Archive for the 'Rilyn' Category



05
Jul
11

“austin-y” things

We have done plenty of “Austin-y” things while Kristy and Bill are here from Idaho.  I took advantage of having another couple with us on South Congress to take the picture of James and I against this wall.

Jo’s coffee

We also went to Stubbs BBQ, Home Slice, and Hey Cupcake. Before cupcakes though, we watched the bats come out from under the bridge on South Congress!

You can see the bats in the sky too.  I guess all those boaters don’t mind bat guano!
yummy dessert
Bill and Kristy with their goodies!

On Saturday we remembered the Alamo. 😉

me and the girls

Again, I took advantage of having adults with us to take pictures for me with the kids. I realized I don’t have too many! Here is me and my Ella Bella eating at the Riverwalk.

On Sunday, I did a little photoshoot with Kristy and Bill at Mayfield Park. Click here to see those! Here is a peek:

playing with shadows

After church, Kristy and I went to a card-making class! I’ve decided that next time, I will bring my girls! I love that Kristy loves to scrapbook like me!

cell phone pic-sorry!  We made 4 cards in 3 hours!
02
Jul
11

the Capitol

My oldest and dearest friend, Kristy, is here, from Idaho, visiting my family with her husband.  (That will be a different post.)  Because she was coming, I wanted to show her around Austin.  So yesterday, we went to the Capitol.  I’ve lived here for 4 years, and have never been!

a rare picture of me with the kids!

The visitor center is pretty neat, especially for being free!

Ella looking through the telescope to see the Capitol
you could dress up like a cowgirl

We have discovered that Rilyn loves museums. We took a tour of the inside of the Capitol, and Rilyn had to be at the front of the group to listen to the tour guide’s every word!  She kept telling me “how fun” it was to be at the Capitol.  She did not get this from me people.

If you can see the gold bars that are behind the tour guide (the young gal in a white top and khaki skirt), Asher went behind them and started hanging on them.  I knew this was bad, but I couldn’t get to him fast enough before the tour guide stopped talking in mid-sentence to reprimand him.  He could of cared less.  Me…um, that is pretty much mortifying.  I was definitely embarrassed.

the tour guide was explaining the painting

So, yes, Asher was becoming rambunctious at the end of the 45 minute tour. I guess I couldn’t blame him.  The thing was that I wasn’t allowed to have any food inside which would normally be my “go to” fix for his behavior. But, I discovered he liked me taking pictures of him and then showing him what they looked like afterward on my camera screen. He must be my son! 😉

this is where the Senate meets…I think.  I really wasn’t listening.  oops.
Look at me mom!  Take a picture!

This next picture frustrates me because I never can get all three kids to sit still together in one picture. And at this moment, in this ugly spot under some random painting of a man, they wanted to sit, and they were still. Ugh.

 

23
Jun
11

summer’s here!

In honor of the first official day of summer on Tuesday, here are some photos that I took of the kids in front of some sunflowers.  Rilyn and Asher were not into this mini photo shoot, so Ella has a lot more pictures of just her.  Ella is my little poser, she is always telling me to “go get your camera!”  🙂

So after I got a couple of these cute shots…

Then this ‘tude happened.

bad attitude

And they were done taking pictures. But Ella still had it in her!

posing!
how about I run?
21
Jun
11

hula girls

Last Tuesday we were so happy to be home after a long day of traveling through the night!  Our girls looked so cute in their souvenirs!  We got Asher a cute ukulele, but sadly, in my sleep-deprived stupor, I didn’t get a picture of him playing with it.  He just wanted to cuddle with me all day anyway.  🙂

19
Jun
11

dad day

We love you!  Happy 8th Father’s day to the world’s best!

08
Jun
11

ready to relax

We are in Hawaii now while you are reading this and celebrating our 10  year anniversary!  We are ready to relax and be refreshed in God’s beautiful nature.  James pointed me to Hebrews 4 earlier this week about Sabbath and how we can rest because the goal is already complete in Christ.  Busyness is not godliness.  Our society incorrectly treats exhaustion as a badge of honor, when in reality exhaustion is a sign of need.  And the need is there to point us to Him!

