3 Girls and a Boy

sisters

2012-02-08T14:45:00.000-06:00

those freeze-time moments...

2012-02-07T15:26:00.005-06:00

Once, before I had my own kids, I heard a friend say that there are moments when she looks at her children and it hits her how much they're growing up. They may not even be doing anything in particular, just walking or making a certain facial expression, but it hits her like a freight train that they are growing too fast. She said she wishes she could freeze time in those moments and hold onto them. I have had many of those moments with my girls over the last almost 4 years.

Here are my latest "freeze-time" moments...

How is is possible that she is old enough to write her entire name and then make that shy, "aren't you proud of me" face?

The way Brooklyn talks, moves, bats her eyes for attention and her long hair makes me want to tell her to slow down and stop growing up!

she dressed herself this morning...

2012-02-07T15:21:00.001-06:00

Ha!

her dancin' song

2012-01-25T12:23:00.003-06:00

Not what you'd expect. But so sweet. And please excuse my kiddy singing voice. It can't be helped.

clancy wedding

2012-01-17T18:30:00.001-06:00

This post has been hard to write. Even now I'm having trouble finding words to express how much joy and excitement we feel for our friend, Mark. As of Saturday, he's a married man. We've been to a lot of really wonderful weddings. But this one was extra special for us. We've known Mark for awhile and we've witnessed how much he has sacrificed to do God's will and to bring Christ's love to others. For a long time we've wanted him to find someone that can partner with him, stand by him, encourage, and love him. He's found the perfect girl and we couldn't be more thrilled for him. We hardly knew his bride, Kami, but we knew that if Mark picked her she had to be a gem. And she is.

Some of my favorite memories from the weekend, in no particular order...

Slow dancing in Jeff's arms.

Hearing Jeff laugh with his friends. He's never louder than when he's with these guys.

Doing the Boot Scootin' Boogie line dance with Teresa.

Seeing friends we haven't seen in awhile.

Realizing I'm way too comfortable with the Smith's when I started putting on deodorant in front of them.

Meeting Kami. I hope I get a chance to know her even better. I think we could be good friends.

Getting dressed up for Jeff and seeing him in his suit.

Seeing Jeff with Mrs. Clancy- he brought her coffee, sat with his arm around her many times that weekend and danced with her.

Seeing these two wonderful people and seeing the love they have for their son...

Watching our crazy guys jump into freezing water- just to be good friends and keep their honor. ;)

Click for Video

Seeing Mark overflow with gushy happiness. Seriously, I don't think I ever saw him without a smile on his face.

Watching our guys sing to Mark and Kami and watching them all try to keep it together.

Learning Polka style dancing with Jeff. Who would have thought, but he loved it!

christmas 2011

2011-12-31T10:42:00.000-06:00

This year we had Christmas at my brother's and sister-in-law's new home in Boerne. Their house is beautiful and my brother did an amazing job building it. And even though Jeff was sick, we enjoyed our time with family!

As always, Grandma and her smartphone were very popular.

My mom gave the little kids interactive, cloth books for Christmas that she made. My brother and I each had one when we were little that we loved. I still remember that book. The girls love their new books just as much as a I loved mine. I know this took my mom hours upon hours to do but we will cherish them!

Looking at our cloth books; the girls their new one and me, my childhood one.

Brooklyn's outfit for the weekend: lots of necklaces, a tobogon and occasionally a tool belt.

We drove home Christmas Eve so that we could have Christmas at our own house. On Christmas morning the girls were tired and not very animated but we had a good time. Our Christmas was simple and short. We had homemade monkey bread to eat and church to get to.

My present from Jeff was to decorate part of our bedroom. Instead of just giving me money, he created a very clever puzzle for me to figure out. :)

The few days after Christmas we had the honor of spending time with this precious 11 year old girl from TBCH. We loved having Haley in our home.

ten years

2011-12-29T13:55:00.003-06:00

Today Jeff and I have been married 10 years. 10 years, friends. It amazes me.

We were talking this morning and saying that we've done a lot in these last 10 years and we've grown a lot. But overall, it seems to have flown.

10 years ago today at the young age of 21, I was getting ready to walk down the isle. I was calm as could be, not flustered by much except the people coming in and out of the dressing room. I was just about to take my brother's arm and walk down the isle to see my groom. I loved the moment when the church doors opened and I saw his smiling face at the end of the isle. He looked excited, eager, nervous and emotional. I hate people looking me at me but I didn't care in that moment. I was marrying Jeff Tipps! :)

Jeff,
We've had good times and rough times, just like everyone else. But I have been beyond blessed to marry you. I'm not proud of a lot of things in my life, but I'm proud of you and proud to be your wife. It is one of life's greatest honors for me to stand next to you and say, "This is my husband." You are a good man. You are faithful. You're hilarious. I feel safe with you and cherished. You understand me and are patient with me. You help balance my very emotional side with your very logical side. You work hard at our marriage. And the thing I think I love the most about you if your willingness to do what's honorable and right; even when it's hard.
Thank you for marrying me 10 years ago.

I love you,
Mindi

a savior has been born!

2011-12-25T06:00:00.001-06:00

Every time I read about the birth of Jesus I am truly amazed. Awed even. This precious, baby King; God's son, was born in a feeding trough. Even in the first moments of his life He humbled Himself.

I am also amazed at Mary. Can you imagine holding not only your son but your Lord? I wonder if she realized how big it was. I loved that first moment holding my own children. I looked at their precious faces and fell in love. But can you imagine holding the infant Christ in your arms? Amazing.

Luke 2:10
^"But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

if we did Christmas cards...

2011-12-21T16:55:00.003-06:00

these pictures would be on it...

aubrey's school christmas party

2011-12-21T16:24:00.003-06:00

She was sweet, a rule follower, cute and polite. I was one proud mama. :)

nativity set

2011-12-19T16:58:00.005-06:00

We found this on sale today and I had to buy it. Thanks Lora, for the idea. I didn't even know they had these for kids!

Here's some funny things the kids have said today while playing with their new Nativity set.

"Give me Jesus! It's my turn."
"Gabriel to the rescue!"
"Brooklyn's not sharing Mary!"

And my 2 favorites...
from Aubrey: "I think Jesus is poopy, Mama."
from Brooklyn: "Love you, Jesus" (as she kisses him and pats Him).

Worth the $20? You bet!

prepping for battle

2011-12-13T16:30:00.005-06:00

Does anyone else feel like they're preparing for war when their child gets the stomach bug? I'm getting towels ready, changing into old clothes, pulling our hair back, setting out buckets, wash cloths and disinfectants, rolling up my sleeves, opening windows to ventilate the coming smells, etc.

Off to battle. It's me against the flu...

rocking

2011-12-02T16:08:00.003-06:00

Lately, my girls wake up and want to be rocked. I am loving these peaceful moments in the morning. I hang on to them knowing crazy moments are only minutes away :)

a thanksgiving to remember..

2011-11-29T15:52:00.004-06:00

We had an eventful Thanksgiving this year. Between a trip to the doctor the day after thanksgiving, several severe nose bleeds from Brooklyn, Black Friday craziness, and our last A&M/UT football game for awhile...it was an eventful few days!

We loved seeing my mom and Floyd and I could have popped some popcorn, set up a lawn chair and just watched the Black Friday "crazies." :) My mom and Floyd also had the girls help decorate their Christmas tree and it was sweet to see my girls putting up ornaments that I did when I was little.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Hanging all her ornaments in the same spot.

She's playing with an iPad and a iPhone.
And I guarantee you she knows more about them than I do. I tried to unlock the phone and couldn't figure it out. Aubrey took it from me, slid her finger across the screen to unlock it and walked away. :)

How Jeff feels about anything "Black Friday" related.

