First Day of Kindergarten {Annabelle}

You know. Being a Kindergarten teacher, my whole career, it always seemed so far off in the distance that my child would be a Kindergartener one day. 

Then. 

I woke up one day. And she was. 

My baby. My oldest beauty, the one who made me a Momma started Kindergarten August 24, 2014. The day after she turned five. What a surreal day that was. 

But we turned it into a "holiday" of sorts. Daddy took the day off, went with us to school and came back and brought is lunch. 

It was crazy to watch MY baby join this group of Kibdergarteners and do what "big kids do." She's now a big kid. 

She already had a sweet friend, going into it, who shared her last name. We're tvankf for Madeline and her family. 

Not to mention, she has the most awesomest Kindergarten teacher ever!! 

It was a great first day and I'm so blessed to have been there to see a wry part of it. 

Girl's Weekend {2014}

One of the biggest treats for me this past summer, was spending the weekend with my girls {minus, Chels}. Our hubbies kept the kiddos while we went down to Waco to stay with Jill in their new house. The first part of it was fabulously spent hitting up the wonderful shopping spots in Waco. 

Then on Saturday we went to the place at nearest and dearest to my heart -- Salado. And even though I've bed. Going there for 31 years, I never knew there was a college there. Obviously, not an active college, but the remains are a historical site in Salado. So neat!

And, of course we stopped by Grandmother's house which is now a tea room.  

I was excited to go inside. Well...excited and a little sad. The most fondest memories of my childhood are in this house. 

You may see a tile floor, but I see a place where I sat and played games while my grandmother greeted her customers in her shop. 

You see a door. I hear a bell that dinged everytime the door opened and closed. 

Looks like a junky storage room? I see my grandmothers bed and how it was always beautifully made. 

It's always a bittersweet thing, visiting this house. 

Then we stopped off by the creek and I snapped a picture of the very spot Austin proposed in. The happiest and biggest surprise to that date. He knew exactly what my heart loved and the place most meaningful to me. I couldn't have picked a better spot. 

Overall, just a fun, relaxing and much needed weekend with the girls. Thankful for them and their friendship!!!!

5 & 6 Months Old

Well, this is a first for mommy, Zoe. Combining two monthly posts. Sorry, kiddo. Things like this happen when you're the third. HOWEVER, in my defense, we were at the beach when you turned five months old, then we got home and I got the flu. Then shortly after, Daddy left for London. So, before I knew it you were six months old!! So, I thought it easiest just to combine the two. Just this once. 

Happy five AND six months, precious girl. To say you're a joy is an understatement. You're all things sweet and joyful and we're so blessed to have you. 

Your adorable, gummy smile is almost too much to take. You're so sweet and happy. Your smile literally can light up a room. 

Like I mentioned, you turned five months old while we were in Gulf Shores, Alabama. This was your first trip to the beach. You liked it just ok. You weren't crazy about the sand and really weren't crazy about the heat! But all things considered, you were a trooper! And a wonderful little traveler. We rarely heard a peep out of you there and on the way back!

And -- BAM!! Just like that, six months old. Crazy! You turned six months when Daddy was in London. We tried to let you video chat with him, but you were t into it. 

Your smiles have only increased and you are gaga over your sisters. It's so sweet to watch you light up when they're around. 

You're still a wonderful baby, but have taken on a bit of a high maintenance nature, lately. It's still pretty cute, but you're more aware of your surroundings and cry if mommy walks out of the room. I'm a little worried about when I go back to work, but I'm sure you'll adjust fine. 

Just like your other two sisters, you adore your Daddy. It's, of course, very much mutual. 

At your six month check up we learned you're a little bit behind in your gross motor development. I also learned this is mainly my fault because instead of lying you on the floor to roll, I've been putting you in your bouncer. Oops. But you're picking it up well! You successfully rolled from tummy to back and then back to tummy the other day. 

You're still quite the eater and weighed in at about 17 pounds. Haha! I love your chunkiness so much! And I love you!!

What a bright spot you are in our lives, Z. We love you so much!!! 

I love you,

Mommy

Father's Day {2014}

Happy Father's Day to the BEST Daddy in the whole world!!