Speaking of relaxing and resting well…my girls were showing me how it is done yesterday morning when I caught them playing this:

Ella massaging Rilyn’s arm

Rilyn asks for sliced cucumbers as a snack normally, so I didn’t think anything strange when she asked for cucumbers this morning. Then I see this happening in the living room and they tell me they are playing “spa”! Hilarious. They must of seen it on TV because I have never put cucumbers on my eyes! I love having girls!

Ella’s turn!

When all was done, Ella enjoyed the lotion a little too much, and proceeded to put so much lotion on herself that it was to the point that I couldn’t see her arm anymore. It was just gobs of lotion up and down. She will be very moisturized this week! 🙂

07
Jun
11

rilyn’s turn

While I was at Mayfield Park on Sunday, I brought along Rilyn so I could take a couple pictures of her for her 7th birthday photo shoot.  She wasn’t in the best of moods, (too hot! she said), but we got a couple of cute shots.

daddy’s brown eyes
sass

As we were driving to church, I saw this wall, and pulled over much to Rilyn’s dismay.

06
Jun
11

Rilyn’s birthday dream…

James made a sweet birthday video for Rilyn of all her birthday festivities last week!

Was it all just a dream?!?  😉

04
Jun
11

7 cheers for Rilyn!

More birthday festivities!

Her present from us was a new bike.  James took her out and she picked a cruiser!  No doubt she is not a speed racer, so this will suit her just fine! (By the way, she did learn how to ride on two wheels. Ella riding circles around her did her in.)

Last night we celebrated Rilyn with our community group from church at Chuck E Cheese. Rilyn also got to pick one special friend from school to invite.

from L to R:  Cole, Shaliya, Rilyn, Anna, Jake, Ella, and Levi

This afternoon was party day! She picked a cheerleader theme!  James made a short birthday video that is precious!

Rilyn before the party

We had a little dance party while the guests arrived! James and her made a birthday party song list on his ipod that was over 40 songs long!

most likely dancing to Justin Beiber

I surprised Rilyn by hiring a middle school cheerleader from across the street to come and teach the girls a cheer and a dance. Rilyn was over the moon!

Go Manor Mustangs!

They played “pin the pom-pom on the cheerleader”!

go that way!

Singing!

Happy Birthday to you!
make a wish!
03
Jun
11

sweet seven

This sweet girl put me in the mommy club 7 years ago!

Rilyn loves routine (like her mommy!) and she reminded me over and over last night how her birthday should go today. Wake her up with a donut and singing-check! Bust through the crepe paper doorway-check! Portraits at Picture People-check! Stop at Build-a-Bear-check! Ice Cream for lunch?-well that one was new, but I went ahead with it!
Here she is on her last day of first grade yesterday. Notice her autographed shirt. She requested a white shirt the night before. “Mom, everyone is doing it!” I didn’t buy her a yearbook, so I obliged.

enjoying a birthday treat at school

Pardon the “after school messy hair look” but I thought this photo was funny when Rilyn opened up a birthday card from her great grandpa that had a $50 bill in it. (This is the first year that she saw the money in the card-and believe me it was by accident! Normally, I “pre-open” the card and pocket the $50 because I figure I spend enough money on the kids everyday!)

she has red sno-cone tongue!

Waking up to us singing Happy Birthday!

so excited!

Since we almost singed her hair last year with 6 candles, I decided 7 candles was a fire hazard, and we went with a “7” candle in her powdered donut.

Busting through the doorway to the kitchen!

James and I pretty much have a competition as to who has the best birthday card for the girls each year. James won for creativity with his folded paper game that I’m sure you have all played in school. (Shouldn’t I be the one who knows how to make this and not him?) 😉

He wrote sweet notes and Bible verses in all the flaps for her!

best. daddy. ever.

Tonight-Chuck E Cheese for dinner!
Tomorrow-cheerleader birthday party!