Movin' on up to Toddlers

Just a year ago I dropped Ella Rose off at Mother's Morning Out for the first time when she was 5 months old. I remember blogging about it last year...how I sat in the parking lot and cried and called Ian and told him I just didn't think I could leave her. Well last week Ella Rose graduated from the nursery to TODDLERS...can you believe how big she is getting? And the black diaper bag with the pink ruffle is now history and she is now taking her personalized backpack...she is such a big girl although they told me she didn't do too well with nap time on the mat. Of course Ella Rose also still sleeps in a crib so this is quite a new experience for her. She also hasn't quite gotten it that she is supposed to ONLY drink from her sippy cup and nobody else's.



Proud of her backpack


Ella Rose is always carrying a baby these days

Look at these cute red tennis shoes

Taking care of her babydoll is serious business

Soaking up every single minute with our girls

What better excuse to buy a new camera since we have two beautiful baby girls! We are enjoying every single minute with our sweet girls, and they are truly such a joy! I am doing less cleaning and dusting these days and just enjoying the moment I have NOW because my baby girls are growing up too fast. I realize how the last year of Ella Rose's life has absolutely flown by so I try to hold Carolina Grace a bit more and sit down on the floor and play with Ella Rose because it will seem like tomorrow, and they'll be heading off to college. My prayer, "Lord, help me to treasure my family each day and help me to see what really matters...help my little girls to know how much their Mama loves them."

Ella Rose's favorite pasttime

Look Mom...no hands!

Wheee.........................

"Yea...2 slides...one for me and one for Daddy!"

Ian is such a good Daddy...what a great sport!

Daddy and his girl

Our girls are so blessed to have Ian as their Daddy...he is such a tender soul

Look at that sweet smile

Carolina Grace has such a sweet little disposition

Couldn't you just squeeze her? Yeah, I know I sound like a proud Mama!

Carolina Grace turns 2 months old!

2 months old on August 16

Getting my beauty sleep

Okay Mama...I'm kinda full!

Carolina Grace loves her Sister

The Jennings Crew from Wales comes to Germany for a visit

We were so blessed last week by the Jennings family coming in for a visit all the way from Wales! Becky and I have been friends since we were 5 years old, grew up together, sang duets together since we were 8 and now after all these years, Becky is still one of my most precious friends. We absolutely adore Mark and Becky and their 4 boys, Matthew, Zeb, Luke, and Andrew. God has called them to Missions and of all things 1 year after we moved to Germany, they moved to Wales with World Horizons so we've seen them several times since we've been over here. Becky met Ella Rose last year when she was only 1 month old, but our girls met Mark and the boys for the very first time on this trip. Ella Rose certainly enjoyed showing off for the boys dancing and twirling around and Carolina Grace just soaked up all the attention. We had such a great time with them but kinda sad too knowing this will probably be the last time we see them while we're in Europe.

Becky and Zeb

As soon as the Jenning's arrived, we headed to Taco Bell on base

The next day we went to Luxembourg and ate at Chi-Chi's

Becky is quite the expert at babies and Carolina Grace loved all the spoilin'

Eating at Chi-Chi's

Vonda & Becky

The Jennings boys...Luke (10), Zeb (will be 12 on Aug. 23), Matthew (13) Andrew (8) & Mark

Visiting the National Museum of Military History in Luxembourg

Ella Rose playing with Zeb's hat

Matthew, Becky, Luke, and Carolina Grace

Our little American girl

Ella Rose, Ian, and Andrew

Great pix of Luke

Carolina's 1st day trip at 7 weeks old (how many people can say they went to another country for their 1st day trip?) Okay so Luxembourg is only 1.5 hours from Germany, but hey it is another country

Carolina Grace not too impressed on her 1st day trip but Ian and Ella Rose are ready to go

Jennings Crew at the Museum

The Livingston's dressed in our red, white and blue

Ella Rose finally sacked out...the Jennings boys wore her out

We had to take our guests to our favorite German restaurant, The Burgschanke

Ella Rose thoroughly enjoyed Andrew's attention

Andrew, Zeb, Luke, Matthew, Becky, and Mark

Another visit to Taco Bell with the Jennings right before Ian leaves for The States

One of Ella Rose's favorite pasttimes...blowing bubbles

Becky spent the morning with us while Ian took the guys to look at the planes on base

Ella Rose, Becky and Carolina Grace

Love this pix of Becky & Ella Rose

Luke was great with Ella Rose

Eating hot dogs and watermelon right before the bee sting fiasco

Mark, Ella Rose, and Andrew

Ella Rose saying goodnight to Zeb

Ella Rose saying goodnight to Andrew...how sweet is this!

Becky and Carolina Grace

Mark and Carolina Grace

Look at that sweet smile...Carolina Grace loved being held by Mark

The Jennings leaving Germany

Ella Rose saying her goodbyes (to Matthew)

Ella Rose and Andrew

Luke and Ella Rose

Ella Rose teasing Becky about giving her a hug