Sunday, January 29, 2017

Daddy Daughter Date

Ashlyn and I attended a Daddy-Daughter dance put on by Lufkin City Parks and Rec. It was a really neat event. We had a ball. 

 We showed up to the dance and were expecting to have dinner. Turns out they just had punch and cookies so we left and got some food at Chick Fil A. We ordered, got a table and I went to get some condiments. When I came back I saw this cute girl and had to take a picture. I feel so lucky to have this beautiful daughter in my life. She is everything I could hope for.


We attended a baptism. Desi had her hair done for the first time! She's growing up!


Ashlyn got shrinky dinks from Nana. This girl loves arts and crafts! She will stay entertained for hours with a project.


Going for a walk on my day off! Oh how I love Fridays at home with the girls.


We had a fun time on the tramp! We have been loving our gift from Grandma Martinson. These two play so well together.


Jenny made the comment that she's worried about Desi not crawling. Desi is scooter and she goes everywhere in the house on her bum. So I've been making an effort to get her to stand and give her more of a desire to move around.


A toilet was put on my lawn at the practice. Kind of fun charity idea. You can pay certain amounts to send it to someone else or not get it back.


Mommy had an event she organized for young women for personal progress. We went to help her set up. And of course Ashlyn took over as a teacher very quickly.


Our cars at the practice out the back window. I just took a picture because I thought it looked like a commercial. Love my mazda though. Hoping it will last another few years. Have had it for a couple years and it's run great! Zoom zoom!


Every morning the girls push the car out for Ashy and I to go to school.


 Ashlyn helping Mom put together some shelves.



Jenny and I took a picture to show that we are adventurous and do try new foods once in a while. We went to a popular seafood place here in Lufkin. We shared a big plate of a bunch of different things. However, we decided we aren't real big seafood fans...


We went to the zoo and Jenny was SO excited to see the hippo out of the water. She wanted to get a picture with all the girls in front of the hippo because "it might be our only chance!" Unfortunately the girls didn't cooperate so I got one of Jenny with the hippo.



Brinley's new do.

Now it is my turn (Jenny). We did a fire last night!  I love enjoying our backyard with this amazing people in my life!  We love the hot dogs and s'mores we can make.


Derek and I recommitted ourselves to doing date night once a week with the girls again.  This week I got to go with Brinley.  She wanted to go "find the Prince" so I thought we could find a prince in the toys area at the store.  Well Kmart is closing so I thought we should could find the prince there, but we came out buying her birthday presents because of the 40% off all the toys.  Sadly, we couldn't find a prince, but we still had a lot of fun! 


I love being outside with the girls.  I was sitting with Des making faces in the phone and took some fun picture.   I just love this sweet girl!


This girl absolutely love the tramp.  I got a text from my mom where she said that she hopes that this will give me a break.  I laughed out loud because it is doing the opposite.  These girls want me to jump and show them tricks.  I have been doing back flips and back handsprings and I am surprised that I can still do them (videos are following). It is also fun to teach these girls some tricks.


Claire is such a great babysitter.  She loves to watching Ashie's dog when she is at school.  She even changes the diaper.... look at the joy in her face with a job well done (or half way done).


I can't believe my baby is 6!  She is such a blessing in our lives.  She is sweet, fun, and smart.  The girls and I were able to go to her school to give some birthday treats to her class.  It is fun for me to be in the classroom to see her environment and friends.  


We brought Nana's cookie (that is what we call the chocolate chip cookies recipe).


Ashlyn got a puzzle from grandma Martinson!  We had to make it before we went to bed.


I was trying to figure out how to make Ashlyn's birthday special...then I came up with this surprise birthday party.  We celebrated a couple of days earlier and all her animal friends came with party hats.  Ashlyn was so surprised and she felt so special!



Mondays are dance days.  Claire is usually trying on all of Ashlyn's shoes during class.


Then the others, I have to bring books and be creative to keep them occupied for an hour.  Sometimes is works and other days it doesn't.  


Ashlyn's animal friends and presents


Ashlyn is starting to do her own hair...I told her that I didn't start doing my own hair until I was in 4th grade.  I thought she did a great job!


For MOPS this week we went to a church and played in their indoor playground and did mommy and me yoga.  The girls had a blast!


Brinley would swing on these and then slide down them.  She is our little monkey.



Another picture of the Daddy-Daughter Date... I love these two.


We went to the High School Musical...Wizard of Oz.  The girls liked it but Brinley was so scared of the witch (the witch did a great job with her role).  The whole time she would be on stage Brinley would say, "I want to go home."  Then when it was time to go home, she didn't want to leave.


I am training to run a half marathon in March.  I just ran 6 miles and adding a mile each week. It is going great!  I love running! Yes, I am training on my treadmill.


On Friday, Daddy had the day off and so for Ashlyn's birthday we were going to eat at her school, but she had a field trip and I forgot about it.  So we took her out of school and went to the park and had lunch and then the zoo.  It is fun being together as a family.  We have so much family time!  



 We also love our family walks.



Derek and I have this rule that whoever gets out of bed last makes the bed.  Well the bed has been made, but an hour later two little girls like ot climb in and make it their playground.  This is what it looks like with less amount of time it takes to make it.  My first instinct was to be upset, but I remember how special it was to be in your parents bed. I want to soak up these memories because I am sure there will be a day that I will miss girls playing in my bed. 


Fun times playing in the toy room

I was playing with Desi on the floor and these two girls were giggling and yelling, "Mom, look at our new trick."  Then giggling some more.


I have been planning our DISNEY WORLD TRIP!!!!  I am beyond EXCITTTTTEEEEDDD!!!!
These are my notes about each park and things I should know before our trip.  


My helpers making banana bread!  I don't know if I should call them helpers or tasters.


This is Desi's new way of eating.  She loves to sit back and relax with her foot up. 


We love our swimming pool!  Now that we have one, I can't imagine being without.


This is Ashlyn's class!


So I am in charge of personal progress nights that our young women do once a month.  I am trying to go in order with the young women values and we started with faith.  This was a fun activity that I came up with and it turned out great!  I did a powerpoint about the 2,000 strippling warriors and emphaized on how they were taught by their mothers.  I then split the young women into 3 small groups and had 6 different mothers of the young women each teach about an item of the armor of God.  So they were taught by their mothers, just like the strippling warriors.  
This is my friend who is a leader with me and I had her put on the armor of God that I made from cardboard.  I thought it turned out cute. 


I have made some fun friends here in Lufkin!  I felt like I haven't gotten out of the house all week and Derek let me talk a break to go to lunch with these awesome ladies. 


The mantel for the month of January!  Best part of all I spent $0!  Derek and I have been reading a blog called Mr. Money Mustache.  It is all about how to live frugually.  It has been fun for us to read together. Since we have been reading it, we have tried to come up with ways to not spend money where we don't really need to.  Thank you to my mom for the HOME sign and Sabina for the scensty warmer.  I love it!