Thursday, July 25, 2013

The 4th

We had a fun few days celebrating the 4th of July this year. The week before the girls and I made several patriotic crafts, we talked about our country, flag, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance several times. On the 4th we made Patriotic Cupcakes and joined some friends at a Freedom Festival that featured food trucks, games, bounce houses, a band, splash area and of course fireworks! We enjoyed walking around and cooled off with some Kona Ice Sno Cones. It was actually a nice night, not hot at all. We found a spot on the hill and the kids ran around playing with their glow sticks and later we all enjoyed the beautiful fireworks.

The girls loved decorating cupcakes!

The flags they made.

Straw painting!

Stamping Stars


Festive!
Ready to go enjoy the Freedom Festival!

My cute little guy!

My bestie Maile with her boys and step dad!

My crew...one day they will all look the same direction!

My lovey bug & me!



 

 

The next day, Friday, the family loaded up and we drove to Louisiana to spend the weekend at my parents house. That night we celebrated several family birthdays, my sisters, her hubby, and his brother and grandma. My grandparents, Aunt, Uncle, Cousins, and brother-in-law's family all joined us for hot dogs, hamburgers, and lots of yummy goodness. The kids splashed in their small pool, we all rode the golf cart, and did fireworks. Super fun night!

Riding on Mimi & Papaw's golf cart! Super fun!

My parents got the kids a little pool!

A rare picture! My honey & me!

Fireworks

Blowing the candles! We were celebrating 4 birthdays!

Rowynn & her best bud Millie :)


The next day we all went out on the lake in the family pontoon boat. Such fun! I grew up going to the lake every Sunday and we still go out every fourth! I love traditions!

My handsome fellas!

So relaxing!

Fried chicken and the lake go hand-in-hand!

Rowynn catching some sun with Aunt Sissy.

Yes that is my Daddy jumping off the top of the boat! Love his kid like spirit!

My beautiful sis!

My sweet sunshine :)

Haha, love this pic! My hot mess girl!

The lake wore this little guy out!

Feeding the ducks that live across the street from my parents!

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Butterflies...another tradition!

Every year for the past three years I've ordered caterpillars and we've enjoyed watching them turn into beautiful butterflies. Such a neat experience for the kids and a great learning activity! We always order from Insect Lore and have been super pleased with everything. You get a cup of about 5 caterpillars complete with food for them. After a few days the caterpillars make their way to the top of the lid and form chrysalises. After a couple of days you tape the paper holding the chrysalises to the inside of the butterfly habitat. Did you know that the cocoons will shake if the feel threatened? It's their way to protect themselves in nature. Pretty cool. Anyway, a few days later they emerge as butterflies. We feed our butterflies sugar water (use the included dropper and place water on fresh flower petals), and orange slices. After about 4 days we release our butterflies.


Here they are as chrysalises

Beautiful butterfly!

The girls posing with the butterflies.

Emerson did not want to take a picture. Oh well!


Our (nonfiction) butterfly/bug books. And of course we read The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Our sequence cards had a butterfly set that the girls enjoyed putting in order.
Our props to tell the story of how a caterpillar changes. The girls loved this!
 
Putting the caterpillar in the cocoon.

 

Finley pointing to the picture of the caterpillar egg. Love this book.

Drawing her caterpillar with "lots of legs."

Rowynn's book.

Finley's book.



Love her butterfly drawing.

Their butterfly books with the butterflies.
The life cycle of a caterpillar using rice and pasta!
 
Getting ready to say goodbye :)

Watching the butterflies fly away.

 

 



Father's Day

For Father's Day this year we spent the weekend with my in-laws and enjoyed going to church with them on Sunday. After a nice meal of Catfish we discovered we had a flat! Boo! So blessed that no one was hurt before we could get it replaced and thankful for such sweet in-laws!

I am so blessed by many fathers in my life. My Daddy is such an amazing man; so giving, tender-hearted, goofy, and always supportive. He has always been there for us and when I was younger, and many of my friends' parents were going through divorces, my Dad became the Dad to many of my friends. He was always so present and active in everything we were doing, a total hands-on Dad. Because of the way he loved his wife and girls, I was secure in who I was. I knew what qualities I wanted in a husband and because of that, I have the most amazing husband who is an exceptional Daddy.

My father-in-law is an exceptional man. He is one of the wisest men that I know. He is gentle and strong at the same time, kind and so generous. He has the most giving spirit and loves his family so much. He is incredibly thoughtful and would do anything for his family. He is an excellent cook and loves his grandbabies! He values his friendship with his son, and is such an encouragement to Kyle & I. He has always treated me like a daughter and is the reason Kyle & I are married. He and Sandra led me to Jesus many years ago and then gave me the most loving husband. I am forever grateful

Kyle is amazing. Before we had kids he had little to no experience with kids. He had no siblings, had never changed a diaper, nothing. You would never know that by the way he has taking to fatherhood; with finesse and ease. He is a super dad. He loves all of us fiercely. We pretty much have to kick him out the door every morning so he's not late to work (and we are always sad to see him leave) and he rushes home every day. He has NEVER put his career before us. He works hard and really enjoys his job but doesn't let his career define him. He is a godly man who encourages, supports, and loves with all his heart. He is up in the middle of the night with crying babies, changes diapers, cooks, helps clean, introduces his kids to poetry, fun books, new experiences, teaches them to cook, his so patient, plays with them, sings, helps plan parties, values everything I do, every single day (even if most days the only thing I've managed is to keep every one alive!) He always makes me feel loved and beautiful and is truly my best friend. We are always giggling together, enjoy the same things, and just love hanging out together. I can be myself more when I am with him. I just love that man and love the way he loves us!!!

Grandma reading to the girls before bed.

Kyle with his Dad and son.

Karl with his son and grandkids!

I love that Grandma & Rowynn are giggling in this picture!

Kyle with his parents and kids!

Grandma & Emerson goofing around!

We took Daddy out for ice cream!

Rowynn loved it!




 
And some pictures of my princesses!



The girls and I decided to have a tea party one morning while brother napped.


Teaching her to serve others and how to pour tea.