Two Birthdays In One Day

Happy Sweet 16th Birthday Alexa Rae

Happy 5th Birthday Addi Grace

Mommy is going to explain how August 23 is one of my most favorite days of the whole year!
16 years ago I had my very first baby girl....Alexa Rae! She weighed 8lbs 10oz and an absolute blessing! Mommy was only 18 when I had Alexa but the road that we both have traveled has been a blessing only my Savior could have led! When Alexa was 5 years old I started trying to have another baby while losing two. That process was very long and we tried for over 5 years!
We started a tradition years ago to eat at a Japanese restaurant to celebrate Alexa's birthday every year! When we were celebrating Alexa's 11th birthday I was pregnant with Addi. It was Wednesday, August 23, 2006 and I thought that was cool because Alexa was born on WEDNESDAY AUGUST 23, 1995...We got dressed to go eat that evening and I was calm and relaxed because I had a scheduled c-section scheduled for that coming Monday. As we were walking out the door I had my first contraction. I just couldn't believe that I could be going into labor. I had a long list of to do's before baby and pedicure was at the bottom to reward myself for getting all the to do's accomplished! I was in shock and kept the contractions a secret for about half the way to the restaurant that was 30 min away from home and my hospital! My contractions were 5 min. a part so I decided to share my little secret! I was still in denial so we carried on to the the restaurant. While waiting on a table I took a little walk around the shopping area....(9 months pregnant in wedged heels!!)....I wanted to make sure this wasn't false labor pains! When I arrived back to my seat the contractions went to 3 minutes a part! When I began to feel "pressure" I finally gave in and went to the hospital! Alexa was my only baby for 11 years and the thought of leaving her birthday dinner and not be with her was tearing my heart in two but I did decide to leave to make sure the baby wanting to tell her big sister happy birthday was going to be OK! When we left the restaurant (and canceled our order) we arrived at the hospital to meet the rest of our family and I was dilated to 4 and ready to go!! We had our beautiful Addi Grace at 11:10pm on Wednesday August 23, 2006!! Alexa was thrilled to share her birthday with her baby sister we have all been praying for, for many years!!

We celebrated your birthday at Mims and Pop Paw's during our traditional "Sunday Dinner" the Sunday before school! Your birthdays was the second day of school this year!
Alexa Rae, your Aunt Madeline gave you her pair of Christian Louboutin shoes! She only wore them one time and now that she is going to be a new mommy she wanted to pass them to you! I only wish I could have been recording your face when you saw the box!! Thank you Aunt Maddie, I think she's the happiest 16 year old in town!!

Addi Grace, my 5 year old Kindergartner!! You were so excited to go to school on your birthday!! After I dropped you off, your mommy had another emotional moment because this was the first birthday I didn't get to spend every second with you! Every day we ask you how old you are because you are so proud to say FIVE..... a whole hand!! Your mommy, daddy, and sisters love you so much and couldn't be any more proud of our 5 year old! You are learning so much it scares me! You are so interested in church more and you are beginning to ask questions on how to get to our Kingdom in Heaven! You are so precious and silly at the same time with all of your friends...I hate to say it but you are acting just like a 5 year old!! Mommy wishes we could just slow it down a little but I know that's impossible so I will chose to cherish every minute of my beautiful 5 year old brown eyed girl! I love you my angel and I'm  looking forward to seeing what all you bring to us!

Alexa Rae, my beautiful 16 year old! I can't express enough how I can't believe how fast the time has gone. Any parent that has a 16 year old knows what I'm talking about! Although your sisters bring back the precious memories I have of you at that age, everything that is going on with drill team, friends, your amazing spiritual growth, and laughs we share that completely hurt, is something that I never thought could be this amazing! You have grown to be such a beautiful young lady on the inside and out! It's so awesome to learn from your daughter and such an honor to have laid eyes on you during your first breath of life and walk beside you guiding you as the years pass! Thank you my angel for all the memories and thank you for everything you bring to our beautiful family! I love you!!



Addi & Pariegn (uncle sean)



We didn't go to our traditional Tokyo dinner this year due to school and drill team practice so we chose to celebrate with Dee Dee, Paw Paw, and Pariegn at a local Mexican restaurant! Because we have been so busy and crazy from back to school we decided to have your parties in a few weeks! Mommy is beginning to plan all the fun that your parties bring!! I love you both my beautiful birthday girls and may God bless you this next year with all that you do~



School Days

Oh girls....How can your mommy be so happy and heart broken at the same time?