And Aubrey's thanksgiving meal at school...

brooklyn's 2nd birthday party

2011-11-27T21:21:00.007-06:00

A few weeks ago we celebrated Brooklyn's 2nd birthday. With the exception of her usual 2 year old grumpiness, it was a smooth and wonderful day.

My favorite part of the day, hands down, was hearing everyone sing "Happy Birthday" to Brooklyn and seeing her face. She tried to hide her smile but she loved the attention.

I also enjoyed making cupcakes the night before the party with this sweet little girl. She's growing up to be quite the helper.

Squirmy two year olds and Minnie Mouse pigtails don't mix so well.
But she sure is cute anyway.

She started out playing like this with her friends...

And ended up like this. I won't lie to you, she was quite the grump. :)

Brooklyn is not a fan of sweets, especially cupcakes.
Instead, she got her own cookie cake (with no icing), had one bite, and was done. :)
If only I could have that kind of self-control.

one of our favorite fall traditions...

2011-11-22T10:30:00.003-06:00

Pumpkin Pancakes every Saturday morning....

Yum!

i almost didn't make it...

2011-11-22T10:20:00.003-06:00

For about a week we were without internet and let me tell you, it was a rough week. I didn't realize how much I depend on it for sanity. It's my connection to the outside world some days and I got desperate.
So desperate that I used the Wii to check my e-mail.

Do you have idea how hard it is to type an e-mail by aiming the Wii remote at each individual letter to spell out your text?

interview with a 2 year old...

2011-11-08T16:17:00.004-06:00

What's your name?
Name! Brooklyn.

What's your favorite color?
Get you, mama! (As she tickles me)

Who's your friends at school?
Brooklyn

How old are you?
Good. (Confused with, "How are you?")

What toy do you like?
Blue

What's your favorite food?
Blank stare.
Do you like hot dogs? Yes!
Do you like boogers? Yes! Yum.

Are you sweet?
Yeah (while giggling).

Do you love your mama?
Yeah! And Janna (Ms. Shannon- her Mother's Day Out teacher)

Maybe she's not ready for an interview... :)

interview with a 3 year old...

2011-11-08T13:08:00.004-06:00

What is your favorite color?
Pink

Who are your friends?
Abby and Lleyton

Who is Jesus?
Jesus is up in the sky. And God is up in the sky too.

What's your favorite bible story?
Moses
What happens to Moses?
The princess says he has to go get the bakset first. And then she says she's sorry and his mama has to put him in the water. And then he cries. But it's okay- God comes!

What do you do at preschool?
Play and make ark (art).

What is your favorite toy?
My squishies (Squinkies)

How do you spell your name?
A-u-b-r-e-y

What is your favorite food?
Turkey rolls ups. No cheese.

If you could take a trip anywhere- where would it be?
Well, I need you to come.
I'd come too.
Then church!

What do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?
Food. And toys. Like a bicycle.

What do you like best about being 3?
Playing on the couch

What's your favorite song?
Twinkle, Twinkle...

Can you make up a song...
La! La! La!

How do you feel about Brooklyn?
She's pretty good.

Do you love your mama?
Yeeees. (And runs to jump in my arms).

brooklyn's 2 year post

2011-11-07T13:18:00.002-06:00

Oh, these posts hurt. I wonder if watching the girls get older will ever get easier. Don't answer that, I don't want to know. :) On to Brooklyn...

Dear Brooklyn,
I sit down to write this and I am shaking my head and grinning at the same time. I've tried to write this post for several hours. You haven't let me. When I sit down you want to sit behind me at the computer and play "Get you!" Or I sit down and you scream for help. You, little missy, are a handful. You are a sassy, energetic, jumping, hopping, climbing, demanding little girl. But so precious. We adore you just as you are. You have the sweetest, softest, daintiest voice (except when you scream- that has no words). You love school and all your preschool friends. Especially Everett and Sydney. You follow your big sister around everywhere and love to do what she does. You are brave. You try things that your sister won't just because you can. Your daddy and I think that you are clueless to how tiny and destructible you are. You are talking so much more now and putting 2 and 3 words together. For a long time, Aubrey spoke for you but now you are speaking up and want to be heard. You will share just about anything with your sister. All she has to do is ask and you gladly give it to her. That's how much you adore her. You don't like vegetables at all but you are always sweet to try them, then spit them out and say, "I don yike it." Thanks for trying though. Your mommy works hard to find food you and sister both like. You love bouncy balls. You are crazy for them and the smaller the better. I think you could spend hours with a bucket of marbles but I am afraid to get you any because you will probably throw them at your sister.

Brooklyn, you are amazing. My words fail to tell you how precious you are. My biggest hope for you is that you learn to love and obey Jesus with all your heart, soul and strength. That with every birthday you can say that you know Him better than you did the year before. This blows my mind, but God loves you Brooklyn more than your daddy and I do. I can't even fathom it, but He does. You, little girl, are so deeply loved.

Happy 2nd Birthday!

Mama

Celebrating her birthday at PreSchool with her friends.

That's a shy grin behind that cookie. She knew this was her special day.

Usually I have a "no feet on the table-ever!" policy (you know about me and feet, right?) but I made an exception for her special day. She took full advantage of my weakness. :)

"Brooklyn how old are you today?"

Halloween 2011

2011-11-04T17:12:00.005-05:00

My strong dislike for Halloween diminishes a little every year. It's so much fun dressing up my girls and seeing friends at our annual Trunk or Treat at church. This year we got to wear our costumes twice. Thank you, Gina, for a wonderful Halloween play date.

Apparently my fishing, kayaking, football loving, man's man doesn't like pumpkin goop. I learned something new about him this Halloween. :)

This year my girls discovered Gummy Worms. I got quite a kick out of watching them scarf down these worms while wearing girly princess outfits.

Fall Festival

2011-11-04T16:43:00.006-05:00

Between 2 different fall festivals at church and school, the fun farm, Halloween and our annual Trunk or Treat, it's hard to keep all of these Fall events straight. It's been fun but I'm really thankful October is over.

Last week the girls had a fall festival at school. I had to give up some of my precious "me" time to volunteer for a few booths but it was worth it to spend this time with them. And I love how their faces light up when they see me waiting for them.

Aubrey has been standing like this often with her hands on her hips.
Where did she get this from? Do I stand like this?

She may be little but she has quite an arm.

happy halloween...

2011-10-31T16:59:00.001-05:00

from these 2 sweet things...

together

2011-10-23T21:35:00.005-05:00

As many of you know, Jeff has been working some long hours. He signed off on a big project with lots of good praise and we got to spend our first Saturday together in months.

One of my favorite things to do now that I am a stay at home mom is to have family time outside of the house on Saturdays. I don't care what we do. Even a family trip to Home Depot is fun. :)
This Saturday our church had their annual Fall Festival. It was $20 of money well spent. The girls had a blast and Jeff and I enjoyed being with them. All of us. Together. :)

Watching the balloon artist...

So serious...

Brooklyn didn't seem to notice that the inflatable slide was huge and steep or that there were 5 rough boys on the moon walk with her. She's fearless.

I was in attendace too... ;)

this is what happens when it doesn't rain often...

2011-10-13T19:17:00.001-05:00

We play in it!

Click to play...

for those of you that think Aubrey is reserved and quiet...

2011-10-13T19:04:00.003-05:00

Click to play...

clancy weekend

2011-10-10T15:37:00.007-05:00

Our friend Mark has been a missionary in Lima, Peru for 2 years. He came "home" a few weeks ago and we had a wonderful time with him. He's so dear to us that it's hard having him away but we love what he's doing for the glory of God in Lima. We're so proud of him. And I'll admit, I'm jealous. I want to go too. :)
Here's some pictures we wanted to document and remember...

The guys took the kids to the park. My girls always get dirtier (and probably have more fun) with their daddy. Never have I seen Aubrey this dirty.

