave the recital till almost 4:00 the leaders told us that it was ok if she just got there around 5:00pm. She actually fell asleep in the car on the way home for a few minutes - poor thing is used to her nap! We regrouped, changed clothes, and headed to Parkway for performance #2. This was the one Turner was so pumped about - dance recital was fun, but this was the big deal to her!
Can you tell she was a little weary from the day? I started praying then for her to have supernatural energy to finish well - to be rewarded for all of her hard work with an awesome experience.
This picture totally trips me out - when did my baby girl get this big??
Turner was recharged as soon as the music started and when she hit the stage
I saw for the first time what I believe will be one of her lifelong passions. She loves to perform - specifically singing and dancing - and for her I believe it is a talent and a gift.
Turner told us she wanted to try out to sing a solo (she actually wanted to try out to be the main character but we helped her understand perhaps that was meant for a little bit older girl) and we encouraged her to do so. She picked her solo and practiced, and then on try-out night she got totally freaked out by the microphone. We thought she was done with the whole experience - but thankfully they coaxed her back into the room for rehearsal. We assured them she didn't have to have a solo, but after rehearsal she proudly announced she got one! Mark and I praised her for her resilience but almost croaked at the lyrics they assigned to a 4 year old! "And in keeping with convention, I'll say yes to good intentions, to pray later making mention of your needs." The teachers assured me that as well as she memorizes lyrics it would be a breeze...good grief!
We practiced and encouraged, practiced and encouraged. My nerves were shot before they ended the song BEFORE her solo. When she stepped up to the microphone below, it was worse than I had ever felt before I had performed myself. What if she forgets the words, what if she gets off beat and that throws the next soloist off, what if she freaks out with the microphone, will she run off the stage, will she cry, what will we do to pick up the pieces? I have since apologized to my own mother for the agony I put her through in all my years of performing and pageants. I know I've contributed to her need for blood pressure medication.
Y'all, my baby girl grabbed that microphone and totally rocked it. She totally. rocked. it.
She stayed on beat and her words were shockingly clear. I was the
proudest mama in the house I promise you. The family row burst into
applause after she finished - there was no secret where the
Armstrong/Stone clan was sitting!
She didn't miss a beat with the singing and the dancing - only her physical stature gave away the fact that she was much younger than the other kids on stage. It was a neat thing to see, and so many people have encouraged this in her in the weeks following the production.
Turner and Mattie taking huge bow! She was SO proud of herself! Check out the theatrical young fella in the back...he's pretty proud too!
Turner loves these two teenage girls and thinks these are her best friends! Emily and Lauren are so incredibly sweet to Turner and make special efforts to encourage her.
Getting a congratulatory hug from Andrew and Clay.
It was an exhilarating and exhausting weekend that left me and Mark drowning in gratitude for the precious little girl that God gave us. She is special for sure and we are so proud of her!!
