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I'm Back...I think!

2010-07-15T19:32:00.000-07:00

So it has officially been an entire year since I've last blogged! As I come back with my new camera and a ton of memories that aren't yet blogged, I am hesitant to begin again...not really sure why...I think because blogging can get a little addictive for me so it's seems to be an "all or nothing" trend in my life. I get SUPER overwhelmed when thinking about how behind I am and how much has happened over the last year that I've left out so I will just start at present day. This way I might actually stick to it! Here's a list of some highlights of the last year:

Josh got a new job. (August 09)
We joined a new church and love it! (August 09)
Chris Taylor, our friend from CO, became our "short-term" roommate...we made him stay for 8 months :) (August 09)

We were blessed to be able to buy our first house and moved to sort-of rural Wylie (very rural compared to Addison, where we came from.) (December 09)

We found out we are expecting our 3rd baby (February 10)
We got to start a small group in our home where we share in bible study, fellowship, and prayer every other Thursday night. (February 10?)
The kids and I got Josh a puppy, Judah, for his birthday. (May 10)

Kimmie and Johnny got married, yea! (June 10)

We found out our 3rd baby is a girl. Pictured is our family enjoy our strawberry/blueberry donut tradition. (June 10)

Vacation to the mountains in CO and to visit the Taylor family (Yes, we finally let Chris move out and go back to his wife and 5 children.) (June 10)

Pictured: Sarah Taylor with Caleb
Youth camp!! (June 10)
Maylea turned 3!! (So I'll back track a little b/c I can't not blog my baby's birthday!) (July 10)

So I guess that was the last year in a very quick recap. It feels good to be back.

Summer fun!

2009-07-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

I've gotten behind on my blogging so here is a short recap of our summer so far...
Dinosaur Dig with Nana, Play Group Portraits, Jenna and Julian's wedding, lots of swimming, fun with art and wikki stick (love them! Every kids should have these to get their imagination going,) fishing and time with cousins, and pizza making! Well that is some of what's been going on with the Hargrove kids so far this summer...its been fun!
Dinosaur Dig

Our Playgroup Pics

Dancing at Julian and Jenna's wedding

Swimming

Fishing with Cousins

Pizza Making at Double Daves

Happy Birthday, Maylea!

2009-07-24T13:16:00.000-07:00

Our sweet little girl is 2! This year we decided to theme her party "ducks and donuts." Maylea loves donuts so she didn't seem to mind that didn't have cake. She invited a small group of friends to an area park where they fed the ducks, played on the playground, and devoured donuts. I have to admit, it is so much fun playing with little girl stuff. Our house is now often decorated with dolls, tutus, butterfly wings and princess high heels thanks to the fun gifts her friends and family brought her. Thank you God for our beautiful little girl. Full of spunk and attitude, she is a ton of fun and a little ball of joy!

Our Future Picasso

2009-06-03T11:26:00.000-07:00

Sweet Maylea loves to paint...She was having so much fun painting everything but the paper that I just couldn't stop her. I just love how our little girl seems to not have a care in the world. She has no fear of getting dirty and she "goes all in" with everything she does...fits included! I cherish these times as she grows up so fast. We are so blessed to have our precious little girl in our lives!

Maylea's Mother's Day Tea

2009-06-03T11:18:00.001-07:00

Here are the pictures from Maylea's class tea. The kids made the hats for all the moms. We had a great time!
Maylea & Mommy

Kamryn & Her mommy, Katherine

Kansas & her mommy, Tasha (Tasha told me that Kansas has two baby dolls and she named them baby Kamryn and baby Maylea...so cute)

Maylea & her friend, Cade Martin

This is one of Maylea's teachers, Ms. Vida. Maylea already misses her and asks for her all the time!

The joy of natural process!

2009-06-03T10:45:00.000-07:00

Warning, some of you moms might be totally grossed out by this so I'm warning you now. Before you watch this video please know I was not home and Josh did wash hands after all was done! :) Maylea is a little too close for comfort for me...watch and you'll see!

