Catch up with special guest bloggers

One day last week while driving to school, the girls wanted to know about my blog. They told me they loved going back and reading it and wanted to know why I hadn't updated in awhile. I don't know, I guess I was struggling with their privacy. They're in junior high and that can be a hard path to navigate with all the growing up and changing. And while I wanted to document it, I also wanted to respect them. So I just resorted to Facebook and Instagram and let the blog slide. But since I have their approval, and even request, I hope to fill this space more often. And what better way than to have guest bloggers? The following is straight from the mouths of Baylee and Caylee.

******
Catching Fire

It was absolutely amazing and I cried three times. It was probably the best movie I ever laid my eyes on. Oscar worthy for the entire cast. The wardrobe is absolutely beautiful. The arena is so brought to life and detailed, making the book easier to understand. It had a horrible cliffhanger. Francis Lawernce (the director) is awesome. We can't wait until Mockingjay. I love, as in love times a billion, the love triangle between Katniss and Peeta because Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson had to do that. And I am a Joshifer fan for life.

Our beautifully awesome fireplace we decorated for Catching Fire Week. Like Shark Week, but even better. 

Our beautiful nails that Mommer did. A lot of people commented on them. They were very bright in the movie theater. They shined in the light. "this little light of mine. I'm gonna let it shine."

Our beautiful, beautiful mom and we had just got our hair done by a random lady in the mall. We had time, so we stopped and let her piddle-do.

Look at our glow in the dark shoes. 

Look at Jennifer Lawrence. She knows how to shoot a bow and arrow. Impressive. Look at those shirts. And our lanyards. I loved our lanyards. I felt like a VIP with the lanyard. We got the lanyards because we went on November 21, the special feature before the opening night, for the Hunger Double.

Photobooth Fun

This is what we do on our free time. :) 

Caylee takes after her father.

I am not trying to kiss Caylee. She's a cyclops. 

Caylee. Isn't she adorable? Just the cutest thing.

Did she just get plastic surgery?!

Baylee. Awww! Squat face. Am I related to a zucchini? 

Joshifer Obsession

(Disclaimer: Bay and Cay are beyond obsessed with Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson. They are full of Joshifer trivia and if you think you can stump them, next time you see them ask them a question.)

Jen & Josh are meant to be. They, just like, are perfect together. They are so awesome. They can talk about each others underwear problems and not even feel weird, I mean, come on. According to them, their first phone conversation was 45 minutes long and covered demons, possessions, ghosts, and catheters. You can just tell they love each other because Josh said "Katniss is played by Miss Jennifer Lawrence, the talented and the beautiful." And, like, Jennifer said when she was asked to describe Josh "he is devastatingly handsome and super charming". This proves that they love each other!!! She started kissing him in an interview. Not a passionate kind of way kissing, it wasn't gross, it was just perfect for Joshifer fans to lay their eyes on. We have their whole wedding planned out. They need to get married in the land of blueberries. And have cute little Joshifer babies, they'll be little angels. Well, we hope they're angels and not demons. They love each other and miss each other when they're not together!!! 

This is in July at the San Diego Comic Con. Look how she's gazing into his eyes. She loves him so much. You can see it!

This is just a randomly awesome cute picture. :)

That's all we have now. May the odds be ever in your favor. 

- BK & SnickerDoodleMule!

******

Well, folks, that is a glimpse into my world. Everything between the asterisks is all them. They spoke, I typed. We all laughed. They chose the pictures, wrote the captions. I think we may be on to something here. I might have to let Bay (aka "BK" in their sign off) and Cay (aka "SnickerDoodleMule!" in their sign off) make more guest appearances on this blog. Bay is hoping for once a week (or more) and already has ideas brewing. She wants to vlog, as well. Oh dear. I might've created blogging monsters! :)

Raised to walk in newness of life

When the girls were a few months old Brandon and I stood before our home church in Oklahoma and dedicated them to the Lord. We were making a public profession that we would raise them in a Christian home and church, cover them in prayer, and trust them into God's hands. We've had so much help along the way. From grandparents, to Sunday School teachers, pastors, and dear friends, we aren't alone in raising them in the Lord. We never once pressured our girls into a relationship with Christ, but instead let the Holy Spirit be their guide. When they were eight years old, they both accepted Him as their Savior (not at the same time, but a few months apart, actually), but had never been obedient in believer's baptism. Until last week, that is.

Our church had been having revival and on Tuesday night Caylee couldn't tell me fast enough that she wanted to be baptized the following night. As I was talking to her, Baylee told me that she, too, was wanting to be baptized. It is so cool how God worked this out. We all know how much Bay and Cay love horses, right? Well, since the church was planning for a lot of baptisms (turns out there was over 80 that night), they had set up three horse troughs at the front. So, yeah. Baylee and Caylee, the horse enthusiasts, were baptized in a horse trough. Perfect!

