Friday Favorites

Well we've reached that part in the summer where I'm starting to lose my mind a little bit.

I'm torn really... because every time I think about school starting, and Eden in 1st grade, and Ila gone now too to pre-school, I get all sad.  But then when they're all running around like crazy and screaming, and Eden and Ila are fighting AGAIN (I think they need a break from each other!), and they're hungry AGAIN, and they're making messes faster than I can clean them, I can't help but think that August 15th needs to hurry and get here.

Earlier this week, I saw a Color Treasure Hunt idea on Pinterest, so on Tuesday morning, I sent Eden and Ila outside to do one.  They had to find something God made for each color on their index card.  I knew Eden would be able to do it easy-peasy, but Ila surprised me by walking outside, immediately going up to a tree and pulling off a piece of bark and yelling, "GRAY!"

 Eden also found a bug.

Eden loves to bake and decorate, so I borrowed my friend's cake decorating kit, and Eden spent one afternoon decorating cupcakes.  Ila spent the afternoon licking beaters and scraping bowls for any batter or buttercream that got left behind!

Ila got new glasses this week!

I've been doing a little school shopping here and there.  Ila got her backpack as an Easter present, but she picked out her nap mat and lunch kit, and I didn't even realize that we were following a theme until I started putting everything together.  The girl obviously likes unicorns and rainbows.  She is so, so, so excited about all her stuff, and every time somebody comes over, she comes up to me and whispers, "Can I show them my school stuff?".  When I tell her yes, she beams and shows them her backpack and explains how her nap mat works! :) :) :)

We spent a few hours at Pops and Granny's today, and I snapped this picture of Eden and Ila eating lunch with Granny.

Friday Favorites

I only have two pictures from this week!

Eden and Ila attended a VBS this week.  It was Eden's 2nd of the summer, and Ila's first.

The girls spent the night with my dad and Susie last night, and then Susie took them to VBS this morning.  My mom is picking them up, and then they are spending the entire weekend with her.  I know they are going to have a blast with her and Mark (and they have plans to see my Grandma Jan too!), and hopefully Dustin and I are able to have an easier weekend than usual with only one kid around here!

Also, this week James had black beans for the first time, and HOLY MOLY!  I think he ate his weight in them.  He just kept eating and eating and eating and eating them and wanting more and more and more, and as you can see in the picture, he wasn't exactly neat about it!  HAHA!  He went straight from the high chair to the bath tub!

Friday Favorites

On Sunday, I had a Mommy/Eden day, and Dustin had a Daddy/Ila day.  (My mom came and stayed with James so we could do this.)  Eden and I went and saw "Swan Lake" at the Houston Ballet.  I had so much fun being with her.  We were able to talk, uninterrupted by any other siblings, and she was in awe of the ballerinas! 

Meanwhile, Dustin and Ila went to Main Event and went bowling and played arcade games.

On Monday, I turned 32, and Dustin turned 33.  When my mom was over on Sunday, she left behind an envelope that said "Do not open until your birthday."  When I opened it first thing Monday morning, I found a poem that my Grandpa John wrote for me thirty years ago.  It was an amazing, wonderful, sweet surprise... to have a little part of him with me on my birthday.  

Dustin had to check a job in Houston, and he asked if we wanted to go with.  So we did, and after sitting at the job site for a bit, he took us to a birthday lunch at Pappasitos.  Sangria and table side guacamole...?  Yes, please!  I was happy!   We came home, and the five of us spent the evening the pool.

Wednesday was the 4th of July.

 James really doesn't like it when we try to hold him down for pictures!  haha!

My grandpa turned 86 on the 3rd, and we had a little family party for him on the 4th.  Hot dogs, corn on the cob, cake, and cousins running around playing!

On Thursday, we spent the day at Blue Bell with more cousins who are visiting right now from California.

I took pictures of all the kids together at Blue Bell, but I'm sad that I didn't think to take a picture of me and Calli!

It's weeks like this, where I spent so much time with so many different family members, that I feel so extremely blessed to have the family that I do!  I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!