Happy 4th birthday, Bro-bro!

Bro bro,

I woke up on your birthday praising the Lord for your life.  So much good has come out of your 4 years on this earth.  You are so perfectly and wonderfully made.  We make a big deal out of birthdays in this family, and yours was no exception.  You woke up to a balloon (there is a national helium shortage, haven't you heard?), powdered donuts, and to your family belting out the birthday song.  You smiled so big and seemed so pleased with your one balloon.  I love that about you.  You are such a simple boy and find so much joy in simple things.

You went to school on your birthday and were loved on by your incredible teachers.  They threw you a party on Friday.  Your four girl classmates showered you with gifts and wore what I guess to be your favorite color, blue.  Your teachers love you so much and always tell me what a happy boy you are.  You keep them smiling and laughing throughout the day.  You are sunshine, sweet boy, to so many.

We took you to your favorite dinner place, Pappa's Burgers.  You downed a vanilla milkshake and hamburger and smiled contently throughout your entire meal.  We gave you gifts when we arrived home. Ellery picked out a cool Star Wars shirt for you and dad and I gave you a mini trampoline.  Your brother and sister are always jumping, whether on the floor or on a mattress, and I so badly wanted you to feel what it's like to really jump.  You seemed so thrilled, especially when Ellery bounced with you.

In Austin this weekend, we celebrated again with your Lulu and Poppy, Bebe and Pops, and Aunt Meredith.  Ellery and I decorated the lake house with dinosaurs, and we had fun watching you attempt to blow out your candle and open more gifts.

Price, we are so proud to call you ours.  I can't imagine our family without you and the things that make you different.  Honestly, I used to feel some sadness on your birthdays.  Sadness that you were turning another year and that it meant you were that much further behind.  But, praise God, this year was different.  I felt nothing but joy.  You are your own 4.  And I love your 4.

We are praying big things for this 4th year, my blue-eyed boy.  Happy birthday!

Love,

mama (Did I tell you how thrilled I am that this word has come out of your mouth so clearly twice now?  There is nothing better, my boy.)

Remembering summer {Part 2}

We all participated in Houston Project with our church.

Price did lots of wall standing!

We experimented with rollers and new hair do's

We took a trip to Sun Valley.  Nathan won dad of the year and floated Price around in the freezing water.

Street and Piper enjoyed the sand at Red Fish Lake.

Ellery learned how to ride her bike without training wheels!

We ate lots of good food.  Our favorite was Stanley Baking Co.

Sweet babies

Price and Street loved feeding the horses.  We were afraid they might mistake Street's  little head for a carrot.

We went hiking.

Cousins

This boy loves all things outdoors.

Brothers throwing rocks

Street put on a performance with a nut and bolt he found.

We love Poppy.

Can I put him in one of these for time out?

Bonding

Ellery loves the ice skating show.  She took an ice skating lesson this year and did great!

Price started bear crawling on the trip.  Yay!

We might need to get a horse for this boy one day.  Ha!

Love my sister.

Remembering Summer Part 1

celebrating 6

Last day of school pic with her teacher.  She was such a blessing to our family.

a girls trip to Galveston

the moms might have had the most fun

just a cute picture of my boy

trips to the lake

boat rides

everyone, including Street, rode the wave runners this year

Lots of time just spent at home playing

and more playing

a trip to a friend's ranch

the boy loves horses

more boating

and pool cleaning

Summer interview with E

Ellery and and I made a list of about 18 things we wanted to do this summer.  We've marked off all but 4 and we've got less than 2 weeks to fit them in.  An interview is something I added to the list.  Here's my girl's answers.

Favorite color: aquamarine and turquoise  (aquamarine is on an episode of Blue's Clues that we have seen one too many times)

Favorite foods: besides desserts?  cupcakes and mango

Favorite person: God and Jesus

Favorite thing to do: go on vacation

Favorite person to spend time with: my mom and my dad

Favorite Friend: Ella and Madi Kate

Favorite thing to wear: long skirts

Favorite Toy: crafts and dollhouse and legos

Favorite thing about school last year:  being with all of my friends

Favorite thing to do with Mama: go to the library and just lay in bed and watch movies

Favorite thing to do with Dad: going to the movies and chuck e cheese

Favorite thing to do with Price:  love on him

Favorite thing to do with Street:  to think he's cute...squish his face

Favorite movie: Star Wars

Favorite place to visit: Idaho

Favorite Day of summer: my birthday - going to the dinosaur museum and titanic exhibit with mom

Favorite book: my Star Wars book

Favorite trip: when we go to Austin

Favorite day: my birthday

Worst day ever:  when I get in trouble

Something funny that happened to you: when me and Ella were in the car laughing

Something sad: when Empress (my mom's dog) and Papa died

Something happy: when I got my pet fish

What I’m most thankful for: to have a house

My favorite drink:  Sprite, and oh water

{dirt cupcakes were on our list too and we had fun making them today!}

Cool Summer

'

{Brooke Schwab}

We are enjoying our last weeks of summer.  It's been full of coolness (and I am definitely not talking about the temp) - trips, the lake, lazy days spent in our p.j.'s, new milestones, and therapy of course.  Lots of pictures to post and words to write.

6th Birthday!

Elle,

My baby girl is 6 today.  You have been anticipating this one, and we have three days of celebration planned.  Last night was a trip to Benihana's and today was a date with me to the Museum of Natural Science.  Tomorrow is a swim party with friends.

My girl, you are a true piece of work.  You love pink (and turquoise now), high heeled shoes, arts and crafts, and your dolls.  You equally loves Star Wars, dinosaur exhibits, farm trips, and boogie boarding.  You have a thing for musicals and the Little House on the Prairie series.  In fact, you told me the other day that you want to be Laura Ingalls (or Skippy Jon Jones -"it's a tough decision") for Halloween.  I can go into your bedroom most any day and find about 30 books spread out all over your bed.  You have started reading simple books this year and love to read about nature, other countries, and animals.

You had a great year of school and are headed to Kindergarten in the fall.  You love school and especially love being with your friends.  I admire the ease in which you make friends and your ability to jump right into most things.

You have become a pretty good little gymnast this past year and were invited to take twice a week over the summer.  I love watching you enjoy yourself and your confidence grow with each new skill.  If you had it your way and if it weren't for mom and dad trying to keep life simple (chuckle), you'd be involved in every activity under the sun.

Little girl, your mom and dad think you are pretty cool.  I often times tell others that I don't know what I would do without you, and it's the truth.  Not only are you fun to be with on days when all the boys want to do is whine, but you are a pretty good diaper fetcher and stroller pusher as well.  I love hearing your thoughts about Jesus, life with a "special" brother and a "raging" one, and the Muppet characters (a new favorite this summer).

I can't get enough of your mile-long eyelashes and big brown eyes.  Time is flying.  I blinked and you are doing your own ponytails and flips into the pool.  I want to slow down and soak up every minute with your big 6 year-old self.

If I had to go around the world and pick one little girl to be mine, I'd pick you every time - no question. Happy 6th birthday Ellery Paige!  I love you.

Love,
mom

sweet dreams

I had the most beautiful dream the other night.  Our three kids were running out of a bedroom while I stood in the kitchen watching.  It was not our home.  My jaw dropped to the floor and I couldn't speak. I just kept nudging Nathan and pointing.  I watched as they all three ran through the kitchen and into another room of the house.  Nathan and I by that time were flat on our face, praising our God who heals.

Ever since that dream when I am drifting off to sleep, I want so badly to go back to that place.  That house.  That moment.  It was beautiful.

goodlight photography