Mr. and Mrs. Clancy.
I can't find words to tell you how precious these 2 people are to us.

Can you see the love? I can.

My girls loves Mrs. Clancy! I think the feeling is mutual. The whole way home Brooklyn was asking for "Clancy" and "Mok."

We got to meet this long-awaited, sweet baby boy!

How we say goodbye...

Mark gave us all thoughtful gifts. The girls loved their Peruvian hats.

Our family.
Go ahead, call me mushy (I am!) but Mark is part of our family too.

Mark, thank you spending time with us! It was a blessing and joy to be with you again!

the girls

2011-10-10T15:10:00.005-05:00

It feels like a long time since I posted about the kids. My last post explains why. If you're looking for the weight of the world, look no further. It's on my shoulders. :)

Now, about my kids...

They are a hoot. Aubrey is in a deliberate tantrum phase. When she was smaller, she didn't have a lot of control over her tantrums. I mean, even though it wasn't acceptable, she was genuinely mad. Lately, there's no anger. Only calculated chaos. She chooses to throw a fit and I am convinced she could shut it off at any moment. Boy, that's been a challenge. But when she's not throwing a fit, she is the most thoughtful, kind-hearted sweetheart. She loves preschool and amazes me at how much she is learning.

Brooklyn is in an adorable, but trying stage. Once moment she's using that cute little voice to be absolultely precious and the next she's baby godzilla throwing a fit. :)

A few weeks ago, Jeff and I arrived at church and practically ran our children to their bible classes. We almost said to their teachers, "Here. Have fun!" with a snicker. :)

Would I change this life of ours though? No way.

snow globe? salad shaker? blender?

2011-10-03T14:43:00.004-05:00

For weeks now I have been meaning to blog. Frankly, I'm having trouble thinking what I would say about our life right now. I tried to think of an analogy to explain how things are but can't seem to get it right- hence the post title. I have lots of cute pictures of the kids I've been meaning to post, and I will. But my heart has to write this post first...

6 months ago I was comfortable. Mostly content with myself. Life was good. And although I had my bad days, days where I wanted to pull out my hair, things were good. Then God took my little world, turned it upside down and gave it back to me with, what I imagine was, a gentle smile. For most of my Christian life I have been content to sit on the sidelines. To quietly obey God with little to no courage or gumption to tell His story. 6 months ago when I began really studying God's word (and reading this book and this book) I couldn't ignore my own apathy anymore. God opened my eyes to how many lost and broken people there are in this world. And to how little I was doing about it. I had been doing a good job of keeping my church pew warm but little else. Maybe this sounds harsh to you, but this is where I was. But no longer, thanks be to God. I see those around me differently, I hurt for them, our conversations at home are different, I am getting way out of my comfort zone, my thoughts are different, the things that used to matter to me don't. God matters more. His people matter more. And I am eternally thankful that He shook me up.

6 months ago life was good.

Since then I can say my heart has been broken for Him and for His lost. I have cried a lot (just ask Jeff-poor guy), ached over things, and I have re-prioritized, but I can honestly tell you that while life was good then...

Now, it rocks. :) Things are harder than they were before, I am more uncomfortable than I have ever been but I wouldn't change this for the world.

If you're reading this and you know me, you've probably heard me talk about all this and understand.

If you're reading this and have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sorry.

And if you're reading this and you don't know about Jesus Christ, please let me tell you about Him. Trust me, He is worth knowing and living for!

i love you

2011-09-15T22:36:00.002-05:00

Today I heard these precious words from Brooklyn for the first time. When I went in to get her out of her crib this morning, she immediately said, "Rock, peez." How could I refuse that? As I was rocking her I whispered, "I love you so much, Brooklyn." And she whispered slowly back, "Love you."

Heart. Melting. :)

pride check

2011-09-13T12:40:00.002-05:00

Every one needs a pride check now and then, right?

Today I had mine.

I think I unintentionally pride myself on being a very patient person. Today I had to wait with the girls for 2 hours in the doctor's office for Aubrey's ENT check up. I found myself crossing my arms, sighing, tapping my foot and grumbling. I looked at my 3 year old and 22 month old and realized they were handling it better than I was! Pride check.

Then after a long wait in the waiting room we were taken to our patient room. On the way, my flip flop breaks. I have to walk around the office, and eventually back to the parking garage with one shoe on. People were giving me pity stares. Pride check.

I secretly pride myself on how well behaved my kids are most of the time. Aubrey, who was fine in the entire appointment, decided to throw a huge tantrum right at the end. Not a few innocent, i'm-afraid, tears either. This was intentional wailing, screaming, falling on the ground, etc. Just a few minutes before she was laughing and talking about how much she loved sitting in the yellow school bus to get her ears and hearing checked. When they called her name, she crossed her arms, made that "hmph" noise and proceeded to throw a very deliberate fit. It was so fake and calculated that it flustered me. I couldn't believe it. Brooklyn (who was in my arms) started crying and we had to walk out without getting Aubrey's hearing checked.
Pride. Check.

first day(s) of school

2011-08-29T13:37:00.004-05:00

Last week, Aubrey started Preschool 1 at Children's Ark where she went last year. She's so excited to be going three days a week. Today was her first show-n-tell. The obvious choice? Bunny! She told her class that she didn't know when she got bunny, bunny likes to hop and no, she would not pass her around to let the other kids see. :)
Brooklyn started her first day of Children's Ark today. She'll be going twice a week for a few hours. It's a big day for me- both of my kids at school. What did I do with myself? I was so surprised to find myself alone during the day I didn't know what to do! I've had time to prepare for this moment, but still felt disoriented. I'm sure I'll get used to it.

Brooklyn's first day...

for you girls...

2011-08-20T14:10:00.007-05:00

I found these scriptures today in the book of Isaiah and I had to share...

"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name. You are Mine!
Since you are precious in my sight;
Since you are honored and I love you,
I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life."

Isaiah 43:1, 4 (emphasis added by me- because those key words just warm my heart)

When Satan strikes and attacks my self worth, these precious words are on my bathroom mirror, at eye level, ready to overpower him. God thinks I'm precious, He honors me and loves me. I'm His. Take that, Satan. :)

brooklyn's first haircut

2011-08-19T17:37:00.006-05:00

Brooklyn got her first haircut today. This is always a special but sad day for me. I makes me sad that she is old enough to get one.

Unlike Aubrey's first time, she hopped right up into the chair, let them put a cape on her and sat pretty still for a toddler. They made her feel special by blowing bubbles and gave her a prize afterwards.

Watching the bubbles.

Putting in a ribbon.

Getting her prize.
She carried it around all day long and made sure Aubrey knew it was her special toy. She'd play with it and look over at Aubrey to make sure she was watching.

Before...

After...
Oh how I love these blonde curls. I am so thankful that the stylist put in layers to emphasize her curls because they may not be around forever.

brooklyn's 21 month post

2011-08-11T10:48:00.008-05:00

Some things about Brooklyn at 21 months old...

She is still the messiest eater I have ever seen. Our floor needs to be swept and mopped after every meal. Now, I'm not saying I do that. But I need to. :)

She's also a picky eater. I'm used to cooking for Jeff and Aubrey- who are not. Jeff will eat anything I put in front of him and has been known to snack on a head of lettuce like it's an apple. Weird. Anyway- back to Brooklyn. Anything with cheese and bread is a safe bet. And berries, she loves. But other than that she will kindly hand it to you while saying, "Nnnooo. All done."

She loves music and loves to dance. I made Aubrey a CD when she was little of my favorite Disney Songs. Brooklyn asks to listen to that CD probably 5 times a day. I never thought there would be a day where I'd get tired of hearing "Bear Necessities" and "Zero to Hero" but it's happened, friends. It was a sad day.
She will cuddle anything. She loves to carry around stuffed animals and squish them to her.

