Thursday, May 27, 2010

Sisters, sisters, there was never such devoted sisters

My sister, Aubrey, visited over the weekend. I have some pictures of what we did. So, I thought I would share.

The first day Aubrey was here, we just hung around our house. Aubrey is expecting her first baby, so I didn't want to wear her out. --We had a lot planned for the rest of week. Plus, Dave was golfing with a friend, so we were on kiddo duty. In the picture below, Aubrey and the girls had barely woken up, and Julia was already asking Aubrey to read to her. After the girls napped, we decided to go outside and catch some rays. We tried popsicles, and iced water, but soon discovered it was just too hot to enjoy ourselves unless there was a part of us in some water. We filled up the baby pool, and Aubrey and I plopped our feet in while Julia swam and Lydia walked in the puddles.





The next day, Aubrey and I headed to Ikea, and the outlet mall in Cypress. We had a good time, and poor Aubrey had to put her swollen ankles up when we got home. We got a lot of great bargains too. While we were gone, Dave was on kiddo duty. Below are some pictures of the girls playing dress-up while Aubrey and I shopped.









On Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, we went to the pool. It was relaxing and enjoyable, to say the least.



See Dave waving in the below picture?










Julia liked to take her time getting out of the pool with an acrobatic move.
On Monday, we contemplated going to the beach, but we didn't make it. We didn't want to risk getting back too late for Aubrey's plane ride. So, we went to lunch at a Mediterranean restaurant with my friend, and then came back home for the girls to nap. It was great.

But then, in a flash, Aubrey's visit was over. It was time for our teary good-byes.

I hope you come back soon, Aubrey! We miss you. Love, Amber, Dave, Julia and Lydia.
P.S. We can't wait to meet Josiah Paul in November!

















Thursday, May 20, 2010

Family Time

I am sitting here, waiting for my sister to get here!! I am so excited that she is coming. She gets to stay until Monday evening, and we plan to shop, sunbathe, talk for hours, and everything else girlie. I can't wait!
My parents were just here a few days ago. They were so sad to miss my sister, but they were only here for a day and a half, and had to get back to work. They were in our area because they were visiting a church in Louisiana that is about 4 hours from here, so they were nice enough to come our way before heading back. We actually met them half way, in Jasper TX, to see them a little earlier and keep them company part of the way.
While my parents were here, we mostly just stayed here, and relaxed. They have been very busy lately, and so were pretty worn out when they got here. It was really nice to see them, even if our time was shorter than we would have liked.
Thank you all for reading!! I hope that all of you have a wonderful weekend. Love, Amber

Friday, May 14, 2010

Lazy Days

My friend, Sheila, invited the girls and me to hang out and go swimming with her and her girls in Galveston yesterday. We had a wonderful time!!! We didn't end up getting to swim long because Lydia, and Sheila's twins (who are only one month younger than L) clung to Sheila and me like the water was going to swallow them up. I had dreamed of sun bathing and visiting with Sheila while we watched the girls play and swim in the baby pool, but our girls had a different agenda. They just clung to us like little barnacles on a ship while we tried to get them interested in the pool. Maybe they'll be less timid as the summer rolls on and they've had more practice in the water.
This is a picture of the pool we went to!! This whole part only got up to 1.8 feet deep!! The perfect height for little girls. Also, you can see the ocean in the background. This was the ideal spot to relax in! Too bad there wasn't much of that going on. :)Below is Lydia soaking in some rays while munching on chips and hummus.
I love this pic of Sheila and her girls. Look at Marlee's scowl! Julia was very focused on her apple.

Thanks, again, Sheila!!! We had a great time!
After being out all day yesterday, I decided that the girls and I would hang around here while I caught up on some domestic duties. I took pictures of the girls hanging around with this huge stuffed dog that Julia got from Uncle Andy and Aunt Aubrey on her first birthday. Julia named him Fulsa today. She's changed it a few times to names like Woda, and Foda, but I think Fulsa will stick for me.



They had a great time "napping" on him.



After playing and eating breakfast, I let the girls watch a tv show. Notice Lydia's shoes. Lydia loves shoes and is constantly stringing shoes all over our house. She couldn't find her other green croc, so she put on a tennis shoe instead.




Lydia has started talking in short phrases and sentences. Today she said "uh, uh shoe, pee?" Interpretation: other shoe, please?

So, we ended up staying in all morning, which is uncommon for us, but I figured we'd hang out outside after the girls woke from their naps, and maybe even go for a walk with Dave. However, when the girls did get up, Lydia was fussy and Julia had a fever. I gave Julia Children's Motrin, and she laid around and almost got sick a few times. But, within a few hours, Julia was doing much better and feeling well enough to dress-up like a princess and dance around the living room. Of course, Lydia couldn't be outdone by her sister. Below is a picture of her with a princess outfit AND an uncoordinated tutu. She accessorized the outfit with last year's Easter hat and some "princess" shoes.





Here is a shot of Julia doing one of her many twirls.



We ended the day with a thunderstorm which also kept us inside. So due to the rain, and since Julia was not feeling well after she woke up (and Lydia may have been feeling yucky as well), we stayed in the rest of the afternoon and evening. I don't think we've stayed in the house the entire day since we've lived here. It feels weird. I think I have some cabin fever.-- I hope both the girls are feeling well for the weekend!! I just hate for any of us to get to miss out on all the fun we have planned! Here's hoping, and praying! Love, the Good, and lazy, Stewarts.






Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Wedded Bliss

Dave and I were married 8 years ago today. Dave sent me these beautiful flowers today:This is my favorite type of bouquet. Dave did a great job! I guess it also might have helped that I circled an ad for these very flowers, and stuck it in his work papers about a week and a half ago. :) Also, I asked the girls to color these cards today. Originally, I was going to make them just for Dave, but then I figured they could color these cards for both of us. It was, after all, OUR anniversary....I guess I am in the mood to tattle on myself....practically ordering my own flowers AND making my daughters make myself a card. What next?

Anyway, Dave and I have had a nice time remembering our wedding day today. We were SO young when we were married. Our relationship has changed and evolved since then, and I can honestly say that we are better spouses and better people then we were the day we married.

Today Julia and I were talking about Dave and my anniversary. Julia said "so, you and Daddy got married?"
"Yep" I said.
"And me, and Lydia, and you and Daddy are all married?"
"No," I said, "but because Mommy and Daddy got married, we can all be a family--and we love each other so much."
Her response was enthusiastic. "Yea, that's right Mommy!"

Well, I better get off of here. I am distracted because Dave is watching a Star Trek: the Next Generation rerun. I don't like this show, but I can't help but watch the bad acting while noticing where the fake face pieces and make-up end and begin. I guess T.V. is one area of our lives that hasn't changed all that much.
Blessings, Amber



Sunday, May 9, 2010

Old to New

I like to refinish furniture. I like the idea of bringing something back whether it's to save money by buying used furniture, or because that piece of furniture has special meaning. Anyway, a few years ago, I got a vanity from my aunt . It was one of two that my mom and her sisters shared as they were growing up. My uncle had painted it, but then he, or someone else, had decided to strip it. I finally got around to sanding, and painting this little beauty. The finished product isn't perfect; I still have to reattach hardware to the inside that allows the top to open up for storage. I also need to reinstall the small mirror that goes inside. Hopefully I'll get to it sooner rather than later. But for now, here's some pics.

Before:






After:

The new paint job isn't perfect because the old paint wouldn't entirely sand off in some areas (even though I used an electric sander), and there are a few nicks here and there in the wood. But, all of that just adds character, right? For the most part, I like the way it turned out.

As a side note, I had a low-key, very nice Mother's day. Dave and the girls were sweet enough to make breakfast this morning and present me with sweet Mother's day cards. After breakfast, we rushed to church, and then came back home and lounged around. Later on, we walked to our neighborhood pool and went swimming this afternoon. It was a little cooler than usual, and the water was freezing at first, but we got used to it after awhile. Lydia was not having any of it, though. She sat and watched the rest of us from a nearby chair. I'm sure she'll love it when things heat up a little more around here. Then, on the way home, Lydia started calling Dave and me both, "honey". I loved it when Julia did that, and I love it now that Lydia is doing it.

Oh, and one more side note, a few weeks ago, the four of us were traveling together in the van, and Dave and I were talking to Julia about discipline. We were discussing that Dave and I were Lydia's disciplinarians, not Julia. So I asked Julia, "What do Mommy and Daddy do when Lydia is in trouble, Julia?" Julia's answer: "Laugh?" I guess we've gone wrong somewhere. :)

I just love my family!! Thanks for reading my blog!! I love all of you too! -Amber

Saturday, May 8, 2010

In Random Order

A lot has been going on around here, but everything is happening so quickly, that I don't have anything in particular to blog about. So, I'll just let it all out...random style. Ready? Here we go.

-We got pictures taken today by my sweet friend from church, Sarah Craig. To get a sneak peek, please check out: thecraiglife.blogspot.com
-Dave had his first 9-80 this week. His office started a program that allows him to work an hour extra everyday and get every other Friday off. Our family misses him during the evening, but we love making up for it with a whole day!!!
-We had friends over tonight. I love having friends. The guys' made plans to golf, and Sheila and I plan to get together and have an awesome time with their two girls and our two girls while the guys do their golf thing.
-I dropped a jar of salsa, and to keep it from breaking and splattering all over the floor, I caught it with my foot. It still hurts.
-I realized by having friends over tonight that we really need to go ahead and get a dining room table. We were all crammed around our little breakfast room table. There just wasn't enough room.
-I got baptized last Sunday. It was a really neat experience. I was hoping that the church would send me the pictures so I could post them, but I haven't received them yet. I'll get those posted soon.
-Tomorrow is Mother's Day, and I have absolutely no plans. We may be eating "peanut butter and sandwiches" (as Julia likes to say) for lunch. As long as I don't have to do dishes for one day, I really don't mind.
-Dave and I went on a date last night. We had a great time together. I love that guy!!! (Thanks for babysitting, again, Amber!)
- Our community pools opened today. It will be open on the weekends for the rest of this month, and open during the week starting in June. I think it would be fun if Dave, the girls, and I made it to the pool sometime tomorrow.
- I will get to see my parents in a week from tomorrow!!!!!!!! I am so excited!
- I will get to see my sister in a week and a half!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited!
- Mosquitoes have already eaten me alive!
-Dave and I really need to get on the ball, and get back to painting, switching out light fixtures, doing yard work, and all the other fixer-upper stuff we planned on doing after we moved in. We've been extremely preoccupied.

Well, I guess that mostly covers it. This is going to be a great summer!!! We're going to Florida in less than a month, and after that, we will be enjoying all the wonderful things there are to do in our community. We also get to have friends and family come down to visit, and get to go up and visit family in July!! I am looking forward to all of it!! Thanks for reading. Love, Amber