Good memories!

This weekend has been beautiful, so we have tried to enjoy some outside time. Yesterday, I took the girls to Henry's Ark. I can't really even think how to explain this place. It is a cross between a zoo and farm, where the girls are especially partial to the animals roaming free. Kinsley especially loves hugging and kissing the goats (yes - you read that correctly). Ella enjoys petting the deer (and being the big sister who carries the carrot bag and shares with Kinsley as willingly as she chooses!!)

Today we took the girls to Familypalooza at Southeast Christian. Pony rides, inflatables, cotton candy, snow cones, and craft time - wow! We left with both girls crying - the sign of a really good time had by all.

Happy Labor Day!!

Vacation

We recently came home from summer vacation, which was fantastic! The first week we spent in Gulf Shores with Ronnie's side of the family. It was great - the girls had a great time with their grandparents, Aunt and Uncle, and getting spoiled by all the attention! The four of us shared a room, which proved to be interesting sleeping patterns for us all. The first night, Ella was laying in bed with Ronnie and I and out of the blue said, "This is like the worst night ever. Let's go home!" We all started rolling. We adjusted, though, and by the end of the week, everyone managed to sleep through the night!

Then we left there, and traveled to Panama City Beach, FL. Ronnie and I consider this the perfect vacation location. To many, it is known as the "Redneck Riveria". However, we love it!We have decided it is because of the familiarity after spending so many vacations there. I practically spent every vacation at Dunes of Panama, D building, since before I was Kinsley's age. Apparently, it is good enough for the President, too! When we got there, we realized the Obama's were in town. So, of course, we had to set out to find them! We found them at Baypoint, where we saw lots of secret service, police officers, yellow tape blocking off their pool, and no first family. Ella said, "Who are these Bama's? (spoken like one would refer to the slang for Alabama). She was ready to head to the capital of PCB - Walmart! Don't worry though, we did manage to catch a glimpse as they were leaving town. We tried to make this week as low key as possible and we were pretty successful! We ate at the condo, enjoyed the beach, and just relaxed. My sweet girls probably wished I had taken a break from the camera, too, but that would just be asking too much!

Ella enjoyed putt putt (Kinsley - not so much. By the 10th hole, she had thrown her putter three times, and thrown her ball too many times to count! I believe she was over it before we even started.) The girls loved playing games, earning tickets to win prizes (A.k.a. mom and dad paying too much money for trinket junk), and playing at the pool. To be honest, there aren't a lot of major details to share about the week because it was just that laid back . . . exactly how we wanted it!

I'm in Love!

That's right - head over heels in love with the newest pics of my sweet girls! I think it was pure coincidence that I came across this gold mine of a photographer. Through the power of Facebook (I make it sounds like a super hero!), I saw incredible pics from a friend's recent wedding. After an email, I found out her fantastic photographer lives right here in the same town! A few phone calls later and we were all set. I met Mary Beth at Louisville Pres. Seminary. She took a few family shots, then let the girls just run and explore. Here are a few of my favorites. We ended up with a CD of 189 and I love each and every one. She did an amazing job of truly capturing each girl's personality.

I am often amazed by God and his wondrous creation. One of the millions of things that amaze me is how He creates us uniquely! I see this best through the girls. Same parents, same type of pregnancy, same parenting style, and polar opposites! Ella is gentle, quiet, sensitive, and reserved. Kinsley never sees a dull moment (except for the few I claim for myself while I put her in her crib to nap. That's right - we still have our almost 2 year old on 2 naps a day and it just works!!!). She is so precious, and so full of energy, life, energy, laughter, energy, joy, and energy! They get along perfectly, though, and I feel so blessed to be mom to both of them!

