camp crestview 2011

we returned home from houston just in time for the girls to head to camp! they were so excited. it is the most amazing day camp . . . full of fun, bible studies, singing, and more fun! both the girls had a wonderful week and made some new friends too! it was so wonderful to see ken being so protective of mck when they headed to camp each day! they were excited to be doing something without the rest of us! i sure missed them each day!

butterflies!

after a very long morning at the hospital we took the kids to the science museum to see the butterfly exhibit. it was breathtaking and amazing. all of them were in awe watching the butterlies flitter about. it was truly magical. the girls loved the big gemstones and b.c. was in awe of the dinosaur! it was one of bailey's first real outings since the surgery . . . and it was great. nice to be out and about as a family again!

painting fun!

the kids had so much fun painting these dragon creatures from some wonderful friends (thanks ms. s!). they really took lots of time to make them extra sparkly! :) and then they hid them throughout g&g's house as a scavenger hunt for when they return from italy! they got so into finding the perfect spot . . . so cute!

swimming with cousins!

we met a and s for a pool playdate at their neighborhood pool. the kids were in heaven. it was a real treat . . . waterslides, falling water, and a giant baby pool! the kids all had so much fun. and then to top it all off . . . an amazing meal from t and m! homemade lasagna! delish! what a perfect way to spend a day!

just two weeks post surgery!

we met s and j for lunch in spring when she came for her two week check. it was a mini-fmaily reunion! s looks amazing . . . so does bailey. what a lucky family we are! (and how cool is s? she has been wearing a necklace ken made for her from a shell ALL summer! wow! ken felt so special!)

little fishies!

the kids and i have been passing the time away at grammy and grampy's by swimming EVERYDAY . . . and i mean EVERYDAY! it is so wonderful to have an instantly fun activity right in the backyard and i am starting to wonder how this could ever get old. everyone is happy! everyone is all smiles! i think i see a pool in our future!

"A" you're adorable!

omg. does it get any cuter? kam was thrilled to head back home for her very first recital! it was a girls night . . . daddy was still recovering and b.c. hung out with grammy! we had a wonderful evening at home (after being away for several weeks!) and got to get ready for the recital all through the morning. ken and mck kept helping kam practice her routine . . . she was dancing to "'a' you're adorable" sung by john lithgow! so much fun!
she did such a great job. the twist at the beginning was the cutest part! we gave her flowers, took some more pics and then got on the road to head back to houston for a little while longer! can't wait to show daddy the video!

kam turns FOUR!

my sweet little baby girl. where has the time gone. you are so beautiful, so silly, so smart, and so adorable. it is impossible to imagine life without you! you love ponies and playing babies, story time and puzzles. you love to be a big kid, but still need your mommy time. you are becoming so independent and really trying to figure out what you want . . . sometimes by throwing temper tantrums, hitting, pushing, and yes, an occasional bite! :) you love to be tickled, to cuddle, to play with your siblings. you are so amazing. i love listening to the things you say and the ideas you have. i love you sweet kamy kate! happy fourth birthday! :)



we celebrated . . . AGAIN . . . for your real birthday day with a trip to build-a-bear, gifts from g&g, sarah, and tim, missy, sophia, and aubrey! you had a yummy mcd's dinner and a pink cookie cake! what a perfect way to head to your next birthday.

another celebration of FOUR! :)

we celebrated . . . AGAIN . . . for your real birthday day with a trip to build-a-bear, gifts from g&g, sarah, and tim, missy, sophia, and aubrey! you had a yummy mcd's dinner and a pink cookie cake! what a perfect way to head to your next birthday.

kam turns FOUR!

my sweet little baby girl. where has the time gone. you are so beautiful, so silly, so smart, and so adorable. it is impossible to imagine life without you! you love ponies and playing babies, story time and puzzles. you love to be a big kid, but still need your mommy time. you are becoming so independent and really trying to figure out what you want . . . sometimes by throwing temper tantrums, hitting, pushing, and yes, an occasional bite! :) you love to be tickled, to cuddle, to play with your siblings. you are so amazing. i love listening to the things you say and the ideas you have. i love you sweet kamy kate! happy fourth birthday! :)

a new lease on life!

