Blueberries!

We loaded up after our last swim lesson today and headed east.  Along the way we were able to eat lunch with my friend Chris.  Then we stopped at first Monday to shop for a few things.  Lastly, we headed to Grant and Amy's for playtime, dinner and an overnight stay. 

This has got to be one of my favorite traditions now!  We loaded up first thing this morning for some blueberry picking.  We snapped a couple of pictures before we headed in to get our buckets.

The hope was the girls would pick a few, eat a few and love it before it got too hot. 

They are so super sweet right off of the bush.

Mission accomplished, we grabbed a glass of water and headed inside to buy the already picked blueberries from the store.  Might be cheating, but now I have enough for a pie, one of Matt's favorite summer desserts.  We stopped for lunch with Sophie and Amy before heading home.  We beat Matt from the airport by an hour.  Summer is fun, but a little exhausting!

Burger's Lake

We cannot tell you how much we love this place.  I think we would be there every day and be content!  Want to join us next time?

More lessons

I know it seems ridiculous to have a million pictures from lessons.  I am always so impressed with how well they do for our teacher.  Morgan Leigh is floating on her back to the teacher, but also swam in the deep end too!  So awesome!

Not to be outdone, Anna Grace learned how to dive!  Yippee!



Smiley playdate

We had these sweet girls for lunch and play today.  I shared some of our Minnie cookies with them, as you can see by their black smiles. 

Call me...

Have you seen the viral video?  I know it started with Harvard, but my girls insist that was for the boys.  I got a few songs on the iPod before our last road trip and this is what the back seat looks like now when the Call Me, Maybe (or Baby as my girls say)

They really like it if I join them, which I can if Matt is with us :)

Projects and presents

When we were deciding what to get ML this year, I gave Matt a few options.  Buy and expensive swing at the cute toy store or make a swing.  Either way, requires hanging the present, another hair-brained project is what Matt was thinking I am sure.  So during nap time, that is what he and my dad tackled.

And the girls were quick to give it a try.  Perfect!!  I know the girls will love this present for years.

We had a little happy hour (or three) and ate a low-key dinner after the party.  The girls posed with Nonna.  It was great fun to celebrate our girl today!  Happy birthday Cupcake!



Happy Birthday Cupcake!

We started the day, bright and early with presents.  She was quick to ask if she could start opening them.  I was glad we were all set up for it last night!

She asked Nonna several months ago for an American Girl.  I love the look when she figured out what it was!

Open a present, pose for a picture.  She has this down!  Here she is with the stroller that Anna Grace picked out for her.

It took a second to realize what this was.  Daddy made a double swing for her for the front yard.

She concentrates really hard before showing that she's three now!

And the last of our morning shots.  Nonna, ML and our new American Girl, Julie.

Gigi and grandpa Tom arrived about an hour before the birthday with even more gifts.  She asked Anna Grace to open this one for her though.  She was all ready to play with the new bed though.

We snapped one family picture before the guests arrived. 

We had a pink Minnie Mouse birthday this year.  I made strawberry minnie mouse cupcakes and even pink Mac 'n Cheese.

This is the full spread.  Pink, pink, pink!

The favors were minnie mouse sugar cookies and hair bows of course!  Thanks to all of our friends and family that came to celebrate this special little girl.  She brings light and laughter to all of our lives.  Love you sweet Cupcake!

Birthday dinner

Morgan Leigh got to choose the restaurant tonight and it was no surprise that she chose Chuy's.  AG even recognized our waitress from last weekend.  Can you say regulars?  We have spent most of the day preparing for the big birthday party tomorrow.  Baking, icing and haircuts, so we all needed the break. 

Diving

Here is our swim teacher on the first day of diving.  Anna Grace did awesome!  She hopes to try it off the diving board before the end of next week.

My Jean

I have thought about this post for days now.  I don't know how to put all of my feelings into words.  So bear with me through the train wreck of emotions.

I joined an organization called P.E.O. in 1998 as a senior in college.  I come from a line of P.E.O's and knew of the special bond these women shared.  I was initiated into my mom's chapter and did not transfer out until Matt and I bought our first home in Fort Worth.  There was one night chapter here and I was quickly invited to a meeting.  I felt an instant connection to the group and quickly started to look forward to our meeting time.  I held several offices, but about the time I became president one of our founding members decided she shouldn't drive in the evenings any more.  I insisted that I could pick her up because she was so close to my home and I was going anyway.  After all, someone did that for my own grandmother for many years too. 

I benefitted so much from our car rides together!  She offered a lot of encouragement and wise advice on those trips.  I was the lucky one indeed.  Jean has shared herself with me for 6 years now.  I know that she reads my blog religiously.  She knows everything my girls have done and has become a surrogate great-grand to them in a way.  Christmas presents and more, she always finds a way to spoil them too. 

