Our Princess is Five

Savannah had her first "friends only" party today and it was a princess dress up tea party (okay - apple juice party but it just doesn't sound as cute).

I thought I would share a bit of the day in pictures.

We started the day with the accessories - what is a princess without a tiara and then sparkly fingers were a must.


After we were properly accessorized (including Queens Mommy & CJ)


we proceeded with the tea party complete with finger sandwiches and cookies.


The princesses made their way to the royal kitchen to accessorize their cupcakes with pink frosting and sprinkles (of course a sample is always required.)



Gift opening, the Tinkerbell movie and sparkly hair were next then of course after all of that we had to have a photo shoot. (Even Queens and Princesses need to be silly sometimes)


It warmed up enough to have a balloon chase where Princess Madison got a head start but the breezy day made all of the princesses balloons dance up to heaven.


Princess Amelia, Princess Andrea, Princess Constance and Princess Madison - It was a perfect girly princess day.


A special thank you to Queen CJ for helping make it a fun day.

I love my birthday princess!!!!

My Little Man is Growing Up

This past weekend Lakin had Wood Badge Training for scouts and Savannah decided she wanted to spend time with her Gramma so it was just Christopher and me for about 36 hours. What a great opportunity to get to know my little man a little better. We teased, giggled, played, snuggled and just enjoyed each other. I love that he has become a blankie boy. Like Linus he drags his blankies around the house and sleeps with them and really likes to have it with him where ever we go.

I realized that since I have been working that I haven't used my camera hardly at all so we did an impromptu photo shoot and Christopher hammed it up.

I thought I would share with you some of the results. He really has become quite the little man.

Memorial Day

We went to visit Daddy's grave for Memorial Day. There is something so inspiring about seeing all of those markers with the flags.

Daddy, thanks for being such an inspiration to me, thanks for your service to our country and the example of patriotism and honor.

Our Little Ballerina

I have been such a slacker blogger - so I'm catching up a little all in one day.

Here are a few pictures of Savannah in her first dance class. What a sweet little girl,

200 Things

Denise – I haven’t blogged in ages so thanks for the easy inspiration.

Here's what you do: copy the list, then bold the things you have done.


1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game (had to work several as well)
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill (I was sick of work – does that disqualify me to highlight this one?)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking (any time I dance)
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing (How about rock scampering, more my style)
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving (I wish)
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving (but I have been snorkeling in the Florida Keys)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands (YUCK!)
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes (YUM!)
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids (I don't guess the one in Memphis counts)
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon (I have walked around the edge of it pushing a stroller)
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics (I avoided the Atlanta Olympics)
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books (I think I read them all)
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt (and my head)
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter (don't know what NJP is so I guess not)


Okay, now you all go do it on your own blogs! Off you go!

One Word

Stolen from Denise:

You.
Can.
Only.
Type.
One.
Word.
Not as easy as you might think. Change the answers to suit you and then pass it on.
Remember: one word answers.

1. Where is your mobile phone? desk
2. Your significant other? wonderful
3. Your hair? long
4. Your mother? loving
5. Your father? gone
6. Your favorite thing? kids
7. Your dream last night? disturbing
8. Your favorite drink? Mt.Dew
9. Your dream/goal? motherhood
10. The room you're in? living
11. Your ex? nonexistent
12. Your fear? fire
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? home
14. Where were you last night? date
15. What you're not? stylish
16. Muffins? sure
17. One of your wish list items? cricut
18. Where you grew up? everywhere
19. The last thing you did? cleaned
20. What are you wearing? Pj’s
21. Your TV? projection
22. Your pets? annoying
23. Your computer? enjoyable
24. Your life? challenging
25. Your mood? playful
26. Missing someone? Daddy
27. Your car? truck
28. Something you're not wearing? socks
29. Favorite Store? Target
30. Your summer? niece
31. Like someone? yes
32. Your favorite color? blue
33. When is the last time you laughed? Just now
34. Last time you cried? today
35. Who will/would re-post this? Amy?

We Do Still Exist

Contrary to the appearance of my blog we really are here. I've been putting in overtime at work and spending most of my extra time with my family. I have some cute pictures of the kids but I have to find them.

Mama and I went over to the cemetary and Daddy's stone is up. It's surreal to look there and realize that he's not with us anymore. I'm so glad he's no longer trapped by that body and I pray that he's preparing for us to be together again.

Savannah started ballet classes this week. I'm not sure who was the most excited, Savannah, Nana or me. She was so cute in her class and she did so well. I'm glad to see my little girl stretching her boundaries a little bit and look forward to what this will do for her.

Christopher is still not talking but he has to be the cutest little boy in the whole world. When he smiles at you you can't help but melt and when he giggles the whole world must be happy. He finally got more teeth (he's up to 8 now) and he had his first experience of nursery at church. He did really well until he got too sleepy to play.

Lakin is working hard to build his business and has put in an application to become an FHA certified appraiser which will increase his business somewhat.

As I said earlier I am working lots of hours, typically getting overtime in a 4 day workweek. I enjoy what I am doing even though it's not the most challenging job I have ever had. I work with some good people and they really strive to respect my tender ears and sensiblities (hee hee)

I have missed my blog world and it's good to be back. Amy, thanks for the kick-start by starting your blog. Welcome to the world of blogs.