our first video...or maybe not! Anyone?

Kiva is a jumper...when she stands in your lap she jumps...so we naturally decided to get a "johnny jump up" and she loves it! Also, we did a monumental thing this week, we moved Kiva's crib down and put a mobile in her bed. Super fun. Our new point-n-shoot has a low quality video camera in it and we have been experimenting with it. I am terrible at it! I keep turning it vertical like a camera and then realizing it part of the way through. We take lots of random videos around here for Jada to watch! But, I thought I would post a random video of the girls in Kiva's bed just to get the first video blog out of the way...you know, break the ice a bit. Enjoy. Well...maybe not?! Anyone have any advice on uploading video? It is taking forever and then showing an error?!

a love/hate relationship and gymnastics!

We returned from Oklahoma last night...it was a great time. The car trips were....well, lets just say we are glad they are over for the week :)

Today Jada started summer gymnastics!! Pretty fun. A small group of boys and girls from the church are doing it all together, it is a great excuse for all of us to hang out...and I am quite glad I am not teaching, just watching!!!

Now for the love/hate relationship...I LOVE the size of my new little point-n-shoot camera, it is cute, blue and it fits in my purse so well. I had it with me this weekend and at the gym today, which was so convenient! BUT...I hate the picture quality! Kind of despise it. Still grateful for it and glad to have it and will continue to use it...I am just going to have to get over it! So...in all of their glory (kidding)...here are some photos from OK, the car ride and gymnastics!

cherish and jada jammy day

our view of kiva in the car...look at that precious little hand! :)

Sweet Kivabalance beam...cutie!their teachers...and ben

O-K

We are in Oklahoma visiting our sweet family friends, The Smithers. We drove up Friday (it was definitely an experience with an off and on screaming Kiva and Jada upset b/c Kiva was upset)...SO, we used the headphones! We went to Cherish's dance recital last night and it was super sweet to watch Cherish's love for dancing and raw talent show. Justice took some great dance pics of her and as you can see...she was SHOWERED with flowers afterwards. Jada loves the Smithers and was super excited to finally meet Amber! She likes her curly hair :) We head home tomorrow. The visit is just way too short. We love them.

so many photos-so little time

Lots brewing in my head recently. I have been editing a lot so I have been listening to a bunch of sermons. Challenging...some really good stuff. I will write more about some of my thoughts another time, but if you have any time check out "the church at brook hills" and then "secret church" or "the radical series" You can't go wrong with those!

How about a little photo update:

sink baths have been SO much fun!

Kiva went swinging at the park for the first time...she LOVED it!

and other sweet kiva pics!

we celebrated Jared and Risa at a fun shower at the park...only three weeks away!

all the little girls at the shower

Jada and Izzy matched with their ballerina swimsuits!

Izzy and Kiva sporting the sun hats...they are only a week apart...fun!

jada photographed her first picture...her subjects were Kiva and Aunt Ashley :), the next two pics were Jada's photography as well..her first pic was the best for sure!!

we used the waver on our hair...we played beauty shop...jada's hair is crazy big riding the horse...she thought it was fun to have our hair matching

I call this picture flash face- the flash on the point and shoot is so bright- but I liked her sweet expression!Kiva leaned forward right when we went in for the kiss!

a week of firsts and the new perfect dessert!

Last week was full and fun. Kiva and Jada now have MATCHING car seats! Kiva's first big girl car seat!... Pink and brown polka dot Marathon car seats...Kiva had to move out of her infant car seat due to the weight limit issue :) They are super cute and matching. Kiva just faces the back...for another 5 months. Here is Jada showing off her new seat!


Last week I got my first point-n' shoot camera that has one of those nifty video cameras in it. It is an "elph" and so far it has been fun. I decided that I was tired of missing little moments with the girls b/c my big camera takes up way too much room in my purse and I just can't worry about apple juice spilling on my expensive lenses....SO, I slip my new elph into my purse and use it in all sorts of places! I have to say that it is truly a bit strange to simply point and shoot...seriously, but it is nice to just snap it and roll with it for the sake of time! So, you will see lots of flash photography in the pictures now on the blog...but there will be more of them! And soon we will even have video! Sooo...here goes!

