Welcome to the family, Bella!

Meet Bella, our newest family member. We surprised the girls tonight with this little eight week old kitten. Some friends of ours found her in their backyard. She is really cute and very playful. Our cat, Kathy, isn't too happy with the situation. She'll come around sometime. The girls were really excited and lavished the love upon her. For now, her home is confined to the master bathroom. We'll keep her in here until she and Kathy get better acquainted. She seems pleased with her new surroundings and toys!

Rebekah Funny...

Rebekah has been saying the funniest thing lately. When ever she does something she knows she is not supposed to be doing, she says, "My feets were telling me to do...." She has been blaming everything on her "feets" and it cracks us up.

For example, she kept getting up from her bed when she had been told several times, "Do NOT get out of bed. GO TO SLEEP!" When she got up and came in to where we were, she said, "I not get up, but my feets made me come in here."

When she is done eating she will say, "My feets say my tummy is full!"

She will tell us she did not sleep well because her "feets kept talking to her and keeping her awake."

I wish I could remember them all - this is something I definitely don't want to forget. Another great reason for this blog!! Hope it made you smile today...

Just An Update...

I really need to get back into the swing of updating my blog more often. The summer has really gone by fast. June was really HOT and July has been warm, but fairly wet. We'll see what August brings us soon!

I enrolled the girls in gymnastics this summer. They both love their classes and we plan to continue them in the fall. This has given them something to look forward to each week. Each week they have spent a few days with my mom, "Granna", and it has been nice for them and yet another thing to look forward to each week.

This past Sunday, we took Rachel to my mom's for the week. She is going to a music camp at my mom's church every morning. Betty (my mother-in-law) and Rebekah joined them at my mom's house yesterday. They stayed last night and tonight there. Betty and Rebekah come back home in the morning. Jon Paul and I had the house to ourselves for two nights! I don't think we have been in our own home alone with each other in over two years! It has been nice and wonderfully quiet!!

This past Saturday night, Jon Paul, myself, my sister Cynthia, her husband Randy and my mom all went to the American Idol concert here in Little Rock. We got to see our very own American Idol, Kris Allen. It was a wonderful concert, very entertaining - despite the screaching girls behind us that spilled their coke all over our feet. We even got an up close glimpse of Kris as he walked right in front of us into the suite that his parents were in. Turned out, their suite was right behind our seats! It was a fun night! I'll post some pics once I get them from my sister. She took her fancy camera and got some great shots. She is supposed to be sending me a CD with all her pictures on it. I'll be sure to post some when I get it!

We still have some fun activities planned before school starts. I can't believe we are just three weeks from the first day of school! Rachel starts second grade on August 19th and Rebekah will start her Pre-K on August 20th! It is really going to be quiet around here with both of them gone all day. But I know I will be busy getting involved in both of their classrooms.

Well, that is about it for now. I'm sure I'll have some more exciting stuff to blog about soon. You'll just have to be sure to come back and see what's going on!!

A Princess Kind of Day!

Happy (Late) Birthday Rachel!

My first born turned seven years old this past Thursday, July 2nd. We've been so busy that is has taken me this long to get a post up. I wish I had done it earlier and let it autopost, but oh well. If I had, then you wouldn't get to see these great birthday pictures.

We started her birthday with opening all of her family gifts. Grandpa and Granna came over to watch. Mommy and Daddy got her one of the Just Like You American Girls dolls. She was so excited. The rest of the family pooled their money and we were able to get her several outfits, a trundle bed and some accessories. She has decided to name her doll, Jessica - which means "gift" - since she was her birthday gift. Smart girl!

After opening the gifts, we took Rachel to the church for the Thurific Thursday activity. They spent three hours playing in the Family Life Center. She had a lot of fun and her friend Jessica came home with us. Jessica and Rachel share the same birthday, only Jessica is one year older. Jessica's parents are Rebekah's Sunday School teachers.

Her party started at 3:00 p.m. and we had it at the Fun Factory of Cabot. It is a Jump Zone knock off. After a rocky start and argument with the owner, we ended up having a great time. Rachel loved it and had a wonderful time with all of her friends. She received some more great gifts and ate some yummy cake. Brandy at The Littlest Cake Shop made it for us. She did a wonderful job!

Rachel, in honor of your birthday, here are seven things I love about you!
1. I love that you are now my sister in Christ since you asked Jesus into your heart.
2. I love your servant heart. You were so nice to serve all of your party guests their cake and water, even when we said you didn't have to do it.
3. I love reading to you. I love reading the American Girl books to you. I hope we can continue these special times.
4. I love to hear you laugh. Your laughter is one of the sweetest sounds I know - especially when we play the tickle game.
5. I love your kind heart. I love how you are friends with people that don't have many friends. You are sensitive to their needs and hurt when they hurt.
6. I love seeing and hearing you read. I love to read and I hoped that you would learn to love to read as much as I do. You read 51 books this past June and I am so proud of you!
7. I love watching you and Rebekah playing. You are a great big sister and I have seen you teach Rebekah so much. Keep setting a good example and I hope you and her are best friends forever.

Here are some pictures of Rachel's special day. Enjoy!