A Super Memorial Day Weekend!!

We have packed a lot of fun into the past few days. It was wonderful to be with old friends and some new friends too. Life really has been good.

Friday night we were invited to the home of some new friends for dinner. It was nice to get together outside of church and get to know each other better. Kaylee had a great time with two other little girls who were 2 years and 18 months. Campbell just followed them around and ate everything that was placed on her tray. The dinner was delicious. The women even managed to talk about planning a trip to San Marcos and Canton in the future. We can always find a reason to go shopping.

Saturday we made a final trip to Sam's for some food for the rest of the weekend. After filling up on samples we headed home to wait for the Frenches to arrive. They got here around 1:30pm and the fun began!! Kaylee, Kamdyn, and Garrison were so excited to see each other. There was a lot of screaming and hugging from the children as well as the adults. The adults talked while the children played outside and Campbell napped. That evening we cooked out hamburgers and hot dogs along with some sides. All of us went to bed with a full stomach and a happy face.


Sunday morning we all went to church and class. The morning was pretty uneventful which was a good thing. After class we all went to Rosa's for lunch with some other couples. Again all of our children were so sweet. Once we arrived home we rested for a little while then it was time for the Slip N Slide. Kaylee, Kamdyn, and Garrison had a great time! You could hear lots of laughter and chatter in the backyard which is just how it should be. When it got close to bedtime the big kids watched Mary Poppins while Campbell slept and the adults played spades. There is something so fun about playing cards with old friends and laughing with each other.


Monday we slept in a little till our alarm clocks went off by the names of Kamdyn and Garrison. I jumped up and fixed a breakfast casserole and muffins to start the day right. The children enjoyed a few shows while Stephanie purchased an early anniversary gift for Cary and I which is a video conferencing camera for the computer. Now we can see each other when we talk and the kids can have fun talking to each other too. What a great idea!! Thanks again Sean and Steph. The time for them to leave came way too quickly. With a few sad goodbyes they were off and we returned into the house to get a little rest. Thanks again for coming to see us Frenches...these are the times memories are made of. I know we will have a lot more in the years to come.

A Few Prayer Requests

Just a few things are on my heart today so I thought I would ask the blog world for prayers.

1. Some friends formerly from PC are going through a lot right now. They are in their late twenties and are having to deal with cancer in the husband as well as a new baby. They just have a lot on their plate. You can check out their blog at Mccords. Just pray hard for them please.

2. One of my best friends Traci and her husband Alan who have some decisions ahead of them as to what is best for Riley this summer. Help them to have peace with whatever the decision may be.

2. Another one of my best friends Amy found out that she is having twins. She also has diabetes and has had toximia in a past pregnancy. They will soon be a family of four. Also please remember her husband Mike and their two precious children Ashlyn and Parker during the next several months. A healthy and uneventful pregnancy would be a welcome treat for them.

3. The last one is for one of my new friends M who found out that she is having triplets. This would be a lot to take in I am sure. She and her husband have a sweet son who is four so keep all of them in your prayers. We would love a healthy and uneventful pregnancy here too.

Thank you in advance for all the prayers I know all the wonderful people above will appreciate it. May you all have a blessed weekend.

Whew!!

Well another weekend has come and gone. The delay in posting is due to the fact I have been fighting my sinuses and that is also the reason for no new pictures. Unfortunately I started feeling bad on Thursday night so for the rest of the weekend I was no where near 100%.

We had a great time in Waco with my parents and grandfather despite the fact. Friday we went to lunch then up to my Mom's work to see all of her sweet friends. Kaylee always enjoys that but who would not enjoy being told how pretty you are over and over and getting some treats. The big treat is for Kaylee to get something out of the vending machine which requires a lot of thought on her part. Nana always has to wait patiently for her decision. Campbell was not too sure of all the people but was fine as long as Mom or Dad had her. Later that afternoon Nana and I took Kaylee to see Over the Hedge which had just come out. I do not know who was more excited me or Kaylee. I do not remember being in a movie theatre since before Campbell was born which was a year ago almost. The movie was okay...it will not be a classic. However the popcorn and drink were super. Campbell enjoyed some time alone with Daddy and later a little spoiling from Papa and PaPaw. She absolutely adores those two men. It is so sweet to watch her with my grandfather. Memories to treasure that is for sure.