Tarzan & Son

2009-05-09T06:47:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago, when Caleb was quarantined for having the croup, Josh decided to take him outside to play for a while while Maylea was taking her nap. I was inside doing laundry when I heard Josh and Caleb yelling, "Mooommmmy, come look!" Usually when both of them are yelling out at me it is because they are doing something amusing, so I grabbed my camera and went outside. That is when I found Daddy Tarzan and his son up in the tree. Caleb was enjoying so much that it took a while to convince him to finally come down. I love watching my sweet baby is growing into a curious, adventurous, little boy that he is becoming. I don't look forward to the day I hear, "moooommmmmy!" and see Caleb in the top of a taller, more flimsy tree by himself. I guess I have to accept the fact that those days will be here sooner than I know it.

Easter Photo Shoot

2009-05-09T06:18:00.000-07:00

Our friend, Jesse, is starting his own photography biz and asked us if he could take pictures of our family for his portfolio. So with the help of jelly belly bribes from me, Jesse was able to get some pretty cute ones of the kids. Enjoy! www.jesseryanphotography.com

Go to Sit a Spell!

2009-05-09T06:11:00.001-07:00

My friend, Heather, has started writing something called Flashback Fridays. She blogs about something funny or memorable that has happened in the past. With four boys in the house she's got many of these to pull from! Yesterdays was really funny and if you have a boy you've taken through potty training you can appreciate the story. It might be a preview to what is coming soon to your home! Here is Heather's blog so go see!
Sit a Spell: http://allthingshendrick.blogspot.com

So Thankful...

2009-05-07T15:38:00.000-07:00

Today was Caleb's Mothers Day Tea. Caleb was so excited he could hardly contain himself all morning. He had made me paper plate flowers in a vase and a place mat with his hand prints on it. During the tea the kids showed us all the things they do during a normal morning routine, quoted all 12 bible verses of the month, and then performed Psalm 193. I am so thankful for godly teachers at CLC. God has so blessed us! Thank you to Ms. Buffy, Ms. Julie, and Ms. Diana for all they've done this year to partner with Josh and I in training up Caleb in the fear of the Lord.

Here is our attempt to get Ryan and Caleb's picture together. Somehow it often turns into a wrestling match when one is told to hug the other.

Our Little Diva

2009-04-18T21:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Maylea decided she would dress herself. She continued to bring me different articles of clothing and asked me to put them on her. I did and this is what we came up with. (Note: Caleb also changes clothes frequently and he picked out the clothes he is wearing in the "sick day" post. I promise I have a little more fashion sense than that!)

Sick Day

2009-04-18T21:15:00.001-07:00

Last night Caleb came down with the croup, yuck!! So after a sleepless night of hot, steam showers, we were tired but Caleb woke up feeling better. We hung out at home all day which can be challenging for 2 toddlers so we did our best to make the day fun. Mimi and Grandawg came over and brought Cane's chicken (Thanks guys!) The kids always love to see their grandparents so this was a special treat. Then after naptime we decided to have a picnic in the living room for dinner. Caleb and Maylea pretended to drink out of our plastic wine glasses and we indulged in fine dining: Mac N Cheese, PB&J, and apples. The picnic blanket soon became the hide & go seek blanket. Caleb and Maylea are so fun to watch as they play together. Maylea wants to do everything Caleb does and Caleb wants Maylea to do everything he tells her to do. She is pretty independent so many times playing doesn't go without a brawl but at least there is always action, right?
Toast!

Full Bellies.

