No more training wheels!!

Yep! It's that time! Austin was so excited to take off his training wheels and be like his best bud Cade. :)

He of course picked up the whole two wheel thing really quickly. Daddy was a great coach!

Way to go, Buddy!!

These two cuties were having fun, too cheering their big bro along. :)

Guitar and Things

Just wanted to post some cute pics of my little monkeys. :)

1st Day of School 2011

This year is a different kind of year for us because we now have a KINDERGARTENER and 2 preschoolers! Another big change is that I decided to home school Austin this year. We were all excited about it and it is truly going great! This is a pic of our 3 cuties on their first day. :)

This girlie is super excited! Like every year, I was emotional. (Surprise!;) Both the girls were starting to go to preschool 3 days a week instead of 2. They are just getting SO big!!

Audrey with one of her sweet teachers, Ms. Lora.

Ains with some new classmates and friends.

My sweet boy in our classroom at home. :) The absolute best thing about home schooling is the precious time I get to spend alone with Austin 3 days a week while the girls are up at the church. I love it!!

Our "classroom"

I was honestly a little nervous about taking on the teacher role in his life, but we have both adjusted well. He is such a smart kiddo and we have had tons of fun! He schools for 1 1/2-2 hours a day and is doing great! Is he always super excited to "do school"? Nope! Just like any kid, most days he can't wait to be done so he can go play outside. ;) Overall though, it is awesome and I am thankful the Lord has called our family to home school for this season! For how long? Who knows! All I know is we are right where we are supposed to be for now and that is good thing. :)

Star Wars!

Both of my boys love Star Wars! One since he was a boy and the other because his Daddy and hero likes them. ;) So, when the exhibit came to Houston this summer these 3 spent an afternoon together to go and check it out.

LOVE these happy faces!

A-Town is a HUGE R2D2 fan!!

Such cuties!! They had such a fun time with their Daddy and that makes this Mommy super happy! :)

South Africa!!

This summer I got the once in a lifetime opportunity to travel to South Africa (by myself!!) and visit my amazing sister who is serving there with the IMB (International Mission Board) for 2 years. To say that I miss Suz is a major understatement! She is my very best friend (besides my hubby;) and to have her on the other side of the world has been difficult for all of us (especially my kiddos who all adore their Aunt Zuzu!)

I asked for this trip for Christmas last year (thank you, family!) and I was so excited to hug Suzanne's neck and be there on her birthday. The trip was definitely a long one (about 24 hours of travel on the way there and 40 on the way home!) and I was there a week. I became an expert traveller (never travelled alone before!) and on the way home I got to see both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in one day! (Once I got into the States, I flew from New York to L.A. and then to Dallas. It was crazy, but the quickest way to get home!)

LOVED getting the opportunity to see my sister's new world! From her flat to the city of Jo'Berg to all the new adventures of food and driving on the other side of the road! This a picture of us getting a pedicure done on her birthday (and we got massages too!)

If you know my sis, you know that birthday's are a BIG DEAL. It was so fun to have some of her missionary friends come over for dinner to celebrate my sister. Suzanne is loved no matter where in the world she is!

We spent a lot of the week bundled up (because it was winter there and pretty cold!) doing not much at all except hanging out talking and watching movies. We did go to a Lion's Park one day and it was awesome!

This lovely picture is of me about to feed a very friendly giraffe. Not too excited about it, but did it for my sis. ;)

Look at that tongue! It was long and SLIMEY!! It was fun. We laughed a lot that day!!

We also spent an afternoon with two of Suzanne's sweet new friends from her church. They are sisters as well and have such precious hearts for the Lord. We had a great time together and I loved getting to know people my sis is connecting with and building friendships with in SA.

This is the last pic we took before we drove to the airport for me to board the plane back to America. It's very bittersweet having my sister there in Africa. Sweet because I know she is living out what she has felt called to do since she was in jr. high and she is doing an incredible job at it. But also bitter because we don't get to talk as much as we would like and I just plain miss her. If I am being truly honest, I just don't like sharing her with the world. ;) I am so proud of this girl!! How many people have a dream of serving the Lord no matter where He puts you (even if it IS Africa), and actually accomplish it?? God is using her in a mighty way and I know HE delights in her as she submits herself to the gospel of Christ! Nothing better or more satisfying!! I love you, sis!!