#odellsummerfun2015, part 5!

So, school is back in full swing, but I have one more summer recap to do! This was such a wonderful summer for our family.  We were able to see and do so many things, and I am just so very thankful for the memories we made together as a family! 

David, being the sweet one that he is, took all four children by himself for back to school hair cuts.  

At the local beauty school, ha! It's only $5 per kid, and you can't really beat that! 

They love getting their hair cut, so it was a treat for the little ones!

Maybe Carter didn't love it so much.  What he did love, however, was a few weeks later when David took him to his barber for a real hair cut.  I was super sad to see the curls go, but he looks pretty adorable with his new hair cut.  Mostly, Carter loves that he looks just like his daddy <3 p="">

David and Carter built a table for a family here in Little Rock.  Isn't it gorgeous!

One of my very favorite things we did this summer was to give each child their own day for the summer.  So, Monday - Carter, Tuesday - Summer, Wednesday - Tilly & Thursday - Story.  On their day, they got to go first for everything.  This is a big deal at our house! But, the best part was at night, we let them stay up an extra 30 minutes with just Mom and Dad at night.  They got to pick our activity.  Most often, we ate popsicles and watched American Ninja Warrior, but on this night, Tilly wanted to bake muffins for everyone.  Do you date your children? It is something we think is so important, but with four it can get quite expensive, so this was a great way to give them some one on one time with us without having to spend a whole lot of money.  I look forward to continuing this tradition next summer, too! 

The girls and I had a spa party one day.  

We did manicures.  

And pedicures.  It was so much fun! 

I also taught my first class on Essential Oils this summer.  It was so much fun and very successful.  I have not blogged about my love for EO yet, but it's on my to do list now that school is back in session.  

At the class, we had three drink dispensers set up for tasting, and that was a big hit! 

Story lost her first tooth this summer, and the one beside it will soon follow.  Summer did most of the work wiggling the tooth and getting it ready.  I pulled it out; and the tooth fairy came for a visit! Maybe Summer will be our resident dentist.  She has pulled all 9 of her teeth and all of Tilly's too! 

Last Wednesday, we had some special guests at church, Willie and Emily Butler.  David and I met Willie at MFUGE during 2003 when we were all on staff in Nashville.  Emily was a journeyman in Tibet that summer.  The following summer, we all four worked together as married couples on staff at MFUGE in Nashville again.  We love this couple so much and are so thankful for this time we got to spend with them.  Willie definitely instilled in our hearts a love of missions.  They, along with their three children, are IMB missionaries, and we are so proud of them! And just like that summertime is over! It went by so quickly, but we tried to soak it up the best way we knew how! 

Tilly's birthday at school.

For Tilly's 7th birthday, she got to spend her day at school! 

 Something I love about Arkansas Baptist is that they allow birthday boys and girls to have a free dress day on their birthday, so fun! Tilly picked out her own outfit ;) She wore the shirt our neighbor, Miss Pam made especially for her! 

 This girl.  She makes me a better momma and challenges me in ways I never dreamed.  So thankful for her spunky self! 

 Tilly with her birthday shirt.  Thank you, Miss Pam, for such a thoughtful gift! 

 Miss Maggie surprised Tilly by eating lunch with her at school.  Tomorrow, Miss Maggie will begin her college career at Ouachita Baptist University, and we will miss her so much! 

 Summer and Tilly's classes have lunch at the same time, so Summer got to join them for lunch, too.  

 And then, Miss Maggie waited to eat with Carter, too.  Such a fun treat! Thank you, Miss Maggie, for loving our family so well! 

 Wednesday afternoon, we brought treats to Tilly's class at school.  She requested M&M cookies, so that's just what we did!

 It has been so much fun celebrating this girl!

 One of Tilly's sweet classmates asked to have her picture made with the birthday girl! So sweet! 

 Tilly and one of her most favorite friends, Adalyn! We are so thankful these sweet friends are together again!

