Friends!

Just a cute picture of some cute girls on an average Sunday morning!

Ellie, Olivia, Bailey, Breann, Elaina and Annie!

Works for me Wednesday

I know there's this cute little thing in blog world called "Works for me Wednesday", where people post a great thing in their life that "works" for them. Great organizational tips, decorating, stuff their kids like...etc. It got me thinking...What works for me?

I'll tell you what works for me...WARM WEATHER! And what doesn't work for me? This winter! Grrrrr. I am sorry, truly sorry for being grumpy, but this cold and snowy winter has just done me in!

I find myself day dreaming about going somewhere warm with my sweet family...a beach...sun shining...me and J relaxing in lounge chairs, books in hand, drinks by our sides...our children playing happily in the sand and surf...until they start throwing sand at each other...and start crying...and screaming...and I have to put the book down and scold them...

Okay. New dream...It's just me and Jason...:)

You get the picture.

It's just that when it's cold EVERYTHING is harder. So I'm ready for the warmth. That's what works for me. That's what works for my kids! That's when I might have some real "Works for Me" things to post. In the meantime, my good friend MK has started a blog, and she has a REAL Works for Me post, that I thought was just really good. That MK, she is a smart one! And a great writer too. I'm happy she started a blog, she adds good stuff to this bloggy world.

Happy Wednesday everyone. I'm off to day dream some more...

Nana's Birthday!

For Nana's birthday this year, all the girls took her to a tea room! Nana is wonderful and she deserved yummy desserts...

 Cute presents...

 And goofy granddaughters!

 Ah, that's better. :)

 We had a great time celebrating Nana!

Scenes from Ellie's day...

This beautiful, big hearted girl wanted a build-a-bear party for her birthday this year. It was a splurge, but the party was so fun and easy, and the kids had SO much fun, it was definitely worth it.




She invites several friends, we basically filled the store that day!




Friend Nia signing the Birthday Bear for Ellie to keep!

There were tons of smiles and giggles that warmed us up on one of the coldest days of the year!




The guy who led the party was hilarious, and the kids had a blast making their animals.




After Build-A-Bear we trekked through the left over snow to Ben and Jerry's for an ice cream cake and presents. The cake was pretty, but not that yummy, but the friends and family made up for that! We said goodbye to everyone and then stopped by Papa and Nana's for a bit before heading home to thaw out! It was a really great day!

Shelley

Our Valentine

8 years ago tonight we got a very special Valentine gift...

Ellie Marie!!!


That tiny baby stole our hearts.

In the years between then and now, we've been through a lot together. We've laughed, we've cried, we've screamed, we've hugged, we've taught, we've learned...

Today we celebrated.

We celebrated this girl who is growing up. We celebrated her hard work over the last year. We celebrated the progress she's made, and is still making. We celebrated Ellie!


Tonight as we ate dinner I asked...

"Ellie, was your party as great as you hoped it would be?"

And she answered...

"It was WAY better!"

And that made this mommy's heart smile. ♥

Happy 8 Ellie! I have a feeling it's going to be a great year!

Christmas Past...

Since Christmas was oh...about 2 months ago, I thought it might be time to record my memories, or what's left of them, before they vanish into thin air. So here is a list of what I can still remember of Christmas '09...

1.) Christmas Eve...We had Nana and Papa, Uncle Chris and Aunt Michelle, and the cousins over for an EASY dinner (frozen lasagna, bagged salad, and some yummy bruschetta. gotta love easy!), and presents! Fave pic from the night...The girls all got SNUGGIES!


2.) Cleaning like a mad women every other day, so we could host yet another Christmas celebration, and mess the house up again.

3.) Not minding the mess....for a little while. :)

4.) Hearing the kids shout "PAPA AND NANA ARE HEEERE!!!" They get so excited when the grandparents show up, you'd never think by their reaction that we live in the same town! I love it.

5.) Watching Grandaddy carefully unpackage toys, while Austin patiently watched for a VERY long time. Precious.

6.) Grammie helping the girls with their "project" toys, Ellie's Easy Bake oven and Annie's Barbie lip gloss maker, while Jason and I made Christmas breakfast. Also precious.

7.) My heart being happy as my home was filled with all the people I love dearly.

8.) A WHITE CHRISTMAS! The first since Ellie was a baby! (Although now, two months and about 24 inches of snow later, the memory isn't quite so sweet. :)


9.) Cats everywhere! At Aunt Denise and Uncle Deans house there was a total of 5 cats (my cousins each brought their two). The kids were in heaven trying to hunt them all down.


10.) Christmas Jammies! Seriously, that made me so happy. I have this pic in a frame now!


11.) 4 Wheelin' in the snow on Christmas Day! Santa brought the kids their very own 4 wheeler!


12.) Annnnd...that's it. That's where my memory runs out!

It was busy, and fun, and busy. It was a great Christmas from the kids perspective, but exhausting from a mommies point of view. Next year I would really like to figure out a way to squeeze it all in, but not be so busy. Is that possible? I guess time will tell!

So Merry Christmas everyone....Errr...Happy Valentines Day.

:)

I would never have thought...

It would be Annie...ANNIE...that cut her own hair.  And not just a little in the back, OH NO, we couldn't do that. 

 

I still can't believe it.  Apparently after her bath she was trying to color a picture and her wet hair kept getting in her face.  Oh Annie....

Hot Tubbin'

This bitterly cold, crazy snowy winter has been loooong. However it has provided some fun times, including a snowy hot tub day! Gotta love the stocking cap/swim suit look! :)

please ignore the weird dates! It's winter 2010, not spring 2039!

 :)

It's still snowing...

Look mom! More snow! This snow was light and powdery and super fun for these two little snow birds. :)