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More good stuff from our talented teen

I just had to share Brie's latest art project that she is working on for school. She is currently in an advanced class and has been given some challenging assignments. This particular one is a large sketch/drawing of an elderly lady with a scarf on her head. If you saw the original photo she is using to do this project, you would be amazed how close it is to the real thing. Her project is not done and she still has add her final touches. So far, it looks amazing!
She is such a talented young lady and we are so very proud of her! Brie attended a conference for high school students in journalism yesterday and her yearbook teacher submitted a layout she did for the yearbook for a contest. It turns out, she won! My girl has so much talent and she continues to amaze us. I always tell people that she is the girl I dreamed I could have been. Way to go, Brie!

Shelly, Mom Files
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I remember hating when people would tell me I looked so young

I can remember my teenage years so well. I was always the smallest of my peers weighing no more than 92 pounds in my senior year. It bothered me that no matter how much I would eat, I still looked scrawny. Even worse than being so small was the fact that adults often thought I was 12. That used to make me so angry to the point of tears. I remember when everyone thought my younger sister was older than me. Talk about devastation!

I was 20 when I was pregnant with my first daughter. I remember the stares I received from people and often heard them say "babies having babies". I was married and old enough to have a child, yet people still assumed I was 14. I hated looking so young. When would anyone take me seriously? For years after, folks would ask if my daughters were my younger sisters or if I was the babysitter. I was always the "young mom" at the girls' elementary and middle school. I felt so left out. Years later I come to find out that a lot of those moms were very close to my age and some were even younger!



Fast forward to the present... I am 39 years old and I thoroughly enjoy when nobody believes that I have three kids and the fact that two of them are teens! I have to tell other moms I know that are going through the same thing how much they will appreciate being "too youthful looking" when they get older. So now my 18 year old daughter is going through the same thing I did. Most people think she is 14 and gets mistaken as the younger sister to her little sister. I keep telling her that it is a good thing to look so young. She hates it. In due time she will learn.  
Shelly, Mom Files
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The artist of the house, Brie

Our daughter Brie is such an outstanding artist. She had to draw a horse's eye for an art assignment and it blew us all away with how realistic it looks! She is in an advanced art class that she was recommended to be in from her teacher last year. She wasn't going to take the class at first, but decided to keep it. I am glad she did! There is no need to waste pure talent like that. Great job Brie!


Shelly, Mom Files
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My favorite girls | Friends for life

I was looking at an old photo of my daughters along with their friend, Haley.  Chardie and Haley met in kindergarten and became best friends from day one. Although Haley and Chardie are in the same grade, Brie took a liking to Haley and joined in on the friendship. After all these years they still get together for sleepovers, outings and parties. Haley is referred to as being my third daughter. I love her as if she was my own! When Haley comes to the house, I enjoy making them my "world famous" grilled cheese sandwiches and baking cookies. It has been a tradition for many years and all three girls look forward to it.


Chardie and Haley were in kindergarten and Brie was still at home with me! This was taken at their end of kindergarten school trip to a local park. How adorable are those sweet faces?! 
Here are the girls are all grown up. Chardie and Haley are finishing off Junior year and will become Seniors next school year. Brie will be a Sophomore next school year. *sniff*

All three girls have made us so proud. They are all very high academic achievers and have such outstanding manners and a love for the community. We couldn't ask for better daughters! It has been a joy watching the three of them grow up together. It is wonderful to have lifelong friends that become a part of your family. 

Do you or your children have any of the same friends since early childhood? 
Shelly, Mom Files
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They insist on growing up

I love my daughters. They are the most outstanding teenagers I have ever known. I don't say that because they are my girls, I say it because it is the truth! They don't act like the average teenager. They push themselves to be the best they can in school, sports and every other area of their life. They carry themselves like young ladies and are a best friend to each other. I am filled with happiness when I listen to some of the conversations they have with each other. My hope is that they always continue to be close and be there for each other.



The girls will be 16 & 18 later this year and Chardie is already looking into college applications. She informed me the other night that although she is a Junior, she has signed up for early application/early acceptance with the college she has dreamed of going to since she was 5. She will find out in November if she gets accepted. *sigh* Although I am so proud and I know that she will get in, I feel like she is half way out the door already. Did I mention that the college is local? She insists that she will always be around because she will still crave her mom's good cooking. Of course I will be there to indulge her! 

Now Brie has turned into this mini grown-up overnight. She stand about 3 inches taller than me and shows no signs of the looking like a little girl. She has really grown up so much not just physically but emotionally. Brie is our very intelligent, lively and colorful child. She keeps us entertained! She is also William's go-to person when he gets into trouble. He will go to Brie and explain what he did and tell her how much trouble he is in (very dramatically) Of course big sister eats it all up and consoles him. She doesn't like seeing him get into trouble but you better believe that if she catches him doing something naughty, she will correct him immediately. 

Little William is going to be 4 later this month. Although I have not missed a single milestone (being a stay-at-home mom) my heart still breaks a little seeing him grow up so fast. I am proud of that little boy though. He has met many milestones in the last year. It's funny, just when you think your kid will never do certain things they surprise you and do it BIG! I am trying to get him prepared for kindergarten. Some days I feel like I am doing a great job but most days I feel like I am not doing enough. That's another post for another day. 