 This is Tilly's teacher, Mrs. Bricker, and we think she is pretty awesome! 

 Happy birthday, Tilly! We hope your day has been so very special and that you have felt loved and treasured as you are! We love you so big!

Tilly is 7!

Happy 7th birthday, to our Tilly girl!  You are such a bright ray of sunshine and joy in our lives, and we could not be more thankful for you if we tried.  Thank you for showing us what it means to do all things in a big way! You love big, laugh big, sing big, dance big, cry big, smile big - did I mention love big? That's the thing you do in such a big way it ministers to us all! Here are some of my favorite pictures of you over the years along with your yearly interview of favorites.  We love you oh so much, Tilly Brooke! 

1. What is your favorite color? Light, light blue and light, light pink.  They look pretty together.  

2. What is your favorite toy? Rainbow.  (Stuffed animal she made at a build-a-bear birthday party.)

3. What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon.

 4. What is your favorite tv show? Austin and Ally.  

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? A sandwich.  

6. What is your favorite outfit?  Striped pants and matching shirt.  

7. What is your favorite game?  Gator in the pool.  

8. What is your favorite snack? A popsicle.

 9. What is your favorite animal? A chihuahua.  

10. What is your favorite song? Shake it for me, girl!

  11. What is your favorite book?  Junie B. Jones

 12. Who is your best friend?  Adalyn. 

13. What is your favorite cereal?  Peanut Butter Crunch.  

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside?  Play kickball.  

15. What is your favorite drink?   Vanilla sprite.  

 16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas.  

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night?  Lovey.  

 18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?  Oatmeal.  

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?  Chuy's. 

 20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A vet. I like animals a lot.  

21.  What is your favorite movie?  Descendants.  

Happy birthday, sweet girl! The five of us love you so very much! We are hoping and praying this is one of your very best years yet! We are trusting that one day He who loves you so big will use you in a big way for His glory! 

Back to School!

So we started school last week at our house.  The big three began on Wednesday, and Story started on Thursday.  They are all at Arkansas Baptist this year, same building and everything.  So thankful for that!

The night before school began, we read this book together.  Have you ever read it? It's the sweetest! Wednesday morning our crew was up early and so excited for a new school year! 

Carter is in third grade this year! It doesn't seem possible that one of mine is in the grade I taught for so many years.  Love it! 

Summer is in second grade!

And Tilly is in first grade! 

Our school created its own hashtag for the first day, so it was so fun to look at all of the other first day pictures.  #ABFirstDay15

And I got to spend the day with this sweet girl, just the two of us before she headed off to Kindergarten.  We spent the day at the pool with some of our favorite friends.  

And then, we went to pick up the big three from their school.  Starting Kindergarten is hard work apparently! 

Thursday was Story's first day, and she was really excited that morning.  

We took another picture of all of the children with our chalkboard for Story's first day.  

And since everyone was such a good sport, we took a silly picture, too! So we are back at it.  Last night, we had open house where the teachers went over the year with the parents.  I think all of our children are going to have a great year! Story struggled the very first day, and after that she has been fine.  

Summer has had a hard time being separated from her favorite friend, Sarah, this year, but she is going to be ok.  I think our motto for the year is "be brave!" We talk about that a lot at our house.  I want to be brave in my parenting.  I want them to be brave at school and with their friends.  I want David to be brave as he shares God's word each week.  

AB had a back to school bash last Friday, and it was so refreshing to see all of our children running around and playing with their friends.  I didn't take a single picture, but thankfully some other sweet mommas did! 

Tilly with her favorite friend, Adalyn.  They were together last year and are in the same class this year, too.  We are so thankful for that! 

Sunday morning, we had a special time of prayer for the new school year.  I loved seeing all of these sweet children standing up at the front of the church.  There are also many teachers and administrators, and we prayed over them, too! Such a special time! Here's to hoping this year is one of the very best yet!