Happy Birthday. . .

To my sister-in-law.

Today is her birthday and she is in Texas by herself. I hope she is having a great birthday. Also, we all miss her and wish we were spending the day with her.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHERE!!!

WE LOVE YOU!!!

Prayer Request. . .

Can everyone say a little (BIG) prayer tonight for my brother and his family? He is leaving for Iraq at 2:30 AM Friday . He will be in Iraq for a year. Please pray for safe travel there and his safety while in Iraq. Also, pray for his wife, who will be here with their daughter who is 7 months old. Hopefully, she will be coming to SC to live while he is away.

Addie's Birthday Weekend. . .

As you all know Friday was Addie's "real" birthday. I took the day off to "spend time" with her. This didn't really happen... I was a tiny bit busy running all over the world getting things for her party on Saturday. Brandon couldn't really help me because, let's face it, someone had to work that day in order to pay for the great party we were having. I felt so bad for him though. He barely got to see her between working and going to a meeting for dinner.

My fabulous friends were gracious enough to help me with my never ending list of things to get done before Saturday. I was very calm and collective (remember this) because I had "plenty of time to get it all done". My friends knew better!! Tracy made ALL, yes I said ALL and by all I mean like 50!!, of the cupcakes. Rhonda came over and iced ALL the cupcakes! Which just so happened to turn into a small disaster, I will get to that in a minute.

We decided to go to dinner at Fugi's. Good food that is cheap...even better. We, 11 of us, ate for about $25. I think we picked the wrong night to go because all the teenagers were there. Addie had a great time! She was full of smiles all night!

All the Kiddos

After dinner, we went back to our house. The kids played and the moms talked. Some time passed and I decided for some unknown reason to look at the cupcakes I had already put into containers. * Remember the disaster I mentioned* Well. . . about 1/2 of the cupcakes had lost their icing!!! Apparently, this particular icing, Rich and Creamy by Betty Crocker, is not supposed to be stored in a covered container. What smart people we have working at Betty Crocker! Who makes icing that can't be stored?!?! Not to worry , my trusty friend, Rhonda, volunteered to come early to the party to redo the icing.

PARTY DAY!!!

Thinking that I am "Super Mom", I decided to go to a meeting that lasted all Saturday morning. Great idea....because I had "plenty of time" to get everything done. The party didn't start until 6! I was still calm and collective. I made a list during the meeting. Brandon was at home getting everything outside looking good. We had "plenty of time".

Get home and realize I still had a million things to do!!! Now I am starting to panic!!! It is 4:00 and noting is set up!! Really start to panic!! Rhonda comes to rescue me !!! Everything gets done before the guests arrive!!!

Brandon did a great job on the grill. Tammy did a great job on the rest of the food. Everyone LOVED her baked beans. I need to get her recipe for those. The cupcakes turned out great. The kids liked the cupcake bar. I had lots of toppings out for them to decorate their own cupcake.

Cupcake Maker- TracyZachary

Brynn

Addie on the other hand was not to sure about her giant cupcake. She kept shaking her head "No" and didn't care too much for her hands being dirty. Ella Kate, Brynn, and Karson helped Addie with eating it.

I made the cake myself!

Birthday Song

Ella & Karson

Brynn

End Results

After cake, we opened gifts. Addie had the most fun with the paper. Karson and Ella helped her with the opening. I think she got just the right amount (not too many toys)! After opening gifts, she was all tuckered out and fell asleep. She had had a long day, a great day, but a long one!

Thank you everyone who came and a BIG thank you to everyone who helped make Addie's 1st birthday a day we will always remember!!

Addie's 1st Birthday. . .

One year ago today, our family grew by 1. Addison Grace was born at 1:34 PM weighing 6 pounds 14 ounces.
I had no idea how our lives would change over the next year. Adding a new member to our family proved challenging at times, juggling 2 children is ALOT different than 1! But, Addie was welcomed blessing.

I thought that since I had 2 girls they would be similar....don't know where I got that idea! They are completely different.

Addie is most definitely a Mommy's girl. If she had to pick between Brandon and me, it would always be me. She is a lover, always laying her head on you, hugging you. She needs lots, all of your attention, if she is not getting it...you guessed it...she is crying. She is a smiler. Addie almost always has a smile on her face (when she is getting her way)! She is a giver. She never hesitates to give you anything (unless it's a juice box that she has found). She is a girly girl. She loves the baby dolls. Addie absolutely adores her big sister.

Addie has grown so much in her 1st year of life. She crawled at 6 months, walked at 9 months. Her teeth finally came at 10 months. She has 5 now. She now weighs 21 pounds! She is saying a few things...mama, dada, bye bye.Addie has been a wonderful addition to our family. We love her SOO much and can not imagine our family without her!

Since I was Tagged. . .

