Sisters

The month of July has been one of the best months of the entire year for me, why you might ask? Because I got to have both my sisters here at my house at the same time!

I am so thankful that Anna, my youngest sister, has been able to come out and visit several times over the last few years.  We always love our time with her (and her husband).   She has graciously come form TX to see us the kids and we always have fun (we can't wait for her husband, Matt, to come back form deployment).

Amie, my older sister and her family, live outside of the US and so it has been almost 2 years since I have gotten to see her in person (we do love modern technology and Skype which has allowed us to see her some).

However the Lord, in His grace, allowed all three of us to be together in the same place for 2 whole days!    Amie was coming through Charlotte, on her way back overseas from a friends wedding, and was able to schedule her flight to have a 2 day layover so we could see her.  Anna flew up from TX and joined us for those 2 days and it was so wonderful!

We got to sit around talking, visiting, laughing and sharing all that has gone on in our lives over the last few years.  It's incredible to see how the Lord has cared for all of us and provided for all of us in so many ways.   We all have grown and changed through the circumstance of life, yet even with all those changes there is the familiarity of family and the bonds that hold us together as sisters.

Me and my sisters would probably all readily admit that we aren't the best at keeping up with each other over the phone.  We have all been separated by distance for quite sometime and we still haven't gotten better about keeping up on the phone.  Maybe it's just me but talking on the phone isn't a habit of mine.  However, this doesn't effect our relationship as sisters one bit, which I love!  

Our visit was far to short but really encouraging and uplifting.  Nothing like spending time with those who have known you from the beginning.  My sisters also are great at loving on our kids and it makes me so happy to see how much Neal and Gwendolyn love their Aunties (however I do wish Amie's kids could have been here to play too).   There was much laughter, dance parties, superhero fighting, henna and ice cream dates.

My sisters will aways be close to me no matter the distance, or lack of phone calls we make.   I can't wait for the next time we are all together in the same place.  For now we'll try to make more phone calls and FaceTime chats.

10 on 10 in July

I remembered!!  It's been a few months but finally this month I remembered to record my day in pictures for my 10 on 10 photo blog.  

So here was our day yesterday - July 10, 2014

8:00 am 

Getting ready for the day with this sweet girl hanging at my feet 

  

9:00 am

Painting his special picture from the library 

10:00 am

Getting ready for some quilting...hope to be able to sit down and quilt tonight once the kids are asleep

11:00 am

A house full of Superheros!   

Neal and his friends were very entertaining acting out their own action movie. 

12:00 pm

This girl is full of giggles every time she wakes up from her nap 

1:00 pm

Getting my 2 mile daily run in while the kids nap 

2:00 pm 

Relaxing for a bit with some coffee and a good book 

3:00 pm

Getting ready for Tia and Aunt Amie to visit.  Neal wanted his bear to keep Tia's bed warm until she arrives.  

4:15 pm 

Grocery Shopping - Neal loves that Gwendolyn will sit next to him now, and they enjoyed sharing their snacks 

5:30 pm 

Afternoon Thunderstorms - we made it home from the store right before the rain.

"Look mom I'm soaking wet" - for him this is quite wet for being in his clothes

9 Months and so Happy

This little girl of ours is 9 months!  Nearing 10 months actually, I'm just a little late in posting these pictures.

Here is what has been happing with Gwendolyn at 9 months:

1)  Not crawling, but will push herself around on the floor backwards.  

2) No teeth but eats everything we feed her.  No longer pureed food for her, she wants to eat what we eat.  

3)  Absolutely loves her brother and will always give him a huge smile and even laugh at whatever he does. 

4)  She was waving lots but has gotten tired of that trick and now is just starting to pick-up on some sign language.  

We have been having lots of fun the last few weeks, and there is more fun to come before summer ends.  We have taken a short trip to Tennessee, had great friends come visit from TX, and have spent many hours and evenings down at the pool.   Tyler has been working with Neal on swimming and he is doing great!  I think by the end of this summer we will have a swimmer!  Gwendolyn is not afraid of the water either and I think she will be trying to keep up with Neal sooner then we think...who knows at the rate she's going she may decide to swim before she crawls :)