a very special texas trip!!!!!

well 2014 continues on with more excitement….in mid january, after the boys birthdays, we flew to Texas to meet baby Haylee! Hooray! the days leading up to our trip the girls were beyond excited. they wanted to pack and repack their airplane backpacks, we made lists of what to pack and tried on cold weather clothes, etc.

here are the girls one afternoon drawing airplanes…sammy's idea. she then labeled who was in each window. love their concentration!


we flew out together with mom and dad and had a connecting flight in atlanta. we were glad to have the chance to stretch and get a snack between flights. the girls loved every second of their airplane adventure. kins took a little nap. thomas did too! whew! he did super. after all my worrying….ahhhh!


we did it….he didn't scream on the airplane…he was a happy boy. hooray! arriving in TX!


getting to meet my niece Haylee Beth made me so so happy. seeing my little brother as a daddy made me so so happy. seeing mandy and blake as new parents made me so so happy. my girls snuggling their sweet baby cousin made me so so happy. ohhhhkay so i was REALLY HAPPY. hehehe.
i just love her and i love being her aunt. it was the best trip getting to hold her and spend time all together as a family. we love you baby girl!!!!

Pop Pop has the magic touch!

look at that face…she couldn't be any cuter!!!! so so sweet Haylee girl! 


although samantha's plans for building a snowman were out she was very excited to help uncle blake and daddy build a fire and roast marshmallows. she stayed up later than all the little ones and loved every second of that too. 


on Sunday we celebrated Haylee's baptism! it was a beautiful day at church (even though thomas and i spent most of it exploring the outside grounds and hallways of the church hehehe) and it was extra special for the whole family to be there. Afterwards we celebrated at a unique and delicious buffet restaurant with an amazing view. such a special memory!! oh and the guest of honor is wearing the same baptism gown that I wore and all the girl cousins in the family wore, last one before Haylee was Kins!


besides roasting marshmallows samantha also had on the top of her list…playing games and puzzles with uncle blake, getting to ice skate for the very first time with daddy and taking the best bubble bath there ever was in aunt mandy's bath tub. what a trip!! =)

this melts my heart….i love you brother and watching you love on my children makes me overwhelmed with happiness!

the cousins…together for their first ever photo shoot. hehehe. 


look at that smile!!!!!

we miss you already baby Haylee. your mommy and daddy are taking such good care of you. you are so very loved by so many people. even though we are far apart, we are always thinking about you. we live for the pictures your mommy and daddy send us on the phone and we can't wait to watch you grow. samantha and kinsley are always asking when they can hold and play with you next. you are our precious Haylee Beth!!  xoxoxo