Bikers

Santa gave the kids new bikes for Christmas.

It took Elijah all of about 20 min to master the 2-wheeler with no training wheels.

He's so proud.

Mills was already a pro.

Yes, she's sporting a tank top in December!

And to complete her biker look she had to go put on her new "leather" jacket!

Now I can't wait for the time to change and for some sunshine after work for possible family bike rides.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and you're already kicking 2015 in the butt!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from the green ninja and I!

Enjoy your independence!

Happy 4th of July from our American home to yours!

A Post Easter - Easter Message

So...did you have a nice Easter?

We managed to squeeze a little egg dying in between baking cookies and riding horses and watching movies and shopping for Easter outfits. 

Millie is quite the artist, just like her sister.  She enjoys being creative and had a blast coloring eggs.

Next on the agenda is this beautiful boy's 7th birthday party.  In past years I've got a tad overboard on planning and spending and making a huge deal out his birthday.  I'm afraid I've set the expectations pretty high for myself.  I am going to make a real effort not to spend so much time on pinterest this year and try to keep it simple.  Besides I'm running out of time, it'll be here in a few short weeks!

I can't believe he's going to be 7.  I know I am biased and all mommy's think their kids are the best, but as far as 7 year old boys go...he's a very sweet one. 

I am proud to be his mommy and so blessed to be the one he wants to snuggle with when he gets sick

(except of course that I in turn get sick but I'll suffer through almost anything to get to kiss that sweet face.)

 

Our Easter celebration started off with a Good Friday service.  This is something our church hasn't done in the past but I very much enjoyed starting the weekend off with the right focus.  Just like any holiday it's easy to get wrapped up in all of the prep and making sure it's a special one for your kids you forget to take a moment and focus on what it really means to you and sharing that importance with your family. 

For me, Easter is everything.  With out the sacrafice Jesus made for me I would be hopeless.

 

Easter Sunday was full of family and food and colors and smiles.  We put on our new fancy outfits and headed to church to sing praises to our risen savior.  We hunted brightly colored easter eggs and shared a delicious meal prepared by hands we love.  We gave thanks for salvation and the blessing of family that we hugged and spent much needed time catching up with.  And I personally ate way too much chocolate...like all week.  (Curse you Cadbury!) 

  

I know it's late but from our family to yours I hope you had a wonderful Easter and the truth of what it is all about resonates with you all year long. 

You are loved, beyond your comprehension.  

I love July 4th!

A bike ride, swimming, and another wonderful 4th of July celebration at Jenn's...it was kind of a perfect day. I love that the neighborhood kids all come out to one spot to light fireworks and play. Making great holiday memories for my boy and playing with long exposures on my camera...horray!

Hope your 4th was fantastic!

A pretty big day

I know Easter was a week ago but after the day was over I needed time to re-coup.

This Easter was kind of a big deal.

The kids at church were darling as usual. Singing on stage complete with hand motions. They all looked like little Easter outfit models straight out of the catalog while they hunted eggs.

















This year Devin offered to host the celebration at his place, which would bring our families together for the first time. I had no worries about how our families would blend. The first time I met his family I knew right off the bat they were much like my own and our families would mix well.

It was more the pressure of getting the place decorated, cleaned, obtain all the requirements to host a party of 20, and have tasty hot food on the table at once that had the both of us working hard for days. The day went off beautifully.























We celebrated all the wonder that is Easter as well as two birthdays and the joining of our two families. Words can't express how excited I am to be a part of Devin's family and see my own grow with the addition of so many amazing and beautiful people. We missed those that couldn't be there but there were smiles and hugs and loves and just a small taste of the celebration to come at the wedding.

A big day, a good day, and plans are in full motion for THE REAL BIG DAY!