Archive Page 40

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?!?  😉

05
Jun
11

new photo shoot!

Took pictures of this sweet girl this morning!  Please click here to see the rest of my favorites!

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!

01
Jun
11

almost to the finish line!

One day left of first grade!  Rilyn is almost at the finish line!

At “fun day” for first grade yesterday.

She had her awards ceremony last Friday and she got the top point earner for Accelerated Reader program in first grade! She read about 160 books and took quizzes on them and then the AR computer program keeps track of your scores. She was totally self motivated to be #1. I’m not surprised, because she does have two “achievers” as parents, but I did have to tell Rilyn several times this spring, “It’s okay if you’re not #1. We know that you always try your best and we give God the glory for the skills He has blessed you with!” Rilyn will always be her toughest critic though. Here she is with her reading medal and you can tell the look on her face is pride.

I did it!
31
May
11

chillaxing

Summer is so close Rilyn can feel it!

sun bathing
jumping for joy!

Asher has no fear in the water, and he loved getting to swim in grandpa’s pool this past weekend!

wheeeeeeeeee
Asher took swimming lessons in May, but he didn’t pass.  Don’t tell him that though, he thinks he can swim!  😉
29
May
11

another new photo shoot!

Another beautiful family to photograph!  My “job” is so hard!  😉

Sneak peek:

28
May
11

new photo shoot

I think the peacocks know me by now at Mayfield Park!  I love the beauty of that place though.  There really is nothing compared to it in Austin!  Enjoy more spring beauty with this beautiful family!

Sneak peek:

strutting her stuff!
27
May
11

our little graduate

Ella graduated preschool on Tuesday night. If you ask me, it’s all a little silly. I mean, it’s kind of a big let down to think you are “graduating” when you have about 16 years left of school! The preschool teachers did all they could to get the parents to cry, but James and I held strong. Ella asked why we didn’t cry, (apparently the teachers told the kids that their parents would cry during the ceremony), and we told her we were excited for her to start kindergarten! (And we’re really excited to have one less tuition bill!)

another Ella face

Each “duo” had a line to recite in a poem.

their “poetry line” was “the purple headed mountains”  🙂

The big moment! (And I think Ella left her diploma at the church!)

Ella is now “official”

Poor Rilyn. She has a case of the “Jelly bugs” (jealously) of all the attention Ella has been getting this week. Next week is her week though…she is turning 7!

sisters with matching dresses

The three graduates. What is funny to me about this picture is that they are lined up from oldest to youngest…and Ella is the oldest! She might have gotten some recessive short gene…

Ella, Anna, and Jake

I have to include this picture, because it made me stop and stare when I saw it…foreshadowing…maybe!

Levi and Rilyn
26
May
11

ten years

Happy 10 year anniversary to my best friend!  Some days it feels like yesterday that we were 22, and walking down the aisle after being pronounced husband and wife, and other days…not so much.  😉 We are perfect for each other though, (in a sinful nature kind of way  🙂 ), and it is more apparent every day.  To think back in these last 10 years, and to see all that God has accomplished in our union….just so thankful and blessed.  Here are 10 random things that I just thought of real quick that I love about my man.

1.  Loves Jesus first in his life.  More than me or the kids, and that’s the way it should be.

2.  Cleans the house way better than I do.

3.  Plays with the kids so well that he would be mistaken for a kid if he wasn’t 6 feet tall.

4.  Knows what fills me up (spiritually/emotionally) and gives me time to pursue it.

5.  Watches the Bachelor (and sometimes E! News) with me.

6.  Goes to every important event in the kid’s lives.  His rule:  If it’s important to my child, then it’s important to me.

7.  Let’s me sleep in…a lot.

8.  Let’s me pick what we do on most of our dates.  So we go shopping and probably to Olive Garden.  🙂

9.  He has so many GOOD friends.  It reminds me daily of what others see in him.

10.  He is still fine.  ♥

our wedding party

We are going to celebrate in Kauai, Hawaii in 2 weeks!!!