These girls are the best girlfriends, these are the girls from our Life Group. The one in the middle with her arm out,Ros,just moved to Japan today. :-(
We had a surprise birthday for her Monday night so we could all say goodbye to her and wish her a "Happy Birthday" (her birthday is on Friday).

Our dear friends, The Giron's, invited us over to Kathy's parents house last night for a play date with their son Noah. Maddie also got to play with Britton...his parents are also in our Life Group. The kids had a blast on this HUGE blow up slide. Kathy's parents also cooked Hamburgers and Hot dogs...Maddie was so pooped she crashed when we got home.

Climbing up the slide.

Oh the expressions this little face makes!

Britton, Noah and Maddie

Here are some pics, as promised, from two of my choir tours. I guess I left my pictures from Africa and California at my parents house.

In Boston...I am the top one on the left. We went here in 1996...such an amazing tour and I keep telling nick we need to take a trip there for vacation.

This was on a retreat during my senior year of High School. We went there to learn the music for "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". (I'm the middle girl!)

I was a "Dreamette" during our production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" We did the show to raise money for our trip to Israel.

In the Dead Sea...we had so much fun floating on top of the water...I'm the last one on the right!

Singing in a concert in Israel...we went in 1998 and this was my favorite tour. (bottom left)

**Here is a video I took this past Saturday at rehearsal...for those of you who want to hear the amazing choir. The song in "Swinging with the Saints"...one of my favorite!

Maddie started preschool on Monday at my school. She will be in the KLT program and will be right down the hall from me. She won't officially start with her teacher and in her class until next week...so I will have to post pictures of Maddie with her teachers at that time. She loves being a BIG girl and taking her own lunch box and backpack with her to school. Nick and I can hardly believe she is almost 4....time has flown by!

**Notice the pink cell phone in hand...such the diva!

This weekend, I had the pleasure of returning to the church I grew up in for a sweet time of reunion with my High School church choir. The Chapel Choir and Orchestra has been a ministry at First Baptist Church, Dallas for 50 years. Over 500 people gathered to participate with all of our old directors and peers to remember and rejoice in the experience we had in the Chapel Choir. I was in the choir from 1995-1998 and traveled to Africa, Boston, California and Israel. Words can not express what being in that choir has meant for me...I have such good memories of the friendships I made and memories of the lives we were able to touch.
I will have to post pictures from the choir tours tomorrow at some point because I am just too tired to go through them tonight.

My old church is located in the heart of Downtown Dallas.

The infamous Fred McNab.

Another one of my favorite directors...Grady Chism.

Our little nephew, Carson, is turning 1 today. From the moment we found out Nick's sister, Kristi, was pregnant...we have been praying for this sweet little boy. He is an adorable little guy who brings joy to everyone who meets him.


Here are a few (out of a thousand) reasons why we love our nephew/cousin Carson:

1. Maddie and Wyatt love being with him. Maddie takes great pleasure in trying to make him laugh. Wyatt and Carson are already becoming best pals and here in the next year we will be chasing them everywhere.

2. He has the sweetest smile and laugh...he has the cutest little chuckle.

3. Carson is such a blessing...he is the answer to prayer for Webb and Kristi and a miracle for all who were there when he came into the world.

4. He loves his Uncle Nick...I think they have a pretty sweet bond. Nick can't wait to be able to take Wyatt and Carson fishing together.

5. His gentle spirit...he rarely fusses and is such an easy baby to care for.(speaking of I think it is time for another "Date Night" so I can come watch him) :-)


We love you Carson and can't wait to see what this next year brings. It is a joy to be your Aunt and Uncle, and we couldn't have asked for a better cousin for Maddie and Wyatt. Happy Birthday little "CarCar"!

Just Born!

6 months!

10 months!

1st Birthday party....he LOVED his cake!

I took this video on Sunday...Nick was just having too much fun making him laugh!

We have been trying to talk Maddie into going off the diving board all summer. She would jump off the side of the pool...off the steps and swim forever in the deep end but she absolutely refused to jump off the diving board. We really didn't pressure her...but we knew she was afraid and just like with every other fear Maddie has had, we have met it head on with her. I knew she would LOVE it if she would just try. Yesterday, we went to the pool with some of our close friends and we were just about to get out of the pool when Maddie tells me she wants to jump off the diving board. I even looked at my friend and said, "She has said this before and she will even walk to the edge of the board...but she WON'T jump in!" So Maddie steps up on that board and she looks down at me and says, "Mom,it is really high!" I said, "I know, but it will be fine...you will like it." So she jumps...I was shocked...it took me a minute to realize what she had done. She didn't even jump to me...I was fully prepared to catch her...she actually jumped away from me as if to make a statement. She came up out of the water laughing...she was thrilled and begged me to let her do it again. (of course I said an enthusiastic,"YES!") Not only did she jump a few more times off the board, but she also went down the BIG blue slide...it is pretty tall and very twisty..she climbed all the way up there herself and came shooting out bottom first.
So why do we make a BIG deal about her jumping off the diving board??? I'm sure a few of you are wondering why I would write so much about such a little thing. Well if you have kids, I'm sure you have experienced a moment like this. Maybe it wasn't jumping off the diving board but it was when your kid first "got it" about toilet training or the first day you dropped them off at school(we are approaching that moment in the next few weeks).
It is a wonderful thing when you kid overcomes their fears or finally hurdles that obstacle to see what is on the other side. We have had MANY moments like these with Maddie and Wyatt and I anticipate a hundred thousand more. It's when you get to see them grow and mature and see them tuck it away for the next time they get afraid of something or think that something is too big for them. So this is just one proud mama bragging on what to me IS a big accomplishment. I knew she would jump off that diving board this summer...I knew it the day we first walked into the swim club and mentioned it to her. I knew it because of who she is meant to be, we are not raising her with a spirit of fear...so she is STANDING (or should I say JUMPING) FIRM!

"For God has not given you a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, and love, and of sound mind."
2 Timothy 1:7

Nana and Papaw sent Maddie a cookie bouquet to say "congrats!" It is flip flops and a sun...very summery and she couldn't wait to eat them!

Eating her cookie

She even shared with Wyatt...he LOVED the orange icing.

Cute little thing

Momma and her girl


Of course I do not have the video of the first time she jumped...I didn't even have my camera yesterday. But this video is of tonight...I love that she doesn't even hesitate anymore. Even Grandma came to the pool just to see her jump.

This past Sunday, we went to eat at Nick's parents house. I love watching Wyatt and Maddie interact with their cousin Carson. They are so sweet together and really enjoy playing together. (it also helps that they go to same daycare and they see each other every day!)

Maddie and Carson

Wyatt, Carson and Maddie

Tackle Time!