5 Months!

I'm late posting this, but Claire turned 5 months last week! I caught some cute pictures of her this past week and so I thought I would share. Claire is such a joy to our family. I was looking up the meaning of her name this week. Tyler means a Tile maker and Cooper means a Barrel Maker, so I'm obviously not a name your kid based on the meaning of their names kind of gal. But when I pulled Claire's name up it said "Bright" and I think it fits her so well. She is a bright light in our little family and she brings so much happiness and joy to all of us. She is a super easy going little baby and I hope she will continue to be like this. She flashes that beautiful smile at anyone who will look her way. We love her to pieces and are so thankful for God's precious gift to us!

Gianna Jessen

I had never heard of Gianna Jessen until last night. Travis and I attended a fundraiser and we had the privilege to hear an amazing woman by the name of Gianna Jessen give her testimony. When Gianna's biological mother was 17 years old and seven and half months pregnant, she went to Planned Parenthood clinic to seek a late term abortion. The abortionist performed a saline abortion in which they inject a high concentration of saline into the mother's womb, which the fetus is then bathed in and swallows, which results in the fetus being burned to death, inside out. Within 24 hours the results are normally an induced, still-born abortion. Gianna is an aborted late-term fetus who was born alive. The high concentration of saline in the womb for 24 hours resulted in a lack of oxygen to her brain and as a result Gianna was born with Cerebral Palsy. The doctors though she would never survive, but the doctors were wrong! VERY WRONG! She has an amazing story and we were so blessed to have been able to hear it last night. Check out this video and hear part of her incredible story!

Guest Bathroom

We finally finished the guest bathroom this past week. This is one of the areas that I had Layla from the Lettered Cottage help me with. I think it turned out pretty good and it was probably our cheapest room to remodel. Here are the before pics:

And After:

In this bathroom we painted the cabinetry, installed new hardware, installed new lighting, put in a new butcher block countertop, installed a tile backsplash, built and installed shelves, and painted the walls.

The tile backsplash was not in the original plans, but once we ripped out the old blue tile countertops some of the cabinetry on the right side was messed up and so we needed something to cover it up. I think it turned out good. We reused the faucet and the sink was a sink Travis had from one of his old houses that never got used.

Travis built and stained the shelves.

A better look of the overall room. The shower curtain was the same one we had in the old house. The stool was a find at Canton.

This bathroom is also used as a pool bathroom. That door leads to the backyard and pool area.

I'm so glad one more room is done. Our Master Bedroom and Bathroom are the next major projects on the horizon. We have started the bedroom, but the bathroom has yet to be touched. In fact, it is a total disaster area!

Labor Day Weekend

Last weekend we headed up to Katy to help Shelby celebrate her 3rd birthday. The boys had a lot of fun playing with their cousins and enjoying all of the birthday festivities.

Cooper's first question of the day, "When are we going to eat cake?"

Shelby was just a little excited about her presents and the bounce house.

The birthday girl

Bailey and Shelby showing off their party hats

Grandma getting some loving from Claire

Bailey and Tyler playing on the bounce house

Daddy and Claire Bear

Grandma and Grandpa with all the grandkids

The big kids being silly. The boys have so much fun playing with their cousins!

Summer Days

I've been hearing lately that everyone is enjoying nicer, cooler weather. Well, down here it is still HOT! One evening last week we let the boys go swimming and I got the camera out and captured some fun pictures.

In the past couple of months, Cooper has gotten much braver with his swimming. He no longer just hangs out on the steps. He will venture out and actually swim!

Tyler LOVES his goggles!

CANNON BALL!!!

Big Splash!

What's in a Name?

I don't think anyone in our family ever calls this baby girl by her real name. Claire Bear, Clarabelle, Clarabelle Pizza, and Cheeks are just some of the names she goes by. I'm sure she will only develop more nicknames as she gets older.

Fishing with Dad and Grandpa

One of the best things about living down in the Rio Grande Valley(for an outdoorsman) is the close access to the great fishing down here. The boys are already learning about fishing at a very young age. Tyler has a spiderman pole and Coop has a batman one. I guess we'll have to get Claire a Little Mermaid or something soon. This past Saturday my dad and I took the boys and had a good time on the water with the boys. We caught some big redfish early and even had some big schools that came right by the boat from which we pulled some fish. It slowed down pretty quick and we didn't catch much after about 8 am, but it was a good outing with the boys. The boys' favorite part was eating the donuts for breakfast, oreos and fruit snacks for brunch, and chips and sausage for lunch. We eat good when we go fishing!!

An oversize red caught on a Bugg lure(Shameless plug for my friend who invented and produced this lure-www.buggs-fishing-lures.com)

Sunrise on the Laguna Madre with my boys-Puro Vida!!!

Grandpa with the boys

The boys practicing casting

Tyler driving us out in the morning. Watch out!!