While Jean was ill this spring, I drove to a meeting alone for the first time in years.  It was eerily silent and I missed her!  Last week we found out that Jean will be moving from town.  I know I am not the only one that will miss her face in our meetings for a long time to come.  She was an integral part in making P.E.O. personal for me.  All my love Jean...

Milkshakes for breakfast!

In honor of the summer solstice, Sonic had half-price milkshakes all day.  Daddy sent an email that said it would be a special treat for today.  However, it quickly turned into a bribe for a good swim lesson....Nothing like a sweet treat at 9:30am!

Birthday girl!

My baby is three!  I can't get over that.  I hung her birthday wreath on the door today as soon as I finished it.  She was thrilled!

Swim lessons

I love our teacher, I can't say that enough!  AG did amazingly well and I didn't snap a single shot.  But today it was ML that impressed me.  She floated on her back almost unaided and also went under for a few rings.  Not too shabby for the first day.  I can't wait to see her progress!

Happy Father's Day

I have a hard time choosing which picture I like better, last night's or this mornings before church.  Regardless, we are all blessed to have Matt as a father to my girls.  He is everything I could have prayed for, and more! 

It also means that we are celebrating our own dads today.  We won't be physically with them, but will see them both in a few short days.  Those men have taught both of us what to expect from a dad and how to be one.  We send our love to both of you as well.

Daddy's night

I snapped this picture tonight while we were celebrating Father's Day.  Matt often requests to go to dinner on Saturday rather than brunch on Sunday.  (It all started with steakhouses on Saturday nights that aren't open Sundays.)  Tonight, in true Matt fashion, he let Morgan Leigh pick.  That always means Chuy's!  All it took was a weekend in Houston for us to appreciate a cool 93 degree night and eat on the patio. 

Senor Leibrock

As a surprise for Anna Grace tonight, we met some of her classmates and her former teacher.  I had downplayed who would be there, but she was over the moon when Senor Leibrock walked in!  I got a few moments with him before everyone else arrived and was reminded how much I adore this man!  Their year with him was cut short, but seeing him again with all these kiddos was priceless.  They were hanging on him all evening.    How blessed we were for him to be in the classroom this year.  Kindergarten Rocks!

Last pool trip

Jordie and AG posing for one final pool picture.

The girls are usually changing swim suits every time you turn around.  ML found this one (size 6m) and insisted.  It still fits, but most of this trip it was in a constant wedgie.  Jordie couldn't resist the pic of it.

We will shop tomorrow and head home.  It was a wonderful trip.  So good to be with family, but we are all exhausted!  I didn't even host it, so I cannot imagine how Kim feels. 

Duck Farts

It wouldn't be a family gathering without a duck fart.  The celebration tonight was for Andrew's acceptance to another law school.  He has big choices to make now and it was fun to celebrate with him.  He did spill a little while playing cards though and just like Brad licked it off the table.

Gator hunting

Aunt Kim has a few alligators in her back pond.  I don't know that I would think that is a great feature. :)

The girls were looking for him every time they could.  Here are Aunt Kim and ML

Tickle chair

Jordie quickly made a tickle chair and the girls loved every second! 

In fact, Andrew got AG so good that she had to ask for mercy so she didn't wet her pants! 

Bubbles and more

Uncle Brad had promised a toy and brought home some bubbles with dinner tonight.  The girls love bubbles!

Breakfast cake, PLEASE!

The girls asked for cake at 9am today.  I quickly said "no", when uncle Brad chirped in.  This is the pleading that followed.  Notice ML can't take her eyes off of him slicing it up.

He would do anything for these little ones!

Pool #2

The pools all have water slides and we even got ML to try this one. 

Jordie even managed to get a picture of all of us drying off.

We love our Jordie!

Picture, picture and pictures

Aunt Kim's home quickly was covered with crayon masterpieces as well.  They spread out on the blankie and went to town.  Jordie and Andrew made some for the girls to bring home as well.

Racing cars

Aunt Kim always finds the best toys for the girls to play with.  These cars were decorations at Matt and I's rehersal dinner 13 years ago.  I loved that she saved them!

Swim time!

Everyone arrived on Tuesday evening. We had a quick introduction for Andrew. He hadn't seen AG since she was 2, so therefor had never seen ML. Within the hour though Morgan Leigh patiently waited to give him a good-night sugar. I think he was baffled, but she was not deterred :) It was only the beginning of her week long love affair with Andrew. She was smitten!

We took today to go to one of the many pools in the neighborhood where Aunt Kim and Uncle Brad live.  The girls wanted everyone to see their new cover-ups.

And then we were off to the "bucket" pool.  If you look super close, Jordie, AG and V are in the foreground of this shot waiting to get splashed.  And Aunt Kim loves this picture because of the lady that made her laugh for most of the time we were there!  It was a great pool, but we went at 2 and it was too hot.  We will know more for tomorrow!

Our group shot.

And lastly, packing up.  At least it is only a few minutes away!