The 11th Birthday Party

When Sis was younger, I threw big, elaborate birthday parties.  I would have a fantastic theme and then work for weeks on all the details.  I loved having BIG parties at home.  It was always a very stressful time, as the perfectionist in me wanted it to be spectacular.

I guess I got tired.  As she got older, birthdays became easier - we found locations to have a great event.    Or we just planned less and less.  This year, she had a great party. 

We invited a few friends for a sleepover and a movie the next morning.

It was a great group of girls and all they wanted to do was play.

And a certain little boy soaked in all their attention.....

Yes it was April, but we live in Texas, so the first swim of the season was certainly in order.

It was cold, but this group of 11-year olds didn't care a bit.

Bubba watches cautiously.....

She received a lot of nice gifts, but totally dug the candy.......

Instead of cake, she opted for this Pinterest-inspired recipe - chocolate waffle ice cream sandwiches.

The next morning, the girls had fun signing & decorating balls to keep.

And then came the real fun - PJs and Pancakes at the movies!!

We love our local movie house - you can order dinner!! Or in this case, breakfast at the first show on weekends!

It was a relaxed, fun birthday party for my girl - relatively little preparation and loads of fun!

The 11th Birthday

April 5 - well over 2 months ago, my baby girl turned 11.  We like to celebrate BIG here in Texas.

We always surprise the birthday one right when they wake up:

But this year, my girl walked downstairs to an even bigger surprise:

She had a growth spurt this past year and desperately needed a bike that her knees didn't come up to her ears as she rode it.

She was pretty excited:

And we start the day off opening at least ONE present before heading to school...even if it is 7 am.....

The Birthday Girl was thrilled to get the Hunger Game series and even started reading it during breakfast.

Dirty plate from the requested cinnamon rolls, but the birthday one always gets meals on their "Red Plate".

That afternoon, Bubba helped his Sissy unwrap presents - she is so sweet to let him rip into all the packages, even though they were all for her.

We tried this game a few months back at the SXSW Games convention - so fun for older kids - lots of thinking involved.

But this girl had one request for her birthday - all she wanted was a Liverpool Jersey like her Daddy.  Matt was all over this - ordered it with her favorite player's (Suarez) name and number on the back.

To say she was excited is an understatement - she was thrilled and wears it when ever there is a game that she and her Dad can watch together.

Bike?  What bike?

Yep - Dad rocks.

My Bubba is 3

My Bubba Bear turned 3 years old this past month.  It is hard for me to grasp that he has been with us for 3 year already!  These past 3 years have simply flown by.

This year, Bubba accomplished so much!

- He started "school" two days a week this past fall.  He went on Tuesdays and Thursday with Miss Rose & Miss Jenny at the wonderful preschool at the church we attend.  He cried the first few times I left him, but this being my 3rd, I knew he'd stop crying moments after I left him.  And he did.  He grew to LOVE school.  Asked every morning, "I go school today?".  He started school as my little baby but left it this May as my big, independent little man.  I cherished the moments when I picked him up.  He would slow me down as we took he long way to walk to the car, or sat on the bench in the courtyard watching all the children get picked up to go home.  It was sweet time with just him.

- He started taking so much more this year.  I love that I can have a conversation with him and completely (well, almost) understand him.  From, "Mom, Mom, I eat!" to "No take nap.  Nap is yuchy!!", this little man gets his feelings out and tells us exactly what he wants.  He still gets frustrated and fusses but all I need to do is remind him that he needs to use his words or show me what he wants and that usually calms him down enough to get his message across.

- He loves to get tucked into bed (he is in his convertible crib with no side - makes into a toddler bed) with a special song each night.  "Snuggle Puppy" by Sandra Boyton is a book that I used to read to his sister & brother when they were younger.  I made it into a song and it has stuck.  Now he MUST have it sung to him by myself or Matt each night. If both of us are in the room, he directs who sings what part by putting his tiny hand over our mouth when he wants us to "hush". He typically does this to me, as his Daddy is his favorite.

- Speaking of his Dad, this boy LOVES his Daddy.  Runs to him when he gets home after work, insists on Dad doing things for him, and is his little magnet on the weekends.  Matt loves it and so do it.  Brody was just the same way when he was Bubba's age.

- Potty Training. Sigh.  It's not happening.

- He is so BRAVE!!  We took him to Schlitterbahn last week and he wanted to ride all the rides the big kids went on - he had his own tube and went down all the relatively calm rapid rides.  He tried most everything until we went on a new ride and his tube dumped over - there was a lifeguard right there to scoop him up. He much preferred the Toddler Areas after that but we did get him on one more ride at the end of the day - he didn't care.