This is our favorite hair do on her. I'll be sad when the "fountain" is gone from the Tipps' house.

She is very expressive. I've tried to capture her grumpy face to post here too but I am never fast enough.

This is her "Are you looking at me? Let me come a little closer. Aren't I cute?" face.

I'm sitting here trying to put into words how much Brooklyn adores her big sister. And it just can't be done. She's crazy in love with her "Ah-bee."

She loves to play dress up. Seeing her with these goofy glasses on makes my day.

She's starting to talk quite a bit; stringing several words together and repeating what we say. And she finally said her name this month. In her defense, we did give her a hard one. She says "ook" for Brooke. :) She yells "NO!" at anything. It drives me bananas and I want to get on to her, but most of the time I don't know who's she's talking to!

This little, tiny thing brings so much personality and joy into our house. She also brings some attitude, volume and craziness. Jeff and I were saying the other night that life without Brooklyn would be quieter, sure. A little less stressful, sure. But our hearts can't do without her. Our family isn't complete without her. We love her so much it hurts. I am constantly thankful that God just laughed at us when we said we didn't think we wanted kids! He is so good. Aubrey and Brooklyn are proof of that.

Happy 21 months Brooklyn!

31

2011-07-27T14:48:00.002-05:00

For my 31st birthday (oh, that hurts to say it), we spent time with Nick and Teresa at their lakehouse. It was a wonderful, relaxing weekend and they all made me feel so special.

They decorated the lakehouse for my special day...

Sang to me with cookie cake, birthday hats and all.

And sent me on a fun scavenger hunt, parts of which made me turn bright red with embarrassment.

I got to water ski, knee board, read, relax and visit with some of my favorite people in the world. Perfect.

A few other favorite pictures from the weekend...

coaches night

2011-07-26T16:52:00.006-05:00

Last week Jeff and I went to the Texas A&M Coaches Night here in Austin. It was fun to walk in to the expo center and be surrounded by a sea of maroon. In Austin. Happy sigh. Let me tell you, these 2 Aggies were giddy. We ate good BBQ, talked football, listened to live music and met some old Ags who gave us marriage advice. Tom, who'd been married for 62 years to his Aggie wife gave Jeff this advice:
1. Learn to say "I'm sorry."
2. Learn to say "I was wrong."
2. Learn to say "You're right."

Sound advice, Tom. ;)

The best part of the night- meeting Mike Sherman. I told Jeff that I was more excited to meet him than I would be meet any celebrity. But then I thought of Michael Buble. He'd be the exception.

We saw Sherman trying to exit and asked him for a picture. Jeff casually wished him luck this season and I said, "We love you!" Nice. I might have been a little excited. But if you helped turn our team around, give us a 9 win season, bring back Dat Nguyen, and bring back the wrecking crew, I'd tell you I love you too. :)

It was the perfect date for us. Thanks Tim and Megan for watching the kids!

brooklyn's blanket

2011-07-26T15:20:00.001-05:00

When I was little my mom made me a blanket that I still have and love. When Aubrey was about a year and half my mom and I made her a blanket for her new big girl bed. While the material was still available I decided to go ahead and make Brooklyn a coordinating blanket for when she moves to a big bed one day. This brought back sweet memories of my blanket when I was little and of making one with my mom for Aubrey. Brooklyn's blanket is the same as Aubrey's on one side and different coordinating fabric on the other. I hope they treasure them as much as I do mine.

Here are just a few pictures of us making the blanket. It wasn't easy with them around.

This was Brooklyn's stamp of approval. Snuggling with her finished blanket and sucking her fingers.:)

Making Aubrey's blanket in 2009 while pregnant with Brooklyn.

she'd cuddle with anything...

2011-07-26T15:13:00.000-05:00

about aubrey...

2011-07-18T14:03:00.009-05:00

Some things I want to remember about Aubrey at 3years and 4 months...

She's turning out to be quite the goofy kid! We love it.

And a little dramatic. Not sure how we feel about that yet... :)

When Aubrey doesn't think we're playing long enough with her she'll say, "I thought you wanted to play with me all day long?" :) Nice guilt trip, huh?

She is very sensitive to others feelings and listens to every word we say.

She's thoughtful. She kisses us when we least expect it, rubs our back and pats us. The other day I asked her to help me clean up while I put Brooklyn down for the night. She tried to put my casserole back in the fridge, all by herself, and I came out to find her doing this...
What a sweatheart!

She is constantly asking us questions. Constantly. We call her our little energizer bunny.

She loves to play with her sister and is always trying to grab Brooklyn's hand and get her to play. Their favorite game of late is "cowgirls." This is where they go get on the beds in Aubrey's room and jump up and down. They always seem surprised when I catch them and they get in trouble for jumping on the bed. :) Another favorite game is playing "night-night." I think these girls will love sharing a room one day.

She loves to play dress up...

She loves me. A lot. She runs to me first after naps and wants me to be the one to put her to bed, brush her teeth, rock her, etc. But let me tell you, she adores her daddy. He hung the moon. It's just as it should be.

Several people have told us that the 3's are worse than the 2's. So far (knock on wood), that hasn't been our experience. This kid is a breeze. I'm going to eat my words someday, aren't I? :)

camp agape

2011-07-06T23:06:00.015-05:00

Our church goes all out with their version of Vacation Bible School and it's called Camp Agape. Even though my girls aren't old enough to be campers yet, they get to join the preschool age for the week because I volunteer. It was a wonderful, tiring, and eventful week. We had everything from missed naps, loose teeth from a fall, swimming fun, knocking over Goliath with a rock, a hoe down in which Aubrey refused to dance with me :(, honest prayers, giggly stories about boys and silly dances from my 5th grade girls group.

A few pictures from the week...

Taking down Goliath.

This last picture makes me laugh. Aubrey was so tired at the end of the week. She had pulled out her pigtails and couldn't even muster up the energy to do an art project.

swim lessons

2011-06-30T19:42:00.006-05:00

Aubrey loved her first swim lessons. After a rough 1st and 2nd day, I was worried that I'd never get her in the water again. Thankfully that wasn't the case. She had a substitute instructor her first day who pushed the kids under water and tried to have them "swim" to the step- all within the first 5 minutes of class! Crazy. Especially for a cautious kid like Aubrey. After that, Aubrey was terrified of her instructor and didn't trust her. Can't say I blame her. Push me under and I won't like you either. Thankfully the 2nd day a new instructor came and spent time with Aubrey getting her calm. Things were much better after that. After 8 lessons I'm proud to say Aubrey passed her Pre-School Beginner swim lessons. ;) Don't tell her this, but I'm even more proud of me for keeping Brooklyn alive at the pool and still watching and encouraging Aubrey. It was like a circus act at times.

miss independent

2011-06-30T17:47:00.003-05:00

Also known as Aubrey, ran out of her room yesterday excited that had she picked out her own outfit. A red Thomas shirt and orange shorts with her leg through the waistband part (look closely). She was so proud. :) I was thankful that my girl is finally starting to do things for herself!

portraits

2011-06-28T10:05:00.003-05:00

Portraits from this 3 year old are better than sliced bread. They make my day.

it's happened...

2011-06-28T09:50:00.007-05:00

...My girls are playing together. It's a beautiful thing and a first for them. Watching them begin to interact, giggle, and play is such a joy. Some of their favorite things to do together are play chase, build Legos, play dress up and sing "Twinkle Twinkle" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider."

beautiful yosemite

2011-06-02T12:28:00.045-05:00

At the beginning of the year Jeff and I sat down and made of list of things we'd like to do together this year- just the two of us. Some were little things, others big. We were really just dreaming, but the one thing that made both of our lists was to visit a national park in 2011. After Google-ing images we decided on Yosemite. I'm so glad we did because it was breathtaking.

