Summertime = Fun Time

We've been going and going since getting out of school. We just finished our first week of swimming lessons. Landrie is doing so well. She still doesn't want to move from the steps or hot tub in deep water, but in shallow water she's swimming like a little fish.

Karsyn isn't doing as well, unfortunately. My dare-devil child doesn't want to do anything at swimming lessons. It's mostly stubbornness - it's not her idea, so she's not going to try it. Luckily we have 4 more lessons, so I'm hopeful we'll see some progress.

My mom and I took the girls yesterday. 10 hours later, we rode all the rides that they were big enough to ride and saw the Glow in the Dark Parade. It wasn't Disney, but it was still a great day.

Karsyn wanted to ride everything! If she was tall enough, we would have been riding everything - including Mr. Freeze! She told Lolly that it would be scary, but it would be so fun! I love this girl! I can't wait for her to grow another few inches and then we'll be riding everything!

Landrie was brave too. She told us she was afraid of heights, but then proceeded to ride the Parachutes and Judge Roy Scream. She was more cautious, as usual, but still had a great time!

Thanks Lolly for enduring the heat and all the walking for your girls! We had a blast!!!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to the best daddy 2 little girls could ever ask for!!!!

Freedom!

As of 3 pm this afternoon, I am FREE! I will not have to think about or go to work for the next 2 months! We don't have any big plans yet, but just the thrill of all the free time a girl could ask for is enough for me.

I do have a few goals though:

- Workout 4 times a week (started this today!)
- Purge toys from the girls toy closet
- Put away winter clothes (should have done this a long time ago!)
- Enjoy my family!!!!

I'll keep you posted!

Confession

My name is Jennifer, and I might be addicted to Facebook!

My blogging has fallen way behind and I'll blame it entirely on FB. I read my regular blogs each day, but I check FB very regularly. And now that my following of 5 readers is on FB, I can do my quick updates there. (Way to Go Gigi for joining!)

So...I need your opinion: Keep blogging or not?

It's all in your hands!!!

Works for me Wednesday - Saving those "Masterpieces"

Several blogs that I read post helpful tips on "Works for Me Wednesday." I've seen lots of clever ideas and thought I would pass one along.

The girls are always bringing home "masterpieces" from school. I always sort through what is worth saving and what isn't. If it's a worksheet or coloring page, those usually stick around for the week, but then I chunk them. The projects that they are most proud of or include something personal - like their picture, handprint, etc., I keep in one of those under-the-bed storage bins. I keep in in my hall closet and as soon as those projects come home, that's where they go for safe keeping.

I remember looking under the bookcase at my parent's house and finding old projects I worked on. I loved to look at the things I did and see how my handwriting and drawings changed. I want the girls to have those same treasures when they get older.

I'd love to hear your ideas! Leave them in the comments or send me an email. I can always use a good organizational tip. I know many of you have me beat on that!

Graduation

After a big weekend celebrating Mother's Day, Lolly's Birthday and Janelle's graduation, we celebrated another milestone today--Landrie's Preschool Graduation!

It was a short and sweet ceremony. The kids marched in, the teachers announced their names and they marched out...simple and to the point, yet it made me feel bittersweet. I can't believe that my little girl is going to Kindergarten next year! She's more than ready, but man it's already gone by too fast. I'm so proud of all that she's learned and so excited to see how she'll grow and change next year too.

Landrie was given a Bible today as she walked the stage. She already treasures it so much. The verse that they are learning for May is:

"Your Word I have hidden in my heart so that I may not sin against You." Psalm 119:11

How wonderful it is that she's learning this so early. What a blessing to have had her in such a great school for the last 4 years.

The Graduate receiving her "diploma" and Bible.

Keepin' it in the family - Tris, Hayden, Landrie and Dylan (our honorary cousin)

Landrie and the girls in her class

Landrie with her teachers - Mrs. Ruby Ann and Mrs. Pam

Landrie, Caleb, Steven, Mia & Jillian - these 5 have been together since they were 2 years old!

Mommy with The Graduate!

Daddy with The Graduate!

Proud Sister

This is a BIG weekend for our family! Saturday we will celebrate Lolly's birthday and Janelle's college graduation and Sunday is Mother's Day and Janelle's party. She is graduating from Hardin-Simmons University. It makes me feel old to realize that all of us have now graduated from college. Janelle has worked really hard and finished strong!