Caleb and his "bad guy" face :)

Hide & Go Seek

Easter 2009

2009-04-18T19:58:00.000-07:00

This year Easter was so much fun. Maylea is now old enough to hunt eggs with little assistance and she loved every second of it. Caleb is now a pro and decided that this year he was going for quality instead of quantity. As he hunted he would carefully open each egg to make sure that it wasn't something he needed to eat right then. We kept having to encourage him to get his eggs and then open them! We had a Easter playgroup at Ryan Rocket and Kenzie's house which is always so much fun. On Friday my mom came into town to spend time with us and celebrate Easter with the kids. Then on Sunday we did church, naps, and then off to Josh's great Aunt Linda's house for the annual Hargrove Easter family reunion. The kids had so much fun playing their cousins and meeting their new baby cousin, Mia.
Though the festivities are always so much fun, we never want to lose sight of why we are even celebrating. As we pig out at the potluck and our kids sneak their 20th piece of candy of the day, Jesus is like, "Hey, remember I died on the cross to pay for your sin and then rose from the grave so that you too could spend eternity in Heaven? I AM ALIVE!!!" Praise the Lord for he is risen! I am so truely greatful. It brought so much joy to my heart when Maylea's Sunday School teacher told me that she said her bible verse and then to hear her shouting in the hallway, "Jesus alive!" I thank the Lord every time I listened to our sweet Caleb recite the story of Jesus dying on the cross and raising from the grave out of his toddler bible. Thank you Lord that they are getting it. I pray that as parents we are a godly example to our children and that our family never loses sight of the real reason we celebrate this special holiday.
Easter Playgroup

Our attempt to get a picture of the kids in their Sunday Easter outfits (right after nap:) Real Easter pictures to come!!

Caleb and his Grandawg

Papa, Grandawg, Daddy, and Caleb (4 generations of Hargrove Boys)

Caleb searching for the real "goodies!"

mmm...good.

The Potty Playroom

2009-03-31T20:04:00.000-07:00

For some weird reason the bathroom has become the popular hang out in our house lately. Caleb and Maylea decided to take control over the large cabinet under the sink. They cleaned it out and use it to play in. It has been a house, fort, school, and a hide out for these two goofballs. They bring toys into it and play inside together with the drawer above them open to "let the sun in." We've also had "crazy hair fun" and "muscle men mania" in the bathroom lately. Don't you love what kids and their creative imaginations come up with?! I love watching them play together these days especially when it involves cheap entertainment!

Five Amazing Years!

2009-03-31T19:50:00.000-07:00

I have been so blessed to be married to Joshua for 5 years on January 17th. For our anniversary we went and ate at Maggiano's and then stayed the night at Embassy Suite's in Frisco (thanks, Jason for hooking us up!) It was just so nice to have a night that was stress-free. We had no agenda besides going to dinner and no children to chase around (thanks to Mimi & Grandawg for doing that part for us!!) We got to hang out in the hot tub and indulge on a way too expensive pint of chocolate ice cream from the hotel coffee shop. The best part is that Josh has been writing me letters over the past year. Some are long and detailed and some are quick little notes about how I did something he liked or how special I am to him. He put them all in a photo album and gave that to me as our anniversary present. This was the best and sweetest present I've ever received and I will cherish is forever.
The next morning we went down stairs and enjoyed a complimentary full, hot breakfast. I can't tell you how great it is to eat wonderful food like omelets and homemade french toast and not have to cook it, clean up after, or drive to get there! It is funny the things you savor when you are the mom! Thank you Josh for being the most amazing husband in the world. You are more than I could have ever dreamed I would be blessed with. I am your biggest fan and look forward to celebrating each and every anniversary we have together.

New Year's Party at the Steegers

2009-01-27T17:45:00.000-08:00

Rachel and Maylea

Brant Broker drumin' it up!

Josh's boss, Dennis, and his wife Teri had a get-together at their house for New Years. We showed up over an hour late after Kim, Debbie, and I couldn't seem to stop shopping and then totally getting lost going somewhere we've been several times, (thanks, Josh!) We had lots of fun playing rock band, eating yummy, organic turkey queso, and playing football in the backyard. The kids had fun staring at Mason's large lizard and chasing Rachel's cats.

Christmas 2008

2009-01-27T17:24:00.000-08:00

This Christmas was absolutely crazy and busy, but so much fun. It almost brought me to tears to see Caleb start to "get" what Christmas is really about...Jesus! He asked to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus like a thousand times! Maylea still has no clue but she was so much fun this year, tearing open presents and wearing bows on her head. Our Christmas morning service at church was awesome and so special. I am so blessed to have an amazing family and I love them so much!

