Family Days

The other day was one of the best first days of spring ever.  It was just warm enough to be called "hot" in springtime (but will be longed for come august).  Warm in the sun, but cool in the shade.  It was perfect.  Since we had just spent the whole spring break selling our house, we took the last day to enjoy together, outside as a family.  

We had a picnic outside under the trees.  Of course after 30 minutes of trying to get Harper to focus on eating instead of playing and yelling at the dog to stop trying to eat her food, we just went inside and finished lunch like normal.  But it was nice outside anyways.  

After nap, we went for a bike ride.  That was perfect because it gave just enough wind to keep us cool for the afternoon.  We rode around HV and then ended up at the elementary school playground.  We played there for awhile and then headed home when we were all sweating and exhausted.  Cody pulled Harper in the trailer on the way there, and I did on the way home.  It's hard to pull an extra 50 lbs!  Harper sat back the whole way and cruised around with cheerios and her cool dude shades. 

When we got home, Harper grabbed some water to drink.  And since she was there, we put her to work stacking all the waters in the fridge.  I can't wait till she can actually do chores around the house.  :)

The next day, Taylor and Carleigh spent the night and hung out.  We love having them over because we watch dumb tv/movies, eat dessert, and laugh about dumb stuff all night.  We went shopping for shoes and random stuff.  Taylor and Carleigh showed Harper how to get into some trouble at Target and which shoes were fashionable.

The next day we went to walk around the Shops of Highland Village.  I had a hair appointment and the girls were bored from spring break.  I guess they had a little too much fun while I was gone.  After that, we went to get sushi from a place in Grapevine that the girls had a groupon for.  Let's just say that it was mostly just a chinese food buffet with a little sushi.  And it was a little more like cafeteria food than restaurant food.  We played a game on the way back called "Foods that are better than Asian Top."  

Creeper

Lovey

Avinley's 2nd Birthday

Sweet Avinley Katharine turned two!  

She had a great spring birthday party last weekend and we got to play around and celebrate Avi!

The birthday girl eating her cupcake

Harper REALLY enjoyed her cupcake

Sweet Breken, one of our fav boys. 

(I didn't get a picture of Bane)

During the opening of the presents, Avinley enjoyed every moment.  She really wanted to open the presents and throw away all the trash, so all the other kids wanted to play with her stuff while she was busy.  Finally, Christina sat the kids in front of MMC on her phone.  Brilliant.  That kept them good for the rest of it until food.  

Harper got to enjoy the food.  Katharine had made sure all the food was completely allergy free.  Such a huge thing for us.  Usually she doesn't get to eat the same foods as everyone else!  Then while all the adults cleaned up the room, all the kiddos ran around like crazy.  It was a great birthday party.  

Avi's hair is long enough for a bow!

Harper patting Avi's back

Happy Birthday Avinley!  We love you!

The Circus with Ryder and Ellie

We went to the Shriner's Circus in Frisco with our friends Kelli and Ryder and Ana and Ellie.  Ana found tickets on groupon and we all decided to try it out.  It was a smaller circus, and it was close by, which was good because we didn't know how our sweet babies would do at the circus.  Thankfully, they did alright, but we all left halfway through because it was a little long.  

When we first got there, all the kids got to walk around and see all the animals.  You could ride ponies, pet the dogs, meet some clowns, etc.  Sadly, we are all too cheap to pay an arm and a leg for a pony ride, plus our kids were all a little freaked out anyways, so we just walked around.  

Because it was in Frisco at the Dr. Pepper Arena, it was a smaller place and we got much better seats.  We sat on the 3rd row, but it was funny because all of the seats around us were completely full even though 50% of the whole arena was empty.  So our kiddos had to sit on our laps the whole time, which they did ok but got a little restless.  Harper loved being in the middle because she could hold onto Kelli and Ryder with one hand and Ana and Ellie with the other.  She's very into holding hands these days.  

This was the only picture we could get of her with a clown.  She really wanted NOTHING to do with them.  But they kept persisting, trying to give her a sticker and a hug.  Sorry fellas, she's like her mama in that clowns are creepy...

The circus was good.  They had camels and lions that ran around, dogs that jumped through hoops, and  tons of acts.  All these people that juggled, swung on a trapeze, twirled in the air by their hair, and danced with animals.  The best act was the elephant though, he was pretty amazing.  

We have a great time with friends.  It'll be fun to see who Ryder asks out first, Harper or Ellie...  :)  

On the way home, it was way past naptimes and Harper made it until we got 1 mile from home before melting down.  But it was worth it.  I think she is in love with circus animals.  

Easter isn't about Bunnies

I just got home from Target.  It was late and I could only pick one store, so Target usually ends up being my one stop shop for most things.  I needed to get Harper some tights in case it's cold on Easter morning and a small Easter gift.  I found the Easter section and after much searching, found NOTHING I wanted.  NOTHING about Jesus, God, Resurrection, or the Church.  I know they aren't a Christian company, but nothing?  It was just a little shocking.  It's a religious holiday.  How can America celebrate a religious holiday with no religion?

It reminded me that we live in a place where that is totally normal.  Celebrating holidays about the Savior even when we don't believe in or trust in that same Savior.  I've been thinking a lot about Jesus and this world.  We live in a broken world, a sinful world, a world full of junk.  And people that live in this world are incomplete, they are ashamed of their sin, they are looking for God without knowing it but they are looking for answers in earthly things.  And it breaks my heart when I talk with these people because I know their feeling of unrest.  I know their feelings of sadness.  I know their feelings of unworth.  And it breaks my heart to know that all they need is Jesus, the Restorer of our hearts, the Giver of unbelievable Peace, the Savior of the world.

