Where is she?!?!?

When JDC puts his hands up like he is asking "where" or "what" he is usually looking for his sister. He usually wants to be entertained by her, near her, or playing peek-a-boo while she runs around him. We LOVE that sound of them playing and laughing together!!! It can have been loud in our house for hours and when I think I have had just about enough noise but hear that, I can't say stop it. It will bring a smile to your face not matter what is going on. Well last night, I was about to put JDC down for bed and his daddy came in to give him kisses and he put his hands up and was looking at the door --and we knew what he was thinking. We asked if he wanted to give MWC kisses before bed and he did the sign language for "please." (That is his was of communicating most of the time--his few words of signing.) Anyway, RDC took him into the bathroom where she was taking a bath and he gave his sister hugs and kisses and then was ready for bed. :) We thought it was too sweet!! I can't express to you how much I LOVE our babies!! Yes- we have had a few rough days and they are not as perfect as grandparents think they can be :)--but I would not change ANYTHING about them and I love them to pieces!!!!

Where to start!??!?!?!!

We had a GREAT 4th of July weekend!! We did not stop but had lots of fun!! Friday started the festivities with lunch at Pop and Granny's celebrating Pop's birthday. We ate lunch and decorated Pop's truck for their neighborhood's annual 4th of July Parade. Pop went out and bought ALL kinds of things --from decorations for the truck, to hats for us all to wear to beads for us to throw at the parade goers!!! (I am not sure who was more excited--Pop or MWC!!)

Then later that day we went to the annual Balloon Glow with some friends from Sunday School. At this get together, several people blow up their hot air balloons and then at sunset, they all "glow" their balloons at the same time. We started going to this when I was in high school and not missed many years since then. I love going --mainly because it is just a "big ole' social event" where we do a lot of visiting!!! (Right up my alley!!) and then they end the event with a fireworks display. MWC and JDC loved watching the fireworks!!!

On the way home!!!--Poor tired babies!!!

Then on the actual 4th---PARADE DAY!!!! We headed over to Pop and Granny's to get ready to be in the parade!!! It was fun....but about 3/4th the way through, MWC looked at us and said, "can we go back to their house?? I am sweaty!!!" She's my girl!!! Not a big fan of sweat!! :)

Getting ready to ride in the parade!!!

But she survived and after the parade we tried to go swimming but the pool was closed. So we headed home and played on the slip and slide!! Then after JDC and I napped :)--we went to have supper at KayKay and Will's. (Sorry no pictures--too busy chasing after a 15 month old!!) But we did have a GREAT time celebrating Pop's birthday, the 4th and spending time hanging out and being with family!!!

MWC and JDC have a special message....

We love you, Pop and hope that you have a WONDERFUL birthday!!!!

Getting her ears "pinned.."

**Warning--kind of long...but I want to document this day for MWC!! :)

For several weeks now, MWC will ask me (as I put a bracelet on), "Can I wear a bracelet?" And she has several so she will proceed to go and get her one. Well, last Wednesday, she asked me if she could wear some earrings. I told her no, because her ears are not pierced and I don' t have any she could wear. Her solution...."Can I go get me ears "pinned(as she calls it)?" Of course we needed to ask her daddy. He said we will see. :) Last night he said he needed some more time to get used to it. But this morning after he cut the grass we decided to go. When I first explained what they were going to go, she said "never mind I don't want to." But then she asked if her friend AH could come and hold her hand. Off we went. She was sooooo excited!! She wanted to call everyone and tell them what she was going to do. The time comes-- AH's sweet daddy brings her up there--MWC is still excited--She picks out the earrings, I fill out the paper work--time to hop up on the chair. NOPE!! She changes her mind. We tried to encourage--nope. RDC and I talked about how we would not push. So we told the nice man--thank you for your time. (I think this happens quite a bit to them. :) We start heading out to the car. Get out to the car, get JDC put in--and she says, "I want to get my ears pinned." I asked her if she was sure that she does not have to--but if we go back in and get the nice man again, she needs to do it because he is nice enough to come and help us again. We head back in. This time in line behind a baby. Thinking--not a good idea...that baby is going to CRY!! I took her to potty and daddy stayed to fill out the paperwork while the baby got hers done. MWC and I returned and a teenager was about to get hers done. I looked at her and said, "PLEASE don't cry!!!" Of course she did great and MWC watched intently!!! But when it was her turn she hopped right up there and never looked back!!! And turned out to be such a GOD thing that she waited--because when we returned, there were 2 people working and could do it at the same time. Earlier, there was just the man and he would have had to do 1 at a time. Also, we had talked about how she was scared, so we were able to talk about that and that if she prayed, God would help her. And sang some VBS songs we learned!! :) So after it was over--she was SO proud of herself and we were able to talk about how God helped her through it. I don't think she has stopped grinning or showing people her "pinned" ears!!!