Our Christmas Eve Slippers

Christmas Morning Service at Grace
www.graceoutreachcenter.org

Christmas at Nana & Grampy's house

2009-01-27T17:20:00.000-08:00

The kids and I went down to visit my parents for Christmas. We love when we get to go down to the hill country to visit! My mom made Maylea the cutest tutu!!

Congrats Uncle Kyle!

2009-01-27T16:31:00.000-08:00

My brother, Kyle, graduated from Texas State University with an engineering degree. We are so proud of him!! His niece and nephew were excited to see him and their Aunt Justine. Justine is currently Caleb's best friend. So cute!
Caleb was more interested in the storm drain than anything else!

After the ceremony we went to eat and then to Kyle and Justine's apartment in San Marcos and had our quick family Christmas before the parents headed off to the mountains to go skiing.

We love our Nana!

2008-12-06T20:19:00.000-08:00

This year we spent Thanksgiving with my side of the family in the hill country. This is a picture of my mom, "Nana", with Caleb and Maylea in front of my Aunt Becky's home. We love our Nana soooo much!

2008-12-06T20:10:00.000-08:00

Random, cute pictures of the kids!

The Glory of Pain!

2008-12-06T19:54:00.000-08:00

I find it so funny how guys take pride in their injuries, especially if they come during an act of "toughness." My wonderful husband is among most men who feel this way. He thinks scars add character! :) Late one evening last month he showed up at home looking like this. Come to find out he did try to call me as he was waiting to see the doctor but couldn't get a hold of me. So here is how Josh's exciting new "character builder" occurred: He was playing football with a group of guys from our church. They were playing around after the game was over and Johnny had the ball. Josh started to tackle him while he began to throw the ball when Johnny's skinny elbow came back and hit Josh's face. The End. Here's the funny part to me. Being all boys, they continued to play until Johnny noticed Josh was bleeding pretty bad and the cut was deep. So then all the guys left to go to other engagements and Josh drove himself to the hospital, bloody eye and all, checked himself into the ER, and had stitches put in! If this would have happened to a group of girls, the entire group would have canceled whatever else they had going on and would have carpooled to the hospital together for the moral support. I guess going alone adds to the manliness of the whole situation.

LMC Camping Trip

2008-11-17T16:33:00.000-08:00

This is the group of students I am so privileged to spend time with at our church, Grace Outreach Center. They are college-aged students in a program we have called Leadership Master's Commission. These students spend 9 months at our church traveling around the country putting on services at other churches, serving in our church, memorizing scripture, taking college courses via coorespondance, praying until they are blue in the face, loving on children, youth, adults, and each other, being discipled in the areas of leadership and ministry, and doing their best to be faithful in where God is leading them in the present and for their futures. I love these students and am so excited to see how God grows and changes them for his glory during their time here. Over Halloween weekend we were able to go camping together. It was our version of "roughing it" with my wonderful in-laws house about a 1/2 mile from our camp grounds. I'm glad to say though I love "roughing it" I also love going to the bathroom in doors and having coffee ready for me in the morning! We had a great time.

My adopted brother-in-law, Brian Spruell-Hargrove

Christina and her torch, made from a stick and a t-shirt

Sweet, singin' Kayla

Look closely...Christopher is in that tree!

James and Adam

Josh's cousin, Christopher, who is also an LMC student

Ashley, Helena, and Jesse

Pastor Jessie cooking breakfast

Halloween Play Group

2008-11-17T16:22:00.001-08:00

This year our Halloween play group was at Celena and Kennedy's house. The whole crazy crowd showed up and we all had a blast! The kids decorated pumpkins with sticker, etc. and we collected food and put it all in paper bags decorated by our kids. The kids filled the bags and we took them to the local food pantry. One of the moms came up with this great idea and I learned that even at 3 years old our little ones can learn about giving and serving. Our little flower and mighty Superman have so much fun with their friends. They are all such a blessing to us!

