Rock Star & Princess Camps

Elle and Emme have had a great summer. Abby (our nanny) has been a wonderful addtion to our daily life and praise the good Lord, she is going to stay through the Fall. The girls are more than excited.

Here are two of the fun things they have done this summer

They went to Princess Camp and Rock Star Camp. Both classes taught them a dance and they made crafts

Here is the group shot for Princess Camp. Elle, Piper, Emme and Lindsay are all on the top row, starting from the left

Lindsay and Elle
The girls being silly in the front yard before camp

Sweet Emme performing the dance

Here is Rock Star Camp. Lindsay and Sydney (in the pink sunglasses) and Elle in the green boa, are all on the top row on the right. Emme is bottom row all the way to the right.

Emme, Elle, Lindsay and Sydney

I set up a mini stage at our house, so they could practice, they loved it!!

Happy Birthday Emme Lee

Well -- Emme is 3! I just can't even tell you how over joyed I am that I have such a sweet and funny little girl in our life. As many of you know, I struggled last year with my relationship with Emme. I was getting very frustrated with her and she really wasn't taking to me. After your prayers and suggestions, we have become so close. Last night, she placed her head on my chest and we watched The Bachelorette together... yes, what a moment ;) But seriously, I was so worried about us being close and forming a bond, and we really have, it's never too late or early to focus on your relationships with your children.

I have learned that Emme is very funny and makes all of us laugh. She is also a fast learner and very athletic. If you could see this child swim -- you would be amazed. She can just about swim the length of the pool. I just have to brag on her, this is my blog, right?

Anyway, enjoy these sweet pictures of her last 3 years of celebration. Again, Praise to God for all of the blessings that Emme has brought to our family.

The day Emme was born. Already bonding with Papa Joe -- a funny "for shadowng" of their current relationship. Emme and Papa Joe are very close.

Happy 1st Birthday! She had her birthday at the local Coppell pool

Happy 2nd Birthday, loved Dora! We had her party at Bedford Splash

Still loves Dora at 3! She also likes Tinker Bell, coloring and candy. We had her party at Flower Mound Waterpark -- do you see a trend here with her parties? Where will we be next year?

Great Long Weekend.. and Yes.. a Pedicure

We had a great weekend full of fun activities to celebrate the 4th. We headed out to Granbury to visit The Burnfield gang.

Yesterday, I had a Holiday day at work, but Abby was still here, so I was able to get some closets organized... and I am now ready for my upcoming Scrapbook Weekend! A bunch of ladies go to my friends house for the weekend and we scrapbook. I got all of my pages ready yesterday and got my supplies. And yes, I finally got my pedicure. I snuck out of the house yesterday several times when the girls were there with Abby. Last night, Elle looked at my toes and said, "mom, when did you get your toes painted?" She was very confused and totally busted me for going to get them painted without her.

Here we are at the Pecan Plantation Street Dance

Elle, Emme, Spencer and Carlee Joe having a great time

Here is Emme at the Parade in Granbury

Spencer and Elle at Lunch

Brad and Joe took the girls fishing, and they had so much fun. I went the next day with them and caught a few my self! We had a net that caught bait fish and then the kids picked up the bait fish and placed them in the bucket.. gross!

Princess Fishing pole caught 3 fishes!

No Bows

Well on Friday I took the girls to get their pictures taken at Studio1 -- and it was amazing. They did a really good job... both the photographer and the girls. The girls wanted their hair down and no bows and no shoes.

Look Who Got A Pedicure....

… not mommy! The girls and their 2nd cousin, Madison, went to Sweet and Sassy last week with their grandma's. The girls love getting pampered… too bad mommy wasn't there too. But that is ok, I was at home catching up on some movies I hadn't seen and starting my tennis lessons.

First off, I am so sore from tennis -- my brain understands the moves and I understand the game, but from my neck down, my body isn't cooperating with where my brain wants to take it. All that being said, I love the lessons and will continue to do them!

This past weekend we went to Conroe to pick up the girls, it was so good to see them, I missed them a ton.

I started my workout at my work gym yesterday and am making an appointment with the trainer this week. I am looking forward to starting my weight loss journey. I really need those prayers that the journey lasts atleast until my friend Stacey gets married in January!! Did I mention that ALL of my friends from high school are skinny??

My little brown child -- look how much sun she got!

nu=32<2>844>;82>WSNRCG=3285<23567336nu0mrj.jpg"> Madison and Elle

Fathers Day at the Yacht Club

Elle and Tommy -- he is so cute!

This is a family pic from the retreat that Stacy took

Stacy took this picture! It is so amazing.

Retreat Recap!

This past weekend we went to our Home Team Retreat -- this is the 7th Annual trip and it was one that stands out for sure! 10 adults and 9 kids headed to Glen Rose and stayed at amazing Ranch and Retreat… First Class all the way! We went to the Dinosaur Park, went swimming at an old fashioned swimming hole and my favorite -- went to Fossil Rim. We literally had Giraffe's eating out of our sunroof. It was amazing! We had our "typical adult parties" at night on the front porch of the Smouse's cabin and had wonderful conversations!

The girls are at Mimi's this week and Joe is out of town too. Last night I took MomO and Grand Lilly out to eat and tonight I am going to go home and watch the end of The Tudors, season 1. I do miss everyone, but it is nice to get some quiet and down time.

MY LIST UPDATE
I wanted to update you on where I am with my list of things to do for myself.

#1 - My tennis lessons were delayed due to that horrible storm that came through, so, I start tomorrow. But, I got a cute pink racket and I am ready!

#3 - I did quit the YMCA, I am just waiting for my membership to start at work

#4 - Abby started and has been such a God thing, what a blessing she is! The girls are having so much fun with her!

#5 - Went to Chicago, it was great and got one training class under my belt. I have 1 more this week, I am teaching Team Leaders how to build strong teams, it is interesting material.

#6 - No mani and pedi yet! I will get to this soon.

Here the girls are at the Dinosaur park, they loved it! Before we went in, Elle said, "I wish I was a boy, then I could like dinos." I told her that many girls like dinos and that it was ok for her to like dinos too -- and then she had so much fun!

Here is the giraffe that came to our car, this was my favorite animal there by far!

Here is the zebra. This one scared me a bit, he kept trying to get in the car!

Here is Elle feeding one of the many deer-looking animals.

Here is Elle at the Ranch looking at the horses. We had dinner Saturday night served from a Chuck Wagon!

Sweet Emme looking at the horsey

Emme and Carson at the BBQ Place on Friday night

Hadley and Elle look like teenagers straight from a teen-movie, just hanging out, saying, ok, what's next?

These kids are so cute! Elle and Emme were the oldest (combine/average ages) of the group, it was kinda crazy having kids younger then them... that is usually not the case! I was extremely proud of all of the children, they did soooo good!

Item # 2 - Complete!

Well, here is my new hair cut. I got about 10 inches cut off and will send it off to Locks of Love.

On Sunday night we had a Goodbye party for our good friends, Andy and Kimia. They are moving to Bahrain (outside of Saudi Arabia). We will miss them so much!!

This past weekend was packed full of fun. Elle and Emme had their dance recital, and they did so good. During the tap performance, Elle did a kick and kicked her tap shoe off into the air. It landed on the stage and her eyes got really big and then looked at me and I said "you can do it, just keep going." And she did! She finished the routine with one tap show, at the end of the performance, I said, Elle, "you did it, the show must go on!" I was proud of her.

They also ended a two week swim lesson and both are doing great in the water and off the diving board.