Day One Hundred and Sixty-Five

Actual Date: Monday, September 6, 2010

We went to the mall today to catch a break from the hot Texas heat.

Parker played in the water playground for the first time and LOVED it.

He would have spent all day there if we would have let him. It was equally entertaining for us to watch him and hear his little giggles.

The girls played in the water too but they loved the other playground just as much. They waited there with Daddy and Grandpa while Grandma and Mommy discovered the store Charming Charlie.

Oh my goodness, I am in L-O-V-E. It's one of my new favorite stores. The whole store is organized by color and they have everything from necklaces to cozy beer covers! We spent at least a good hour and a half in there. And there was more we could see but we were afraid that the boys were going to be mad at us for taking so long.

I believe I remember Brian's exact words being "We thought you'd died."

Day One Hundred and Sixty-Four

Actual Date: Sunday, September 5, 2010So after all the hustle and bustle of the big party we decided to stay home and rest on this day. Brian smoked some pork wrapped in bacon (my mouth is watering just remembering it) and I made a layered salad from the one and only Pioneer Woman of course. Here's the link if you're interested.

Day One Hundred and Sixty-Three

Actual Date: Saturday, September 4, 2010

Here are some pictures from the birthday boys very first party. It's hard for me, even now months after, to believe that he's one. Wasn't it just yesterday that I was having a panic attack on my bathroom floor because we were pregnant again?!

Pregnant again?! How could this be possible? We had only planned on having two!

It's true. We make plans and God laughs. But, I have to admit, His plan, as it always is, was much better than mine. We're complete now.

Treasure Chest favor boxes


Shrimp Kabobs

The Birthday boy enjoying some melons.

That face kills me.


Last minute pirate cake. I had originally planned on making these Martha Stewart Cupcakes but I could not find the stencils anywhere. So this is what I threw together at the last minute instead.






And this was the fab shirt that the Birthday boy wore from my friend Adrienne at Harper and Grace Boutique in Cleburne, Tx.


They have all kinds of adorable stuff. Like these adorable shoes. I already checked, and they do not come in adult sizes but rest assured if and when they do, I'll be rockin' the first pair! Be sure to check 'em out.


I've had this knife in the back of my knife drawer for a long time now. I got it from my Papa's house when we finally had to move him into a nursing home. I think I've used it maybe once to cut up a watermelon but the thing is so huge it's hard to handle. But I thought it looked like the perfect pirate sword to cut the cake with.

Then it was time for the fun part!

Parker figuring out if he wants any of what is going on here or not.

For awhile all he did was get a couple fingers in it and then wipe them off on his tray.


Then Daddy gave him a taste of the frosting off his finger and things got a little more intense and down to business.

And everything happened pretty quick after that.


I think it's safe to say he enjoyed it. I love how the chocolate made the perfect little goatee mustache.

Daddy and the Birthday Boy all cleaned up.

The chair however took a little more elbow grease.

He was saving some for later I guess.

Time to open presents. If you couldn't tell from the picture, he was very excited about this little tractor. It sings "Old McDonald Had A Farm" and he LOVES that song. He dances along with the music and sings "E-I-E-I-O" with it. Obsessed I tell you.

Now in the present day (December 10, 2010) he can also say "quack quack" when it gets to the duck part too. It's pretty darn cute.

And then there was a all out water war between Ava and Grandma Marcia.

Grandma Marcia: "Don't you dare."

Ava:"Bwhahaha."

Grandma Marcia: "Oh yeah!"

Ava: "Giggle. Squeal. Giggle."

Somebody is getting tired.

Grandpa Jim even got an earring in his party box!

Logan was sporting his cool pirate tattoo.

Jessica being her sweet self and Miles showing off his earrings too.

And that was the end of that. After all that swimming, cake eating, visiting with friends, and present opening, this little man was worn the heck out. He fell asleep as soon as his head hit that mattress.

Thank you to everyone who came and made his first birthday a great one!

Day One Hundred and Sixty-Two

Actual Date: Friday, September 3, 2010

We went to the a reception for my dear friend Andrea and her new husband Michael on this night. And it worked out perfect because my Mother and Father in Love ( I stole that from my friend Sasha ;o) were in town to watch the kids. So Brian and I got a fun little date night out of it.

Their cute cake with their new shared initial. "O"

Love this little last minute waring before the cake feeding. Their faces are priceless.

The beautiful bride and groom and my new friend Irine and her husband Shiju. I just met them that night. Irine is so sweet. And she is pregnant with their first! How exciting! So we talked a lot about that.

And through the beauty of facebook we've been able to keep in touch and I just saw pictures that she posted from the "Baby Daddy" Shower she threw for her Shiju. Isn't that the best idea ever? She even made him wear a shirt that said "Baby Daddy" and everything. I love it! And his friends gave him gifts like a hazmat suit, gloves and gas mask. I'm guessing that was his gear to change a diaper. haha. The whole idea was just too cute! I told her it almost made me want to have another baby....Almost!

The reception was at Andrea's Dad and Step Mom's BEAUTIFUL house.

Brian and Andrea

Michael, Andrea and her parents

I love them. They are the sweetest family ever.

I am so excited for Micheal and Andrea and I am so happy that we could be there to celebrate with them.

On the way out I had to take a picture of the wall in the living room. I love how they did the texture only part way up and then stopped and made it smooth. It was really pretty when you stood in the room and looked at it all around you. So I took a quick picture to log it away for my dream house maybe one day.

