Thank you for being a friend

I had a special treat last night.  I got to have dinner with 2 of my very closest friends - Jamie and Tiffany.  Jamie and I have been the best of friends since the 7th grade and Tiff and I have been since 9th grade.  It is so nice to get together and catch up.  Our lives are so busy and full right now with children, work and other commitments yet it means so much to carve out a little bit of time to regroup.  I surely know that I need it!

Jamie and Tiffany

Baking

Callie Grace made muffins in her class last week.  Surprisingly, she loved them!  Her teacher sent home the recipe so we made some last night.  Callie Grace and Caleb both helped out.  We had a lot of fun!  Can you guess what kind we made?

The ingredients

My girl helper

My boy helper

The finished product - Pumpkin Muffins!

Callie Grace got her hair trimmed and braided today.  She got her finger nails painted also.  She said that it was the best day ever. 

My sweet girl

Callie Grace insisted on taking a picture of her mama

Dinner with Uncle James and Moira

We went over to my brother's house for dinner last night.  Callie Grace and Caleb LOVE playing with their cousin Moira.  They pronouce her name Morna.  We had a lot of fun.  I actually got to have a real conversation with my brother for a little bit while the children played in Moira's room.  These pictures aren't the greatest but they were having a great time playing around.  I think they show how much they love each other!!

Moira, Callie Grace and Caleb 

The 3 Amigos

Visiting Mama Helen

I took Callie Grace and Caleb to visit Mama Helen yesterday.  Mama Helen was already in the common area for her dinner.  The people that work there are always so nice and friendly.  They gave the children a ball to play with and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  Mama Helen was happy to see us.

Mama Helen and Callie Grace

Silly Caleb with his stretchy man

Clean babies

Loving each other!

Operation Christmas Child

Callie Grace has been wanting to get the things for our shoebox since September.  We finally went to the Dollar Tree yesterday to get it filled up.  Callie Grace wanted our special girl to have everything.  Caleb wanted everything for himself! :)  I offered to get CG and Caleb one of those wash cloths that expands in water but Callie Grace wanted our girl to have it.  We prayed for the girl who would be receiving our shoebox.  I pray that everything in the box will be exactly what she needs and wants.

After that, we went to the grocery store which is always a fun experience with a 3 and 4 year old!

Callie Grace picking out things for the shoebox

Caleb at the grocery store

Library Fun

I attempt to take the children to the library every two weeks.  The entire drive to the library I talk about how we have to be quiet and no running.  Then, I quiz them on what we can and cannot do at the library.  With all of that being said, it is still a toss up as to how the library visit is going to go!!  I got a few pics of CG and Caleb while we were there - the one of CG's hands on her face cracks me up.  Caleb was saying CHEESE very loudly.  Callie Grace's expression is saying, "oh no - you're in major trouble!"  Overall, our visit was a success.  They both love for me to read to them.  I hope this love for reading continues the rest of their lives. 

It is so hard to get a smile from Caleb!  Most of his pics look like this!

Oh no!  Caleb is in big trouble for being so loud!

We survived the library and the library survived us.

Look - he's smiling!

The Adventures of Callie Grace and Felipe

Just a lot of pictures today.  Felipe the fish went with us everywhere this weekend!  He ate with us, played with us and slept with us.  I am including one picture of Caleb at the end to prove that he was with us this weekend.  CG did not want him in any of the pictures.  Talk about loving each other. :)

Caleb and Aunt de - so cute!