- He sleeps with a "lovey" which Matt calls "Froggy" (it's manly I guess) and his blanket - they are with him all morning long - my little Linus.

- He has given up his nap.  Sigh again.  On days we are home, he is down in his bed but I can hear him playing during "nap time".  Some days, when we are lucky, he falls asleep.

- He loes to be read to and in the car, he will grab a book and read to himself, making up the story as he goes along.  I love it.

The thing that I love the most about this little man is how easy going he is.  He goes with the flow of the big kids and has all of his life.  He fits right in with everyone, wanting to do everything they are doing (I guess that is where his bravery comes into play).  He is lovable, laughs a lot, and makes us immeasurably happy.

I love this little man.

She's 11???

My babygirl turns 11 today......

Has 11 years really gone by that quickly?

Where did my precious baby girl go?  Where did my dancing toddler go?  Where did my rambunctious kindergartner go?  Where did my passionate 3rd grader go?

Ugh.  Why does it go so fast?  Days like this make you want to put the brakes on.  I am so very proud of the young woman she becoming, yet so regretful of the time that is gone.  Did I hug her enough?  Did I tell her she is amazing enough?  Did I play with her enough?  Did I teach her enough?

Did I spend enough time with her? never.....

It's moments like these that motherhood is hard - you want them to become strong, independent people, yet you want to hold them and protect them forever....

All you have to do is be thankful for the precious gift that God gave to you and you will know that you did the best you could.

Happy 11th Birthday to my Sweet Girl.  I love you.

Happy Birthday Brody!

This is "Brody".  My middle main man who just loves to have his picture taken.

 No, really he does, see?

He's turning 9 today.  And this momma is sentimental.  Not that he'll let me hug him all day.  

And being that he LOVES to be in front of the camera, I have tons of smily pictures.

No I don't.

But I did find a few that make ME smile as I think of what a remarkable boy he is, even if he HATES the camera.

He has played soccer for many years - I can't say he loves it, but he doesn't give up and never wants to quit - and he brings that determination out with him on the field.  This year he is goalie and it is making me a nervous nellie - it is up to him to stop that ball- Ahhhhhhhh!

He loves peanut butter sandwiches and lemonade and enjoyed it every chance he could at Grandma's this summer.  (look at me sneaking this shot)

He and his dad have this amazing new bond over shooting guns - it's something new and made me a little uneasy, but Matt has been extremely cautious in teaching him and he absolutely loves it - it is so great to see them talk about it - he lights up.

He is fascinated with reptiles - and was a great sport this summer when we didn't find any alligators in Florida - maybe not the greatest sport of me catching him in his fancy headgear.....

But luckily, there are still a ton of lizards for him to catch in our backyard.

And every once and awhile, I can catch him in a smile.......

But what makes me laugh the most is finding little treats like these:

While painting his room a few weeks ago, I found this next to his bed...... I HATED painting over it!

ANd this was in his writing journal at school - so sweet!

Lastly, this note to the tooth fairy cracks me up : "When you take the tooth, leave the money in the cup."  Detailed instructions for her!! And certainly no please & thank you!

And right now, he is all consumed with Star Wars - who doesn't love stumbling upon a R2D2 Mailbox in Downtown Springfield, IL??

But my all-time favorite picture of Brody this year???

and the recovery pic says it all:

He is a super fun boy that I love to pieces.

 And he's only 9 - I can't wait to see what he is like when he's 20!

Happy Birthday to my smart, determined, soccer- playing, Star-Wars-Loving Boy!

I love you!

Happy Birthday Matthew!!

Today begins my honey's last year in the 30's.  I have been privileged enough to have know this wonderful man for 17 of those 39.  He has brought me so much joy in my life.  I honestly couldn't image life without him.

I love him for so many different reasons....so many different ways.  He warms my heart every time I think about  him...

 coaching his girl....

 encouraging me to train & run a half-marathon...

 fitting right in with my family...

 overwhelmed with our kids' madness...

 playing along with the funny Christmas present from my Grandparents....

this was a joke, right?

 loving his pizza....

 hamming it up (and making fun of me) with his sister....

 dancing along with "Just Dance"....

the one and only time!

 helping Sis with her Science Fair Experiments...

 or taking her to a dance...

 hiking with the kids...

 teaching Brody how to shoot...

 crossing one off his 'bucket list'...

at the Master's!!

 wearing dorky ear ware to help his son 'find a gator'...

digging in the sand with the kids...

 or racing with them...

 walking his mom down the aisle....

(tearjerker)

 being a part of an incredible family....

Can you see him being the life of the party?

or just playing around with his kids in the pool....

 he's my hot hubby...

 and we are so blessed to have him!

Happy Birthday Matt!!