Driving through the park into the valley got us so excited. Everything was just starting to turn green and every turn of the road showed us an amazing view...

This is one of the first sites we saw in Yosemite Valley- Yosemite's famous Tunnel View. Jeff and I just sat here staring in awe.

I'm a sucker for these tree lined roads.

El Capitan

We found good reviews for Yosemite's Curry Village which is a section of canvas tents for lodging. It allows you to get the camping experience without packing your own tent and supplies. They gave us clean towels everyday and that was about it. We had a bear locker to keep all our food and toiletries in and were required to use it. We never saw a bear and I'm still disappointed by that. Jeff suggested putting a raw steak out by our tent to lure one in for me. :) The tents felt like summer camp for adults and since there was no heating it was cold at night surrounded by all those mountains. The tents were a fun (and cheap) idea and you just can't beat the views. However, if we could do it all over again we'd splurge on a hotel room. Personally, I learned that I don't mind "roughing it" with the best of them but it's got to be with my own stuff. Sleeping on a mattress and sheets that a stranger once slept on weirds me out. I would have been better off sleeping in my own sleeping bag in the woods. :) Lesson learned.

Curry Village Tents

After checking in we went to Yosemite Falls.

Yosemite Falls

Up close it's cold, wet and loud. But so amazing.

On Day 2 we eagerly awaited the park ranger to open a road that has been closed all winter. We were one of the first ones to get to go up to Glacier Point this year. This is how much snow was still up there.

Glacier Point

We ate our picnic lunch looking out at this view. Isn't our God amazing?
That waterfall in the middle was so loud and powerful we could hear it all the way from where we were sitting. We hiked to that waterfall the next day.

That's a huge pine cone!

My husband makes me smile. He heard this cheesy saying on a National Park documentary and repeated it every time he saw a big rock. Every time. :) It went like this, "Hello, boulder. From whence have you come? And where are you going?"

Next on the list was Bridal Veil Falls. This waterfall was so strong that we couldn't even look up at it. We saw one girl coming down from the hike with mascara running all over her face. I thought she'd fallen in the water or something. Not so...

To finish off Day 2 we walked to Mirror Lake. The most exciting part was a rock fall that we saw. Thankfully no one was hurt and so we didn't feel bad for being excited that we witnessed it. :)

Mirror Lake

Day 3 was spent on a 6 hour hike to Vernal and Nevada Falls. This was a long, cold day but well worth the effort. Jeff and I had lots of time to talk as we were climbing which was nice.

It's hard to tell from the picture above and below, but this climb was steep. I faced 2 fears on this day- heights and snakes! I almost stepped on a snake and was so proud of myself for not screaming and falling off the mountain!

Top of Vernal Falls

Overlooking Nevada Falls

Jeff and I decided after our long hike that we were ready for a comfortable, warm bed and a room with a heater! So on our 4th day we checked out of Yosemite a day early since we'd done everything we wanted to and took a spontaneous road trip. This was one of my favorite parts of our trip. Just being free to leave and go where we wanted. On our way out of Yosemite we went to the Mariposa Grove and saw the biggest trees either of us had ever seen. My pictures do not do justice to these tress. They were giant!

The Grizzly Giant

The Tunnel Tree

After Mariposa Grove, we drove until we found a nice hotel in Fresno, CA, went to a really nice dinner and went to see a movie. It was the perfect ending to the trip! We had no plans and no reservations.

As I took in the beauty of Yosemite I kept thinking of the bible verse in Romans 1:20. It says,

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

His beauty, love and generosity literally surrounds us.

what it's like to live with myself

2011-06-02T07:27:00.003-05:00

Sometimes I look at my kids and see glimpses of Jeff and myself. Either in a facial expression, a gesture or phrase. Lately though, I feel like I am living with myself when I'm with Aubrey. And it's humbling.

For the past few weeks this phrase keeps coming out of Aubrey's mouth, "Mama, are you happy?" She says it at least 10 times a day. And it's usually when I am concentrating, getting on to one of the girls or thinking. I don't naturally smile when I do those things so she thinks something is wrong. At first it concerned me and I tried to reassure her that I was in fact very happy. Maybe a little tired, irritated, or grumpy at times, but overall, so happy. And so happy and proud of her. The more she kept asking though the more irritated I became until one day I told her, "Aubrey. It's okay for mommy to not smile and be happy all the time. Just because I'm not smiling doesn't mean I'm unhappy." As soon as the words came out of my mouth I heard Jeff using the exact same words many times over our 9 years of marriage. :) For the first time I realized how irritating it must be to have someone checking your emotions all the time and expecting you to smile constantly. For this "people-pleaser" it's hard for to deal with negative emotions from others. I take it personally and assume I'm to blame. It was an eye opening and humbling moment. Jeff and I had a good laugh over it but I know he was thinking, "Thank you, Aubrey!" :) What he's been trying to tell me for years, she taught me in a few weeks.

I wonder what else this little mini-me will teach me about my self through the years. That's a scary thought! :)

splash day

2011-06-01T11:18:00.000-05:00

Aubrey's Splash Day and last day in Angela's and Jeanne's class...

These ladies were wonderful teachers and will be missed!

mother's day

2011-05-10T21:05:00.003-05:00

This Mother's Day was a sweet one. Jeff brought me breakfast in bed which I got to enjoy while reading a book. The girls napped beautifully after church so the house was peaceful. Brooklyn was full of giggles and kisses for me and Aubrey kept saying, "Happy Mommy Day, Mommy! Happy Mommy Day, Daddy!" :)

Hope you all had a wonderful day! Especially you, Mom. Thank you for a lifetime of love, patience and selflessness. I love you.

brooklyn's 18 month post

2011-05-10T18:50:00.013-05:00

Sweet Brooklyn,
I have put off writing this post. It's not so much that it's hard for me to believe you're 1 1/2. It's just that there are so many different facets to your little personality. Trying to capture it all in a post is a daunting task. I know I'll leave out a lot but I want you to know that we think you are the cutest thing. You make us laugh out loud, roll our eyes, shake our heads, sigh with joy, and grin from ear to ear- every single day. You are so much fun. You're a stinker too :), but so much fun!

Here's some things about you that we never want to forget. You have this new face you make when you are being silly. We can't decide if it's cute or weird. You do it to be goofy though and you succeed!

You want to be wherever Aubrey is. Whether its playing dress up, coloring, building trains or watching Strawberry Shortcake, you want to be right where she is. Playing Dress Up with her is your favorite.

In bible class there is a song about flowers nodding in the breeze. Now you think all flowers and fans (like the one below) is called a "Nodding." I love this. It means your listening and learning in bible class! I could just hug your teachers. When you hold a flower you sway back and forth like you're nodding in the breeze.

You still love to climb. No matter how much your screaming, plopping you on the couch will always cheer you up. You are instantly happy and laughing. Here are your most frequent words and phrases- thank you (day-do), please (peace), up, help me, daddy, mommy, Aubrey (Ah-bee). Levi, Mee-Maw (grandma), hungry, eat, more, no, night-night, puppy, blankie (bee-bee). Meal times with you are rough but they're slowly getting better. You are picky when it comes to your food and the temperature. Most nights more food ends of on the floor or on me than in your tummy. You love having shoes on. You insisted on sleeping with them on your feet the other day. Since you slept 3 hours it doesn't bother me! Your temper tantrums make me laugh. I have to turn my head or leave the room so you don't see me snicker. You gently and carefully lay down on the floor and then you scream and kick. But not before you are safely on the floor. Sometimes you lay on your belly and push your body backwards across the floor with your hands while you throw a fit. It's so comical.

