sweet family time

Love this special gift from God

Could my daughter be any whiter?

Sweet Zach

This bucket provided hours of entertainment

We made a special trip to the Duggar's house!

Cuddle time with the grandparents

A special time for a special girl

Happy Birthday Reese!

A special gift

TRUE family bonding

A cake for Reese

A cake for my Mom

Abby and I had a great time in Fayetteville this past week. We laughed a lot and we cried a bit too. It was a special week. Abby and I were so excited to meet sweet Colson for the first time. He is so precious and we loved every minute we got to love on him!! We took the kids to Jump Zone, Chuck -E- Cheese and they played in the evenings on the back porch and play set. Katie had scouted out where the Duggar's live and we made a trip by their house too in hopes of finding something exciting. The house was quiet and we wondered where everyone was.

Wednesday was a very special day. We celebrated Reese's first birthday and my Mom's 40th (ha!) birthday. Katie wanted it to be a day of celebration and it was. We went out to the Memorial Gardens and my precious Dad said a few words about Reese and her sweet life. He did an amazing job. Jason's dad led us in a prayer and then we released 100 pink, white and cream balloons. Katie wanted one red balloon mixed in and it was PERFECT. The whole thing was perfect. We then headed back to the house for lunch and did a little shopping as well. That night we celebrated my Mom's birthday as well with cake and ice cream after dinner.

Katie, the week was perfect. You hosted so many with grace and every detail including the cards, plants, flowers and food...it was all perfect. You are an amazing mom to THREE children and I love you so much. Your testimony is incredible and your witness is pointing so many to HIM. Happy Birthday, Reese. Happy one year in heaven. We love you, miss you and can't wait to see you one day! What a DAY of rejoicing that will be!!!

fairy birthday party

Today Abby and I went to a precious fairy birthday party. Tinkerbell herself came to the party and put make-up on the girls, read a story and helped the kids with a craft. Abby just sat and stared at Tinkerbell, watching her every move. We left with some pixie dust that Abby was anxious to sprinkle all in her hair! We may never get it all out, but we had a great time! Happy Birthday, Sophia!! Thanks for a fun party.

just because

dance camp

Could dancing be Abby's new love? I hope so! Since we know that any kind of contact "sport" for little ones is not Abby's thing, I decided to enroll her in a dance class with some of her friends that live in our neighborhood. Today was just the first day, but she LOVED it. She was actually pretty good and listened very well to her teacher. I hope the rest of the week goes as well as today. If so, I want to enroll her in a class for the fall. The whole hour she kept looking at me saying, "I love this, Mom!" I think she is ready for tomorrow already.

cousin camp 2010

Mimi, Papa and Abby

Races

All 5 cousins

Sack races

Anna Jane reading to her cousins

Picture day

Painting some pottery

Circus day

Abby watched this year, but it started out a bit loud

My Gym party

Last week, we were in Houston for Cousin Camp! Bo's parents planned a fun week for the cousins! Abby was so tired every day, she took 3 hour naps. Who was this child?? Abby had a great time with her cousins every day. They really played well together. Besides the planned activities, the kids swam every day and also had some fun cousin olympic games.

The first day was a trip to Old Macdonald's Farm outside of Houston. It was a bit too hot for this momma, so I opted out of this event, but everyone had a great time feeding animals, riding horses and swimming!

The second day, a photographer came over and took pictures of the kids. We have seen a few samples and they turned out so great! That afternoon, we went to a pottery place and painted a few things and then headed to Chuck-E-Cheese.

The third day was Circus Day! Abby had a great time this year! It started out a bit loud, but she warmed up and watched the whole show. Her favorite part was the puppies that came out in dresses and jumped around the stage. She laughed so hard! I loved it.

The fourth day, the kids went to a swimming place called Noah's Ark and then to Chick Fil A for lunch. Bo went with Abby to this event as well. It was a great way to cool off from the heat!

The last day, Mimi rented My Gym for the kids to have their own party. Abby was a bit worn out at this point (as you can imagine) and watched the others a bit, but enjoyed parts of it as well.

What a fun week at Mimi and Papa's house! Thank you both so much! We had a great time and after we catch up on some sleep...we will be ready for next year! : )

Colson Allen Rowe

I could not be more thrilled to announce that my sister and her husband welcomed with JOY - Colson Allen Rowe. He was born at 2:12 pm on July 13 weighing 7 pounds and 15 oz. He is HERE, he is HEALTHY and he is PERFECT!!

God is good....all the time!

4th of July

Karlie, Kade and Abby

Karlie driving Abby around. So fun!

My dancing queen

Our family!

A kiss from my girl

Abby and Reid

We had a big 4th of July!

After nap time, we headed over to the Browns for bbq. We had a ball, as always, with precious friends. On our way home, we decided to stop by the neighborhood party at the lake. They had a d.j. and Abby thought that was the best thing ever. She danced and danced. My friends who know Abby well were in shock watching her dance around screaming and laughing. It was a riot. We ended up staying to watch the fireworks which we had not really planned on. We didn't think there was any way Abs would stay up that late! Abby loved them at first and then decided they were too loud for her. However, she enjoyed watching them with her ears covered. What a great holiday! Hope you all had a great 4th of July too.

dude ranch 2010

Deer Valley Ranch - 6.2010

Deer Valley Ranch - 7.2008

We just got back from a huge trip out to Colorado with my family. My family began going to this ranch in 1986. As we got older and schedules became more difficult, we stopped going. Six years ago, we started to go back. It's a blast. Such a neat place to not only escape the crazy heat here in Texas, but to enjoy the Lord's beautiful creation. Abby had a blast with her cousins, but we missed Katie, Jason and Zach. Our square dancing circle was not the same without them!!! Yes, I said square dancing! : ) More pics to come. Still catching up on laundry and getting back to life here at home.

girl's day!

Abby and Elle

A friend and I took our girls to get pedicures this morning! We had so much fun. The girls sat a lot longer than I thought they would, and they both enjoyed every minute of it. Abby picked out her color and wanted flowers on her big toes. I was surprised at how still she was. We headed to a fun lunch after and just had such a great time! I love that Abby is at such a fun age. I look so forward to doing so many more fun things with my precious girl!