Happy Halloween

We enjoyed our evening visiting with neighbors and it was fun seeing all the kids dressed up and everyone outside enjoying this beautiful weather...sitting outside wearing shorts and t-shirt doesn't feel very much like fall! The girls dressed up as princesses and were escorted by their prince charming Daddy while I stayed home and passed out candy with our neighbors. The very talented Grandma Hough made the costumes for the girls!  

Grace did not enjoy carving pumpkins...even with gloves on!

Abigail didn't like it either...but only because Grace didn't. :)

Princess Grace, Princess Abigail & Prince Charming Daddy

Where's the carriage?!

Happy 13th Anniversary (post 1 of 2)

Ben and I celebrated our anniversary by visiting the church we were married in 13 years ago! It was fun to go back and reminisce and show our girls where we tied the knot.  So happy to spend life together. I am blessed!

Selfie in the cemetery garden of the neighboring church. It is a beautiful natural garden that has very little pruning except to clear the pathway. The girls had fun running through it.

Clearly a Unitarian Church garden. 

Same place we stood 13 years ago...Grace took this pic for us!

There's the pretty church in the background.

Grace turns 5! (post 2 of 2)

Happy Birthday to Grace! Hard to believe my first baby is 5 years old!! In true Grace fashion she wanted a princess tea party. Grace loves all things girly! It was a perfect, sweet party with just the girls (and Ben). We started out with a scavenger hunt and the treasures were these cute tiaras for everyone, then we ate brunch/had tea, then played BINGO (Grace's favorite), then we sang happy birthday and ate cake/opened presents and the girls enjoyed playing together before we headed to the pool. It was a good day!

Make a wish!

The princesses at the tea party.

I had fun making the princess doll cake. Grace picked out her cupcake wrappers.

The royal family.

Time to eat!

Somebody loves cake!

Puddles

*Warning: If you are not a cat lover, then you do not need to read this post* I love having a cat...Puddles is getting so big and he continues to amuse us with his curiosity. He loves to play with running water and always accompanies the girls with their bath...batting at the water or walking up and down the edge of the tub trying to get the courage to jump in. He enjoys being in the same room as the girls and I love that Puddles likes to be with us. Having said that, he can be very annoying at times...attacking your feet under the covers while you're sleeping, wiping his wet nose on your face while you are sleeping, attacking your feet as you walk across the room or running across the piano keys in the middle of the night. It is nonstop entertainment around here! Overall he is a good cat and we are still trying to tame him from his wild ways and remembering to put the lid down on the piano keys at night. Enjoy the pictures...

He loves to find that perfect nap spot.

Puddles even likes to play Barbies.

Thanks GGma for the new pet pillow.

He even slept there as I played the piano. 

He really likes the piano

Summer Fun Part 2

This July we visited my Grandparent's beautiful home and enjoyed being with them. The girls loved riding in the row boat and fishing with Daddy. We also had the pleasure of keeping my oldest nephew, Roman for a few days while his parent's were out of town. Grace and Roman loved playing Battleship with a board and real plastic pieces (not an electronic game). I think I know what we are getting Roman for his bday! We also enjoyed a visit to the water park with my cousin Mandi's family. Finally, we celebrated my Grandma Westbury's 87th b-day with a fancy tea party. It was so much fun! 

♪♪♪ Row, row, row your boat ♪♪♪

Abigail's pole had no line or hook. Shhhh...don't tell her!

Do you see Grace's "big" catch?

Battleship starts first thing in the morning when Roman's around!

Water park fun for Abigail & Grace...Ben and I had a lot of fun, too.

My future triathlete: Grace just finished biking from swimming at the pool and wanted to play tennis!

Grace has tea with her 2nd cousins Emma Grace and Olivia

Grandma Westbury's 87th bday tea...love the hats!

Summer Fun

There is so much to do in the summertime. We have enjoyed our neighborhood pool just about everyday and have made it to the beach twice this year! The girls rode in Pappy's boat for the first time and he took us to Capers Island to spend the day. What a treat!! Grace attended "Kids Kamp" last week and had a great time learning about the Bible. She was sad to see it end. I was in charge of pre-school crafts, so I was perfectly fine with it only lasting one week. It was a great week, though. Enjoy the pictures...

We picked blueberries today, yum yum!

Last month we picked strawberries

Nana & Grace wearing their polka dot suits in the ocean

Abigail & Pappy enjoy the boat

Relaxing in our tidal pool with Yogi

Abigail didn't like to have dirty hands at the beach

Baby pool fun

All ready for Kids Kamp

Happy Father's Day to a wonderful Dad who loves his daughters very much (notice they are wearing blue...not pink!)

Our New Kitten

After lots of begging and pleading, Ben finally let Grace and I have a kitty. He was rescued from a puddle in Grandma Hough's yard and being that Grandma already has four cats, we were able to convince Ben that Grace was ready for the responsibility of taking care of a pet. She promised to feed it every day, and so far, so good! We named him "Puddles". He was only 6-7 weeks old when we got him. Puddles has been the center of the girls' attention ever since. He is so much fun and loves to play. Although, he knows to take a nap when Abigail naps. His favorite daytime cat nap spot it under Abigail's bed where all the baby blankets are stored. At night he usually sleeps in our Bed, although he has slept with Grace a few nights. He usually ends up waking her up pouncing on her feet under the blanket. Ben hopes to make Puddles a squirrel catcher and has rigged an old fishing pole with a squirrel tail and bell that he casts and the cat chases (this toy is not allowed in the house...gross).  

This is Puddles. Everything is a toy!

Abigail holds Puddles nonstop. He is a very patient cat.

I love this picture.

This is another favorite napping spot. He climbs from the bed to get into the doll house.

Grace and her babies.

Abigail turns 2!

Our sweet, funny, full-of-life Abigail turned 2! We celebrated with a ladybug birthday party. She loves to play with her baby dolls, balls, building with her mega blocks and singing. Her favorite songs to sing are Jesus Loves Me, Jingle Bells & You Are My Sunshine. She loves her big sister Grace and they play together so well. We can't imagine life without this sweet blessing. We love you Abigail!

Birthday girl!

The ladybug cake...red velvet

Abigail and cousin Catherine sport their ladybug headbands

Grace enjoys playing with Abigail's new baseball bat

Family pic...photo bombed by Nana :)

Birthday girl enjoys cake & ice cream