You love to tell daddy goodbye. As soon as he starts getting dressed for work you run for the door, waving and say "Bye, Bye Daddy!" It's not that you want to get rid of him, you just love this ritual every morning.

Your favorite book is Peak- a- Zoo. We read this book at least 10 times a day and you still don't seem to be tired of it.

You are so mischievous, doing things like this. How you reached these diapers while in your crib I still don't know. But instead of napping you were giggling, slapping the wall and throwing your diapers over your crib and onto the floor.

See, Brooklyn. This is why it's so hard to do this post. There's so much about you that your Dad and I want to remember. Too soon you will change and you won't be the same little person that you are now. We want to remember you at 18 months. You bring us so much laughter and joy and we love you deeply!

Your proud Mama

18 Months Stats:
Height: 30 1/2 inches (50th percentile)
Weight: 23.6 lbs (25th percentile)

race day

2011-05-07T22:45:00.005-05:00

Jeff and I hired our first babysitter today. We've been blessed to always trade babysitting favors with friends for 3 years now. So what did we do for our romantic date? We ran the Chuy's 5K together and got really gross. :) I do not enjoy running during the week but these events are fun with Jeff and I'm always glad we do them.

Today was even more special because we got to run with some good friends of ours and see their wives and kids. And, I beat my last 5K time by one whole second! ;)

It makes me laugh how serious and exhausted I look in these. When I commented on it, Jeff said I "run with a scowl." How else can you run? With a huge smile? I think not.

This smile was just for the cameras and I had to plaster it on. :) I do like how perfectly in step we are!

34 min and 49 seconds later- I've got to pick up the pace!

Thanks, Megan, for taking pictures! We will treasure these.

a royal party

2011-05-03T20:28:00.006-05:00

As I'm sure you know, Prince William and Catherine Middleton were married in the wee hours of the morning on Friday. Megan, Lora, and I thought it would be fun to have a viewing party Friday night with girlfriends. Megan ran with the idea and we ended up having tulle, a wedding cake, fresh flowers, a dress design contest with toilet paper, white everywhere and even sappy music. I think she should be a party planner. :) 19 girls showed up and we had a wonderful time. I was giggly and giddy all night (I think I need to get out more). These girls are all so fun to be around. My cheeks were hurting at the end of the night from all the smiling. :)

We had our guests make a few vows before they agreed to attend our Royal Party.

1. They had to wear as much white as possible. A splash of blue was acceptable. And wearing a wedding dress was even better!

2. They had to bring something edible and wedding themed to share. I decided to try my hand at making a small, 2 tiered, wedding cake. It wasn't perfect but It's not nearly as bad as I was expecting.

3. Our guests had to vow to come ready to laugh, visit and be completely silent during the couple's "I do's." The silent part was hard when there were so many things to laugh about. Did you see the priest's eyebrows?!

Gathering around to watch the "I do's."

4. Our guests had to vow to bring their own wedding album or a picture to share from their big day. It was a wonderful way to get to know these girls better.

We played a fun game in teams where we had to create a wedding dress with toilet paper. I'm still not happy with Lora for giving me a big bow right on my backside. ;)

Thank you Megan and Lora for thinking of this and letting me be a part of it!

easter week

2011-04-30T21:42:00.005-05:00

I love Easter. The older I get the more I understand and appreciate it- beyond the chocolate bunnies, eggs and pretty dresses. Although, those are fun too. For us, this was a day to celebrate our risen Lord! I can't even count how many times we told the girls, "Jesus is alive!"

Here's what we did this week...

Aubrey had an egg hunt at school with her friends.

I love that she gets excited when she sees me.
I know it won't last and the eye-rolling will be here all too soon.

Look at that concentration. She's her daddy's girl in that.

We finger-painted while Jeff went fishing on Saturday. Finger painting with 1 adult and two little kids was not a good idea. But Aubrey had fun.

We had a wonderful church service on Sunday focusing on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We tried getting pictures before church. I've given up expecting that to go well. :) Here's what we got.

This one of the 4 of us isn't too bad.

After church we got together for lunch and an egg hunt with the Drennon's and Kelso's. Always fun.

Aubrey and Kennedy- these 2 love each other.

Brooklyn was not interested, at all, in hunting eggs.
But loved climbing the stairs. Big surprise. :)

Look at that face. So tired.

tunnels

2011-04-30T15:37:00.004-05:00

Last Wednesday Aubrey had an adnoidectomy and tubes put in her ears. After 4 months with 5 ear infections it was time to do something about it. We told Aubrey she was getting "tunnels" put in her ears. She was so excited thinking about how trains go through tunnels too and had no idea what was really going to happen. We tried to explain it to her but all she cared about was the tunnel part and she was fine with that. Whatever works. :)

The surgery only takes 20 minutes and is so common but it was still surgery. Aubrey did great and was so brave. Her mama just about lost it. I told Jeff that the thought of letting her go with the nurses and doctors without me being there breaks my heart. How can I protect her if I'm not there? And then I thought, "I'm such an idiot." :) God gave her to us, knitted her in my womb and counted the hairs on her head. He loves her more than I do (this is incomprehensible to me) and He takes care of her. It was a powerful reminder of his goodness that day. I let them take my frightened little girl away knowing she couldn't possibly be in better hands than that of her Creator's.

They gave her a relaxer to help keep her calm. After 15 minutes it kicked in and she got really sleepy. We wheeled her around in a wagon the hospital provided. She cuddled her bunny and blanket and watched Dora on my iPod.

After the surgery she had to stay in recovery for 15 minutes. Those were the longest 15 minutes of my life. When they wheeled her out to us she groggily looked up at me with a snotty and tear streaked face, reached for me, and sobbed my name. Heartbreaking. After 20 minutes of crying she was fine and has been fine since. I don't think she was in pain just freaked out by how the anesthesia was making her feel.

She's been grumpy the last few days but I am impressed with how simple it was for her. I'm hoping this will do away with ear infections for awhile and help her stop saying, "What?!" whenever we say something. :)

Aubrey, I am so proud of how you handled this day. You had every right to scream, yell and get mad. But you didn't. You were brave, kind and sweet. I pray you tackle all life problems with such ease and grace.

celebrating

2011-04-20T15:15:00.005-05:00

A few weeks ago we got to do some celebrating in San Antonio.

My nephew, Lincoln, turned 2. It was fun watching this little guy enjoy his bubbles and pretend to get excited about the box of diapers we got him for his birthday. :)

And my dear friend, Ashley, had a baby shower. We will get to meet Maddie in a few short weeks!
It was great to see her and Kristin (2 of my 5 college prayer group girls).

i don't really hate camping

2011-04-19T12:58:00.008-05:00

Our Spring camping trip did not go as planned. Towards the end of the trip I looked at a dear friend and said, "I hate camping." Oops. It's not really true. I don't hate camping. In fact, I love it. I don't mind the dirt, the sweat, the bugs or the work. I love being outside and roughing it with my guy. What I strongly dislike, :) is expecting to have a good time and relax a little but my grumpy children do not cooperate. :) The sad thing is, it wasn't even their fault. They were miserable because for once, I did not plan well for our trip. It was colder than I thought it would be and so the kids woke up crying and shivering. Things were easily remedied with Aubrey. We just piled more blankets on her and scooted her closer to us to cuddle. Brooklyn kept throwing off her blankets and even managed to pull of her socks and shirt! She woke up ice cold and shivering. It broke our hearts. I put Brooklyn in my sleeping bag and tried soothing her back to sleep but at 17 months she just thought it was play time. She kept pointing at Aubrey and Jeff saying "Ah-bee! Daddy!" All this to say- there was only a few hours of sleep being had in our tent! We decided to stay and make the most of the beautiful day. Even though delirious, the kids played and had a good time with all the other kids that were there and Jeff and I got to do a little visiting with friends too. By the time our fellowship meal was over that evening both kids were having major meltdowns (including falls, scrapes, bruises and potty accidents) and we decided to go home a day earlier than planned.

