Preparing for Kindergarten the D-I-V-A Way!

Belle has been on this kick for about 2 weeks now that she wants her hair cut. And I'm not talking just a trim. There is a girl at school that has a short bob and she wanted it like hers. I knew Daddy wouldn't go for that, but he did agree to go at the shoulders.

So, off we went today. I kept it a surprise until we were leaving and boy, was she excited! The girl cut and said "Well...how's that?"

Belle: "Shorter."

I let her go a little shorter and we all love the results!

Even Daddy...


Isn't it cute?


The Back


A Kiss for her adoring fans!

All the way home she ran her fingers thru her hair and is currently spinning around my living room making it flip and flop.

One step closer to my baby girl growing up...*tear*

A Very Sweet Moment

No Words...

No Fish Tale

Again...ANOTHER beautiful day yesterday! Thank you, God for all of these family bonding opportunities.

My daughter LOVES, loves, LOVES to fish. She has been asking without ceasing recently to go fishing. So, yesterday we headed out as a surprise. And Boy, was she excited.

Now...Belle's first fishing trip was with her Grandpa and her Dad who would both live in the woods by a fishing hole if they could. That just allowed me to sit back and take photos.

Then, along came Luke.

And no Grandpa. I can't tell you how many times we had to literally drop things to snatch him from going in the water with that pole!

Either way, we had a wonderful time as a family! Enjoy!


Getting everything ready...Belle is a professional now


Lukey's first smell of Power Bait...YUCK!


I'm READY!


1-2-3 Cast! He was only about pushing the button and forget that reeling in business!


This was the ONE time he actually did it.


See...a pro-fess-ional! This girl knows how to fish....with her pretty Princess fishing pole!


My little family of fisher-people (notice you don't see a pole for me)...


WAY TO GO, BELLE! This thing was about the size of David's hand which is about 2 of mine. She was so proud. And, FYI, she told her Grandpa (b'c we had to call him) that it was pink. You know...Pink pole catches pink fish!


Daddy's first catch. Isn't it nice and big and yummy looking? He caught a bass and another brim before we got ran out by the FREEZING winds. I'm sure he'll be back out there today, though.


Belle never got this close. See...difference between boys and girls. He is growling back at the cat here.


I'm cold! Let's go to the truck and wait on the Daddy and the Sister!

Let's Bowl, Let's Bowl, Let's Rock 'n' Roll

David and I were off for Good Friday, so my parents came in so we could celebrate my Daddy's 53rd birthday. We grabbed some lunch and then headed to the Conway Family Bowl. Now, this was both of my kiddos first time to bowl (well...Belle went with us when she was itsy bitsy, so that doesn't count).

Anyway...I'm sure we will be returning as every day since then Belle keeps asking, "After this (whatever we are doing) can we go to the "B"?"

That would be "B"owling...

Since this wasn't planned I did not have the forethought to grab my camera, so what you see here came off of David's cell phone.


One proud bowler!


I wished you could have seen the trotting up to the lane that lead up to this. She would run from the very back (as best she could) and chunk that ball. She was very good, though, I must say. Of course, I would be too if I had them gutter guards.


Do you see the thoughts forming in his eyes? "I wonder who I could throw this at?" He started with the little contraption that sits at the beginning of the lane that little ones can put the ball on and then push, but quickly realized that throwing the ball and hearing how LOUD it could thud on the lane was much more entertaining to everyone. He would throw it and then squat and say, "Watch it! Watch it!" Even if it hit nothing, he jumped for joy.

As long as I didn't try to take off his sweet bowling shoes, he was good.

I tell ya...this family was called to sports...

Ok...notsomuch...

Blessed Be The Name of the Lord!

Oh, and we have been so truly blessed. This was one of the most wonderful weekends we have had as a family in a long time. We made time to just relax and enjoy being a family for an extended period of time.

And what more of an appropriate weekend than the weekend we recognize as Resurrection Sunday!

We spent Sunday morning watching "The Passion of The Christ" with Belle. Since she was saved last June, we figured now would be a great time to sit down with her and and let her watch it all as we explained things to her. God blessed us thru her watching it as she says "Wow...He really loved us that much." and... "All that He did and I just keep on sinning."

Thank you, God, for her!

Then we get ready for church. My wonderful mother-in-law made the kids Easter outfits this year. Didn't she do an amazing job?


Belle's Beautiful Dress and Coat


Lukey is Stylin'


Our Family (late for church)

At church the kiddos sang "Were You There?" Awesome!
(Disclaimer: I know they are fuzzy, but I was farther away than I like to be)


Look at 'em all!


Luke's Mad Entertainment Skillz

The song goes:
Were You there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble!
Were You there when they nailed Him to a tree?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble!
Were You there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble!

Then...oh, then...Were You there when He rose up from the grave!!!



Thank you, Lord, for coming to this earth...walking among us...suffering and dying...taking on the sin of the world...for me...for David...for my 2 precious children.

Mighty.
Awesome.
Wonderful.
Is the Holy Cross!

Springtime Fun!

Oh.


My.


Today was absolutely Beau.Ti.FUL!


David and I were both off yesterday so we got all of the chores done and out of the way for the weekend. Then we went to lunch with Momma and Daddy for Daddy's birthday and headed off the Conway Family Bowl.

Let me just say...
Luke--55...Belle--59...Daddy--73...David--75...Momma--83!
Yup...whupped 'em all!

Those kids didn't stand a chance.

Anyway, we got up this morning and headed for our Stoby's morning breakfast and came home and headed outside. For 3. Straight. Hours!!!

Somebody say "GLORY"!

First...off to the swing set...Then to the sandbox...

Now that Luke is a little older, our trips out to the wild back yard look to be much more frequent and much more fun!

In the words of BooMama...Um, Excuse me. I Think I Have Misplaced My Baby!

I didn't think they allowed them to start school this young?



But apparently they do...

And on August 18th...

The day this Momma's heart will shatter into a million pieces as it waits those 7 long hours to run back to Ida Burns Elementary School and hear all about how it was the best 7 hours of HER life...

...and I watch that bow string relax a little more in this journey into life...

Her life.

Snow Day!

We just had to get out and play in the snow today! Here are a few pictures of the kiddos in the "nooooooo"!


I will conquer You!


My Tushy is all wet...


I cleaned off the slide for us.


I'm gonna do it!


1-2-3 GO!


Mmmmm...sno cone....


Yummy Ice!


Chicken...


Oh, this is so much fun!


I love snow!

Conviction to the Nth Degree

The other night Belle had already been put to bed when she came out crying. I asked her what was wrong.

Belle-"I just keep thinking about sin."

Me--"What sin?"

Belle--"The sin that all of these people in the world won't accept Jesus."

Me--"Let's go pray."

While I was praying for her to always have this as a burden of her heart but to also lay it at Jesus' feet so she could sleep, God thumped me.

Loudly.

He spoke to my spirit and said, "She is making the paths straight (Isaiah 40:3) at 5. What are you doing at 30?"

Conviction to the Nth Degree, folks...

Sweet Dreams, Bubba...

Belle has taken to wanting to sing to Bubba every time before nap and/or bedtime. She wants to sing 2 songs and she HAS to climb in bed with him to do it. And if she forgets...he remembers!


They just love each other so much...

...for now...