Officially Over The Hill !

When Greg told me that he was going on a fishing trip for his birthday weekend, I have to say I was relieved. Greg isn't one of those people that gets excited over a party and he sure isn't easy to buy for. The Man has EVERYTHING!!!! I have learned over the years, that unless I want to take my gift back to the store from lack of being used, it's best for Greg to just do his own thing. When he wants something, he just buys it, which leaves nothing for me to get him for Christmas, Anniversary, Birthday, Valentines Day, etc...... So Friday (the day before his birthday) he was off to work and then straight to Port O'Connor for some much needed Relaxation and a worry free weekend filled with Fishing, Poker Playing and whatever else these guys do while they're there.

The Kids wanted to have a little party for him when he got home and I was happy to go along with it. First, we needed to get some little gifts. Nothing expensive, because like I said....I don't want to make any trips to return unwanted gifts. Bailey wanted to get him the Jason Aldean CD so off we went to Target to make this purchase. They had ONE left. We grabbed it from the New Release section and off we went. When we got to the register to check out, the Cashier looks at me and says, "There's no plastic wrap on this CD." (I had not noticed that when I picked it up) She handed it to me and I opened it up and to my Surprise, NO CD!!!! AHHHHH, and it was the last one left! I paid for the rest of my things and off we went. We stopped at the photo dept. because Colton was going to print out one of Greg's most favorite pictures of him and make it a 5 X 7 for his desk at work. There was a line and the machine kept freezing up, so I said, "Let's just go. Before I could get it all together, I see my Cashier talking to what I'm assuming was the Theft officer in the store. (You know, he had one of those "mall cop" badges and a blue uniform. She is talking very quietly to him and staring at me as if I had done something wrong. Do they really think I took this CD? Why would I take a CD and then give the case to the Cashier? HELLO!!!!! I could tell that she was suspicious of me, but luckily the "Target cop" had some COMMON SENSE!!!!! As they were walking past me, I heard her say, "There she is...There she is, so I turned around and looked at them with a, "What is going on look???" Since I'm standing there staring at them, he has to say something. So, he politely says, "Mam, where did you get this case from?" I said, "from the new release section" He nicely says o.k., I'll check it out" and gives her the eye, like Why are you even bothering me with this. Wow, I guess she needed a little Drama in her life. As Colton would say, AWKWARD!!!!! O.k. sorry about the rambling..... So, off we go to Party City and the Grocery Store. I needed to get just a few decorations and stuff to make a cake.

Check out my cake. Once I pulled my rectangle cake out of the oven,

I thought, HOW BORING, so this is what I came up with.

I know it's not ALL THAT, but I was pretty proud of myself.

The kids couldn't wait for Greg to get home so he could blow out his candles and we could dig in.

Colton tried to talk me into letting him have a piece before his Daddy even got home.

Everyone helped with the Blowing. Even Kinley!

She was actually kind of spitting, but she thought she was blowing and we thought it was cute!

Here's our decorations.

Happy 40th Birthday Honey!

We Love You!!

Just Smile and get it over with!

It seems like the older these kids get, the harder it is to get a good picture. Colton went through a phase of fake Smiles where it looked like he was in pain. Now he just doesn't want to Smile at all. As much as I would like for everyone to think that I snap the Camera once and get a good picture, that is the furthest thing from the truth. It takes several tries before they're both Smiling. Poor Bailey usually has to stand there with perma grin and wait for the split second that Colton might smile so I can take the picture. This Morning was no different......

Colton was in a mood this morning, so right before I snapped the picture he decided it would be funny to pinch his Sister in the back. WE WERE NOT AMUSED!!!

Bailey managed to pull it together and Smile for the Camera.

She even put her arm around her brother even after he was so mean to her.

It's no question who gets the Least Cooperative Award on this one!!!

