Strong Girl...

Eliana started this exactly at 6 months... So, pulling up has now been adding to sitting up & crawling. The Lord must have something incredible in store for this tiny girl, with such strength!

Much like sitting up in her bed, she began pulling up in her bed... Brian discovered this...and we got pictures that night...

....and lowered the bed too...

Whatcha doing daddy?!

Thank you Daddy for keeping me safe!

Welcoming another addition...

Intoducing -- Baby Allen!!!!

Okay, how many of you are actually having a fit because you think I'm having a boy???! Be honest!

You're wrong!! :D It's my Great Niece or Nephew! Marisa & Justin are expecting and due March! We're so super excited. Congrats you two!!! 

Mom Moreno & Ryler's Birthday

Mom Moreno & Ryler share the same birthday!! We got together to celebrate which was lots of fun. Mom made Ryler Chicken Molé, Rice & Beans for dinner...it was very good. Mom says next year we're going out... :D I think she's earned it!!

Aspen got in the Jumperoo that Aunt Roni has at her house for all the babies who drop by. Aspen knows she gets in big trouble at home for doing this, but Nanny said it was fine -- and she had a blast! 

The yummy ice cream cake -- oh, and birthday boy too! ;) Just kidding. Love you Ryler! So super proud of you. 

The birthday pals!

"The Man with the Band Tan" -- and Eliana too

I'm SO bummed my picture is fuzzy!!! But, this is all the grandkids minus one again -- plus, we're missing Justin again.

The oldest & youngest cousins

 When I'm around, Jason is always in action...I seem to never get a very good picture of him...but, here's proof that he's here... And, that goes for Roni too! I never get a picture of her either! Guess that's why they're the 'perfect couple'. :D

Happy Birthday, Mom! I just can't say enough how thankful I am to have you as my Mom! You've taken me under your wing from the first time we met, and that means the world to me. I always prayed I'd have a special relationship with my husbands mother, and the Lord has certainly answered those prayers! I look forward to learning more from you, and celebrating YOU for years to come. I love you, Mom!

Funny....part 2

Remember this post? Well...we moved the changing table out, and then this happens...

I don't thing removing the bed & bookshelf is the solution... She really did remover her mattress and flip the bed frame all by herself. Not to mention the books...or the 2 boxes of clothes there were in her closet, which she dumped onto the closet floor... :) The joys of motherhood...

Playtime with Daddy

Aspen has this thing -- if she thinks you're tired, or going to sleep, she will RUN to get her blanket, pillow, and teddy, bring it to you, and cover you up with it, as we do for her. Brian was playing with the girls, and Aspen did this for him...then, he laid down and asked me to stand on his back  -- as he does on occasion to help add of some pressure to make it feel better... I tried, but when I did Aspen decided SHE wanted to walk on Daddy's back -- Then, Eliana who had been playing close by, crawled over to him, and started pulling up on him so she too could be in on the action... 

You had to of been there -- but it was pretty cute. 

Dad Moreno's Birthday

We had the privilege of celebrating Dad Moreno's birthday a couple weeks ago. Mom made a delicious dinner of meat & gravy, with green bean & mashed potatoes - pretty sure Roni did the mashed potatoes... It was all delicious! (Mom's arm is still hurt, but she's pressing on!)

Kilyn helped Nanny by making the cake for Popo.. Great job Ki! 

Just some snapshots from the evening...none are incredible... 

I need to picture program...this could be a really cool picture.. I took it for all my 'northern' friends who don't have the privilege of such delicious ice cream. :) ...on the flip side, you probably save money (& calories!) because you don't have it...but, then again, it really is worth both those! :)

Popo & Aspen

All the Grandkids, minus 1 -- Marisa, well, 2 technically, including Marisa's husband

This was my sorry attempt at getting 'the men' without making them pose. :D 

Happy Belated Birthday Dad! We're so very thankful for you!! Thank you for loving each of us, and being there if we need anything. We are so very grateful for you, and all you've done for us throughout the years... Praying you have a wonderful year, and many more!

