Having Fun Dancing at the Orpheum!

Daddy/Daughter Dance 2014

 Lauren, I used to write here and dream of you for many years. Now that you're with us, we are enjoying life to the fullest. Your smile shines from your heart and we couldn't be more proud of the little girl you have grown into. You love others with all your heart and brighten each day with your laugh. I woke this morning with your sleeping face just inches from mine and I just watched you in amazement. It will be 5 years this July that we have been home together and I don't take a single day for granted. I love you Lauren.

 This years Daddy/Daughter dance was you and Daddy's best yet. The first couple of years you were pretty shy to see such a big event with a full room of music and dancing and although you loved being on a date with your daddy, you left early and came home to dance in our living room instead. This year, you were a little nervous at the beginning, but after a few minutes, daddy encouraged you just to focus on him and dance in your corner of the room. You did and then it was as if you two were the only people in the room. Daddy said you both danced every dance and he twirled you in the air, you both did your famous sprinkler dance, and you had such an amazing time together! I will never forget how I heard the car radio booming up the driveway and I came to greet you and saw both your faces lit up and having soo much fun!! You excitedly told me about the night and Daddy said he had the best time ever! :)

 Life is so good and we are so blessed.

San Diego Vacation 2013

Tara and Ryan's Wedding

This weekend we attended our cousin Tara's wedding in Sarasota, FL. Tara and Ryan had the most beautiful wedding I have ever been to. The wedding was located at a historic Mansion that is situated on the Gulf of Mexico.  Lauren and her cousin Gracie were the flower girls and they did a fantastic job and loved every minute of it. 

The girls wearing their pearls that were given to them by Tara and Ryan 

My Girl

Flowergirls at work

The beautiful Bride

Tara, beautiful from the inside out. 

The girls decide to get this party started!

Princess-style of course! 

\

The cousins! 

( An added bonus to being in Tara's wedding was getting to spend some great quality times with my favorite cousins! )

Two beautiful girls

The groom dancing with cousin Gwen (who was smart and decided to just forget the dress in such hot, humid weather)  and the bride dancing with Lauren. Cherished memories that will last forever. 

This moment touched my heart. 

Lauren is sitting on my Uncle Larry's (the father of the bride) lap toward the end of the night. It doesn't seem that long ago that it was Tara who was this age and sitting on his lap. It was another reminder of  how quickly time goes. I know someday it will seem as though I blinked and my little girl will be getting married. The moment also tugged at my heart because my Uncle Larry is such a special person and I know it was doing them both good to be just sitting together on this special night. I wish we lived closer to Michigan so Lauren could soak up more time with this rare man. 

First Day of Kindergarten!

Can it be... Lauren is starting school already! Gosh, where have the days gone! Today is her first day of Kindergarten at Candeo Elementary School! We applied last year to get into this wonderful school and were told we were not picked in the random drawing. Our plan was  to try again next year. Then, just days before school was starting, we received a call that there was an opening and Lauren was next on the waiting list! We quickly bought her uniform and filled the paperwork out and she is ready to go!

Lauren on the special "kindergarten only" playground. I have a feeling those white laces won't stay white for long! 

Sitting with her classmates for the first time

Hydrating for circle time.. ;) 

Could I love this girl more!!??

Lauren and Mrs. Dusek. We are thankful God has picked someone as warm and kind as Mrs. Dusek. God's hand continues to be evident in all areas of Lauren's life. Thank you God! 

With school, comes homework! Lauren's first night doing homework. Way to go smart girl! :) 

Lauren's 5th Birthday!

We celebrated our girl's 5th birthday at her favorite Gymnastics center again this year! Even though it was hot, it was filled with lot's of fun! :)

Lauren's cowgirl outfit given to her from Grandma and Papa. The story behind this gift is that Grandma received a pair of red cowgirl boots for her 5th birthday. She wore them everywhere and it was the best 5th birthday gift she could have received. So, she passed this tradition to Lauren on her 5th birthday. By the way, Lauren wears her cowgirl boots everywhere too! :)

      Lauren and I enjoying the "parachute popcorn game"!

                                                     Lauren's Fairy Princess Cake!

Lauren showing off her rope climbing skills! Our brave girl can climb  all the way to the top!

Fun with Friends! 

What would we do without our awesome friends! Thanks for coming to our party!

 Each of you mean so much to us. 

Party with Mommy and Daddy. Mommy made this cake, lots of Pink per Birthday girls request! 

Happy Birthday Lauren! We are so incredibly proud of you. You truly shine  from your heart everyday. You are so beautiful and Mommy and Daddy cannot believe what an angel God has placed in our lives.. I pray you follow Jesus all the days of your life and that your life is filled with as much joy as you give me. You "fill my bucket". :)

San Diego Vacation

We spent last week enjoying the sights of our favorite vacation spot, San Diego! This is the view from our room! I loved waking each morning and having a cup of coffee on our balcony as I watched the Navy base activity on one side and the Marina life on the other side. It was Lauren's first time at the ocean and she had a blast. She thought the ocean was "really, really cold!" but had so much fun finding sea shells, playing with her barbies in the sand and building sand castles.

So much love and fun!!

The trip wouldn't be complete without a trip to Sea World! This was Lauren's first time on the "tea cups" in Sesame Play area at Sea World. Our fearless 4-year-old loved them of course!

As we waited for the Shamu Show, I caught this pic just as Lauren yelled out, "Shamu is coming!" I love how it caught her excitement!

It was a trip we will never forget. We have decided to make it our annual tradition of celebrating our Gotcha Day Anniversaries in San Diego!