Such a Big Girl!!!

Reesie has had 2 major developments in the last week.

1. She has a tooth!!!

Hallelujah! It's about time. We've been "teething" for months now and we had come to the conclusion that her gums impenetrable. But, lo and behold, the morning of her 8 month birthday, we found it poking through.

2. She says, "mamamamamama" (& knows that it means me!)
She started saying it on Sunday night, then everyday since she's repeated it hundreds of times a day. When I leave the room, she starts saying it over and over until I come back. Then, she just smiles at me and stops . . . until I leave the room again. I love it! However, Jason claims that she's saying, "dadadadada," and Reagan says it's, "ReaganReaganReagan." Check out the video at the end.

Reagan took this picture!

Princess Jasmine (formerly known as Reagan)

My oldest daughter is no longer named Reagan. She has informed us (and everyone that we've come in contact with in the past week) that her name is Princess Jasmine. Do not call her Reagan. It upsets the girl. Her name is Princess Jasmine.

Princess Jasmine & Cinderella (aka Norah)

Playing at the zoo with Samantha

Atop her trusty steed

Hmmmm - no words are neccesary Brushing Haven Rose's hair - check out that sweet smile!

Trusty steed or bucking bronco?

Pray for Danielle

Please keep Danielle (aka DeeDee) in your prayers over the next 2 years.  She leaves for training on Tuesday and heads to Taiwan in October.  And, be sure to check out her blog to hear about how the Lord is working through her in Taiwan.

www.enlightenedhearts.blogspot.com

What a whirlwind weekend!?!

We had a great fun-filled weekend - from which I am still recovering.

1) Friday, Jason and I got to enjoy Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince with our friends, Chad & Stacie. The girls (Reagan, Reese, & Samantha) got to play together with a sitter and also thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

2) Saturday morning, we started a ladies' Bible study that I'm very excited about. It had a great start, and I really feel the Lord is going to do some great things through it.

3) Saturday afternoon, Reagan and I went to Katie Jo's 4th Birthday Party. It was at Pink Bliss, which I had never heard of. But, it was precious. The girls all got to dress up as fairy princesses. They painted their nails, put makeup on them, and fixed their hair. Then they danced around and played games. Reagan thought it was wonderful!

Getting their nails painted

Showing off her hair, nails, & makeup with a cheesy grinAll the girls posing

Reagan & Katie Jo (Birthday Girl) dancing

Reagan & Samantha checking out their beautiful reflections

Posing with Mommy & Reese after the party

You can see her blue nails

4) Saturday evening, we went to a going away party for one of the chiefs (aka 5th years) in Jason's program.

5) Sunday evening, we hosted a going away party for some friends . Mike & Brooke are moving back to Texas (aka the motherland). There was a great turnout. It was so much fun to visit and hang out with everyone. The kids and parents alike all had a great time.

The guests of honor - Mike & Brooke

Reagan and Alex chasing each other in the yard

Me & Reese, Josh & Jacob, Clay & Gracie

Most of the gang. There were 16 adults and 10 kiddos. What a crew!

We had my sweet neighbor (we call him Poppy) come over to take our group picture. As Jennifer put it, "He's not the most tech-saavy." He even managed to get a video instead of a pic for Rebecca Lee. Luckily, he snapped a great one (above) on Jen's camera that she was willing to share with the rest of us. Here's the group pic we got from my camera.

Fun Times!!

Reagan Quotes

Exercising Caution
Explaining why she didn't want to play in the shooting fountains
Reagan: It was too dangerous. There were lots of kids and I didn't want to get sick.

Recent Story Requests
1. Reagan: Can you tell me a story? About the three little pigs? But, no Big Bad Wolf. The piggies are safe in this one.
She also likes to combine characters from different stories.
2. Reagan: Can you tell me a story about Belle and Ariel?
3. Reagan: Can you tell me a story about Dora and the Beast?

Parenting according to Reagan
1. Reagan: When I grow up and someone puts a ring on my finger (translation: get married), then I'll have kiddos and they can say, "Yes, ma'am" to me.
2. She has also decided that she is going to have 3 kids. Their names are going to be Jasmine, Aladdin, and Magic Carpet.

Travel plans
Reagan: (In her crown and dress up shoes which she wears everyday now) - Bye-bye! I'm going to Paris. I'm getting married there. Then, I'm going to China. Is DeeDee in China?
Mommy: DeeDee's going to Taiwan, but it's close to China. But, no she's not there yet.
Reagan: Oh, well, I'm getting candy there. I've got 2 baskets, so I'm getting 2 candies. Then I'm going to Africa.
Mommy: Wow! That sounds like quite a trip.
Reagan: (leaves the room for about 20 seconds and returns) Paris was locked and I couldn't get in, so I'm back.

Napping
Mommy: I thought you were taking a nap with Daddy.
Reagan: I was, but I'm not exhausted anymore.

Amazement
Mommy: Lauren is going to come babysit you tonight.
Reagan: DeeDee has a friend named Lauren. I didn't imagine that there could be two of them!

Her favorite question to ask people
Reagan: Do you think I look beautiful?

Daddy's Lil' Helper

Plumbing AssistantLawn Work Superviser

Yo quiero mi familia!

"Hold on, Mommy. I'm on an important call." Helping Mommy with laundry

"Oooooh, jackpot!"
Helping Mommy put sheets on the bed

"Like my Pebbles' 'do?"

Sweet sisters snuggling

"Oh, Daddy!"

Chillin' with Daddy on the Deck

Dancing in the Mister at the Zoo

"I'm very serious with my chocolate beard."

Fourth of July

Jason was on call all weekend, but it wasn't as bad as we anticipated. We actually got to spend a lot of time with him. We even got to hang out with some friends. Can't beat a cookout on the 4th!

The big kids (All 3 have younger siblings now)
- Alex, Reagan, & Jacob

"Whoa, Reagan! Jacob is my man!"

The Townsends - Jacob, Haven, & Rebecca -

Josh neglected to wear his patriotic attire, so he was ousted from the pic

The Lees - Rebecca & Chris with David & Alex

Video Overload

Here are several precious videos from the last month. I do love my girls!

And, those girls love one another too!

Reese's new favorite sound

Another song from Reagan - "Sing Sweet Nightingale" from Cinderella

Reese chit-chatting away!

Aunt DeeDee

My sister, Danielle, was here for the last week. We had a wonderful time with her here. She is an incredible young lady, and we all love her immensely! As some of you know, she is going to serve in Taiwan with the Journeyman program for the next 2 years. So, this was possibly the last time we will get to spend with her until she returns in the summer of 2011. We are so proud of her and so excited that God has chosen to use her in such an amazing way. But, we will all miss her terribly.

We LOVE our Aunt DeeDee! One night, we went for a walk/run over by the Big Dam Bridge. Reagan was running with her Daddy.3 of my favorite girls!! Playing while Reagan got her haircut

S'mores!!At the Zoo - DeeDee made a friend!

Please keep Danielle in your prayers as she serves the Lord and the people of Taiwan. She leaves for training in Virginia at the end of July, then heads to Taipei at the beginning of October. What an amazing adventure lies before her!

Please pray for all of us - her family and friends - that will be here missing her as well.