Summer Fun #3

Adalyn's first visit to the Easton splash park

Just last summer Ellie was not as willing to get wet. She's gotten more brave!

Adalyn was a hoot! She would get sprayed right in the face, shake it off, and go back for more! It was hilarious!

Look at Addie's smile...and Luke's awesome pose!

Our three munchkins.

Twinsies.

This girl kept close watch over Addie for quite some time....I think she doubted my ability to watch Addie and snap pictures :)

Luke kept watch over Addie, too.

I love this picture and it drives me nuts at the same time. Ellie not wanting to give a genuine smile, even though she's a happy girl. Adalyn and her wild hair, which is actually quite reflective of her personality. And Luke, smiling with an underbite that he doesn't have. :)

Luke and Ellie enjoying their new slip-n-slide.

She loves the water!

Ellie, Luke and cousin Jack taking turns on the slip-n-slide.

Ellie, Adalyn and cousin Grace sharing the itsy, bitsy pool :)

This girl has no limits.

Summer Fun #2

I made Luke and Ellie go outside and play in the rain and puddles...after only a few minutes, Luke wanted to come inside because he said his feet were getting dirty. I told him his feet weren't dirty enough and to get back outside :)

Luke warmed up to the idea. :)



I can't lie, I felt like an awesome mom on this day. I let them paint inside....in the carpeted dining room. And there were no spills! Victory!

Adalyn is thinking, "This is so fun! Let's keep bouncing!"

"No, wait a minute, this is not how I wanted it to go!"

"Finally, they've realized who's in charge!"

Summer Fun #1

Well, I've tried twice to post an entry with a bunch of pictures from the last month or two, and both times I think I completely overwhelmed my computer or something. So instead of one big post, I'll do a few separate ones in honor of all the fun we've had so far.

I realize summer just technically began last week, but when it's 80 degrees in late April and early May, it's summer in my book! I'll let the pictures (and captions) do the talking...

Dan's 2nd half marathon, Cap City on May 5th. He didn't do as well as he would have liked, but hey, he ran 13.1 miles!

Dan around mile 9

We have a swingset! I've been wanting one since we moved into our house 3 years ago, but they're so expensive! When our neighbors (and friends) were packing up to move to Indiana, they sold this one to us at rock bottom price. Woohoo!

This is the same boy who used to be SO cautious. Ever since he learned how to pump his legs, his swinging has no limits. :)

Quality time. *Side note: several weeks after this picture was taken, Adalyn climbed right up that slide and sat in the play house. That girl has no fear!

Beautiful girl.

Dear Ellie

Happy 4th birthday to our sweet Ellie Belle!

Ellie~
I love being your mama, sweet girl. You are so beautiful, inside and out. I love the freckles perfectly splashed over your nose and under each eye. I love how you help me pick out my clothes and jewelry and tell me, "I love you even when you don't wear a dress, mommy." Phew! I love how you enjoy letting your daddy do your hair and nails (it melts his heart!). I love how well you use language...your pronunciation and use of words is amazing!

I love how eclectic your personality is. You are rough and tumble sometimes...driving your car up the curb and laughing hysterically about it--and freaking out your big brother as he sits in the passenger seat! You are also very sensitive and fragile, always saying that the pit of your day (pit=least favorite part, peak=favorite part) was getting a boo boo. At times, you are incredibly shy. At your first gymnastics class you were literally frozen in place by your introversion. And other times you are very talkative, quite easily keeping pace with your extroverted big brother. One of my favorite things about you is that you love playing outside, getting dirty and sometimes bruised, in pretty dresses and nice shoes. There's something really charming to me about taking you to church in a pretty dress and tattered and dirty dress shoes. :) 

I love you Ellie, and it has been an incredible and blessed journey being your mother. I look forward to continuing to watch you grow and learn. Prayerfully, you will grow into a young lady who trusts Christ and loves Him with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.
~your mama

We celebrated Ellie's birthday party at Highbanks Park

I LOVE this picture of her. Her expression is classic Ellie. Beside her is her friend Eisley--they have become good friends and they're cute to watch together.

Mimi and Meemaw with their grandkiddos

all SIX of us!

Our Little Climber

"Will someone PLEASE feed me?"

Adalyn has been climbing on everything, A LOT. Dan found her standing on the dining room table a few days ago. I really wish he'd gotten a picture of her mischief. I am convinced that she will be our first child to have a broken bone. Of course, I hope I'm wrong and none of them ever have a broken bone....but I think Adalyn likes to keep us on our toes. ;)

Like Mother, Like Daughter

No, we do not have a mouse in our house. We have Adalyn. How did she know that after chewing through (and eating) paper, she would get to something so tasty? Smart girl.

Dresses, Bows and Nail Polish, Oh My!

My loving and supportive husband gave me the freedom to decide whether we'd find out the gender of our baby early or not...

We're having our THIRD girl!!! Woohoo!! The ultrasound tech said that all of her parts looked to be growing healthy and strong. Praise God!

We are very excited and blessed...and maybe a tad bit nervous to have three girls running around together (stirring up mischief?) :) We told the kids and Luke responded by wiping his brow with the back of his hand and saying something along the lines of, "Wow, that's a lot of girls!" Ellie was fairly indifferent, as she was busy playing with her cousin Jack. But I will say, that the prospect of Ellie having two roommates in the future does have her pretty excited.

We have a decent baby name list started, but none that have really grabbed us. It was a good 20 hours after her birth before Adalyn was named, so this baby girl might have to wait 40. :) So feel free to leave a comment with a few name suggestions!

Dan LOVES doing Ellie's hair, and I'm so glad because I think he has a lot of pigtails in his future :)