Saturday evening Cary and I even got to go to a movie that was free thanks to my sweet parents. We chose to see Mission Impossible III and it was great!! Even with all the couch jumping in the past few months Tom Cruise still had the energy to pull off all the stunts and action. It was one of the cleanest movies I have seen in the past few years that was not a cartoon. I recommend going to see it if you like action. Later that evening Aunt Trudy came by to stay the night and visit. The girls loved having her attention...especially Kaylee. (Kaylee was a little disappointed that Uncle Don and Duncan did not come though.)

Sunday we went to church and I got to visit with Lauren and Elizabeth. James is even more precious in person. It was so nice to visit and catch up on things for a few minutes. After church we headed back to the "home front" a little tired but happy about the weekend. Kaylee had three new movies to watch and Campbell had a new baby doll to love. I even got a new purse and some jewelry. What lucky girls are we!! You may not hear from me again this week because I will be getting ready for our friends the Frenches to come visit over the weekend.

Mother's Day

Hopefully all of my friends reading this had a wonderful Mother's Day. I feel like I have had a week of Mother's Day surprises. The funniest one was a thing Kaylee did at school where they had to fill in the blanks about their Mom. Mine went like this...

My mommy's name is Erica.
Her favorite color is purple.
She really likes to wash dishes.
She really doesn't like to clean the garage.
Mommy's favorite food to cook is baked spaghetti.
Her favorite food to eat is chicken.
Mommy loves to watch Rachael Ray during my naptime.
I love my Mommy because she cooks the best food.

You just never know what is going through a four year olds mind. She did get most of it right though. The present with this lovely letter was a flower shaped magnet she made with her picture in it. So cute!! She had to give this gift to me on Thursday because she could not wait till Sunday.

On Sunday morning I was greeted with a Happy Mother's Day kiss from Kaylee and a sweet hug from Campbell. This was followed with a card Kaylee signed for both she and Campbell and some lovely artwork. Next came a gift from my sweet husband which was a Spa gift certificate!! I was very surprised and pleased:) The girls gave me a beautiful frame with a saying about mothers on it. What a perfect way to start the day! Next we went to church where all the Moms were given carnations. Kaylee brought mine to the nursery for me since I was in there with Campbell. I do not know who was more excited Kaylee or me. Then came another added treat our good friends the Jacobs were at church. We were all so excited to see them. Kaylee has missed Kendyll so much! It was so good to watch the girls play together like old times. After Kaylee got out of class she had decorated a "koozie" for me to put a drink in and a red rose for me. Her teachers really made sure we were taken care of today. Then we went to lunch at Cypress Street. I really felt extra special today and like the luckiest wife and mother in the world!! Of course I am sure that I was not alone in feeling that way. This was my first Mother's Day as a Mom of two and it was perfect. Thank you to my sweet husband and daughters for always making me feel extra special and blessed...I love the three of you more than words!!

This One's for You, MOM!!

I am posting this today because I know my Mom will not check the computer over the weekend. (She is not addicted like me.)
My Mom means the world to me! Through the years our relationship has evolved from Mother to Best Friend. She has always been there for me. When I was small she was my advocate and nurturer. Her job was to keep me safe, healthy, nourished, and loved. The unconditional love is something I only fully grasped after having my own children. As I grew her role changed a little and she had to add nurse, teacher, and counselor to her job description. Whether I was fighting with my best friend or made a grade I was not happy with Mom was always there to support me. She taught me to hold my head up and always be proud of myself. I always knew I was special to her and that was all that mattered. There was never a time that my Mom was not there to support me from school plays, to dance recitals, to color guard she was there. Even after working all day she still came home and gave me 110%. My Mom even prepared me to be a wife. I learned that if you put the Lord first the rest falls into place. There is "nothing" that a little talk with the Lord and Mom won't help. I thought I learned how much my Mom sacrificed for me when I was in college but I was wrong. Now that I am a Mom I realize that you sacrifice for your children daily for the rest of your life and are more than happy to do it. My Mom prepared me for one of the Best roles in life "Mother". We talk almost daily and I look forward to it. There is an ability she has to just call and make everything all right. I call my Mom to get advice with my daughters and sometimes my attitude. I learned how to be a loyal friend and daughter from her. The way she has always taken care of her parents is something I love and admire about her. She has always loved Cary as a son. Our daughters adore her. There is nothing that she would not do for her grandchildren and we all love her for that. Even if it requires driving two hours to see her granddaughter perform for 10 minutes. She has such a giving heart to us as well as others. I look forward to the role of grandmother because you make it look so good. You are my best friend. Thank you Mom for the blessing you are to our life daily. We love you and look forward to seeing you next weekend. Happy Mother's Day!!

