Celebrate Early!

We are beginning to celebrate everything a little early around here

&& I like it!

You know how I mentioned that I had the greatest friends in the entire world? It's true. They are. I told Daniel yesterday after my very pregnant friend brought this gorgeous bouquet of flowers and gifts that I hoped that my friends wanted to do these things for me because I treat them just as well. I pray that I can bless each of them the way that they daily bless me!

Celebrating Mabel is becoming more and more fun each day! I forgot how wonderful and lovely it is to have a baby girl. A newborn filled with pinks and flowers!

Becky is having her 3rd boy, so I hope she enjoyed making this bouquet for Mabel as much as I enjoy looking at it. And no, I'm not taking it apart. Not just yet.

It's the center piece to our kitchen counter for now...

Thank you, Becky, for thinking of me. For loving me on the bad days through this journey and for growing with me in this friendship! I am blessed by you more than you will ever truly know!

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Another thing we began celebrating a little early?

4th of July of course!

I finally found one thing that shines as bright as the redhead's hair...

A nearby town had their fireworks show last night and even though we didn't know about it until last minute, we were excited to take the kids! Uncle Jake met us there...
...We caught lightning bugs...
...stayed just as ornery as ever...

...posed for a few family pictures...

...turned into the 'real buzz lightyear!'...

...sang the national anthem...

...and got REALLY excited when the fireworks finally started...

...we enjoyed one another...

...and sat barefoot, or course...

...my girls & I cuddled a bit...

...and tried to remember the reason for the celebration...

It was a great night with a few more to follow!

More fireworks tonight & tomorrow. A cookout and family. Wearing red, white & blue. Focusing on our God & our country. Remembering those who serve and who have served. Thanking God for our freedom. Our children. Our love.

And enjoying the days of being a young family in America!

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We are heading to Uncle Jake's horse show today. It should be fun. Although I'm not feeling good I am trying to stay busy. Yesterday we took the kids swimming and Braden fell into the pool. He wasn't under long, in reality, but it felt like an eternity. I got to him and pulled him up but not after falling on the concrete first. I skinned my knee a little and twisted my back somehow so I'm in a little more pain than usual which is a major bummer for our 4th of July weekend. But he's safe, and thats all that matters.

I know I never updated about the kids being sick either. We took them to the Dr. on Thursday and they had the same virus that causes Hand, Foot & Mouth disease without the rash on their hands and feet. It's just a virus so because their fevers had already peaked, all we can continue to do is give them tylenol. They are feeling much better, but they both have blisters in the back of their throats so they get pretty cranky every now and then...

This week on my blog look forward to:

"Mom's Say the Darndest Things..."

"Ask the Mailman..."

an update about my induction

and lots of pictures!