Memorial Day Weekend, a Birthday Party in the Rain, and the Last Day of Preschool

We had a memorable Memorial Day weekend. We did talk as a family about what it meant to stop and be thankful for all of the soldiers who have died so that we can have freedoms like choosing where we want to go to church.  Then we spent lots of time with family, friends, and food!
Saturday morning I got to have a date with my mom. We met out at the shops at Legacy and enjoyed brunch and a funny British movie at the Angelia. 

Saturday afternoon I took these cuties to the pool. Eva is already a fearless fish but little buddy isn't so big on the water. He will splash around in the shallow part for a while but then wants out of the water.

Sunday morning the kids sang a song for family worship Sunday at Bara Church. My little girl sang and danced her heart out!

Sunday evening we went to a Memorial Day celebration in Trophy Club. Yes, the photo is crooked. That is pretty much how our night felt. We planned on going, and then tons of rain came through, but we loaded up the minivan and went anyway. They had a petting zoo and bounce houses so we still had a good time, although we were soaked.

Eva's beautiful face paint.

On Monday afternoon we had a cookout for our small group. I captured this moment because it made me so happy to see the little kids at the table, the babies crawling and in their high chairs, and our friends all gathered to eat together. 

The "big" kids - I use that relatively because nobody is older than four.

The babies.

Water table fun!

I love our small group friends! After the party ended, and even the next day, I kept smiling because I'm grateful to have friends that we can share our lives and home with. 

Tuesday afternoon it was time to celebrate our niece Kayden's 9th birthday. It was supposed to be a pool party but the rain changed that plan. 

Backyard water games!

It was like a pool party, except without a pool :)

Cousin love!

 Finally Eva had her last day of preschool on Wednesday. She has had a great semester attending her school and loved her teacher, Mrs. Balduc.

She came bouncing in our room this morning saying, "It's SUMMER!!!" Well, except that our park play date got rained out...and the pool party that I thought was tonight isn't until next Thursday....other than that....yes! Bring on summer!

Four and a half.

Eva Kate, you are 4 1/2 years old! Well you've been 4 1/2 for a while....so what's new with you?

First, you are loving school. We do home school two days a week and then you go to your preschool one day a week. You love it! You love your friends, your teacher, and all the parts of your day. The other day at school you were given the "Honesty" character award, and we were so proud of you! It has been so cool seeing your little friendships develop over the past 6 months. The other day I asked you about your friends and you kept naming so many kids that you like to play with. You are so social, just like you've always been. You call all of your closest friends your "sisters" and "brothers." You know all your letter sounds and have started reading just a tiny bit. You rock at rhyming words and putting word sounds together! You can count by 1's to about 55 (although you ALWAYS forget 15) and you've learned to count by 10's to 100 which you think is so cool.

You are the best sister to Jensen. You like to make sure he has his blanket and you help keep him safe. Watching the two of you play together is one of the best things in the world. You are also your daddy's little girl. You keep him on his toes by asking him to play tag or hide and seek or have dance parties every afternoon the second he walks in the door.

Favorite conversation with you:
Eva: When am I going to get my powers?
Me: What powers?
Eva: Magical powers. Like Elsa.
Me: I don't know. I can't just give you magical powers.
Eva: It's okay, I can pray about it. God can do anything.
*** I was CRACKING up. At least you get that in the big picture, God CAN do anything. I love your heart.

You enjoy spending lots of weekends with your grandparents. You like to walk the dogs with Baba, go to Northpark with Mamy, and feed the ducks or go on wagon rides with Nana and Papa.


Favorite conversation with you:
Eva: When am I going to get my powers?
Me: What powers?
Eva: Magical powers. Like Elsa.
Me: I don't know. I can't just give you magical powers.
Eva: It's okay, I can pray about it. God can do anything.
*** I was CRACKING up. At least you get that in the big picture, God CAN do anything. I love your heart.