Addi...You have been so excited about meeting your teacher and mommy has been praying for a kind and patient teacher for you all summer. Mommy is so emotional right now because I know how fast the time goes once you start school. Your older sister, Lex, is a Junior in High School this year and it feels like a couple of years ago we were meeting her Kindergarten teacher. I'm so happy to begin this new chapter with you my baby girl just so sad that you are becoming a "little girl"! It's so sad to have my babies grow up but every new chapter you start is such a blessing to be a part of!
Ella Jo....You are so very happy to go to "big school" this year. You will be in Pre K 3 this year at a near by church and you will go 3 times a week until 2pm!! I just can't believe all my babies will be in school this year!
Lex...You won't let your mom even mention the word "school" until the morning of! The babies can't wait and you wish for summer to start again right after football season!

Addi Grace, your teacher is Mrs. Holland and you couldn't be any more excited for your first day of school!
Ella Jo, your teacher is Mrs. Owen. You don't seem too sure about me dropping you off for the whole day but when you talk about your "big school" your very excited.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Addi Grace, you woke up so excited for the day! Daddy cooked all of you eggs and mommy had her coffee!! It started off an awesome morning! We walked you into your class and you gave Ms. Holland her jar of candy to keep on her desk and she just loved it!! We decorated it with green & gold ribbon of course and stuffed a shiny wooden apple inside!! You walked straight to your desk after hanging your backpack up and started to play with your play doh. You gave me a sweet kiss and I said goodbye to my precious baby girl in her Kindergarten classroom! As mommy was walking down the hall I glanced at a mom wiping the tears from her eyes and even though I wanted to let go of the lump in my throat I didn't want Ella to see my cry. I thought of you all day and said many prayers for you sweet angel! You had an amazing day and you told mommy your favorite part was coloring and playing on the play ground. You did sing us a cute new song called the tootie tah! When you were laying down to sleep that night you said to me.."Mommy...I get to go to Kindergarten every day don't I??" Yes, baby, you certainly do!!



My beautiful Ella Jo, You walked in your room so big and brave! Mommy gave you a kiss bye and you asked me if you were staying by yourself. When I told you yes you were...I thought you would get upset but you smiled at the other kids playing and went to join them!! You had an amazing day!! Your favorite part of the day was painting!! The next day you stayed home with mommy and when Addi Grace went to school you were sad you would have to wait till the next day to be able to go! Mommy tried taking a picture of you with your teacher and you wouldn't let me..but I got one the next day you went to school!

My gorgeous Junior in High School!! Thank Heavens momma didn't realise that this time next year will be your last first day of school until after you left! While I dropped Ella off at her school you rode to school with a friend! As I walked Addi in her school I couldn't help but flash back years ago when I was walking in with you! I just can't believe how this time has flown by! You are just such an amazing young lady and I couldn't be any more proud! I know you were so sad to see your awesome summer come to an end but these years at school, you will cherish one day! I'm so honored to be your mom and experience these memories with you! I'm holding on tight till I have to let go.....

Summer was fun but it's time for school and I'm ready for all that it brings! Mommy is just making sure that I write everything down on my calender! May God bless you my beautiful girls while you are all in school and please know that mommy misses you and I can't wait to pick each of you up to hear about your day...I love you~



Ten Years of Answered Prayers

Happy Tenth Anniversary

A few years ago my daddy told me that he used to pray for my husband when I was little. He prayed that he would be a loving, caring, and christian man. He also prayed that he would love and take good care of his grand babies. On August 4, 2001 God answered my daddy's prayers.

I worked for a dentist years ago and one of my co-workers was Roman's mom! Roman would come in the office and make the whole office smell good with his cologne! He is so shy and would only say hi a few times! One day my hot water heater wasn't working correctly so Roman came by to fix it for me and we started talking about plans for the weekend. I asked him if he liked football?? (wow! only if I knew then what I know now...yes, he loves anything that keeps a score!!) I asked if he would like to go watch my brother play high school football on Friday night? (Yes, I asked him out on a "date" first!) His answer was..."Well...why don't we get dinner first??") It was an awesome night. Dinner at Cody's restaurant and then football! We then stopped at another restaurant on the way home to see some of his friends and I never wanted the night to end! 3 months later we were engaged!!! Crazy! Girls....I'm being honest on our blog but don't ever pull this one..OK? We were engaged for a year and started planning our wedding of our dreams. Well...I planned and he just said..."OK...sounds pretty...." 

