Sweet Mavery

I love Mavery's face in these two pictures.  Probably it's because she's standing in her sand table, where I told her not to stand (many times).  She is a mess!  

I know that Mavery has no idea how life is about to change.  With #3 on the way, she will soon be "The Middle Child".  Other than watching the Brady Bunch, I don't know much about "middle child syndrome".  I do believe though that she has a strong enough personality to overcome any overshadowing by her older sister and she will be a wonderful big sister to her new sibling.  

Since Evie started school, Mike and I have been trying to have Friday lunch with Mavery.  It has been a treat to have some Mommy/Daddy one-on-one time with our little Maves.  She is a talker and a charmer and we love her to pieces.  It will be interesting to see how she adjusts to the baby, but I anticipate she will be a super little helper.  (and be a little jealous at times...)

Name Tags, Pepper Rally and Drop-off

Miss Evie continues to amaze us and keep us laughing.  She has really enjoyed her first three weeks of Kindergarten.  On the first week of school they had a Pep Rally for the football team.  At her school, they take all the elementary kids over to participate in the pep rally and Evie was beside herself with excitement on Friday morning!  She kept telling us at breakfast that she wanted to wear her cheer leader costume for "worship day" at school.  We were slightly puzzled, but then realized that she was referring to "Spirit Day" at school where you sport school colors.  So we explained the difference and helped her understand to call it spirit day.

Then she continued to talk and talk and talk about the "Pepper Rally" that they would be going to that afternoon.  After she finished breakfast, she proceeded to ask if she had enough time to make herself a name tag to wear to school so that EVERYONE would know her name at the pepper rally.  It just made me chuckle inside because this extroverted little girl comes from an introverted Mama who hates name tags and typically just wants to blend into a crowd.  Oh, our little Evie-girl.  We love your spirit and zeal for life!!!

The two princesses

Getting ready for a tea party with Grandma Susie

Oh, please come to my tea party!

It will be so much fun!

Mavery enjoying the pepper rally

I love this sweet face!

These girls love their Pops!

The brick at McLane Stadium that some of my college roommates put together.

So special! Fun Memories!

Little Miss Kindergarten

It's official!  We have a kindergartener in our house now.  Evie started "Elementary School" on Monday.  Mavery keeps telling everyone, "Evie goes the 'Elamamentary School' now".
It was a bittersweet moment for both Mommy and Daddy.
Of course the entire family walked her to her classroom on the first day.  I made Evie hold my hand from the car to the school.  It's possible that I squeezed her hand a little too tightly until we arrived at her classroom.  It was hard for this Mommy to let go, but she was ready, very ready to start school!

We celebrated the end of summer at a "tea party" with some friends Sunday afternoon.

 All ready to go!

Mavery had to take her lunch box and thermos, too!

 Time to load up!

 In her seat at the green table.

 So happy to have Mrs. Hansen as her teacher!!

 Time for Mom and Dad to exit.  

This kindergartener has some serious work to do!

 Enjoying her after-school snack at home.

Last Day of Preschool

Here we were back in August 2013 on the first day of pre-K.

And here we were on the last day of preschool in August 2014.

Wow! All three of us are so much bigger now!

 And a fun family selfie.

 Ready to splash her way into kindergarten.

The Third Trimester

Raise your hand if you're ready to have a baby!!!

(In case you can't tell, both my hands are high up in the air!)  The above photo is the only picture I have where my baby belly can be almost seen.  I don't like my picture taken, especially when growing another human inside.
Pregnancy has never been my favorite stage of the game, even this third time around.  I just don't like being pregnant.  Here at 28 weeks, I'm big and my skin itches...all over.  I have crazy heart burn and I'm just down right tired from not sleeping well.  Ugh.  But it truly is all worth it in the end.  There are many things to be thankful for:
*A healthy pregnancy so far.
*A mild summer! (we haven't even reached 100 degrees.  Woa, is this Texas??!!)
*Supportive friends and family.

Here's some pics of things we've been doing to wind up the summer...

One last summer visit to the children's museum

Evie showing off the picture she made.

Visiting the church kids and summer camp

Road trip with Daddy!

and sacked out for the trip back home.

Learning to make a mess, oops, I mean wash the dishes.

 Smile! 

Mommy and Daddy 

Decorating the baby belly with stickers during church.

(#3, you have some fun big sisters awaiting your arrival!)

 Sacked out on Daddy.  

(is there any better napping place???)

Morning Breakfast together.

Art Class at the Casa

 Fun at the Orange and Blue park across the street.

(enjoying the "cool" August weather)

 Lunch picnic at the park.

New lunch boxes for the new school year

Evie is all ready and signed up for Kindergarten!!

VBS 2014

We had VBS last week at FBC.  The girls had a great time!  The adults were happy to see Friday evening!  It was a fun but long week.  We had a good turn out and it's always fun to see the kids having fun and learning.

Sunday was "Splash in to VBS"

We had water games and enjoyed a fun water balloon fight.

Rub-a-dub-dub five little girls in the tub!

Mavery on the slip-n-slide.

Evie on the slip-n-slide.

Evie saying the memory verse for Mrs. Heather

It was a long but good week.  And Evie has already started memorizing songs for next year's theme.  

 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect 1 Peter 3:15

"Always be ready to tell about Jesus!"

The zoo, the park, and the mall

This past weekend we started off with breakfast at the park across the street.  Then we played on the play ground.  Mommy still has room for Mavery in her lap... barely...

Evie can swing pretty high all by her self!

Sunday, Mommy took the girls to the zoo, as promised.  Mommy isn't very sure why she promised to take the girls to the zoo in July...6 months pregnant.  

Although it was HOT, we had fun.  And the splash pad was running, so we were able to cool off for a bit.

On Monday, Evie went to the dentist for the first time and she did great!  Then we went to ballet and to the mall for lunch.  The girls love playing in the Ice Cream truck:

Woa... slow down crazy driver!

Our Two Little Ballerinas

The girls started a summer ballet class this past Monday.  They seem to really enjoy it and are having lots of fun!

Independence Day Weekend

We had a fun weekend celebrating the 4th of July this year.

Evie and Mavery started things off with a parade at their preschool.

All of the children were decked out in red, white, and blue!

Mavery was very proud of her hat!

Evie cheering on the crowd.

Mavery walking with her class.

This picture of Evie carrying the flag for her class was actually on the front page of the Waco Tribune Herald on Saturday!

The girls were introduced to sparklers this year.

Mavery was a big fan.  Evie was not so sure about holding one.

Evie and Daddy had a date Saturday morning at Home Depot to make a bug catcher.

She was quite proud of her accomplishment.

So, we caught a cricket, a frog and a grasshopper.

(but let them all go shortly after)