Texas-Sized Fun!

We spent the past several days in Longview, enjoying some great times with Emily and Adam. The girls had SO much fun! I can't even begin to tell you how much they (we) enjoyed the visit. Em even hosted a small belated bday party for Anna Kate and Grace on Thursday night...complete with an ice cream cake from Shake's (YUM!!). We all had a great time and I can't thank Em and Adam enough for all they did for us. We love you guys and can't wait to come back soon to meet Abbott!! It won't be long...3 weeks and counting!! :)

Her bday Care Bear from Emmy & Adam...she loves it!

I snapped this of AK while she was coloring...she looks so grown up!

Monkeying with Em at Texas Roadhouse

AK was loving having them all to herself!

Me and my wonderful hubby :)

Family pic time!

Uncle Adam with AK and Grace...he is THE best!

Mason with his girls on Father's Day.
I am so incredibly blessed that God gave me this man for my husband and for the father of my children. He is the most giving, most patient, most supportive man on this earth and I have no idea where the girls and I would be without him. He is amazing with them and they love him unconditionally. There is nothing he won't do for them. He gives them his time, which to me (and to them) is the greatest gift of all. We LOVE him SO much!

Build-A-Bear Fun!

Anna Kate got a gift certificate to Build-A-Bear from our friends, the Bolin's. She was SO excited! She's always begged to make one and we've just never gotten around to letting her do it. It was definitely a memorable experience. She loved every second of it! I'm sure this will be the first of many trips that we will be making in the future. Special thanks to Ashley M for going with me to Monroe and helping with the girls, also to the Bolin's and Robinson's for the gift certificate and bday money. Anna Kate thoroughly enjoyed spending every dime you guys gave her!! Here are a few pics of her special day. :)

She knew immediately that she wanted to make Hello Kitty

She thought it was SO neat to "stuff" her!

Grace wasn't nearly as impressed...

The finished product! Hello Kitty looks cute as can be!
Thanks to Ashley M, Grace didn't leave empty handed. She bought her the precious little lamb, which she loves!

Princess Party Pics!

Here are some of the rest of the pictures from Grace's first birthday "princess" themed party. I had intended to get these posted earlier but at least I'm finally getting them on here! She had a great time and we really enjoyed celebrating her special milestone with so many loved ones. :)

Sweet Sisters, morning of Grace's bday

Grace strutting her stuff in her super cute outfit (tks Paula!)

Posing with her wonderful great grandparents, Memaw and Deda

My dad, Grace and her other great grandmother, my amazing Mamaw

My Aunt Theresa and Uncle Jimmy made it for the party!

Anna Kate looked so big and so pretty

Grace taking a quick pic with daddy

The beautiful princess cakes...they were perfect!

Grace's gift from Mason and I...she loves it!

AK helped open all Grace's presents

She seemed especially impressed with this doll that my cousin gave to her

Anna Kate and Julia enjoyed the black icing! lol

Grace and I with my loving grandparents, Mamaw and Pa

Last pic of the day, she had played hard and was ready for a bottle and bed. :)

Happy 1st Birthday Grace Elizabeth!!

My baby girl turned one today...where on earth has this year gone? It has definitely been a very bittersweet day for me. I am so thankful that Grace has reached this milestone but also heartbroken at the thought of losing my "baby". I just don't think I'm ready for her to be a toddler just yet! lol
Grace has been such a blessing to our family. She is absolutely everything that I prayed she would be. I am incredibly grateful that she is so healthy and happy. Her personality becomes more evident with each passing day. She seems to capture the heart of almost everyone she meets and is constantly smiling. We love her more than we could ever say and cannot wait to watch as her personality continues to reveal itself!
We've had a great day that was capped off tonight with a birthday party with friends and family. I was overwhelmed by how many people came to share in Grace's special day. Thank you so much to each of you who came. I will post just a few pics tonight and follow with a longer post with more party pics in the next day or so.

6/10/08, 12:14pm, 6lbs 5ozs

Having fun at her party!

First bite!

Mmmm...now she realizes how good it is!

Mason and I with our sweet "baby" Grace :)

Party Time!

