Summer Diary: Morning In The Driveway

The weather today was AMAZING. 

We walked outside to sit on the porch for a few minutes and ended up staying outside in our pajamas for an hour.

We just sat in the driveway and waved at the neighbors as they drove by with confused looks on their faces.

We greeted the mailman as he delivered our mail.

We talked about bees. 

I read the paper and had a cup of coffee.

The girls pulled some weeds out of the flower bed.

It was nice.

We saw a bee on one of the flowers. Amelia had to run in to get her paper and pencil. 

She loves to take notes. 

We talked about pollination. 

She drew a picture of a bee flying from flower to flower. 

I love her.

Sydney Faith started taking pics with my phone. 

I thought this one was pretty flattering...mouth full of coffee...she told me to "cheese mom."

She spent most of her time picking up dried worms to make Amelia gag. 

These two are something else. 

They made me laugh a lot today.

Love to all,

Eighteen Years...

Today is our 18th Wedding Anniversary!

We had an overnight date on Friday evening to celebrate.

Our dinner was perfect and it ended with one of my favorites - chocolate creme brûlée. 

We went to brunch the next morning. 

The weather was GORGEOUS.

Lattes on the patio.

After brunch, we spent the afternoon with our girls. 

We grilled out that evening and took them to the playground. 

We woke up this morning and headed to church!

Our girls took us to dinner this evening to celebrate. 

They chose Texas Roadhouse. :)

Amelia wanted so badly to feel like they had given us an anniversary gift. 

She took this picture. 

It was a wonderful weekend!

Alex,

Thank you for never giving up.

Thank you for trusting and believing.

Thank you for waiting. 

Thank you for loving me so well.

Thank you for making this beautiful life with me. 

I love you with all my heart.

Happy Anniversary!

Just Like That...

I was at a birthday party last night. Someone asked me how old Amelia was and I told them she was three years old. 

She's four years old. Almost five.

Not sure where my brain was at the moment, but in all honesty, I think it was just wishful thinking. 

When I think about her turning five years old, I get weepy. 

I remember this face like it was yesterday. 

(July 2013)

She was about to do something she had never done before.  

She was excited.

But she was nervous.

I noticed her biting that bottom lip.

She asked me to introduce her to one of the teachers, just so she would know someone. 

She wanted to see me peeking through the glass window every time she looked up.

And now a year has passed by, just like that. 

(July 2014)

There's no fear, no worry.

She walks in and smiles and waves goodbye.

No introductions needed.

No biting of the bottom lip.

She doesn't need to see my face through the glass window to chase away the fear.

It seems like just yesterday that I was glancing in the rearview mirror to steal glances of my tiny newborn.

Time passes, just like that.

Love to all,

Summer Diary: Life Lately

I ordered the girls some Elsa and Anna dresses a while back. They arrived this week and they've LIVED in these dresses. Sydney's dress hits the floor when she walks - it's pretty cute. 

We have no idea what this thing is, but it has been hanging outside of Amelia's window for a few days, just doing it's thing. It goes in and out of that "shell" - constantly moving. It's gross and fascinating at the same time.

We imagine it to be something really cool and keep watching for something amazing to happen! HA!

Baby girl is feeling better today.  She actually slept in her bed last night! Her first summer cold has been no fun.

We've been covering her in essential oils. 

Amelia's throat was hurting, swollen tonsils, and bright red. After using EO every day, she was better within 3 days. No doctor's appointment needed! 

We took the girls to Chili's last night for dinner. 

Sydney wanted to try some of my "trees."

Surprisingly, she liked them!

She's always willing to try something new. 

Her sister on the other hand...

The girls were given Maggie Moo gift cards for their birthdays and we finally got around to using them last night.

Blue cotton candy with sprinkles for Amelia!

Vanilla with Reese's pieces for Sydney!

It's still crazy to me that we have a blue-eyed girl.

This picture was taken right after she whispered to her Daddy, "the cone is really the best part."

That's Mama's favorite part too.

We're loving these long summer nights. 

Love to all,

RedEnvelope: A Special Gift For Sydney

I received an email from the kind folks at RedEnvelope, a few weeks ago. 

They asked if they could send a special gift to our Sydney Faith.  

I receive requests like this (every so often) and I've always declined, but Red Envelope is a company that I've purchased gifts for my family/friends in the past, and I'm always very pleased with their products. 

I also liked the idea of Sydney receiving a special surprise. Kiddos love to receive letters or packages in the mail.

They suggested I choose something from their baby+kids section for Sydney.  

I took a look and decided on something, that I believe, she will keep forever. Something that she will always use, no matter her age.

The box arrived today and it couldn't have come at a better time.  Sydney has been under the weather for the past two days and needed something to lift her spirits. 

She was so excited when I told her the big, red box was just for her!

That's another thing I love about RedEnvelope...their signature red box with grosgrain ribbon makes any gift a lot of fun to unwrap. 

There were so many neat things to choose from on their website, but I finally decided on the keepsake box. 

They even personalized it with the Bible verse we chose for our girls when they were born, Sydney's name, and her date of birth. 

"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." Proverbs 4:23

I didn't even look at the dimensions when I chose it, but it's a really good size. 

Dimensions are 8.125" Sq. x 4.25"H

Sydney has already filled it with some of her "treasures" and has instructed everyone to "no touch my box." HA!

I just wanted to say, "thank you" to RedEnvelope for such a lovely gift for our baby girl. 

I love it so much, I'm going to order one for Amelia Joy!

Love to all,

Summer Diary: The Lake Life

My Uncle and SIL sent me a few more pictures from our weekend on the lake.  I wanted to post them for memories sake. 

I'm not a huge water sports person, but my girls loved having their Mama join in on the fun!

I'm a huge S'mores person.  

That is what I am.

Sandi + Sydney.

Roasting marshmallows.

Me + my guy.

Family.

I love our faces in this picture. 

I screamed the entire time. 

They laughed.

Mama is done.

Poor Sydney.  We forgot her life jacket, so this one covered her face the entire weekend. HA!

She was so tired the entire weekend.  One minute she would be laughing, the next minute, crying. 

Amelia Joy loved the water.

Ready to tube with Daddy!

Cousins - Kandace, Olivia, and Amelia.

This picture makes me smile! 

Love to all,