Sweet Sixteen!!!!!

Anna- with make-up 

Anna, 7 months

Anna, 1 year old, Naomi in the background

About 1 1/2

Two years old

About 3, look at those baby blues!

About 9 months

4 years

Anna's kindergarten picture

chicken pox!

12 years

ooh la la!

Happy Birthday!

Just for laughs!

Gorgeous!

May 23rd marked Sixteen years since our darling, Anna-Renee Ruth Houston, was born. Since ladies' retreat was the next day, we celebrated with lunch and a year-late birthday gift...getting her ears pierced! We will be giving her her party in June. At sixteen, we present our daughters with a hope chest. Instead of a party filled with peers and silliness, we instead invite couples who have been influential in their lives to come. If they choose to bring her a gift, we have them bring something to put into her hope chest, along with the reason why they chose that item. It is our desire to instill in our children the importance of "putting away childish things" as they get closer to adulthood. This isn't to say we don't allow them to be silly and have fun, it is just that we want them to know that there is a time and a place for that and a time and place to be sober minded. Don't worry, we still have plenty of fun!!!! Sixteen is also the age we allow our daughters to start wearing make-up. This is always hard on Daddy! He makes sure they know, in no uncertain terms, that they really DON'T need it, but that it is allowed. Our rule on this is that, if they are or become rebellious in spirit, they do not get make-up until they turn 18. I am so thankful that both of my girls have had a sweet and submissive spirit as they seek to honor their daddy in this and all other areas!