May - June 2016

These are the days....
We wake up to kids that are excited to see you in the morning and give you loving hugs.
The kids want you to sit next to them for every meal and virtually everything you do.
When you pick them up from school and they run up to you with a big smile and a hug.
Where the kids love snuggling with you on the couch reading a book or watching a movie.
When their favorite days in the whole week are "Mommy, Daddy, Aubrey and Avery days."
When bedtime snuggles seem like they could go on forever.
Where you can sneak in at night and hold your children and pray over them while they sleep.
These are the days that I would not trade in for the world no matter how tired and trying some days can be. These are the days that are etched on my heart as a gift from God, as a blessing we do not deserve yet are so fortunate to experience. Aubrey and Avery are my best gifts and I'm so glad Jason and I can share in this parenting experience together. They make us and shape us.

I resigned from my full-time job from Neonatal Transport at the end of May which translated to 2 months and 1 week as a stay at home mom! It is such a gift and an even bigger blessing that they are home from school during this time. I am loving every minute that I get to spend with the girls. I will be starting a new job as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, back at the bedside in a hospital setting, in August. I look forward to the new position, but in the mean time, I'm living up all these precious times at home and enjoying more rest and normalcy!

Here are some pictures to catch you up!

April 2016:

Happy Birthday Uncle Israel: We love to celebrate in our family. Birthdays definitely require party hats in our house (they do for you too right?!). The girls just love Tessa and it goes without saying that Tessa loves the extra entertainment as well.

Awanas Awards Night: The girls got a badge for memorizing a bible verse a week in Awanas and completing extra activities throughout the year at home. They have done an amazing job with their verses (they have surpassed many grown ups in memorizing verses!) and we couldn't be more proud of their achievements. Poppy was able to accompany us to the event.

Mother's Day 2016: To be a mom is a gift. To be a mom is special. To be a mom is one of my greatest blessings. I am so thankful to be a mom to the most amazing daughters in the world. Words cannot even express the love I have for them or the sacrifices I would make for them. This might be picture overload, but I'm not going to apologize. I can't get enough of these ooey gooey squishy luvie faces!!! To my mom in heaven, you are very missed every day, but especially on holidays. You were such a role model and I have learned everything I know about motherhood from you. I learned the most about love and sacrifice from you and for that I am thankful. I am who I am today, because of you mom. You are forever in my mind and heart.

The girls love the golf cart ride on the way to church.

Avery's face is priceless!

Moved the picnic inside...Still just as wonderful! My hubby treats me like a princess.

In honor of you mom, the girls will plant flowers every year around this time and we will enjoy the brightness that they bring forth because we remember how much you enjoyed seeing the fresh flowers on your front and back porch. You are as radiant as the flowers. I love that every day when I'm watering them I am reminded of special memories.

First Dance Production: The girls enjoyed their first season of ballet and tap dance. I have to admit, it was pretty darn cute!!! They had a fun time, but so far have decided that this was just a temporary sport for them. It was great to see them try something new.

We were so excited that Pam could join us for the dance production.

May visit with Poppy: We enjoyed a visit with Poppy. Poppy sure was busy between Aimee and my house. I guess that is what happens when you have some really cute grandkids!

End of school year production.

                                                    

Last day of Pre-K 4!

Last day of school Pre-K 4!

First Thomas Crawfish Boil: My wonderful husband is at it again with more good food. He provides the main (crawfish and shrimp mixed with potatoes and corn on the cob) and I provide the before and the after. We are a good team.

Keeping mom in our memories by enjoying her famous taco dip on her sunshine plate. Even Tessa loved the dip!

Apparently the girls were having an "indoor picnic" of sorts....in the bathroom because isn't that where all picnics take place?!

Fun days!

Thank you Aunt Maria and Uncle Jim for our adorable outfits. 

Thank you Aunt Rie for these pretty dresses. They might be 2T, but we can squeeze into them one last time!

 

BBQ: We love Texas BBQ, especially when daddy and friends are the cooks!! Great memories for many years to come, I have no doubt!  

We might not have a fire going, but we sure can eat smores nonetheless!

June 2016

Raleigh, NC Trip 2016: My most treasured friendship started in the fourth grade...now 25 years later, we still have a lifelong friendship. Those are the best kind!! We love visiting with Ron and Liz and their littles: Katelyn and Ellie. Another near and dear person to my heart is Liz's mom, momma Carroll. She has always been a second mom to me and I'm so thankful whenever I get to see the entire family. Kate and the girls were instant friends. It was perfect. Ellie, now 14 months old, is so very special to me as she is my God-daughter. What a blessing to be able to impact a child's life by showing her the love of Christ. It is such an honor. This was one of many trips to come in the future. 

Some highlights included a trip to the Natural Science Museum (it was awesome!!!), seeing Krispy Kreme doughnuts being made and of course eating them, reading books, picnic, bubbles, water play, crafts, and the best was just being around friends and family.

Sweet Ellie

Day at the Fire Station:

Dallas, Texas Trip 2016: We got the pleasure of visiting our wonderful friends Kenny (Jay's best friend since college) and his beautiful wife Morgan in Dallas this summer. Their three handsome boys and our girls played like they have known each other forever. We also got to see them at Jellystone in October for the past two years; it is so neat seeing the kids grow over time. All the kids loved Lego Land (this is right up Avery's alley!), the Perot Children's Museum and a Medieval Times Knight dinner. Another weekend of good times catching up with friends and the girls just being kids!

Ride at Legoland.

Other fun happenings: We continue to love to bake as one of our favorite past times. Avery requests it almost as much as she requests painting! The girls are really into "getting beautiful" for date nights, which typically includes pedicures, make-up and chapstick. They are going to be a handful when they are teenagers! We really enjoyed a family night out at a minor league baseball game. The stadium was very kid friendly and the girls did some awesome climbing that night! Good family memories. The girls also enjoyed their first camp-gymnastics camp.

4 going on 16!

Photo book link Jan.-May 2016: Due to some changes in our photobook website, we had to order books early. Here is the first half of the year in a photo book keep sake (because I don't have enough pictures already! Hahaha!).

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