A Princess and a Bear

 Back in June Ally went to her first ever Princess Dance Camp.  WOW did she have FUN! Every day they sang and danced and had different princess crafts and snacks and she can't wait to go again next year.  Ally didn't want to dress up but she insisted that this pink princess shirt be clean!! (3 of out 5 days isn't bad!) These pictures were emailed to me each afternoon---you know I loved that!

 Silly group shot

 Two princesses

 That same week Ryan did BU basketball camp.  This year he promoted to the 2nd-6th grade camp.  And it's a LOT different than Biddie Ball :(.  Since he was one of the youngest in the group he didn't get a lot of passes but when he did he was making his shots!

 This was his favorite drill of the day.  They called 2 numbers and when your number was called they raced to the middle, grabbed the ball and first one to make a shot got a point.  Ryan won his heat every time.  Love that!!

 His team didn't make it to the "camp finals" and RW was M-A-D!! Mark was telling him it was just a game, but this little guy wasn't having it.  His completive spirit is familiar...:)

Such a great week in this hot summer for my kids and Brady and I loved having some time just the two of us again.  This summer is flying by and we need to cherish each day!!

Letter to Ally

My dear sweet Ally girl, 
We are SO excited to have been witnesses to the day you became a Christian.  My prayer is that you will always remember the day you asked Christ into your heart and that you will cling to this verse throughout your life and never ever question your salvation.  
"Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:39
June 15, 2012

Ally this is your story:
We were sitting on the couch at 9:00 pm after a very long week of Vacation Bible School.  You were wearing your silky hot pink polka dot PJs and We were talking about some kids in Ryan's class (2nd graders) who became Christians at VBS. Out of nowhere you said that you wanted to ask Jesus in your heart.  It came as a little bit of a shock since you were just 5 and 1/2 but you were determined and cute and giggly and very sincere.  You asked what it meant to be a Christian and then you repeated that you wanted to ask Jesus in your heart.  You knew that God loves you, and that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and then rose again so that we can live forever with our heavenly father.  You asked many questions about how God and Jesus are two people but the same people and then you said Jesus had two Daddys. :) You told us that Jesus loves everyone even those who don't love him like King Nebacanezzur.  After we answered all of your questions you repeated a very simple prayer after mommy.  You loved hearing how  "All of heaven rejoiced" at your decision and wanted to know if that scripture was in Psalms or Matthew?:)  (I had to look it up! it's Luke 15:10) you loved hearing how God knows the number of hairs in your head too. And then you guessed probably 20,000.  You immediately ran to tell Big Brother Ryan that you are now a Christian too. His response was "cool":).  We called and texted our family and they all rejoiced right along with us.  
"There IS no greater joy than to know that your children are walking in the truth."

Brady's THREE months!

Our little man is THREE MONTHS OLD today y'all!! And what a great month we've had.  The biggest and best news is that last week he started sleeping through the night.  Can I get a AMEN?!? I honestly feel like a brand new woman.  He continues to be the easiest of my three babies but that may be because I'm much more relaxed this go round.  He still looks like a perfect little mix of my other two babies and he's still off the charts.  He's cooing and singing all the time and he wakes up super happy (unless he's hungry...which happens a lot...I mean you don't that physique by dieting:))

I took some pics before church yesterday with his trusty big bro.  Check out that outfit, he's busting at the seams! 

I think his hair looks a little lighter this week

 I couldn't pick my favorite pic so I chose them all, it is my blog right?

 My precious baby boy.  We love you SO much buddy.

This month flew by.  Slow down summer!

Brothers

 I am so thankful that the Lord blessed us with brothers.  It is a dynamic that I didn't have growing up  so I'm learning as I go about this whole boy thing.  Brady LOVES it when Ryan will talk to him and he follows his every move now.  I also love how protective Ryan already is over his little brother.  And of course there's LOTS of potty humor going on around here with Brady and his many, many dirty diapers :(.  I love these two SO very much and I can't wait to watch them grow up together.

My precious baby bubba

And his older handsome brother

 See how Ryan is making sure he's OK...he checks on him all the time

 Mommy you're so silly :)

ahhh the sweetness is sometimes just TOO much!

Happy Father's Day to the BEST dads I know

 I am incredibly blessed to have such a Godly, wonderful father and husband.  They are very different but both of them love their families with everything they have and I am AMAZED by these men and the leadership they give us.  Thank you Dad and Mark for showing us what it means to be a father.  XOXOXO
On Father's Day this year Kacey hosted us for lunch and it was perfect.  The Warrens invested in a large inflatable waterside for the summer and my children think it's pretty great over there!  It was also nice to have the kids eat and then leave us alone to eat---that was a little fathers day gift in itself :).  After lunch it was onto the gifts.

Dad opening his gift card

Mark reading Ryan's handmade card.  Ryan spent a couple of hours on this and it's a keepsake for sure.

 he also picked this shirt for Mark...Black of course Ry-ry's favorite color

 this pic makes me laugh. Ryan was wet and doesnt really like hugs anyway so this is the awkward side arm hug? whatever works!

 Ally's approach is different...she can't get enough hugs.  Wet or not she was getting her hug!

 And this is from Brady (he was napping the whole time:)).  The perfect gift for one tired Daddy---giftcard to Starbucks!

 Kacey in all her genius had the kids fill out these "all about dad" cards off Pinterest.  One for their dad and one for GP---they were awesomely hilarious and the boys LOVED them!

 Mark's from Ryan 

 and Ally

 Four handsome Daddys

 One of the 100 things I adore about my husband is his sense of humor.  This picture was texted to me one night after I feel asleep on the couch.  My kids ADORE Mark and they think he's hilarious too.

goofballs

 and baby boy also thinks Dada is hilarious! His entire body smiles at Mark...it's So cute.  

Thanks for choosing me to raise these crazy kids with.  I am so grateful for you Mark

Memorial Day at the LBJ

 Since it's almost JULY 4TH!! I figured I needed to post about our last lake trip on Memorial Day weekend.  This is the weekend that I decided to take Ally and Brady and Ryan was hit in the face with the baseball---I'm having flashbacks of that right now---ugh! Any who... my sisters were all there and we had a fantastic couple of days.

Suckers anyone?

Sassy sucker

 crazy sucker

 and silly sucker

 HA!! I mean these Purdy cousins are too much!

Kacey was Killin' IT on the ski :) I didn't even get in the water this trip, which I don't think has ever happened before.  I love being down there whenever we can, it's a very peaceful place for me and my kids LOVE it too!  This week I plan on swimming :).

 Our view from the dock

 A couple of cute Lake Rats

 the AWESOME inflatable airplane.  so. fun.

 Back when Brady was only 8 weeks old...WOW he has grown y'all just wait 'til you see him in that swim shirt now---it barely fits!!!

 my babies

 ahhhh so relaxing

 I'm sorry but are these our BABY girls??? they look SO old here!! 

Can't wait to go back soon