Week 19 {June 19th- 25th}

{Sunday: June 19th: Father's Day}

The kids kept our portrait a secret all week and couldn't wait to surprise Daddy with it on Father's Day Morning.

That night Avery and Elijah got to go do some fishing.

Elijah was very proud of his big striper, and Avery was very proud of his big boy.

Elijah hopped in the boat to pretend like he was steering it into the garage when Avery was pulling it in. It's so heart warming to watch them creating such great father/son memories.

{Monday: June 20th}

Last night (because Avery is such a fun dad) they caught a crawdad for Elijah to bring home in his big pickle jar, they were running across the rocky shores to find one, it was late, and dark outside, and Avery took a tumble...but they got one!

{Tuesday: June 21st}

Making a poster for swim team first thing in the morning (I procrastinated) the kids thought it was fun to glue on the 'fish scales'.

{Wednesday: June 22nd}

Avery took the kids to swim practice this morning so I had some time to myself in a quiet house...strange! I loved the hour of peace but also loved it when the kids all rushed in full of fun and attacked the fresh fruit I had just put out on the table, dripping and making a mess of my clean (if even for a second) floor, It's worth every sticky spot!

{Thursday: June 23rd}

My boy loves legos! He is always making some new creation and flying it all over the house. This is his "Fighting Worm" and when I asked Elijah what it does he said "He acts dead...but he's not!...and he uses his two red eyes to mind-control people and make them barf." Do you wanna play?!

{Friday: June 24th}

Took my girl with me to help some friends set-up for an event at church, I love having one-on-one time with her. She helped us set-up until she was bored with it, she colored, she stole lots of snacks, it was great.

{Saturday: June 25th}

Heather and Baby Isaiah came for a visit tonight so we could get some sewing done and spend time together, the kids all wanted to hold him...and Lily would not back-off (notice her waiting her turn in the picture) Ava was so gentle and sweet with him, of course.

Elijah loved him and was requesting that we have a baby just like him, and he held him as long as we would allow (notice Lily in the picture still waiting her turn).

FINALLY MY TURN! She was going crazy over him and kept wanting me to put him in the room on the bed where they were playing, I finally had to cut her off, she protested, but then went and got a pretend baby to play with...not nearly as cute but it helped soften the blow...I wanted a turn to hold him too!

Week 18 {June 12th- June 18th}

{Sunday: June 12th}

Just lounging around and talking after church waiting for lunch to be ready.

{Monday: June 13th}

This was supposed to be out for me and Avery but the kids thought it was way too much fun.

peek-a-boo

{Tuesday: June14th}

Found this drawing in Elijah's little 'field journal' about the caterpillars he's been trying to find, it's a drawing of the picture my friend had on facebook. In her picture she captured the caterpillars in a starbucks cup...notice that in Elijah's drawing.

{Wednesday: June 15th}

Drove-up to the house tonight and saw Avery out front with the kids and flashlights searching for these HUGE bugs...yuck!

...and so of course Elijah wants to keep them as pets.

{Thursday: June16th}

The next morning the kids were up early to take care of their new 'pets'...apparently they eat goldfish crackers?

I cringe just looking at this picture! Elijah was the only one willing to hold them, Ava wont touch them, and Lily pets them a little too hard, we heard Elijah saying "Gentle Lily! Gentle!!!"

{Saturday: June 18th}

Cousin Julia's all girls birthday party at the JW Marriott!

Cousin Eliyana is Lily's biggest fan.

Ava is glad to be anywhere as long as it's where Julia is, so having time with one of her favorite people and getting to swim and enjoy the hotel was just so much fun, Happy Birthday Julia!



Week 17 { June 5th- June 11th }

{Monday: June 6th}

After seeing my friend's pictures (on facebook) of some huge caterpillars she found on her plants Elijah is now on a mission to find some in our backyard. He has been collecting all these leaves and tracing the bites taken out of them in an effort to track a caterpillar...it's so fun watching him enjoy these simple things in life.

{Tuesday: June 7th}

Blanky + Binky = One cozy girl.

{Wednesday: June 8th}

Let the night-fishing season begin! Elijah was busting to get out on the lake with his daddy and even though they didn't catch any 'keepers' they still had a fun time being boys.

{Thursday: June 9th}

It's finally my turn to see Elijah in action at a swim meet.

My heart was racing watching my boy out there, expecially when I saw the length of the pool and his competition. He did SO great and got 2nd place in backstroke, He is improving leaps and bounds in his swimming skills.

Lily's favorite thing to do at the swim meet? Put on sunblock!

{Friday: June 10th}

Lily knows that she needs to wear shoes if she wants to go in the backyard and play with her brother and sister...but I never said they had to her shoes.

{Saturday: June 11th}

A bunch of the guys from church planned a "dad's day" at the zoo with all the kids, as an opportunity to get to know one another and eachother's kids...such a great idea!

Elijah enjoying the company of a new friend.

I love this picture because it's very Chronicles of Narnia, and I love knowing 'Aslan' is always with Ava.

Week 16 {May 29th- June 4th}

{Monday: May 30th}

Had such a great time at Keith and Destiny's wedding tonight, Avery got to stand with this former chick-fil-a crew member (who is now a police officer).

{Tuesday: May 31st}

One of Elijah's first swim practices...he's starting to catch on!

He is excited to be a "Bellair Barracuda" and is trying his best so we couldn't be more proud.

{Thursday: June 2nd}

Dress rehearsal for Ava's first dance recital, here she is with the little stud-muffin of the dance class, Donovan.

She is SO ready for this!

I love watching her on stage...she knows all the moves and sings the song as she is dancing, so precious.

{Friday: June 3rd}

When Ava was a new baby my friend from church, Analisa, had her mom make a quilt for Ava, it has her name and birthday on it and is really special. I gave it to Ava tonight and she treasures it. She asked me to read the embroidery to her at least 5 times, and was excited to recognize her name after I showed her.

{Saturday: June 4th}

Ava getting ready for her BIG NIGHT!

Grandma is here and brought some goodies!

Proud big brother ready to get to watch his little sis.

She got to sit with us during the first half of the show and she was totally in to watching the 'older kids' and teenagers dance...she wants to dance like them one day.

Time to go backstage...one last touch-up and she's off!

ALL DONE! Daddy couldn't wait to go get his girl!

Congrats from baby sister...Lily was bobbing her head and clapping during the show, it was great!

Elijah knew this was a special night for Ava and he was really sweet with her.

We even got to go to Yogurtology because of Ava, she was getting lots of attention in her cute outfit from everyone and she was soaking it up.

Avery and I were SO tired but the night wasn't over yet...we realized the kids hadn't eaten dinner yet and Ava knew she was entitled to the 'you are special today' plate (she's been waiting for it ever since Elijah got it on the last day of school) so we couldn't deny her the honor!



Elijah came out with a game of 'hangman' to entertain us while we all had dinner...it took us a bit but we figured it out, it says "Fablous Job Ava"...so darn sweet!