Life is Better with Sprinkles!

Lily Kate loves to help in the kitchen.  

This week she helped her JaJa bake ("NOT COOK") some cupcakes. 

Her favorite part was putting the sprinkles on.  She said "sfvinkle, sfvinkle, sfvinkle."

On the Move

I left Aubrey on the play mat and went in the kitchen to do some dishes.  I returned a few minutes later to find her completely off the mat!  She is one active little girl during tummy time!

Swimming By the Pool

Last Monday we went to a pool party at Anna Kate's pool.  It was the perfect way to deal with the heat.

More than the pool, the girls were excited about LUNCH!

Strawberry Shortcakes

One of the perks to having another girl is that Aubrey is able to wear many of Lily Kate's old outfits. Aubrey wore one of my favorites to church on Sunday:

Aubrey

Aubrey

Lily Kate

Lily Kate

Do you think they look alike?

* LK's pictures were taken by Amy Bell (a professional photographer) poor Aubrey had to settle for her momma (not a professional photographer).

You've Got a Friend in Me

The title of this blog is taken from a movie we have seen entirely too much lately...Lily Kate calls it "her song"!

This week we were able to get together with some of our wonderful friends from Greenville, NC. On Wednesday the girls and I met the Keeslers for a picnic at the park. They were passing through Charlotte and took time to stop by and see us. Lily Kate loved playing with Abby and Kate!

I love how when you are part of the Body of Christ even though miles may separate you, you can still stay connected with dear friends. God truly blessed me with some amazing friendships while we lived in Greenville. Most of those friendships came out of a Bible Study that Amy Bell helped to start.

Saturday we got to visit with the Bells. Being around them just makes my heart happy. We had a great time hanging out. We met some other Bible Study girls (and their hubbies) at Jason's Deli for lunch and then visited some more with Amy and Will while the girls napped at our house.

I met Amy right before she got married and now she and William have a 15 month old daughter, Cora. It has been so fun growing our families together!

Will and Cora

The girls playing kitchen

I love IKEA!

IKEA is just one of those places that makes me happy. I went Friday (with Stephen's mom, Aunt Gaye and cousin Ally) We didn't buy much, but had so much fun looking, eating yummy swedish food and of course buying. The most exciting things I bought: an easel for LK, and a tray of cinnamon rolls.

Lily Kate was adorable, she laid down on each of the sample toddler beds and said "It's perfect! It's just my size." This was the only picture I got, I seemed to have my hands full most of the time keeping track of LK and keeping Aubrey content. I could not have done it alone...huge shout out to JaJa, Gaye and Ally!

Photo Ops

There is more than one use for a Boppy...just ask Reese.

Aubrey loves her Wubbanub. (For those of you without a baby: its a beanie baby attached to a pacifier...it really helps keep the paci from falling out, but it is more tempting to an older sibling - we learned that lesson last weekend)

Lily Kate "taking a nap" with Pa...no actual sleeping took place :)

Got a Boo Boo?

As I mentioned previously, Lily Kate is into all things Toy Story. When her grandma gave her a box of Toy Story Band Aids you would have thought it was the greatest thing ever. Everyone (stuffed animals included) has to have at least 1 Band Aid on their leg. She went through a box of 20 Band Aids in 24 hours!

A Fresh Coat of Paint

For the past three months we have been attaining quotes on fixing up the outside of our house. We had some wood siding rot and fall off and it had to be repaired. We finally bit the bullet. Last week (one of the hottest all summer) we got our house repaired and painted. Here are the before and after pics:

Before

After

Disclaimer: It is no fun spending money on things like getting your house painted. It was necessary and we are happy with the outcome, I would have rather taken an awesome vacation or gone on a shopping spree than get our house painted...I guess it is all part of being a grown-up.

A Speed Bump on the Road of Life

Somedays motherhood can be overwhelming and somedays it is all so worth it! I've experienced both of those days this week...and I'm learning to take things one day at a time.

"Moms nurture hope, build dreams, plant seeds of faith that yield unending blooms and leave footprints of love on their children's heart that never fade."

-Elisa Morgan