Our first date - in seven months

Jimmy and I had our first night out alone last night since Serene was born seven months ago. We have had lots of evenings just the two of us with Serene but until last night nothing sans kids. Serene is such a quiet, peaceful, SERENE baby that we always take her with us even to the most quiet of restaurants. However, last night my parents were kind enough to watch both kids and we went to our favorite sushi place. We had the best time talking and laughing and just being together!

Standing... and not standing

We caught a quick pic of Serene standing beside the couch in the playroom... right before she hit the ground =)

Lazy summer afternoons

One of the things I love most about being a stay at home mom are the afternoons when all the housework is done and we just play. I know these moments will pass way too soon and I am so glad they are all mine! I can't imagine sharing them with anyone else.

Sunday afternoon fun

We had family time in the sprinkler yesterday.... so much fun!!

Mommy and her girls

I love these two!

Sister bath

The girls took their first bath together the other night. What fun!!

Pizza - Ina Style

As I have mentioned before, Anna loves to watch Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa. Her favorite episode is one with a birthday party with a Pizza Margarhita, a big pink cake and chocolate covered cookies. We have this episode on the DVR and she watches it frequently. So, today we took her to Central Market, got all the ingredients and made the pizza. We even made our own crust from scratch... ok, I really have to give Jimmy the credit for the crust, he made it while I put Serene to bed. =)

Anna got her very own pizza and got to "decorate" it herself. She did a VERY good job. She is VERY precise and placed each tomato perfectly spaced, as well as the mozzarella slices and basil. She had a blast and then when it was done she ate one tiny slice... she eats like a bird.

Then we made peanut butter cookies from scratch and dipped them in melted chocolate just like Ina!

We all had a great time!!

Palo Duro Canyon

While we were in Amarillo this week we went to Palo Duro Canyon.... the 2nd largest canyon in the country next to the Grand Canyon. We drove the 16 mile drive into the bottom of the canyon and back out. While we were in the basin we hiked a trail, found about 20 lizards and Anna played in the dirt! Best of all we found a replica of the dugout one of the men who settled the canyon built. This was super neat for Anna because we have recently been reading Little House on Plum Creek, and at the beginning of the story they live in a dugout before Pa builds them their new house. Anna thought it was wonderful to see something like Laura really lived in! We had a great morning and then made the 5 1/2 hour trek home.

Prayers please...

My Uncle Steve passed away last night in a very tragic manner. Please pray for healing for his children and his wife (my moms sister). We will be leaving tomorrow to head to Amarillo for the funeral services.

Please remember to help those around you who may be hurting.... and if you are hurting, PLEASE reach out to those who will help you. It is never to late to get help and you can make it through!


"Cry Out To Jesus"
by Third Day
To all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They lost all of their faith in love
They've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough

For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame
And your suffering

When your lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus

To the widow who suffers from being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

Early July 4th (3rd) at mom and dads house

We spent the afternoon and evening at mom and dads house for an early holiday celebration yesterday. We cooked out, went swimming and topped off the night fireworks in Southlake!

We started the afternoon by opening the July 4th gifts my Aunt Toni sent the girls... what fun!! Anna got red and white Crocs and Serene got tiny red flip flops and an adorable white hat that said "My First Fourth"... sooo cute! Anna went crazy over her gifts and I went crazy over Serene's on behalf of her! A BIG THANK YOU to Aunt Toni for thinking of such a fun idea for the holiday. OH and we love the flag napkins and plates!!!

It is tradition for mom to make a flag cake which is a cake with white icing and strawberries and blueberries place on it to look like a flag. This year instead of making it for Anna she started a new tradition of letting Anna ice it with her and put on the fruit. They had so much fun making it and we all had fun eating it! Thanks to mom for doing special things like this for Anna ... I know the memories will last a lifetime!

One little sidenote... when we were busy getting things ready for dinner I took my eyes off Serene for a moment and when I did I found her under moms coffee table.... I had to get a picture and then Anna got under their with her and we got another picture of that! So much fun!!

Swimming, hornets and rusty nails

Yesterday one of my best friends Beth and her kids met the girls and I over at mom and dads house for a swim! She has three awesome kids and Anna has the best time with them.

There was lots of swimming but the kids also entertained themselves in the yard with dirt, sticks, bugs, etc. The day did have some down moments, I got stung by a hornet, Anna got attacked by ants, then she cut her finger on a rusty nail (don't worry I called the doc and she has had a tetanus shot), then she cut her toe on the patio, then Christopher got stung by a hornet just as they were leaving..... as Charlie Brown would say... "Good grief" =)

Thanks for the fun afternoon Beth and company!