Bugs can be beautiful

It really amazes me how beautiful things are if you look really closely.
I know I am very guilty of taking God's handiwork for granted. But it really is true, if you choose to see it you can find beauty just about anywhere. For me I always find beauty through the lens of my camera...so inspiring.

These little beauties hang out in the bushes in our backyard. I've always wanted to photograph them but they are quick and I don't have the perfect lens to do it quite yet. But I thought i'd give it a shot and work with what I got for now.

Have I mentioned how much i LOVE living here?!

Summertime is...

sunshine



water balloon fights




bubbles



walks around the lake



splash parks




outdoor exercise



sunshine and beautiful flowers




pools



and popsicles with friends



we ♥ summer! and it's just begun!!

Someone's turning 5!!

I can't believe it...you're turning 5. In just a little over 24 hours you will no longer be a baby, or a toddler anymore, you will be a little girl. And I'm already crying, just typing the words.

Watching you grow has been so many things, so many happy things, but for me it's also sad. From the minute you were born I wanted to hold you and never let you go. I remember watching you, holding you in my arms and having the overwhelming desire to just have you inside of me again, where you were safe, where you would stay little, perfect, innocent, where i could protect you always. But the irony in being a parent is that that's what you have to do. God gives you this precious soul to help protect for 9 shorts months, and then he lays her in your arms to give to him. He puts her into the world and asks you to raise her to one day walk away. I don't ever want to let you go. You are my heart and my soul. And every year it's hard, but this year is the hardest by far, because I know that very soon you will be taking your very first steps away from me. How bittersweet.

I write one of these letters every year, it's tradition, so what can I say that I haven't already said a million times? Rebekah, you are AMAZING. You are the light of my life. There isn't a day you don't put a smile on my face. Your smile, your laughter, it's contagious. The happiness you radiate is overwhelming. God put you on this earth to make other's happy, I'm convinced of it. We are so blessed to have you in our life. You are so full of life, so full of love, so full of personality, and I'm so happy that you are you.

My heart swells with pride for you as I watch all you accomplish and think about all the things you WILL accomplish. 5 is such a milestone, such a big deal! You are soo excited! In a few short months you will be starting Kindergarten, you will be losing your first tooth, and you will be learning about the world outside of this home that your father and I have built for you. The world where there are so many parts I wish I could hide from you. But I trust God and I am excited for the journey you have ahead, it's going to be quite a ride. It's already been quite a ride. Parenting is so hard, but a gift i cherish more than anything. I cherish YOU more than anything. You teach me so much everyday. About God, about myself, about you, about the world. You're such a precious, precious sweet soul and I pray that that never changes.

Happy 5th birthday, baby!! I know you hate it when I call you that because you proclaim loudly every time, "I am NOT a baby, I am a big girl!" :) So sassy and opinionated, that's my girl.

I love you to the moon and back,
Mommy

Happy 4th of July

We had a fun 4th of July. Nothing spectacular, this year. No parades or late nights for us, we just stayed at home and cooked out with some friends in the afternoon. Russel cooked ribs on the grill for the first time and they turned out WONDERFUL. Then in the evening we did sparklers with the girls. They are still young and are usually in bed LONG before it gets dark here, so we thought a parade might not be too good of an idea this year. We let them stay up later than usual, but they still only made it to about 9:00 before they started falling asleep on the couch. It was an exciting 4th of July with the Beaty's, let me tell you! Better luck next year. Here are the pics of the girls (and Daddy) playing with sparklers.












Ignore the HORRIBLE picture of me. It was a long day, lol. I look half dead but had to jump in a pic anyways

A visit with Nana:

I got behind again--SORRY!
This is my attempt to play catch up.
Like a month's worth of catch up, so I'm pretty sure i'll forget something.
And i'm pretty sure my mother will let me know. She's the blog police. :D

Anyways..
Here we go. Entry #1.

June 5-12, Nana visits!
The girls had a blast, as usual. We played, we ate, we walked the lake, we napped, we colored, we shopped, we went to the zoo, the park, the fair, we blew bubbles, we took pictures and we had a ton of fun.



Doesn't this pizza look GOOOOD!? ::drools::
















Look! It's me!! I like to make an occasional appearance :)





We love it when Nana visits and can't wait for her to come back!!!
Love you Nana! ♥