This Morning...and other

Matching Mommy and Daughter...a FABULOUS birthday present!
This is how I have to do most of the cooking in the kitchen! She loves to hold onto my legs. I LOVE it!
Kaden's first day of first grade...this picture taken as we frantically ran out the door so we wouldn't be late! :)
Giving flowers to his new teacher
Showing his ships badge (they have a nautical theme this year) So excited...in fact he tells me at night, "I didn't think about you all day!" :)
Came home from a run and found Kensie decked out. Daddy likes to dress me up!
Pretty in Pink
Showing off her toy

Just a few pictures from this morning...the pink ones...and then a few from this week. Seems like this week wen't by quickly even with Kaden only having 3 days of school and then a break for testing. Next week will be the full 5 days. Just enjoying a slow weekend and the sounds of happy children playing!

Ashamed...but still here

Kensington looking the part at the Flying W Ranch
Sheriff Kensie locking up the outlaws
Walking through the Garden of the Gods
Precious Boys

I feel ashamed to even get on here and call myself a blogger. It has been so long since I've taken the time to get on here, but just wanted to pop in and say hello to anyone still out there! We have had a busy but blessed summer with family vacation and family visits and just being available for what God has for us day to day. Kaden starts school tomorrow so our world is about to get a lot more routine but we are looking forward to what God has planned for us...just going to take it one day at a time! Caleb starts pre-school in about 3 weeks and is ever so anxious to have his own school and friends! Kensington is 16 months old and quite the independent little girl. We fall more in love with her every day and are just so thrilled with all the little things she is learning to do...except for maybe playing in the potty!

Now I'd like to promise that I'll be more faithful to blog more often, but I will only promise to try! Have a great start to the school year everyone!

Boys Club

Boys club headquarters... the donut store
Lake Amistad
Nothing like throwing rocks in the lake
Hike through the desert

One of the things that Kaden and Caleb look forward to the most when seeing Papa is the "Boys Club". Papa started this on one trip to California, as just a special time for just the boys to get to go do cool boy things. The boys had several boy club meetings this time in Del Rio: donuts, picnic, hiking, ice cream, and more donuts. Here's just a couple shots of their time hiking around Lake Amistad and of course eating donuts. :) We miss you Papa!

Cousins...in matching pajamas

Riley and Kensington So happy!
They LOVED to bonk heads together

Time for a close up
Happy Girls!

I am so SO thankful for the time we got to spend in Del Rio and it was such a blast to watch these two cousins together. Admitadly, they weren't always the best of friends...Kensington tends to be quite the bully....but they did love each other, and especially loved bonking their heads together and giggling. :) Whatever makes you happy! I couldn't resist dressing them in their matching pajamas so we will have something to torture them with someday. :) Just love these pictures!

Kindergarten grad...now that it's summer

The serious graduate
Proud of big brother
Proud of my baby...and a little teary too
Kaden and his teacher

To my badly neglected Blogger Friends,

Just popping in again to say hello and let everyone know that I'm sorry it's been a while....then again this sadly seems to be the new norm. Life keeps getting in the way of my down time! :) However, since I have a few quite moments tonight thought I would at least get a few pictures up from Kaden's kinder graduation. He had a lot of fun that day and although Matt thinks it's ridiculous that they play pomp and circumstance, I still got all teary. Hard to believe he's headed into first grade all ready. Guess that's what every mom says at this stage but it's so true!

In other news we are home from vacation and getting settled into routine. The difficulty of this is being compounded by Kensington walking and crawling up the stairs fast at any given time! So hard to get anything done when all eyes and hands have to be there for her at all times! Nap time has become very precious! Love all of these precious moments though and so thankful for them. I've promised a video of her walking so will try to get that up here soon. So until next time...whenever that may be.

Jesus loves you!

Still here...

Still enjoying our time in Del Rio...yes ENJOYING our time in Del Rio. We stay in until we pull out the plastic pool for splash time in the afternoon, just so thankful to have the time with family. Every moment is precious. Such a precious blessing to watch the bond form between my children and my parents. So thankful for the love that God gives us for one another. Right now...Dad and mom are at work, Kensington and Caleb are napping, and I'm enjoying listening to Matt read the 4th Chronicles of Narnia to Kaden. Nothing like seeing the light of imagination spark in Kaden's eyes as he retells the stories and I'm so blessed to watch his faith deepen as he sees the comparisions of Aslan and Jesus. Thank you Lord for the daily blessings, the intimate moments of grace and mercy, and Your love so incompariable.

speaking of birthdays...

Is it this normal to be this paranoid about turning 30! :) Wishing I could slow down the next 11 days!

Birthday and Giraffes?

Matt and his Lego man birthday cake! :)
Party time...arguing over who gets to eat what Lego man body part. :)
Feeding the giraffe

Love the look on Kensie's face here. :)
Mama and baby...amazing how big this baby is yet how small he looks.

So....it's been a while. We've had a lot of stretching that the Lord is doing in our lives and I'm holding on to knowing that no matter what comes His name is to be Praised. Thankful for His grace and mercy each and every day. That being said...it'll be a while again as we soon head down to Texas! So looking forward to time with family. But know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers! May God continue to guide and keep you!

Birthday for a Princess

Kensington and her Castle
First time meeting Mickey and the only child that hasn't screamed doing so
Peekaboo with Minnie
Group photo for the day
Waiting to see the Princesses...and playing with their princesses all day...I just love Caleb's crooked ears!
We got to meet Cinderella, Snow White, and Aurora...and by far Aurora was Kensie's favorite...so we have the Aurora dress...which she will fit in when she's 3!
Mickey again...can never get to much Mickey
This girl LOVES her princesses! Whenever she sees them she starts rocking back and forth and singing "Ahhhhh Ahhhhh Ahhhh" like Ariel!
Happy Birthday girl
Kaden- Jedi warrior
After defeating Darth Mal
Riding in the front of the mono rail...And Gracyn admiring her Cinderella gloves! :) She loved being all dolled up.
Sleepy Princess!
With Uncle Jedrix and Aunt Lisa in the tea cups
On the Jungle Cruise
Just to prove I did go on Small World...again
You can't tell but she actually loved Small World
A birthday cupcake
And the end...conked out...except for Kaden and Matt who took us back to the hotel and then went back for more!

So...way behind on pictures and since I still haven't taken any pictures of the house...maybe this weekend...thought I'd at least get up the pictures from Kensington Disney Birthday. It was the perfect first princess birthday! Loved it and so thankful for the sweetest friends to spend it with.