Brax, Brody and Everleigh

The old gang got together last week and we had to post a new picture of the kiddos. Since Sallie moved, we rarely get a photo that contains Eli :) Unfortunately, Avery was at her Nana's house, so she's missing from the one below. If I knew how to photoshop, I would paste her sweet smile in there beside Jay! These kids have been buddies since the womb. God knew what he was doing when he put us all together... Seven babies in six months (plus Paisley, who was everyone's token sweetheart before our own came along). They are still great buddies, despite the fact that our playdates have become less frequent. With the crazy schedules of toddler life... preschool, mothers day out, dance lessons, swim lessons, etc etc, it's hard to get them all together at one time. We sure do miss the time when we spent several days a week enjoying one another's company. They all share a special bond and it has truly been a gift to watch them grow up together.
Last Wednesday... Jay and Ben in the back. Drew, Brax, Eli, Xander and Paisley in the front.

July 2006... Ben, Drew, Avery, Xander, Paisley, Eli, Jay and Brax

Of course, the mommies of these kiddos are some of my dearest friends. We've been through one of the sweetest stages of life together: motherhood. We've shared pregnancy, birth, infancy, toddlerhood, and now the preschool stage. We've loved one another's children like they're our own. I know that they will remain some of my closest friends as we travel through the many challenges that come with raising these precious gifts.

Of course, little Brody and Stuart were there as well. I know that Brody will be just as blessed by the little buddies that God has given him at church... Curtis, Maverick, Grayson, Owen, Eli, Cash, Stuart... I can't wait to see this next little "generation" of boys grow up to be friends. We have been so incredibly blessed by the friends that God has given us to help us raise our children. They are loving, compassionate, caring and godly people! Thank you, God, for community and for the precious gift of our friends!