Happy Homecoming, Sweet S!

Today we celebrate YOU, sweet S! We enjoyed beautiful January weather for your special day and you played hard with your brothers and sister outdoors most of the day. After supper we celebrated with sweet pink cupcakes with star sprinkles. And since you believe every celebration needs a candle and a song, we sang "Happy Homecoming to You" and you blew out your big star candle! You are adorable.

You came home with us from Ethiopia three years ago today, and every single day with you has been such a blessing. You are precious. You are loved. You are ours, and we praise God for your life! 

Happy Homecoming sweet girl!

So tickled about the song and candle!

Ready to blow it out

And one more time, just for fun!

You are such a little lady

Yummy!

I love those beautiful eyes

After celebrating it was time to play with your dollhouse

Will you play with me, Sissy?

Sweet Sisters

Christmas 2011

I'm just now getting caught up, so here is a look back at Christmas 2011 at Pecan Bluff. So thankful for so much!

Christmas Eve
HA, HW, R, and S

Now, isn't this adorable?
The boys had the idea to build S a little table for her dolls.
They did it all by themselves and painted it pink.
 I am so proud of my little elves!
 And I am very thankful that their Daddy
 takes time to show them how to build things. 

Santa leaves apples and oranges in all the stockings and they are always a favorite.

R made lots of knitted toboggans for gifts. I'm so proud of  her!

"Wonder what's inside?"

"Thanks for the cap, R. I love it!"

The new gown her Big Sissy picked out.

Trying out the new tea party table.

Best buddies, looking forward to a game together later.

My sweet big girl. I still call her my baby, but that's just between you and me.

Winter Color

I snapped these shots during the past couple of weeks around our yard and pastures. I love the colors that winter brings around here!

Christmas Salad

Our freshly picked salad greens from the garden, just in time for Christmas dinner!

I feel like I am learning so much about how we can best use every resource we have here at Pecan Bluff. Gardening year-round lets us have something fresh and wonderful to eat from the earth every single day of the year if we plan and work well. This is so much fun!

Regional Orchestra Performance

We are so thankful for R's dedication to her violin music. She was handsomely rewarded for those efforts when she auditioned for a coveted spot in the Regional Orchestra and was selected to play 3rd chair, 2nd violin. She attended an intense clinic at Baylor University with all the selected students in December and that afternoon treated us all to an outstanding performance. We were truly blown away by how beautifully the kids played. The students were also blessed to have some wonderful teachers and conductors.

A special thank you goes to Granny, who found the perfect black skirt and jewelry for R to wear, and who also stayed nearby and handy with R during that long day of rehearsals. And we appreciate all the family members who were able to come see the performance ~ it meant so much to R to have your support.

This orchestra is all middle school students, if you can believe it! R is in the center with french braids in her hair. This piece is Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, 1st Movement. Enjoy!

Wonderful Holiday Music

Our three eldest are musicians, and we enjoyed lots of great holiday music from them this season. They kicked things off with a concert at the convention center where the kids from their music academy played for shoppers at a beautiful charity fund-raiser. This was HW's very first classical guitar concert, and he did just great! He said he was a little nervous, but we couldn't tell it at all. All three looked like old pros. The music was lovely, as expected. R, HA, and HW, we are proud of your dedication and hard work to make beautiful music! And a big thank you to Gram and DDon for supporting our kids' musical dreams!

HA and HW concentrating

Taking a bow

You sounded great, guys!

R playing her beautiful music

R (center back) and some fellow violinists finishing up their performance

Christmas Trains at the Museum

We had so many wonderful times with family this month. Granny and Grandpa spent some time with us when they came down for a very special event in R's life (more about that in my next post!) and we all enjoyed our time with them. They took the boys and Mike to the children's museum to see the Christmas train display and everyone had a great time. S and I stayed home so she wouldn't miss the all-important nap time, but we heard all about their fun day when the boys got home. Thank you Granny and Grandpa for our museum membership ~one of the best gifts ever!

This smile says it all! HA loves him some trains. 

Grandpa treated everyone to lunch from Subway,
 and R was even able to join them
 during her lunch break from her special event.
 More later about where R spent her very long and productive day :)

Best buddies, with trains as far as the eye can see.

HA, Grandpa, and HW

S is always happy after her good nap