Simple Magic

Ever have that concept that you knew existed, but didn't really know from personal experience? For example - for me . . . magic. I mean, I know what it is, could probably even describe it in generic terms, but to experience it is something completely different. Another one for me - simplicity. I could define it - sure. But to experience it and have that experience as a definition is a whole different story. This weekend, I was able to experience Magic and Simplicity all in one. Magic in watching my sweet girls have the time of their lives catching fireflies with their meme and grandad. Simplicity in the fireflies. Honestly, I don't see that many in our yard here in Louisville. In Caneyville, though, my sweet hometown - there is an overabundance. To my two young girls, it is amazing. Something so simple that I grew up seeing every night is so precious getting to relive it with my own girls. Our summer has been filled with simple things so far - slip and slides, fireflies, freezer pops, smores, backyard plastic pool, just to name a few. How precious to get to experience these things again with my girls - things from my own childhood!

On a recent show that we like (Ok - I will admit it - Friday Night Lights. We love it. So much that we were some of the crazies that even logged on the website when it went away for an entire year - watching for it to return!!) - Anyway, back to story. Recently, the mom was having a conversation with her daughter. Her over indulgent teenage daughter was giving the mom a hard time about pressuring her into what the mom wanted her to do. The mom simply said - "I got my dream. Our family is my dream come true." Then she went on to explain her daughter needed her own, etc . . . That comment resonated with me "I got my dream." I feel the same way. When I look at my life, I realize I can honestly say I received more than I could have ever asked for or imagined.

I think of that verse, "To Him who is able to do more than we imagine . . . " Thank you, God, for my life that is more than I could have dreamed it could be. Thank you for the simple moments.

Wouldn't Trade the Chaos

Do you ever feel like you are living your life in the midst of chaos? I mean, when you step back and look at the whole picture, you really don't have anything to complain about it and your life is truly blessed beyond measure, but the day to day can feel like a whirlwind. Sometimes I think we were crazy to get a little puppy while the girls were so young. He doesn't know the difference between his "puppy approved" toys and the toddler toys that run the full range at our house. I feel like I am constantly taking a Fisher Price Little people toy back to it's place, picking up random shoes to avoid teeth marks, and chasing Wrigley down to catch him and the recent doll or stuffed animal he has made his new treasure. All in all, he is a great puppy, but is still just that - a puppy. The girls love him, even though he at times can turn and nibble, which makes it worthwhile at the end of the day. It just makes the days feel like chaos.

Not too mention that Kinsley seems to have made a hobby out of giving me slight heart palpatations through creatively injuring herself! Last week, we had two scraped knees, both of which occurred at different times. Then a scraped elbow the next morning. That evening, she decided to climb up in her parked stroller and jump out, which resulted in a scraped arm (the other side). To top it off, that Friday morning, she took a running leap into the corner of the dresser, resulting in a puncture right beside her right eye. That resulted in a trip to the Pediatrician to make sure stitches weren't needed. She has a sporty black war wound eye today to show for it. I know these are all minor things, but can make the day seem - you guessed it - chaotic.

There are lots of things to be thankful for in the midst - thank you that I can be home to kiss all the puppy bite boo boos and scraped knees. That's a special mom priviledge I don't want to share. Thank you for the finances to get a puppy because our girls truly love him and I think being pet owners will make them more compassionate in life. I'm thankful to have opportunities throughout the day to truly teach my girls, and in turn learn from their sweet innocence as well.

I think often about the Trace Adkins song, "You're Gonna Miss This". I agree. Even during the most chaotic and wild days, I cherish the moments - the special moments I know I will miss fondly.

Wrigley

Welcoming the new addition to our family! A four legged addition, I should add. We adopted Wrigley from a local animal shelter yesterday. He is a 12 week old yellow lab. So far so good with bringing him home. The girls are thrilled, and I am pretty sure Ella hasn't stopped smiling one moment since we picked him up!

Grand Cayman

This past week, Ronnie and I were able to get away (with another great couple who are wonderful friends) for 9 days of Grand Cayman Paradise. The pictures don't do it justice! We missed our girls, but enjoyed the time away together ALMOST as much as they enjoyed all the attention and fun with their grandparents!:)

We snorkeled, swam with sting rays, and enjoyed listening to the waves every night from our condo. I read 4 books on the trip, while Ronnie went scuba diving for the first time! All things we wouldn't normally do on a family vacation!