Celebrating Our Big Girl

Happy 10th birthday, sweet girl!

 Any parent will tell you how amazingly much they love their child.  It's a love like no other.  Your heart aches when your child's heart aches.  You feel overwhelming joy and pride at things most might think little successes.  You would lay down your life for your child without a second thought.

 

Our sweet Ashlyn Jean envokes all these feelings.  Yet, she also is such an easy kid to celebrate.  9 times out of 10 she thinks more about the feelings of others than her own.  She is kind.  She is creative.  She truly feels and cares about people.  So when July 31st comes around...it is time to par-tay and celebrate such a special young lady!

 Ashlyn has always been blessed with sweet, deep friendships.  We told her she could pick 2 friends besides her sisters.  Little did she know, that another fun surprise was the fact that one of her close TX friends would be in our area for her b-day and showing up.  Matalee, thanks for being in on the surprise!

 

Months leading up to her birthday Jason and I knew what we wanted to surprise her with.  She loves to bake and their is a fabulous bakery in Fayetteville.  Well, we found out they do birthday parties where each person can decorate their own cakes.

 The professional cake decorator showed them different ways to put designs on their own cakes and explained how to use different tips.  She helped the girls, if they needed help.  And, while the girls were each decorating their own cake, she decorated Ashlyn's true birthday cake.

 Ashlyn had asked if her cake could come from this bakery so when we pulled into the parking lots and went inside she just thought we were grabbing her cake.  It was perfect!

 The girls enjoyed watching the professionals decorate real birthday, wedding, party cakes, etc.  You can see how amazing her own birthday cake turned out too!

Sweet Ashlyn Jean,  May you always feel celebrated with each passing day.  You are an absolute answer to so many prayers and our hearts soar with love for you.  You are turning into such a beautiful young lady with an even more beautiful heart for your Savior.  We love your smile, the way you mess with your hands when you get excited, your potential to see the good in people, and well...everything about you.  Happy 10th, baby!  We love you! 

The gift of family

You can't pick your family.  That you are born or married into.  You can, however, pick your friends.  We are especially blessed because the family we have, we are also

friends with.

The weekend after Fourth of July we went down to East Texas for Jason's family annual reunion.  This time we coaxed my brother and sister-in-law into driving up with the kiddos (we didn't even have to resort to arm-twisting either).  Here are some fun pics from the weekend.

 

Things that make me happy

One word~ BLESSED.



Seven is so sweet

This sweet girl turned 7 the end of last month.  I can't believe it.

 The Lord began to heal my heart from losing my mom in many ways when she was born.  A new joy entered our home and it has never left.

 All our Laney Hope wanted was a slumber party, so that's what our girl got. 

 So many sweet friends...

 ( Sweet, but not a shy or quiet group.)

 Sweet sisters, and the best of friends.

Laney-bear, What a precious girl you are.  Joy in the purest form.  Love uninhibited.  You make our hearts smile and we love you from the top of your head to the tips of your toes!!

Easter 2012

Spring Break

It isn't like Spring Break just occured.  However, we were blessed to be able to go to Big Cedar Lodge in Missouri and it was amazing.  I've heard people talk about it around here, and it did not disappoint.  Of course, we were able to afford it because we sat through a couple hours of a time share presentation, but it was well worth it and I hope we can go back again some day soon.

Of course, my favorite thing of the whole trip was just spending time together away from the every day busyness of life.  The girls truly are so enjoyable and we just love being with one another.  Of course, the swimming, horse back riding, eating out, putt putt golf, beautiful (and I mean bea.u.ti.ful!) grounds didn't hurt either.

God is so good to us.



Father/ Daughter Dance

Want to know what makes my heart swell with so much love it feels like it might explode?

Just take a look...

I love that the big girls' school does a Father/ Duaghter Dance each year.  It is a priceless memory my girls will always remember.

This year they wanted to surprise their daddy and not let Jason see their dresses until it was time for the dance.  So we kept them over at miMi and Papa D's house, got dressed over there, and then had the big reveal.  Reesie even got to get dressed up and join them for dinner out before-hand and a quick first dance.  Then she and I had Mommy/ Reesie time...our favorite.

I love how much my girls love their daddy.  I love what an amazing girl Daddy Jason is.  I simply love all 4 of them more than words could ever express!