Last Day of Preschool!

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I last posted anything on this blog.  The month of May is always busy for me.  I do a big photo shoot that always results in almost 1,000 pictures to edit.  It took me longer than expected to finish this time, but am finally done and can get back to blogging!

Rachel and Haley hit a big milestone - they graduated from preschool!  June 6, was their last day of preschool.  I'm sad as this means they will no longer have Mrs. Tucker as their teacher as well as the teacher assistants.  We were so blessed to have Mrs. Tucker and the teacher assistants as Rachel and Haley's preschool teachers, but Rachel and Haley will be 5 years old when the next school year starts and so that means they will be going to kindergarten!  Time flies too fast and my miracle little girls are growing up!

Rachel and Haley

I took pictures of Rachel and Haley on their first day of preschool this past school year and on their last day of preschool.  Its neat to see how much they have changed over the 9 month school year.

Rachel

Haley

Rachel and Haley received an award from their teacher for all the hard work they did in preschool.  They have made progress (will go into more detail about that in a future blog post).  They have come a long way and will continue to make more progress as time goes on.  Rachel and Haley love school and they will miss their teachers dearly.

Mrs. Tucker and Haley

Mrs. Tucker and Rachel

I gave the teacher and teacher assistants each a Target gift card.  I found this cute saying to go with it on Pinterest.  

Mother's Day 2014

Mother's day is a special day for me.  My journey to become a mother started back in late 2007 when we wanted to start a family.  My journey to become a mother, as challenging as it was has led me to the present with my 3 miracle little girls here and 6 angels in heaven.  I'm truly blessed beyond words.  I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for my mother.  I'm so grateful for her and all she done for me.  Happy Mother's Day!

I enjoyed doing a photo shoot with my girls on Mother's day.  Capturing these memories is so special to me.  I always say taking pictures takes just a moment, but the pictures last forever.

       

Haley, Kayla, Rachel

Rachel

Haley

Kayla

Rachel and Haley

At school, Rachel and Haley made these cute plates with their hand prints which were painted (of course with help from their teacher) like bluebonnets.  So cute!  Thomas gave me roses as well. 

Easter 2014

Easter is about our Savior Jesus Christ and I'm grateful for him and the atonement and all that he has done for us.  Because of him we are blessed with immortality and through repentance and obedience we are blessed with eternal life.  He lives!  

We attended church in the morning and I got some quick pictures of them in their dresses.  Later in the afternoon we visited with family here in Houston and the girls got to go Easter egg hunting with some of their cousins.

Haley, Rachel, Kayla
 

Rachel

Haley

Kayla

Rachel and Haley checking our their Easter goodies

Seeing what they got

Kayla hunting for eggs with some of her cousins

Haley

Rachel

Beeping Easter Egg Hunt 2014

We attended the annual Lighthouse of Houston beeping Easter egg hunt on April 12.  This is our second year to attend this wonderful activity for children who are blind.  Haley hunted the beeping Easter eggs while Rachel and Kayla hunted regular Easter eggs.  The girls had a good time, but they are still learning the concept of hunting for eggs.  Haley enjoyed playing with the large beeping eggs because they made noise (she likes noise).  Rachel learned that there was stuff (candy) inside the eggs and therefore wanted to open the couple of eggs in her basket that daddy helped her get.  Kayla was more interested in watching everyone else scramble for the eggs.  She soon learned there was candy in the eggs as well and wanted to open all her eggs right away to get the candy.
The girls also had the opportunity to sit on the Easter bunnies lap.  Kayla didn't enjoy that one at all.  She wouldn't go near those Easter bunnies.  Funny girl!  She will go up to just about anyone except for someone dressed in a costume.  I guess I don't blame her.  Rachel and Haley didn't mind the bunnies at all.  They are troopers!

Kayla, Haley, Rachel

Rachel

Kayla

Haley hunting the beeping eggs

Haley with a basket full with Grandma's help

Haley listening to the beeping egg

Rachel opening her Easter eggs

Kayla found an Easter egg

Texas Bluebonnets 2014

Its that time of the year again - Texas Bluebonnets!  Not only am I loving the bluebonnets, I am loving the Spring weather!  Spring is my favorite season and it's such a welcome sight after the long cold, dreary winter which I do NOT like.  Spring is the birth of new life especially the flowers.  Here in Texas we are so blessed to have the Bluebonnets.  They are so beautiful!  I was happy to get pictures of my beauties in the beautiful bluebonnets this year.

Kayla, Haley, Rachel

Haley and Rachel

Rachel

Haley

Kayla

Mommy and her girls

Daddy and his girls

Here are some additional pictures I took while on our bluebonnet sight seeing adventure:

Rachel, Kayla, Haley

A Deserving Couple seeking to Adopt

I wanted to post this to tell my readers of a well deserving couple in our church.  Ryan and Shirly Boots - friends of ours who have been so very kind and generous to us since the beginning of our journey.  Ryan is the one who developed our website - stanseljourney.com.  We are so appreciative of all the time it took to develop it as well as for his talent.  
They have been dealing with infertility as well and are seeking to adopt.  They have made a website about their journey and are in hopes to adopt soon.  Please check out their website at mormonsadopting.com.  Ryan and Shirly will make great parents and are so deserving of the blessing to become parents.  

Spring in Bloom at the Houston Temple

Back on March 22 we enjoyed a visit to the Houston LDS Temple grounds.  It was a beautiful day and everything was in bloom for Spring.  I love Spring!  Its my favorite time of year to see all the trees and flowers come to life after a cold, dreary winter.  The girls had a great time being outside soaking in the nice weather and sun. Not to mention the temple grounds and gardens are so peaceful.  Its a nice escape from it all.

Houston LDS Temple

Haley

Rachel

Kayla

Thomas and I

Haley enjoying the water in the fountain