Slow Down

It is amazing to me how quickly our children grow right before our eyes.

My little trio one year ago today

Our little trio celebrating the 4th of July

Just another reminder to not take a minute for granted when raising our kiddos. This precious time, while they are still babies, when we have the most influence on them, the ability to shower them with love and prepare them for the world ahead of them, is so limited. They are growing up so quickly. (yes,  I am having a hard time with knowing my baby  biggest boy will be in big kid school in just a few weeks. I hope his statements of "mommy, I never want to leave you. I will live at your house forever" are true.) Oh Lord, help me to saver every blessed day with these 3.

Cutie Patootie

And this,my friends, is where the term cutie patootie came from......

Gosh that little baby tush is so cute!!!!

(I realize there have not been any pictures or stories of the boys lately....they are in Oklahoma for one last hurray before school starts! Is anyone else having a hard time with realizing our MADD man will be starting kindergarten. I may or may not have stood in the school supply isle at Target with tears in my eye as I gathered supplies for our eldest child)

When the Boys are Away...

The girls will play......princess dress up!

We spent the morning with our cousin Mollie and she LOVED having a girl to play princess with!! Mollie is usually playing super hero or cowboy with our boys, so it was certainly fun for her to play with Harper! Mollie adores our Harper girl and she is always so sweet to her. I can see many more moments like this in our future!!!

Movie Time

One day last week we spontaneously took the kiddos to the movie theater to watch Monsters University. While with 3 little ones, popcorn, drinks, a diaper bag, milk and snacks for Harper can make a trip into the dark movie theater seem a little chaotic at first, it was certainly an enjoyable time for all of us. The show time was right during Harper's nap time; therefore, I spent a good portion of the movie standing in the entry way holding her while watching the movie! It was such a fun time and they boys had a blast. I'm hoping we can do this again soon!!

Unfortunately we only took one picture. Here is Harper at her first movie. The boys were beside Brad munchin down on some popcorn and m&ms. 

My Helper

The other day while loading in the car, I buckled Harper in and was getting in my seat as the boys were getting in their seats. I asked Maddox to please hand Harper her pacifier that she dropped out of her carseat before he got seated. When I turned around to make sure everyone was settled in, this is what I saw:

I guess he was making sure she wouldn't need anything else during the ride. Ha. Bless her heart, she just peeked over the top of the clutter and whispered with her eyes "ssssaaaaavvvvveeee mmmmeeee" Ha. There were 3 pacifiers, a baby doll, Bella (he lovie) and her sippy cup all piled up on her lap. 

Thanks Madd for your help!!!

Thank You Aunt Kim and Uncle Austin

Oh our sweet Aunt Kim, we love you so so much! She called to see if she and Austin could watch Paxton for a few days so he could have some time to play alone!! Paxton LOVES to play alone, and aunt Kim always has a soft spot in her heart to provide him that break!! She and Austin took him to see Dispicable Me2 and he is soaking up all of his alone time! He keeps telling Kim "oh I just love to play by myself" ha. Thank you Kim and Austin for so selflessly loving our kiddos!!!

Karate Kid

Maddox, our little Karate Kid, tested for his yellow belt on Monday. He did great! He is now an official yellow belt and he is one excited little boy! He will now get to learn a new combo and he is super excited about that (I think he was getting a little bored because he wasn't being as challenged...he was ready to move up!)

Great job Maddox!! Keep working hard!

My letter to Harper

My Dearest Harper Grace,
I am sorry my letter to you is a few days past your actual birthday, but I wanted to sit down and write you a note for you to read someday and I hope you catch a glimpse of how much you are cherished and adored as your baby girl.
Happy 1st birthday! I cannot believe it has already been a year since we held you and breathed you in for the first time. I will never forget that day and how your daddy's heart changed in an instance. He melted at the sight of you and your very first pout as you laid on the table getting your vitals taken. (I had already fallen head of heals for you as your growing in my tummy, but no one could have prepared me for the joy I would feel when I held you for the first time. You fulfilled a longing in my soul that I was unaware of. I never knew how much we all needed you in our lives. You have brought so much joy and laughter to our family in your first year of life. You instantaneously became Maddox's very best friend and one whom he truly adores and you brought out a soft side in Paxton that I was unaware existed and your daddy may not tell you this, but he turns to a ball of mush with one simple smile from you. I know the Lord has amazing plans for your life and I pray that He guides me to be the mother you need me to be and I pray when you are much older and out of your teenage years the two of us can become the best of friends. For now, I know my job is to be your mom. To guide you to become the woman you were created to be, but I do look forward to the day when I can sit back and simply be your friend.  My prayer for you is specific. I pray you grow with confidence. I pray you look at yourself and realize how beautiful and special you truly are. I pray you are kind, passionate and determined. I pray that you are surrounded with amazing friends and when the world tells you to be a "mean girl", I pray you maintain your sweet and kind spirit. I pray you come to know the Lord at a very early age and you live your life serving him. I pray you make wise choices and you work hard at everything you try. I pray you know that your daddy and I support you and we are always on your side. We love you Harper Grace. You have forever changed our lives and softened our hearts.

Happy Independence Day

Happy Independence Day! I hope you all had a wonderful day with family and friends celebrating our fantastic Nation!! We had a great low key day with just our little family of 5. We went downtown for a little while to see the 4th on Broadway festivities, enjoyed a long nap, swam, ate watermelon and waiting to watch some fireworks. I personally have never seen more fireworks than we did this year. We drove down a dirt road in the Ranger and we could see all around the flatlands of Lubbock. We saw about 6 different firework shows at the same time. It was amazing and the kids loved it. When we came home, all of our neighbors were out in their front yards lighting their own fireworks. It was so much fun! I sure do love living "outside of town".

Oh the sassiness in this little girl

My oh my, how different this year was from the last!

Birthday Bash for our Little Lady

Harper Grace in her birthday party outfit!

We decided to do a joint 1st birthday party for Harper and my nephew Henley. They were born 3 days apart and it just seemed apporpriate to celebrate their birthday's together. Growing up, Jason (my brother) and I always wanted our kids to be close we could have never expected them to be this CLOSE. What a special bond these two kiddos will share some day!!

The theme for the party was "Little Man and Little Lady" We decorated with mustaches and lips and Brad's mom made AMAZING High Heel cupcakes! The party was perfect! Harper and Henley had a great time and certainly felt loved on their special party day!!

Time to open Presents

Maddox to the rescue! Madd ran off to get his toy plastic knife to help open a box for sister. So sweet

Time for Cake

Not too happy that his cookie was finished!

CAKE!!!!!!

Sweet cousins

Mustache and Lips shenanigans 

The adorable party outfits

It was a fantastic party for two very special one year olds!! Happy 1st Birthday Henley and Harper!