They were baptized by their youth pastor, and our friend, Josh. I had my big camera, video camera, and iPhone ready, but the church had arranged for photographers to capture the moment, so I kept my good camera in the bag and snapped away with my phone. And I handed the video camera to a stranger behind me. Ha!

Baylee

Caylee

Fresh out of the water!

Grammy and Grandpa were able to come for the special night!

Josh and the girls

We know our job of raising them in the Lord is far from over. Yes, they've taken the first steps. Now we continue to grow, all of us, together.

Busy little beavers!

It's been one of those weeks. You know what I'm talking about. Every day has something on the schedule and you crawl in to bed at the end of the night and want to crash? Except this week B has been in Seattle, so thanks to the lovely time zone difference I crawl in to bed, wait for a few hours for him to get back to his hotel so he can call and talk for a few minutes and then I crash. Around 1 am. And, y'all, Cari isn't used to this. I like my carefree days with a day or two of busyness. But when the girls have been gone all summer and we only have one week to get ready for school, busy it is!

The girls came home from their Kentucky vacation (that deserves it's own post!) and they haven't stopped since. It's been one thing after another!

Sunday

First Sunday in the youth group!

First Lifegroup! (Yes, I was THAT mom and snapped a pic as I drove away. And, yes, they yelled "MOM!" at me. But I captured the moment forever! Woot, woot!)

Lifegroup was a pool fellowship and the girls go to our dear friends' house. So I was happy when I was sent a couple of texts through the evening. Loved seeing those smiles! And, hey, I didn't even ask for pics! My friend just knew I'd appreciate them! :)

They said they weren't going to swim and just wore regular clothes. One of the guys wasn't having any of that and encouraged them to get in.

Monday

Shopping was our main priority for the day. Lots of shopping. And these girls HATE shopping, so I had to go in with lots of prayer and patience. We all held it together surprisingly well, made a lot of progress, and after seven hours of going from store to store, we called it a day!

This is Cay hating the capris she was trying on. I was taking a pic to send to B and she said "I'm not gonna smile" and I said, "That's fine, I'm not even getting your face". Ha! She ended up liking the capris after her daddy said they looked cute. Go figure! 

Monday's haul. Wowza. For nonshoppers, they did good that day!

Before B left we had a family meeting. We talked about all kinds of things... responsibilities, junior high, making wise choices, etc... He ended the meeting by giving them their "You're going into junior high"present -- their first phone. Part of Monday's shopping trip was to buy a case and then they could have their phone. Oh man. We've entered a whole new world (cue the Aladdin music). For the record, there's LOTS of rules and regulations with these phones. Sigh.... no longer babies.

Posing for a pic with their phones to send to Daddy.

Tuesday

Nothing says "welcome home from summer vacation" like a trip to the doctor. And not just any trip, but for shots! While at the doc we found out I am officially the shortest person in our family. Yes, the girls have passed me in height. I knew from the time they walked into their one year old well child appointment and their doctor said "Well, hello, Venus and Serena" they were going to be tall girls. He could see it when they were one. And they've always towered over their classmates. And now they're taller than me. Craziness. Cay is 5'9.5" and Bay is 5'9.25" and I'm a measly 5'9'. B better watch out or they'll be passing his 6' frame soon! 

After their shots with the free ice cream coupon and stickers the doctor gave them. That appointment was a hoot! We all laughed the entire time. They were laughing out of nerves and I was laughing at them as they talked ninety to nothing. Too funny. A sticker?! Lol!

 After the doctor we finished up their school supply shopping. 

We ended the night with a little Just Dance. :)

Wednesday

Haircuts! Oh my, did they ever need a haircut. They hadn't had one since Hairmageddon 2012 & since that was a little traumatic, we didn't press the issue. But the time had come. And they were ready. We did our best to take dramatic before and after pics. The before pics CRACK me up! They were totally into the drama. Hilarious!

Baylee before...

...and after!

       

Caylee before...

...and after!

       

After haircuts we went to the junior high and picked up their schedule. They have first period and lunch together and that will be great. They can start the day together, meet up for lunch, and then catch up with each other after school. I'm praying for a fabulous year. For all the moves they've had to endure, they deserve it! 

I'm so glad they let me take this picture. We were upstairs looking for one of Bay's class and since it was the end of the day and no one was around, they happily posed. With the panther in the background. Love this picture so much! Trust me, if someone had started walking by, they wouldn't have let me take a pic for nothing!

Thursday

Oh, Thursday, a day that tested my patience to the MAX. The girls needed a few more items, particularly shoes. We snatched up some deals right off the bat and things were looking promising. I thought we were in the clear and headed for smooth waters. WRONG! I'm not sure what their deal was, but they wanted nothing to do with shoe shopping. After a few stores, I was tired of the complaining, shoulder shrugs, and less than enthusiastic attitudes (including myself!), so we headed home. Shoeless. 