You enjoy spending lots of weekends with your grandparents. You like to walk the dogs with Baba, go to Northpark with Mamy, and feed the ducks or go on wagon rides with Nana and Papa.

Your favorite things to do at home are to paint, draw with markers, play games as a family, get iPad time, do puzzles, play Barbies, play pretend kitchen/restaurant and ride your bike.  

Every night at bedtime we read books, and then you want me or Daddy to tell you a story from our life and sing you a song. Sometimes I am so exhausted by this point, but I need to cherish that you are asking us to share more of who we are with you. I want to use this time to really tell you stories that are important from my life.

I love you the perfect way you are, Eva Kate.
love, Mama

Contentment and New Seasons

This  morning we wrapped up the Moms Connect group I participate in for the school year. This is an amazing group that I have done for the past 3 years (it used to be a MOPS group), and it is always such a time of encouragement to get to leave my kids in their classrooms (which they both love) and have time to talk and laugh and be in Scripture with other mamas. Our session this morning was on contentment and it brought to mind many thoughts...

As we are drawing nearer into the new season of summer I find my contentment both high AND low. How is that possible??? I feel very content with where my life with Ryan and the kids have been for the past semester. We have been in a good rhythm of time doing homeschool, Eva going to preschool, our mornings at Moms Connect, a balance of family time with ministry, getting date nights because of awesome grandparents, and enjoying the outdoors a ton because of good weather. After some time of struggling with "Should I work?" (no.) "Should I get more involved in children's ministry?" (YES!), "Should I homeschool forever or send the kids to public school?" (quite worrying ahead of time), I finally feel such a peace that I am doing what I need to be doing for now. There are always days where you get gray hairs and wonder if what you're doing is right. Hard is okay and doesn't mean that you aren't doing what you are supposed to be doing. I am living my dream! I feel joy in where my life is.

And then I look at summer. All of the sudden I feel those yucky feelings of discontentment again. I don't WANT our routine to change. I like things the way they are going. It's going to get hot, and summer tends to be a busy time for Ryan. What am I going to do my children all day, every day? Our normal routines seem to suddenly have big gaping whole in them.

Then I return to the Lord and I am reminded to take each day at a time. I don't need to worry about August when it is May 19th. I can just think about May 19th (or maybe May 20th). I can feel peace knowing that I will still get time with my kids, which is absolutely what I want, and not to worry about how we will fill each day. I can trust in the Lord's daily supply of grace. I can look expectantly towards the FUN things that summer brings - pool time, play dates, summer nights - and to be thankful for the new memories we will create.

I read this morning from 1 Corinthians 13:12 "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I will know fully, even as I am fully known." This verse is primarily talking about Heaven and our eternal relationship with Jesus. But I can see also how it applies towards looking into new seasons. I don't know what the next few months for us will hold, but instead of being anxious or discontent, I can believe that God is good, and that there is a time for everything in it's season. Two years ago I wasn't sure what summer would look like and then (surprise!) we bought a house and (surprise!) we got pregnant with Jensen. Umm, I'm not planning anything THAT huge for this summer...the point is that it is hard to know going into each season what JOY and ADVENTURE it will hold.

So whether you are like me, feeling unsure about summer, or you can't wait for your older babies to finally be around more, trust God. Thank God. Live in contentment with wherever the next season takes you.

15 Months Old

Hey buddy! I wanted to write you a quick update on how you've been growing and changing since you turned one. Wow. It's like you took off walking and then quickly became so much of a toddler and way less of an infant. Talk about breaking your mama's heart, while at the same time filling it up with so much adoration!