Last picture before her ears are pierced.

Her sweet friend who came

to hold her hand.

SO EXCITED!!!!!

Just wanna brag...

On our parents.--they are the BEST GRANDPARENTS to our children!! They not only tell our kids how much they love us, but they show them. Just this week, MWC has gotten to go to the movies with BeBe and today is playing at Pop and Granny's-just because. It is very evident to us and to our children that they all love spending time with MWC and JDC. It is not unusual for us to hear from any of them, "I just need a MWC and JDC fix." -And they come by to see them. And the feeling is VERY mutual!! Just in the last week, I have heard MWC say, "I want you and Daddy to go on a date so BeBe can come keep me." Or-"I want Pop and Granny to come home so I can go to their house and play." (They just got back from a 2 1/2 week long trip.) And just yesterday, she was pouting on the couch and I asked her what was wrong and she said, "I just want to go to Texas." (Where Grandaddy is.) Poor thing does not understand why we can't just load up and go to Texas like we can going to BeBe's or Pop and Granny's. :( I can't express to anyone enough how much I LOVE to hear her say that!! RDC and I are VERY blessed to have such wonderful parents who will not only be there for us anytime....but our children who they love absolutely- without a doubt-100% unconditionally. So THANK YOU Bebe, Grandaddy, Pop and Granny for what you do for our children and what you mean to the four of us!!

Summer is in FULL swing!!

...From having VBS to eating popsicles to going walking/bike riding after dinner. Especially if you look at our "mud hole" in the backyard!!! The kids are LOVING to swim and play on the slip and slide!! But so far we are having a great summer. MWC misses school and choir and mission friends--all of her "social activities"!! I was able to teach her room during VBS and that was fun. I loved being there to watch her interact and participate during the day!! JDC did good. He started the week with an ear infection and 4 molars coming in at once, so RDC stayed home with him on Monday. When I would pick him up each day, I would get a running total of what he had eaten!! One day he ate his snack, 2 other kids' snacks, and then some of the teacher's granola bar!! So that day I figured he would not eat lunch--right?!?!? WRONG!! He came home and ate some fruit and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!!!! :) What can we say--he LOVES to eat!! Our summer seems some what low key. Just hanging out with friends and swimming. I have to admit--I miss our pj days so we plan to have a few of them every now and then!!!Here are some pictures of our summer thus far......

Our little Dare Devil

Apparently our little dainty MWC is quite the daredevil. She has always wanted to ride the bigger rides or do the bigger things. The last few weeks have been no different. On Memorial Day we were able to go with some sweet, good friends to a water park. There was a BIG slide that she had to ride alone--without me and RDC. Now at first, she did not want to go when she realized she had to ride alone--until AH went and she saw that it was ok!! But she rode it and rode it and rode it all day long!!!! There was another slide that we had to ride in a double tube with her--but SHE LOVED IT!!! It was a fun time and we hope to go again!!!

The daddies had to do it first!!!

HERE THEY COME!!!!

MWC and her sister/ friend AH!!! (They have decided to be sisters!)

And then last week we were at a community picnic where they have things to do for the kids--space jumps, petting zoo, train rides, etc...Well last week they new thing was a rock climbing wall!! And what does Miss Priss want to do?!?!? When she asked I am more than fine with h

er trying, but I was worried she would not have the upper body strength to do it. So we stood in line and waited, and waited and waited! Finally her turn!!! The workers had to help her up the first couple of pushes and pulls, but then she got the hang of it. And she did pretty good. Until she was finished and ready to come down. WELL--she was not quite heavy enough to come down on her own. She let go and just stayed there!!!! It was a trying few minutes as a parent because then she got scared --and we could not reach her..but her Daddy finally got tired of them trying to figure out how to get her down and came to the rescue and climbed up just a few pulls and was able to reach her and pulled her down. (One more reason for her to call him her HERO!!) She is not quite as quick to climb one anytime soon--maybe next year she will gain a few pounds and can come down on her own!!!

Getting help to get started....

....getting the hang of it!!

And I think her little brother is going to follow in her footsteps. Last weekend while Grandaddy was here, he bought them a slip and slide and he LOVES it just as much as she does. RDC or I have to help him get to the end but he loves it!!!