Backyard BBQ on the Fourth

Our fun on the fourth continued as we enjoyed a backyard BBQ with several couples from our church. Our evening included splashing in the pool, delicious eats, toddler and baby snuggles, and outdoor fun with friends. 

{Eva Mae, Georgia, Aubrey, Audrey, Evelyn, and Westin}

I love watching their sweet little interactions and their social play.

Our menu was absolutely delicious. Our eats included chips and salsa, a fruit platter, watermelon, deviled eggs, cheese cubes, grilled chicken, ribs, and festive red and blue buntinis.

 {I loved making these cute buntinis with the huband. They seemed to be a real success with the adults and the babes.}

{Sweet Watermelon Face}

{Water Splash Fun}

Miss Eva Mae surely loved herself some watermelon or meli melon as Aubrey calls it. My little may have come behind her a few times to take a bite or two including the rind.

After dinner, the kiddos gathered around the water table, pool, and swing set for some good ole baby play and exploration time. From 2 pools, a slide, water buckets, bubbles, paint brushes, pool toys, balls, and over sized chalk, these play pals had so many fun play options.

{Eva Mae-2, Evelyn-10 months, Audrey 21 months}

 

{Evelyn, the sweet water baby- 10 months}

 {Auby and her play things}

 

{Audrey's chalk play}

{Aubrey & Evelyn}

{Audrey rock'n the shade}

{Denise & her Little}

{Matt & Ray}

{Westin & Aubrey "painting" the slide}

{The kids are having a ball}

{Sisterly Love}

{Chu Chu Wa Fun}

 {Daddy Daughter Love}

 

{Summertime Swinging}

Our fourth fun was filled with great celebration with friends. We are so thankful for these freedoms. For the opportunity to share this family time and for those who gave it all to make this possible. Happy Birthday America!

ABF Wednesdays: Dinner Date & Baby Play

  

I surely am loving our Wednesdays with our ABF bible study group. This Wednesday we enjoyed a couple's dinner date at Ten 50 BBQ. At 6:30 we met at the church and dropped little miss off.

 

 {Our Little Fam of 3}

She loves being in the younger room mainly so she can watch the window for baby bunnies. She was even able to play with a few of her little church besties.For dinner, we ate with our friends and were able to enjoy a great night of good food, good conversation, and time with friends. It was a much needed night away.

{Erin & Eva Mae and Georgia; Auby & I, Amy & Kayleigh; Julie & Audrey; Anna & Westin}

When we returned, the kiddos were all smiles. We decided to take a mama and baby photo. I cannot believe how big are babes are all getting. I am so thankful for growing and sharing in God's word with these women, for their friendship, as well as being able to watch our kids grow up together.

I have to say I'm so in love with this little growing friendship. Each time we see E-ma Mae (as Auby says) we get the best little smiles and happy feet. They love holding hands and walking/running together as we leave the church.

I'm already excited for our next activity together.

ABF Service Opportunity: Easter Celebration 2015

On Saturday, Ray and I along with Purpose ABF, and volunteers from Heights in Spanish came together to host our annual Easter Celebration. What a wonderful picture of Christ's love for our Richardson neighbors. We absolutely love these opportunities to serve. My heart's passion is to continue building relationships with families from the apartment complex we serve. As the ENGAGE reps for our Adult Bible Fellowship, we had the distinct privilege of helping host this Easter event. It is an absolute pleasure to partner with such wonderful people at our church. From 2 egg hunts, 2 pinatas, crafts, face paint, a large obstacle course, bowling and games, as well as food, friendships, and evangelism, our afternoon was filled with celebration and fun. Enjoy pictures from our event.

{Our PURPOSE volunteers}

We are so thankful for the service of our volunteers.

We are so thankful for Enid, our church's community outreach leader. It was such a pleasure to partner with her on this event.

 {Heights in Spanish Volunteers}

  {Drawing for door prizes and preparing for the Egg Hunts}

  {games galore}

 {face painting & crafts}

{Pastor Miguel Lopez offered our welcome and gratitude for the event}

 

Each year we see so many familiar faces. It was so great to hear a few boys say, "Hey I know you!" as they pointed to Ray. It is so fun to watch them grow. My prayer is that through these events we will continue to build relationships and show how God is working in our lives. Happy Easter friends!