I'm so proud of my baby sister! Way to go, Janelle!!!

A Girl and Her Dog

Landrie LOVES Snoopy! No surprise, but 2 instances lately have proved just how much this girl loves her dog.

A few weeks ago after church, Landrie was holding Snoopy's collar in the front yard while I went to find her leash. I heard Landrie say "Uh Oh" and looked down the street to see Snoopy several houses down. I dropped everything (but my cell phone) and started running up the street. As soon as I got close, Snoopy would take off running again.

Once I realized this wasn't going to be a quick rescue, I called Lamar to come pick me up so we could drive to find the dang the sweet dog. When Lamar went to get Landrie to come back outside, he heard her crying, "What have I done?"

We finally found Snoopy about 6 streets over in the older part of our neighborhood. I wish I had thought to record the conversation that Landrie and Karsyn had with Snoopy:

Karsyn: "Snoopy, you could have been hit by a car!" She's obviously heard this a few times before.

Landrie: In between sobs, "Snoopy, we don't run away from Mommy. That is very bad!"

Karsyn: "Landrie, why did you let go of Snoopy?!?"

We were laughing so hard we were crying!

Tonight, Justin got to experience the die hard devotion to Snoopy.

He came over for dinner and played with the girls while I ran to the store. I forgot to shut the garage when I left. It was about to rain, so he let Snoopy into the garage without looking to see if the door was shut first. Snoopy took off!

When I got home, Justin was driving up with Snoopy in the car. Landrie was still balling her eyes out while smiling and laughing at the same time. It took a good 15 minutes to get her to settle down.

As indifferent as I am about Snoopy, I realize that she is too special to Landrie to ever let anything happen to her.

Easter Weekend (Part 2)

At Meme and Papa's house, we celebrated Easter and Birthdays once again. With 9 kids 8 and under it's always a fun, but crazy time. I love the 2 pictures below because we could barely contain them while we "hid" the eggs. Since it rained that morning, we put them mostly on the driveway and even hid a few on the cars.




Karsyn knew what to do this year and had no problem filling up her bucket to the top. Landrie filled hers up about halfway and declared she had enough.



After the egg hunt, we ate dinner and then did the birthday party for Karsyn and Madison. Lolly made her famous Strawberry Cupcakes (yummy!) for Karsyn's cake. When it was time for Karsyn to blow out her candle, she nearly burned her mouth. Oops!



We had a great weekend celebrating with all of our family. It was hectic, but I wouldn't trade it for the world! We are so blessed to have such an awesome family!

Easter Weekend (Part 1)

This was a weekend of celebrations! Not only did we get to celebrate the real reason for Easter, we got to have lots of birthday and family fun!


Karsyn had her 4th of 5 Birthday celebrations with Gigi, Grandpa and crew. She was thrilled to have a Dora cake.

We also celebrated Grandpa's 60th Birthday! We had fun with lots of family and friends, plus 60 pounds of crawfish and a pinata.

Silly Boys in Silly Hats!

Landrie, Karsyn and Camden had fun playing together too! We can't wait for her sister Braelynn to be here either.

Gigi and Grandpa, we had a great weekend with you! We can't wait to see you again soon!

Easter Party

Today the girls had Easter Egg Hunts at school. I tried to take pictures of them before school, but only Landrie wanted to cooperate.

We're so excited to have a day off from school tomorrow and to spend time with all of our family. It will be a great weekend to celebrate all that God has blessed us with!

Bluebonnet Beauties

Only in Texas do you subject your children to taking pictures in a pile of weeds...

They sure look cute though!

Happy Birthday Karsyn!

I can't believe to be posting this, but Miss Karsyn is 3 years old! It seems like just yesterday that she was born, and our lives were forever changed.

She is constantly moving, usually very happy and sweet and extremely independent.


She goes back and forth between being Daddy's girl or Mommy's girl - though lately, it's Daddy hands down.

She loves school and has such an imagination.

She and Landrie are eachother's biggest fans!

We are so blessed by this Sweet Sweet Girl! I love you, Karsyn Alyssa! Happy Birthday!