I had a great day just hanging with my girls....we had a lazy day.  After work we went to the library and then just relaxed.  We read some books and watched Good Luck Charlie, but best of all we just got to be together and talk.  We have been running crazy all summer and this day was perfect.  FINALLY making time to enjoy my time.  

Blog catch up

I need to work on blogging consistently!!!  We've been busy with the end if the school year, graduations, baseball and enjoying our summer with all my favorites...cookouts, summer sunsets and family time!!! So here's to playing catch up and I hope to get better with my blogging ALL my blessings!!  SO bear with me because I can't promise consistent consistency...but i will TRY!!!!!  Happy Summer!

My JOY

My angel baby is growing up too fast.  We had a great weekend and I took her to see Soul Surfer.  I cannot believe she will be a 5th grader.  I LOVE U KENZ!

My chef

Kenz LOVES coming up with new recipes and I LOVE having her help me in the kitchen.  She amazes me with her ability to taste EVERY ingredient I put in my  meals.  I think she is going to be a talented chef one day.  BUT if she ever decides to go on a chef reality show she is going to have to speed up her salad making! :) LOVE you kiki!!!

Jesus Calling

I am so thankful for this little devotion book.  Kenzie not only LOVES devouring every page BUT I have enjoyed it as well.  It could not have been given to her at a better time.  I am in awe of how each day speaks to EXACTLY what she is thinking about or going through on that day.  It gives her exactly what she needs.  I am also AMAZED at how she says "Hey mom listen to what I read today..." and I CANNOT believe how it speaks specifically to EXACTLY what I needed to hear as well. LOVE IT!!!!

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

Playing catch up once again.  It has been a BUSY few weeks.  We put our house on the market, we have been dealing with some minor sickness and just the stress of that and everyday living had me feeling CRAZY.  BUT I got to spend a weekend in the OKC with a group of girls from my Wed. night bible study.  It was a great time. Plus, it helped me remember to TRUST in God, he has my whole world in his hands.  I am LOVING deeply, LIVING abundantly and LAUGHING often.  I am writing the story of my everyday life knowing I have a guaranteed HAPPY ENDING...and she lived, laughed and loved HAPPILY EVER AFTER.     

Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.   Proverbs 3:5-6

family time at the land

I love driving out here to play, hike, explore, off rode and JUST BE with mi familia.  We had so much fun. It is such a great time to just get away and that is exactly what we needed.  I cherish this good, quality time that we share.  It is GOOD for the SOUL.

MY DRUMMER

Kenz has LOVED watching the GIRL drummer in our church band and she soon began DRUMMING on EVERY surface she could find to any song she had heard.  SO we started her in drum lessons at amarillodrumlessons.com  She has LOVED it.  She isn't too excited about PRACTICING.  It has been a struggle to get her to understand that it doesn't just come NATURALLY.  SO after she had to use HER money to pay for half the drum lessons she has been better about practicing.  Her piano teacher at school has even seen an improvement in class. YAY Kenz I am so proud of you...keep up the hard work! 

cooking 101

We have been doing LOTS of REAL cooking around here lately.  I've been inspired by my new FAVORITE cookbook by the Pioneer Woman  AND I have been inspired to get my girlies involved and spend a little time teaching them how to cook.  Kenz (my chef) is all for it, Kait (my DIVA) likes it for a bit, but she would rather HAVE a chef than BE a chef.  BUT no matter if my girls take the "domestic" route or some other route I hope they can at least make a good meal if they decide to.  BUT even if none of these skills stick, I am grateful for the time it has given us to be together in the kitchen.  

all pics edited with Paint the Moon actions.  SO awesome and easy!

Family Time

I LOVE having time with my family.  We had a great day.  We took a long ride in the jeep enjoying a beautiful spring day.  Then we had a picnic at the park with fried chicken, mashed potatoes, cole-slaw (for Brenton) and fried okra (for Kenz) We fed the ducks, had "wheel barrel" races and ENJOYED time as a FAMILY!  SO BLESSED! 

mi hermana

It's hard to believe this girl use to always get in my STUFF, she was always being overly dramatic, and on my nerves( I mean she DID cut a BIG hole in my waterbed with scissors)....but then we grew up and became BFFs. She amazes me with her patience & her energy.  She is a beautiful, smart, strong woman that can do anything she wants to BUT she doesn't always know that.  She works so hard and does SO much for her BOYS!  She has amazing kids and it is all because of who SHE IS!  She is SO good to my girls and they LOVE her SO much! I am very thankful for MI HERMANA!!!!  LOVE you GIRL!!

