Visitors!!

My college roommate and her family came down for a visit this weekend. I haven't seen her in over 3 years and I am so thankful they made the trip down to visit! We are excited to be living closer to each other and are planning many more gatherings. They joined us for Mother's day weekend and we all had a blast. The kids got along so well and we were able to just hang out.

A little Illinois sunset the night before our visitors arrived

the weather was perfect when they arrived so we all walked down to the playground to get some of the kids energy out. These girls decided on a sunglasses fashion show. Check out their style;)

These two are the same age (only 2 months apart) and were fast friends! They loved hanging out together, as you can see in this picture. I love the joy on their faces!

Colleen and me…I have missed her!

 John reading stories to the kids. It seems that Colleens kids love books as much as our kids do. so we spent a lot of time this weekend reading to the kids…even Alley joined in and read the younger ones some books

Mother's day snuggles with my girls

the older kids before church

the whole gang out for a mothers day lunch of cheeseburgers and fries…so thankful Colleen and family love the same things we do!!

After our visitors left, Andy and the girls took me shooting. Our annual Mother's Day shooting took on a whole different level here in Illinois…man was it more difficult to just go in and shoot, but we prevailed and it was fun!

I am so thankful I get to be a mommy to my three beautiful girls! I love it

Illinois Half Marathon and our 11th Anniversary!

I ran my 4th half marathon this weekend. Whew, I am glad its over. We didn't get any pictures because it was so cold, pouring rain and very windy. BUT I survived and actually had a PR!! Oh the joys of running in Illinois! Andy did make me jump out of the car and get a picture right as we were leaving.

I can barely move in this picture. Thankfully I had Andy bring extra clothes and we were able to warm up in his office, but I still was so cold and wet. Here is my "I can't feel my face or anything on my body and I and still freezing" smile. DONE!

We also celebrated our 11th anniversary today! Woot-woot! I am so thankful I am married to this man. He loves me and serves me so well. He is an incredibly hard worker, giving, kind and generous. I love how he stretches me and teaches me how to put others first as well as how to show others God's love. He is definitely my better half! Thank you for asking me to be your bride:)

We celebrated by eating donuts, chipotle, shopping at Home Depot and going to a Beer, Bourbon and Bacon festival. Then we ended the night with ice cream…he knows me so well:)!

Illinois Football Spring Game

The girls and I threw on our Navy and Orange and went out to support the Fighting Illini at their Spring game/practice. We enjoyed playing "where's daddy?" and got some great pictures of him in action.

The girls ready to watch some football

These next few pictures show Andy as he does his thing

working on a guy in the chair

chatting it up with a player

the girls focused in on their daddy

stretching and chatting

smiles

look who was on the main page of the Illinios athletics website! 

Woo-woot! Andy and Lovie Smith:)

Mimi and Papa visit

Mimi and Papa came to visit! We love visitors and they were definitely our first since moving to Illinois. Of course we had to take them out for donuts at our favorite mom and pop donut place, Carmellas. YUM! I think it's safe to say we all enjoyed our donuts…poor Andy had to work the whole weekend…boo!

Nothing says Welcome to Illinois like a hot donut:)

Amazingly I didn't have a ton of projects planned for when mom and dad came. It was probably a good thing because the weather was cold and rainy. So we spent some time exploring the library, hanging out and doing small improvements around the house...

MC reading some books on her favorite chair in the library

documenting our trip to the library and our 63 book haul!

eating…another thing we do well;)

 getting in a little homework after snack

Andy also took us all on a tour around the football facilities

The indoor practice field

players lounge

The stadium

with all the rain and nasty weather, we looked like this for most of the weekend...

Dad and I were able to take off the shutters and paint them black (they were a horrid faded robins egg blue) and also stain our front door.

It was a quick visit but we were so thankful to have them out to visit us! Come back soon!!

Easter 2016

Once and for all

You offered up your life

For one and all

The perfect sacrifice

Atoning blood was shed

Love conquered when You said…

It is Finished

It is Done

To the world salvation comes

Hallelujah, we're alive!

Hell was silenced when you cried:

It is finished

It is finished

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Romans 10:9

Happy Easter!

Arkansas

Over Spring break we took a quick trip to Arkansas to visit Andy's family. We were thankful that both Andy's brothers were able to come and visit for a little bit while we were there. We always love spending time with family!

Sally playing legos with the girls

painting porcelain bunnies with G'ma

The weather didn't really cooperate with us while we were there, but we were able to catch some patches of sun and dry weather here and there. MC enjoying the great outdoors

enjoying some down time with G'ma before all the family comes over

Lunch snuggles with Uncle Todd

Twins! Aunt Joy and Kendall

Little Miss MC being all cute:)

My man

My three blessings! Love them so!

Sally and her two younger boys…I see a resemblance there!

Love these people!!!

 aaaaand the tickle game

more Easter crafts for my little Easter bunnies