cousins...

or as addie would say, "cugins"!

the girls love their cugins and we're so thankful they live close enough to enjoy.

adeline talks about them everyday, prays for them every night and misses them SO much when she's away from them. 

here are a few shots of some of the fun we had with them easter weekend

ella had a great time at her birthday party. 

she loved seeing her favorite california friends.

she laughed when everyone sang to her.

she took 2 bites of her cake!

she smooched and squeezed her new baby!

Happy Birthday Sweet Ella!

one year ago today our precious ella was born.

she's such a wonderful little addition to our family.

she loves her sister (whom she calls "buba"),

she squeezes her momma,

she plays with her daddy.

she adds such joy to our lives & is a constant reminder of the kindness of our God to give us such a perfect gift in ella.

everyday we get a clearer picture of who she is, what she likes & the little lady she is becoming.

when i saw her face a year ago i didn't think it was possible to love her any more than i did at that moment,

now i know that was just the beginning.

she steals my heart a little more each day.

i love you sweet lolly bird!

Hungry Creatures Everywhere!

tonight adeline was eating her very favorite potty training reward when she had to go potty so she quickly put her treats on the bench and we went to the bathroom. when i returned (after less than one minute) this is what i found... 

and when ella realized i was about to take them away this is what she did... she's so funny! 

we have been growing strawberries since the fall and just when one of them is about to turn red our pesky squirrel eats it. we've been very sad about our poor strawberries, then tonight adeline and i found 21 strawberries almost ready for picking! she was so excited. 

here is the biggest and reddest of them all. i think we'll pick it tomorrow, hopefully before the hungry squirrel or even hungrier sister gets it!

Oh So Sorry...

i've been a bad blogger. i'm sorry that i've been silent for so long! here are three short updates on what's been happening with our sweet girls. sorry for the lame overview but now that i'm up to date i'll be more faithful! enjoy!

Adeline is Growing Up...

adeline is such a big girl who loves big girl things. she loves pillow parties in the living room where she stays up really late (7:30!), eats treats & watches a bit of a movie with me & austin...

she enjoys eating her ice cream very slowly, savoring every bite...

she's a pro at using the big girl potty in her potty training wonderland...

she is a very sweet hostess when she invites people to visit her in her play house...

she laughs at the most appropriate things, even when reading...

she goes to bed like a big girl...

she has a great time playing with her little friend, daniel. 

she's our very sweet little addie and she makes us laugh daily. she loves Bible time and can retell every story we've taught her. she is sweet to her sister and loves her family. she talks like a champ and tells us exactly what she thinks about almost everything. we love her more every day!

Our Little Birdie!

ella's favorite things are: chasing us as fast as she can,

eating like a big girl,

kisses from pappa,

playing on momma's bed,

making faces,

her hanna,

and spending time with her "twin"!

she's turned into such a lady. she's changed so much since my last post. she got her first tooth on thanksgiving day, started crawling on the 2nd of january, talks up a storm and gives really juicy smochers! she's our sweet birdie and as her first birthday rounds the corner her little preferences and personality become clearer every day. we love her so much and can't believe how blessed we are to have her!

The Girls Love...

spending time together, reading, playing & cooking in the kitchen!

they love every minute they spend with their dad

and they love visits with family