Irresistible

Having just finished the kids photo albums from 2010, I was thinking forward to this year's album and wanted to get some mid-year photos of the kids taken for the covers of their 2011 albums. (If I use a pic from Jan, they look so young and if I choose one from December, they look too old. June or July is best, I think.)

These faces just make me smile from the INSIDE- OUT!

Innocent, beautiful, sweet, considering...

Charming, fresh, all-American, darling, loving...
Squeezable...
(Yes, I know it looks like Lily Kate has enormous feet with boat shoes on and Ace has no legs...this weird-limb-thing is getting to be a repetitive thing in our house - reference to mantle photo. Not a good thing.)

And this is the one that B couldn't leave the studio without. My cheap self was only willing to purchase 3 because of the coupons I had. B came to help me wrangle the kids and ended up lighter in the wallet for coming! If I was a good niece, I would have purchased it for her. (Did I mention that I'm terribly cheap? Or just terrible.)

The praise of others

Mothers can just never get enough reassurance when it comes to the question, "Am I raising my kids right?" I have a mountain of immovable bias when it comes to Ace and Lily Kate. It meant so much to get this little note from his summer school teacher.

If my love were enough, I know that Ace and Lily Kate would turn out "right." When it comes down to it, I know that the Lord has the right plans to refine them. Thank goodness that (despite my day-to-day acting like I am) someone else is "in charge" as Ace likes to say.

"Anxiety weighs down the heart but a kind word cheers it up." Proverbs 12:25

Another "FINALLY" Moment

Back in May (yes, 3 months ago) we took a vacation with the Gilliams, Bates and Seigles to Disney World. We took a 4-day cruise out of Port Canaveral followed by three days at the themeparks. This trip holds some of the most precious memories we'll ever make.

And I have finally finished my photo album.

Here's the link.

Faces and Soccer

This fresh face just MELTS me like a fondue fountain!

He got a hair cut last night. This is the only cut Mommy can do and it's too hot for anything else.

CAUGHT! Looks like Big Brother's been stealing Little Sister's toys.

Sorry, I'm still hooked on this scrunchie face. Indulge me for a few.

One for Bubba.

Last one...for now.

One silly face at soccer practice.

To say "it was hot" was an understatement. Ace was beet red and I poured lots of water over his head at his first soccer practice last night. We brought wet rags we kept in the cooler, popsicles and tons of juice. The sun was just beating on us.

SCORE!

We had such a great time at soccer practice. Jonathan is the coach! All bias aside, he did a phenomenal job. Even some of the other parents mentioned they were impressed with him. He was friendly, funny and the kids really seemed to love him. He chased them and they chased him. He is such a great Dad and I was blown away at what a great job he did. I never give him enough credit. Shame on me.

P.S. Yes, I know that shin guards are supposed to go UNDER the socks. Ace decided that they made him a superhero and insisted (to put it mildly) on wearing them on the outside. I'm picking my battles.

2010 Yearbooks!

Yes, it is AUGUST and I am only now ordering Ace and Lily Kate's 2010 Yearbooks. I waited until Picaboo ran their 40% off special and saved over $80 yippee! Here are links to their books.

Ace's book

Lily Kate's book

These books are seriously my treasures and I can't wait to get them in the mail!

Lily's FirstBirthday Party

I gave in and let Lily Kate turn one.

Despite the fact I said we weren't doing anything big, the decorations kind of got out of hand. We went for a Pixie Hollow look.
Lizzy, in one of the Tinkerbell movies, thought fairies only ate sweets so we had plenty to go around (guests were invited to make their own mix to take home as a 'thank you').
Having just ONE cake wouldn't do. All of the fairies made an appearance. (Seriously, these came from Walmart and tasted amazing.)

We got an extra Tinkerbell for Lily Kate's smash cake.

I think I could have just blown up a few balloons and Lily would have been just as delighted.

I remember enjoying the time Ace ate his first birthday cake. Lily's first birthday cake was so entertaining. She almost went through the whole thing before any of us took it away because we had such fun watching her.

She got a bath mid-party after the state she was in.

Beautiful birthday girl with Gabby and Pops.

Thank you everyone who came, helped and celebrated the sweetest, messiest birthday girl in our lives.

P.S. Credits also must go to my amazingly talented husband. Jonathan made fajitas, bacon-wrapped mango shrimp and some pretty darn good guacamole.

I will never tell anyone that we are "planning a small party" again.

Happy Birthday Lily Kate!

Lily Kate is one today!

That means we've had one year of her priceless smiles...
...and one year of more happiness than we knew before...

...and one year of irreplaceable memories.

Oh how I love this little muffin top! She is the cherry on top of my days.

I am thrilled to celebrate her all day and weekend long.