Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to the love of my life, still after 7 years, who would have thought it? :) You are a wonderful husband and an amazing father and I am looking forward to growing old with you! I love you, Gregg!

A good spot

With both of the girls we are in a good spot. Anne is at the perfect age. Sitting but not crawling. She loves to be held and is not yet at the age where she wants to squirm away from you and crawl, (however I fear the end is soon as she is scooting). And Mary Kathryn is self sufficient but still young and innocent enough to look at her parents with wide eyed amazement when they point out Christmas lights. Children truly are a gift from God and Gregg and I are so blessed.

Christa's Wedding!

On Nov. 11th Christa and Mark got married and everything was amazing. She took such care in every detail. It meant so much to Gregg and I to be a part of this special day. And our whole trip to Florida was great fun! Blessings and love to Christa and Mark!

Happy Birthday, Lane!

We love you, Birthday Girl!

Oh, the Birthdays I have missed

Since I have been anti blogger this month, I have missed a few birthdays, but I did wish people a happy birthday on the actual day, because they are all special people who are greatly loved by me!

Amanda's

Alex's

Papa's

Austin's

More picts . . . finally

Well I have lifted the sanctions against Blogger, so finally here are the rest of the pictures from the Birthday party.

Fall Festival

We had Mary Kathryn's third birthday party this past weekend, a Fall Festival theme. It was such fun to see all of her friends dressed up so cute. I think we had 22 children under the age of 4! Wow! Go Fish, Hay rides, ball toss, pumpkin decorating and more - thanks to everyone who helped make it so special for MK! Here are some picts: (There are many more great picts and if Blogger will cooperate I will post them later but I can't fight with blogger any more right now!)

Happy Birthday Mary Kathryn

Happy Birthday to our wonderful girl! You are so special to Mommy, Daddy and Annie Boo. You are the most precious blessing and we are very thankful for every giggle and smile you have given us the past 3 years. Your creative mind is always amazing us with the things you say and the way you play. You are thoughtful and kind to all of your friends. You are so smart and into your letters (all of which you can recoginize). You love any kind of craft project and are showing such wonderful signs of talent already. You keep us guessing and laughing that is for sure! We are looking forward to your birthday party in a few days and tonight upon YOUR resquest we are having asparagus, broccolli, corn and turkey. Thank you for being such a sweet big sister and already helping Anne in so many ways.









You will always be our little pumpkin!



















May you always have your cake and eat it too! :)











To say that we are proud of you is understatement. You have grown into such a giving and loving little girl and we are proud of every act of kindness. God bless you today and always!

MK Tales

Children really are amazing, the things they come up with are truly astounding. Here are some of Mary Kathryn's latest.
On the way to school yesterday she says, "Mommy, is God a boy or a girl." I said a boy. She said, "Why is he a boy." Being that is was 8:30 in the morning and she is not quite 3 I thought I would take the easy road and said I don't know, honey. Then she asked who made God. I said God made God. She asked "why did God make himself?". Again, I said I don't know. Then she asks, Why didn't people make God? I said well because God is in charge. She chimes in with, "no, mommy grown-ups are in charge" (hmmm where has she heard that one?). I said "No honey, God is in charge of the grown-ups." Whew, that wore me out. I am going to have to start having her contact her godparents for these types of discussions!
Today, her creative juices were really flowing. For about 30 minutes, she was walking around with a blue basket on her head refering to herself as "the baker". I have no idea where she got this from. But I would say "Mary Kathryn hand me that burp cloth please" to which she would respond, "I am not Mary Kathryn, I am the Baker". If I said "Baker, will you . . ." the reply was, "I would be happy to." She kept refering to herself as the Baker in the third person and narrating her actions for example she would say "the Baker heard a loud noise and asked what was that". I have to ask is this normal? She also pretended to be a "dish monster" and a frog in a cage for sometime all before lunch. Not mention the 20 some odd imaginary friends she is constantly bossing around, oh I mean, playing with. They all have names and she refers to them as "my friends".
Oh well, that's my girl!?

