Train Day

The 70 degree Dallas weather inspired us to get outside! Our boys have become fascinated with trains.We decided to go to Plano to visit an old railroad car that use to be a mailcar from 1911-1948. They were very excited until they figured out the train did not move!
So....we took them for their first ever DART train ride. They loved it! Also a very "economy friendly" family adventure at the grand cost of $3.00 for the entire family. I must also add...we had an "economy friendly"dinner at Spaghetti Warehouse afterward. (also has a train inside) . They have a 4 course dinner deal for $8.99 x 2 (plenty of food for us and the kids), we drank water and used a $5 off coupon from the Passbook.

CLEAN TEETH

We had a busy Friday. We started our day bright and early at 8 am for the boys first cleaning appointments. LJ allowed them to clean TWO teeth and ZAD cooperated for an entire cleaning plus the flouride treatment. The best news for both boys...NO CAVITIES! They were rewarded with bouncy balls!!! I am glad they don't force them to cooperate as I am very afraid of dental procedures...and I confess....I love my dentist and my childhood dentist!!!

From there....LJ had his followup ENT appointment from his surgery where he got a clean bill of health!

And then Miss priss had her one year checkup. 4 shots later..and she enjoyed her first ever lollipop.

One Year Old!

Today is my daughter's first birthday. When I was nine years old....My mama woke me up early to go to Kmart to get my first Cabbage Patch Doll. The one I wanted had blonde hair and blue eyes...ironically her name was Joella, very close to my name. I took Joella everwhere with me for about 4 years. I don't think there is a picture of me during that time span as a little girl without Joella in it. From that moment on....my deep desire for a daughter began. When I went to DBU, my dear amiga Damaris, gave me a journal...I used that journal to write "Dear Daughter" I shared my college ups and downs, I shared with her the day I met her dad...and the pain of losing her brothers and or sisters who she will meet in heaven one day. I shared with her the joy of adopting Zachariah and later adding Levi to the family. Then one special day, I was able to write "Dear Ava..." and shared with her my emotion of finding out she was on the way!!!

So today on her first birthday, I share with my blog readers this entry:

Dear Ava,

A year has past. I can't believe it. You have given me so much joy this year. The way you smile almost every single time I take your picture, the way you say "thankyou", the way you say, Mama...and the way you snuggle when you are oh so very tired.

When I saw your sweet face on the day we met.....I cried. You were finally here.

Everyone who met you would say...."She is beautiful. She looks just like you."

Your name was chosen for you because I thought the name Ava was rare at the time...it turned out to be very popular....and I have always loved the uniqueness of Noelle and wanted to share it with you.

My hopes for you....that you would grow to Love the Lord with all your heart....and to always love doing things for other people.

My First Prayer for you...1 John 3:1...that you would be a proud daugher of the King of Kings and be a princess for Him.

You are a gift that changed my life....your presence taught me to try to be like Esther...so you would also desire to be like her.

Everytime I hold you, my heart overflows with thoughts of being the best mom I can for you...and to teach you manners. Good manners will take you far in life....after all...the Bible tells us to treat others the way we want to be treated. And that is really all good manners is....treating others the way we want to be treated.

For your first birthday, we had a princess tea party. You are indeed a princess, but not the kind that can sit on her throne and demand all she wants.....but the kind of princess that honors her King....who is her Heavenly Father.

Let your beauty be that of your inner self. 1 Peter 3:4

Serve one another in love. Galations 5:13

A friend loveth at all times. Proverbs 17:17

Show proper respect to everyone. 1 Peter 2:17

Be kind and compassionate to one another. Ephesians 4:32

These are the truths that a true princess knowes in her heart.

I love you so much,

Mama

Do I really look like a boy? Really?!!

I just had to post this crazy story. I went to the Salon today to get my hair cut. I took Ava with me. The lady asked me "How old is HE?" I said..."SHE is almost one." To that the lady replied, "Well...you just never know when they are wearing blue." And to that, I just didn't know what to say.....look at how Miss Priss was dressed.

She is not walking yet...but we are working on it every day. You can see that she is not too sure about her new balancing act.

Ava meets Reagan

Well....I loaded up the kids and we went for a visit to see Reagan and Nolan. You can see in one picure that Reagan is quickly telling Ava the rules of playing at her house! Reagan is doing wonderful and has not been sick for 2 months now. Keep praying that she will stay nice and healthy until her next heart surgery in May. Reagan seemed to like having a playmate. Reagan started scooting around on her bottom while we were there and her mom and dad think it is because she saw Ava doing it. It was wonderful to see her so happy and playing on the floor.

The boys enjoyed the Zipline in the back yard. LJ a little more than ZAD....b.c he actually went down it with Mommy!

Creative Discovery Museum

These pictures were taken at the Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was a great place to be able to catch up with my cousin from Atlanta while the kids played and played and played.