The end of Summer...

Alas, our summer has come to an end!

Gone are the days of pajamas, sleeping late, and no routine. We certainly made the most out of summer 2012. We took a trip to Dallas which included, a Rangers game, Medival Times, the aquarium and In and Out Burger. We took a trip to Louisiana which included 3 days on the Bayou. We celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary. Our Jo got married. We went to a Sox game and went swimming. My mom visited. We watched the Olympics. We went to church camp, Lego camp and Girl Scout camp. We enjoyed gymnastics. We celebrated our nation's Independence and watched some UFC.

Whew! Looking at this list makes me tired! We had a fun, busy summer and made some wonderful memories!

Yesterday our babies started school.

Makayla is in the fifth grade, Christopher is in the 2nd grade and alas, James Henry started pre-k. I keep telling myself that he is only going 10 & 1/2 hours a week but I cant help but feel this time in our lives is coming to a close. There will be no more Lis babies, no more diapers in the Lis house, we have gotten rid of the last of our baby items and soon all of our kids will be in school full time. It is bittersweet.
They all had a great first day! James Henry was mad both yesterday and today when I picked him up because he did not want to leave, and that lets me know he really likes it!

 Now that school has started I am looking forward to fall. Bring on the hoodies!

Women Of Faith 2012

Last weekend was what is becoming an annual trip to OKC for Women Of Faith! I am very blessed to have a husband who will take off work and let me leave town while he stays at home and runs the entire house alone!
We left here on Thursday morning and did some shopping and yummy eating on Thursday followed by more shopping and eating Friday during the day. The conference was Friday night and all day Saturday. Three of us left on Thursday and three more joined us on Friday.
Have you ever just felt like God couldn't be talking anymore directly at you? That was me all weekend! The speakers were all powerful and the music was amazing. There is no feeling like praise and worship with about 10,000 women! Every speaker seemed to speak on something that was pointed directly at me, overcoming your past, finding your voice, and fear!
It was an amazing weekend. Honestly, some of the best of God's work was done in my van on I-40. I was able to talk and bond with some sweet women. Women who give the best Godly advice and when they say they are praying for you, you know they really are! We shared our testimony and talked and there was powerful stuff that happened in my van!
I left OKC having found my fire again and with a renewed clear mind on what is important in my life. It was an amazing weekend and lives were changed as only God can do!

Our Jo got married!

Our Precious Johanna got married on August 5th. She came into our lives through our church. She actually worked in the nursery when James Henry was a baby and then started babysitting for us. She has been our kids first and only babysitter since James Henry was a baby.
Of course now she's grown up and married but thankfully she has a sister who babysits :)
She asked for James Henry to
be in her wedding! We were honored. He had the important task of going down right before her and announcing her entrance! It was precious.
It was a great weekend full of the rehearsal and wedding day activities and it was fun and we were honored to be a part!
We love our "Jo-nana" and couldn't be happier for her and Bryce!

Watch Day at Gymnastics

We recently had watch day at gymnastics for James Henry. He is such a cutie and he really likes it. He just finished his first semester and his second one begins at the end of the month!

***He is in the gray shirt and black shorts with the buzz cut!

My Baptism Birthday

Yesterday August 7th was my baptism birthday! I heard recently that you never know where someone has been or what they have been through and with the two trips I have made to Louisiana this year I cant help but remind myself to never forget where I came from. Although I don't yell my testimony from the rooftops, God is making me strong enough to be more open and honest with it. The same sermon that led James to his baptism this summer, led me to mine last summer and I was asked to give my testimony. It was a huge leap of faith but I trusted God and walked in faith and it surely paid off. On that note, here is my testimony as shared with my church last summer. The original video was over 8 minutes long, this is the edited cut at 3 minutes. God has done great things!

The day of the Eye Doctor

Looking back I have no idea why I decided to but I did...I took all three kids to the eye doctor at the same time!

It was James Henry's first eye exam and he did so great! He did everything she asked of him. He has slight vision problems but given his age, she is just going to keep an eye on him.

Makayla upgraded from glasses to contacts this year!

Christopher who wore glasses in pre-k went back to wearing glasses this year.

Okay, yeah...my kiddos don't have the greatest eye sight. It was a long long day. First it was two hours at the actual doctor between three exams, a contact exam and Christopher needing his eyes dilated. Then, two hours at a different place to fill our eye glass and contact prescriptions (thank you insurance). In pictures, here we are picking out eye glasses...

Makayla choose a pair to use as back-up just in case.

He needed his picture taken too

At this point I really wanted to lay there with them!

 These are the ones we came home with.... Lookin' good  and seeing a whole lot better!

Braces Free!

Over a year ago Makayla started phase one orthodontics. She started with a pallet extender and then a full set of braces. 
 Here she is a few weeks before work began...

with the pallet extenders....

with the full set....

and just two weeks ago she became braces free!!

They look so good! She is wearing retainers at night for a few months and then she will take a break to allow time for all her adult teeth to grow in and then she will do phase 2. We are very pleased with the journey so far. It has been money well spent.