Now that it’s officially September, here are a few of my favorite iPhone pictures from July, lol! I’m a tiny bit behind, but no worries! It’s all for fun and for the girls, and they won’t know the difference when I’m posting our little story. So much awesome life has been happening lately, it’s hard to find the time to blog, so we’ll just keep chillin’ and see what happens!

 

Here was Noelle after an audition to work with a modeling agency we really respect. We’re excited to start partnering with them in October! It’s a crazy time commitment, and she wanted to quit cheerleading to do it, but it’s all she’s ever wanted to do, really, so it makes good sense. Her swanky boots for the interview hurt her feet, but fortunately, Anna Kate left some flippies in the car that did the trick for a quick stop at the park on the way home.

I spent countless hours staring at this contraption at a children’s hospital in Dallas growing up as a kid and wanted Noelle to see it. It’s been almost 2 decades since I’ve been here. I broke my arm and suffered the complication of carpal tunnel. It was so rare and unusual that I was a case study. I was the youngest kid to ever have the surgery at the time, and they got me functioning as best they could, but I still have trouble picking up things, as in thinking I’m holding a coin or a bobby pin, but I’m really not. Tying shoes and buttoning buttons are awful, so I stay away from those tasks as much as possible. It’s the strangest thing, but I’m okay with it. More than okay with it—I’m so thankful I have a functioning arm that I can use and live a normal lifestyle with. They helped me a ton!

Noelle with a delicious fruit popsicle and the world’s largest kaleidoscope! Fun day out with my big girl!

 

Swim party for cheer!

Snow cones on a hot summer day are delicious! This stand is really far away from us, but we’ve heard their snow cones are amazing, so we made the trek!

Umm, what’s going on here? Anna Kate made me this breakfast in bed, and I’m just like, what in the world. I promise I’m not paying them to do this—They love giving back, and I don’t blame them. Giving makes me way happier than receiving. It fills up your soul!

Lunches got hard in the dead heat of the summer, I’m not going to lie. We did the best we could. I have more fun than I should be allowed with Becca and Amy and the girls. I love a good LNO!

 

Rose had so much fun at Kinsley’s dress-up/tea party birthday. Man, I love these times!

 

 

We’ve been keeping my parents dog, Jax, while they are out of town and absolutely LOVE him! It’s the perfect mix so that our girls get to love and take care of an animal, but Mike and I don’t have to fully commit. Having said that, at this point, we could never have a dog of our own better or more perfect than Jax. He has stolen all of our hearts, and we can’t wait for his next visit! During one of his visits, he wasn’t feeling well. Mike and I kept joking around that he was depressed. One afternoon, Mike sent me this text (right picture), and it cracked me up. We love our Jaxy-Poot and are so glad he is all better and blitzing and wagging his tail again!

 

We’ve had lots of fun in the sun, that’s for sure!

Noelle had a blast at her first rodeo with super great friends!

 

Happy 10th birthday, Carson, and happy Costco run to Rose and me!

 

Cutie Kate and the adorable lovable Jax!

My daydreamer.

 

Can’t get enough of our middle!

So cool the night we could see Venus right next to the moon at Mrs. Robin’s pool!

Saylor turned 2 in June—I absolutely love this picture! Happy birthday, sweet baby girl!

Me: Are you a baby or a big girl?
SaySay: Baby.
Me: Don’t you ever say big girl!

Oh Rose, tell me all about it!

 

This middle child could not be any sweeter! I try to take the girls on one on one dates as often as I can, and this night was Anna Kate’s turn. She’s such a great buddy and little lady!

 

We tried the Olive Garden trio, and it was super delicious, but I love Olive Garden (unlike another adult in our PondFam5!)

 

Finished off my date with Anna Kate with yogurt and a silly FaceTime call with Bella!

Throw-back to past CFA Cow Appreciation Days. We love Chick-Fil-A! Noelle loves doing her hair and make-up when she’s bored, and it’s fun seeing what she comes up with. Tbh, she’s already so much better than me at it at age 9!

 

When the littles ask if they can paint a little heart or star on their cheek with face paint, and I leave the room for two minutes! Some days are sure harder than others!

 

Cuties Anna Kate and Logan at this birthday party, and Anna Kate making her win-every-time get what you want pretty please face!

  

Sweet sisters and the sweetest love I know.

 

Sassy sisters making summer memories together!

 

We bought out Justice for all our friends’ fall birthdays! It’s so much easier for me to shop all at once and then roll with it when school starts. The girls loved shopping for all of their sweet friends. I’m not sure their moms will like it because it’s a lot of neon, but YOLO, right?!

 

I already miss fun errand days with all our baby girls in tow! Check out Rose’s Twilight Sparkle dress we just had monogrammed! She looooves that pony and that dress and would wear it every day (with red cowboy boots) if I let her!

Feeding the turtles at the park with Malia was a super fun summer play date! I love having friends join us while we go out and about. The more the merrier, and the kids are so well-behaved when we have a guest!

 

#clubin Funny story, we asked if we could come in a get a drink and let the girls dance before the crowd arrived, and the bar tender said no. We left, and as we were walking out, the manager of the resort was walking in. He over heard the girls saying they wished they could stay and dance, and without missing a beat, he said, “Of course you can! Come on in!” Then he made the bar tender make them all Shirley Temples. That worked out! We had to tip the DJs big because we probably stayed for at least two requests from each girl, ha! This was hands down, the most fun night of the summer for me, starting with movie and s’mores on the lawn with the Banks family! I love unplanned nights that evolve into too much fun!

Pool party fun for one of Anna Kate’s friends, Will!

 

Emily is such an amazing friend to Noelle! We are so thankful for her, and although she moved to a near-by city over the summer, we have vowed to keep these girls together!!!

Mrs. Robin let us enjoy her pool all summer—We are so grateful to have such awesome neighbors who share their pools with us!

 

Noelle and I love trying out CGH hairstyles! Right before the 4th, we tried the #CGHScarfBraid. It looked so simple on the tutorial, but this was the hardest one I’ve ever attempted, and I’ve been watching Mindy and her cute girls hairstyles before Noelle was even born when she was still styling her girls’ hair on their bathroom counter! I think because Noelle loves to keep her hair so smooth and shiny, the bandana wouldn’t hold, but once I started, I had to finish!

These girls saved my life! I was drowning in multiple health issues before Noelle was born, and they gave me something to fight hard for. It has been an uphill battle, but I have pressed into the pain and have chosen to not be a victim of a ridiculous circumstance. The last two pictures just make me look back on everything and smile, knowing we did it, and it was so worth it all! I have had the best summer health-wise that I can remember. I did things I haven’t ever been able to do before as a mom, and it’s been so humbling and just down-right amazing. If you are walking around feeling good with awesome health, don’t take it for granted. I see things so much differently now and wish I could give anyone the perspective that I’ve gained. It’s freeing, healthy and truly amazing! The struggle is not over, but I’ve come so far, and that is definitely reason to party!