Happy Birthday, Leah!

These are a few pictures of Leah's 4th birthday. We had it at Pump It Up and used a hello kitty theme. All of the kids had a blast. There were so many pictures it was hard to choose just a few. It is so hard to believe my baby girl is 4!!! Sure wish someone could figure out how to freeze them :)

Tangled Bowling

This is a birthday cake I did for one of Ella and Leah's friends. She is having a Tangled party at the bowling alley. So, I did a simple sheet cake base iced in purple since that is Rapunzel's signature color. Then I put a bowling lane on top with Rapunzel at one end and some bowling pins and ball that I made from a fondant/gumpaste mixture on the other. I then iced the border with grass and flowers.

Beach Trip 2011

Our family

My Sand Fleas

All the Kids on the Trip

Ella

Ella the Mermaid

Leah

Leah Waiting on the Waves to Get Her

Shelia and Me

The Kids Gathered Round to See the Fish Bryan Caught

Leah in the Pool

Ella Jumping Off Into the Deep End with NO Floaties!

Going to Tell the Beach Bye-Bye

These are a few pictures of our beach trip with the Easley family this year. Unfortunately, not all of their clan was able to be there for one reason or another (some of the older kids had work or basketball games). [There was an extra child because Maggie took a friend since all of her older siblings weren't there.] Anyway, it was HOT but we had a great time. We haven't been to the beach in a year (or two?) and it was sooooo great to sink our toes in the sand and listen to the waves crash on the beach.

Most of the kids were stung repeatedly by jellyfish, but it did not deter them from the ocean. Even Ella suprised me by not completely losing her cookies the first time (and there was a total of three) she was stung. The kids built sand castles and fed crackers to the sea gulls. Maggie and Peyton made sand mermaids of the little girls. Leah screamed and cried when we first got there because she was scared of the ocean but when it was time to leave she screamed and cried to stay.

Bryan, Shelia, Charles, and I were even able to to out and have a grown up date night thanks to Maggie and Peyton. I can't even begin to say how bad I needed this trip. I think we all had a great time. Only problem...it wasn't long enough. There was a house across the street from the house we stayed in and it was for sale. I asked Charles if we could buy it and he said "Suurrreeee." So, looks like we are moving to the beach!

Ok, Ok....in my dreams! Oh well, at least we had a good beach trip!

Kindergarten Graduation

The cake

The diploma



Showing off her new earrings

A very wet Ella and Eva

We (the Roughton and Raye families) had a Kindergarden Graduation Ceremony for Ella and Eva this past Sunday afternoon. I had briefly thought about it when Shelia told me how special East Memorial's ceremony was but kind of dismissed it. Then Dana suggested that we do something for Ella and Eva. The more I thought about it, the more I thought it was a good idea. I vividly remember my own kindergarten graduation. I remember shopping for my white dress and I even remember my part for the ceremony---singing the song after the Pledge of Allegience. So, all of that said, we decided to have them a pool party at the Raye home. Bryan, Dana's husband and Eva's daddy, has his own brick oven pizza catering business so he made us some super yummy pizza. We also had salad and fresh fruit....and cake, of course! The girls had a great time swimming (as did their siblings, Leah and JB). The water was cold and there were four consistently quivering chins but they had a great time. We presented each girl with a diploma and a gift. Ella has been wanting some new earrings so bad for so long, so that is what she got. Gee, where has the time gone? I can't believe that baby I brought home from the hospital - on what seems like yesterday - is now a kindergarten graduate. Does anybody know how to freeze them?

Gymnastics Meet

Girls at the Armory

Leah with her medal and flower

Ella with her medal and flower


Both my gymnasts

These are a few pix of my proud gymnasts! This was Ella's third mini-meet and Leah's first. She was so excited to finally get her own medal. They both did a great job. I was especially proud of Leah because she was so scared and overwhelmed by all of the noise and people that she actually started to cry right before it began, but she stuck it out and stayed with it and once she got on the balance beam she was fine.

Inductive Bible Study

I just completed a Precept Inductive Bible Study on the book of Titus. I must say this was very eye opening. I have done many Bible studies before, mostly by going to Lifeway and getting a study and doing it on my own. This study was through Precept Ministries by Kay Arthur. What it does is take Scripture and break it down word by word. My mom said it was like dissecting ~ which is actually a great way to describe it. I must say until now I feel like I have only been surface studying. I learned so much that I don't think I would have any other way. I am hooked! This can really be the only way to really dig in (well, not the only way but certainly a really good way). I feel like I will read my Bible differently from now on. If you have never done one of these studies, I would highly recommend it. We are going to start the book of Romans in the fall and it will take us 1 1/2 - 2 years to complete! That is how in depth it is. I am so excited!

Two Front Teeth....GONE!

Well, I guess it's official...my little baby is a little girl. Tonight she lost her two front teeth....yep, both on the same night. She is so proud. She is six years old and has now lost six teeth! She is so excited. And, in my opinion, she is so super cute! Just wanted to share!