More cousins

Now, what's that you say Rutledge? You are going to be a big brother? How exciting!! We are so happy for you Melinda and Todd - Congratulations!

The darndest things

My older child really cracks me up. I took he upstairs for her nap and 20 minutes later she was calling for me. I went to see what she needed and she said that she was not tired. I said well it is time for your nap. She looked at me with her big blue eyes and a stoic expression and said, "Tell me your plans" I couldn't contain it and I laughed out loud. Again, " tell me your plans". I said my plan is for you to take a nap while I get some things done and then (she interupts me) "well how about this, How about if I play up in my room while you get somethings done, and then I put my head down and go to sleep after I play a few minutes. Is that a good idea?" This whole time she has her first finger out waving it around and nodding her little blond head. What a riot motherhood is.

The Pumpkin Patch

Today, Mary Kathryn's class took their 1st field trip to the Pumpkin Patch. I wasn't quite ready to send her off on her own so a little stow away and myself joined them. Mary Kathryn had such fun! And Anne did too even though this picture doesn't make it look like it. Mary Kathryn picked her favorite pumpkin, enjoyed the hay ride and loved jumping in the big pumpkin. I think all her classmates had a great time too, I know I did!






The right one!







MK and her twin friend Amelia :)

Fear?

I don't know about you, but I think there is fear in Anne's eyes in this picture. Ahh, the life of a younger sibling.
Speaking of fear, let me give big kudos to my husband for not making me face one of my biggest fears. The doctor wanted us to do an allergy test on Mary Kathryn and to do this they needed to draw blood. Well I get whoosie just thinking about it, (yes, even though I have experienced natural child birth). Can't explain it, it just happens. So the thought of having to hold my child down while some masochistic nurse punches holes in her veins and takes blood out of her does not really sound appealing. Enter my husband the hero! Gregg took her right after he gave blood at work (for fun - what?) and they both did great! Imagine the blog if I had had to do it!

Happy Belated Birthday, Oma!

I have been neglecting the BLOG! And now have to post a belated birthday wish to everyone's favorite Oma! These 2 girls sure are lucky to have an Oma who will get down and play with them! They love you and so do we!!!

Dream Dinner, not so much

Here is what happens when I try to plan ahead and be organized. Gregg has class tonight so I have nightly duties with the girls alone. Not a problem. I feed MK and then get ready to take her up for a bath. But I know that once I get involved with bathing and putting to bed I will forget to put our dinner in the oven. So I use the handy delay, cook and hold feature of our oven. I get it all set without having to pull out the manual - I am a genius! So bath is done and time for a bottle for Anne. So we all come downstairs. Hmmm, something smells funny. Oh, the oven has just cut on, boy am I proud of myself. But wait smoke and yes, flames. I calmly put Anne down and am careful not to arouse the attention of the inquisitive one. And there are indeed flames coming out of the oven. Turn off the oven and begin to toy with the idea of learning how to use the fire extinguisher. No, no just wait the flames will die down. Ahhh, everything is okay again, except that I managed to ruin an idiot proof dinner, hmmm what does that make me? Hungry, yes.

And as a side note. While I was feeding Anne, I told her that blowing rasberries while I was trying to feed her was a no, no. Mary Kathryn quickly explained, "Babies can't understand us, mommy". Boy, where would I be without her?

a half of a year

Well Anne, you are a 1/2 of a year (yesterday). I can't believe you have been a part of our family that long already. You can roll over and almost sit up. You are really starting to enjoy baby food. You love to eat your feet and the thing that makes you the happiest is watching your sister. It warms my heart to see the two of you squeal and giggle with one another already. We love you so much and you have already made us proud. Keep up the good work and may God bless you all of your days!

Tampa

I had a great weekend in Tampa this past weekend! My college roomie is getting married in Nov. and we had a bachelorette/shower weekend. We had so much fun and truly what a blessing it was for me to have a break from mommyhood. And it was so wonderful to have such a supportive husband who encouraged me to go and took great care of our children! But as for the crazy details of Friday night, What happens in Tampa stays in Tampa :).