Celebrations and the Rucker Family Lake Trip

Every year we have our big Rucker Family Lake Trip.  This year was as fun as ever.  Matt, Cadence and I went to the lake on Wednesday, June 15.  It was fun to have a night just the three of us to ride the boat, swim, play, etc.  Thursday (daddy's bday), daddy, mom and brie arrived.  Cadence was so excited to see them (as were Matt and I) and we had fun celebrating daddy.  We went out to eat that night for daddy's bday and ate some yummy seafood.  Friday (my bday) I woke up to my annual bday breakfast cooked by none other than my fabulous husband!  He made me chocolate chip pancakes, which were AMAZING!  I was celebrated the whole day and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Matt truly catered to me and took complete care of Cadence and let me do whatever I wanted to do.  He stayed back with Cadence for her naptime and daddy took me on my very own pontoon boat ride-to wherever I wanted to go.  It was relaxing, quiet and PERFECT!  Friday late afternoon Mark and Andrea arrived.  Mom and dad cooked an amazing meal that night and we celebrated with a delicious cake.  Saturday, Chad, Michelle and Crosby arrived and we all spent the day on the lake and at this little "beach" letting the kiddos play.  Life sure is different at the lake now.  Instead of staying out all day laying out, we all come in by 1ish to let the kids nap.  Instead of staying up late playing games/watching movies, we go to bed with the kids to settle them in.  BUT, I wouldn't change our lives for anything.  Everything is still ALWAYS fun at the lake.  Sunday, we woke up and celebrated the dads at the lake.  Matt, Cady and I packed up after breakfast to head home to see Matt's dad.  We went to a late church service with his fam and went out to eat afterwards to celebrate.  What a great weekend of celebrations!

Sidenote:  I have THE BEST daddy in the world!  I am so blessed to have such an amazing role model in my life.  My daddy loves Jesus, loves his family and loves his friends.  He is a man of few words, but when he does speak it is either full of wisdom or hilarious.  I respect him SO much for so many reasons.  He is SO selfless, he works so hard to provide for his family, he puts God first and always protects and takes care of his family.  My daddy will do ANYTHING for ANYONE and never expects anything in return.  My daddy raised me and my brothers to love Jesus and to love others and I am so thankful that he instilled such precious values and morals in me.  My daddy is happiest when he has his whole family together.  He loves fishing and being at his lakehouse.  My daddy has such a gentle spirit and tender heart.  My daddy was made for me and I was made for my daddy.  Thank you, Jesus, for giving me such an amazing daddy!  I always prayed that I would marry someone just like my daddy and guess what:  I did!

My Matty is such an amazing father and I am blessed to have him be the father to my children.  He is SUCH a hard worker and such an amazing provider for our family.  Matt ALWAYS puts God first, followed by his family and others.  Like my daddy, Matt is extremely selfless.  He has truly taught me what it is to be selfless (I have a long ways to go, but I'm working on it.)  :)  My Matty loves his daughter SO much and there is nothing sweeter to my ears than to hear him chasing her through the house and hearing them both belly laugh.  I love hearing him read to her at night and pray for her and our family.  Matty, like my daddy, is a man of few words.  But, when he does speak, it too is either wise or hilarious.  Matt's heart is so tender and so genuine and I love his gentle spirit.  My Matty would do anything in the world to make his girls (Me, Cadence and soon to be, Emily) happy.  He works hard and plays hard.  Matt takes care of us in so many ways.  I depend on him for so much, and He has never failed me.  My Matty is thoughtful and generous.  He remembers the small things that mean so much and always strives to make his girls happy.  He is amazing with Cadence and man does she love her daddy!  I look forward to seeing his relationship grow with her, and I look forward to seeing him with Emily too.  Thank you, Jesus for a husband who is such an amazing father to my child(ren).

super pumped about the boat ride! 

she LOVED being the co-captain

Miss Attitude

My little fish

Cadence and cousin Aubrie

My YUMMY annual bday breakfast from Matty: Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Happy 28th bday to me!

Mimi and her G.G.s

Sweet Papa

My Matty

Papa and his girls

Cady LOVED swimming with Papa

About to go tubing with daddy for the first time

Cadence LOVED it!

Sweet Crosby

Happy Father's Day !



Beach Trip 2011

We went for a week to the beach at Litchfield and had an absolute blast!  I was so excited to take Cady because I knew she'd love spending all day outside, playing in sand and water.  We took her last year, but I knew she would not remember that.  Sure enough, this kid ate every second up outside.  It brought me so much joy to see her TRUE excitement and love for the beach!  We slept late, played hard and ate good!  :)  I was a tad concerned about the potty training since she was so knew to it, but she did great.  The only problem we struggled with for awhile was the pooping.  She would get scared and not want to go (this began before we left for the beach).  However, on our way home from the beach she had us stop three different times to let her go poo poo and since then it has just clicked.  She is a champ and is officially potty trained!  :)  PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!!  Man o Man what a big (little) girl I have.  She is growing up way too fast.

Sidenote from the beach:  I went to the doctor today and he said at 38 weeks they will do an ultrasound to see how big Emily is.  Cadence was 8 pounds 7 ounces, 2 weeks early, so they want to make sure Emily doesn't get too big.  He said that if the ultrasound shows she is a big girl, they will induce me probably a week early, but if she's normal size they will let her stay put.  So, I could be having this sweet girl in about 3 weeks.  Ahhhh!  I'm just super glad my 3 main things with Cadence has been accomplished:  no paci, sleeping in big girl bed, and now POTTY TRAINED!  I guess we are ready for our new addition now.  :)

                                                                  My little beach bum!                                 

                                                              Sweet daddy and daughter

Cady and her first build a bear: Molly.  She got this for being potty trained!



We took the potty seat everywhere :)