Life With Our Little Ladies

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Snapshots: June 2016

Summer mornings

"Are you talking to me, Mommy?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2Y6JG_zJnk

Early morning at church with Daddy complete with a coffee break. Abby felt like SUCH a big girl!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cpn3NcCLnxk

I'll soak up these moments any chance I get.

Elmo love

Baby Belly Laughs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDwIPa_iX0g

When she realized Elmo was on the TV...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4zYtWW1dag

Even Ollie can appreciate perfect summer days!

Sisters sharing a moment...and some milk.

Hanging with their buddy, Levi

The girls and I spent the best day at the park together. There was something about this visit that made me aware of just how much the girls had grown since the last time we were at the park. They were climbing on everything without needing any help and navigating the park like big kids.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-WqX2NEXHs#action=share

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzZ6NaYe1co

First time in swing and loving it!

Last year, they couldn't really do this on their own!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0zAYpikHcI

Our first park day of the summer called for our first Kurver Creme stop of the summer. Perfect ending to a perfect afternoon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0LQvEbyRP0

Donuts for Dad at school to celebrate Father's Day!

My heart beating outside of my chest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnOPMNc7s6M

My exercise buddies for the morning

When you load up the car and head to the library for the afternoon...

...then as soon as you park, this happens.

An afternoon back home and a festival in the village

Always feels good to be home

Abby's dream came true to play with real speed stacking cups. She has been hoping for her own set since she started watching the Stackfast DVD her friends gave her on repeat!

We spent the day having fun with Grandma and Casey, then headed back to the house to have dinner with Papa.

A picture of afternoon perfection

Thankful for a night our celebrating this lovely friend's birthday! There's something special about friends who feel more like family.

May and June were full of birthday parties. The girls were extra excited about this one at Chuck E. Cheese.

Ella is taking her first morning of summer very seriously!

All ready for our neighborhood garage sale. The big girls set up a lemonade stand and LOVED every minute of running their little business.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYcNlYRKw2I

This little girl's lemonade business on a sunny Saturday morning during the neighborhood garage sale was a success. The girls made more than we did! :)

When Abby grows up, she wants to be a...

At the end of June, Daddy spent a Saturday in New York City with Uncle Brad and Uncle Tommy. We had a girls day and held down the fort at home! :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltralK5O2TM

Monday, August 22, 2016

Ella's Preschool Graduation

From the first day of school...

...to the last. Our sweet girl has grown so much in one school year!

It feels like just yesterday that this little love was starting three year old preschool. The year seems to go by so much more quickly now that the girls are in school. That, paired with the fact that I had a baby at the start of the school year made this year a total blur of sleep deprived goodness. The school year was filled with so many special moments. I did everything I could to take it all in and enjoy the gifts that they were.

We LOVE that our girls get to go to school together and Ella isn't even in Kindergarten yet. I love that they walk the halls and see each other. Or get to sit near each other in a school assembly. Or when Ella is graduating from preschool, Abby's teacher sends her down to watch the ceremony. Our school has been such a great fit for our family.

Did somebody say preschool graduation? I'm ready!

We got to school a little early, which gave us extra time to spend with some of our faves, Brinley, Raina and Nurse Alicia.

As expected, I didn't disappoint. I started tearing up as soon as this big girl walked into the room!

Ella had the best teachers. I think Mrs. M and Ella had a special connection. Ella adored her and really grew in her faith as a result of her influence. We watched throughout the school year as Ella's desire to pray for others became such a natural response for her. She started owning her faith in a new way and turning to God with her smallest and greatest concerns/needs. It's so rewarding to entrust your child into the hands of someone who points her to Jesus in real and relevant ways. The gospel was flowing in and through the preschool classroom all year and I'm confident many lives were impacted as a result.

Each child received a superlative award to end their year together. It's really sweet to see our little girl through another person's eyes. Ella received the "Faith" award. Mrs. M shared how Ella was often stopping the class to encourage prayer in different situations and for different people. She also shared Ella's love for and knowledge of Bible stories. As I listened to her teacher share these sweet truths about my little girl, I couldn't hold the tears back. It wasn't pride. In that moment, I was completely taken by a God (my God) who chose to rescue two teenagers, transform their stories with hope, redemption and purpose in a way that only Jesus can and then weave their stories together in marriage to create a godly legacy of love and family. Our little girl has a open heart to God and a growing faith because of Jesus. To realize that overwhelmed my heart with all kinds of joy and thankfulness. So thankful.

In case I thought I was doing a good job holding it together, the teachers started playing Nichole Nordeman's "Slow Down" during the slideshow and then I cried my mascara off.

My friend Sarah snapped this shot because as the kids watched the slideshow, everyone started excitedly shouting, "There's Ella!!", when her picture popped onto the screen.