Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Good night dear God.

Being a parent is the single most challenging thing I've ever done... and forever will be I'm sure.. 
However moments like this (video), seem to melt all my fears, anxieties, guilt and troubles away. :)



I just love big sister's sweet little voice.  It makes me sad to know that it's going to change very soon... Thank goodness for this video and the many videos where I've taped her talking, singing, reading, laughing, giggling...

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Daddy

On Sunday Bryant was at a football game while the girls and I were at home recovering from a cold/bug... 

He sent us a text that said, "Hi Sweetie.  How's it going?  I'm at the game." 

So I asked the girls, "Daddy just texted and asked how we are doing... what should we say?" 

Then biggest sister said, "WE HAD YUMMY SOUP. WE PLAYED SOME FUN GAMES.  AND WE READ THE BIBLE.  WE LOVE YOU DADDY.  WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH YOU ARE OUR FAVORITE DADDY." 

They do have the best Daddy ever.  Hope they remember that during their teenage years. ;)

  



Monday, November 28, 2011

Random.

Here's what is (was) going on around our home...
These photos were taken about a week ago...


Playing word games on Daddy's iPad has been a favorite around here...


Reading...reading...and more reading... We love the library!!


The girls and I made this "GIVE THANKS" banner. It was a fun craft and it turned out very cute!


Some day we would like to put a swing/playset in our backyard for the girls...but in the meantime, we get to play with our neighbor's! ;)


A $5 art find at a local Goodwill.


Preparing for a Thanksgiving party for Bryant's men's bible study group. 

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Family Photos

It's that time of the year... Thank goodness for Christmas cards, which reminds me to take family photos.. otherwise it would never be done. ;)  And thank goodness for my brother who is a talented photographer, who is always willing to take photos for us.  We found a beautiful park in Orange County, and spent just a short time there doing a photoshoot by the lake and on a hill.. Biggest sister was excited and cooperative, but it's not easy taking photos with a 3 year old, 15 month old and a dog.  But it was accomplished and I can't wait to see the photos! :)

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day for us this year was unusually busy (typically we just go to Poppa and Nana's house and spend the day there)... But this year we left our house early in the morning to head down south to visit our friends first...then we spent the rest of the day visiting family.. Although we were wiped out by the end of the day, it was well worth seeing and spending time with our friends and family that we love so much!! 

Yummy breakfast, then jumping on the trampoline!
 



Meeting up with my family at the beach!
 


 


Thanksgiving feast with Poppa, Nana, Uncles, Aunts and cousins!


We are so thankful for all of our friends and family that we had the opportunity to see this Thanksgiving... And we continuously give thanks to our Lord who graciously and lovingly provides, guides and protects us every single day...

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

My Dear Friend.

My dear friend (who is 7 months pregnant) and her family are visiting from Tennessee for Thanksgiving...
Her and her little guy came over the other day.
Can you tell my girls LOVE her?! 
They just can't get enough of her. :)


Four little doctors checking on my friend and the baby in her tummy.
 

 After the doctor's visit, she saw the hairstylist...

Littlest sister stayed right by her side.. :)



Sunday, November 20, 2011

Friday Nights.

Friday nights are known as "Family Nights" around here.  We started this tradition about a year ago... Every Friday, the girls KNOW that we will spend together as a family and do something fun.  Whether it's playing board games, watching a movie, going out to eat or getting a dessert...we make it intentional to spend quality time together.

The girls look forward to "Friday Night Famiy Night" EVERY week.

This past Friday I took the two big sisters to a free Watoto Choir concert that a friend invited us to at her church.  It was the girls' first time listening to a performance by children from Uganda.. and they were absolutely amazed...  During the concert Biggest sister turned to me and said, "Mommy, I love their voices.. I've never heard it before."  She was dancing to the beat of the drums and music... and watched in awe as the orphan boys and girls sang beautifully in their colorful attire.  I was envisioning her dancing and singing with them in Africa. :)  We hope and pray that someday God will allow our whole family to go on a mission trip there! 



After the concert, I surprised them and took them to a nearby Starbucks where we all enjoyed our cakepop and vanilla steamer with soymilk (the girls' favorite drink)!



