Meet Taylor Beth...

Emma Taylor has been dying for a new American Girl doll for awhile...a big one! She still loves her Bitty Babies, but wanted the doll like "big girls" have. She decided she wanted a "just like me" doll which means you can choose features to make the doll look like you. Turns out she didn't want one that actually looked like her (I think it looks like Sarah!) but she's super cute. Here's a picture of Emma Taylor with her doll, Taylor Beth, who she got for her birthday!



I included the second picture so you could see her cute shirt. Sara Frances and Meri Alan gave Emma Taylor this precious shirt for her birthday. Thanks girls! Emma Taylor LOVES it!

Prayer Request

Hey everyone! I'd love it if you would add my friend's little boy, Cole Ganaway, to your prayer list. Cole is the 4 year old son of Chris Ganaway, who Ben and I have known since high school. Cole has just recently been diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma and is currently receiving treatment for his cancer at UAB. Chris' wife lost her battle to cancer when Cole was just a toddler, so I can't even imagine how incredibly tough this is for him and their family. There's a link to Cole's website listed on the right side of my blog, if anyone's interested in taking a look. Thanks so much!

Happy Birthday to Emma Taylor!

It's so hard to believe that Emma Taylor is 6 years old already. In lots of ways it seems like she was just born yesterday, but when I look at pictures of her now I realize what a big girl she's become, not such a baby anymore.

We had her birthday party today at GO, which is where she's wanted to have a birthday party since she went to her friend, Garrett's, party last year! She and her friends had a great time with the obstacle courses, climbing the rock walls and swinging on the rope swing. Such a fun place for a party! I'll post pics from the party later...Granna was the photographer!

Three Amigos

We took the girls to lunch at the Mexican restaurant today. They love to pose almost as much as they love the cheese dip!

Sausage and Cream Cheese Dip...yum!

I've been meaning to post this dip recipe for awhile...it's super easy and SO yummy! I got this one from my friend, Tammy, many years ago and still make it alot. Lee loves it!

Sausage Cream Cheese Dip
1 tube breakfast sausage (I like the Jimmy Dean Maple flavor)
2 blocks of cream cheese - 16 oz total (I used 1/3 less fat kind this time...couldn't tell the difference!)
1 can Rotel

Brown your sausage, drain and return to the skillet. Soften cream cheese slightly in the microwave and add to the skillet. Get those two ingredients incorporated well. Open the can of Rotel, drain half of the juice and then add the tomatoes and remaining juice to the skillet. Mix well and simmer on low until heated throughout. Serve with Tostitos or Fritos Scoops!

Pre-Father's Day

Since my dad will be out of town and some of the kids will be gone on Father's Day, we decided to have our Father's Day lunch this weekend. We thought we'd grill out and let the kids swim and spend the afternoon outside. We were afraid the cookout part of the celebration would have to be cancelled because it POURED rain all morning, but it finally cleared up enough to grill the burgers and even take a quick dip in the pool! Mom, Dad and Ann were here and so were Ben and his family.

Here are a few pictures of our sweet nephews...
Sam

Josh

Cameron

Papa D with the boys

Here are Ben and Anna Grace...he stole her scooter! Notice the lovely storm clouds.
Emma Taylor and Sarah

It's almost Friday....

and all our sweet kids will be home. I can't wait! We're planning an early Father's Day cookout on Saturday to celebrate all the dads in our family...pics to come! Bring on the weekend!

Hat Day

The girls had "Hat Day" at school last week. Here are my cowgirls all ready to go!

Our Sweet Girls

all piled up cheese!

Blowin' Bubbles

I think Harrison would be content to sit and blow bubbles all afternoon!

Pool Party!

Saturday morning Lee brought home our new pool. The girls thought it would NEVER fill up, but it finally did and they've been swimming nonstop since then! Harrison wasn't all that interested at first, but he ended up joining in on the fun too! Anna Grace
Emma Taylor

Harrison joining in on the fun!
Three sweet girls!

Bathing Beauties
Such a fun afternoon in the sun!

Let's Play Ball

It's been pretty slow around here over the past week....all the kiddos have been gone. Unfortunately we have to share them and only have them home with us every other week during the summer. :-(

Lee and I enjoyed the break for a few days, but we started missing the kids pretty quickly. Thankfully they all came back on Friday and we've all been going strong since then!

Lee and Harrison kicked the weekend off with a little football...literally! Harrison LOVES it when Lee kicks the football and is always a little disappointed when I kick it because it doesn't go nearly as far! Here they are practicing their catching and throwing.

Harrison thinks football is big fun these days, so he's kept Lee pretty busy!