Who doesn't like cake?

Saturday we celebrated the little girl's first birthday with a party....pictures to come!

Mary Connor would have nothing to do with her smash cake...as in crying and waving her arms over it... which we have learned means get this away from me or I will throw it.

So, we let her try again tonight....

 good start...

 What a face!

Unbelievable!  This is all she ate and then the arm waving resumed.....

Back to School

Today was our first day back and the back-to-school fairy paid AC and B a visit....

Ready for 1st Grade

They had a great first day!

Tonight our favorite sitters took them and some of AC and B's friends for dinner and ice cream since they will both be going back to college this weekend...AC and B were so excited!

Lyla James and Mary Connor, y'all are 1 year old today!

I will never forget our doctor walking in my hospital room a year ago today and saying, "It's baby day!"

We all fell in love...

 the minute we saw you both.

 Your big brother and sister are so proud of y'all

and you all think they are amazing!

We started the day off with pancakes on the birthday plates....I love these so much!

Aedriel of Aedriel Originals made them for me and they are perfect!

Singing happy birthday...

Presents!

Lyla James, you are so funny....you like to crawl really fast and just giggle to yourself the whole time!  We stopped using formula and bottles yesterday and have switched to milk in a sippy cup- you have done really well!  You have started blowing kisses and it's adorable!

Mary Connor, those legs are my obsession!  We stopped nursing as of yesterday...I've been really nervous about how you would do because when we have tried milk in a sippy cup before, you throw it across the room.  Last night and today you have done great!  You have started nodding your head for yes or no- I'll ask if you want a snack and you nod yes.  Earlier this week when we were out for lunch with Mi-Mi, as I was ordering y'alls lunch, you nodded yes when I said grilled cheese and shook your head no when I said broccoli.  Sure enough, you threw the broccoli on the floor!

What a year it has been and I can't wait to see the plans God has in store for you both!

And just as quickly...

....the weekend has gone by.

Our neighbor, Miss Ellen has the most beautiful landscaping and gardens, so I asked her a few months ago to help us with some ideas for our entry...there is a cute little stone wall with dogwoods and way too much ivy that has taken over and resembled a jungle...

here I should insert a picture, but I don't have one

I will take one now that it looks so much better!

Last night was our school's convocation for the upcoming school year- the faculty, parents, and school gather to pray for a productive, safe year.  It was such a blessing to sit with AC and B's friends family's and teacher and pray for the year ahead of them.  Each class was given a Bible verse and I love that our class was given our family's verse-

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. "

Jeremiah 29:11

(NIV)

These 2 did so well at dinner out and the service.....

And I do believe they have a birthday this week...how is that possible?

Wow, how is it already Friday?

  In the midst of trying to prepare for the little girl's birthday party, getting the big kids ready to go back to school, and soaking up our last days of summer, this week has flown by!

We went shoe shopping today for the big kids-

tennis shoes for PE, everday shoes, chapel shoes, and cleats for fall sports x 2 = 1 worn out mommy

I couldn't help but think ahead to the years that this will be x 4. 

Thankfully, the task was made easier since Nana And Papa met us and helped juggle the 4 kiddos.  We went out to lunch after shopping and I'll just say, there is a very good reason we most often do take-out vs. dining out.  The little girls were not happy with their high chairs and it was nap time. 

Need I say more?

So looking forward to the weekend!

This time last year..

I was in the hospital knowing I would be there until our sweet girls were delivered.  My blood pressure was crazy high and my doctors were afraid I was going to have a stroke, so I sat in a hospital bed for 3 weeks and no complications ever came...(thank you Dr. Barbara Luke!)  But it was an experience I think of every time I drive by the hospital, which is every day in our smaller town.

Some highlights:

1.  Being charged $85 for a box fan for my room- worth every penny since I've never in my life been that hot, despite the fact that it was lost when I was transferred to delivery.

2.  Sweet Todd calling me to say, "So, how do you turn the oven on?" and reading "Home Comforts" to learn how to do laundry...though he proved to be an excellect pedicurist.

3.  Brian loved the bed position controllers at the end of the hospital bed...I would be twisted like a pretzel every time he came.

4.  Being "forced" to eat ice cream every afternoon.

5.  The books I read....stacks and stacks surrounded me...I will probably never read so many again.

6.  The amzing amout of support our friends and family showed us...one of our biggest fears about having more children was that I might be be put on bedrest...thanks to our wonderful circle, they lightened that load and I never worried about the care of my children or them being fed!

A question...

Summer is slowly winding down.  Many schools around us have already started back, but we have a little over the week to cram in some last minute adventures and appointments.
We had AC and B's 7 ear well-check today.  Just to remember, here are their stats:
B- 57lbs/ 50 inches tall
AC- 56lbs/47 3/4 inches tall
I'm struggling with something and would love to hear y'alls thoughts and advice.  Last Friday we went to a children's museum.  Before we were leaving, we stopped by the restroom.  I am uncomfortable with B going into the men'ss room alone, so when I am out with them by myself, I have him go in the women's with the rest of us. 
When we went in the women's room, there was a group of girls from a camp changing into their swimsuits to play in the fountains at a nearby park.  They weren't in the stalls, they were right out in the open.  When seeing B, one of the camp counselors  asked that he wait outside until the girls finished changing.  That was fine- I understand  and support this age wanting privacy, especially with the opposite sex.
But it has me thinking: at what age are they old enough to go in a restroom alone?