Bedtime Moments

Last nigh was a rare occassion, Kaylee actually wanted me to put her in bed. Usually that is reserved for Daddy. The times she does pick me to tuck her in we have the best conversations. Her mind really goes into overdrive before bedtime. Last night she told me about the story they learned at church. Kaylee said, "We talked about Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. They went on a trip to the temple so Jesus could teach the people. Did you know that he was only 12? That's not very big huh, Mom?" I am constantly amazed by the things she remembers...even the smallest detail. From their we moved on to what she wanted to be when she grew up. She was sure to tell me there were nine jobs that she wanted to do.

1. A Vet (like Dr. Brantley...she always adds this part)
2. A Doctor (like Dr. Blair...her doctor from Dallas who is THE BEST)
3. A Mommy (The Best Job EVER)
4. Work at Bahama Bucks (where the snowcones are)
5. At the ice cream place.
6. A gift place
7. At Daddy's work
8. The Gymnastics place
9. Tha grocery store

We will see how these look to her when she is older. The best part was after we were finished. "Mom, I forgot a job." "What is that Kaylee?", I asked. "The BEST job is to just be yourself!", said Kaylee. I am constantly learning something from my precious four year old. God truly sent me a precious gift who is wise beyond her years at times. She is constantly reminding me of thing I often forget. Thank you Lord!

End of School Program

On Monday morning I attended the last MOPS meeting till the Fall. Campbell actually stayed in the nursery the whole time. The lady she had attached herself to the first time we went was there so Campbell was happy. Isn't it funny how even at 11 months they have a preference? Kaylee enjoyed her class too. They made Birthday hats and played games. The meeting this time was about giving all of our worries to God because he can handle all things. I kept asking myself why I feel the need to carry so much on my shoulders when God would do a much better job and wants to help us. My new goal is to try to give more things over to God in prayer and relieving myself of the burden. This prayer has shown up twice randomly in the past two days...I am taking it as a sign.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.

What a great topic! I think all of us moms struggle with that a little.

Monday night was Kaylee's end of the year program at school. ( By the way the things in the picture on her hands and arm are washable tatoos that she would not let me wash off.) The most exciting thing to her was that all f her friends in Dallas were having their program Monday night too. On the way to her program she said,"This is the best night...I am so decided (excited) because Kylie, Trinity, Ashlyn, Kendyll, and all my other friends are having their program tonight too. Isn't that great Mom!" She has really been blessed with some amazing teachers this year. They has all shown such love and attention to her and I know she will never forget them. (As if Kaylee ever forgets anything.) The program was very cute. The teachers even had these cute jungle print shirts made for the class to wear. Kaylee's class sang three songs: "My God is so Big", "Who's the King of the Jungle", and "Fruits of the Spirit". She sang very well and did not miss a word. However, all the arm motions that were suppose to accompany the songs were left out. I asked her about it later and she said,"I was a little busy remembering all the words and trying to concentrate so I could get a piece of candy from Teacher Denise later". That's my girl!! As for Campbell anytime there was clapping she was excited. She would move her feet quickly, bounce up and down, and squeal with joy. I do not thing she is going to be my shy one after she warms up to you. What a mess!

