Family Portraits

We went to have our family portraits made a few weeks ago, around Anna's and Anton's birthdays. Anna was a great little poser, and Anton was such a great helper and quite the model even though he was sick. Emma's not so into having her picture made, but we did get some cute ones of her too. Enjoy!

Pigtails!! and Bob Marley

I'm not really into "fixing hair", but I like the idea of doing it with the girls. I even bought Anna those little ball pigtail holders the other day (she picked them out). She actually wanted to wear them, and she wanted Emma to have pigtails too. Emma's hair is too fine for the ball things, but I did manage to get her hair into pigtails. Her they are right before we headed to Kroger, playing with their K-Park HS pom-poms...

And this is what they looked like about halfway through our shopping adventure. I just have a hard time staying motivated when they always pull out whatever I do!!

Anna has also gotten into Bob Marley in the past week. Anton put a Bob Marley tape in on the way to school the other day, playing "One Love". Anna wants me to play it over and over again. She sings along "let's get together and feel our eyes". :) I've actually enjoyed it too - Anton was singing in the car "Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right". I thought he made it up but it's really in the song. So we've been praising God along with Bob!! :)

"I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." John 17:20-23

May the Holy Spirit act in us to fulfill that prayer!!

School, dentist and more parties and games!

Anna and Emma started Mother's Day Out a couple of weeks ago. Here's the only cute picture I managed to get on the first day. They both just go on Tuesday. Anna really loves going to school - I know this because she tells me as much and is so excited about it. Emma of course can't tell me, but she seems to enjoy it. I got a really cute report from the teachers last week - they take Anna's and Emma's class to the playgroud about the same time, and they got excited to see each other and ran up to each other and gave big hugs. Talk about making Mom smile big!!!! Gram sent them new nap mats, and Anna loves to carry them both. :)Anna has been playing with her baby dolls more. This one is her favorite.
She really loves to play with her doctor things. Here she is giving her baby a shot while telling me not to take a picture. We went to a friends birthday party last weekend at one of those big jumping gyms. We didn't manage to get a picture of the birthday boy AGAIN, but here's a few cute shots of our girls. Jacob turned 5 and was busy playing with his other big boy friends - not that we couldn't have taken a picture, he just wasn't usually around our little girls. Happy Birthday Jacob!!

This one looks fuzzy because Anna is behind a mesh barrier. She loves to jump!
Anna and Joanna in a car having lots of fun!

Emma liked jumping too!

Anna and Joanna going down the slide together. This one looks blurry because I'm just not a very good photographer!All our play group friends sitting in a line waiting for cupcakes.
Yummy!!

They both love to read. Emma especially loves Thomas the train and would listen to them all day long if she had a willing reader.

Anna getting out of the car to go to her first dental appointment to clean her teeth. She was very excited. It helped that Anton went not too long ago, and she saw the little toy vending machine that she would get to pick a toy from.

They gave her these cute glasses so the bright light wouldn't shine in her eyes. She did really great, and now she wants to floss her teeth every night!!

We had another home game Saturday night. We sat with our friends the Harlans during the first 1/2. This is another Emma who is also in the nursery at church with our Emma. Both of the girls had lots of fun playing with her.

The band finally dressed out in their uniforms. It was another great halftime show.

Anton and his buddy Clayton.
Saying goodbye to Anton before we head home. We lost by the way to one of the best teams in the area, but our team is looking good.

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:15-17

2nd Home Game

First, a big thanks to Amy for my blog makeover!!! You can check out her website, Design 139, along with her new online cards/invitations venture with Kim on Etsy. Etsy, by the way, is a fabulous web-market for lots of cool handmade things. My mom got the girls' nap mats there. Check it out!!

Anton is at school from 7am to 5pm most days. So here's what he's usually doing when he's around...I guess high school academics is a little stressful!

Now I really think he's just showing off for the camera! Back to work Anton!!So here we are at the Kingwood Park HS 2nd home game. Wow are those my girls watching their big brother play in the marching band? I'm one lucky woman!!!!Anna clapping.
Emma clapping.

Emma pointing at Anton. I was pretty impressed she could pick him out!

And there he is!! I can't imagine being coordinated enough to play an instrument and march at the same time!!Drumming in the stands, maybe watching a play? Having lots of fun!

I got the girls some little pom-poms.

Anna especially loved them.

The drumline.

Here's some videos. Anna kept trying to copy the "Silver Stars" with her pom-poms.

Anton drumming on the field (last snare on the right if you can't make him out).

Drumming in the stands. We realized we need to sit a few rows down next time so we can get better shots of his face. Anyway, you can see they're having a great time!

Since I'm on a video kick, here's a clip of Anna drumming at home a few weeks ago.

And a goofy video Tony and Anton made. It will make you laugh. I promise!!

And the girls outside playing in the pool.

Good times!!!

"Praise the LORD. Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.
Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised. The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of their people. He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD." Psalm 113:1-9