Spray Park

Here's some collages from our fun outing to the Spray Park.

They didn't have any fun at all! :)

Splishin' and a Splashin'

Today, I cleaned all the slime, bugs, and funk out of our kiddie pool.  It was starting to look like a pond instead of a place for the kids to cool off.  After draining it, bleaching it, and refilling it, we finally got to enjoy it again!

We played and played.  The girls love being outside just like their momma.

And even though it is H-O-T, the cool pool makes it bearable.

But the wasps finally won and pushed us back inside.  They would not let us alone. *Sorry for the that last sentence, I've been reading The Help and I catch myself talkin' like it's 1962 and I'm in Jackson, MS.*  Oh, who am I kidding, I'm just a hick from Ar-kansaw!  This book is just bringin' out all that southern dialect that I love so much.

Sister love

Edy was using her goggles as a headband to keep her hair out of her eyes. ;)

See, now it's all in her face!

Just a splishin' and a splashin'

POPCORN

I've said it before and I'll say it again...Edy loves to EAT!  After nap she is all about 'nack time' and today we had her FAVORITE--popcorn!

Check out these videos of my little piglet...

Sunday Pic

10 Commandments: AG style

Ava Grace's version of The Ten Commandments:

What I'm Reading...

I'm still reading A.W. Tozer's The Knowledge of the Holy.  I've had a few interruptions over the last two weeks.  I should finish it some time next week.  

Here's my new fiction novel...

 So far------>SO GOOD!

I've gotta finish it before the movie is out in theaters.

A friend of mine has started a ladies' Bible study on the book of Ruth.  We are supplementing our reading with Warren Wiersbe's Be Committed:  Doing God's Will Whatever the Cost.  I can't wait to dive in to this book.

Watermelon Popsicles

Unlike my hubs, the girls LOVE watermelon just like their momma.

For a nice, cold treat, I made some watermelon popsicles.

Just chop, seed, and put in blender...

puree...

pour in popsicle molds...

freeze and serve

I am here to tell you...these suckers are Go-oo-d!

Happy Father's Day!

After church, we had a nice Father's Day lunch at Jalapeno Tree (AG's favorite restaurant).

Who likes to cuddle and wrestle her daddy and loves him bunches? This girl!

Who looks and acts just like her daddy and loves him to pieces?  This girl!

[random] pic of Casey and me

Graham and his girls

Graham, Pops, and the girls

D.J. and Ann came for the day, too!

My dad is on a trip to Washington, D.C., fortunately we had a little Father's Day celebration last week while I was in Magnolia. 

I sure do love ALL of the dads in my life.  Happy Father's Day, guys!

Edy's Baby Dedication

Today was Edy's baby dedication at church.  Beforehand, we took a couple of pics that are less than decent, but they will have to do.

The service was very sweet and Edy did very well...

And as I was passing the microphone to the next person, she had to put in her two cents.  It was so cute.

I'm so thankful for these little blessings and very encouraged by the church's dedication to pray for each of us as we commit to raise them in a godly home.

We pray that our sweet Edy Rose will come to know the Father at a young age and love, worship, and serve
Him all the days of her life.

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6 ESV

Making the best...

...of a pretty bad situation week.

I'll spare everyone the play-by-play, but Edy got sick on Sunday night, AG got sick on Tuesday night, and Graham got sick on Wednesday morning.  

Edy and AG have continued to get sick off and on since Tuesday.  AG has had it the worst and I feel terrible for her.  It has been bru-tal!

Through it all, we did manage to slip outside and have some much needed play time...

Graham did this to my sweet baby...

Check out this video of the girls playing in the pool:


If we tell Edy that we love her, she automatically comes to get kisses.  So sweet.

After swimming, this is where I found AG.

On a more serious note, please pray for sweet Ava Grace.  She really has been through the ringer.  I have been worried about her.  She won't eat or drink.  The few times that I have gotten her to drink or take a bite of dry toast, she gets sick.  I don't want her to get dehydrated.

As I write this  post, she is asleep on the couch.  It's 10:30am.  That is definitely out of the ordinary for my very active child!

What I'm Reading...

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."  A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy

Quote of the Day

The chief end of man is to glorify God.  And it is truer in suffering than anywhere else that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.  My prayer, therefore, is that the Holy Spirit would pour out on His people around the world a passion for the supremacy of God in all things.  And I pray that He would make it plain that the pursuit of joy in God, whatever the pain, is a powerful testimony to God's supreme and all-satisfying worth.  And so may it come to pass as we "fill up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions" that all the peoples of the world will see the love of Christ and magnify His grace in the gladness of faith.

 -John Piper, Desiring God

There's an APP for that!

I am loving APPS.  Here's a list of some of the one's I'm using thus far.

