birthday girl

seven.
seven years ago today we welcomed our sweet ella into the world.
it was a beautiful thanksgiving day, and instead of eating turkey i was in the hospital holding one of my greatest blessings.
she quickly gained the nickname butterball. she was all chunk. it was perfect.
she has grown into a beautiful little girl.
she is the sweetest. she really is.
she is nurturing, always looking out for her baby sisters.
she is tender-hearted. i don't think she could hurt a fly.
she loves Jesus.
she is a smart cookie, a book worm and loves first grade.
she is shy yet confident.
my ella bella you are loved to the moon and back...and more.

we celebrated in san diego today. 

the day was packed full of all of ella's favorites....

{starbucks and donuts with the fab five}

{a pretty and pink new dress from grandma & grandpa}

{a turkey themed party...request of the birthday girl.}

happy birthday ella! we ♥ u!!

thanksgiving snapshots

happy thanksgiving!!

{turkey kisses}

{cousin lovin'}

{craft time}

{the bird...cooked upside down to perfection}

{cutest grandma in the world}

{♥the valentines♥}

{the carver...it was intense}

{a thankful mama}

dearest ella...

...i am not quite sure where the time has gone. in just a few short days we will be celebrating another year of of you. seven years to be exact. our lives are so full because of you.

how did you go from this...

...to this?

i ♥ you so much. love, mommy

happiness is...

...my girls sitting on their new front porch

up and running

we are home sweet home and loving it. 

with thanksgiving just a couple days away, we have so much to be thankful for. 

thank you Lord for this beautiful new home, thank you for the blessing of friends who went above and beyond to help us move, thank you for the faithful prayers of family and friends during this entire transition. we are so grateful. 

i even had a second to snap a quick picture of my little cutie pie this evening. looks like we are back in business!

tough as nails

my mother has always been a tough lady. 

she is never sick and if she is she just doesn't show it.

she took a good fall while on a trip with my dad to paraguay. her foot swelled, but her pain was so minimal she decided to stick it out for a bit. 

the swelling just wasn't going down. one of barth's colleagues was able to get her into clinic last minute and confirmed that surgery was inevitable.  

4 broken bones and a torn ligament later she is now in a cast and will be unable to use her foot for quite some time. 

"tough as nails" were the words her surgeon used after the operation and seeing the severity of the injury. 

would love your prayers in the coming months as she begins to heal. thank you for all the well wishes and endless calls. i know it means so much to her. 

a special thank you to my baby sister. she has been by my mom's side every single second and her nursing degree has been a tremendous blessing. 

baby j, what a gift God has blessed you with. thank you for the love and care you have shown mama over the past days. i am so proud of you and so grateful for you. i love u♥

i snapped a few photos yesterday of my girls with grandma....

i love you mom. praying for God's protection and peace around you as you heal♥

 

we got colored

i am sorry for my total lack of attention to the blog.
we are still in the midst of our move and have yet to get our internet set up at our new home. boo!
all of my favorite things have been put on the back burner for now, including taking pictures...double boo. i am seriously having withdrawals.
we have run into quite a few hiccups along the way...ella got hit with the stomach bug twice, a call week for barth and now riley and i are fighting a yucky cold. nonetheless we still feel so blessed to be settling down into our new home.

last weekend the girls and i made a quick trip to san diego.
jasmine and i got to do the color run. it was just what i needed among all the craziness. if you have never done it before, it's a definite must, so fun!