BFF's

My sister Brittany and her daughter Sophia have been staying with us for a little while. It has been fun to have the company during the day and the girls LOVE having each other to play with! Sophia is almost 1 - the girls are one day shy of exactly 4 months apart. But, Sophia is already a great little walker, so they keep up with each other just fine. It is simply hilarious and so sweet to see them play - they'll talk baby talk to each other and will chase each other around the house. They do everything together now including snacking, bathing, and walking into dark rooms together on little adventures. Evelyn calls Sophia "Baby" and her favorite things are gently stroking the top of Sophia's head and trying to pick her up while saying "Up! Up!" They are also feeling comfortable enough with each other to play tug-of-war with toys or snatch things out of each other's hands...Jason said he's gotten a few glimpses of what it will be like some day when we have more than one child!

It has been so precious to watch these two playing and growing in their friendship! I just know they'll be Best Friends Forever! (And, I am hoping that also elevates me to Sophia's favorite Auntie too since I'll be her BFF's Mommy!)

What We've Been Up To

Attending an outdoor country music festival with Jesse, Tia, and Jessie Marie. Jesse is a Marine and got us the tickets. Thank you Jesse for the tickets and for serving our country! We had a blast seeing Rascal Flatts and were sorry we missed Carrie Underwood due to the rain. We also enjoyed watching Jesse ride the mechanical bull until they forced him off!
Eating very messy pizza - she loves red sauce! And, mastering the sippy cup.

Playing with our new giraffe tunnel we got on clearance! Climbing on anything and everything!

Driving the van while we were stuck in a thunderstorm at the park. We went there to attend an outdoor concert, but it started storming and it was cancelled. We enjoyed our picnic dinner in the van instead!
Celebrating Auntie Hannah's golden 14th birthday.
Watching Auntie Trinity and Auntie Summer in "Oklahoma!"
And, Grandma Dawn who did a phenomenal job as "Gertie" - great annoying laugh, Mom!

Splishin' and splashin'.
Having a cute bum! And, plain old being cute!

Happy Independence Day!!!

We spent our 4th at an amusement park with my dad, step-mom, and sis Hannah. I LOVE rides and wanted to sure and do some before I am preggers again! We had a great time and Evelyn was a trooper! E hanging out with Grandpa Bart while we all went on a ride.
Jason and Hannah.
Grandma Jeanne and Grandpa Bart.
E's first ride on the merry-go-round! Don't worry - we were on a stationary horse!
Fireworks at the park. E really could care less about them - she was more interested in the potato chunks I was feeding her while we watched!

Congrats to the Graduate!

My sister Brittany (top left above) graduated from high school and had a wonderful party to celebrate. I caught a nasty cold the day before the party which was a bummer since I was in charge of making 20 pounds of pasta salad. Brittany os worth it though - she is a wonderful young woman and we are very proud of her! A small sampling of party shots: Evelyn crawling on Auntie Moriah's bed.
Auntie Moriah (Auntie Ya-Ya I call her!)
Grandma Dawn (who was so busy with the food prep and entertaining that I had to force her to hold E and take their pic before we left!)
The sisters! Brit is the tallest (only by a bit over me - it looks like more since I was crouching...or at least that's what I tell myself!) I didn't get a pic of Brit alone...whoops!
E checking out her 3rd cousin Josh!

Frame by Frame Action of the Cousins

No time for captions!

Pics from dance recital extravaganza weekend, Mother's Day (I had a great first one - thanks, Honey!) and from around the house lately. The order is quite messed up! Sorry!

Note: my Dad was in a father/daughter hip-hop dance...he does not normally dress like that! :-)

Family Pic

God has truly blessed me as a husband! Today was one of those days when for some reason I saw things through a different lens. I have to just stand back and tell God thank you for blessing me and my family so much. I couldn't have asked for a better wife...and our little Evelyn is so precious. Sometimes I sit back and wonder what I did to deserve such a beautiful wife and daughter and house...and then I realize...it wasn't anything I did. God's grace and mercy are what happened. I'm so thankful for where He's brought us from...and where He's taking us to! Our God is good!

A post that should have been in the past...

Me and my Anderson sisters! From L-R: Autumn, Trinity, Summer, Moriah, and Brittany. They did a great job dancing at their recital - I LOVE to watch them perform! I never scanned pics from my Mom's recital...naughty me. But, at least I am finally getting these images posted. Only about 3 weeks late. It was fun to have these gals come over last week for the 4th. Last year when they came we did lots of dancing in our living room. They taught me part of their hip-hop dance. I wasn't quite fit for lots of dancing at this visit!

These are my adorable little bros - Easton and Dawson. They are #7 and #8 in the lines - 6 girls followed by the 2 boys bringing up the rear! I am suprised I got them to stop long enough for me to snap this shot - they are active little boys!

We neglected to take pictures last week during their visit... I guess I was too preoccupied trying to show my mom things and get info out of her (i.e. show off all the baby's clothes and the great garage sale deals, how to get really tough stains out - some of which were on the baby's clothes, how to fix my husband's jean's button, what meal to make next, etc.)

Tomorrow's posts (if I can find the time - dang, have I been busy at work!): My Birthday and our Bible study baby shower that took place last night!