Because I love camping so much, I'm looking forward to a year from now. Both girls will be old enough for us all the get a decent night sleep. No pack n plays or high chairs will be needed. That will be a fun trip!

Relaxing with his girls.

Aubrey was telling Jeff all about her day and what she'd been doing.

Chasing butterflies with Ms. Keri.
We shared a campsite with Keri and Kendall this year and loved it!

Capturing our 5 minutes of relaxation time for the day on camera.

2 exhausted girls.
Aubrey fell asleep in the car on the way home. We hadn't even made it to the main road.

Camping Trip 2012- we're excited for you to get here! :)

"Look Mama..

2011-03-30T13:22:00.002-05:00

...I'm pretendin' to be Mary!"

sundays

2011-03-29T14:10:00.007-05:00

I took forward to, and even long for, Sundays. It's a church day in our house. I look forward to being able to get dressed up and head to church. To have someone else take care of and nurture my children for a couple of hours. My children nap great after church on Sundays and so I can get a nice long nap too. I love dressing up my girls and hearing Jeff tell me I look pretty.

But at this stage in my life what I love the most about Sundays is not being expected to do anything else but praise my Lord, become better for Him and encourage others. I get to sit in a pew, be still, think, reflect, be challenged, love others and be loved in return. I get uninterrupted time to show my Lord how much I love Him and I get to tell Him how sorry I am for failing Him that week. I get to sing to Him and remember His death, burial and resurrection. I. Love. Sundays.

This past Sunday while visiting at my mom's church, I got an added blessing from my favorite day. I got to sit next to my mom and sing. I've done this a thousand times but it struck me on Sunday how much I love doing this with her. I love hearing her strong alto voice, with its Texas/Oklahoma twang and singing along with her to our God. I have sweet memories of hearing her sing certain songs when I was little. In fact, when I hear them now as an adult I fondly think of her and can hear her in my head. Songs like, "I'll Fly Away," "Angry Words," and "This World is Not my Home" bring a smile to my face and joy to my heart. Not just because they're great songs but because hearing them makes me feel like my mom is standing next to me.

So thankful for Sundays and my sweet mom. Just wanted to share...

aubrey + thomas = bff

2011-03-29T09:45:00.008-05:00

My Aubrey loves her Thomas. Last weekend we went to a special Day Out with Thomas event with Grandma and Grandpa. They spoiled us all with great food, a fun day, paying for our gas and good time spent together. We are definitely blessed. My kids have never been great travelers when little but things are definitely getting easier and I am so relieved. :)

Aubrey was beyond excited when she saw that we weren't just riding a little version, or a look-alike of Thomas. But that we had tickets to ride a real, life-size replica of him! She thought it was him and in the picture below she was patting him and talking to him. "Thomas you're so nice to let me ride you. Look at your buffer!" :) My mischievous Brooklyn intrinsically knew she was sitting somewhere she wasn't supposed to be and so she was thrilled.

Getting up extra early to make our train departing time turned out to be a good thing. We beat the crowds and hot weather and we got to sneak in some pictures sitting on Thomas before the security guard showed up to tell us it was unsafe to sit on the train. We acted sorry but not before I snapped a picture (or 4)! :)

Our train conductor, Conductor Bob was a h-o-o-t. He's old, his name is Bob, he's wearing a bow-tie and he punched our tickets to give us "the full experience." Adorable.

Aubrey noticed that we started out by going backwards and asked why Thomas wasn't pulling us. I think she was a little worried about Thomas.
Clapping and dancing to Thomas music they had playing.

Brooklyn was content to be sitting on the bench by herself, looking out the window and getting some attention from Grandpa.

Sometimes you can actually see the wheels in Jeff's head turning. See...

They had a small petting zoo which the girls loved. Jeff was working hard to try to get Brooklyn to be gentle and stop whacking the animals.

We had a wonderful weekend, thanks Mom and Floyd!

spring break, we loved you!

2011-03-22T12:30:00.016-05:00

We spent the Monday of Spring Break on the couch watching movies (mostly Strawberry Shortcake). Aubrey was getting over 2 ear infections and so we just took it easy. It's not exactly how I planned spending her birthday but it was still precious. Brooklyn's molar finally broke through (did I say finally?!) and so she was all smiles, giggles and cuddles. I loved vegging with both of my girls. This so rarely happens.

Tuesday and Wednesday were spent at play dates. I met up with some girlfriends that I used to teach with and then one of Aubrey's friends from school and his mom on Thursday. After playing at Nate's house she informed me that he was her best friend. :)

Thursday was spent with some dear friends. We even managed to have a little girl time and conversation in the midst of chasing after 4 kids (all 3 and under) and holding a newborn. I loved spending the day with Erin, Dana and Julie. These 3 girls are amazing. I definitely feel relaxed, joyous and humbled in their presence. Erin, Liz and Bladen brought a cookie cake to celebrate Aubrey's birthday. We sang to her twice since she noticed there wasn't a candle on it the first time. I guess to a 3 year old it doesn't count without the candle.

Enjoying cake with Liz.

After everyone left I took the girls to play at the park. I even taught Aubrey how to roll down a hill. We got some funny looks but my girls were thrilled with their silly mama.

On Friday I took the girls to the Austin Zoo. I thought about asking friends to join us, but selfishly I wanted this time alone with my girls. I wanted to be the one to spoil them and do something special for them. It was a perfect day and my girls had a blast. Aubrey loved feeding the animals, especially the deer. And Brooklyn loved sticking her finger up the sheep's nose (No, seriously. She couldn't get enough of this) and saying "Baa!" By the time we got home, we were all exhausted and filthy. But it was worth it.

Riding the train.

Seeing the tiger.

Just for a comparison... Aubrey's first trip to the zoo in Feb. 2009

Spring Break, we loved you!

you're three, aubrey

2011-03-14T22:13:00.006-05:00

Dearest Aubrey,
Today you turned 3. When I told you it was your real birthday this morning your face lit up, you grinned my favorite grin and clapped your little hands. You're so excited to turn 3 but you can never seem to remember how old you are now.

You have the most happy smile and giggle...

And a pretty good scowl too.

You are shy and do not like attention. You get that from your mama. But when you feel comfortable around someone (or really tired) you let loose. And that's entertaining to watch. You become goofy and hyper. :) You love to sing and sometimes make up your own songs. It's the most precious thing to hear you sing songs like "Jesus loves Me" and "Lord's Army." You are a thinker and problem solver like your daddy. You love puzzles and amaze us with your ability to find pieces we can't even find!

You are quick to offer help. Especially when it comes to making dinner or daddy's lunch. You feel so big and want daddy and Brooklyn to know you made their food. I love cooking with you. And you are a great onion peeler. Maybe one day you'll learn that raw onions aren't so tasty, even though you keep asking to try them and I let you.

You get nervous in new situations and you do not like change. You are cautious and like to observe (while holding our hand or leg) before you jump in. That's okay. Your favorite place to play is at the table or at the piano. You have discovered that Brooklyn cannot reach your toys and treasures when you are up so high.

You love you sister and are so proud of her. You hug and kiss her and are really trying to get her to play with you now. Words cannot express how much she adores you right back. We hope you two are always close sister friends. When you go to bed you like to read a few books on your own after we close the door. You are so good about reading just a few and then laying down to sleep. Many nights we find you surrounded by books and laying on top of them. You are so proud to be able to come out of your room now to potty when you need to. You wear big girls underpants all the time now, except at school. You have to tell your teachers you have to potty first. Not just hold it! You love school and you are always talking about playing and eating with your friends. Especially Nate, Julie and Kinsey. You have an incredible memory. You talk about things that happened over a year ago and remember buildings and places that we only passed by. If you had your choice of activity it would be to watch TV. We have to watch the clock and cut you off. You are affectionate with us; always smiling, hugging and patting us. Your daddy said the other day while tucking you in for the night you reached over and scratched his back for him. We have a thousand little sweet moments like this during the day. You love being chased and you melt our hearts when you say these words: Will you hold you me? You jumble up these words but we know what you mean.

