Itty Biddy T-ball!

Annie loved playing t-ball this Summer with her sweet little team! Coach Skip did a great job guiding these sweet kiddos. She really did a pretty good job paying attention and learning a little about the great game of baseball. Skip has a passion for baseball, and did a great job of encouraging and coaching. My cutest memories of Annie were watching her run the bases, she had to hold onto the helmet to keep it from falling off her tiny head, and her adorable little white sport skirt! Too cute!

Even Austin tried to play a little, with his sisters pink glove! :-)

Thursday Thirteen...Carissa brought it back!

First of all I gotta give a big shout out to my friend Carissa for bringing back the Thursday Thirteen! Thanks for that girl, because I think I have a good one today.

13 things that happened to me at the zoo today.

1. I was 35 minutes late to meet my friend, who is never late. Surprised? Yeah, me either. And I don't think she was either.

2. My flip flop broke pretty early in the zoo trip when I tried to flip the brake up on my stroller with the toe of my shoe.

3. I begged for masking tape from a lady working the giraffe feeding station. She reluctantly gave me a small strip.

4. I taped my shoe together.

5. I learned it is hard to walk in a taped together flip flop.

6. I learned it is even harder to chase Austin in a taped together flip flop.

7. I learned it is not a good idea to let your super speed son get too far ahead of you when you are wearing a taped together flip flop.

8. I almost tossed my shoes into a trash can about 43 times. Until I remembered I would then be walking barefoot at the zoo. Eww.

9. I learned that leaving Ellie in the bathroom to "decompress" will result in her being very loud. Not bad. Just loud.

10. I learned that things echo a lot at the zoo.

11. I learned (again) that the zoo is not my favorite place.

12. I learned (finally) that the zoo is not my kids favorite place.

13. And I learned that Austin didn't understand the cracker was giraffe food. He learned the hard way.

Recital!

It's that time of year again! The end of May, when everything ends with a BANG! I've about gone crazy with all of the end of the school year activity this year. What in the world am I going to do when they're all three in school? Yikes! It's all been a bit much for my Ellie girl. My routine-thriving daughter has been thrown for quite a loop these last couple of weeks. We're making it though. She was very excited to dance in her second dance recital a few days ago. Ellie takes clogging from a great friend of mine, Ami, who is incredibly patient with my girl. This years recital was a "technical recital", meaning no fancy (expensive) costumes, just some cute coordinating outfits. Ellie is blessed to have her two cousins, Olivia and Elaina, and her best friend Baron in clogging with her! Here are some pics for your enjoyment!

Baron, Ashley, Ellie, Olivia, and Elaina!


Baron, Ellie, Elaina, and Olivia!


Ellie, Olivia and Elaina!


And special thanks to my sweet mother-in-law! Nana came and took care of Austin on the day of the recital. She gave up watching her three grand-girls perform in person to help me out, and I am so grateful for her selflessness. Nana you are a blessing to us!

Mr. and Mrs. Whitlock!

My beautiful cousin Lane married Joshua Whitlock on February 13th, 2009. They surprised everyone with the news that they'd eloped! However they still wanted a day to share with family and friends, so a couple of months later they held a beautiful ceremony at Lane's parents home.

They make the most adorable couple! We've loved getting to know Josh. He is sweet and gently, funny and great with our kids! You picked a good one Lane! :-)

Seriously though, we are so SO happy for these two! Welcome to your beautiful life together!

What a Day!

Yesterday was QUITE a day.

First off, I ran a 5k, my FIRST 5k. That's 3.1 miles for those of you not versed in the "lingo." :) I am still surprised that I can actually run, albeit slowly, for 3.1 miles. That's pretty amazing for a girl who in high school couldn't run for 3 minutes in gym! I am very proud of myself for setting a goal and accomplishing it. I may even run another one, someday! I had two wonderful running partners, Alana and Rich! Alana and I decided to train for this a few months ago, and it was great having an accountability partner. I honestly don't think I would have done this if it weren't for you Alana! So I ran, and then came home to...nap? Oh I wish!

Me and Alana, BEFORE!



Me, Alana, and Rich, AFTER!!!

Next in my day was a birthday party at the park for a friend of Annie's. Lot's of fun, but not very relaxing! Annie and I came home, and then I started getting the kids ready for an evening at my Grandpa's farm to celebrate his 79th birthday. In the midst of getting ready, I put Austin down for a nap. But did he sleep? No!

