Day 30: Final post of 30 DAYS OF KEITH

I can't believe Keith is 30 nor that I have been a mother for that many years.  It was a wonderful trip down memory lane, looking through photo albums and thinking about those awesome years.  From the moment he was born even through today, my love for him has grown so much.

I really love this precious family and how my son grew up to be a Godly husband, great daddy, and wonderful son. God gets all of the credit for that.   I see Savannah in the corner of this picture and I love her too.  This was this passed Christmas of 2011.

We had such a good time in March of this year doing the big family Disney trip.  We created many memories and have the pictures and autographs to show for them.

Here we are at Easter of this year.  Keith is fixing a toy that Ethan was given for Easter.  He always enjoyed putting things together and he still does.

Rylie's Pre K graduation in May really drove home how grown she was and how grown my baby Keith was
.

This is Ethan's 2 year old bd in June.  It is like deja vu with Keith.  I am so grateful to be seeing/experiencing  his kids growing  up and to be in town to be a part of their lives.  Like I said......hard to really believe it's been 30 years!

Here is Mommy, Daddy, and baby Keith!  My baby is a MAN!!!!  
Sometimes I wonder if he knows just how much and how deeply I love him.  But, I think he does because I can see it in his eyes/actions when he is with his own children.  I am so proud of him and grateful to God for putting him in my life.

Now....this is a real turn of events!   My strong son can now hold me!   I guess it's only fair since I held him on his BIRTH day now he holds me on his birthday.
Happy 30 years , Keith.  Hope I am around to see another 30 years.  Love you, Son.

Day 29

Moving through the years....this post will be about the birth of Keith's kids and his Master's graduation.
His first child, Rylie McKenzie Mills was born on April 16, 2007.  She was 7lbs. 1 0z and 19" long.  It was our first grandchild so we were snapping pictures right and left.  It was hard to decide what to choose for this blog, but I finally picked some out.

This was at Rylie's house and I was so excited to get this one with her eyes opened.

This was Keith and Rylie at our house for American Idol Night.  Such a proud Daddy!

This was Keith , Aundrea, and Rylie at Rylie's baby dedication in May.  Precious little family.

November of 2009, we made fall family pictures.  Rylie changed from dark hair to blonde.  She has her mom's beautiful mouth/lips and blue eyes.

Then, in 2010, along came a bouncing baby boy:  Ethan Cole Mills.  Born June 2, 2010.  He weighed in at 6lbs. 6 oz.  He was 19 1/2 " long.   He was early but he was ready to see the world.

Rylie was so proud of her new baby brother.  She was a great big sister and loved to hold him.  She was so gentle and careful with him too.

I made a picture of Keith holding Ethan just like he was holding Rylie and what are the odds that he is wearing the same polo?

Just no ball cap!

Then.....they made another family photo of the family of 4..

In May of 2011, Keith walked for his graduation with a Master's.  That was another proud moment .  He earned this degree from University of Arkansas.

So proud of my boy.

Day 28

Before the big day, Keith went with us to Sardis lake for a little skiing.  I was praying that he wouldn't get hurt nor try to do any stunts.  We wanted him in one piece for his wedding.

Thurs. June 10 was the wedding rehearsal at Friendship Assembly of God Church.  It was a precious time for all of us.

Following that was the rehearsal dinner.  It was such a fun night together with all of the friends and families enjoying the food and fellowship.  I snagged a picture with my son before he became Aundrea's husband.

Look at our matching blues!!!!  Wasn't planned.

Finally....wedding day:  Saturday, June 12, 2004.

Mr. and Mrs. Keith Allen Mills.

day 27

May 1, 2004.  Another big event on the same day:  We moved Keith into his new apartment that he and Aundrea were going to be living in.

His trusty red truck pulled the trailor that hauled their furniture.

Day 26

May 1, 2004.  Graduation Day.   This is the day that Keith graduated from the U of M.  We were so proud.  

This was Aundrea, his beautiful fiance' and my soon to be daughter in law.

After the graduation, we went to Spaghetti Warehouse for a family dinner celebrating his graduation.

So happy to get this group picture.

Day 25

Every summer, our family would go to Greers Ferry Lake and rent a chalet at Tannenbaum for a week.  We would boat and ski and swim and eat and play.  We started doing it when Erica was 6 months old.  That was in 1986.  This summer was no different.  June of 2001 was a fun year.  The kids were older and could ride the wave runners as drivers and enjoy the water alot more.

This was our Millie sea doo.  We got her in 2000.  She was the new Millenium model.  It was our first 3 seater.

Keith enjoyed skiing with his cousin Dusti.  They were always cutting up and trying to splash each other.

Nice parking job.  Look at those muscles!
I really love my son and am so proud of him and how he has turned out.

Day 24

May 2000:  Graduation day.   What a proud mom I was.   It was such a special day.   Keith was so patient and sweet to let us make as many pictures as we wanted.  I wanted to remember every part of this day.  Graduation was at Germantown Baptist Church.  We had the ceremony and then had a big family party at our home afterwards.  There, he was able to enjoy visiting, eating, and opening his gifts.

