Family!

This week we decided to change it up a little and Jimmy traveled for work and I got to spend some sweet evenings with my girls which they affectionately call “girls night” which has carried over from when Jimmy taught at Lee (okay so we did not decide our employers did, but none the less a wonderful week).    Both girls really struggled with their Daddy being out, yes they got extra Mommy time and yes I know they love me, but they Daddy’s girls and they know our home is best when we are both home with them!   Gracie said as Maggie agreed “but Mommy we are use to you traveling.  We miss our Daddy snuggles and tickles”.    I am blessed beyond measure! 

Snuggles before school.  

Maggie enjoying some rest before school.  

Love these sisters!   

We started to back to small group this week so that was fun to have Wednesday night with the families we share our lives with and work to encourage and challenge each other.    We took the summer off with all the crazy vacation schedules but we were all eager to be back.  The girls love the time too with their friends.   

My Mom and Dad came in late Thursday night to spend the weekend with us and celebrate our birthdays.  With the distance and how many grandchildren they have (8 and counting....) it is just not possible for them to be at every birthday party so they decided to do special weekends!  We loved the weekend and I am certain they did as well.     They kept Maggie home from school and visited Gracie at lunch, yummy Friday night birthday dinner and the best chocolate cake my parents make, they got to watch the girls at gymnastics,  play with them at a birthday party and meet some of their friends, and then spend some time with Uncle Gabe, Aunt Katelyn and Ellie.   It was a low key but fabulous weekend.  The sad thing was it had to come to an end!   We are thankful for several visits planned over the next few months to get to see them again.  

Gjysh reading to Maggie! 

While Gracie finished school Friday Maggie played with Gjysh and KK.  Can you tell she enjoyed it? 

Birthday party time! 

Ellie was in on the party! 

Gracie is such a sweet big cousin.  She adores Ellie and wants to always hold her (hard for Ellie as she is crawling and moving all over!)

Gjysh and KK played with us at the gymnastics party! 

Gracie hanging upside down!  

Maggie, Gracie and Ellie hanging out while we visited!  Love these Tennessee girls!  We are begging Uncle Gabe and Aunt Katelyn to have Ellie sleep over! 

A big weekend ended in some great Daddy snuggles!   

Another Note: 

Maggie continues to do great without sucking her fingers, however a side effect we are working to deal with is her waking up 1 to 2 times a night and right at our bed.   We have worked to encourage her to stay in her room and snuggled but that has not worked.  She has developed the idea that she must be with us to go back to sleep.   We are going to put a baby gate at her room to see if that helps keep her in in room and encourages her to fall back asleep on her own.   I am not very optimistic this is the solution because when we talk t her about doing this her response is “that is fine” or “so when are you going to put the baby gate up?”