Let the alarm clock ring.

Before we get into the fun news about my precious children let me give a shout out to all the Pioneer women of the 1800's. An odd shout-out I'm sure but seriously, how on earth did these women keep up with the duties of laundry and dishwashing without our modern appliances? I have such a hard time keeping up and I have machines to help me out.

And not to toot my own boring horn, but...did you know the girls' playroom is actually nice and tidy. Yes, you can even walk in their with your eyes closed and not kill yourself. My kitchen is even somewhat clean!

Alright, onto what everyone is truly interested in: Ashlyn, Laney and Reese. Our Ashlyn Jean started 2nd grade (2nd grade, I tell you!) last Monday. She has a great teacher and we still absolutely love her school. She didn't get placed in the same class as her best buddy, Avery, but they play at recess and in their LEAP class. She does have several friends in her class. Can you believe how cute and mature she is? In other big news, we bought Ashlyn a new bike...one without training wheels. She tried it for the first time Saturday evening. Then tonight we went out for the second time and the girl is a pedaling machine, quite at ease without any training wheels or Mommy or Daddy holding on. It's amazing! She has some Fancy Nancy in her as she told Jason after we got home that tomorrow we should make a cute paper chain finish line so they can race and break through it. She also has started a babysitter's club where she wants to watch babies in our house for friends (while we're here of course) and then give half of the money to children who don't have a lot of money. Sweet, isn't she? (I told you she takes after her mother...I'm totally kidding! That is God's work in her little heart.)

Laney Hope started her pre-K class today at her Mom's Day Out. Again, we totally
love her school too. She came out so excited about her first day. Her teacher, Ms. Jennifer, was also her teacher last year and was pumped to have Laney back. She said Laney even volunteered to be the prayer leader for the day.

We'll wait and see if she volunteers to answer questions related to her letters. I have to tell you, if you begin talking about letters her eyes begin to glaze over within seconds. The other day after we picked Ashlyn up from school I mentioned that while they play school at home Ashlyn will have to help teach her her letters. I said, "Because Laney wants to learn her letters." She just looked at me and a huge grin broke out..."Mommy, you want me to learn my letters. I don't want to learn them." At least the girl can write her own name and her sisters. Oh well, she is extra cute so that will take her places! Actually, she's quite smart...just doesn't want to put that in front of having fun. She really is maturing so much since turning four. I love seeing her perspective on things.

And let's not forget sweet Reesie, who also had her first day at MDO today. Oooooh...she is too cute for words! And speaking of words, I get comments every other day by people who are in wonder over how clearly she speaks and her vocabulary. It really is quite amazing. She can very precisely sing her ABC's and you can often hear her telling Buckner, or one of us for that matter, to "be diet!"(aka, quiet).

She's forever petite, but doesn't let that stop her. She often wants to crawl up into the van on her own and then into her carseat. I'm exhausted watching her. And the girl is always ready for a snack. She weighed a little over 20 lbs. at her 18 month check-up and is almost 22 mos. so she's got to be close to 22 lbs. now! She usually talks refers to herself in the third person saying "Reesie wants that", etc. I could absolutely eat her up!

One thing I often pray for is that my girls will not only be best friends as adults but also all through their childhood. I am so thankful for how the Lord is in answering that prayer. They dearly love each other and are the best of friends. Here is a picture I stumbled upon the other night before bed. Ashlyn was reading to Laney and Reesie.

Here is the view from the front.

Well, I am off to that b-l-e-s-s-e-d thing called laundry again.

Good night, friends!

Here is one last pic to bless you all with some sweet dreams:

My Girl Turns 7

It's been almost three weeks now, but our precious Ashlyn Jean, has turned 7 years-old. I know every mom says it, but where has the time gone? Ashlyn thought about many, many different options for her party and finally settled on having it at our house with a school theme. Here are the girls waiting in the bounce house for everyone to arrive. Are they not the sweetest things ever?
Here are the lockers Daddy helped make for the girls. It was Ashlyn's idea and Jase was the man in action to make it happen. Ashlyn decorated each person's locker just for them. Event
planning could definitely be in her future!

Thanks to Miss Haleigh, she had amazingly cute school cupcakes!

She does great at loving each thing her kind friends gift her with!

Here is P.E. They were trying to throw objects into a small washer-pit hole.

A school party for Ashlyn would absolutely not be complete without art class...I'm telling you,

the girl has skill!

Ashlyn, Laney, and their good friend, Meagan!

Hello 7!

My sweet Ashlyn, There isn't a single thing we would change about you. You are simply an amazing, talented, kind, thoughtful, and faithful little girl. You are every parent's dream and we are beyond thankful the Lord blessed us with you. Thank you for being such a sweet daughter and sister. We pray that your heart for Christ continues to grow and that others come to know Him because of you. We LOVE you, LOVE you, LOVE you!!! Love, Mommy and Daddy

Family Vacay

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Let me warn you...if that's true you are about to have 20,000 words flying out you. We left last Friday and came back Monday from one of the best vacations I have ever been on. I can't remember enjoying myself more. It was so nice to get away from responsibility, leave behind work worries, connect as a family, enjoy each other as husband and wife, have fun with a friend, and take in God's beautiful creation.

Here are the girls as we started our road trip to Possum Kingdom Lake. A precious family from church let us use their gorgeous (an understatement) lake house. Thank you Haywoods!

We road on their mule a ton while we were out there!

We fed the horses carrots every single day...

We swam and played at the pool. I love this next pic of Laney...it captures

her perfectly!

Daddy and Ashlyn jumping of the "cliff" into the pool. Yes, I did it too, but I'll spare the pic of me in my bathing suit. Ashlyn is our little adventure queen!

One of my very best friends in the whole world, Jen, joined in on the fun!

We love her dearly!

Yes, Miss Laney is actually swimming short distances on her own now.

Yahoo...I love it! So proud of her!

Ashlyn loooved the Hummer golf cart. Daddy even let her "drive."

We rented a pontoon boat one day. Jase and I dream of one day owning a

lake house with a pontoon boat...it was amazing to live the dream for a few hours. Reesie loved it so much it tuckered her out for over an hour.

We had to make Ashlyn get off the tube. She loved it!

Laney's favorite thing was just floating in the water...

however, after much coaxing, she enjoyed the tube ride too!

A family pic in their backyard. Amazing view, right?!

My beloved...

Goodbye Haywood lake house! We hope to be back soon. Seriously, it took

everything in me, not to cry coming home. I loved it that much!

July Fourth Weekend

We had a full, but relaxing fourth of July weekend. Every year our entire neighborhood puts out little American flags in front of each house. I anticipate it for days. We started Friday night by having our friends, the Moore's, over for dinner. Daniel, Carrie, and Alli go to church with us. In fact, Daniel and I work together. The girls couldn't get enough of precious Alli and passed her around several times so they could all hold her, including Reese. Here are the girls before they headed out for their Fourth of July Parade. They met up with the Lee family. Jase took them so that I could have a few childless hours to rest my ears :0) and clean the house.
We spent the rest of the evening at the Lee's neighborhood pool and then barbecued at their house with more of our friends from LifeGroup. And even though I didn't get pics of the fireworks we even got to see those too. We are so thankful God has blessed us to live in the USA!

Laney, Reese, Ashlyn and Jackson

Lauren and Rowdy (and baby!)

Drew and Emily (my amazing hairdresser!)

Chad and Amanda (thanks for hosting us)

He's gotten even better-looking with age! Jase throwing washers.

The girls before church on Sunday.

We were able to cap off the weekend by having Pastor Genesis in our home. He has some neat ministries in Cameroon. If you're one of my facebook friends check out his stuff.