•  instagr.am  I enjoy tweaking photos and sharing them with friends.  If you are an  istagr.am user, find me and we can follow one another.  Here are a few of my favorites:

• RunKeeper:  Keeps up with the distance, time, and calories burned during my workout.
• SparkPeople:  Great for making meal plans, calorie counting, and developing fitness goals.
• Restaurant nutrition app: I don't know the name of it.  Mark my words, I will NEVER consume a Quesadilla Explosion Salad from Chili's again.  I'll let you google the calories in that SALAD. 
• You Version Bible App:  I like to have the narrator read my daily Bible reading aloud while I read the coordinating commentary in my ESV Study Bible.
• Urbanspoon:  Can't decide where to go eat?  This app does the work for you.
• Pandora:  I listen to my favorite stations while jogging/walking and RunKeeper tracks my activity.
• Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest
• Angry Birds and Paper Toss
• Mint.com:  It's in sync with my bank, keeps up with my finance goals, and lets me know when I've exceeded my limits.

I can't forget AG's favorites:

• Make Me a Princess
• Cupcake Maker

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What are some apps that I can't live without?  What are some good educational apps for AG and RoRo?

Suggestions welcomed and appreciated!!!!!!!

Why Ya Gotta Be So Complicated...

This just in...

I get on to AG for throwing toys.  Her response, "Sorry, Mom.  I'm just so compwicated."

"Backpack, Backpack!"

While in Grapevine, I found RoRo a cute Stephen Joseph backpack similar to AG's.

Much like with Ava, I am starting to get tired of lugging around a diaper bag.   I'll let Edy carry her loot from now on.

 That smile is full of teeth!

Click HERE for the post on AG's first backpack.

Sunday Pic

AG thinks she's too cute.  Can you tell?

Vaca: Dia Seis

Click HERE for day five.


For our final day of vacation, we spent the morning packing, realizing that our Honda is way too small, and doing some last minute shopping and eating.

*We went to a little boutique and the girls got silver bracelets. Aunt Ann gave AG a silver angel necklace that she absolutely loves.  I picked up some Yellow Box flip flops.  I now see what the hype is all about--they are so comfortable.

*We went to the mall and I found a sweet, smocked dress for Edy's baby dedication that is coming up soon.

*We finished up with lunch at the food court.

*Both girls fell asleep on the quick drive home.

*Once we were home, we unpacked and relaxed for the rest of our day.

We had a wonderful vacation.  Thanks to all of our family for making our time away so wonderful.!

Vaca: Dia Cinco

Click HERE for Day Four.


Friday was FuN, fUn, FuN!

We got up early and headed to Grapevine, TX for a day of shopping.  Let me just say, I am not a big fan of shopping (could have something to do with the fact that I don't want to spend money so I just stay away from shopping as not to be tempted).  I do; however, love to browse around interesting/unique stores.  I enjoy looking at all of the different things that boutiques have to offer.  Grapevine is filled with wonderful little shops that render unique treasures which makes shopping a lot of fun!

I spent some of my birthday money and got some fun things.  I really enjoyed the whole shopping process.

We had lunch at Willhoite's Restaurant which did not disappoint.  Then, we stopped in a bakery and AG settled upon a strawberry cupcake.

 Excellent Choice, Sweetie!

 Here's {my} sign

Graham and I both agreed that this should be my motto.  

In my defense, I don't intentionally ignore people.  I suffer from scatterbrainness  multi-tasking overload.

At the end of our Grapevine shopping trip, we ended up with these items:

• two types of whole bean coffee: tiramisu and chocolate macadamia nut
• A *free* copy of Rob Bell's book Love Wins.  (Explanation--Graham spotted it in a bookstore and casually picked it up.  The owner of the store hovered over him in hopes of a good debate.  Graham gave his position and she gave hers.  Not satisfied with their convo, she handed Graham a copy and told him to read it.) 
• some adorable hair flowers for the girls
• a little backpack for Edy Rose
• monogramming for the backpack
• scents from a candle store for my Scentsy

The shopping and the heat wore this girl out!

After Grapevine, we met up with Uncle Corey for a much needed trip to...........IKEA!

I might not like shopping, but I LOVE A GOOD DEAL!

I got four 94 inch (hard to find) linen curtains for 8 bucks a panel.  Yes! You read that right!  I also picked up a big wicker bowl and a wall light for the girls' room.

Ava loved playing in Small Land while we shopped.  You just can't beat 90 minute childcare while you enjoy your shopping experience.  

For dinner, we ate at Blue Mesa Grill.  I cannot recommend this place enough.  It was fantastic. Sweet potato chips and smokey salsa are a good pair! Really, really, good stuff!

Final Day to come...