Winter Crafts

Dear Winter,  it was nice knowing you.  We loved learning about snow flakes, bears, walruses, penguins, and bears.  But, it is time for you to go now.  We LOVE Spring and its time... tomorrow is March 1, you know?!  Thank you and goodbye, Clay and Avery

Invasion of the Turtles!

Yesterday we were playing in the backyard and I noticed something on the shore of our little pond.  As I walked closer, I realized that it was a herd of turtles.  I kid you not, there were probably 30 TURTLES on the shore.  I ran inside to get my camera, but Clay had scared them off in the meantime.  I did get a picture of a few of them in the water.  This was just a few:

Clay is really excited and wants to catch one of the turtles as a pet.... since "Collar got dead" as he says.  (Collar was our beta fish that died.  His name was Collar, because the fish were on the same aisle as the dog leashes and collars at the pet store.  ha!)

I need a HERO!

This is a very normal scene at our house.  With a super hero-lovin' 4 year old, everything is SUPER!  I'm not a huge fan of super heroes, but have learned to embrace my little guys adventurous spirit.

She just melts my heart...

Serving together

Kyle and I have been examining our parenting (or lack thereof) and we were convicted that we need to be more intentional with our kids.  One of the many things that we hope to teach our children is to put others before yourself.  We realized that we were doing a very poor job at this.  We live in a very "ME" centered society where so many people are hurting and therefore get forgotten.  I am sharing this not to "toot our own horn", but to bring light to one way to put "feet to your faith."   We thought, "how will we be able to teach our children to serve, when we don't?"  So, that brought about this weekend's family outing.  Friday night following our Chick-fil-A dinner we went to Target a loaded up on all sorts of goodies for the residents of an assisted living facility.

Saturday morning we delivered all of our goodies and visited with the sweet people.  All the residents loved Clay and Avery and one man even took his teeth out for them.  They were mesmerized that he could actually take his teeth out (it was hilarious!).  We visited with one lady who just lost her husband and had to move.  She shared with us that she was having a hard time coping.  I could've cried.  I have been thinking about her all day.  I am certain that we were blessed far beyond the sweet folks there.  We hopefully taught our children a lesson in serving, but more importantly, life was put into perspective for Kyle and I.  It is truly better to give than to receive... a lesson that we were taught and maybe our children were too.

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."  I Peter 4:10

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."  John 13:13

Putting out Fires!

Clay was asked to do some photos for our local fire station.  They are advertising for prevention and awareness, so I was happy to let Clay be their subject.  We don't know if he will be selected for the ads, but I was thrilled to get these cute photos:  

Day of LOVE!

My sweet Valentine knows exactly how to speak my love language.  I was at home working while the kids were at MDO and he came home with roses and all my favorite candy then took me on a lunch date.  I felt so loved... just as I do everyday.  I am so thankful for Kyle Boothe and that I get to spend the rest of my life with him.  I love all love stories, but I love ours the best!

Our fist Valentines day, 1998

Clay and Avery were feeling quite loved as well!  This is what they woke up to:

I hope that you had a great Valentines day.  May we always remember that we love, because HE first loved us!

Mother & Daughter

Avery and I were invited to our first Mother & Daughter event.  I was SO excited.  It was a Valentines cookie exchange.  It was so sweet of my friend, Lisa, to invite us because her girls are a lot older.  Avery was one of the youngest there.  She had so much fun adoring the "big girls" and loved all of Ella and Lilly's girl things.  If she wasn't raiding the cookie table, she was pushing a baby stroller with a purse on her shoulder.  My little girly GIRL... and I LOVE it!

Most of the girls.

Being Cupid

Both of the kids have their Valentines parties this week, so I spent we spent some time this weekend putting together their treats.  Clay, of course, wanted a super hero.  

"You're a real catch" from Avery

"have a SUPER Valentines day" from Clay

My mom was so sweet and helped Clay make his box for the school party.  They had fun buying and decorating the box together.  Thanks, Nana!

Todd & Ashley's Engagement Party

Kyle's lifelong friend, Todd, is getting married in April and we celebrated their engagement this weekend.  They had a fun "Valentines" theme party.  It was fun to see a lot of our friends.

Sorry this picture is so blurry, it was taken with a phone

Cute as a Button

My sweet childhood friend, Courtney had her second baby on Christmas day.  So today, my mom, sister and I hosted a "Sip and See" for sweet baby Gracie.  It was such a fun morning visiting with so many wonderful women.  Gracie is truly "CUTE AS A BUTTON!"

Guest of honor!

Beautiful Mama and baby

 All the party decor and details:

Avery loved the cookies!

All the girls!

Clay and Kyle had a "boys day" during the party.  But, big sis Presley wanted to see Clay, so he came home at the end of the party.  He was so sweet and insisted on holding Gracie.  Just precious.

Sweet babies + Aunt Ally

That sums it up! 

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