Directions: Place an X by all the things you've done and remove the X from the ones you have not. Answer the 30 questions at the end and tag 3 (or more) of your friends to play too!(This is for your entire life.)
( ) Gone on a blind date
(x) Skipped school
( ) Watched someone die
( ) Gone to Canada
(x) Gone to Mexico
( ) Gone on a plane
( ) Jumped out of a plane
(x) Been on a Helicopter
(x) Gotten lost
( )Gone on the opposite side of the country
( ) Gone to Washington , DC
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Cried your self to sleep
( ) Played cops and robbers
(x) Recently colored with crayons
(x) Sang Karaoke
(x)Paid for a meal with coins only?
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't?
(x) Made prank phone calls
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Danced in the rain
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(x) Gotten kissed under the mistletoe
(x) Watched the sunrise with someone you care about-with the hubby on our honeymoon
(X) Blown bubbles
( x) Gone ice-skating
(x) Gone Skiing (water & snow) didn't like it at 1st (snow), but it is fun now that I know how!
( ) Gone skinny dipping outdoors
(x) Gone to the movies…
(x) Gone to a drive-in movie…does the movie at the park count?
1Any nickname? Summertime
2. Mother's name? Sandra
3. Favorite drink? Dr. Pepper
4. Tattoo? nope...too scared and too permanent
5. Body piercings? my ears
6. How much do you love your job? I love it for the most part!
7. Birthplace? Spartanburg, SC
8. Favorite vacation spot? beach anytime!!
9. Ever been to Africa ? no
10. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? yes
11. Ever been on TV? not that I remember
12. Ever steal any traffic sign? road sign
13. Ever been in a car accident? yes
14. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4 door
15. Favorite salad dressing? tie between ranch and balsalmic vinegarette
16. Favorite pie? key lime
17. Favorite number? 8
18. Favorite movie? Sweet Home Alabama
19. Favorite holiday? Christmas
20. Favorite dessert? anything sweet just about
21. Favorite food? any kind of potatoes
22. Favorite day of the week? Sunday because Brandon and I are both home
23. What do you do to relax? sleep
24. Favorite toothpaste? Crest
25. Favorite smell? fresh cut grass
26. What month were you born in? July
27. Favorite Candle Scent? apple
28. How do you see yourself in 10 years? being a mom to an 11 and 14 year old...scary!!
29. What 3 people do you tag to do this meme? Rhonda , Summer , and Natalie
30. Who will be the first to respond? hopefully one of them!!

Sisters. . .

I was going to have a Wordless Wednesday Post, but I just had to write something and that defeated the purpose of "wordless".

I was looking through the pictures of the girls and stated to think...

I never could have imagined that in a year (well, just 2 weeks shy of a year) Brynn and Addie would have already formed such a close bond. They truly share something unique that only sisters can share. I always wanted a sister so that I could have that bond with someone. I am happy that they are so close.

Brynn has already said several times..."Mom, when we get our big house Addie will still sleep with me." She looks after Addie all the time and is such a great helper with her. They do play well with each other (most of the time).

I can only pray that they will continue to grow closer as they grow older!!

Happy Birthday. . .

Natalie!!!

Hope you have a great birthday!!! You have become a very good friend to our family. I am so glad we have gotten to know each other better this past year!

Tarah's Wedding. . .

My very dear friend, Tarah, was married to a great guy,Eric, yesterday. The wedding was beautiful. It was held at our church and the reception was held at the Chapman Cultural Center (absolutely gorgeous, by the way).

I have know Tarah for a very long time because her older sister and I have been friends for longer than I can count. I have to say, I felt like my little sister was getting married. Not that I have a little sister, but Tarah is as close as it gets. She made such a stunning bride!

I know that Tarah and Eric will have a happy life together! God has blessed them both!!

Birthday. . .

Today is my Mama Ann's birthday. For those of you who don't know, my MA is my grandma.

She is more like my mom than my grandma. I love her very much!! I am also very grateful for all she has done and continues to do for our family. Thank you Mama Ann. I know I don't say it as often as I should, but THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for that you have sacrificed for me!!!

We celebrated by going to Logan's. YUM!!! The craziest thing happened before we left. . . the restaurant lost POWER!! We were just sitting there and the lights went out, thankfully they had a generator that came on immediately. We never did hear what caused the power outage.

Sunday School Social. . .

Last Sunday, we went to a cookout/pool party. I was very excited because this was the 1st social we have had with our old class. Back in the spring, our class split and became 2 classes. The class was actually that big believe it or not!

It was nice to see some people that we really don't get to see that often anymore. It was a great time. I think the men had the most fun. . . playing with the kids . . . or more appropriately said "acting like kids"!!! Joe R. made the BIGGEST splashes I have ever seen in my life!!!

I hope we do joint socials more often!!!

Brynn with Mr. Drew (I think he is her new boyfriend...don't tell Zachary!)

Jason doing a flip...
Joe's plunge. . . The SPLASH!!!
Addie. . .

This picture looks like Andrew is standing on Karson's back. He is actually on the diving board and Karson is trying to dive!
Elizabeth upside!!

Taking a dip to cool off. . .


Zac, Mr. Drew, & Brynn

Chicken Fight. . .
Ella Kate's favorite spot. . .Mr. Drew is a strong man. . .
Addie with her favorite toy of the day. You can't tell but she has lots of grass stuck to her hinney.