At your doctor's check up last week you were 25 lbs (50th percentile) and about 30 inches tall (30th percentile), so you your actual growth has slowed way down, which makes sense because you probably won't be that "line backer" that everyone at the store always thinks you will be. You have also slowed way down on eating, sometimes only eating one or two full meals a day, which I guess is really normal at this point. You have become more of a picky eater, although not really consistent with one thing or the other so I usually just feed you healthy food and then let you decide how much of it you want at that meal. The one thing you do love is MILK! I'm still nursing you, which is awesome, and some days you want to nurse a TON. That's alright by me, because it gives me time to enjoy some baby snuggles.

You have pretty much gone to one nap a day now, unless you happen to fall asleep in the car (or in the stroller...or in your highchair....) too early in the morning. I would love for your nap to be longer, but right now it is usually just at an hour. On the flip side, you are an awesome night time sleeper! You are in bed by 7 PM and will usually snooze until around 7:30 or 8 AM. I'll take that :)

Your favorite toys right now are the fisher price zoo and any type of ball. You spend hours outside each day, exploring our backyard or playing on the playground with Eva. Walking and being able to climb has made our frequent playground visits more fun, and you've even learned to "back it up" when you climb down the steps which makes my life easier. You also like to swing next to Eva. Eva is still your very best friend and y'all play so well together. You do like to cause mischief with her big girl toys, but what are little brothers for? The other day she was making her Barbies put on a talent show and when I noticed you in the background, you were smiling and banging her Barbies against her little Barbie house. Ha. I believe that is what they call the difference between boys and girls.

You are very friendly and like to play with other kids at the park, but you are also content to play on your own. You just learned how to open all the doors in our house - fun times - and of course you are now drawn directly to the toilet and toilet paper. You also like to take the knob off of the stove and pull down all of the towels every day. You can be quite the toddler tornado when it comes to making messes all over our house, but I love you being one year old, so I don't really mind too much. Usually.

You have said lots of words but right now you're most used ones are Mama, Dada, bye-bye, that (for anything that you want) and uh-huh (like "yes,"). You call Eva "Buh-vuh" which is sweet. You are typically a really happy, go with the flow little man. 

When I see your face, my heart leaps with joy. I love your eyes, your dimples, your smile, your perfect ears. I love your tiny hands and squishy legs. And your baby bottom. Nothing makes me giggle like when you streak through the house at bath time. Jensen, I love you SO MUCH.

love, Mama

Mother's Day and Horse Riding

Hope everybody enjoyed a special weekend with their moms or their kids. My family spoiled me Saturday morning by cooking a delicious breakfast. I even walked into this little dance party to kick it off...(it might not work on an iPhone but it's there.)

Later in the day we took the kids out to a back to nature event at Trophy Club park.

Eva got to groom and feed a horse named Apache...

...and then it was time to saddle up! 

This was her first time riding a real horse (not just a tiny pony), and she loved it. She has been asking to ride a horse for a couple of years because Ryan gets to every year at camp and Ryan and I went horseback riding together a few years ago. I was so excited for her!

She also got her face painted like a lion. The face painting lady put my church face painting skills to shame. Too bad this look only lasted about 30 minutes before she needed it off her face. Such is life with a four year old.

On Sunday my mom and dad came to our church and then back over to our house for lunch. My mom made yummy quiche for us to eat. Don't worry, she cooked it the day before so it wasn't work for us that day.

Mamy with her grandkids. We are so lucky to have her! Eva and Jensen love seeing their Mamy.

Family pic with my babies and the handsome man I love.

Sunday afternoon we met up with the Bradleys at Bicentennial Park in Southlake for a picnic and play time.

Nana with her grandkids. They make a pretty cute crew. 

Ryan and his mom. So thankful for two wonderful moms who love us and our families, and who have taught me how to be a good mama.

East Texas

This past weekend we loaded up the minivan and drove out to East Texas. We went to visit a family friend in Avenger and visited the Wildflower Trails Festival in Hughes Springs. This is one of Ryan's childhood memories from growing up there and we have been talking about visiting the past few years. We were a bit nervous about the drive because sometimes our kids get crazy just diving to Walmart but overall the ride was pretty easy.