Ryan's Pirate Party

2008-11-17T16:15:00.000-08:00

Caleb's best bud, Ryan, turned 3 this October and had a pirate party! Check out the awesome pirate ship Ryan's daddy, Scott, built for the party! The kids had so much fun.

Oktoberfest at Down town McKinney

2008-10-26T15:25:00.000-07:00

Our family went with Josh's parents to the Oktoberfest in down town McKinney. I absolutely love going down there. They always have different things going on, not to mention yummy food and great shopping. The kids enjoyed the petting zoo, doing crafts, and playing on the fire truck. Our family's favorite food/drink selection of this year was the fresh mint limeade. Oooh, I want one right now!

Caleb at Gymnastics

2008-10-26T15:22:00.000-07:00

This fall Caleb started taking gymnastics at The Gymnastics Place. He is doing very well and loves going every week. Caleb's favorite thing to do is the trampoline. Maylea comes with us and loves watching Caleb. She gets a little upset sometimes because she really wants to join her brother in all the fun!

Family Fun at the Mall

2008-10-26T14:34:00.000-07:00

Here is some pictures of the kids playing together at the mall playground.

Donuts with my Daddy!!

2008-10-25T20:52:00.000-07:00

On Thursday Caleb's class had Donuts with Dads. Caleb loves his Daddy...for lots of reason but today b/c he was one of the only dads who let their 3 year old have 2 donuts! Josh enjoyed going to Caleb's class for the first time.

Designs by Drake

2008-10-22T14:57:00.000-07:00

One of my dear friends, Jennifer, just began a "mommy biz" making customized, photo greeting cards. She has Christmas, baby announcements, and more and they are sooooo cute and really well priced. I'm using her for our Christmas cards this year. Check out her blog: http://drake_designs.blogspot.com

Caleb and Maylea's Birthday Bash!

2008-10-17T15:11:00.000-07:00

We celebrated with friends and family for Caleb's 3rd birthday and Maylea's 1st. We decided since I was going to have to be out of town for Maylea's 1st b-day that we would celebrate with family right before she turned one and then have a party together for both the kids when Caleb turned three, six weeks later. We cooked out and swam on September 6th here at our apartments. The weather was perfect and kids had lots of fun playing with their friends. It was so cute to watch a big group of 1-5 year olds racing up and down the grassy hill together, eating their Backyardigans cupcakes, and sportin' the floaties! Thanks to all who came to celebrate with us!

Our little "rugrat!"

2008-10-17T14:50:00.000-07:00

My mom came into town last weekend. She said that Maylea, with her skinny little limbs and her big eyes & smile, looked like a little "rugrat." Does anyone remember that cartoon on Nickelodeon called the Rugrats? Well we watched it a lot while growing up and this is what Mom was referring to. So I decided to take a little video of our little "rugrat." We love her little personality so much, not to mention her skinny legs and her big blue eyes!! (Sorry for the video being sideways. I thought my camera would rotate it automatically but it didn't!)

School Days

2008-10-06T20:18:00.000-07:00

Caleb & Maylea on their first day of school, August 08

Caleb Cole and his buddy, Caleb Thomas

Here is Caleb and Maylea on their first day of school. They attend CLC, a preschool at Prestonwood Baptist Church, twice a week. They LOVE going to school! Maylea's favorite thing to do currently is pulling all the other kid's nametags off their backs. Caleb loves playing with his friends, calendar time, and romp. We get to hear the "Days of the Week" and "Months of the Year" songs quite frequently and love it. I also love working at CLC. The ladies I work with are some of my closest, dear friends and our 18 month olds are so sweet! I also added some pictures of beautiful baby McKenzie Lane, Mari's daughter, on her first buggy ride. Isn't she a doll?!