So in between all the running around, grocery shopping, cooking dinner for a friend who had surgery, one last Zumba class with my sweet Madison before she heads back to college, and the normal day to day duties (laundry, dishes, sweeping dog hair up, cleaning bathrooms, etc...), we have had a full week. And I just got off the phone with B, so it's time to crash. Can't wait to pick him up later today -- I can say today since it's after midnight!! :)

Hope he's enjoyed Seattle.

But his girls are ready for him to come home. :)

Summer Fun

Every year since the girls were six years old, they have made the trek back to Oklahoma for the summer. When we moved to Arkansas the first time, it was quite the adjustment to be away from grandparents. We went from being four minutes from my parents (15 minutes from Bran's parents) to being four hours away from them. The girls were close to all of them and even with all of the trips we'd make in during the school year, there just never was enough time. So the summer after kindergarten a new tradition was born. Bay and Cay packed up their suitcases and headed back to Arnold Acres and Peggs, America for the summer. It has truly become the highlight of their year.

I've had people question me time and time again about how B and I do it... "Do you miss them? How can you stand to be apart from your girls for that long?"... And, really, for us, it's a no brainer. We know our girls and we know the joy it brings them to be back with their grandparents. They adore Grammy and Grandpa and Grandpa and Grandma. Precious memories have been made over the years and relationships have grown and deepened. In addition to the grandparents, our girls have been able to stay connected to our home church in OK -- the same church I grew up in, the church B & I were married in, the church they were dedicated to the Lord in. They've had some of the same Sunday School teachers I had and it thrills my soul to see them stay so connected to a place that helped shape who I am today.

So, yes, B and I miss our girls. Terribly. It's weird to have such a silent house. But you know what? It is also precious time together, just B & I, to work on our marriage. We can go on dates, late night Soinc runs, and fall more in love with each other simply because we can give each other undivided attention. I know as the girls get older this tradition might stop or maybe just be tweaked, but for now, we all look forward to our summers. And it's not like we don't see them at all. They've made trips back to Arkansas for a few days, I've gone to Oklahoma a couple of times, and there are numerous texts, phone calls, and FaceTime to get us through the separation. We know it's not for every family, but it is for ours.

They return home this weekend and I am ready for our fall routine. Junior high is a little over a week away and I'm anxious to see what this school year holds for us. For now, though, here's a glimpse of a little bit of their summer in Oklahoma.

Goofy lunch dates with Grammy

Oh my. This is Bay and Cay to a T. So, so goofy. The knives are a little scary, though. Ha!

Photo shoots with Wally

Sun Goddesses

This pic cracks me up. Cay is laying on the pool floatie, but it's on the deck, not in the pool. And her head is completely covered up and she is wrapped up in a towel. Classic Cay.

Horses and X-rays 

(I mean, what's a summer in Oklahoma without a trip to the ER?!)

Right before Cay fell off the horse at a youth group fellowship.

Waiting for an X-ray. Yes, B & I made another mad dash in to Oklahoma when we got the call. I knew as soon as my mom said "Cari" that we had a problem. Praise the Lord everything was ok!

Warden, Tinkerbell, and Preacher

The girls claim the two horses and donkey that live across the street from my parents as their own. This is Warden and they spoil him with carrots, oats, apples...

Mt. Nebo

My parents and the girls came to Arkansas for the fourth of July. They were headed back to Oklahoma and made a pit stop at Mt. Nebo.

Lunches with Grandma Faye

My grandma lives on her own, but mom checks on her a few times a week. This was part of their summer routine. They'd go to her apartment, take her to the grocery store, and then to lunch. Precious memories.

Yard sale
Mom and the girls have a summer yard sale. Last year the girls made enough money to take mom and dad out for their anniversary. This year they purchased stuff for our dogs Molly and Annie. And it was a multi-site sale. A couple days was at mom and dad's and then one day they moved it to town at my aunt's.

Sale at Aunt Suzy's

Befriending animals

Both girls have a heart for animals, but Bay zones in on a select few and takes them under their wing. She took this pic and sent it to me when she touched Daisy for the first time. She was on the phone with me when it happened... "I'm touching her! I'm touching her!", she said in a soft whisper. I told her to hang up and snap a pic. 

Boating with Grandpa and Grandma

B's parents rented a boat one Saturday and the girls had a blast!

Lunch with Aunt Bear after the boat ride. 

That's pretty much their summer in a nutshell. Nothing over the top or fancy. Just precious memories made with loved ones. Right now they are finishing the last of summer vacation in Kentucky on a quick mini-vacation with my parents. I can't wait to hear all the details on that trip!! I pray these girls always know how loved they are and how blessed they are to have grandparents who love and adore them.