Big Birthday...

for Little Miss Ty!!! 

She's officially SIX and had such a blast today celebrating!!! 

Posing it up...ready for her party to start!!

Present time!!!

"Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Tylee...Happy Birthday to you!"

Making your wish!!

Hanging with Daddy's side!!! Mommy's side was there in spirit...sending lots o love from states away!

Family shot!!! Love you!!!

Dear Ty, 

Happy 6th birthday, Munchkin!!! You are one sweet girl and we really had fun celebrating you today & relishing in all the sunshine you bring to our family day in & day out!! You're LOVING kindergarten & having a blast getting invited to pizza & movies with your besties from class!! You LOVE the monkey bars & have the calloused hands to prove it. You learned how to tie your shoes TODAY, after practicing for days. You are turning into a reading machine & are digging Junie B. Jones & Berenstein Bears! Frozen is currently your favorite movie & you are Mommy's walking buddy. We could walk for hours and hours, just chit-chatting & racking up points finding squirrels, bunnies, and anything we feel is point worthy!! You've lost two teeth & had a molar pulled and were a total trooper. You love your brother and sister & are amazing at going with the flow. You can sometimes be a little picky about your clothes & can't get enough of playing school and taking care of your babies. You're quite the color-er & have won your fair share of coloring contests lately. You're an amazing daughter, a beautiful spirit, and I'm sooooo proud to be your Mommy. Your Daddy & I love you to the moon & back and know you are destined for fantastic things. Always know you are stronger than you think & that you can do anything you set that little heart of yours to. I love you, Baby Girl!!!

Hugs & more hugs!!! 

~Mommy

PS...I had a blast getting ready for your day, Ty! I hope you always let me make you birthday posters!!! 💜

Love YOU Bunches!!! XXX's & OOO's!!

Shaving Cream...

balloons were a huge hit around here the other night!!! 

We decided to spend our very last night of summer vacation being silly and making a mess in the backyard!!! 

It worked and huge amounts of laughter were had by all...

What a great way to cap an amazing summer break...

What a fun time!! 

And the clean-up was easier than easy...a little hose action and wah-la!! 

Love you Munchkins & all of our family sillyness!! You guys are the best!!! 

Daddy's Day!

Means a lot to all of us! Whether Jason and I are celebrating our dads or our kiddos are celebrating their dad, no one forgets to thank the men that mean the most!! Dads shape who we are and the people we will become. 

They shape us by showing us.

They shape us by telling us. 

They shape us by not telling us. 

They shape us by being the best they can be.

They shape us intentionally. 

They shape us unintentionally.

We wouldn't be who we are without our dads and for that, we are forever grateful. 

Around here we kept the Father's Day celebrating low key. We went to church, stopped at the park, went out for lunch, and then just relished in the fact that we have an awesome dad heading this household & couldn't be luckier in that department!!!

Thanks for being such an amazing daddy, Jason! You are a wonderful role model for our children & I know your heart is full of nothing but patience, understanding, guidance, protection, and absolute unconditional love for them. Thanks for doing everything you do on a daily basis to help shape them & show them how to be the best possible people they can be!!! We love you to the moon & back!!! 

You. Are. The. Best.

Happy Father's Day!!!

Christmas 2013

consisted of enjoy the season and reason for celebrating, family fun, and absolutely no traveling, which happens every other year around here.

We started out simple by making sure all of our Christmas cards were addressed and stamped about a month before the bid day. I had a fabulous helper this year...she put on all the stamps and it really saved me some time!!! She's a pro, that's for sure....

Super duper job, Miss Ty!!!

After cards were out, tree was up, and presents were wrapped, we spent Christmas Eve with Jason's family and had a great time. It's a small little get together and Jason's bro and his family didn't make it up until Christmas Day, but it was still great to see each and every one of them!!!

Off to Grandma Marcia's....

After a fun night of visiting, laughing, giving & opening presents, and just enjoying time together, we headed home where the kiddos quickly got milk and cookies ready for Santa and Trey left this note.....

Perfect. And, from the looks of it, Santa loved the milk!!!

Christmas morning was spent here at our own house, where the kiddos woke up not too early and headed into the front room to see what Santa left...they were looking forward to their big bags that Santa leaves every year. 

Checking out the stocking loot...

Excited about Santa's bags...

My favorite pic of the morning...nothing beats an adorable little "Thank-you!" hug!!! 

The rest of Christmas Day was spent catching up with far away family and squeezing in a little cousin time with Jason's brother's boys....

I'm always heavy hearted when I don't make it back home for the holidays. As much as I LOVE spending time here at home, there's just something that's missing when I don't make it to Grandfather's for Christmas Eve, and I don't wake up at my mom's house Christmas morning. I know time marches on, new traditions are made, and memories keep the feelings alive, but I still miss those special times like no other. So, when I found out that my mom and Steve would be stopping here on their way to Omaha to see my brother, I was beyond excited. It was a too short, but very sweet visit and it was SOOOO good to see them! We wrapped up the Christmas Holiday with them....

What a fabulous Christmas holiday!!! Be are beyond blessed with an amazing family, that's for sure!!!