Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Emery had a Crown for the Cure pageant and a St. Patrick's Day pageant today. She rocked them both! In fact, she earned Overall Natural Grand Supreme in the Crown for a Cure pageant and Queen for her division in the St. Patrick's Day pageant. My niece, Madison, was in the pageants too (her first ever). She came away with a princess title and a queen title! I was so proud of both of them. Unfortunately, I don't have any great pictures in her Supreme wear because she was so distraught they took her little trophy away that had hearts on it to give her a bigger one. However, we'll put the outfit on and take some pics one afternoon to post! She also earned a special community service award for raising $385 for Relay for Life (and we're not done yet)! More pictures to come, but I am beat and headed to bed!!! Hope everyone had a great St. Patrick's Day!


****I am grateful for
1) a wonderful girls weekend
2) my girly girl that loves to dress up
3) the boys are camping and having a great time
4) my bed, it's calling my name
5) a great Spring Break, although I hate that tomorrow is the last day! However, only 11 more weeks to go!

Happy Birthday Chase!!!!

Life's Sweetest Chase,

I can't believe it's been 7 years since I looked into that baby blue eyes for the very first time. Every day I am amazed that I get to be your Mommy. You make me smile and laugh, you make me want to be a better person, a better Mommy. You are so sweet and loving. You melt my heart with how kind you are to everyone, even those that aren't always kind to you. You love your little sister fiercely and are so protective of her. I know you'll always be there for her no matter what.

You are such a smart little boy and are constantly coming up with new things that just blow your Daddy and I away. You are growing so fast and changing every single day. We are so proud of all you have accomplished and all you will in the years to come. I have no doubt that you are destined for great things.

Happy Birthday my sweet baby boy. You may be growing up right before my eyes, but you'll always be my baby.

Love,
Mommy

He's working it with the ladies already.

Yesterday Chase decided he wanted to watch Rio. Unfortunately his little sister would have preferred a princess movie and wanted nothing to do with his choice. Not a problem in his book. Without missing a beat he informed her that it was an Angr.y Bird.s movie and within minutes it was playing in the DVD player. This little guy is working it with the ladies already. Smart kid!

****I am grateful for
1) weekends, too bad they go so fast!
2) grocery shopping trip is done, no my most favorite thing to do
3) vacuum cleaners, my dogs shed way too much
4) only 11 weeks of school left until summer, it can't come fast enough!
5) only 1 week until Spring Break, IT can't come fast enough!

Missing Molly, 1 year

It's been one year since we kissed that sweet little face goodbye and held her for the last time. It still hurts just as bad. Man I miss that little girl.

****I am grateful for
1) the 9 1/2 years we had with her
2) that I got to be her "mommy"
3) good memories
4) Yoda, he's not Molly, but he's a sweet boy
5) Leia, she's not Molly, but she's a sweet girl

Somebody rocked her pageant this weekend!

Emery had a pageant on Saturday and totally rocked it! We had picked up her a little wiglet and she loved so stinking cute I could hardly stand it. Don't worry, we aren't going all Todd.lers and Tiar.as on anyone! ;o) There were two sets of judges and here's what she brought home:

1st set: Overall Natural Photogenic (this outranked a queen title and she couldn't be double crowned w/this so the next contestant down got the queen), Best Hair and Best Smile

2nd set: Overall Best Personality (this could be double crowned), Queen, and Best Hair.

All the supreme titles went to older girls, but we were so proud of her for bringing home not one, but two overall titles. This little girl LOVES to strut her stuff on state and wear her "princess" dressed! Here are a few pics, sorry for the quality, we forgot the camera!





***I am grateful for
1) less than 70 days of school left!
2) three weeks until Spring Break (14 school days to be exact)
3) fun weekends
4) cuddle time
5) rain, rain, and more rain to bring the lake up for the summer

3 years ago today an amazing thing happened...

We were told that a little someone was on the way! Since we had so recently lost the twins and this was IVF #4 in our quest for #2, we were cautiously optimistic, thrilled, and terrified! We love you Emery Faith and this date will always hold a special place in our hearts because of you!!!

****I am grateful for
1) 3 wonderful years
2) that news that changes your life forever
3) little girls
4) pigtails
5) those dates that are forever etched in your heart

Rain, Rain, Go Away (a sneak peak)

A couple of months ago a friend gave us the name of her photographer that was doing a book on families that had struggled with infertility and overcame it. She was looking for 10 families in the area to do a photo shoot with and write their story. The book will be published and part of the proceeds will go to Resolve, the national infertility foundation. I had forgotten about it when I got a note from the photographer on my wall and decided to go ahead and submit our story. Turns out the photographer also did IVF (three rounds) and with the same awesome RE! Long story short, we were chosen and had our miracle session was yesterday. Of course, we're in the middle of a drought here in TX, but it rained yesterday. So we shot some pics, and ran for cover, shot some more pics, and ran for cover... you get the picture. My hair didn't really love the weather, but it turned out OK despite our fears of being rained out. What's a little mud and water to a group of tough Texans!?! ;o)

Below is a sneak peek of our session and if they are any indicator, I think I'm going to have a really hard time choosing which pictures to buy! Please note that while you may enjoy and share the pictures, you may not crop or edit them in any way (not only would that be wrong, but it's illegal)! I so can't wait to see the rest of them!!!



***I am grateful for
1) my little miracle family
2) an awesome RE that has helped so many
3) the rain, despite it hitting at the wrong time, we so needed it
4) awesome pictures
5) sneak peaks :o)

Photos were taken and copyrighted by Kara Powell Photography