Monday, July 1, 2013

Lauren Gets her Ears Pierced

Lauren has talked about getting her ears pierced quite often.  She always wanted to do it when she was older.  She would talk about how excited she was to get them pierced when she was older.  A few weeks ago, she decided she was older and ready to get them pierced.  We talked about when she would actually do it and then one day we were ready to take the big step.  We planned to go after her piano lesson on June 12.  The evening before, Lauren complained a little with an ear ache, and by the time she woke up Wednesday, she was in a lot of pain.  I called the Dr. as soon as the office opened and we got an appointment before her piano lesson.  Lauren had swimmer's ear.  We got an antibiotic steroid ear drop and went on the piano lesson.  After her lesson, Lauren just wanted to go home,  After another trip to the Dr. the next morning where Dr. Abby had to clean out a lot of wax and crud from her ear, we left with an oral antibiotic and headed back home.  For two days, Lauren just hung out on the couch.  Dr. Abby said swimmer's ear and bone pain were the two most painful things to endure.  I believe it because it takes a lot to get Lauren down.  But after a couple more days of antibiotics she started feeling better.  

We decided to wait until the 10 day round of antibiotics were finished before planning the ear piercing.

Finally, on Sunday, June 30 we planned to head to the mall after church and lunch to get those ears pierced.  Lauren was so sweet, she kept saying she was anxious.  Another girl was getting her ears pierced when we got there, so Lauren got to watch.  Luckily the other girl did not show any signs of discomfort during the piercing.  Lauren still would have backed out if I would have said OK.  But I convinced her to go ahead and get it done.  She was a brave little girl, and luckily they could pierce both at the same time using two people.  I think it shocked her and she had a bit of water in her eyes at the end, but she was NOT going to cry!  I love her bravery.


Just before getting her ears pierced.....no holes in those ears
I love how she is holding my hands in front of her...the two ladies getting ready to pierce
Right after the piercing....trying really hard to be brave
Even though this picture is blurry, I love her sweet smile....she was SO proud
Her little ear was red after the piercing
At home with sissy with her newly pierced ears
Look at my star earrings
Up close picture
My big girl is so proud of those earrings.  She picked small star shaped earrings.  She has to leave them in for 6 weeks.  She can change those earrings out for new ones just in time for the first day of 3rd grade.  I cannot believe my angel will be in 3rd grade in six more weeks.  I love you Lauren.  I'm so proud of the beautiful, brave young lady you are.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Our Fifth Year at Hilton Head


 It seems unbelievable that this was our fifth year to take the girls to the beach.  I can remember like it was yesterday, getting ready for that first trip.  I am so grateful to my wonderful parents for graciously sharing their time share points to take us to the beach each year.  I'm also so glad my brother chooses to go with us, too.  I can't imagine going to the beach without them!

This year was absolutely PERFECT.  I was really concerned about the weather because it was so rainy and cold this entire spring.  Last year when we went, a tropical storm came up the coast while we were there.  But this year, the weather could not have been any better.  The sky was bright blue every day we were there.  We only saw a few stray sprinkles the last evening we were there when we were going out to dinner.  I don't think it even got the ground wet.  The temperatures stayed in the low 80's and there was no humidity early in the week.  It did warm up a little toward the end of the week, but it was not miserable.  We spent every day going to the pool and the beach.  As I said earlier, it was perfect.

