What a week!

Our Spring Break this year was ACTION PACKED! It was so much fun.

After church on Sunday, we left to go up to Ft. Worth to spend a few days with Leah, Clint and the kids. We had such a fun time. We played at the biggest indoor playscape ever, went to the super cool Ft. Worth library, had an awesome date night with Leah & Clint, and also celebrated Dawson's birthday. Fun, Fun, Fun!

The library had a super cool kids' section....complete with lots of character costumes! :) What a good lookin' crew of cousins!

Isn't she the prettiest princess you've ever seen?

Always time for storytime with Daddy!

The family fiesta for Dawson Wayne's birthday!!


Then we got home on Wednesday afternoon, packed up the camper and camping gear and set off for Somerville. The boys left literally less than two hours after we got home!! The girls and I stayed behind to buy groceries, re-pack and gather some additional gear. We joined them the next morning! Plus, this was Adelyn's first camping adventure....so we thought we'd start with just a one nighter for her. And thank God we did. NO ONE on our side of the pop-up camper slept well that night!! But we had an absolute BLAST! The weather could not have been more perfect, and we all love being outside and enjoying God's creation!

Our awesome camper.....sure beats sleeping in a tent!

Our view for our stay!

The lollipops Aunt Tracy brought for the kids! So fun!

Having some quality time with my favorite boy.....too bad the fish weren't bitin'

Some beautiful girls enjoying lakeside seats

Chillin' by the campfire....wearing his sister's beanie. :) So cute!

Then we finished up our week by going to Hutto to see my parents! We got home Friday around noon, unpacked, repacked and set off for Hutto by 3 or 4pm! It was a whirlwind!! But we had a great time there. I always love going home to the country, and Mom and Dad can't get enough of their grandbabies. Plus, we got to spend some time with Lisa's sweet boyfriend. He fits in pretty well with our crew.

Overall, a week overflowing with blessings....and dirty laundry. We were exhausted by the end of it, but so happy that we got to have the adventures.

A misunderstanding....or just redneck drawl :)

Today as we were walking home after getting Caleb from school, Caleb wanted to play the "don't step on the line" game. So, while I pushed the stroller down the sidewalk and he walked beside me, we tried not to step on any cracks or lines, or we were "out." Ellie caught on to the fact that we were playing this game, and she said that she wanted to play. So, I told her not to step on any of the lines. Then almost immediately she stepped on the next sidewalk crack. Caleb yelled, "She's out!" And Ellie got upset. So, we stop and Caleb points down to the line in the sidewalk, and we both try to explain to her that the point of the game is to avoid stepping on the lines. We start walking again....and she keeps stepping on the lines! We repeated this process about 3 or 4 times, but for some reason, it seemed like Ellie wasn't getting the point. Then finally, as were walking along, still playing, I heard her say, "Owe, one got my toe!" And i couldn't figure out what she was talking about. Then a moment later she said, "O.K. Now let's play, 'Don't step on the tigers!" :) Apparently, the whole time, my sweet daughter had thought we were playing a game about not stepping on imaginary lions.....not lines! So cute!!

(Sorry no pictures.....still trying to fix the dumb computer!)

My darling Ellie

I just wanted to write down a few interesting conversations/words from Ellie recently....

Yesterday, as she was sitting in time out on her bed....for the 53rd time in just a couple of days. She was crying and screaming, and yelling out some phrase over and over. So, I went to check on her, and I asked her what she was saying. She slowly and loudly said, "Dis is widikwius! Dis is widikwius!" (this is ridiculous!) :)

A few days ago, she was talking to me about her fake set of grandparents again. She has two real sets, Nonny and Poppy, and Meemaw and Pawpaw. But after reading a library book a few months ago, she also wanted a "Grandma" and a "Grandpa"...so she just made them up. And they intervene in our lives at very convenient times. Like sometimes I'll ask her why she is doing something she knows is wrong, and she'll tell me, "Because my grandpa said I could." Well, this time, she told me that her fake grandparents and her went on a trip to heaven. I thought this was interesting. So, I asked her what is was like and what did they do there. She said, "It was very bootiful, and I got a butterfly necklace, and fairy wings." ?!? No real mention of Jesus...just butterfly necklaces! :)

She is such a fireball. I love it! And I love her!!
Her natural pose! :)

Her "sweet face" :)

Adelyn Lively Skow

Wow--I can't believe she is already one year old! I am in awe at how fast the year has gone. But of course, there have been days and NIGHTS during this past year that seemed like they lasted for eternity! It really has been the most amazing, challenging, rewarding and life-changing experience to be able to stay home with Adelyn every day of this last year. For both of my other babies, I had to return to work after just a couple of short months, but thanks to God's provision, I have been able to relish every month of Adelyn's life. It has been such a privilege to see her grow, and learn, and change. I have gotten to know her and everything about her. I have fallen deeper and deeper in love with her every day. She is my sunshine! I can't imagine our family without her. She completes the Fab Five! Thank you, God, for unexpected miracles. She is such a blessing to us, and to everyone who knows her.

Happy Birthday, my sweet angel. I love you more than words can express.

Love, Sweet Love

These pictures deserve their own entry! A couple of weeks ago, we had a really cold day, and it just happened to be the day our car had to be in the shop. So, the girls and I had to walk to Caleb's school to pick him up. We just about froze to death! But when we got home, we enjoyed some hot cider. Adelyn fell in love! You can see the love in these pictures......




I really can't get enough of this kid! She is just so precious.....and boy, does she love cider!! :)

Picture perfect!

My sweet, precious baby girl will be turning one in two weeks. I can't believe it! And with this being our last baby, I'm wanting to make her 1st birthday celebration extra special. So, I bought her this cute little dress, ultimately for her party, but also to take pictures for her super cute invitations. Well, as pictures usually go with the little children, the photo shoot was a little crazy. Here are some of the more entertaining pictures....





I love her so much it hurts.

So much to share....not enough time to blog about it

I have several posts I'm trying to find time to do. I still haven't done an entry about Caleb's awesome army party. I've got two series of photos of Adelyn that are too priceless for words. And mounting anecdotes about my lovely, lively Ellie.

One about the argument, Caleb, her and I were having two nights ago. We were playing pretend, boys against girls. Caleb was shooting pretend nets on us, and Ellie was using her pretend knife to cut them off, and they were talking trash to each other the whole time. Ellie said that me and her were going to Bubba, but he said, "No way, I'm going to send my armies and jets to blast you. They have big guns!" And then Ellie said, "Oh yea--well I have Super girls, and they have big boots!" :) It was awesome! It is true that the right pair of boots can be very empowering. Love it!!