Happy 4th Birthday M!

M's birthday is a day after E's birthday. Since we had birthday pancakes for breakfast just the day before, M wanted to go to her favorite place Chick Fil A. We ate breakfast and the manager found out it was her birthday. She brought M the best presents of the cow and a balloon. M absolutely thought this was the best thing to happen to her. 

After dinner we celebrated with chocolate cupcakes.

E found and opened M's present a couple of days before her birthday. M got to enjoy it that much sooner and didn't mind.

We have a hard time believing she is 4! I still get a little emotional thinking about her being rushed away from us to the NICU at a few minutes old. She changed our lives and perspective forever. M has such a caring big heart. Everyone is a friend to her. She is an introvert, and needs to go off and play by herself everyday. The confusing thing for J is that she is very outgoing and enjoys being with her friends everywhere she goes.
She is our mostly vegetarian still with the big exception being CFA chicken nuggets and Pop Pop's hamburgers. She really wants to learn how to jump rope this year.

Happy birthday to our big blessing!

Happy 2nd birthday E!

E had her actual birthday in July. It was not a very eventful day, but we hope special all the same.

She woke up and had birthday pancakes!

 E opening her present from the three of us:

The girls loved playing with this circus all morning.

She has grown into such a wonderful little girl. She still loves to laugh. We love to watch her when she is in a "busy mode." She runs back and forth with such a sense of purpose. She likes to do things her way, and figure things out. As parents we love and struggle with this sometimes. She has a strong and sweet spirit in her. We love this opportunity to be her parents.
Happy birthday E! These two years have challenged us and brought so much joy to our lives!

Dallas Arboretum

My Dad's birthday (Pop Pop) is a couple of days before the girls, and we made plans to visit the Arboretum. Their theme was Alice in Wonderland. The girls got their faces painted, and then we went and saw the White Rabbit. E is simply terrified, but was brave with her Nana beside her.
M was disappointed because Alice could not be there due to the stormy weather.

Fortunately, the rain cleared up enough for us to take a stroll in the gardens.

My mom and dad:

Happy birthday Pop Pop! We had so much fun celebrating with you!

Blue Puppy Party

We asked M what kind of birthday party she would like, and immediately she said "blue puppy party!" Blue is her favorite color, but we were amazed at how decisive and fast she had made her decision.

Since we only throw one party a year I had these shirts made for the girls.  

Grammy and Grandpa came early and gave the girls their presents. They love this castle, and they mostly share it.

Pop Pop and uncle D were sick, but Nana, aunt S, and aunt A all came before the party to celebrate too. M got her big girl bike, and we had to take it outside immediately to test it out.

We had the girls party at Glenview Baptist Church's indoor playground tree house. They were so helpful, and wonderful for our first away from home party. We had quite the spread. I have no idea how I would be able to throw any party without the help of our family. If I listed everything they did for this party you would wonder what J and I did!

We played in the tree house.

 and slid down long slides

even the parents joined in on the climbing

Happy Birthday M & E!

Thank you to all our family and friends who helped to make their birthday special! We truly appreciate you!