What a Day!!

Monday was our little girls 2nd birthday.  It is hard to imagine where the time has gone.  Mommy and her spent the day out and about.  They brought lunch to me at school and we had a picnic at the lake.  That is one of the perks of working close to home.  After lunch Sarah and Ella went home to plant flowers and they had a great time.  

That evening I had a slow pitch softball game.  My mom came down and went with Sarah and the girls to watch.  During the game I slid into second base (I know I shouldn't try too hard) I seemed to hurt my wrist.  I played the rest of the game with it hurting thinking nothing of it.  Today I got up and could hardly do anything with my right hand because my wrist was hurting very badly.  I ended up leaving school early to go to the doctor and get X-rays.  Luckily nothing was broken only a severe sprain and a bone bruise.  I will now have to wear a brace for the next week and a half to two weeks.  Yeah me.  Sarah tells me it is a sign of getting old, I don't think so.  We will see what happens next.  Later.

Ella rocking bun-bun outside.

Planting her flowers.

Lunch with mommy and daddy on her birthday.

A Happy, Happy Weekend.

What a weekend! We had Ella's birthday on Saturday and Mother's Day on Sunday. Ella's birthday was wonderful. The family showed up and it was a beautiful day to be outside. She got many wonderful things and loved all the attention as usual. The cake is from Sarah. My mom baked the cake and Sarah decorated it. It is in the shape of a cupcake and the swirls matched the ones from Ella's dress. It was a big day but everybody had a wonderful time.
Sunday Sarah woke up and we had breakfast for Mother's Day. We then took a trip to Pella to look at the flowers and walk around the square. We meet Sarah's parents and grandparents there for lunch and the walk. The girls had a great time running around and smelling all the tulips. During lunch Ella kept practicing how she was going to smell the flowers. It was a quiet trip home from Pella as Ella slept and Ava just sat nice and quiet. It is amazing that our little girls are growing up and fast. It is a joy to see them change everyday and become more independent, not that they all ready are!! Happy Mother's Day to all mothers out there and have a wonderful weekend.

Ella and her cake.

Sarah will be taking orders for cakes to go along with her photography soon.

Ava doing her usual pose.

Ella and all of her presents.

Mom and the girls.

Their First Dance

The girls finally had their first Middle School Dance.  Sarah had to work last Friday night so the girls went with me to the Middle School to chaperone the last dance of the year.  I was nervous about taking them but they had an absolute blast.  The danced for almost 2 solid hours, then they went to the gym and participated in the Limbo contest and finally had ring pops, and a candy bar.  Coming home that night Ava kept telling me she was ready to go to her next dance.  I can't wait!! (Insert my sarcasm there.) 

  A busy weekend is here with Ella's 2nd birthday party on Saturday and her actual birthday on Monday the 11th.  It is hard to believe that she will be 2 years old.  What is even harder to believe is that Sarah and I will have a 2 and 4 year old.  Crazy where the time has gone.  Look back for pictures of the party this weekend (I promise Karen!!).  You will be impressed with the cake that Sarah is ready to decorate.  

The girls and I ready to head to the dance.

They loved their matching dresses.

Busy as Always.

I know, it has been 10 days since my last update.  With Easter, photo shoots, and school it has been busier then ever.  Sarah has been extremely busy with photo shoots and she gets more business almost everyday.  She is still enjoying it and her pictures are getting better and better.  if you want to take a look click on the link and have a look (www.sarahmcconnell.zenfolio.com)

One good thing is that the girls and I get to spend some time together in the basement while she takes pictures.  Some of the pictures below show the girls in their dress up clothes acting just like Mommy.  One of the funny things is that when the talk to each other they sound just like Sarah taking pictures.  Hopefully everything is calmed down now and I will be able to update sooner.  Thanks and have a wonderful rest of the week.

Ella taking pictures of Ava.

Ava taking pictures of Ella.

This is what happens when you can't find the girls and they find their play make-up.

Ella with lipstick on.  Notice it on her chin and cheeks. 

Click here to look at more pictures.

Happy Easter to Everyone!

Our Easter weekend will be split a little bit. Sarah has to work all weekend so the girls and I are heading to Boone with Keith, Belva (Grammie and Gramps), Mark, Jane, Shawna, Hunter, and Brady. You can see two that are missing. Sarah will be sleeping for work and Brad is recovering from surgery that he had on Friday. The grandkids will be having an Easter egg hunt and then we will have dinner. It is hard to beat Belva's Easter dinner with all of the homemade goodness, especially the desserts. I will have to make sure to not wear a belt when it is all said and done!!! Today (Saturday) the girls and I cleaned out the garage. It is amazing how much "stuff" you can gather with two little girls. But it looks better and it all fit back inside. We also had our first of many lunches on the patio. Ava wanted to eat out at the table to we had hotdogs and mac 'n cheese. It was nice to relax outside in the beautiful weather.
I hope that everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend with good food and time with family.


Ella in her rock star sunglasses.


Ava getting ready for lunch outside.

The girls using the box for our end table as a club house.

Turning the Big 4!!!

Today is the day the our wonderful daughter Ava blessed us and came into this world. As I sit here and think of the last 4 years it is amazing how time can go by so fast. She is an absolute joy and her excitement and wonderment never siece to amaze me. We made a DVD of her last 4 years to show all the family and it was sad thinking that she will never be the little girl that loved to cuddle for hours in the chair. She still does a little, but not for very long. Watching her learn new and exciting things all the time is a wonderment to the innocence of a little child. I am not that much of a religous man but I know that God has blessed Sarah and I with two wonderful children that we so love and adore.
So here's to you Ava, Happy Birthday. Your mom and I love you very much and you are a very special little girl.

Lance

Almost 4

Tomorrow (Tuesday) our little girl turns 4 years old. It is hard to imagine that she has turned into a young lady and not a little girl. We had probably our last family birthday party for good as Ava kept telling us she wanted all of her friends there. On Friday my parents came down to decorate the cake, Disney princess of course. Sarah and my dad decorated the princess cake and as you can see from the pictures below they did it with a bottle of wine and it turned out wonderful. The theme of the party was Disney princesses, with cups, plates, balloons, table cloth, etc. Ava had a wonderful time and she received many wonderful presents. Tomorrow Sarah and Jane are taking Ava out for breakfast and a pedicure for her birthday. Tomorrow night Ava gets dinner out of her choice and desert. It should be a fun day for her and everybody else.


Ava before the party.

Opening one of her many Disney princess presents.

Ella, Sylvie, and Ava posing with her Ariel cake.

Don't they look like they love each other.

Ava and her cake.

Papa Jim decorating the cake.

Sarah decorating the only way she knows how, with wine and frosting!

Click here to see more birthday pictures.