Hay Bales

They have always been a "big deal" to our family.

When Jeff was younger this is what he spent his summer's doing.

He would work all day hauling hay bales and this summer Slade has shown an interest for them. He's been asking questions and wanting to stop and touch them!

There are lots of them around where my mom lives and the other day on our way back to her house, we stopped!:)

Slade was SUPER excited!!!

She was just enjoying running in the field!

I love her "LOVE" for outdoors and adventure!

They were about 12 hay bales in a row and they were running them but these 2 had a big gap so Alex would stop and swing Slade across.

Slade LOVED it!

Crys & her mini me!:)

Taking a rest from all the running!

Sometimes its the unplanned stops that are so fun and memorable.:)

Colored Rice

Well, I have recently become addicted to a website called Pinterest!

It's filled with so many crafty ideas and just plain awesome stuff.

While browsing I came across this awesome idea, colored rice!

One of my summertime goals is to make something fun with Slade every week!

I try to keep our days filled with valuable time together and since little sister likes to sleep in until 10:00 it gives us plenty of time for some one on one mommy/son time!:)

This was so simple and Slade had so much fun!

We started off with lots of rice!

AND food coloring. I wish I had bought 2 of these to make the coloring a little brighter but it still turned out great!:)

He poured 1 full bag into the pot.

He was having so much fun!

He thought this step was so cool.

Watching the rice turn from white to yellow, blue, red, & green!

We then poured each one onto brown paper bags and let them sit for an hour for drying.

This step he didn't like so much!:)

He was super excited about what we had made that he couldn't wait for Honour to see it!:)

...they have a blast playing with it!

Colored Rice!

A GREAT outdoor toy!:)

Outside Fun!

There's something about sitting outside, soaking up the sun while watching two little ones run around worry free!

Our mornings now pretty much include water, paint, and dirt.

Bubbles are her thing!

She wakes up asking for them and will carry them around all day.

Thank you for spill proof holders!:)

She is helping me realize it's okay to make messes in order to have fun!

AND her motto truly is, "Doing things the simple way is too normal"

My sweet boy!

He tried to paint himself like his sister but this was the best he could come up with.:)

These two are my life and I am so thankful that I am able to spend my mornings watching them run and play!

This is going to be a GREAT summer!

Having two is so much fun and I know that Slade is enjoying his little sister!:)

She LOVED every minute of it!:)

Daddy & Legos

Legos are the going thing around our house!

We have all kinds! Regular legos, police legos, firetruck legos, & LOT'S of Star Wars legos!

Slade has recently picked up on the fact that Northpark has a Lego store and now every time I mention were going to the mall he quickly asks which one. When I reply with Northpark he says, "I LOVE Northpark", Ha! He LOVES the lego store!

Every time we go in and buy something daddy gets the privilege of putting it together when we get home!:)

AND, you can't forget the popcorn!:)

Slade is an awesome lego supervisor, Ha!

Nothing better than popcorn and legos!

He's a boy with an imagination! I love it!

All finished!!

Sometimes legos can be a little stressful especially when you have a little sister who likes to steal your little guys and take them apart BUT when I see the smiles that come with a finished piece and all the fun he has with them makes it all worth it!

Being a mommy

The greatest job there is...

I have to often remind myself of this as my days are consumed with snacks, toys, messes, & crying and the everyday routines of two children.

My passion for 2011 is to be the BEST mommy that I can be as I am helping them become who God created them to be!

I've recently been reading "You are Captivating" and "Bringing up Boys" - I LOVE that I have been blessed with both boy & girl.

Each one of them different but yet similar in so many ways!

During this week of being trapped in the house I've gotten to see a friendship being developed between Slade & Honour that sometimes I'm too busy to see!:)

Today Slade & Honour were playing in his room and as I entered to put some clothes up I was blessed with a sweet moment,

Honour walks over to Slade gives him a hug and says, "I love you"!

Made me smile and reminded me this job I do as a mom - it's amazing!!:)

My boy...

He has a way of taking ALL my energy!:)

*SMILE*

Boys: when they do things that irritate you--and they will--smile,

from "You are Captivating".

This was good for me to read ... I think I'm going to post it somewhere, Ha!

LOVE HIM!

My girl...

She has a way of making herself known!

She can be so sweet and dainty and then turn around and hold her own in a wrestling match with her brother!:)

LOVE HER!

-----------------------------------------------------------

I love being a mom!

I love watching them interact all while developing a great bond AND as their mom I want to make sure that I am always there in the big & small moments!:)

The Tooth

It happen!

One of my biggest fears.

Honour's right front tooth, chipped!

After many tears and feeling sick to my stomach I came to terms that my baby girl wasn't going to be flawed forever and that she was still just perfect in my eyes!

AND I know looking back years from now,

I will laugh that she was the one to put me through this!:)

She is so different than her brother!

So, a chipped tooth! Well, lets just say it kind of fits her, Ha!

Christmas Fun, 2010

Christmas this year was so much fun!

We started off our Christmas fun going to the Gaylord Ice with the Dekold's.

It was really crowded but we still had a great time. The boys had so much fun even though they could hardly move in the big coats!

They really enjoyed going down the ice slide!:)

We enjoyed all the ice and then had a great time just hanging out around the hotel & going to see the big gingerbread house!

Watching the trains!

This year Slade was all about "trains" so we thought it would be a great idea to take him to the trains at Northpark.

Slade & Honour both had a great time! I enjoyed so much watching them get so excited together about all the trains!:)

Christmas Eve

We always start the evening off by going to church and remembering the real reason that we celebrate! Then afterwards we head to Dallas for a Mexican Christmas! We get to eat yummy tamales and hang out with family.

Our family at church on Christmas Eve.

Honour is funny when it comes to guys she wont let them hold her. However, she loved my cousin. She studied him forever and then she finally reached out for him.

It was pretty sweet and he was so happy!:)

Christmas morning we headed to the Fire Station to see Uncle Josh.

Slade was super excited about going to see the "firetruck". Uncle Josh even gave us a ride in it and turned the sirens on. Slade thought it was all just awesome!

Then it was time to go to my mom & dads for Christmas lunch and present opening!

Honour was trying to figure out what was going on & poor baby she was coming down with the stomach virus Christmas Day.

After she opened all her presents she spent the rest of the time sleeping.

Christmas this year with Slade was so much fun!

He was so happy and grateful for everything!

He made sure after he opened each gift from everyone he went and gave them a hug.

It was so sweet!:)

Hope everyone had a blessed Christmas as we did!:)