I love that the girls can EXPECT something every Friday night.  This tradition brings us closer together as a family and we are building wonderful memories every week.  We'll try to continue this tradition as long as we can. :)

Saturday, November 19, 2011

At Last...

At last, we took the girls to the "Happiest Place on Earth."  Funny how I'm posting this after yesterday's post.... but we actually promised the girls that we would take them to Disneyland a while ago (probably before the summer).  

The truth is, we live about 6 minutes away from Disneyland (literally) but still had no intention of taking them YET...  But earlier this year my dad asked if we were getting annual passes for the entire family and offered to pay for half the cost.. Without his generous offer, we wouldn't have even thought of taking them this year.. but we are so glad we took them today! We had such a BLAST!

The girls didn't know that we were going to Disneyland today.  They knew we were taking them soon...but didn't know exactly when.  So when Bryant told the girls we were going today, they were VERY surprised and excited!  I think Bryant and I were just as excited and anxious since we haven't been in about a decade!  It was such a beautiful day today.. and with the Christmas decorations, carols and music.. it seemed especially magical.  We didn't feel the need to rush (now that we can come back with our passes), we were just able to enjoy and relax!  We are already looking forward to going back! :)


Biggest sister was so happy, she could hardly contain herself. 
Tea cup ride, daddy and the girls. :)

Littlest sister trying to get in line at "It's a Small World."
Live band playing Christmas music... 
 

The three princesses posing together... :)
 

Biggest sister took her little plastic Snow White (in her hand) and was looking forward to showing it to her.
Big sister's favorite princess, Cinderella, was also there so she made her day. :)


Friday, November 18, 2011

Park.

There is something that is absolutely freeing about a park. 
My girls usually kick off their shoes as soon as we arrive... 
They know there are no limits there.. 
They can climb, slide, swing, run, and play all they want (until Mommy says "time to go").
They think it's one of the best places to play (this is one of the reasons why I've been waiting to take them to an amusement park ;D). 

Littlest sister on this particular day was just sitting by the sand.. enjoying the feeling of sand in between her little fingers.  She was also enjoying showering herself with the sand over and over and over again.. She was COVERED in sand..and she was having SO much fun I just couldn't tell her to stop (until she started eating it).  


Love the freedom.  Love the imagination and wonder and all the fun the park brings to my girls. 

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Having Fun :)

The girls woke up this morning and found a mustache sticker that one of their friends left behind...



So much fun!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Turning Three!

 We got over our cold just in time for Big Sister's birthday! She turned three yesterday, and today we had a small "rainbow" birthday celebration with family and good friends! Big Sister has been SO excited about turning three...and Biggest Sister was just as excited to celebrate with her.


Big Sister requested a cake just like the one from the book, "The Gardener" by Sarah Stewart. 

It was supposed to rain on her birthday, so we thought it would be fun to do a RAINBOW theme. 


Our very good friends visited us all the way from San Diego.

Bryant and I got married in their backyard 7 years ago... when they were teeny tiny...
Now one is a recent college graduate and the other is a senior in high school!



More friends and family joined us later in the day... and we had a great time! 
Big Sister was just happy to eat her BIG piece of cake...and to open (of course) her birthday gifts! 

Here are a few mobile photos of Big Sister from this past year...





This last one always makes me SMILE. :)
We love you SO much!! 
Thank you for bringing so much joy into our lives with your infectious smile, laugh and personality!
We are thankful to God for you and pray that He will bless you all the days of your life!!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Random.

Been at home for a week now with three sick girlies... 
We are getting a little stir-crazy but I thank God that we have a nice and warm home where we can rest, play and get better.

Numbers:
My mom recently bought this writing mat by Melissa and Doug for the girls and it has been a big hit. 


Colored Pencils: 
There's always some kind of coloring, drawing, painting going on around here...


Pom Poms: 
Since we're at home (and I found some colorful tissue paper), we started making some decoration for Big Sister's birthday...
which is this Saturday!!  She will be turning 3!!

PJs and blankets: 
We've been around these all week. 
Fevers, boogies, and coughs please go away and don't come back for a long long time...