Back Together - July 29

After spending some one-on-one time with Noni and Papa over the past couple of weeks, all of the kids are finally back together again. They certainly missed each other!

A Birthday Kiss - July 25

We celebrated Abi's 2nd birthday today and Zane couldn't leave without giving his cousin a birthday kiss!

What do you buy... - July 24

a little boy who really doesn't need any more toys...a snowcone machine!

Cute...and She Knows It! - July 21

Is she not just the cutest thing in the whole world? The problem is that she knows it...and she knows that we know it...and she especially knows that her daddy knows it!

Zane's Choo Train Party - July 19

Zane had lots of fun at his "choo-choo train" party!

He couldn't stop looking at his "choo-choo train boon"!

That is until he saw the "choo-choo train" on his cupcakes and decided those were even better than the balloon!

We discovered that Zane is not a big icing fan, but he loves the cake. He turned his cupcake over, ate the bottom part and left the rest (or fed it to Papa!).

He's not crying - just being a little camera shy!

It was the perfect "choo-choo train" party for our little boy!

Paisano Mission Trip - July 12-15

We drove down to Paisano Baptist Camp near Alpine for a family mission trip with several other members from our church. We worked to clean up the camp and get things ready for their camp meetings later this month. Here are some of our favorite pictures from our family mission trip...

Colter enjoyed helping put the hymnals out in the tabernacle.

Danny and the kids slept outside one night. It was the first night sleeping outside for several of them!

We enjoyed some great music and worship together!

While we were there our family had the chance to meet up with Monica, my best friend from high school, and her family.

The kids loved playing card games during our work breaks.

There were great rocks to climb around the camp.

Sweeping out the tabernacle was a big job!

One night we took a trip to the McDonald Observatory. We saw some beautiful views of the nighttime sky!

It was a great trip with just the right balance of work and play to make the kids want to go back next year!

Zane at (almost) Two - July 10

I love this picture of Zane at "almost two". He is ready for church with Jay-Jay, his Bible, his backpack and of course that goofy grin! Here are some other interesting tidbits about Zane...

1. Whenever one of his siblings gets up to go to the bathroom at bedtime he sits on his potty, too - diaper, pjs and all!
2. He loves to draw circles on the magna-doodle.
3. He has the cutest little camera smile!
4. He is climbing and sliding on the playground like a big boy.
5. He likes to meow and pretend to be a kitty cat.
6. Danny taught him how to "box" his brothers. Now he "boxes" anyone whenever he can!
7. His favorite phrase is "Yeah, dude!" He learned it from Colter.
8. He loves to help with anything - folding laundry, fixing supper - he wants to "Hep Mama!"
9. He climbs on the bathroom counter so he can brush his teeth like the big kids.
10. When he can't find me he walks around the house saying "Where are you, Mama?"

Laundry Baskets - July 7

What is it about laundry baskets that make them such perfect playthings? : )

Big Sister - July 6

Sabrina had been outside playing this morning with Wyatt and Colter. She came in for a drink and was headed back outside when Zane said, "Nina! Nina!" It was very clear that he was asking her to stay inside and play with him. She stopped and turned around to come back inside and play with her baby brother. A few minutes later this is the scene I saw in the playroom - Zane playing dolls with his big sister. Sabrina is such a good big sister and Zane loves her so very much!

"Daddy said we could!" - July 4

It was nap time for Monique and Zane. Danny was working outside in the yard and the three oldest kids were outside with him. I walked out the back door and was greeted by this sight. Before I could even say anything they all said, "Daddy said we could!" Seeing my kids in the backyard, stripped down to their underwear splashing in a big tub of water has to be one of the funnier sights I have seen in a while!

Soapy Slide - July 2

Danny made the swimming pool extra fun for the kids this afternoon when he put it under our slide and poured some dish soap on the slide. The kids were sliding "super fast" and making huge splashes!

They were all smiles about their bubbly pool!