A First Birthday Celebration!

Out little Gwendolyn has turned one!!

We are so thankful for the great blessing and joy God has brought our family in this little girl.  She is such a joy to be around, always full of smiles and laughs.  She loves to play with Neal and actually likes to snuggle at times, which we love.

We celebrated her birthday a few weeks early, while Grandma was visiting.  It was fun to make some girly decorations and cupcakes and Gwendolyn looked adorable, as always.  

Grandma brought all the birthday decorations and she helped to make some amazing flower cupcakes with me for the birthday treat.

We had a few friends over for dinner to help celebrate the birthday girl and Neal was very excited to help her with every birthday task, like blowing out the candle and opening her presents.  

This last year has seemed to fly by and it seems to have gone even faster then Neal's first year.  I don't know if it is getting older that makes time seem to fly by or if it's just that life keeps getting busier and busier with these two kiddos and so time goes by more quickly.  Whatever it is I wish I could slowdown time.  I have liked every stage of life thus far with the kids for different reasons but I have to say I think the first few years, from newborn to toddler, are my favorite and they seem to be here and gone way to quickly.  

Gwendolyn has her own little quirks and things that she does which make us laugh.  It's fun to see her growing up and to see her personality start to shine through.  She loves to give snuggles and "kisses" (her kisses are leaning her head into you so you can kiss her).   She crawls around with her hands in Neal's shoes, holds a cell phone up to her forehead and pretends to talk, loves to play the kazoo and can often be found with her hands in the air smiling and asking to be held whenever Tyler or I walk into the room.

She makes plane and car noises when she plays with any of Neal's cars and planes and loves to throw herself backwards on pillows. She will throw herself off your lap or the couch if you don't watch her. Her favorite time of day is tubby time and she would choose Neal's superhero toys over her baby dolls.  I think she is going to be more adventurous and outgoing then Neal was at her age and we may have to watch out once she learns to walk on her own.

What a difference a year makes...Happy Birthday sweet girl!!

Busy, Busy

Where has time been going?  The days have seemed to fly by lately and we will be celebrating Gwendolyn's first birthday later this month.  So before our little girl turns one I think I should share her 11 month photos.   

I must mention how crazy it seems to me that Gwen is almost a year old because I can often hear Neal saying, "I can't believe she is already 11 months old, stop growing so fast sweet Gwendolyn".   If you want to know what Tyler and I often say just hangout with Neal for an afternoon, he remembers everything and often repeats phrases and sayings that he hears from us.  

So much has changed in the last few weeks.  Gwendolyn is now pulling herself up on everything, "talking" all the time, and has 4 teeth!  Neal is very excited that she is becoming more interactive with him and the fact that they can actually play together at moments.  

She also loves to play at the park with Neal and can almost always be found with a smile on her face.  

Life with these kids sure is an adventure.  

Beating the Heat

Though the calendar says September it feels more like July to me.  The humidity and heat seam to last forever and it's these hot and humid days that make me so grateful for the option to go swimming.  The way we beat the heat around here is to either stay indoors or, the more fun option, go swimming!   

We have had so much fun hanging out with friends at the pool all throughout the day and sometimes we have even let the kids stay up late to swim 'till the sun goes down.  So many fun memories this summer in the water.  Gwendolyn is in love with the pool and just all water activities.  Neal and Tyler have often gone for a quick swim after dinner, while Gwen and I stay home, and it's so fun to hear the excitement in Neal's voice as he tells me about their time at the pool with just him and daddy.  

The big accomplishment this summer was Neal learning to swim!   He can almost make it across the width of the pool all by himself.  He has turned into quite the little fish this summer.

So if you come visit us, at least for the next few weeks, bring your swim suit 'cause we are practically living at the pool.

A Bit of Everyday Life

Nothing to exciting has been happening around here lately but our lives our never boring.  I actually have been enjoying the fact that we haven't had much on our schedules lately.  I enjoy the days/weeks were we are home and our schedule is open so we can participate in whatever activity may present itself for that day.   So, this is a glimpse of what you might find us doing with our days at home lately...

The occasional photo shoot...this girl is already 10 months!  Plans for her first birthday are already taking place.  

She is crawling all over the place. If not in the living room with Neal she can be found in the kitchen playing with her magnets.  I think a few new magnet sets are in order 'cause it keeps her busy and happy.  

We go to story time at the library once a week but during the month of August there is no story time.  No worries, Neal has stepped up and started his own story time for Gwen and I.  With a puppet show and everything. 

Grocery shopping has turned a whole lot more fun, with new car carts at the market and Gwen who is old enough to join Neal in the "drivers seat".  It's grins and giggles and a way to have a fun and productive outing. 

An evening fire outside is one of our favorite family activities.  It's been nice to have all of us home (no traveling for Tyler lately) and so we have been taking advantage of lots of family time. 

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