Kamakaze Walker

This is how Annie walks. She runs and then falls on her face, then gets up and runs again and falls on her face....this video doesn't really capture it but it's the best I can do!


If the video isnt working try the link Annie walking

Catch up

I'm at it again...playing catch up with blog posts!!

Crazy Week

Annie's Party

Easter

Easter

Easter was busy....just like the rest of the week. On Friday night we had a cookout and egg hunt with a bunch of friends. It was so fun and the kids loved playing together.

All the kiddos (minus Annie) ready for the egg hunt!

After eating and the egg hunt, we had a bunny cake!

Look at those beautiful boys

Easter morning the girls opened their Easter basket...serious sleepy faces going on, not sure why...either way it's cute.

After church we went over to The Campbell's house for lunch, and yes....another egg hunt. I cannot believe we didn't get a family picture on Easter. I'm pretty sure that was the first thing I said to Mark that morning "we have to get a family picture!!" Didn't happen....but I did get a cute one of Lucy in her dress

So blessed with a gorgeous girl

Lucy and James watching the chicken "lay" an egg

Lucy trying to figure it out....crack me up.

Egg hunt with Buddy!

My other gorgeous girl with her Pop Pop

I know it seems like Easter was all about the kids and the eggs and the candy....but our service Sunday morning was truly amazing, and every Easter I am more and more amazed at Christ's sacrifice on the cross for us...and more importantly the GRACE that was given to us from the cross. We cannot fathom how much our Savior truly loves us. I am so humbled and grateful for what Easter means, and feel more responsibility than ever to teach our children what Easter means.

Thank you for the cross Lord Jesus! Happy Easter!

Annie's Party

I wasn't planning on having a party for Annie's first birthday, but at the last minute decided I really should do something, because she only turns ONE once, and it is kind of a big deal....I really hate throwing/hosting parties though, so another thing that threw me out of my comfort zone and probably did me some good :)

We just had some family and friends (mainly kids) over to our house for lunch on the Saturday before Easter. We were blessed with a GORGEOUS day, like literally the most beautiful spring day, so we spent the whole time outside.

My beautiful mom with the birthday girl. I could NOT have thrown this party without her help. 

We borrowed a bouncy castle from some friends, and pretty much just let the kids run wild outside. Between the outside toys, the bouncy house, and our swing set, I think they all had a blast.

Parks, Annie's future husband. It's funny because his parents think we're kidding....but we're not.

Love this family!!

Sweet Abbie pushing Annie

Cousins...one day they'll WANT us to take their picture

Annie trying to roll her tongue like Dee Dee does

Heidi had a blast too

Time for cake! Lucy helped her blow out the candles :)

She dug right in. She's not one of those babies who doesn't know what to do with icing. Not sure what that says about my parenting.

Love this picture of Annie and Uncle Jake! WHY is it blurry stupid Nikon???!

After everyone went home, the girls took long naps and Mark and I passed out on the couch and congratulated ourselves on surviving a birthday party....and a year of babyhood for that matter....

I told people not to bring presents, but some people don't obey, so after naps Annie opened some presents :)

Overall, it was a birthday success and I'm glad I took the plunge and invited all those people to my house. Thank you friends and family and everyone who came...we are so grateful for such wonderful people in our lives and in our daughters' lives. We could not have survived Annie's first year without each and every one of you!

Annie Faith

One year ago today, our family was blessed with this sweet miracle....

Annie means "grace, favour". Usually I'm not big on name meanings, but after two miscarriages, we truly felt like the Lord showed His favor on us when He gave us this baby girl. Faith seemed fitting after waiting patiently, in faith, for that grace and favor to be shown.

Oh if we only knew the bounds of grace the Lord was showing us when He created Annie. To say she is a blessing to our family misrepresents the amount of joy she has brought us. She is exactly what we needed, exactly WHEN we needed it. I am so grateful our Heavenly Father knows our hearts, and longs to give us the desire of our hearts.

Annie had a fun day, nothing too out of the ordinary; a play date with big sister's friends, snuggle time with mommy, dinner with our little family, and smiles and laughter along the way. She is a happy, SWEET sweet girl. I call her my little koala bear because when I hold her she hangs on to me like a koala bear does to a tree.

You can't capture this personality on camera....I've tried. I've also tried to catch her walking on camera and video and failed. She takes about 4-5 steps at a time now and then sits down and crawls. Crawling is much faster....and this girl's got places to go.

Her birthday party is Saturday but she enjoyed a cupcake tonight with just the four of us.

Precious Annie,
You bring joy and peace to my heart every. single. day.
I love you with all that I am.
Never stop smiling that sweet smile.
Thank you for being our earthly picture of God's grace and favour.

Happy Birthday!

Crazy Week

I like being home. I am one of those "stay at home moms" who ACTUALLY stays home. If we have one or two events planned for the week, I consider myself fully booked. The past 2 weeks have greatly brought me out of my comfort zone because it has been crazy busy! It's been good for me though, and I know the girls have loved it.....

Lucy's friend Gabby had a tea party at her house for her birthday. Lucy loved being able to dress up, and it was so cute to watch them drink out of the little tea cups. Props to my friend Katie for hosting a tea party while 40 weeks pregnant...(not the one in the picture p.s.)

After they drank enough "tea" they had a dance party....so sweet and hilarious at the same time. Why do all girls LOVE to dress up and dance? Seriously we have a dance party almost daily at our house.

Somewhere in between the tea party and the next event we had a playdate at a friend's house, which I got no pictures of....and then after that, WE GOT A VAN!!!

I know, I know.....spare me the lecture. If you've known me for more than 5 minutes you know I swore up and down I would NEVER own a minivan. Well....that was before I had two kids, and gas prices made me wanna vomit. It's super lame, I've officially lost all my coolness (if I ever had any), and I've already come up with a million names to make fun of myself. However, my life is now 10 times easier, and I freaking love this thing. I'm not sure how I ever lived without power sliding doors.

Let's not spend too much time on the van or I'll realize what a huge dork I am.

Next up.....Easter Egg hunt! Remember that Valentine's party that my friend Leslie planned? Well she's at it again....this time she planned an Easter Egg hunt. Fortunately the weather was beautiful and since it was a week before Easter it had us in the Easter spirit all week.

Showing me her eggs 

Annie found one too....

After all the running around (ok it doesn't seem like a lot but to me it was utter exhaustion and chaos...) we stayed home for a few days to recoup.

Lucy has decided that sitting in the sandbox is more fun than standing.

And on to next week....Annie's birthday and EASTER!