I am just so proud of all my children. They are so inspiring and full of light. I take as much time as I can to watch them, listen to them and take in all the greatness they put out in the world. They are going to do very big things in their lives. I feel so fortunate to have such amazing children! 
Shelly, Mom Files
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My feelings about Mother's Day (short version)

I am not one to participate in overly commercialized holidays, Mother's Day included. I still do make it a point to honor mothers on that day since I don't necessarily get to do it all the time. It is just one day to be sure I let those ladies know how much they mean to me and thanking them for their awesomeness.

As for myself, I don't take Mother's Day off. I still do my usual job of being mom. It's my life and it's what I love. I am so lucky because I feel like at least 4-5 times a week my daughters tell me "That's why you are the best mom in the world" or "Bawbi, you're such a beast" and one of my favorites "Is there anything you can't do?". They will often times come up to me while I am lounging in the recliner and rub my feet for no reason. They buy little goodies from school and give them to me as a little surprise. They hug me and tell me they love me several times a day. As big as the girls are, they still fight over who gets to sit next to me and paste themselves all over me. Even little William shows affection to me and loves to snuggle with me when he is looking for a peaceful spot to rest. It's not unusual to see 3 kids glued to me at one time. My husband is wonderful to me as well. He gives all of himself to make me happy and I deeply appreciate it. He can be exhausted but always takes time for me. He listens to me and takes great care of me.

You see, every day of my life is like Mother's Day~ only better. Nobody is forced to make me feel special or loved. I did receive nice gifts for Mother's Day and I am grateful. I still enjoy the daily things I receive from my family that comes straight from the heart and makes me know I am the best mom in the world!

Happy Mother's Day to all my momma friends out there! You rock ♥
Shelly, Mom Files
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Briahnna's 8th grade Semi-formal dance

Last Thursday evening, Briahnna attended her very first school dance~ the 8th grade Semi-formal dance. We had so much fun shopping for her outfit although it was a challenge trying to find her size. I think the colors she chose were perfect.

She had so much fun and it was a big reminder that her middle school years are coming to a close. I won't lie, I shed some tears when I dropped her off to the dance. I could not wait to pick her back up so I could hear all about it.


Next stop, high school!

Shelly, Mom Files
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OMG {Oh My Gray!}

I was in the bathroom washing my face with my hair pulled back in a ponytail. After I dried my face off I looked in the mirror and shrieked! I could not believe how much silver I was seeing. I normally have like 8-10, but this many?! So many people tell me I don't look old enough to have teenagers but they might change their mind if they see this! I guess I better get used to it since I have vowed never to color my hair. Yep, I'll be silver and sexy or as my hubby says I will look like one of those hot older chicks ;-)


Shelly, Mom Files
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Brie's braces

Let me tell you something~ Teenage girls are the WORST beings on earth to photograph. No photo is pleasing to them. Then again I feel the same way about myself. Okay, well here is the updated photo of Brie with her braces. She continues to do well and I am so mesmerized by how quickly her teeth are shifting! I'm not sure if this is all in my mind but it seems as if her confidence has boosted a bit since getting the braces. I am also in such disbelief at how mature my baby girl is getting. She goes to high school next year :( I guess at least she will have straight teeth before junior year. She's so excited!


Shelly, Mom Files
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Wordless Wednesday I ♥ these girls!

Look at my teenagers!! They are so sweet and I have thoroughly enjoyed having them home with me this summer. I will be so sad when school starts back in a few weeks. They keep me smiling :)



Shelly, Mom Files
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What comfort knowing what I know

This morning Chardie, William and I went for a walk around our local shopping area before it got too hot. It was nice and quiet since most of the stores had not yet opened. Since Brie has been gone all week on her Washington trip this has given Chardie and I more one on one time. We were walking by Bath and Bodyworks and Chardie comes out of nowhere and tells me that if anything ever happened to me and her dad that William would have to go with her. He would not have any choice. That melted my heart in a way that unless you were in my shoes you would understand it fully. To know that big sister would willingly step up in that way is priceless and brings me so much comfort. I love my sweet children. ♥
Shelly, Mom Files
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I am going all the way gray

I am one of those women who started going gray since I was in high school. Actually, some of my hair is a sparkling silver to be exact. I used to freak out and pull a strand here and there that I felt was visible. Being that my hair is jet black, the silver really shines through. I have never colored my hair before and quite frankly can't see myself with any color other than what's natural. I was at a political fundraiser recently when I had the pleasure of meeting this lovely lady Mrs. Francis Finney (One of her sons is running for Solicitor in 4 surrounding counties). She was there to support her son and had such poise and grace about herself. I had an instant connection with her the minute we started chatting and I fell in love with her silver locks! Then it hit me. I figured it out... I am not going to ever color my hair. I will let it go gray and embrace what I think is natural beauty.

Mrs. Finney's husband, Chief Justice Ernest Finney was just as lovely a person. I was chatting with him and apologizing for my husband AKA the paparazzi! He was as sweet as can be and told me he did not mind being photographed. They are the epitome of how I view myself to be when I am in my golden years!


Shelly, Mom Files
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