what a wonderful day! two major surgeries went perfectly smoothly! within four minutes they had taken s's kidney and placed it inside bailey. . . and it started working immediately! wow. there are not words to describe our feelings. we are so humbled by this amazing thing that s has done for our family. it is not just a gift of life for bailey, but a gift for our entire family. we will have our "normal" craziness back . . . and two healthy parents. s is putting us back together again! now the recovery begins . . . lots of doctor visits and medicines, lots of taking it easy and time off work . . . but before we know it things will be back to normal. what a great start to our summer. what an amazing, humbling gift. we love you s. you are our angel on earth.

a family celebration!

we had a wonderful afternoon with our new family members. . . we were celebrating the upcoming surgery! we had sandwiches and green cupcakes and wore our green shirts! :) what fun! :) we are so, so, so lucky that s, b, and j are now a part of our lives. they are beautiful people inside and out. the countdown is on . . . may 24 here we come!

watercolor time!

craft time is fun again! the kids are loving doing crafts together . . . and now that b.c. gets what he's supposed to do (stay on the paper . . . not paint himself . . . keep his paint on his paper!) it is fun for all of us! they love to create a masterpiece and pick a spot to hang it up! love.

celebrating FOUR with friends!

kam had no doubt who she wanted to celebrate four with . . . her two bff's from pre-school m and e! they had a blast a chuck e. cheese playing games, taking pictures, and riding lots of rides. kam was all smiles all day! from soda to pizza, princess cupcakes to beautiful gifts kam felt like one lucky little girl!

taking a test run! :)

kam LOVES her new rapunzel bike and is doing really well riding it! she can almost make it up the hill without having to push her bike! :) yay for that! :) and mck was trying out the new skateboard daddy brought home (i was NOT responsible for that!). both ken and mck are enjoying it, but it is making me soooo nervous!

aquarena springs

we took a great day trip to aquarena springs (and the outlets, of course!) the kids had so much fun on the boat . . . the fish were fun and we saw lots of turtles and fun water birds! :) the wetlands were super cool with nesting tilapia EVERYWHERE and a cool water moccasin at the end of our walk! it was great to be out enjoying the beautiful weather and four happy kiddos! :) we can't wait to go back!

our own little spot!

we found this little park on the river. it is so quiet and usually almost empty! it is like our own little paradise. we take a little walk from the car and settle in to a little rocky area by the water. the kids can play, swim, fish, and be crazy! :) it is so fun! we cannot wait to get some rain and some more water in the river! for now it makes for a great (and super close!) weekend outing. oh how we love georgetown!

a surprise birthday!

sweet kam talked about wanting a "surprise" birthday for months . . . well, it just so happened that we were going to be away on her birthday, so, a surprise it was! :) she woke up to a room filled with balloons . . . and had the most beautiful smile! :) she was thrilled! :) morning presents . . . the usual book and outfit (this time with a coordinating outfit for her baby!) a yummy donut breakfast (her pick!) and then the rest of the goodies . . . including her fav - a rapunzel bike that she has been asking for for months! she was one happy girl as she took laps around the house! :) in the evening it was a birthday dinner at our new favorite river spot . . . for a wonderful picnic and some swimming! and a yummy princess cake to top off the day! :) so hard to believe our baby girl is about to be FOUR!

mother's day pre-school tea

what a fun way to celebrate mother's day a little early with my sweet kam! :) a mother's day tea at pre-school! complete with homeade goodies and mint iced tea! :) and the sweetest gift - a butterfly magnet with a beautiful saying. what a sweet afternoon! :)

our artist

wow. our little ken had a piece featured in the school district art show at southwestern university ! (and for the second time!!!) :) we all had to go to take a peek! :) ken LOVES art. . . that may be an understatement. the highlight of her school week is art class . . . she loves the class, loves her teacher, loves the projects! so she was beyond thrilled that she was picked. her piece was a really cool watercolor picture . . . a seascape with a fish stamped in the middle. we cannot wait to hang it on the wall!