I remember being in high school and always trying to fill a void in my life with people or parties.  When I was saved my freshman year in college, that hole was suddenly filled, overflowing with love, self assurance, trust, truth, and security.  It still makes me weep to remember how God loved me at my worst, how he came down out of heaven to save my sinful self.  He chose me.  He loved me.  He redeemed me.  He made me new.  And ever since, I've spent every day being completely grateful that He did.

My life isn't perfect, I still sin, life still sucks sometimes.  But at the end of the day, I have peace because I know that Jesus reigns.  He has already won the war.  He will always forgive me.  He will always love me.  He will restore me when I'm broken.  He will pick me up when the world knocks me down.  I have faith in Him.  I trust Him.  He has never let me down.  He is the ultimate friend - one who will never leave nor forsake you.  Can you imagine that?

So as Easter comes this year, I remember all of this and I am left in awe of God.  Of knowing that He chose me over His own Son.  Jesus went to the cross because He loves me.  He died the worst death possible so that I could have the best life possible.  And He rose again 3 days later because He is King of Kings.  He is mighty, sovereign, and good.  He is God.  He is Savior.

So this Easter, I'm hoping that people realize it's not about bunnies like at Target.  But about the Lamb of God.  The sacrificial lamb that was perfect and yet sent to die to save the sinful.  The Easter Lamb that died and yet rose again to sit in Heaven on His throne.  The Easter Lamb that brings redemption for all.  The Easter Lamb that brings eternal life.

March Madness

March has been a fabulous month.  Harper is growing up so much and it's fun to watch.  It's weird to suddenly realize that she knows how to do something or can say something that your baby shouldn't be able to do or say.  But they grow up fast!  

Still loves reading.  She can point out random things on pages, things I don't think that I have taught her.  And it's almost like she has memorized all her books - she seems to know everything about them already.  She still loves to play outside and has recently found an addiction with collecting rocks, flowers, dirt, and sticks.  She also loves balls, coloring, stickers, cups and spoons.  She loves her baby, rocking her, wrapping her up, giving her a paci and a bath.  She lost baby for about a week so she started playing with bunny and minnie mouse stuffed animals she had.  Thankfully we found baby but now she has found a lot of new friends.

Harper's eating habits have gotten better and worse.  She is eating dairy now so her restrictions have decreased.  She has started eating quesadillas, yogurt with granola, and bites of my cereal.  She is still allergic to soy which means all processed foods or anything with vegetable oil is off limits.  Her fabulous eating habits of all fruits and vegetables however is dwindling.  I guess she's getting bored with plain fruits and veggies.  I am trying to find new recipes, but it's harder than it looks.  I found an all natural peanut butter and I'm sure it will get easier with time.  She is getting amazingly good with a fork and spoon, so hopefully we be done with this crazy, messy eating style soon.

At dinner we play simon says, and this is her copying Cody 

Harper is wearing 18 month clothes, but some are still a little big.  She can still fit into some of her 12 month stuff and she will probably be able to wear a lot of her summer stuff from last year again this year.  She wants to always wear a bow, and now wants us to wear bows too.  I actually went out the other day with a bow in my hair before realizing it.    

The only thing I could find green in her closet for St. Patrick's day

She got a few new pairs of shoes for summer, some new nike kicks and a pair of keen sandals.  She loves shoes, always wants to put shoes on, even in the house.  And she loves walking around in our shoes or helping us put our shoes on.  Her new skill she is learning is to put on her own clothes.  She is constantly putting multiple pairs of pants on and even loves trying on all of Cody and I's clothes. She is going to be a major fashionista.  

Trying on Carleigh's heels

In love with pockets and hoods

Harper has turned into a funny little person.  She likes to find random things and stand on them or lay on them.  Like cutting boards, pillows, books, etc.  She is becoming an expert on climbing up chairs, beds, and is almost able to climb out of her crib (NO!).  She also likes to run around and then "fall" onto the ground and see you care that she is "hurt".  We don't usually care, so it doesn't last long.  

We have had lots of playdates lately with our friends.  She is getting much better at sharing her toys, which is good.  When other kids play at her house, she doesn't understand why they can play with her stuff.  It's hers, isn't it?  So we are working on sharing, and it seems to be getting better.  We recently went to an indoor play area and she had a great time climbing the huge jungle gym and playing with the big kids.  She even went down the tall, twisty, tunnel slide by herself.  She's so big!

Reading before nap time at the Hunt's while we babysat

Cody and I are good.  We have lots of new stuff going on with the house, but that will be a whole other post.  Cody's school is good.  He has been hanging out with his work buddies a lot and that's good because they are awesome guys.  We are really getting to know and enjoy our home group.  I've been doing a lot of house stuff, so I haven't been out much.  My life is a little boring right now.  We celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary.  Six seems like it's not so newlywed anymore - sad...  But we had some good food and were happy to just sit and talk about our fab life together.  

I got this bamboo tree from Cody two years ago for our anniversary and I have definitely killed it.  I am horrible at gardening.  I keep trying but I don't actually know what I'm doing so it doesn't help.  

We are trying to eat less processed food so we made some whole wheat homemade biscuits the other morning.  They were..NOT good.  This is the picture of the hunk of butter Harper tried to eat because it was the only good thing on this plate.