Take the time

Did you ever notice that all the great things you did as a kid are SUPER great de-stressers for adults???  How great is it to come home after a long day and build a spaceship out of legos, play a game of basketball or COLOR til your heart's content!  This time with Kait was exactly what I needed. I am going to add these fun times to my to do list every day.  Maybe tomorrow I can play a game of tether ball with Kenz..... 

HAPPY BDAY Masyn

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...the DOUBLE DIGITS!  WOW!  It seems like yesterday that you and Kenzie were crawling around together making trouble. I love that you are both so close (usually) :)  You have no idea how much she lovES you!

I LOVE that you are who you are and you don't care what anyone else thinks.  You have amazing ARtisTIc abilities as well as astonishing mathematical & engineering gifts.  I am in awe of how you can teach yourself anything and how you excel in all your gymnastic endeavors!  You are going to excel in EVERYTHING but don't forget those who loved you first! :)  LOVE U Mas....HAPPY 10 YEARS!

Kenzie

This girl has NATURAL talent in all she does.  At nine years old she can pick up a camera (on the creative settings) and ROcK out amazing focus, depth of field and composition. I am JEALOUS!  She loves cooking up new and delicious recipes and if she feels like trying...she is an awesome drummer and athlete.  SHE ROCKS!!!  She is so strong and so passionate but so fragile.  I HOPE to teach her to TRUST but be SMART, to never run from LOVE but be CAUTIOUS, to STAND up for others BUT don't rely on them to STAND up for you.  I HOPE she is KIND, BUT FIRM.  I don' t want her to fail BUT I want her to learn from her mistakes.   I want her to be FRIENDS with everyone BUT I want her to choose her friends wisely. 

 "SO many different prayers I pray for all that you might do...I PRAY that God will fill your heart with dreams, and that faith gives you the courage to DARE to do GREAT things,  I am here for you whatever this life brings.  So let my LOVE give you ROOTS and help you find your wings.

May passion be the wind that leads you through your days and may conviction keep you strong, guide you on your way...It's not LIVING if you don't REACH for the sky.  I'll have tears as you take off but I'll cheer as you  FLY!"" - Find Your Wings by Mark Harris

 I know you will do great things U B U!~   Be who God created you to be. 

I love you KENZ!

Family Dinners

It is very important to me to have a sit down dinner every night with my family.  It gives us time to connect and invest in our daily lives. Most of the time it may be frozen pizza or 8 min pastas between church, drum lessons, ballet or softball BUT I am so thankful for that time as a family. I hope we can continue this tradition even when life gets crazier and schedules are even more demanding.  I believe it instills a greater confidence in my kiddos and a closer bond between each one of us.  NO MATTER where your family sits for dinner, or what is on the menu, I hope you ALL can be TOGETHER!

I LOVE him

I LOVE HIM!!!  For everything he has been, for everything he is and for everything he will be. He amazes me and I am so thankful for him.   

SISTERS

Sisters...they don't know how lucky they are.   Right now, they fight about EVERYTHING.  They are COMPLETE POLAR OPPOSITES...but my fav thing is when I see my tough girl, tom boy showing her girly girl side & when my girly girl shows her tough, tom boy side.  I am so blessed by them BOTH!!!!  I LOVE my GIRLIES!!!!

Tyler Blake birthday photo shoot

We did a quick photo shoot to celebrate his 14 years...not as HOLLYWOOD as he would have liked but at least I got him with his phone...  I cannot believe he is 14.  I can remember 14 and he is NOT old enough to be 14!!!  I was old and mature and....oh yeah...I am still not mature????  BUT I thought I was then! :}  I can remember taking this cute little baby, (even more handsome with glasses) shopping with me and listening to his HIGHLY intelligent conversations (even at 1yr old) and we both loved singing along to Garth and Dixie Chicks!!  Ty, I can't believe you are 14!!!!!  You STILL AMAZE me and I am SO PROUD of you!  You are so handsome and kind and you have an amazing drive...let's face it you are just like your aunt (PRACTICALLY PERFECT in EVERY WAY) HAHA :)  SO DREAM BIG...but don't let it go to your head!  I LOVE YOU!