The magical day was Saturday August 4th! The wedding and reception was held at the Brown Center and it was just beautiful!! It gives me butterflies every time we pass the place or when we get the opportunity to go in! We left the reception in our limo and flew to Cancun the next day for a week of paradise!!

Ten years later God continues to answer our prayers! Beautiful girls, health, and love!

Roman is still the love of my life! I look at him in person or pictures and remind myself how awesome he is!

Of course nothing is perfect and nothing could ever be perfect except our Savior. Marriage is such an awesome gift our God has given us! Our companion in life and best friend! Thank you for being the man who you are and thank you daddy for praying all those years ago for this man that is my husband!

Roman, I couldn't have ever imagined a better companion to share my life with and raise our girls with! As every year passes we live more and more memories to cherish and I am holding on to everyone of them!

I loved you so much 10 years ago and I love you more now and will always love you~

Youth on a Mission

My beautiful Alexa, your mom & dad are so proud of you! This was your second time to go with the youth to Veritable Camp. This year they decided to combine a mission trip with camp. I just knew you would be so excited to have this experience with your friends. Veritable was in Waterflow, New Mexico and you were doing missions with the Navajo Indians. We met at the church at 7:00am and after loading everything on the bus the youth, chaperone's, parents, and the bus driver gathered around to pray for your trip. We prayed that our God would watch over y'all on your way there and that He would guide ya'll while sharing your faith to the ones that may not know Him! Your mom drove to the front of the church to wait for the bus to pull out and while I waited I said a prayer for my sweet daughter and her friends that he would watch over ya'll and give you the courage to step out of your comfort zone when needed. When I saw your bus leave the church I think I would have jumped out of my car and into the bus to be with you if I could have! The second you left I was so lonely for you! I couldn't wait for you to get back so you could share all the sweet stories about your trip and how awesome it was to share God's Good News!

You left Saturday at 7:00am and stayed in a host home in Abernathy, Tx. You arrived in Waterflow late Sunday night! You called me that Sunday morning to let me know how awesome your host home was! They had coffee and muffins for you with a cappuccino machine!

This was your mission building. This is where the Navajo children lived. You stayed in the dorm rooms to the right of the brick building. Under the brick building is where the "purple room" was. You explained to me this is where ya'll had worship every night.



Girls Dorm

You have spoken about several children but I think two of them captured your heart and I'm so glad you got pictures of them!! The little boy ya'll nicknamed Mowgli but his name was Brayden and the little girl was Emmy! I think this was so amazing sense your cousins names are Brayden and baby Emmy who will be born in September!



Lex & Brayden



Lex & Emmy

During your time in Waterflow ya'll painted 3 churches and cleaned out a christian TV station. When you got home you showed me your leg and explained that you got a small scratch from falling off a ladder...I'm so sorry Lex, but, you got that from your momma!! Even though ya'll stayed very busy with helping everyone there ya'll did make time to do a little shopping and sight seeing! Your sisters love their bracelets, Dad loves his plaque from the four corners and your momma loves her Navajo earrings! Thank you my baby for thinking of all of us!







One of the things that you talk about most is the night that ya'll had worship in the park. The amazing music and sharing! Thank you my sweet baby for the phone call I received at midnight that special night! I will skip that conversation in our blog and keep those precious words that we shared in my heart forever!!

Another thing you speak of is your trip to the four corners. You were so excited to tell me that you stood in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah at the same time! How awesome is that?? I hope one day we can all go there and stand in the spot that you were telling me about!

I'm so thankful for our awesome church that is filled with such wonderful people and blessed with such an awesome youth! You absolutely love your youth pastor Michael and his wife Natalie! We are so blessed as parents to have such a strong youth pastor guiding our precious daughter in her spiritual walk with her Savior! Thank you so much Michael and Natalie for everything you do and all the beautiful marks you have laid on our daughter's heart! It's a big deal to lead teenagers especially with the world right now and I think you both are a complete blessing from God!




Alexa & her youth pastor Michael

Lex your momma can't express just how proud of you I am! Every year I see you grow closer to your Savior and walking down the path he laid for you! I hope you look at these beautiful pictures you took and reflect on all the memories it gave you! Please know my baby that you don't have to be at camp, on a mission trip, or hundreds of miles away from home to share your faith with others~

If God is for us what could stand against







A Cowgirl Is Born

DREAMS ARE COMING TRUE

Oh Addi Grace, you love every animal your beautiful brown eyes see! The love that you have for horses your mommy can't express from typing words on our blog but I will explain your most precious love the best I can!