My Plate and my Heart are Broken

My most favorite thing in my kitchen is my plate that I had made when Colton and Bailey were 2 years old. It has all three of our hand prints baked into the plate and says, "A Mother holds her Children's hands for a short while, but their Hearts forever. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this plate. I have always had it sitting on my window seal above the kitchen sink, but recently moved it so I could wipe everything down. (You know, so it wouldn't get BROKEN) I put it on the top of my wine rack/ corner shelf in my kitchen and liked the way it looked, so I left it there. MISTAKE!!!!
Today, my One year old who blows through the house like a little tornado leaving nothing but destruction in her path decided that it would be fun to shake my wine rack/corner shelf as hard as she could. Before I could even say NOOOOOOOOO, (that's a slow motion No, not a yelling No) the plate hit her in the head and then broke in a hundred pieces. This is no light plate. This is a THICK, Ceramic Plate. All I could see when I snatched her up off of the ground is the blood coming from her head. I never had to deal with this when Colton and Bailey were little. They weren't little Tasmanian devils like she is. After I got her to the sink and started wiping away the blood, I was so relieved to see that no real harm had been done except for maybe the goose egg that was forming on the top of her head and a couple of minor cuts. I put ice in a sandwich bag and placed it on her head, but naturally being the CRAZY kid that she is, she grabs the sandwich bag and chomps down, ripping a Giant hole so she could get the ice. What am I going to do with this kid???? Now, my focus goes to my Poor Plate just lying there broken. The Sadness hits...My irreplaceable plate is now shattered. I know it's just a "thing", but it's an important thing. It's My Babies hand prints. Hand prints that will never be that small again. I'm not going to cry....that won't fix it. I guess I will try to get some glue and repair what I can. I guess I will have to get a new plate made with all of my kiddos hand prints on it. So long for now...I'm off to feel sorry for myself.

My top shelf is Empty :(

I know it doesn't look like such a big deal by this picture,

but there were a lot of little pieces that were just not recoverable.

Sweet Girls and TuTu's

With Colton and Bailey back at School, Kinley has been a little lonely. When Vanessa called and asked if I could watch Sydney for a couple of hours, I couldn't say Yes fast enough. Kinley really likes to be around Sydney and I love watching them together. (Even though Kinley can sometimes be a little bully) Kinley likes to get dressed up so I figured, let's play dress up and attempt to get some cute pictures. Sydney was ALL about it!!! She smiled, she posed and was the perfect little model. Kinley, on the other hand really wasn't having it. She's been sick the past couple of days and I don't think she's completely got her strength back. Needless to say, I had fun taking their pictures and hopefully they will be friends many years from now, and they will have these to look back on.

Even though neither one of them were smiling in this picture, I just love it.

It reminds me of something off of a greeting card... You know the ones you send to your friends with some cute little friendship comment....

On to Another Hall

I must say, it was a little weird walking past the Kindergarten and First Grade Classrooms knowing that Colton & Bailey would never be in that Hallway again. They are in a new hallway this year and as silly as it seems, that makes me a little emotional. I can't believe that we are on to the 2nd Grade. Before I know it, they won't even want me to walk them into School on the first day. I don't know who this whole "growing up" thing is harder on. Them or me????

Bailey at her desk

Colton & Some of his Buddies

I know Colton is wishing I would stop taking pictures

Bailey and her Teacher, Mrs. Osborne

Good thing Daddy IS NOT the Tooth Fairy!

Two nights ago, Bailey lost her 6th tooth. This was the second tooth THIS WEEK! The tooth fairy doesn't usually carry cash so she depends on Money just laying around.. As I'm looking through drawers and in old purses, I ask Greg if he has any cash in his Wallet. (I'm only looking for three dollars) He, as usual doesn't have any cash either, but he has a simple solution. Just write her a note and stick it under her pillow telling her that the tooth fairy has deposited her Money in her Bank Account. WHAT???? How exciting, NOT!!! Can you imagine waking up to that? Not me... I can just see it now.... MOMMY, GUESS WHAT!!! The tooth fairy deposited Money in my Bank Account. RIGHT! I don't think she would have been too happy with that. Thank Goodness for Mommy!!!