ENGAGE Sunday and Back to School Rally 2014

Yesterday, my family and I served at our church's ENGAGE Sunday and Back to School Rally. It was a wonderful opportunity to show God's love for his children. Within our church, we provided a carnival for the children and families, school supplies,  as well as other needed services for the upcoming year. More importantly, we shared the Gospel and how God is working in our lives. For the past few years, my role within the church for these larger scale events is to coordinate our interpreters. I have loved serving in this capacity and absolutely enjoy working with the teachers, volunteers, and church members that work as interpreters. They are so generous of their time. I am truly thankful for their willingness to serve as well as to work alongside of them.

 



{My interpreter Check-in location at the ENGAGE center}

 

This year, I enlisted the help of a few of my ABF members and dear friends. I am so thankful for Erin, Richard, Anna, and my husband. I truly could not have completed this task without them. It was also so fun to see many of our ABF members who would be hosting at the event. Their role as hosts was such an integral job to help build relationships with these wonderful families. I have included a few pictures of our sweet friends and ABF members for your enjoyment.

 {Erin and I with our sweet lady babes}

{Richard & Ray}

{The Goodings, Ogles, Anna, & Katy}

This was truly a night of celebration for our church. I am so thankful for a church that continues to serve both globally as well as locally. It will be so fun to grow these relationships over the years and watch how God continues to move and grow us in our journeys.

Eva Mae Birthday Girl & Our First Swim

Today we celebrated our friends' sweet little Eva Mae's first birthday. From adorable homemade pieces to delicious food, baby play, and our first "swim lessons," we had so much fun with our dear friends. The birthday girl even rolled up in some pretty cool wheels. I love that it had a little personalized touch.

The party place was absolutely perfect. We enjoyed our time on the patio above the pool. The weather was great. It was a bit overcast but absolutely a perfect day for some pool action. They even had lots of toys for the babes. Auby was everywhere. Ever since she was in my tummy, she has always been a mover... and today was no different;) I wouldn't have it any other way. It definitely keeps mama on her toes. But I sure do love this little munchkin.

 (Auby loves to empty baskets. I hope one day she likes to put things back too:)

 (Audrey 9 months & Aubrey 8 months) 

sweet girls
 

(Fun with Daddy)

 

Aubrey hitched a ride in Eva Mae's new wheels.

Baby Giggles 

 

After sampling the delicious eats, catching up with friends, and enjoying some sweet baby play, it was time for Eva Mae's smash cake. The cake was too cute! Erin, you are one talented mama. It was absolutely adorable.

 



Aubrey even got in on a little cake action. She seemed to enjoy herself a little sugar. In a little over 3 months we will be enjoying lots of sweet sugar for our babe. It's crazy how quickly time flies.

 

After a bit of sweets, it was time for our first family swim. I was beyond excited to see how Aubs would do in the pool. She has her moments of excitement about bath time but usually is just kind of eh. So before our big dip in the pool, we had to take a family photo. Also important to note, this was my first time in a pool for almost 2 years. It was definitely an exciting time.

 

 

 First Family Swim Photo 6.21.14

Her first dips with daddy were too cute. We started slowly and just let her get used to the water. She kicked her feet with so much excitement.

 

She loved swimming with mommy and daddy. She really enjoyed being on her tummy and definitely tried to lick the water up many a time. But after some fun swim kicks she took on a bit of water in her face and got a little grumpy. So mommy had some love and cuddle time in the water too. And easily we were all smiles as usual.

 

 

I love my little strawberry!

(on a sidenote I was so afraid all of her bathing suits would be too tiny but it was super cute) 

 

We had so much fun with our sweet little baby friends. I am so excited for these little ladies and love that they will be so close in age. Here's to many more fun times, to baby play, and for sweet friends. Happy Birthday Miss Eva Mae. We hope it was as special as you are sweet girl.