Tonight Kaylee went to the ACU baseball game with Cary. She loves to play at the ballgames and some alone time with Daddy is the best! I am so glad that I have a husband who makes it a priority to spend time with the girls even after a long day at work. Kaylee will treasure these times...I know I always have!

Good Times!!

What a great weekend we had with the Ownbys:) All the adults even managed to have some alone time without kids too.

On Friday we all just enjoyed each others company and caught up on things going on in each of our lives. The steaks Cary cooked were great and the girls were so excited to see each other. (That includes the big girls too.) Trenton even taught Campbell how to be alone in a room without crying quite so much. It was just fun to see each other in person.


Saturday our husbands got up early to go play some golf. Steph and I fed all the children and after a little while managed to go to the zoo. It was very overcast outside but we braved it anyway. Little did I know it was Military appreciation day at the zoo. They has free food and drinks for the military families which I though was great. However we did end up having to buy the girls popcorn and drinks because of all the temptations around. When we entered the zoo I bought some animal food for the girls to have and it was a big hit with them. I think they tried to feed almost every animal at the zoo.
The favorite was the giraffe I believe because it would put its head on the bridge and eat the crackers. Trinity and Kaylee then got to discuss whether the giraffe's tongue was purple or black. After a few minutes even the giraffe got tired of the discussion and wandered off. There was a long line of kids waiting to feed the giraffe so I know they are well fed. Next we moved on to the elephants, lions, birds, and ducks. The turtles in the pond were a big thing too.
Through all of this Campbell and Trenton just enjoyed the ride in their strollers. Considering they both missed a morning nap they were amazingly happy. It is hard to believe that just yesterday we were pushing Trinity and Kaylee around like this...where does the time go? After pushing Campbell around in her old stroller I realized just why I had bough a lightweight stroller for Kaylee so long ago. Glad I have a new one ordered since the old one broke a week ago. As we were nearing the exit our husbands called to say they were done with golf and on the way home. Yeah!! That means girl time is around the corner. We took a brief trip around ACU so Trinity could see where Steph went to college and then picked up lunch for the little girls and headed back home.

Once we were home we dropped off all the kids and went to have a "girly" lunch at Under One Roof in Becker's Loft. It was fun to have some time with Steph and go in shops I do not dare take a stroller because of all the things within reach of little hands. We even managed to find a few things to buy...I know that no one can believe that. (ha,ha) It was sorta like old times when we would go to lunch and shop after ladies class. I really miss those days. After a few hours we called our husbands to meet us with the kids for some yummy Chinese food. We were all full and tired once we returned home. After bathtime we were all off to bed early so we would be ready for early church in the morning.

Here are all our children after church on Sunday. They all looked so cute!! We had a delicious lunch at Joe Allen's BBQ. Then we returned home for the little ones to nap and the rest of us to relax a little. Kaylee and Trinity had fun playing in the playroom and outside.

After the babies woke up we tried to get a picture of them in their ACU attire but it was not as successful as we had hoped. I needed a much faster camera to catch these two smiling at the same time. Maybe we will try again in another month or so when we are together. I was sad to see our sweet friends go but I am already looking forward to our next time together. Thanks for coming Ownbys. Hopefully some of our other friends will follow your lead and make the journey too. For all our friends reading this "Yes," that is a big hint to you to come see us anytime!!

Fun with Friends!!

I am so glad that it is Friday!!! I have been waiting for today all week. My house is clean and we are getting company for the weekend:) It is hard to tell who is more excited Kaylee or me because we have both been on the countdown all week. The Ownbys are coming!! They will be our first friends from Dallas to come visit. Little does Campbell know that her boyfriend is coming too. There is just something so nice about being able to relax with good friends. The whole weekend is planned starting with steaks tonight and a late birthday celebration for Steph and an early celebration for Trenton. I have baked the cake and it smells so good! Of course, there will be plenty of pictures on my post Monday.

Well I am off to finish a few last minute things. Kaylee and I had lunch with the Baileys today and Lisa was sweet enough to take Kaylee home so I could get a few more things done. I should make good use of that time. Hope you all have a great weekend too!