Can't you just feel the love?

Before church yesterday morning, I thought the girls looked so cute. So, I got out the camera. 

I guess they follow after me, and aren't really morning people. These were not staged...

Sing along with me now!

I love you, you love me, 

we're a happy fam-i-ly 

with a GREAT BIG HUG, 

and a kiss from me to you! 

Won't you say you love me too?

This is the best I could get with my little rays of sunshine. 

I guess all the pictures I take can't be frame worthy. But I bet these are the ones they will laugh at the most when they are older! 

In case you were unaware...

I love having girls!

My wedding dress is hanging in the back of Georgia's closet (we need more storage) and she came to me today, very excited. "Is that the dress I get to wear at MY wedding mom?!", she asked. Isn't that every moms dream? 

Now I have no illusions that in 25 years (yes, she is getting married at 30, no sooner) she will still want to wear my dress, but it is fun to play with her now. 

Stop and smell the flowers

Tonight after church, we decided to take a walk, and Georgia brought her bike. It is interesting to see a child's reaction to the world around her.



While Kevin and I are busy on our mission to walk off a few of our calories from dinner, Georgia pulls off the trail to literally, stop and smell the flowers (though they were tulips, not roses).


Chloe joins in.

A Few Good Neighbors

For months and months now, we have been dealing with water that is leaking at the end of our driveway.  It is at the very edge of the road, so we thought it was a city problem. After finally getting the city to come look at it, however, we were informed that it was in fact our problem. The leak was coming from our main water line to to house, and was spilling onto the street, and it was getting worse quickly. 

So, we called out a plumber to assess the situation, and were told that our entire driveway would have to be jackhammered to fix the leak. And the cost would be in the thousands. I panicked. I got stomach aches. I worried. 

But, Kevin assured me, that he could take care of it himself. He did a little research, and got to work digging. 

Digging on one side of the drive way.

Digging on the other side of the driveway.

Digging, digging, digging. And while he was digging...

A few good neighbors (one of whom we had never met before) and my brother-in-law, Gregg, came by to help. Three guys who, I'm sure had better things to do on a Saturday morning than dig, did just that. And they fixed it!

Oh, and those thousands of dollars... Because of our helpful neighbors, the total cost of the job was less than $300. 

I am so thankful for good neighbors, and a handy-man husband.

Whose idea was it for her to move to the big girl bed?

Oh, yeah, that would be me. Chloe is (obviously) loving the freedom that comes with no bars, and seems to have no remorse when we catch her not sleeping. Kevin had put her to bed, and then went outside in the front yard. All of a sudden, he noticed her bedroom light was on and could see through the window that she was up reading. I just love that she doesn't seem at all fazed by being caught in the act!

Grace Violet

I would like to invite you to visit my new blog Grace Violet. I plan on using this as a fun creative outlet for craft ideas, recipes, fashion do's and don'ts (in my opinion anyway) and anything else that captures my attention.

Our big girl...

This picture was taken at school, before her haircut. We are so proud of our sweet girl.

This week Chloe finally made the move from her crib to a "big girl" toddler bed. The first night, she was so excited to be in it that immediately after our prayer she told me to leave! We had our weekly college Bible study last night, and the noise of 20 people in the living room didn't help her to sleep very well. When we went in to check on her before we went to bed, this is what we found...





Tonight the girls were racing through the living room on their vehicles, but needed to stop for tune-ups.














By the way, Georgia informed us of what she wants to be when she grows up: a Barbie that rides My Little Ponies.

Our Family: if we were M&M's

Chloe



Georgia (not quite sure why our oldest is smaller than our youngest...)



Me...I know I've been slacking on going to the gym the last few weeks, but am I that much larger than Kevin?! (Also, why when I was creating these did Kevin say the smirk was the mouth that matched mine the best?)



Kevin, looking serious and office-y, but with more 5 o'clock shadow than normal.



It looks just like us! Not. Or at least, I hope not.

Cutie Patootie

Chloe decided to jump on the bandwagon and chop off her hair (kids these days, succumbing to peer pressure earlier and earlier...).



As you can see, the comb and spray bottle were her security lines. She had an emotional start to the cut (wearing the cute animal smock was terrifying to her), but was able to remain calm if she had these items in hand. Oh, and I couldn't step more than 12 inches away.



We love the finished product!



She was just excited to get back to playing!