Sweet Daddy

Bailey has been asking Greg to take her on a date for a while now. It seems like we have something going on every weekend so it's been a little difficult for him to fulfill this wish. Today however we have NOTHING planned. Bailey came and crawled in bed with us first thing this morning and Greg said, "Do you want to go on a date today?" She was SUPER excited and said, "YES, can we go see the smurfs?" Greg is not really a cartoon Movie watching person but he gladly said Sure. I love this about Greg. He is such a GREAT Daddy. Before they left, Bailey asked me to paint her nails and toenails and help her pick out an outfit. She wanted to look good for her Daddy. They're gone and Kinley and I are just hanging out. Well, now she's crawling up here trying to bang on my keyboard, so I gotta go.

Making Memories

Sleeping Beauty

It's getting a little hard these days getting anything done because Miss Kinley is into EVERYTHING! I was trying to clean out my closet today so i asked Bailey if she would keep an eye on her for me. Naturally, Bailey wanted to watch cartoons so she put her in her highchair and set up a buffet of cheese crackers and grapes. When I walked through the first time to check on them, Kinley was going to town. She loves crackers and grapes. When I came back the second time, this is what I found. Poor Baby was WORN OUT! Eating Cheese Crackers and grapes is hard work you know.


When Greg came home from work, she was still like this. He asked me why I hadn't put her in bed so she could be more comfortable. Hasn't he ever heard, "Don't wake a sleeping baby".

When she woke up, she was a little confused. She's definitely not use to waking up in her highchair.

PARTY TIME !!!!!

It's finally time to celebrate the Birth of my Sweet Kinley girl. This was a new experience for her as well as for me. I've never been able to plan a "girly" party with Colton and Bailey sharing their birthday so I had fun with all of the Pinks and Purples. My Sweet Baby couldn't have been a better Birthday girl. She smiled, she mingled and she had a lot of fun.

She was a little confused with the whole Present thing, but once she realized they were for her, she had a lot of fun with it. My Parents bought her a Picnic table and as soon as she opened it, she crawled right on top and Smiled for the Camera. She's a natural :)

I love this picture of her and the cupcake. At first she wasn't sure if it was o.k. to dig in so she picked a little bit and then dove right in. I couldn't believe she stuck her face down in it. Perfect Photo opportunity!!!

I just love her so much !

Her theme was cupcakes and I really had a lot of fun with it.

We had a Great time and got to see Friends and Family that we haven't seen in a long time.

Birthday Parties are done for the Year. I love the parties, but I think next year we'll just take a trip.

Happy Birthday Sweet Baby. Mommy Loves You!!!!

My Sweet Baby turns 1

She doesn't even know it, but today is my Sweet Kinley's Special Day! I can't believe a year has gone by already. It seems like yesterday, we were bringing her home from the Hospital. We thought our family was complete until that day in January when I found out I was expecting this precious gift from God. She has brought so much joy into all of our lives. She makes me Smile everyday and I thank God that he had different plans for us. Now we are Complete!

She enjoyed waking up to me singing Happy Birthday to You!!! She danced and I laughed. I look forward to seeing this Sweet face every morning.

Practicing for the Big Day

Well, it's three days away from Kinley's 1st Birthday Party so I decided I'd better get her outfit out and make sure it still fits. I bought it over a month ago and she has grown A LOT since then. We have been "practicing" with her all week with the crown so hopefully come party time, she will leave it on. Everytime I put the crown on her head, she claps and then I sing Happy Birthday to her and she dances like it's the Best song she's ever heard. Hopefully at the party she won't get overwhelmed and cry. TWO MORE DAYS and my Baby will be ONE!!! Where does the time go???

I can't believe it has already been a Year!

My Sweet Kinley girl