While we were away....

...they played together...



(did you loose something, Piper?)

...did yard work...




...ate their veggies...maybe...


...started a little business...




I admit I always imagined Piper as the entertainment and Brenna as the manager!!

Brenna is 4!

These pictures were taken the morning we headed out for our mission trip (more info on that to come). The company did a great job. The picture of the two together was my anchor while we were away from the girls. I know I looked at it a thousand times, and it made me smile each time.

Drum roll please.....

OK, these are out of order, but I plan to update this extensively throughout the day. And since I am working on this pictures now, it seems easiest to do this update now.

Before:



After:


I have donated 12 inches to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths in honor of the strongest woman I know: my mom. She recently has been completely released from the care of her oncologist after a fierce battle against in intestinal cancer in 2000 and 2001. I could not be more proud of the woman she is and has taught me to be. I love you Mom.

This morning

I said :
"Brenna give me a kiss, I have to go to work now" *Kiss* "Will you give one to Piper for me when she wakes up?"
Brenna said:
"Yes. Or you could pray about it"
Me:
"Pray about what"?
Brenna:
"Piper. When you think about her."
Me:
"OK, I will."
Brenna:
"And pray for me too. Because we are sisters."
Me (with a heart so full it was about to explode):
"Of course, I will. I love you."
Brenna:
"I love you too, mama."

New glasses...again!

I ordered a second pair of glasses online last month. I had been pricing rimless glasses for sometime, as well as asking others how much they paid. I heard anywhere from a couple hundred to $600.00 for a pair of glasses. I didn't get these originally becuase rimless are just too expensive!! I got these for $58.00 with shipping. I was amazed at how cheap they were. So far they seem to be well made. Of course, they are more fragile than my others but that is true for any rimless frames. These came with antireflective and UV protection. And the prescription is dead on! I am really happy with them, but I feel completely exposed. I realized I have been hiding behind my glasses since I was about 12 years old. (Is that right, ma?) Now, I can't hide a thing and that will take some getting used to! (Are my eyes really that squinty?)

If you are interested, I got these from www.myopticalshop.com. They have an ebay store full of great feedback. Check them out if you are in the market.

And while I am doing shameless plugs, check out my website at www.toogoodtobethroughonline.com!

out of the mouths of babes...

As many of you know, I am growing my hair out to donate to "Beautiful Lengths", a charitable organization that make wigs for women who are battling cancer. I am quickly approaching the time to donate.

This morning I was talking to Brenna about it so she won't be surprised. We saw a commerical on TV where two women switched wigs. I decided this was a good opportunity, so I told her that I was going to get my hair cut and it would be turned in to a wig for someone who doesn't have any hair. She looked at me with her innocent eyes and said "You are giving your hair to Daddy?"

I am still laughing.

Brenna really is photogenic when she isn't trying.



Josh got some great shots of Grammy and the girls outside.



We made a tent in the living room one day for Brenna. Piper loved it as much, but loved pulling the door down most.

All smiles...even if they are camera smiles

This first picture was taken on Memorial Day...


Earlier this week, Brenna wanted to give her doll a bath...and guess who wanted to help? They got along very well and made a huge mess in the process. They loved it, so how can i complain?

The BIG day

Saturday was Beau and Julianne's wedding. And what a wonderful day it was. Most of you know that Brenna was the flower girl. There has been lots of hype about this day, in hopes that Brenna would perform as necessary. Before Saturday, she had not put the dress on once without a fight. That alone made me a little nervous.

As the rehearsal, Brenna was a little nervous, but did go down the aisle to Beau. Of course, that came after Julianne told her she could run if she wanted to. And run she did. Right in to Beau's outstretched arms. I was feeling better, but still nervous.

The day of the wedding, Brenna pulled through. I can't believe I ever doubted. She looked like a beautiful princess (pictures to come later). She walked right down the isle looking left and right to see who she might know. She walked confidently right down to where Josh and I were sitting. I was proud I couldnt' help but cry. At the reception (which was at the OC forum), she ran around in her dress and barefoot loving the attention she was getting.

Just FYI...If anyone needs a flowergirl, we got a good one!!!

And of course, we are thrilled that Julianne is finally our cousin!!

getting lunches ready

This morning I was in the kitchen getting our lunches ready. I usually give Brenna a choice between 2 sandwiches and then she chooses her sides. This morning she decided she wanted a peanutbutter, jelly, ham and cheese sandwich. You should not be surprised to hear that I told her no. She decide PBJ would be the way to go. Then she told me she wanted a square (she has figured out that this way she gets the crust cut off, because I don't usually do that). I was about to cut it in a square, when she changed her mind and wanted it in a heart shape. She pulled out the cookie cutter and handed it to me and said, "I want a heart shape because of my love for Jesus." Can it get any sweeter than that? I think not!

And if anyone wondered, she decided on a banana and applesauce for her sides and water to drink. What a good girl!

School pictures are back.

These are not the best pictures we've taken, but they sure aren't the worst! And they do show what sweet girls we have!

Did I mention Piper is fearless....

it's the little things....

Sunday in church we started our worship by watching a video of seven of the 10 baptisms since Easter Sunday. We sang as a congregation while the video was playing. It was very emotional for me. The video was over and we stood to continue singing and I thought to myself, "Whew, can't believe I made it through that without crying." At that exact moment, Piper (whom I was holding) put her little arms around my neck and gave me her first ever hug. I didn't make it through that without crying. It truly was a precious moment. So far, I am the only recipient of them, but I get them often. And they melt my heart every time. I'm sure soon you will all get to experience them!!

And Brenna...well, she just never ceases to amaze us! Last night she was jumping from our ottoman to our big green chair and right before she jumped she said "Here goes nothing." Where do they learn this stuff? We, of course, just cracked up. She is always coming up with stuff like that...uses the 'actually' correctly and with just a bit a sassiness (which usually gets her in trouble)... says 'I don't that is right, mama'...figures out how to do things on her own...etc.

Life is good, and it is the little things that makes it that way.

a few more....

At our house these days it is not uncommon to find pillows lined up from one end of a room to another...or even from one room to another. Brenna enjoys jumping on the line. And she usually wants some company. I say that is Daddy's game.

This is our friend Molly. She is twelve and Brenna adores her! I think she is pretty great myself.

Easter Egg hunt at school

Brenna's class hunted for eggs on the play ground. It was cold that day, but Brenna insisted on her outfit. We battled shoes, but I wasn't going to battle pants. Below Brenna is in the fort with her friend Lindley.


Piper's teachers "hid" the eggs in their room. Most of them had no idea what was going on. Below is Piper and Kailey.

Here comes Peter Cottontail...

Josh took these outside before it became winter around here again!


Damma sent these glass stickers. Piper was pulling them off as quickly as Brenna could put them up. As you can see, Brenna got a little tired of it., haha

Just life...

Piper loves Brenna's babydoll. Soon after this she got her own. Now we just need to get her own bottle.

I love this picture of Brenna. I know she is being goofy with her tongue, but her eyes are so striking.

Sweet faces

PIPER IS WALKING!!!

Who could resist this face? Yes, those are pig tails!

Josh was taking pictures at the shop for our website (www.toogoodtobethroughonline.com) and took a moment to capture our girls.

Family time at the shop.