My Little Super Heroes!

We had a great time at "Family Day" where Trenton works...luckily (for me) I remembered that there is this super cool spot right around the corner.  I rarely venture that far south with the kids, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity :)

The lighting was beyond terrible - never take pictures at noon!  However, "you get what you get, and you don't get upset"  so we (I) persevered nonetheless.

Those Moments That Linger

Kendall and Leah have GREAT Sunday School teachers - in fact, Kendall's teachers (a husband and wife in their 60's) are very well known and loved for their faithful service in the 3 year old class.  A few weeks ago, something very sad happened...the mom/wife unexpectedly passed away.  I have a hard time with how to handle situations like this - how to express to the loved ones left behind how sorry I am for them.  There seems to be no words appropriate for that situation to me.

This morning, as with most Sunday mornings, we were running a little behind to church...I was carrying Leah and Trenton was walking with Kendall in front of me.  I hear Leah say "that's Kendall's teacher" and sure enough, it was the widowed husband, a bright and contagious smile on his face.  Kendall, somehow hearing all this up ahead, runs back to her teacher, enormous smile on her face, hugs him with all her might and they take off together, hand in hand, to her class.

Something about this scene has stuck with me all day.  My heart breaks for this person who had his future changed so devastatingly overnight.  I cannot imagine going on 'as usual' - with a smile no less.  What beautiful faith he has and what amazing strength God has given him.

I have no words to express, yet Kendall - just a four year old - has realized what this 32 year old had not.  Sometimes a hug says so much more than any words possibly could.

Kendall may not remember this morning - maybe not even next week - but I will take it with me for a long time to come.

Spotlight on Leah

Spotlight on Leah


Who is your best friend?  Victoria and Darren (preschool)


What is your favorite animal? Elephant (she was holding one while I was asking her this question)..."not monkeys or dragons...they are scary.  I don't want dragons to come into my house."  (maybe we should have done this farther away from bedtime...nightmares?)


What is your favorite color?  pink


What is your favorite food?  french fries


What is your favorite song?  "rachel song" ("Roots Before Branches" - Glee Cast)


What do you want for your birthday?  Balloons, Bunny Birthday Party


Something Mommy wants to remember about Leah at almost 3 years old...she calls parking garages "spookies"...she sings along with everything - even tries to mimic the instrumental parts...she is extremely sensitive and does not like to play with new children...she still LOVES to be carried.

Happy Valentines Day!

This year I borrowed from Pinterest for the girls' Valentines cards. I'm going to thread an actual lolly pop in place of the "BE MINE" heart on the picture and VOILA instant Valentines Day Card. The taking of these pictures was last minute and somewhat painful. They happened to be wearing their cute Vintage Baby outfits and so we tried to catch a quick shot at the lake nearby. Unfortunately it was crazy bright and very windy - which made for mostly blown out shots and grumpy children. I got a couple decent ones which became the below:

Kendall's favorite thing to do these days is play tea party. She drags an old gift bag full of plastic plates, cups, saucers, and spoons all over the house 'just in case' she realizes a moment that requires tea. Not just the cups though - she has blankets that must be placed over the kitchen table, coffee table, or pretty much any other flat surface that we have our tea on.

I don't know if I would say Leah's "latest" thing are bunny rabbits...I think this has been growing over time, but it is going full steam now. And, just like bunnies, these things are reproducing like crazy. We went from one 'build a bear' bunny that Ma and Pa got her for her birthday to at least 10. I'm not even sure where they all came from! She has to have at least one bunny with her at all times and there are two very specific ones she goes to bed with.

All for now,

KB

Free Weekends - What Shall I Do?!?!?

This is the first weekend since 10/01/11 that I have not had pictures scheduled. I'm not even sure what I will do - clean the house? Organize the kids clothes, toys, etc etc etc?

This past weekend we celebrated a wonderful yet busy Christmas. Kendall got everything on her wish list - Dora kitchen and "Dora wings" (aka the Dora doll that has fairy wings). Leah didn't really ask for anything specifically but her favorites have been the "Go Fishing" game and her cat piano.

We've had so many things to be thankful for - the first that comes to mind are my dad's scans, which were clean this time (first clean scan since early 2011). The previous two scans found cancer in the kidney and a spot on the brain. We are VERY thankful for nothing to show up this time!

We had a wonderful visit with my cousin from Taiwan. We only get to see them every couple years so it was great having them in town the past week. I also had the opporunity to photograph them, which I'll post a couple pictures later (maybe during this luxurious weekend off perhaps?).

We are also very thankful to have both families within driving distance - so we get to see most of the family at some point over the holidays.

Let's see...Leah has become quite a talker. Trenton calls them "Pete and Repeat"...Leah would be "Repeat". She has really picked up the potty training over the past few weeks. At home she is mostly in panties unless she is napping. Kendall loves playing tea party and making food from her Dora kitchen. She also loves to draw and places her artwork all over the house (thanks to Mimi for providing the stickers that she uses to adhere them throughout).

A great part of the holidays was getting people's Christmas cards - and it was nice seeing the number of cards hanging from our display that I had personally taken and/or designed :)

I'm taking January off from photography, which generally ends up being a slower month anyway between the colder temps and most people just having wrapped up their Christmas pictures. Praying for a fun and successful 2012!

Spotlight on Kendall

Peanut Festival

This morning we spent a couple hours at the Aubrey Peanut Festival...for those that may not know, my husband grew up in this smaller rural town north of Denton and his much of his family attends this annual event. We enjoyed getting to see extended cousins and old high school friends...and of course the yummy corn dogs and spiral cut/deep fried potatoes.

Kendall wasn't super friendly or happy for most of the outing, as she has been for the past few days. Maybe she's have an early hormonal moment...Leah just seemed to take it all in - I don't know that she remembers this event from last year.

I got to snap a few shots and had a few moments of severe dog envy. I'm still grieving the loss of my 12 year old schnauzer Jolie from late Spring...and there were soooo many cute puppies to pine over!

Leah snuggling with my husband's Aunt Janice

Kendall in a rare moment of cooperative posing...loved this building!

Kendall - all grins for this one