Hail from our front yard last night...

Sisters cuddling

I took these of the girls this morning... I love how Serene has her hand on Anna's arm. They both love each other so much and they both love to cuddle!

Belly shot

Ok, for the sake of my soon to be sister-in-law I am not going to call this my "preggo" picture. =) But, here is my "belly shot". This is 28 weeks.... I am guessing 10-12 weeks to go! Can't believe how fast time has gone by. We are all getting so excited to meet little Ben.

CLose-ups

There are certain times when the girls and I are playing outside that I have to get my camera and capture the moment... up close! The way the sun comes through Anna's beautiful blonde hair or the way Serene gets caught in her own world thinking about who knows what. The two of them fascinate me, as I am sure all children do their parents. Here are a few moments from this week!

Let's go fly a kite

This week... before the weather was like it is this morning (36 degrees). Jimmy took Anna to the field across the street from our house and they flew her kite. She was so excited screaming and chasing after it laughing. I love seeing how much joy she gets out of such little things, it's such an eye opener to me sometimes! Serene and I sat in the drive-way and watched and Serene laughed and squealed watching the kite go up and down in the wind! I had Serene in her little "walker/bouncer" to keep her contained since we were in the front yard but finally I let her get out and she got underneath and started looking at a book... I had to capture it, it was just too precious!

Congratulations...

This post is LONG overdue BUT, better late then never! I want to say a huge CONGRATULATIONS to my little bro on his recent engagement to his most amazing future wife Jennifer! My little brother is 7 years younger than me and because of our age difference I always felt more like he was my child than my little brother and I have taken on that role of "other mother" in good ways and bad... the bad ways would be like bossing him around and telling him what to do. The good ways would be taking his life, safety and future very seriously, even from the moment he was born. As he got older, this progressed into praying for that one special person he would meet and would be his wife someday.

I remember the night my brother left for Florida, I held it together in my mom and dads drive-way. I gave him a brave smile and a long, loving hug.... BUT, when Jimmy and I drove away, it took about two seconds and the tears started flowing. I mean tears like someone was ripping my heart out. I thought of John not being there to be with Anna anymore. I thought of how much she loved him and how much she would miss her "unclie" John. I thought of how few and far between we would even see each other in person and I just cried.

I prayed that the Lord would use John's time in Florida for something great in his life. I think in the back of my mind I hoped that "great" thing would be meeting his wife but I just wanted the best for him whether it was time to meet her yet or not. To me it would be all worth the sadness of not having him close by in Texas if we could have the joy of seeing him fulfilled and happy in Florida.

Answered prayers are wonderful things. God brought an amazing girl to make my brother happier than I have ever seen him and complete our "in-law" family. First my amazing hubby joins the crew and now Jennifer! What a blessing for John and what a blessing for us all to get to see God bring our family this amazing gift!

John and Jen I love you both so much and I can't wait for July 18!! Yea for marriage it's the best thing EVER!!

Golf outing

Ever since Anna was in the womb Jimmy has talked about taking her golfing. He held off but has really talked it up to her for the last 4 years (her whole life). Finally this Sunday he could stand it no longer and decided this was the big day to take her to the range for the first time. She was so excited. She could barely wait to get there and get started. The funniest part though was that one of her biggest concerns was what she was going to wear. "Daddy, what do you wear to go golfing?" When she asked that, he rolled his eyes and stared straight at me... as if somehow I had caused those words to come out of her mouth! =) Whether it is my influence or not, she is a girly girl at heart and the skill of golfing will come second to making sure she is wearing the right outfit for the event! =) That is just our Anna... Oh and don't get him wrong... Jimmy LOVES that about her. He loves her girly girl side. He loves having a feminine little girl who wants to look pretty! BUT, regardless of it all she actually did really well at golfing. Which is really no surprise considering who her daddy is. Jimmy is a great golfer and I think he is pretty proud that his little girl has some "skills".

Cookie kit

My parents got Anna this super cute cookie kit with little cookie cutters, rolling pin, spatula, cookie mix, icing and sprinkles to make sugar cookies. We decided to do it on Saturday night and Anna had the best time. She esp. loved the icing and sprinkles part! =) Even daddy got in on the action... well he mainly just showed up to eat the cookies!! =)

Serene sat in her highchair and ate grapes while we worked on cookies!

Dinner on the patio

Tonight we ended the evening with a quiet dinner on our back patio with Jimmy's homemade pizza and Anna dancing to jazz over the outdoor speakers.. completing the perfect weekend! =)

Date night

Thank you to my mom and dad for watching our girls while Jimmy and I had a much needed date night. We had the best time relaxing and enjoying the evening together. Also, thank you to my sweet hubby who planned out the whole night and made sure I had two of my favorite things... sushi and a decadent dessert!! =) He knows me well.

Bird man

Check out the very far left hand side of this pic... see the white bird? We took this while driving down the highway the other day... this guy just had this bird perched next to him driving down the road... so strange..

Jimmy and I were laughing so hard we couldn't see straight... I mean come on people you don't see something like this every day. ....and let me tell you it wasn't easy taking this picture cruising down the road at 70 MPH, plus we were TRYING to be discreet... BUT, as you can tell by the picture, I think he pretty much saw us taking it! =)

A Dr. Seuss character

Jimmy thinks Serene looks like a little Dr. Seuss character in these pajamas. They are his favorite PJ's on her and when he was getting her dressed for bed the other night he noticed they are almost too small. So he got out the camera that night and got some pics just in case they don't fit the next time we try to put them on her.

Whenever she wears them he calls her "little Sereney loo who" ... I think that is from the Grinch Who Stole Christmas??

Pizza night

This is what my hubby makes when he gets left in charge of dinner... homemade pizza margarhita ... which of course is pizza with FRESH mozzarella, tomatoes and FRESH basil. This is a recipe we both saw on Barefoot Contessa a long time ago and started making. It is sooo yummy he even makes the crust from scratch... yes with yeast and flour and the whole nine yards!

I love this about my hubby because he is such a sports loving, somewhat straight laced, financial genius, "manly" man, yet somewhere in him he has this creative side that can pull off this amazing gourmet pizza... he is multi talented!!

Pizza night at our house does not include the number to Papa John's... thank goodness!!