We tried to stop at the festival when we first arrived in Hughes Springs but the rides didn't open until 4pm so we decided to go ahead and go see Miss Joyce. She is like a grandmother to Ryan and he grew up going to her home all the time. Eva always likes to feed the fish in her pond.

Sharing his childhood with his son. We visited Joyce when Jensen was just a couple of months old but this was his first trip where he could really experience anything.

Lots of swing time. Joyce's property is lush and beautiful so we spent tons of time outside.

A great big world and a little man.

It was so good to visit with Joyce. I kept joking that Ryan could just take the kids and I would stay and hang out with Joyce until Monday. I just always love talking with her.

At 4pm sharp we were headed to the Wildflower Trails festival. Eva got to pick 5 rides and decide on the big swings first. It was the fastest ride there and she was flying!!! 

Saturday night we spent the night with Nana and Papa. The next morning we drove around Royse City and Ryan got to show me where his football team was the 2004 state semi-finalist. He was so proud. 

Saturday afternoon we went over to my sister and brother in-laws and got to play with Mallory's new swing set. Eva keeps saying that we need one now...not sure our yard is big enough, but it would be fun!

The girls all up in the clubhouse. I may have liked it a little. Okay, a lot. It was pretty awesome.

Saturday night we met up with friends for a picnic and park time at Bicentennial Park in Southlake. I hadn't been before - it is a great park. We didn't know they had a water or sand part, so Eva got a bit messy. I wish I had taken a picture of her and her little friend all covered in water and dirt. Classic. I only snapped this one of Jensen on a super cool swing.

Easter Weekend

Well, I've officially raided my children's Easter candy stash of any desirable dark chocolate, so I guess it's been a full week since we celebrated! We had a wonderful, yet busy, weekend. There was play time, family time, egg hunts, and of course the real reason - the celebration of our RISEN LORD JESUS! I'm so glad that my Jesus is alive and with me today. Without this truth my life would be a whole lot of crazy.

The night before Easter our church hosted a GLOW in the dark egg hunt. <> the other day I was at the park and somehow when I was talking to a neighbor I had just met we started talking about Bara. She told me that her family had been to our egg hunt, to which I responded that my husband was a pastor for Bara. THEN she asked me, "Oh was he the man in the light up green wig?" "Umm, YES!" Haha I guess that's how my man is known around these parts.

We had lots of old and new friends join us for the egg hunt. Thankfully another mom was able to get this quick pic before the crazy of the glow hunt began.

The Easter bunny gettin' his GLOW on. Eva knows that the Easter bunny is just fun dress up and she totally loves it. That's what happens when your dads up toting around the Easter bunny head in his backseat.

I stuck little man in the toddler bounce house for the first time and he loved it. The only one that squished him was Eva, and that could have happened on dry land.

Eva got her face painted for the first time!

On Sunday we went to Bara and celebrated the resurrection. Afterwards we had lunch with family at my parents' house.

She was the only big kid (does 4 years old count as big??) so she had one whole side of the yard to herself.

 We just plopped Jensen down with a dozen eggs that were filled with cheerios so he sat and ate them all up.

 This was my first time to fill Easter baskets for my kids and they were excited. Probably the biggest hit was the new snack cups...and the giant bottle of bubbles.

 Then we headed to Ryan's aunt and uncles' house to celebrate with his family. I think we were doing more hopping than the Easter bunny.

 Ryan's grandmother - Mamaw, with his mom and aunts, and all of the great grandchildren that were there.

 Ready to hunt again!

 I love this one because Jensen is just sitting there munching away while Eva is racing around behind him.

 Handsome like his Daddy.

Cousin love. So glad these little girls have each other.

 Mamaw, Nana, Mallory, and Eva

 My little Easter loves. They sure clean up nicely. I love their little faces.

 Kisses!

We had a wonderful day and returned home later, tired but full of love...and candy.