April....May...I really have no idea...just lots of FUN pictures!

Lauren asked me if I was ever going to blog again....so here you go! 

Lauren and one of her many BFF's Paityn.  They are soccer buddies, school buddies, and neighbors...plus her parents and her brothers are awesome so we love their whole family!

Lauren had a choir concert back in April.  It was a fundraiser for Alex's Lemonade Stand.  Their choir did amazing and they raised over $6000 that night.  I could not believe it! 

Our cousins were in town celebrating Addison's first communion so they came along to support Lauren as well.  We loved having them in town.  

Addison thought she wanted to give swimming a try, but after a few conditioning practices, we decided maybe next summer! 

We wrapped up our Girl Scout year.  One badge we earned this year was the pets badge.  I let the girls bring their dogs to one meeting...the girls loved it! 

This one climbed up here one night when I was not looking.  She is not allowed on the furniture in the living room...only in the basement.  But, she was pretty cute so I let her sleep there for a while! 

Lauren has a fantastic first year in strings playing the violin.  I can't believed how much she learned.  Her Spring concert was fabulous. 

These girls talked us Moms into ice cream after the concert.  They had fun chatting and giggling away while us Moms chatted as well.  

Apparently Sara and I shop at the same cute little boutique in Lee's Summit that only carries a limited about of each item...yea...we looked good that night! 

We didn't get his autograph, but we were pretty close to Cheslor.

Our first game of the year.  We love the boys in blue.  

We wrapped up another successful Girl Scout Year with an end of the year party at Main Event.  What a fun night! 

A lot of my girls, including Addison, overcome a huge fear and tried out the ropes course.  I am so proud of them.  They did amazing. 

Lauren had her field trip at the Blue Spring School of Economics.  She was an accountant and loved the day.  That was my favorite field trip as a kid! 

We spent a lot of time this spring watching Lauren play soccer.  She did awesome. 

We had a tournament one weekend and we were gone from the house for almost 14 hours.  We had some time to hang out at Deana Rose one afternoon in between games and go fishing.  We did not catch any fish though.  

Addison has to find a way to entertain herself since we drag her to all these games....

Mother's Day weekend was also spent at the soccer field...but honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. 

I finally let Lauren get an Instagram account and she wrote this amazing thing above.  She is the best.  

We enjoyed freshly made ice cream from a local ice cream shop.  It was sooooo good. 

Mother's Day Brunch

I have to thank Mark and the girls for an amazing Mother's Day.  A few years ago we discovered an amazing brunch at Tom Fooleries and we have tried to make it a tradition to go every year on Mother's Day.  The past few years Lauren has had a soccer tournament, so we have not been able to enjoy the brunch.  But not this year!  The soccer tournament is next weekend! 

It was gorgeous in the morning so we snapped a few pictures.  I love these girls and absolutely love being their Mom.  They are turning into such wonderful young ladies...especially Lauren who is 10 now!  She is such a good kid.  Loves school, soccer, Girl Scouts, music and dancing.

Addison is my creative one.  She is always making up games, projects, and various creations with anything she can find laying around.  She has a huge heart and is so kind.  She loves Girl Scouts and I think she loves having me as her leader.  She also loves to dance, play with Lego's, Barbies, and really anything!  She has a huge imagination.  

I told Mark I wanted a massage and a pedicure for Mother's Day and I got both!  Both were very relaxing.  The girls made me some crafts from school, and honestly I would have been happy with those.  I love the thought they put into the projects and their excitement to give them to me! 

Addison also asked me what she should get me and I told her nothing.  I told her Daddy already got me a gift, but she insisted. So I suggested some little things.  She came home with lip gloss and nail polish!  Perfect.  Lauren also bought me a new spring robe..which I love.  Thanks Lauren.  

Later that afternoon my parents, Grandma, sister and her girls came over to celebrate Mother's Day.  We enjoyed ice cream sundaes and watched the Royals play.  I think everyone had a great time!

Thank you Mark and Lauren and Addison for a wonderful Mother's Day celebration!  I love you guys!!!

My Girls...

Being the mother of these girls is amazing.  Mark and the girls made me feel very loved and appreciated on Sunday.  We went to early church, then headed down to the Plaza for brunch at Tomfooleries.  It was so yummy.  We only had to wait for about 45 minutes, and we ran into some friends while waiting, so the time passed pretty quickly.  

I am sure the girls would say otherwise...what kid likes to wait 45 minutes to eat?  Mark reminded the girls Saturday night how important it was to me to capture some pictures on Mother's Day.  They were pretty cooperative and I was able to get some beautiful shots both at home and on the Plaza.  

Addison insisted on having penguin in some pictures.  

Lauren wore her new dress, with some high heel sandals, and looked like a little diva!  She is so beautiful.  

Sometimes this one does not get her way and that is never fun for anyone...

But, she perked up pretty quickly!  Still insisting on wearing the leopard dress whenever it is clean.  ALL.THE.TIME.  

Killing time, waiting for Brunch.  

After Brunch Mark and the girls went to Barnes and Noble while I went to Athleta.  I could have spent hours in there, but 30 minutes was perfect to find the running skirt I have been wanting.  Yes, a running skirt, and I love it.  

It was a gorgeous day on the Plaza and we had a great morning.  After that I came home and took a nap while the girls rested, then it was off to the park.  We packed up their bikes and headed to a local park for a few hours of fun.  Mark grilled out for dinner and we enjoyed chicken and veges on the back deck.

It was a perfect Mother's Day.  Thank you Mark, Lauren and Addison for making it that way.  

Mother's Day 2013

The girls and I through the years...in no particular order because I am just too busy for that.  

I am so proud to be the Mom of these 2.  They amaze me each day with their unique personalities that make them who they are.  They bring endless joy to my life, laughter and happiness, and many challenges along the way.  Happy Mother's Day to everyone.  Hugs and prayers to those out there dreaming and praying that motherhood will come to them.  

This is Mark.  I wanted to write a little bit about how great of a mom Ashley is.  She is incredible.  She is all I could have wished for as a mom to our kids.  She is there to listen, to nurture, to love.  She is there to run from one activity to another, to get us somewhere at the right time, to plan our weekends.  I tell her this all the time, but I don't know what I would do without her.  But most importantly, she is my wife and the mom to our children, and that makes us the luckiest husband and kids on the face of this earth.