Our sweet neighbor, Bristin, had the most action-packed slumber party you could ever think up last Saturday night! I can’t even list all of the activities the kids did, but they moved from one to the next to the next to the next until their heads hit their pillows. Both Noelle and Anna Kate spent the night! Bristin is one very lucky girl to have such a fun, loving and creative Mommy! Happy 8th Birthday, Bristin!
Just a couple of Instagram collages I didn’t want to forget to post on the bloggity blog!
Noelle went up to help Ella Bella owner, Kara, and me with a really fun Saturday event to get the party going at the store last weekend. I put feathers in girls’ hair, Kara had punch and cookies, and tons of blow-out sales! I shopped every time I was in between customers! It was just such a fun day playing in the store and watching to see how Kara makes the magic happen. We had a blast. Noelle asked how much longer, and I said, “Two more hours.” and then she immediately got a big smile on her face and said, “YES!” She loved every minute of being up there in the fashion action. She started greeting people at the door and welcoming them to come on it. Kara says she’s a natural. One thing’s for sure, all things fashion, is what is Noelle’s passion. Kara is such a wonderful mentor and friend to Noelle about her future endeavors, possibly one day, as a fashion designer/buyer/seller… all of that good stuff.
For today, Noelle asked me text Kara beforehand to wear a bubble necklace but not to tell her N was going to have one on too! So, when we got to the store, Kara and Noelle were so happy to see their matching necklaces and Noelle said, “I wanted us to match. I wanted to be like you!” I hope Noelle continues to grow in wisdom, gentleness, and faith that Kara exudes in her life and her store. They make a pretty good fashion team! Shop Ella Bella, especially over tax free weekend, for back to school or just something fun and festive for fall. You can check them out online too at www.arlingtonellabella.com If you’ve ever seen an outfit of our girls on the blog that you’ve really liked, it most likely came from Ella Bella!!!
Rose and Boo love making patterns with water bottles and paper towels in the pantry. This may be her fav 2 year old activity! Her towers get pretty tall and impressive! She made this game up all by herself, and it probably keeps her the most entertained out of all of the toys in our house!
Last Saturday, Noelle served pancakes at her first fundraiser for cheerleading. I was too busy helping to take a pic in all the action, but here she is smiling at a job well done at the end of the morning breakfast rush!
When you go off the beaten path (by taking a leap of faith or by what you have been dealt in life), you will find beauty in surprising places if you are looking! Noelle found this beautiful miracle in a field of weeds while we were on vacation earlier this month. I would’ve never seen such an incredible creation, because I wasn’t wandering in the weeds, or even looking for beauty in such a broken, lifeless place. May we all learn to look for beauty in our unexpected places… even if the places we end up finding ourselves in are downright broken and difficult beyond measure!
New blog coming on the sidebar soon about my decade-old journey with fibromyalgia. I’d like to continue to keep pondfam.com as my happy place, and my daughters’ online scrapbook, but I’m taking this leap of faith to start a new blog to open up a part of me that has been hidden for so long, in the hope that it will encourage those who suffer with their “something,” be it fibromyalgia, another ailment, or something entirely different; because everyone has something. I’m planning to share lots of funny things that make me laugh, because we all know that laughter is such great medicine; I’m going to share my struggles, my hopes, my dreams, my heart-aches, and lots about the people and faith I have in God that keep me falling forward, when I cannot walk forward. I hope you will be encouraged and realize that you are not alone in battling your something! We’ll see what happens! I’m nervous and excited!
Melissa
We had such a wonderful night last week hanging out with over 15 Santas, celebrating Christmas in July with a toy drive for the kids in Moore, OK. Chuck Lee, Santa on the right, is our family’s Santa, and has become a dear friend to us, spreading love and cheer everywhere he goes! I can’t wait for the Moore kiddos to see all of these amazing Santas deliver their presents to them in true Santa fashion!
Mrs. Claus had a fun pass-the-present game, and Noelle ended up winning!
Lots of Christmas in July Santas! I bought these little rompers for the girls last January on clearance. At the time, I had buyer’s remorse because I knew it would be too cold in December to wear them and was disappointed I had bought them. Now I know that we needed them for this. So many people smiled at the girls and were tickled to see our cuties laughing and having fun in the square! It was meant to be!
Mrs. Claus was so excited to see the girls! They had a lot of fun being all dressed up together! Rose and Santa Chuck have a special little bond; they understand each other in a unique way, and it is such a joy to see her get to have a little friendship with Santa Claus!
One of the Lone Star Santas brought his fun Santa truck, and the girls had a blast tooting the horn and checking it out!
Our Santa had a picnic with us during the event! The girls were chatty, and it is so cool hearing how casually they talk to Santa Chuck. He makes it his mission to know all about his kiddos, so he can talk to them about the things that matter most to them. He’d be happy to be your family Santa too!
Noelle and Rose holding Santa’s hand carved wooden cane!
This Toy Drive was sponsored by an amazing organization called, Lone Star Santas, Convoy of Toys, Disaster Relief for Children. See www.lonestarsantas.org
And if you’d like to get on the list for Santa to come to your house on Christmas Eve and make your kiddos dreams reality, email Santa Chuck at Santa@SantaChuckLee.com. He’s the kindest, most compassionate person you will ever meet. He truly ministers to his Santa families, and you are guaranteed a magical, memorable night your family will never forget! You will feel the love, joy, and hope of Christmas all wrapped up in a Big Santa Hug!
The Pond and Pillar kids had a blast swimming together this week! Carter, Vaden, Emily, Noelle, Anna Kate, and Rose are 3X2 peas in a pod! They are a bunch of the kindest, sweetest, happiest kids you will ever meet!
Emma-P and Rose having a blast together!
Rose is finally enjoying the water this summer!
Our adorable sweet baby Rose!
Friends cracking each other up!
Cute, sweet, precious kiddos!
Rose loves flower pots!!!
Sissy kisses!
Vaden and Anna Kate are both 4 and will be in the same grade/school together just like their big sissies! They had fun hanging out together!
Impressive! Didn’t think I’d see this picture this summer! Last week, at Camp P&R, the grandparents worked with her every day on swimming! They did such a great job, and I’m so thankful and happy for our cutie Kate!
The Pillar kiddos, and Anna Kate and Emily running in and out of the mushroom.
She melts me.
These girls are my life!!! (with their awesome Daddy, of course)
Girl picture!
My beautiful Noelle with her beautiful BFF, Emily! Every time these girls get together, it ALWAYS turns into a sleepover… and we love it!
Night night, sweet friends! What an awesome night!
Today, after the Pond cafeteria finished serving lunch, I let the girls build their own fruit n’ yogurt parfaits. That’s all the tricks I had up my sleeve for today. Staying home in the summer is actually more work than going out to play (cleaning, picking up, changing more diapers it seems, laundry, just housework type stuff and entertaining kiddos), but it saves more money, and Momma’s gotta have a pj day every other is what we’ve found works for us. But, sometimes, we’ve just got to get in the car and go, even if it is to just ride around the neighborhood. This is the phase of the year where having toddlers is exhausting! Ask Noelle, she’s my right hand gal! Don’t know what I’d do without her help, and Anna Kate helps when she’s not in a 4 year old struggle with herself. Baby Rose is just sweet sweet sweet, but God love her, needs action 24/7. I know I will miss this time, but right now, I’m too exhausted to really press into the fun of it all. I’ll work on that as of right now! Getting ready to go hang out with our favorite Santa! More on that next week… Hope you guys have an awesome weekend. I sure am looking forward to it!