Mandy and Erick's Wedding

2008-10-06T20:07:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to our sweet Friends, Mandy and Erick Molina. They were married August 3, 2008 at the Nature Preserve in Plano. It was a small, intimate ceremony with close friends and family. We are so blessed to have this amazing couple in our lives. Caleb and Maylea love them and can't wait to meet baby Noah Molina, who will be joining us in the world in December.

Maylea, Queen of the 4th!!

2008-08-26T13:59:00.000-07:00

Birthday Queen

She loves her brother

Happy 1st Birthday, sweet Maylea Elizabeth!!

Family 4th of July party

Fun at PBC

2008-08-26T13:27:00.000-07:00

Today after Meet the Teacher at CLC, our kid's mother's day out program, we went to play at Prestonwood's indoor playground. Here are some pictures of Caleb, Caleb, Ryan, Lilli, Maylea, and Lola. Oh so cute!

Six Flags 08

2008-08-26T12:59:00.000-07:00

Jordan and the Cirque Dancers/mimes

Tired Boys!!

Caleb riding with Aunt Kimmie and Grandawg

Goofy girl

Our Family-minus Uncle Jordan

Maylea and her beauty of a chin!

This summer our family went to Six Flags with Josh's parent's and siblings. This was Caleb and Maylea's first time to Six Flags and my first time in 10+ years. We had so much fun! I was amazed at all the things they had for little ones to do. Even Maylea rode on a few rides. Caleb's favorite ride at Six Flags was the mini mine train. He also liked the family train and the airplanes. Maylea enjoyed hangin' in the stroller, slurping on lemonade, and sweating like crazy! At the end of the night we stayed to watch Cirque in their new show. We were so tired but it was worth the wait! Pictures to come...

Playin' at the Drakes

2008-08-26T12:09:00.000-07:00

For my birthday my husband and friends were so sweet to have a little get together for me. We cooked burgers at the Drake's house and the kids played. I love and cherish the friendship we have with the Rogers and the Drakes. I don't know what I'd do without them. God knew the perfect time to place them in my life. Caleb Cole, Caleb Thomas, and Ryan are 3 peas in a pod and Maylea, Hannah, and Kenzie will be as soon as they all realize each other is actually there! Maylea is beginning to notice her little friends and it is so fun to watch them begin to bond. Here are some pics of our fun times together which I'm sure will follow up with many more! Love you girls!

Well, I finally did it...sort of.

2008-08-23T20:02:00.000-07:00

I’ve been talking about setting up at blog for our family for who knows how long. The truth is we are a little preoccupied right now! Here in the Hargrove household lives an almost 3, incredibly busy little boy that melts me with his smile every time I and privileged to witness it. He’s got his daddy’s “rebel without a cause” attitude built in and is constantly finding new ways to “destroy and conquer.” Then there is Maylea, my little, cuddly love bug who walks like she’s had one too many to drink. She’s our 13 month old little diva, drama queen with an eagerness to do everything her brother does. She has no problem whatsoever voicing her opinion LOUD and clear when she feels she is not getting the treatment she deserves! Her scream is so high-pitched that her nicknames have ranged from pterodactyl baby to our sweet little squealing piglet since she was a couple months old. I have a hard time finding any TIME to do things like keep up with a blog.

My wonderful husband, Josh, decided that he would set up our first official family blog for me so here I go!! We will see how often things get updated. If you check in and you see it’s been a while, just imagine Caleb trying to stack a chair on top of the toilet and with the intention of climbing on top to reach into a way too high cabinet. Then picture Maylea, standing underneath the wobbly chair, squealing at Caleb to let him know how upset she is that no one is boosting her up so that she can explore with him. Then remember I’ll get to the blog once my beautiful yet curious and determined children are no longer onto the next adventure but are finally passed out during a short-lived yet SO needed nap. Really I am super excited to finally begin the blog of our fun and unpredictable family of 4 (so far,) and hope that when I do have a quick moment that I’ll be able to log the memories of the fun times the Lord has given us. I thank him every night for a life that is not even close to boring and the job of “Mommy,” which I absolutely love, that always keeps me on my toes.

Good night