Eliana

 I just think this is a adorable picture of Eliana... 

Jello...or finger paint?!

Aunt Bekah bought some funny Jello pudding something or other for her girls, but Annabel & Alyssa didn't like it. So, it was offered to Aspen. Well, I was distracted doing something, while Aspen at hers... Then Mom McDonald says, "Meagen! Look...look what she's doing!" I turned around and this is what I saw...

What's better than edible finger paint?! :) Gotta enjoy the fun times...messes aren't worth the stress of fussing at the kiddos for just being kids...although, I'd be lying if I said I always enjoy such times...

Back at it...

Well, with school starting next week, that means summer band has been back at it for 2-3 weeks now. There was one day of summer band, Brian needed me to bring him something, so us girls loaded up to take what he forgot -- we also picked him up a smoothie from smoothie KiNg, since I had a coupon. :)

We arrived at the school, and they were out on the 'field' (also known as parking lot) warming up... Aspen climbed on up to Daddy, and stood there with him for a good little bit. 

This kicks off football season! Brian's back at it full force. Our first game is next week vs. the Dickinson Gators! Wahoo!!!! I may wear orange & black, but I still bleed blue. :) 

The Pool...

My parent are members at the Dickinson Pool...It's a GREAT deal, and if any of you are looking for a pool to swim in, I highly recommend it -- There is hardly anyone there, and it's a great price. They need more members to be able to keep the pool open, so...check it out! 

Aspen & Eliana have enjoyed going swimming, abundant thanks to Granny & Paw Paw sharing their pass. (We plan to join next year, once Aspen starts swim lessons.)

Eliana getting ready...

Daddy getting Aspen ready

Waiting patiently...or impatiently!

Big Smiles!!!

Us girls also went one day with Granny & Annabel...

All of our hands were full, or we were wet, so I laid Eliana one a towel on the grass -- she wasn't sure what to think!

Thank you Mom & Dad McDonald for sharing your pool pass with us!

Walks & Bunnies!

There was one week, we took the girls for a walk nearly each evening... Aspen had figured out how to ride her little tricycle, and I decided she could ride it out on our walk...

  

She eventually got tired, and I stuck the tricycle in the basket part of our single stroller, and Aspen sat next to Eliana. When came around to the field across from our house, we discovered a family of bunnies.. Aspen went running to see them... Can you see them?

Eliana was excited about the bunnies too. ;)

The rabbits really do multiply fast...there were 4 one night, and 5 the next! lol... ;)

The Wedding...

We were SOOO excited about Mandy & Ruben's wedding. Mandy has been my 'big sis' for almost forever, and Ruben has been Brian's 'bro' (and now mine too) forever too. We were thrilled for these two individually & together. I tried getting pictures of the special day, but it seems pretty much impossible between juggling our two girls, and caring for the cake. 

Mandy asked me to do their cake for them...and I was/am truly honored. I feel as if it was probably the worst wedding cake I've done, but at the same time, I was very pleased with it. There were lots of new aspects to this cake I had never done before... I ended up very pleased with it...Praise the Lord for pulling it all together!!

It looked better in person, and at a distance, than I thought it did up close and in a picture. :) Hopefully the wedding photographer got a better picture than I did. I seem to only see the flaws... Thank you Mandy & Ruben for the opportunity to do this for ya'll! The Lord taught me lots of lessons through your cake, and I'm so grateful! 

The Best Man -- and I really mean, the BEST man :)

Enjoying the yummy pizza & cookies after the rehearsal

The cake...lots of pics so hopefully one will look decent...

Before the flowers...

And after... the lighting was really hard... the background was yellow, not pink... 

Thank you to everyone who prayed me through this cake!! And, Mandy, you were, and still are, beautiful!! Ya'll wedding was so worshipful and lovely!!!!!!!!