75 YEARS of LOVE

My wonderful grandparents, Wayne and Elaine Walker, recently celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary.  Yep, 75 years….incredible!  Family and close friends gathered together to wish them well.  My sister, Susan Brown, baked and decorated the gorgeous cake.  I think my grandma and granddaddy had the time of their life.  They were both glowing!  We are so grateful to have them as our role models.  They are adored and admired by many!

ready to learn

After a fun-filled summer, our girls were ready for another school year!  Emma Jane was ecstatic to be entering 1st grade where she can finally play on the "big kid" playground.  Vivian couldn't wait to start  3K since her classroom is now located upstairs.  We are looking forward to making lots of great memories with some very special teachers this school year! 

Emma Jane wrote the chalkboard message and insisted on adding the smiley face. 

(I hope that means she's HAPPY to return to school!)

Vivian can write her name all by herself 

but still needs a little assistance with the N!  

Of course, she'd prefer to just write Vivi….

now that's an easy name to spell!

summer 2014

How has it been a full YEAR since I lasted posted?!?  Time flies when you have two busy bees!  Here are some images from our summer photo shoot.  These girls have shared lots of love, laughter, and growth this past year.  It's just happening TOO fast!

*Photos by Erica Billingsley

just like Loula

Vivian is still totally and completely in L.O.V.E. with Loula Rose.  Viv tells everyone we meet, "I got a doggy named Loula.  She's my best fwiend."  She compares every other dog she sees to her Loula.  She'll proudly shout,"That doggy is yellow, just like Loula!" or "That doggy is big, just like Loula!" or if any true similarity is lacking she'll say, "That doggy is furry, just like Loula!"  Yes, our little dog lover is smitten, and I'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual!

one mom's junk is another girl's treasure...

I have struggled with how to organize (hide!) all of the tiny who-knows-what-they-are? pieces that Emma Jane has collected recently.  She is a little hoarder who refuses to throw anything away, claiming that each little plastic part is a treasure that can never be replaced.  I wanted to find something pretty and functional to store all of these so-called treasures.  Mission accomplished!  I found three stackable burlap baskets at Hobby Lobby for under $30.  I then embellished each box with a few flowers I made out of fabric and buttons I found in my craft box.  I love how sweet the boxes look in the corner of her room and how she can easily take her treasures out for play and, most importantly, put them back IN and out of sight when play time is over!

discovering charlotte

We made many wonderful memories as we celebrated Emma Jane's fifth birthday last month.  Our celebration began with a trip to Charlotte, NC the day before her birthday.  We enjoyed a yummy lunch at The Cowfish (a super cool sushi burger bar) and then on to Discovery Place for some scientific fun!  There was so much to see and do, and so little time!  We will definitely head back to Charlotte soon!

Soon to be FIVE...

and still so silly!

Little Miss Hands-on-her-Hips...

and another silly face!

There were several great aquariums at the museum.

Emma Jane fearlessly touched this snake MANY times!

Touching a starfish was cool, too!

Learning about pulleys...

and microscopes...

and air pressure...whoosh!

and the world around us!

Their first Imax movie was amazing!

A glimpse of rainforest life...

She was determined to build a giant model of the Eiffel Tower like the one you can see behind her.

Vivi's favorite place...Water Works!

It was a wild, exciting time for us all!