We celebrated my sweet friend Shauna's birthday on Thursday. It was our first family trip out to lake Bryan! It was fun...we can always count on Shauna for a good party with family, kites and food! The first posted pics from the elph:

beautiful sunset and Shauna's sweet sis playing in the sand with Jada's new friend Ava

On Friday Kiva Bear had a big day....Her first bow in her hair :) and her first tooth!!We had dinner with MiMi and PaPa...we sat out on the patio and it was so beautiful...a nice breeze and the girls were both so much fun!

and afterwards Brian and Jada went home and had a little concert. Jada's princess vanity doubles as a keyboard with a hairbrush as a microphone (of course)...this was a priceless daddy daughter moment!

And Kiva started sitting up in the cart in stores now!!! So fun.
And finally, Brian and I photographed a wedding in Houston on Friday. It was fun for us, and the venue was exceptional! I took a photo of the couple in one of the most amazingly romantic area...so, we got to know the wedding coordinator throughout the night and we had her take a photo of us in the same spot with my camera (not my elph)...isn't it fun. We will have this printed over our bed soon!
and the dessert?...almond M&M and a strawberry (repeat over and over)...you should try it!

some words

I am grateful for my eyes. There have been so many moments over these past few weeks where I feel like God has given me eyes to see my girls in moments that I hope never leave my brain. For example...Brian, Jada, Kiva and I went to one of our new favorite frozen yogurt places "spoons" a few days ago. We were all sitting at a table and Jada decided that instead of eating frozen yogurt, she just wanted to eat a bowl of toppings, specifically Captain Crunch cereal (of course). She was just so so happy about that cereal...meanwhile, Kiva tried her first taste of Spoons goodness! Kiva's eyes lit up after just one bite and I couldn't keep the yogurt coming fast enough. She has really sweet eyes as it is, but her eyes at spoons were so full of delight it was too too fun! I want to remember that scene when they are all grown up...captain crunch and yogurt eyes :)

While those sentiments are true and good...this blog is really directed at someone else. That's right...Brian/Coach/B-Lee! Our 8 year anniversary was Tuesday. We have been extra busy, so we decided we would celebrate it a little later this month...but on Tuesday I was weepy. This man that I married is such a gift to me. Some scenes that my eyes have caught recently have melted my heart for him...I am grateful. Here's why: Brian is a man among men...you know what I mean? He is so full of humility and integrity it really does amaze me. He is gentle with everyone, yet commands respect with his character. So many people safely trust him, random people open up to him and tell their life stories...and He listens, encourages and responds in gentleness and love. He gives himself away. He serves me and the girls in ways that I didn't even know a man is capable of. He plays hard. He chooses the low place over and over. He honors all people and is honest with his intentions. He looks for ways to bless. He apologizes quickly without excuse. He laughs well. He is strong. He is patient. He keeps no record of wrongs. He is a really incredible leader. Some roles that he has lived recently: husband, father, mentor, crisis-counselor, photographer, photographer's assistant, he beautifully performed the ceremony for our great friends Aubrey and Will, He competed with a bunch of 20 year olds and did great, and He has been amazing at being not only my best friend, but my rock to lean on in my tired/worn out state. He is the best gift God could have ever given me in a man...in every way I am honored to be Brian's wife!

I am grateful for my eyes that 8 years ago looked into the eyes of this man and said "I do"...what a gift!

Kiva Bear and Jada Bug

Crazy busy times around here...nights have been full of editing lots of little dancer's photos so there hasn't been any time for blogging...but we have had lots of fun with our girls! Kiva's first day at the pool and Jada's dance pics. Here are a couple of pics to prove it :)

Our sweet girls are so much fun! We use the names "Kiva Bear" and "Jada Bug" daily around here...On Monday I was grocery shopping with both of them and the scene was pretty crazy with Kiva crying unless I was holding her and Jada "needing" a cookie :) ... I couldn't help but giggle and say out loud "I am so happy." I really am. These girls seriously bring me so so so much joy!