Mimi & Papa Come to Town

 

Last weekend, Mimi and Papa came in town for a visit.  It was beautiful weather, so we spent lots of time outside.  It actually felt like fall...which it rarely does here in Houston...so we ate outside on our patio a lot.  So nice!

Shiloh loved it too!

 The Houston Zoo was one of our outings.  

It's one of Brayden's favorite places!

Loving his time with Mimi and Papa...

He goes, "Hey, Mom, get my picture!"

I guess he's used to me asking him to pose!

Checking out the monkeys with Papa

"Hey, that's my Daddy's name!"

There's a really cool underground viewing area of the lions.

This was the closest they've ever been to the glass...

and (hopefully) the closest we'll ever be to one!

 "Hey, you!"

 Scoping things out...

 ...going in as close as he can get!  

 He loves the zoo; what can I say?!  He went over to the big monkey

in the gift shop; plopped down, and gave him a big hug!

Fun Dressing Up

After bringing home an array of items from a consignment sale,

Brayden thoroughly enjoyed playing with all of them at the same time.

Buzz Lightyear wings, Spiderman mask, Viking helmet,

Laser gun, and a hook.  Oh yeah, and add on sunglasses.

It was the ultimate superhero!

Va-ca-tion!

Over Labor Day, we were able to get away for a few days.  It was much needed!  We pretty much headed to the middle of nowhere, and before we knew it, we were smack dab in the middle of Tropical Storm Lee.  We stayed inside for most of our va-ca, but it turned out to be just perfect!  We lounged around, watched movies, and had a blast together.

My little man playing in the rain

Bubble time!

First Day of Preschool

It's so hard to believe our little guy started Preschool this week!  It made me feel old...although I did just turn 30, so that just added to it...but it's so hard to believe we're entering the phase of SCHOOL here in our household!  He loved it.  He came home talking about his new friend that is in his class...he is in a class of SEVEN boys...no girls!  Ha!  It should be a class full of energy!

 Walking to school...jk!

Jonathan wanted a pic looking like he was walking to school.

Not at all...it would be quite a hike!

 Putting away his snack in his bin in his classroom.

Grandaddy Phil's Visit

Last weekend, we had my dad come and visit us for a few days.

While he was here, we made a trip to the Children's Museum,

played at the pool, and went to a Houston Texans football game.

At the children's museum...ready to paint...or wash his hands!

In the forensic lab at the Children's Museum

While at the Children's Museum, we must go grocery shopping too!

His first item to pick up was ice cream...go figure!

"Mom, you want a chicken?"

Texans game!

Thanks for visiting, Grandaddy Phil!

Grayma & Graydaddy's Visit

Last week, we had a great time with Jonathan's parents in town.

They came in for a few days, and it was so fun to have them around.

That Saturday, we went to a Lowe's Build and Grow clinic, 

and they built a schoolhouse picture holder.

This picture cracks me up...Graydaddy & Brayden,

both working hard with their tongues sticking out.

While they were here, we got to celebrate their 40th anniversary!

...with sombreros and all!

Thanks for visiting, Grayma & Graydaddy!

Happy 30th Birthday Jonathan!

The BIG 3-0 is here for my hubby, and I'm so excited to celebrate the big day with him.  It's really hard to believe we're 30...well, I'm not there quite yet, but my bday is just a week away.  I am so thankful that I get to walk through life with such an amazing man!  He is such a great husband.  He loves the Lord with all his heart and desires to live for Him and make His name known.  I am honored that God gave me a man like him.    

 He is such an incredible Daddy.  He loves to play with Brayden

and teach him what it means to love Jesus and live for Him...

to grow in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man.

Jonathan truly brings fun into our home; he is a kid at heart.

I love that he loves to have fun and simply enjoy life together as a family.

Happy 30th Birthday, Juan!

Tabletop Tapestry 2011

This year for our women's event at church, we had Tabletop Tapestry with a twist.  Instead of just decorating the tables, everything we used for decorating was donated to one of four amazing organizations.  Free the Captives was the organization that our table donated toward.  Free the Captives is an anti-human trafficking organization based here in Houston.  They work with at-risk teenage girls to help prevent or rescue girls who are or have been susceptible to being trafficked.  I pray that God uses these donations toward their freedom from this awful problem that is so rampant (yet somewhat hidden) here in the U.S.  They asked for art supplies which will help toward art therapy with the girls.

The centerpiece is an 'art cake' made of wrapped 

boxes surrounded by lots of fun art supplies.

Around the table was a rainbow of hundreds 

of circle punched paint chips.

Composition journals covered in scrapbook paper

 Marshmallow pops in a vase covered with colored pencils

 The place settings were blank canvases with paint and a paintbrush
Rainbow printable nametags & notes

 I made placecards of index cards held up with a crayon

 The chair backs were covered with rainbow crepe paper

 It was so great to have my mother-in-law, Dixie, there with me

for the event.  I was so excited she got to be a part of this night!

 Alison and me

It was such a fun night!  I'm excited to see what all God

does through the ripples of what happened at Tabletop this year!

What a Fun Summer

This summer has been so much fun having my sister, Amy, living with us.  We were sad to say 'goodbye' to her yesterday, and we'll definitely miss having her around our house everyday!   It was such a memorable summer, and I'm so thankful that we had that time to get so much closer and for her to be a part of our lives here.