Uncle Bill always manages to capture some cute pictures the morning we leave
Traditional family picture before we leave
Including Uncle Bill in the pic
Our first time on the beach after the long drive over
Awwww, enjoying the ocean once again
Allison loves to dig!
Enjoying the pool...Allison jumping into the ring
Lauren jumping in
Family picture at the pool
A picture of the property.  We followed this path over the water to get from our room to the pool
Those girls could probably dig all the way to China.....so they say
Sleeping sweetly after a fun day in the sun
Love that sweet face
Daddy spent lots of time throwing the girls in the pool....who needs the gym when you are at the beach?
Throwing Lauren
The girls ready to ride to the beach...they love riding their bikes at the beach
The girls' beautiful sand castles
The girls enjoyed pool time in the mornings with no one else around
This floating thing is the life!!!!
Tossing Allison to me......oh no!
She's ok
Love this picture....Dad read his Bible to Lauren just about every day when we came in for lunch.  She loved sitting and listening to him read.
Uncle Bill cleaning off Lauren's toenail polish...How did she manage that royal treatment?
Hanging around in the ocean
Funny little Lauren....paddling around
Granny and her girls enjoying the pool
Enjoying the sand
The ocean provided some fun waves....
I love this picture I took of Brother!!!!!  Pretty good photography if I say so myself.
Playing in the waves
Trying to stay a float....
There is a big wave swelling right behind them...love how brother has a hold of Allison

Pure sweetness
More good photography from me!!
Uncle Bill and Lauren getting ready to swim through the swelling wave
They never get tired or bored at the beach
Lauren, Daddy and Allison

Sweet girl covered in sand
It's not a trip to the beach unless Daddy gets buried in the sand.  The girls had their turn getting buried, too.



The only bad thing about going to the beach during Memorial Day holiday, is your vacation is over early and you have the rest of the summer without the beach.  Maybe one day we might just get to take two beach trips in one summer.  Ahhhh, that's a nice dream. 

Sunday, May 19, 2013

My Sweet Six Year Old Allison

Sweet, tender-hearted, silly, best hugger, big belly-laugher, very affectionate, adores her sister, princess lover through and through, girly girl......that's how I would describe my angel Allison.  You came into this world in dramatic fashion, via emergency c-section and you have provided plenty of drama in your six years of life.

I love how you come into my room every morning to give me hugs and kisses and say good morning.  I love when you crawl in my bed and snuggle for a few minutes.  I love how you wrap your whole body around me when you hug me.  I love how you belly laugh out loud when you watch movies.  I love how you adore you big sister.  I love everything about you!

I am so thankful that I happened to look at the clock  at 6:45 this evening and was able to hold you while we sang "Happy Birthday" to you at the time you were born six short years ago.  You are a blessing and joy to be around and we love you so much!  I'm so thankful God chose me to be your mommy.

We celebrated your birthday yesterday with family and you get to have your first "friend" party next Saturday.

This first picture is one of my favorites of you on the day you were born.  Ma Ready stayed around at the hospital to get to see you.  This picture was taken at 9:59 p.m.  just after we got into our room.  She did not want to look up for the picture.  She told us she just wanted to look at you.

Allison and her great-grandmother, Ma Ready

Allison, two days old....look at that dark hair!

Here are pictures of your party on Saturday.  You wanted to open presents before we had cake and ice-cream.

Cousin Parker, Lauren and Allison
Sweet pose for pictures

Showing off some rings you got from your sister
Uncle Bill got you a set of your very own texting phones....you were pretty pleased
Both sisters are excited over these
You told Paw-paw you wanted a small stuffed bunny for your birthday....you were pretty pleased!
Your tiny bunny


I asked you so many times what you wanted for your birthday, and the only thing you would say was a small stuffed panda bear.  You wanted that so Lauren could have it as a baby to go with her big stuffed panda bear.  (You have a big stuffed polar bear that Aunt Susie gave you last year and a small, stuffed, baby polar bear....you wanted Lauren to have a baby for her panda bear).  You did tell Paw-paw you wanted a small stuffed bunny rabbit.  You also asked for new doll clothes for Becky.

You with your stuffed panda bear

I think you liked your panda bear
Dressing Becky in her new clothes...you got about six new outfits and you tried them all on Becky

You and your beloved Becky
You asked for a butterfly birthday cake (even though you had a butterfly cake two years ago)

The birthday girl with her cake

Sweet sisters with the cake
More sweetness
Candle blowing time
Enjoying cake with Parker

Happy Birthday, sweet Allison.