To say your daddy and I love you is an understatement. With a capital U. We adore and love you so much it is a physical ache. In a good way. You and your sister have so completely captured our hearts. Your thoughtfulness, gentleness, excitement, stubbornness, and cautiousness are some of your most defining characteristics.

Just so you know, we pray daily that one day you come to know, love and obey Jesus Christ. That your heart continues to be soft and good. We pray that the man who marries you is a good, Godly man and that he will honor you. And we pray that you always feel secure in our love. Not just our love but the love of your God in heaven.

You are deeply, deeply loved.
Happy 3 years, our sweet girl!
Mom and Dad

Aubrey's Stats at 3:
40 inches tall (95th percentile)
40 pounds (> 95th percentile)
Head- 50 cm (75th percentile)
Dr Spellings says you are the size of an average 4 year old. :) We think you're perfect!

psalm 73:25

2011-03-12T21:30:00.004-06:00

I want a lot of things out of life. I want my children to know and love the Lord. If they marry, I want them to marry good, Godly men who will honor them. I want a continued strong marriage with Jeff. And when things get tough I want us to hang on, remembering our promise to each other and God. When my kids are grown I want them to look back and think fondly of home. I want my girls to know, deep down, that they are precious and cherished. I want to loose 10 more pounds. I want a new kitchen and a playroom with a door I can just shut at the end of the day. I want a pedicure. I want clean floors again. I want shinier hair. The list could go on. I want, I want....

And then I came upon this verse the other day:

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
Psalm 73:25 (NIV)

Earth has nothing, nothing I desire besides you. Those are heavy words. Words I want to be able to say with all my heart. I want my Lord to know that I need Him. That I desire Him. That He is most precious to me. That everything pales in comparison to Him. I'm not sure He knows that yet. But I am trying. I sit here typing this so thankful for God's mercy and patience. I sure do need it.

such sweetness

2011-03-09T08:00:00.001-06:00

This little one loves her bedtime blankies (she calls them "Bee-Bees"). On special occasions when she gets to walk around with them she says "Aaaah" while cuddling them close. It is such sweetness.

aubrey's treasures

2011-03-08T11:12:00.002-06:00

Aubrey walks around with "treasures" every day. They are the most random collection of things and it's new every day. Today it's been a roll of tape, trains, 2 specific magnets, 2 blocks, a magnifying glass, a fold-able wood gate and an old stuffed dog. The other day is was a broken red necklace and the silverware drawer organizer. And she will defend them from her sister and Levi with everything she's got. I love this girl!

aubrey's 3rd birthday party

2011-03-06T20:30:00.020-06:00

Just to be clear- she's not 3 yet. Not yet. I still have 2 more weeks of having a 2 year old.

Since her birthday falls during Spring Break we did celebrate her birthday a little early so that her friends could come. Birthdays are a big deal in our house. A big deal. Maybe this is a normal feeling for all parents, but it is so important to us that our girls are surrounded by people that love them on their big day. If I could have it my way, we'd have an entire chorus sing happy birthday to them. I want them to know they are special and loved. Because of this we've been praying that God would give Aubrey a special day and that she would feel loved.

Boy, did He deliver. God blessed us Saturday... big time. He helped us pour out our love to this sweet little girl. Aubrey loves Thomas the Train and it's what she wanted on her birthday. I'll be honest, I would have preferred a princess party, or Dora, something more girly. But it wasn't my party. :) So Thomas it was...

The day before her party Aubrey asked me, "Mama, do I get a birthday hat?" I would have never thought she'd want to wear one. So no, I hadn't. Thankfully, HEB had one. And she was so excited about her hat! She still is.

My mom made her cake again this year. Aubrey couldn't wait for Grandma to bring her Thomas cake. She sat by it all morning just admiring it.
If anyone wants cake, come on over. We have lots of left-overs!

This was by far the kids favorite thing at the party. I had the idea to make trains out of big boxes. I left this chore to Jeff and if you know Jeff, he doesn't do anything half way. He made an engine with a smokestack and reinforced with 2 by 4's, and two train cars complete with windows, doors and handles. Let there be no doubt this daddy is smitten with his girls!
The kids had a blast playing inside and yelling "All Aboard!" Or as Aubrey says, "Ald Ad-board!"

We all played pin the nose on Thomas (or actually just pin the nose on "o" because Brooklyn ripped off the other letters in Thomas' name) which was fun for a few minutes...

and then shared some snacks together.

Jeff's and my favorite part, hands down, was watching Aubrey's joy (and slight embarrassment) at having everyone sing to her. I will remember that moment for a long time with a smile on my face and thankfulness in my heart to a gracious God.

After everyone left, Aubrey finally got up the courage to try out her new jeep from Grandma and Grandpa. I had to get in it with her and show her how fun it was first. Brooklyn, on the other hand, had been trying to drive it all day long! :)

the grumps

2011-03-06T20:08:00.005-06:00

Lately, Brooklyn has been living in what I call "The Grumps" stage. Very few things make her happy. She's getting her molars in, people look at her the wrong way :) , and life is just generally tough for her right now. Poor thing. The other day, after a long nap, she still refused to be comforted and content. After trying everything I could think of to calm her down we decided to do this....

At 3:30 in the afternoon. I'm relieved to say it worked like a charm.

This mama is ready for "the grumps" to be over with. Can I get an "Amen?" Anyone? :)

On a side note... look at this curly hair. We love it!

nyc: day 3

2011-02-28T13:02:00.000-06:00

My favorite day because I laughed so much.

The weather was nasty on Friday. It drizzled most of the morning and afternoon and it was really cold. We slept in a little, did some shopping and then headed to see the Empire State Building up close. It was neat but the best thing about it is how huge it is. I still think we got the best view by seeing it on the Top of the Rock.

Our plan was to wait until the rain died down to go see Lady Liberty. But we decided not to let a little rain stop us from doing what we wanted. We headed down to the Liberty Ferry right as the rain started pouring. It looked nasty...

You'd think that this weather might put a damper on things but it only brought out the goofiness in us.
Rain or shine, Erin can make me laugh.

Seeing The Statue of Liberty was amazing. We had seen her from the Staten Island Ferry on Wed night but it didn't do her justice. She's a big lady. :)

The skyline without the Twin Towers. The Golden Ball was a piece of the rubble that used to be part of the World Trade Center. It withstood the collapse of the Twin Towers with heavy damage and parts of the crashed aircraft where found amongst other rubble inside the sphere. It now stands in Battery Park as a memorial.

After we stood in line to get Broadway tickets we ate at our favorite pizza place (again) and then went back to the hotel to thaw out before the show.

Memphis has great music but Erin and I could have done without some of the story line and the not-so-happy ending.

One more time in Times Square- I already miss this place.

Eating real New York Cheesecake. Yum.

When I got back to Austin, Jeff grabbed hold of me and said, "God bless you for what you do here!" It's nice being truly appreciated. :) Aubrey was so excited to see me too. She looked at me in wonder and said, "Mama!" Brooklyn was already in bed when I got home but when I saw in her in the morning she just scowled at me for several hours. I think she was letting me know she was mad at me for leaving. She got it over it my mid morning and then refused to leave my side/leg.

Such a wonderful trip with great memories. Thanks for going with me, Erin. And thank you Jeff for taking off work to watch the kids so I could go, care-free.

All of the pictures...