My goodness we hit the lottery with our Daddy. What a blessing he is to us.  This Father's Day was his first Father's Day as a Daddy to three girls. It blows my mind to think about. I know God gave us girls because how amazing he is with them.

For Father's Day we got him a t-shirt. Hmm. He's hard to buy for, but he deserved more than a t-shirt! But he's grateful and low maintenance. I know he appreciated it. Just like we appreciate him. 

To our Daddy:

We love you so very much. You're so gracious, serving, loving and Godly. We love how you lead and love us. I feel so blessed that our girls have such a rock for a Daddy that they can always count on. I'm sure there will be plenty of times where they will want to go to him for advice rather than me. He's so logical and understanding and PATIENT! I'm sure I'll be too high strung at times! Haha...that's ok, in many ways I prefer they want their Daddy over me. Oh, how important that relationship is.

Thank you, Daddy. Thank you for all you do for us. You want to give your girls everything and love them so well. Couldn't ask for more than that. God blessed us with you.

Happy Father's Day!

Love,

Mommy, Annabelle, Landree and Zoe

Pre-School Graduation {Class of 2013-2014}

One of the best things that we did for Annabelle {ever} was put her in preschool this past year. She spent three years of her life with the *BEST* babysitter she could ever have. What a huge blessing Andrea is/was to us with AB. But being a Kindergarten teacher, I knew that the best thing for her, socially, especially was put her in preschool before Kindergarten. So that's just what we did. She attended Hope Rising preschool. I feel like God put this place on my heart at the exact right moment, because we almost put her somewhere else. This is a Christ-centered school. She had music class, computer, and a good academic start. So blessed by this program.

So you can imagine my sadness when graduation came around. It just came so fast. She spent an entire year, the first semester just three days a week, and then the second semester every day, at this wonderful school. Graduation was just perfect. So sweet and well put together - just like the other programs they put together this year. 

Annabelle and Max Delgado. Max's mom and I were pregnant at the same time and they were due a day apart.

Sweet friends made this year - Oliva, AB, Bri, Anika, Sophie, Max and Zachary

AB and Zachary (and Z's little brother)

Bri, Emma and AB

AB and sweet Jovie. AB loved this sweet girl. She wanted to named Zoe, Jovie! 

The two BEST Preschool teachers anyone could ask for. Mrs. Kris and Mrs. Laura

Love this sweet boy! AB talked about Chase all the time...and if I played my cards right I may just get this sweet boy in my kindergarten class this coming year.

Walking across stage and receiving her diploma from Mrs. charlotte. 

AB and her music teacher, Mrs. Alice

The WONDERFUL director, Mrs. Charlotte

Sweet Sisters at Graduation

Yes, sweet memories made this year. So blessed by this sweet school, all the friends made and teachers that were positive influences. Thanking God for bringing Hope Rising to us just when we needed it.

4 Months Old {Zoe Grace}

Oh my goodness!! Four months old!! How sweet you are Zo Zo.

I'm telling you, nothing but smiles and pure joy from you Zoe. You absolutely light up a room and bring happiness anytime you smile. It's simply infectious.

You're still a champion eater! You can out eat your big sister who takes just a little bit more than you! Did I mention at your four month appointment, you were 15 pounds. Your two year old sister weighs only 10 lbs more than you! Oh, that cracks me up! I've never had such a chunky baby before - love it!

I've been been super impressed with how you're able to sit up and hold your head up like a big girl. Something tells me your going to be the active one. You insist on sitting yourself up even when you're lying down. You just want to get up and go! I'm anxious to see how those chubby thighs will allow you to move around!

What a wonderful Mother's Day I had this year with sweet you! I can't believe I'm a mommy to three sweet little girls! You've just completed us. Oh, how you're a perfect mixture of your two big sisters. Sweet, sassy, laid back, and a little head strong (you get that form Landree!).

I love you my sweet Zoe Grace. Thank you for bringing so much joy to our lives! I can't get enough of you and your sweet smile. 

Love you bunches,

Mommy

Rosa's

When the Gooch girls come into town, we've made it sort of an informal tradition to take the big girls to Rosa's.

Nothing fancy about it. But we always manage to go and have the girls do something funny or embarrassing and we've made our own sweet little memories.

Love having these sweet girls grow up together to be good friends, just like their Mama is to me.

Can't wait for our next Rosa's adventure.