Lankford Love

Some days our homeschooling looks like a field trip to The Heard to see animals and nature up close.  And some days it looks like giving into Lilleigh's itch to learn to sew and wash dishes.  Carole Joy Seid says, "Give them {real} tools, not toys." She also says, "Put in the hard work when they're young {teaching them to do chores, even if it seems too hard}, and they'll serve you when they're older." Done and done. Lilleigh will be getting sewing supplies and a scrub brush for Christmas. And she will love it. 

Adeline is TWO! I can hardly believe it's been two years since she entered our family. I can't imagine our family without her. She brings so much spunk, energy, and laughter! One single word to describe Adeline: Determined . She is always on the go. She gets her mind set on something and doesn't veer from the task at hand, which many times results in temper tantrums or discipline. She will be warned against a behavior (say, kicking) and then give me a look of testing and do it again. She's bold. It doesn't work for her, but one day she will figure that out. She certainly does keep me on my toes though. This determination can be a great thing too. It worked out great for day 3 of potty training when she was set on getting as many jelly beans (for going in the potty) as possible. Since then though, the jelly beans don't seem to be as motivating, so her focus has moved on. Oy. Mommy needs to come up with better incentives. Anyone have some that don't involv...

We recently traveled to Houston to see Meredith (Brendon's sister) get married to Danny! Here are some photos from the big event! Lilleigh was thrilled to get to go with the bridesmaids to have her nails done! Being a flower girl is a very serious job. Hubby and me at the rehearsal dinner. Getting ready on the big day!                                                 Because Lilleigh has this habit of making a terrible fake smile and clenching her teeth, we took some selfies beforehand to practice our "real smiles." Grammy with the flower girl and ring bearer. Meredith and Danny's first dance. Connor and Lilleigh dancing. These two love each other. They never cease of being together, which is amazing to me. Even when we go on week long trips together, these two are joined at the hip constantly. Glow necklaces at the reception wer...

I don't know where to begin. I've told this story two hundred times, and yet the emotions are still raw.  We found out mid-May that we were pregnant. We were thrilled! A little nervous, I admit, but thrilled. Lilleigh was over the moon excited, and Adeline just got clingier by the minute at all the baby talk going on. I had all the pregnancy symptoms - nausea, exhaustion, a growing baby bump...  At 12 weeks, the day before Brendon's and my 8 year anniversary, I confidently went in for my midwife appointment. When it came time to hear the baby's heartbeat, my midwife could not find one. When she switched to a sonogram, the baby only measured 8.5 weeks, no heartbeat. Apparently babies start to break apart after the loss of a heartbeat. Our intact baby meant that this loss has happened fairly recently. To say we were shocked is an understatement. Stunned. Spinning. Baffled. These words don't do justice to what we were feeling.  The next immediate feeling - heartbroken....

This was supposed to be published weeks ago, so I'm not sure what happened there. But alas here it is... It's been a super busy summer and last couple weeks. I have one hundred things to share, but for now here are some pics from our recent girls trip to Florida! 

We are still in June, yet it has been a busy summer! To start with, we visited family in Kansas for my cousin Michael's wedding. We just love his bride, Elizabeth! She's darling! It's always so refreshing to get out of Dallas and drive to the country to go visit this side of the family. Lil is really into playing "wedding" right now, so she sat perched up in the balcony, watching the whole thing, like a little birdie. I had to walk out with Adeline soon after the ceremony started, and Lilleigh was happy to stay there without me. Never happens. That tells you how into the wedding she was! When we got back, Ryan, Tarryn, and their boys came to visit. The cousins LOVED playing together! It was precious. (For some reason, the other photos won't upload, so just imagine lots of running, jumping, and playing in the rain!) Lilleigh also participated in Vacation Bible School at a nearby church. She was giddy to go each day! I think it was ...