You were about 18 months old and saying yeeehaww. Sometimes you would say it and point and other times you would just say yeehaw at random times. Mommy, Daddy, and Lex tried to figure out what you were calling yeehaw! Yes, we do live in Texas but we are never around horses and I can't ever think of a time I had said..."YeeeHaw!" Finally, after a couple of months of saying yeehaw we figured out that you were calling a horse a yeehaw!!! So..Mommy decided to have your second birthday party a yeehaw party! My angel, Addi, before you could say the word horse you were calling  it a yeehaw!

After that we started realizing your absolute love for horses, rodeos, and anything in between! We had to dvr PBR bull riding for you! (We would call you Little Yellow Jacket) At the age of 3 your favorite movie was 8 seconds about Lane Frost! We took you to your first rodeo and when you came home you moved the chairs from the dining room in the living room, grabbed your stick horse and pretended you were running around barrels!! I have to explain that no one in our family lives on a ranch or has any horses at all! You developed your passion and love for these beautiful animals all your own!

Anna gave your mommy a call and said that she was going to a horse show with Moon and wanted you to enter in lead-line and walk only events. We have never done anything like this before but I knew you would be the most excited you had ever been! Anna explained that the horse shows could sometimes get boring but I told her you would be just fine being in that environment around horses!!! Mommy will explain later in this post about your love for Anna and how she came in our lives.
My precious cowgirl, Anna brought you to her trailer to get dressed for your event and when you walked out...I couldn't believe my eyes!! I bent over looking at you trying to catch my breath and my eyes filled with "happy tears"! Oh Addi, I know God was looking down at you with the biggest smile! This was your very first horse show and your beautiful dreams coming true!!

Anna is Mrs. Valerie's (mommy's best friend) mom! She lives about an hour from us but she has 7 horses, 3 dogs, ducks, a rabbit and now a cat! Lets just say that's a piece of Heaven for you! We have been to Anna's several times to ride horses but this summer when Josh and Chloe go to visit you stay with them! You even went to stay for 4 nights and did NOT want to come home!! Anna has opened her sweet heart to you and you have jumped in! Thank goodness Josh & Chloe don't mind sharing Anna with you! You call Anna your Anna! Even though you are such a shy little girl you have grown so very close to Anna and miss her when you are not with her!! One night you even woke mommy up at 2:00 in the morning just to tell me that you miss her!! My sweet Addi, the love you have for your Anna I know she loves you just the same!! Thank you Anna for taking my sweet baby girl and loving her and giving her the most precious memories she will cherish all her life!



* Moon * Anna * Addi *

Addi, you were in two events...lead-line and walk only and on your very first horse show you got second place in both classes!!!! We were so proud of you!!! Anna told mommy that when the judge asked you how old your horse was you told him..."Moon!" which is the name of your horse!! Congratulations my cowgirl!

walk only



lead-line







Now your mommy needs to explain the love you have for Moon!

Yes, you love all horses! Yes, Anna has seven horses but Moon is your very favorite along with everyone else who meets him! When Moon was little he developed an infection in his eye so he lost one of his eyes. I don't know if this could be one of the reasons Moon has captured your heart but he definatly grabbed a hold of it! For Valentines's Day you made a Valentine box and turned a shoe box into a horse! Ofcourse the horse was named Moon and we could only put one eye on the box! You also want your Aunt Madeline to name her baby, that will be born soon, Moon!! Anna washed your hair one time when you were at her house in Moon's shampoo and you said your hair smelled like Moon for months!!

Dear Moon,

There is a beautiful young cowgirl that loves you with every bit of her heart! She talks about you, names her dolls after you, and counts the days before seeing you again!!

I would just like to thank you for being the beautiful horse you are and letting my cowgirl ride you so proudly!

Love,

A cowgirl's mommy



* MOON *





Dreams of little girls sometimes can change. Addi Grace, your mommy believes that the dream of horses is in your precious heart to stay! Mommy really doesn't know much about horses but I have a feeling I will be learning a lot as the years come! This was your first of many horse shows and your mommy couldn't have been more proud of her cowgirl! When you are on a horse anyone that stands in your presence can see the light in your eyes! Your mommy's prayer is that you always reach for your dreams!

Keep dreaming my most beautiful cowgirl~