We went home around 9ish just to make sure the Grandparents weren't tied up in a corner somewhere and to get some things started for Parker's Birthday party the next day! Little did I know that when I know that those "some things" would turn into staying up till 1 am baking all the cakes and putting the party favors together... Oh well. It worked out good because there was no time to do it the next day.

Day One Hundred and Sixty-One

Actual Date: Thursday, September 2, 2010

Grandma and Grandpa are here! They flew in for Parker's first Birthday celebration. We were all really excited to have them here.

Grandpa and Ava were playing cars until Ava got side tracked by Grandma Reading a story...

So then Parker saw this as his opportunity to rush in and snag all the cars.

But to our amazement, instead of playing with them, all he wanted to do...

was put them away...

He was obsessed with it. Seriously. Like maybe he has OCD or something. It was hilarious.

He army crawled himself all over that living room and picked up every last car and put it away. Then after he did that, just to mess with him we got a few more out and put them around. And sure enough he went right after them and put them away. It was the funniest thing ever. I sure hope it sticks with him and maybe it'll rub off on his sisters.

Hey, a Mom can hope right?

Getting in some snuggles with Grandpa and Grandma before bed.

Day One Hundred and Sixty

I'm back! It's been busy around here and I haven't been feeling my best lately but a new friend has re inspired me to keep up with this. I really do enjoy doing this, it's just hard to find the time to do it. I think I have a picture for just about everyday. Now, the question is how good is my memory. I'll do my best to keep it accurate and get up to date so it is easier to keep up with.

Actual Date: Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Look who I caught standing up on his own today... This was his very first time pulling to stand all by himself. And let me tell you he was very proud. And so was Mommy!

After all that showing off he was worn out. And Chester was worn out from watching him too it looks like. So the two little buddies took a rest together. For a minute anyways before they were off into the next thing.

Day One Hundred and Fifty-Nine

Actual Date: Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Let me just give you my calender for this day:

8:00 a.m.- Brooke to school

(Work out somewhere in here)

11:30 a.m.- Pick Brooke up from school

11:45 a.m.- Hair appointment! (whoo hoo!)

1:20 p.m.- Parker Dr. appointment

1:40 p.m.- Brooke Dr. appointment

3:00 p.m.- Parker physical therapy

Phew. Those kinda days are rough. And I'm pretty sure I went grocery shopping after Brian got home that night too but I could be mistaken.

But back to the picture! Notice the hair? It's all one color! Can you believe it? I'm sure if you are a family member of mine you were expecting something more along these lines...

After all that, I decided the truly shocking thing to do would be go all natural. And let me tell you it's trippin' me out. I keep catching a glimpse of myself in a mirror when I walk by and it's weird. It's going to take some time to get used too but I think I like it.

Day One Hundred and Fifty-Eight

Actual Date: Monday, August 30, 2010

I was having one of "those days" on this day.

Have you ever had one of "those days?"

This day was one of "those days."

I woke up late and it just seems like we hit the ground runnin' from there.

And today was not supposed to be one of "those days."

Today was hair day. And all girls know that hair day is the best day.

And of course since I was running late getting out the door I forgot my camera. So I had to take pictures with my phone.

There's Brooke getting her hair blow dried by Mrs. Erica our new hair dresser. It's really weird to the girls, especially Ava, to have their hair cut by anyone other than Auntie Chelsea. She's the only one who has ever cut their hair.

Oh wait, I lied. I took them to a Kiddie Kuts place when we first moved here but I hated the way they cut it and it left me pretty traumatized so I guess I tried to block that memory out.

But other than that, Auntie Chelsea is the only person who has ever cut their hair.

But Mrs. Erica was very sweet and did a very good job.

Brooke took this picture if you were wondering. That's Ava getting her hair cut. And that big blob in the left hand corner is in fact Brooke's left hand. See how that works?

Anyways so I didn't even mention the best part about this particular hair day. So our new gym, is amazing. You could pretty much live there if you needed to. They have a restaurant and a full service salon. And the best part...child care!

So, I put the kids in the child care and head off to the salon to get my hair did. How great is that? It works out so nice. That way I don't have to worry about trying to have Brian get home in time to watch them after work or cutting into our family time on the weekends. It's so great.

The only problem is that there is a 3 hour max on the child care. And since I had decided to go dark we had to do a filler so that added a whole nother process to my time. And with the girls hair cuts added in there there was only enough time that day for me to get my hair filled, dyed and dried. But it worked out ok anyways because she had open appointments for the next day and I had to get going because Brooke had to be at dance class in like 30 minutes and I still needed to run home and get her changed. Eeeks!

It was after all one of "those days."

Day One Hundred and Fifty-Seven

Actual Date: Sunday, August 29, 2010

My parents bought this tire swing horse for Brooke for Christmas of '05.

She was born is May...2006...

That's how excited my Dad was about it. And I have to admit it is pretty darn cute. But for the last 5 years it has not gotten to be used! How sad is that? For no particular reason really. At first the kids were too small for it, then we were renting so we couldn't hang it up. Then when we did have our own house, we didn't have anything in the back yard to hang it up on.

So now finally, after five years having the discussion of "Well, should we just hang it in someones room?"

"What if it scrapes up the wall?"

"Just put it in the closet."

"Who's closet is it going in this time?

It finally got a home. And the kids love it.