My Model

I don't think I could have found a better model for my bows. And to think that all this one charges is food, shelter, love, and snuggles. A small price to pay for all the bows she sells. :)

Don't you want to go buy some bows now? :) http://www.unbelievabow.com/

Happy 3rd Birthday, Elena!

3 years ago today we welcomed sweet Elena into our family. I couldn't have possibly anticipated what a wonderful addition she would be! She is so super fun, sweet, and loving. Tonight, as we were having our rocking chair time, I told her some things I love about her. One of those things is how incredibly maternal she is. She "mothers" anything and everything that crosses her path. I love watching her bounce a baby doll up and down and whisper "Shh. Shh. Shh. Shh. It's ok, Mommy's here." I love her laugh- the deep belly one that comes out when she is being tickled. I love when her voice gets REALLY deep and she says something hilarious in a growl. And then she breaks out that laugh I mentioned. I love how she converses about EVERYTHING. (ok, I don't always appreciate this in the moment, but we are talking about overall here!) She doesn't just watch TV, she watches and tells you all about it, play-by-play, as it is happening. She talks non-stop in the car about everything and nothing at all. Her favorite knock-knock joke is "Knock knock", "Who's there?", "A LITTLE GIRL THAT CAN'T REACH THE DOORBELL!!!!!!!" I love her singing voice. And that she knows the songs on my ipod as well as I do. And that, when in doubt of a lyric, she will just make one up. It may not even be a real word. She doesn't care. I love that she messes up her pronouns. ("Her is sad, Mommy." or "I are done, Mommy") I love that she still fits in my lap. That when I rock her, she can still bend her legs and wrap her knees around my waist and lay her head on my shoulder. And that she still licks her wrist when she is going to sleep. I love that she asks, before bed, "Daddy, will you pray me?"
This list could go on and on. There is just so much to love about this sweet girl. Instead, I present you with fun pictures from our family birthday party. We had dinner at Chuck-E-Cheese. (which is where she insisted on going, but with the agreement that Chuck-E would not actually come near her. "He is staying in his nest" is what she kept repeating. The "nest" is a little round stage where a curtain opens and the mechanical Chuck-E sings songs. In case you were wondering, she still has a bird obsession.) We had cake at home, thanks to a dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free cake mix from Whole Foods.

The guests at her party: Baby Jordan, Baby Bunny, and Lasagna
"Happy Birthday, Sister!"

Elena playing the bee game

Riding the bicycle helicopter

Giddy-up, caterpillar!

"Cheese!"

"I got TICKETS!!"

Elena-safe cake

Happy Birthday to ME!

Summertime!

I never really had an appreciation for summer until this year, but I am LOVING this summer break! The kids and I are doing really fun things and I am getting to spend some good time out in the sun. It's like being a kid again! Add to that the bonus that I am getting to hang out with some great girl friends on a pretty regular basis, which is always nice!

We left the day after kindergarten graduation to go to San Antonio for 3 days. We did SeaWorld, the Riverwalk, the Alamo, the pool at the hotel, etc. It was such a good family vacation. The kids had a blast, and I think they are now at the age where they will look back on these vacations as adults and remember the fun we had.

After San Antonio, we came home for a couple of days and then headed north. We spend a night in Dallas with my sister, a night in Oklahoma City at a fancy-schmancy hotel downtown with some friends from Indiana, and then another night in Dallas with Adaryll's dad and his wife. Again, great memories made for all of us. We got to see several sets of people who have been very influential in our lives and who we haven't seen in several years. So, so great!

Once we got home, I decided I better make a plan for the rest of the summer. (some of you are laughing. stop it.) So I mapped out our weeks and thought out which day we would do swim lessons, sprinkler parks, neighborhood pool, etc. (are you seeing a pattern here? it's 108 degrees for Pete's sake!!!) It feels good to have some structure and routine, but still have the complete freedom to do what we want if what's on the calendar doesn't sound appealing that day.

The kids are loving their swim school. (http://www.nitroswim.com/) Elias has been terrified to go under water all his life, mainly because he ends up inhaling a gallon of water up his nose everytime he tries. But these people had him complete submerging himself, without holding his nose!!!, by midway through the second lesson. I am so excited for him!

I feel renewed and refreshed and energized by all the fun we've had already, and we are really only going into our 3rd week of summer! I've so enjoyed getting to watch Elias and Elena play and laugh together, and I have loved standing outside a room and listening to their conversations. I just love these kids! I'm sure I will embrace the structure and routine of school when August comes, but I am going to eat this up while it lasts! :)

Soaking up the Texas sun

My sweeties! Their friendship has blossomed so much this summer as they spend all day playing together. Elias recently told me he was going to marry Elena when they grow up. :)

Elias, Elena, and their cousins Jacob and Wyatt

Run from the BOYS!!!

Go Tech!!

My cousin CRACKS ME UP!

Let's go swimming!!!

Onward and Upward

Disclaimer: This post is way overdue.

Elias has graduated from kindergarten! Yay, Elias! Boo-hoo-hoo, Mommy. Not that I'm not excited for first grade- I really am looking forward to it! And it isn't really the kind of sadness coming from "awe, my little baby boy is growing up" either. It was just SUCH a good year. And it's over. I feel like it will be hard to top.

Elias had the most wonderful teacher for kinder, and she has become a pretty close family friend. She and I get along really well, she's obviously great with the kids, and she tolerates Adaryll's made-for-shock-value comments surprisingly well. I just kind-of feel like she is irreplaceable.

So, in that way, I just feel like it is the "end of an era". And it makes me sad.

On the other hand, I am completely looking forward to first grade and the teacher Elias is going to have. I know it will be different, but I also know it will be God's best. Another season to be excited about.

Here are some pics and videos from the Kindergarten graduation as well as the Knight of Celebration the week before when each child was honored with an academic and character award. Elias received the Bible Memory award (I think he has more verses memorized at 6 than I do at 32. No, I know he does.) and the Dependability award. I am so proud of him!

Elias, Ms. Horvath, and Kelii (who also is Ms. Horvath's nephew)

Elias getting ready for the ceremony

"Cheese!"

The Three Musketeers: Holloway, Elias, and Calloway

"I am a Possibility"

Yes, son. Yes you are!

UnbelievaBow!

Ok, so I have just had my longest hiatus from blogging to date. I miss yall. I hope the break is over and that I can get back into the habit of posting more regularly. After all, this is the only written record I have of the goings-on as our kids grow and say ridiculously funny things.
What in the world has kept me so busy? I'm glad you asked, because I can't wait to tell you. Or show you. :) www.UnbelievaBow.com is the culprit.
I made some hairbows for Elena a couple of months ago, and people all over town began making comments about them. People started asking me where I got them and if I would sell them. I hadn't ever considered such a thing, but enough people were asking that I began to evaluate what that might look like. Adaryll and I agreed that I should give it a shot. And so the adventure began.
I started out by buying a website and having a friend, Mike Meadows (who ROCKS), design the layout. I made dozens of bows to put on the site. All the while, since Elena was wearing the bows most days, orders began to trickle in from people who saw them on her. So then I was trying to finish bows for the site and fill orders. You know- in all my "free time". *wink*
So pretty much every moment I got at the computer was spent on the website. I can't even explain how relieved I am that it is up and running! Whew!!! I still have lots of bows to make and add, but at least it is there.
Check it out and let me know what you think! Better yet- buy a bow for your favorite little girl! :)

www.UnbelievaBow.com