I found Austin, after an hour of NOT sleeping, standing once again in the second to top drawer of his toolbox/dresser. He'd done quite the number on his room, this time finding an oil can WITH A SPOUT AND OIL IN IT (what in the world were we thinking?!) and had Oiled his Room. That's right. OILED HIS ROOM.

Oh myyyy.

Thankfully the surfaces he oiled were all easily cleaned, but still!

Then I started thinking about the fact that I hadn't seen one of our cats in several hours. She's usually around quite a bit, so it seemed strange. I found her under our bed, with an ACE bandage wrapped VERY tightly around one of her back legs. So tightly that when I removed it she was in horrible pain. At first her paw was cold, and then got very warm, and I got scared and called the emergency vet. Thankfully she's fine now, but it was scary for awhile! Ellie was the culprit, and felt SO bad when she realized the seriousness of the situation. She was playing Vet, which she wants to be when she grows up, and didn't mean to hurt poor Rainbow. That poor cat, she really needs those nine lives to live in this house!

Finally we handled all the situations, and made it to Grandpa's. My kids just love it there! Jason brought the new four wheeler and took the kids, and Grammie on rides! We love a fun time at the farm!

Four Generations!



Blowing out the candles! Austin was SO excited to help. :)



Rides on the tractors, lawn mowers, and four wheelers!



Grammie's first RZR ride!



Grandaddy driving the BIG tractor!



Daddy took the little kids through some mud! At least we're telling them it was mud...



Whew! What a day! It's now 24 hours later, and I'm just starting to recover. Hopefully tomorrow I'll feel normal again!

Because he is Cool.

I have a cool husband.

He is a great man, a sweet guy, a good friend, a loving daddy, a supportive husband...but above all he is Cool.

Let me explain...

He loves "toys" ( don't all guys?) and has had quite a collection over the years. We've been together for almost 14 years (married for almost 10) and in that time I've lost count of how many "extra" vehicles he's owned. And I say HE on purpose, because even though half of everything that's his is mine....in this case, it's all him. :) He's owned VW bugs, vintage trucks, four wheelers, dirt bikes, motorcycles, dune buggy's...the list goes on.

As he's matured he has gotten a bit smarter, and wiser in the use of his toys. We no longer drive dune buggy's on city streets in front of a police man...(he was 18!)...or ride trails we can't really handle and end up getting our four wheeler stuck...or let our wife drive. :) We had a scary experience a few years ago, and since then he's been searching for a safer alternative, something the kids can ride with him on, but be safe. So, he got this!

It's very shiny and pretty, and my husband is very proud of his new baby, I mean, toy.

He wants to take our children out, one at a time, for a day/weekend for some special daddy time this summer. He's very excited, and is researching places he can take them, and use his new toy. He and Austin took a ride last night, and he mounted a special camera to the RZR so he can record his adventures. He was very excited to post it on You Tube, and plans to do more. So, here they are, Jason and Austin, starring in their first You Tube video! Music provided by Uncle Chris, an original song. Enjoy!

This Mother's Day is looking good!

Well what do you know?! Today is my 2 year Blogoversary!!! I wish I could claim that I totally new that, and therefore planned a fabulous post for today, but...not so much! I actually noticed it by complete accident! But hey, I noticed right? That counts for something! Now onto my original thought...

Last year I was jealous. A few of my friends had the privilege of going to a Mother's Day tea at our favorite preschool. It just so happened that I did not have a preschooler that year, and the two previous years that I did, they hadn't done a tea.

*Sniff Sniff, Sob Sob*

I know, you feel very sorry for me.

Oh and reading my dear friend Alana's blog post last year didn't help much. Thanks girl. Really. I wasn't bitter. :)

So this year I have waited with great anticipation for this event! Today was the day! At 10:45 this morning, I joined the other proud mommies of preschoolers for The Mother's Day Tea!



Sweet Annie, bless her heart, almost always closes her eyes for a picture! Which is what prompted us to take one like this...



I just adore that girl! They made us place mats and gave us handmade "baskets" filled with treats...



And they preformed a special "I Love Mother" song. Seriously, does it get any cuter?



Only when you add in sweet friends...

Annie and AJ!


...Great teachers...

Annie (eyes closed again!) and Mrs. B!


...and our special teacher/Aunt Michelle!


I'm already looking forward to next year!