Kate's 3rd Birthday Party

Our little Aggie wanted a "princess-mermaid-bounce house-cinderella-Ariel-Barbie-plus" birthday party. I kept asking and wondering what we could do because her theme changed daily and I admit I love a good party theme! Chris thought of an ice cream party! It was perfect for her ... filled the backyard with splash pools, made homemade ice cream with all of the toppings, and had a blast with her little girlfriends from school, friends from church, sweet neighbors and all of her cousins, uncles, aunts, and grandparents.

munchkins - Jordan, Kate, Ellie, Adeline, Cayden and Camden

the sweet Adams family

hugs goodbye

Meme, Lalee, and Aunt Amy ... afterwards with the family for lunch

We were blessed to have both of our brothers and their wives and their six children and both sets of grandparents in town this weekend for the party. We have a close family that travels often to be together - and we are so thankful for them all. Kate had a wonderful day of fun with all of her friends and family and cake and ice cream. I cannot believe she is turning 3 ... I mean, I love the fact that we no longer have diapers and sippy cups in this home, that she can go to school and the church nursery without a complete and total meltdown, that she can wear floaties and function on her own in a swimming pool, that she can put her hair in pig-tails, that she can pedal her big wheel bike, that she can make us laugh on purpose ... and more ...but three years have flown by... I sometimes wish it would just s-l-o-w down :).

to being 3 ...

Drummin' Up Some Sympathy

Seriously, this precious boy can ask just about anything of me right now ... he feels just fine ... can run and swim and do yard-work ... but seriously ... that cheek looks pathetic!!!! He was on the verge of tears when we left my workout place ... he said,"The kids were making fun of me without saying anything ... I could tell by the way they stared!" It broke my heart, but I hope and pray it is something he'll always remember and be sensitive to ... many people look very different from us, sound very different from us, believe very different from us ... but each person was created by God and is loved by God just like Josh!

Surgery Complete!!

Our precious Josh had surgery this morning to remove a tumor growing into his cheek.  He was so excited and so sweet to all of the wonderful nurses, doctors and staff at Mother Frances.  We got up at 4 a.m. and he was ready!!  Here he is in Pre-Op.  He was so embarassed to take a picture because he only had on a gown and Spiderman underwear!

Here he is in Post-Op ... broke my heart to hear him trying to talk when he woke up ... he seemed so fragile and I just praised God that I have had healthy children.  I cannot imagine the weight carried by mothers of children with severe illness.
Here is our room ... he just looked so tiny in that big bed!  I crawled up with him because that bed was more comfortable than any other spot in the room and I just wanted to be really close to him (not that I could do anything medically to help him).  The tumor was easily and completely removed - done, finished, yippee!!
Here is his big high five (Dame tu Cinco, Bryans)!  He will have a swollen cheek for several days and look funny but will feel normal later today.  God is so good and so faithful.
to my precious Josh - May the Lord bless you and keep you; and may His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace!  We love you!!

My baby is back home!!!

Pine Cove Rocks!  Caleb got home today from his first week of overnight camp.  Just talking all day about his week and watching him interact with his younger siblings ... well, it was so obvious that he has grown up a little.  I guess an entire week of independence with a college kid (who was AWESOME) in charge does that to you.  I teared up several times during the day when I caught something a little different in his actions ... time is going at breakneck speed and I just don't want to miss a minute of it!  I hung onto every word about the discussions they had, the games they played, the friends he met ... wanting to be a part of it all!  I asked if he got homesick and he said "No, not at all ... until I saw you and Daddy and Josh and Kate walk in this morning to camp and I knew I wanted to go home!"  How perfect -- a wonderful week full of excitement, learning, new opportunities, independence, etc. but a safe, secure home to come back to ... I pray for him that he will always find comfort and joy in home but be courageous enough to have fun when away from it!  

Josh got a letter from Caleb this week ... my favorite line "P.S. Let me see your Superman!"  All of you Pine Covers will know that one ...
Caleb's counselor was "Good Knight That Was A Close One".  He had a tremendous amount of energy and love for these boys ... what an amazing role model he is.

Caleb's Cabinmates ... from Dallas, Austin and Tyler.  All of the boys are going into the fourth grade and had a blast together.  To the most awesome camp in the nation ... Pine Cove!! 

Lost Tooth and Farewell for Camp

Last night Josh finally lost another tooth!  He has a growing tumor in his cheek (having surgery to remove next week) that has prevented his permanent teeth from moving out his baby teeth.  He finally wiggled this long enough that it came out ... his first concern "Do I still get surgery?"  He can't wait to go to "Daddy's hospital" for surgery!  He even asked if Daddy was going to do the surgery ... I wanted to say "Well, your survival rate tends to be higher when a SURGEON performs surgery so NO!"  Throughout the years Josh has given his Dad credit for being the pilot of the Flight for Life helicopter, performing surgery, cooking the food for the patients, etc.  In his mind Daddy can do anything!!  

On Sunday we dropped Caleb off for a week of overnight camp at Pine Cove.  He is in Cabin #6 and his counselor is "Good Knight" and an Aggie ... what more could we ask for?!
Here are a few cabin mates ...
We pimped, I mean "camped", our ride before making the trek out to Pine Cove!  The kids and I laughed because this was very hard for hubby to do ... paint on the car goes against everything in him ... he did end up painting and decorating himself by the end!  In fact, after seeing some of the awesome camped-out rides, he claimed we might need a better window paint next time to make it even better- woohoo!!
We miss you Caleb but know you are having the most awesome week of the year!  

to camp, to new friendships, to summer, to the Tooth Fairy and most of all to Saturday (when we get our precious Caleb back) ...

Father/Son Camping/Canoe Trip

Chris and Caleb went on a 5 day camping/canoe trip.  There were about nine boys on the trip with their Dads.  They canoed a total of 33 miles, camping as they went down the Buffalo river.  They had a blast and talk about going again.  Here is Caleb in their canoe loaded with food, tent, chairs, stove, water, clothes ... everything!!!

Caleb at one their first camping site ... the only one with grass ... the rest were on the rocks on the shore!!

the crew

Caleb and Chris - I am so thankful to have a husband who desires to really get to know and have fun with our children... he is a blessing to all of us!!!

to male bonding ... :)