This picture of his truck shows the artwork that some of us Moms decorated on the last day of their school attendance.  He got his truck for graduation.  He really took good care of it too.

Day 23

This post is about one of the most important times in a teenager's life:  16th birthday.  Keith turned 16 on July 12, 1998.  He passed his driver's test and was a proud license carrying 16 year old.  We let him drive our blue Ford Taurus....his ECS buddies nicknamed it the Blue Ox.  But he was grateful and took good care of the car.
He had several celebrations since we had such a large family on both sides.  We planned a surprise party at Ryan's ( wonder why?) for his close ECS friends.  They really enjoyed themselves.

I love his smile...he finally started showing his teeth after his braces came off.

This was his birthday gift:  his motorcycle.  He put alot of miles on it riding on his grandparents' land.

 His cookie cake on his actual day.   Seems like last week to me.

day 22

I tried all types of Christmas crafts that could serve as bonding time and memory makes.   Most all of my hair brained ideas usually flopped and wound up with someone injured.
I finally stumbled on making Christmas Cookies.  That was it...our bonding tradition.
I could definitely bake cookies....and I let the kids decorate however they wanted.   I just provided the icing and toppings and they created the masterpieces.
We still do this every year....but each year different family members participate depending on the schedules.

The finished product!

Day 21

This is Halloween time.  It's October 1997.  This year, Keith designed and carved our family pumpkin.  He and Erica usually enjoyed pumpkin carving time.  Erica really only wanted to help get the pumpkin guts out.  After that, she was through.
This year....we let Keith do the enitre process.  He did a good job and didn't cut himself....unlike his mother usually does.

Notice the Braves baseball hat.
And....this was the season of braces so he hardly smiled with his teeth.

Day 20

We had a dog named Muffin.  It was really Erica's dog.  Her aunt Tisha gave her one of her Malteses for Christmas and Birthday one year.  Muffin was relatively an easy dog to have around.  She didn't shed, hardly barked, could stay in her room when we left and only ate when we were at home.
Keith enjoyed Muffin as much as Erica did.  Muffin would come and lay on Keith's tummy when he was on the floor and she would let him rub her fur forever.
Keith was gentle with Muffin and Muffin loved the attention from him.
Sometimes, I would take Muffin in the car with me when I picked the kids up from school.  Keith would get out early so he would have his time with her before Erica came to the car.  When Keith had P E as last period, he would come straight to the car.  Muffin especially loved those days cause she would like the salty sweat off of his arms.
Me, not being a pet person, never understood that but I know that it was a special time for both Keith and Muffin.

 Hey Mom...phone's for you.  I am busy petting Muffin.

Posed pix of Muffin and Keith.  Keith always wore his Braves baseball hat.  Love those sandals with socks.

Day 19

This memory celebrates Christmas.  Keith was in to all of the aspects of Christmas.   He really enjoyed the decorating parts of it.  He and Erica liked to be creative and I was all for it.  This particular year, in 1996, Keith decided to decorate his room.   He had the bonus room above the garage so that was a big room to cover.  He made a green/red chain and used little lights along the walls and ceilings.
I loved his decor.

Day 18

At ECS,  Keith's school, the 7th grade classes traditionally took a train trip to Chicago as part of their science studies.  I had the pleasure of going with Keith on that trip.  We rode the train over night and arrived in Chicago the next morning ready to begin our museum tours.  We saw the Aquarium, History Museum, Science and Industry Museum as well as other sights in Chicago.

The train ride to Chicago

We stayed in a high rise hotel which included an indoor pool.  Keith had a good time with every part of the trip.  The best part was that it snowed while we were there.  Their science teacher worked a deal with the hotel and they allowed the students to go to the roof top and have a good old fashioned snow ball fight.  I think they really enjoyed that part the best.  Me....I just stayed bundled up and made some pictures.  

Check out that black fanny pack.....thank goodness it was water repellent!

Day 17

This post is about one of my MOST favorite events:    The day Keith and Erica were baptized.  I know this is supposed to be about Keith and celebrating his 30 years, but this was special because they were baptized at the same time.
WE had joined Germantown Baptist Church.  Erica was saved at our prior church but we held off on her baptism to make sure she knew what she was doing and because our church was without a pastor.  So, when we decided to join, we knew that Erica was also be getting baptized there.  The night we, as a family, went for membership, Keith professed his faith in Jesus and accepted Jesus as his Savior.   We were so excited that he came to this decision on his own.  We never pressured him to do it at this time.  We had had many conversations with him about Jesus and he knew all about being a follower of Christ.  But, he surrendered his life the night we joined in April of 94.
So....they both were baptized on May 8, 1994.  Another reason that this was so special is that it was on Mother's Day.   What a wonderful gift to any mother....and I was blessed to receive it.

Day 16

It's Easter time in 94.  We always made sure our kids new the true meaning of Easter:  Resurrection Day.
But we also tried to enjoy all of the other things about Easter....like Easter baskets and hiding eggs.
That meant we had to dye the eggs first.
Both kids looked forward to our annual egg dying session.  Keith tried to be creative with the colors.
This egg was one he made 2 tone.
Usually I had great ideas in my head but they could never be transferred to the eggs.
Oh well....great family memories.