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Stationery card

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Two Cute Kiddie Birthdays and A teenager bday!

A few weekends ago, we attended two adorable parties! Addison was turning 5 and had a Barbie party. When I was getting Kate dressed, I looked through my drawer and was embarrassed to find not one, but 3 Barbie t-shirts. Kate picked out her favorite, and then I picked out one to wear as well. I only snapped a few pictures at this party, but the decorations were adorable! I cant wait for Kate to ask for a Barbie party one day!

 Dad and Preston joined us for the second party which was an UP! theme! We had a quick costume change, and I loved the way Ellie and Carl, err I mean Kate and Preston, looked. I hope my kids dont look back one day and wonder why I always dressed theme in costume…it’s just the way I attend parties! This party was for Kate's BFF, Juliette, and was so much fuN!

Easton even got in on the Carl fun!

 The funniest thing about Preston’s glasses was that after we got home, every time he saw them he put them back on!

We also celebrated the 18th birthday of my cousin Cole this week. He loved the singing at Red Robin!

I absolutely love celebrating the little lives of those we love!

Thanks for the adventure. Now go have a new one. ~Ellie

Valentine's Day

Am I the only dorky mom that likes to dress like their daughter?

Preston saw Luke getting out his backpacks and other camping stuff the other day to let someone borrow. He ran and got his backpack and threw it into the pile! He is so smart and cracks us up all the time!

For the kid's Valentine's parties at school, I looked to pinterest for a cute idea. This would be adorable and make use of all the cheap, restaurant crayons.

Except, restaurant crayons dont melt.

Even when your husband ups the temp and the time.

Pinterest Fail.

Heart shaped pancakes for my family and Dinstuhl's chocolate covered strawberries for me...yes, please!

Luke and I celebrated Vday a few weekends early, so the night of, we gladly babysat our friends' two little!

I was so proud...I had all four fed, bathed, diapered, and in bed by 7:45. Then I had a glass of wine and fell soundly asleep on the couch while Luke watched a Grizz game. That is probably reality for moms of 4 under 3!

Luke got home from class to a hunt for his Vday tradition...a Dairy Queen cake!

Kate said, "Put it here!"

All you need is love.
John Lennon

Daddy Daughter Dance

Our church hosted a Daddy Daughter Dance for all girls and their daddies at the begining of February. Kate and I had been talking about it for a few weeks, and she was so excited the night had finally arrived. I pulled out several dresses from her closet for her to choose, and she chose one that was mine when I was little. So precious! And as I was pulling it over her head, she said, "Mommy, I promise I wont get anything on it tonight." So sweet! She and Luke had a wonderful time and I couldnt wait to hear all about it once they got home!

This pic cracks me up b/c I took a few of her alone, and she finally said, "No more without my Daddy!"

They say that from the instant he lays eyes on her, a father adores his daughter. Whoever she grows up to be, she is always to him that little girl in pigtails. She makes him feel like Christmas. In exchange, he makes a secret promise not to see the awkwardness of her teenage years, the mistakes she makes or the secrets she keeps.

And here was my cute date that night:

Beauty School Dropout

Both of my sweet children have needed haircuts for some time. I just had to psych myself up for it, and now that it is done, they dont look like woodlands children anymore! I cut Kate's hair the night before the Daddy Daughter Dance at church.

Here is her crazy hair before.

And after. I definitely did way better than when I cute Megan's hair before the 1st day of school her sophomore year!

And this was all I cut...it was crazy how this little made it so much shorter!

This was the day I decided Preston's hair was way too mullety. Loved it, but it was a serious mullet. I let my friend who is a real hair dresser do his...I knew you could see mistakes way easier in a little boy 'do!

After, still shaggy, but not mullety...and precious too!

Enjoying January

I have just recently felt like I could take a deep breath since the wreck. I didnt even really realize I was holding it, but once I did and I let it out, it has felt good. I dont really remember what I have been doing, but I know I wasnt enjoying my kids and husband like I should be. For the year of 2011, my resolutions could be summed up the word-SIMPLIFY! I really made an effort to simplify our schedule, our budget, and our overall lifestyle. For 2012, I wanted my resolution to be SEEK. Seeking God, seeking quality time with my kids, seeking the relationship with Luke that has been lacking. It is just February, and I have already noticed a change in my attitude towards it all. I cant wait to see what the rest of 2012 brings with my attempts to SEEK.
Here are my babies enjoying some bubbles from our new bubble machine!


Just chillin, watchin Dora.
My studly cousin, Cole, was on Houston’s Winterfest Court. So proud of him even if he is going to that other school in Mississippi.

In other big news, Kate has gotten her driver’s license and we have upgraded Preston’s life insurance policy.

Can you believe my baby girl will be three soon! 
 
Who you talkin’ bout?

We have really been enjoying Play Group at our church on Monday mornings. If you are bored and in the area, let me know! We have a craft, snack, and good mommytime! As you can tell from this pic, Preston has not been feeling great. He had a fever for a weekend, and then was puny for a week after that. I loved him being clingy and snuggly, but absolutely hated seeing him so pitiful! I kept him home from MDO that week, and he slept the whole time Kate was there. He is now the proud new owner of 6 new teeth, so I am hoping that is all it was.
Kate and Juliette playing at the park:


 
We love the Neller’s new jumpy!

Watching Jake play ball:
 
Celebrating Blake’s 24 years of life. Love that brother of mine!
  
Entertaining Pres while Daddy is in the store:
We have been loving this warm, January weather! Yay yay yay!

This was right after Christmas, but I havent posted any of them yet…Enjoying our cousins at Nana and Granddaddy’s.
Jaxton’s 1st Birthday at Momma June’s. Preston is an equal animal oppurtunity lover:
Is your mama a llama?
I think we have a huffer on our hands:

Kate was obviously too busy to pose for the camera at this party~
We decided to have an Oreo Picnic one afternoon after school. As I was getting ready to snap a pic, my awesome kid knew to dunk it in the milk without me ever showing him!
 

Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it. Jalal ad-Din Rumi

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