Yesterday was a fun-filled party day for Anna Kate and her friends. Thankfully, we were blessed with beautiful weather. It wasn't unbearably hot and not too many mosquitos! That's a celebration in and of itself! haha As promised, we rented Anna Kate a jump house. It had an obstacle course with a jump area and also a slide! Needless to say, the kiddos absolutely loved it and some of the adults did as well! I want to thank everyone who came and helped make AK's day so special. We really enjoyed visiting with all our wonderful friends and family. I hope everyone had as much fun as Anna Kate did! :)

Here's where the party started!!

Anna Kate's beautiful Minnie Mouse cake

Our fam :)

Blowing out the candles!

These girls wanted some cake!
Alia, Rylee, AK, Laney & Julia

Nona & Grandaddy gave her a new bike!

Nana & Papoo gave her a sand/water playcenter!

Giving Papoo a thank you hug!

Grace wasn't too sure about the jump house but she'll do anything as long as she's with her Grandaddy!

Nona kept Grace happy with ice...she loves it!

L to R: Janet, Ashley, Paula, Stormy (holding Grace) & Gavin

Janet and Gavin

Grace adores Mrs Stormy!

Anna Kate getting ready to jump!

Laney showing off her new smile :)

Clay was hot & tired from all that sliding!

Beautiful Rylee Grace

Anna Kate showing off her new wheels!

Grace played in this bucket for over 30 minutes!

I had a blast sliding with AK & Laney!

Anna Kate sitting in her new lounge chair she got for the beach!

Stormy, Me and Ashley
I'm so thankful that our families have become such good friends! :)

Happy 4th Birthday Anna Kate!!

It's so hard for me to believe that Anna Kate is 4 years old today! Time has flown by. She has such an infectious personality that is aided by her hilarious dramatic dialogues. Mason and I thank God for her each and every day...it's hard for us to even remember what our lives were like without her. I've always told her she was my "blue eyed sunshine" and that's what she truly is. I'm so thankful that she's almost always happy and is so healthy. I love her more than words can say and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next! lol
As always, I've posted a ton of pics. I can't help it, I'm a proud Mama...and afterall...this is my blog so why shouldn't I brag on my kiddos! lol

6/2/05, 7:05pm, 6lbs 13ozs

AK on her first birthday!

It wasn't hard to get her to smile today! :)

I am still amazed at what a great big sister she is to Grace. She loves her little sis to death!

Her favorite present...a shiny new toe ring! lol

She chose Fiesta Linda for her bday lunch.

Forever and always a daddy's girl!

I finally got her to take one with me

Blowing out her candles on her cake from Nona

My parents (Nona and Grandaddy) came by during lunch to share in AK's special day.

Surprise!! This was AK's favorite (and totally unexpected) treat of the day!
Our wonderful friends, Brad and Ashley, put this in our yard along with a Happy 4th Birthday sign. I can't describe to you just how excited Anna Kate was...hopefully you can tell by that smile on her face. Thanks so much guys! You are incredibly thoughtful and she LOVED it!! :)

AK's Nana, Papoo, Memaw and Granddad also came to see her today but I managed to let them leave before I got pics. :(

FUN! FUN! FUN!

We spent the last 4 days in Longview with Em and Adam! We had such a fun time! I got to enjoy some special time with family and got to visit with several of Em's wonderful friends. Anna Kate and Grace got to play with their cousins...a rare and extra special treat! Saturday was a great day as I got to help host Em's baby shower. It was a grand affair complete with yummy cakes and lots of super sweet little girl gifts. Abbott is set! She will want for nothing and have a wardrobe that any little princess would envy! lol

As Em said at the shower, now all we need is the baby! Abbott will be here soon and we can't wait! :)...Be prepared...here are lots of pics!!!Em and Adam
Adam and AK...can you tell he spoils her?

Me with Grace

Grace being a little stinker! :)

Me and Jody...we always enjoy seeing each other!

Adam with Jake and Grace
(Jake belongs to Em's best friends, Mark & Dana)

Grace enjoying some carrots

Struttin' her stuff with Nana!

Abigail

Mason braved the cold water to swim with Anna Kate!

In birth order, here are the five oldest cousins:

Olivia

Allie
Maxwell

Anna Kate

Mary