Playing Catch Up....AGAIN

I hate getting behind on my blog.  I LOVE blogging about my little family, and being able to share with our extended family and friends.  However, the holiday season is upon us, and for a photographer that means non-stop editing!!!  Don't get me wrong, I love taking pictures and creating memories for other people.  It's very rewarding to give that gift.  But sometimes, I just have to take a little break to record some memories of my own :)

So, here we go.... (I hope you like pictures)

We took a trip to Natchitoches to visit Cory's family.  We had lots of fun, even though the kids were under the weather.

One of the first things we did was go to the pumpkin patch with Nana, Aunt Lindsay, and Cousin Mason!!!

They picked the perfect pumpkin, and then helped carve it that night.

 We also threw a surprise party for Poppy.  He turned 53 and we thought it'd be fun to let the kids celebrate with him.  We went all out with party hats AND blowers.  Woo Hoo, we had a big time ;).  Of course Landry was in charge of the cake, so she decided to make him a strawberry cake with green icing and an entire bottle of sprinkles on top.  Poppy thought it was the best cake ever.

We got back just in time for Halloween.   That will be my next post :)

More of Egidio's Visit

One thing Egidio was fully immersed in, during his visit, was American Football.  We didn't break him in slowly either.  We poured it on real thick from the moment he arrived.  Cory is the announcer for Lakeshore High School, so after he picked Egidio from the airport, we had to head to the stadium, right away.  I think he enjoyed seeing all the surrounding elements of football.  I did my best to explain a few rules, but probably left him as clueless as ever. 

The next day, we had some friends come over to watch the Arkansas game.  As soon as that was over, we packed up and headed to someone else's house to watch the LSU game.  By this time, I know he is thinking that Americans care a little too much about football.

So what do we do? We teach him how to play football himself, or at least how to throw a football :)

 Not bad form for his first time, right?

My kids fell in love with Egidio pretty quickly.  Landry is always a little shy at first, but once she got to know him, she was hooked.

Here is Eli at breakfast, one morning.  He was digging the blueberry coffee cake

 Here is Landry building a house for Egidio's "Birthday".

 And here is Eli resting on Egidio after a full day

Egidio also cooked some AMAZING Costa Rican food while he was here.  He even taught me how to make tortillas.  Sadly, the pictures I took of us making them have been lost somehow.  :( 

The week went way too fast and we just didn't have enough time to do everything we wanted, but it was so special to visit with our brother in Christ!  Thank you, Egidio, for taking time to come see us.  We love you and are thankful for you!

Trip to the Big Easy

This is Egidio.

It was an honor and privilege to have him as a guest in our home last week.  We met Egidio while we were on our mission trip to Costa Rica.  He was our bus driver.  We got to know him really well on our trip, and were so excited when he decided to come to the United States for a visit.  Egidio is a Godly man, with an amazing testimony, and we made some wonderful memories while he was here.  

Since we live just across Lake Pontchartrain, a New Orleans trip is always necessary when guests come to visit.  We decided to take the street cars as an extra treat for the kids and Egidio. You couldn't wipe the smile off of Landry's face the entire time :)

We got off at Canal Street and made our way to the beloved French Quarter

Here is Egidio looking all touristy

We enjoyed a lunch at Bubba Gump's.....

 .....visited the gorgeous St. Louis Cathedral...

...Did a 2 second photo-shoot with my little beauty...

 ....and then chowed down on Beignets from Cafe Du Monde, an essential element of every trip New Orleans!

 Maybe Cory got a little too carried away? LOL

The kiddos were quite impressed by the musicians

And the ride back was almost as much as fun as the ride there...

 ...just ask Eli. LOL

And just to brag on my kids a little, (because I am their mommy and I can) they were perfect angels the whole day.  I was so proud of them!

In The Words of Audrey Hepburn....

......HAPPY girls are the PRETTIEST!

I think she might have been onto something ;)

Welcome to the World, Maris!

Congratulations to Proud parents, Jesse and Laura Pounders, and proud sisters, Tatumn and Finley, on this precious bundle of joy!  Maris Camille was born this morning at 6:57 a.m.  Jesse and Laura have only been in our lives a short time, but they already mean so much to us!  We are thankful for the newest member of their family!!  

Now, let's rewind a couple of weeks to the surprise shower we threw for Laura and sweet baby Maris.  My sweetheart of a friend, Amy, came up with the great idea of throwing Laura a surprise diaper shower.  Laura is brand new to our area, and she thought it would be a great way to make her feel welcome here.  We all loved the idea and jumped right to it. After all, the baby was due any day.  Libby volunteered to host the shower.  Lucky for us, girl's got some MAD party planning skills!  We disguised the get-together as a crafting day to help Libby prepare for her daughter's birthday party.  Seeing the surprise on her face when she walked in was priceless!

Here are the beautiful decorations:

 Libby had the great idea of having us write a note to the baby in a children's book.  We also wrote notes for the big sisters in book for them.

SURPRISE!!

We had lots of fun, food, and fellowship

Laura got some last minute practice in with Baby Brennan

Amy stole some snuggles too

Laura got a nice supply of diapers and some adorable baby clothes.  No one could resist ;)

Today, we are thanking God for this precious little miracle!