Celebrate 4!

Birthdays are a big deal this week its lil sis turn to celebrate! 

 

 

Granny and Granddaddy came up yesterday to kick of the celebrations.

 

 

We lunch and froyo at the mall before going shopping.

 

 

This four year old loaded up...all stuff for her babies.

It took a very long time for her to make decisions because she wanted it all. 

Her grandparents and Uncle Lewis were generous so her babies are "hooked up".

 

While we were at the mall the children saw the small spray/play area.  My first instinct and theirs was to move on...

 



but wouldn't have been fun!  These three played for about 40 in this area.  They were giggling, squealing, running and having a blast. 

The wet ride home was a different story but well worth the fun!

 

On the morning of her big day, she was greeted by super sweet siblings with presents!

 

Her favorite show is Martha Speaks so brother got her a stuffed Martha.

 

And big sis got her babies their own "lovies".

 

After gifts, it was her to her special breakfast.  Her request was strawberry muffins.

Then grandma came to visit and bring gifts.  Can you see what she got? 

Yep, another baby and a few accessories for her.





 

After a lunch at Jason's Deli we rested up for her party!!

 

She was ready to go.  We'd never tried a weekday party but it was great.

There is a whole separate post about it!!



Since it was a weekday event, some of her favorite older friends couldn't join in so we stretched out the celebrating a bit longer!!

It was so much fun watching her totally get it was her special day!

Lil sis you are loved and adored by many!!!

Four

 

Newborn

 

One

Two

 



 

Three

 

 



 

Four

 

My sweet baby girl is four. 

It is hard to put into words the joy she brings our family. 

She is happy and full of life.  She is agreeable and easy going...99% of the time!

She loves to swim, do crafts (the messier the better!), play outside and play with her babies.

She eats and sleeps well. She is extremely articulate and forgets nothing!!

She is very interested in learning.  She know all letters and all one digit numbers. 

She is beginning to put sounds together and I feel like reading will come easy to her.

She amazes us with how quickly she picks things up...even when I am convinced she is not listening.  She has always had strong gross motor skills but her fine motor are really catching up!

She is eager to please and obedient.  She love completely and gives the best hugs.

Music is her love language and she has a heart for Jesus!

 

All of the characteristics make for a very healthy, happy little girl.

We are so thankful for the way God is growing her up to love life.

Chevy Camp

For the past few summers brother has participated in the Chevy Youth Baseball Camps.  They are free and fun!  This  year he choose do participate with the Durham Bulls instead of the Mudcats.

Daddy beginning the awesome daddy he is took lil sis to watch! 

She adores brother and needed some daddy time!!!

 

The pitcher helping at this station was also a lefty which made brother happy.

 

This picture just makes me happy.  Look at the pure joy in his body language.  He is an athletic through and through.  Pumped up just being in the dug out!!!

 

Lil sis got to watch brother,

 

cool off,

 

 

play,

and just be silly!!!

 



 

Love this shot of two of my happy children with their daddy!

 

 

No need to worry about big sis.  She discovered a new place!!

 



Babies, Babies and More Babies!!!

 

Lil sis has way more babies then any child needs...only part are pictured.  But she plays with them all and most have names.  She really like to talk to them, dress them, teach them and just be imaginative with them.  They can eat, do gymnastics, swim, read and sleep.  She really likes to play on the steps leading up to the third floor.  This has become her baby play area.  I see a very nurturing momma developing!!!

Champion Swimmers

 

Today is our last swim meet of 2013.

We have had a great season and won our division.

Swimming is an individual sport but being part of a team is just fun.

The children have learned many life lessons right here in our neighborhood!

 

 

Brother felt the joy of winning a few times.

 

Brother got to participate in his first relay.

 

Lil sis got her first ribbon.

 

She dove in each and every time with such confidence.

 

Joined her first Cupcake Race - 6U get a cupcake if they try to swim the butterfly stroke for a full lap.

 

Big sis got to swim up with 13/14 girls for a couple of relays.

 

Lil sis swam her last two meet solo - yep at three she was able to swim her lane without any help.

I love how the teenage helpers supported and cheered her on!!!

 

We had a thunder delay and or rain every.single.meet this season (except the very first which we missed for vacation).  Again, another huge life lesson...thunder is a warning to seek shelter not sit out by water and wait.  Yes, we waited in the van one night as lightning was all around. 

 

They were great cheerleaders!

 

This beauty was not in too many pictures this year.  I saw her go off with her girlfriends and hang out.  It was great but I didn't think she'd appreciate me snapping pictures!

 

So thankful that our neighborhood supports this team but most importantly that our children can swim...not survive in water but swim! 

More to come on the Championship Celebration!

Eighteen Years

 

Nineteen years ago I said yes.

Eighteen years ago we said I do.

 

 

Here is one of our first pictures together.  It was taken the summer we met - 1990.

 

Here we are on our wedding day.

I would not change one day of our time together.

God made us to be together. 

We support, love, laugh, pray, play and parent together well.

We strive to be Godly role models for our children.

Looking forward to the see how the next eighteen play out!!