Look who's 5!!

Mady had her birthday last week and we celebrated for 2 days!

The first night we went to Kangaroo Zoo. She had a hard time deciding between Kangaroo Zoo and swimming. She got to invite one friend and she chose "little" Maddie. She lives down the street and is just 8 days younger than our Mady, so she is little Maddie.

On her birthday we went to McDonalds to play and eat for lunch. Then we had Mady's favorite, pizza, for dinner. And we finished off with cup cakes and ice cream.

It was a very low key birthday, perfect for this mom.


And the prize gift was---- drumroll-------


Now there will be less fighting over Emma's and lots more sharing of games.
We are so glad Mady is in our family. She keeps our family laughing and happy. She is ALWAYS the first one to pick up Lillie when she is crying and can get the best belly laughs out of her too! She can play at Cooper's level with blocks and trucks and then participate in Emma's made up games and plays. Her energy level is that of an energizer bunny from the moment she wakes up until we force her to bed. She has quite the sense of humor and has finally grown into letting us laugh with her, instead of getting offended and thinking we were laughing at her. We love you Mads!!!

The Monkey Did It

I headed off to Kohl's to buy one thing- a tie for Drew for his work party tonight. The old Christmas tie, we discovered at 11pm last night, had been attacked by one of the children and was no longer presentable for the mixed company of "the firm". So I was willing to run out with the two little ones while Mady was at preschool to buy another one.

Everything ran smoothly while my favorite 2 year old, Cooper, was strapped safely in his car seat. This was going to be a quick trip so I lugged the baby carrier in one arm and had one hand free to steer Cooper in the store. We arrived at the ties and I picked out a very nice looking one only to discover Cooper had tip-toed off. He just started this, looking back over his shoulder to see if I notice. So I leave the car seat to go find Cooper and luckily just a short way down the aisle he was being detained by a very nice man who, when I walked up calling his name, said "there's your mommy." I lug him back to the tie area and Lillie, all the while lecturing him about staying right by me.

I set him down to pick up the carrier and then I look at the brand of tie and I don't see a specific area for them and I start thinking "what if this tie isn't on sale like all the rest of these ties?" I turn to another rack, find another one and poof, Cooper has disappeared again. This time I see him running straight down the aisle. I watch him and when he turns around I motion him to come back. He looks at me, looks the other way, looks at me, looks the other way, looks at me and takes off. I head after him only to discover when I get to the end he is no where in sight. I go the direction he went and spot him and he spots me and takes off. I put down the carrier and RUN after him. Yes, you heard me and everyone in the store saw me. I grab him and don't let go. I pick up Lillie and we head to check out. I get in the short line where the lady in front of me is almost done checking out. Has anyone else been sucked in by the short line? I swear I have the worst luck in checkout lines. So she says "do you have any of those Curious George dolls? I called and was going to put one on hold but they guaranteed me that you had alot. And now I can't find any." Cashier calling Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum and the Seven Dwarfs on their individual cell phones to find a stinking doll all the while I am struggling with a writhing two year old boy. Can't this lady step aside while I pay for one stinking tie? NO. "I can call up to another Kohl's to see if they have any." Are You KIDDING? For a stuffed animal? Maybe I am out of the loop on this whole Curious George thing.

So the cashier tells me I can go over to the other cashier; she only has one lady in her line. Not thinking, I set Cooper down to pick up Lillie and the tie to head over to the next cashier. Cooper slowly starts scooting towards the door. I keep an eye on him but figure he has learned his lesson. Finally I pay for the tie and go to get Cooper where I had last seen him. He is GONE! No where in sight. I look up and down aisle after aisle while lugging the car seat. Luckily a lady that I know from growing up is there and sees me searching for my runaway and offers to keep Lillie. I start frantically searching for him all the while calling his name. I am holding back tears while trying to remain calm, all the while berating myself for not having gotten a cart in the first place. But this was supposed to be an in and out trip! And then I hear announced over the loud speaker "Code Yellow" and I figure this nice lady who I haven't even seen in over 10 years and is holding my baby has informed the store that I lost my child. And I think "I am a horrible mother and now everyone knows." I decide I should probably check the toys even though we had never been in that section and low and behold there he is sitting on the floor playing with a train. I say " You are in so much trouble mister!" and he just looks at me with his big, blue eyes and says "I poopie mommy."

As I walk up with Cooper in my arms to get my baby, past all of the smiling cashiers who are now cancelling the code yellow, I think this is all Curious George's fault!

Black Friday

I , for some unknown and unexplainable reason, ventured out at 5:30 am to see what this crazy tradition is all about. I have never done this before, but have sent my husband out a time or 2, although not at this insane hour. I was planning on going at about 6:30am but my sweet baby Lil' G (I will explain the nickname later; if you are dying to know skip ahead) awoke at 5 am so I decided to head out and just get it done as quickly as possible. We had several things we were looking for, but nothing of great significance. Each store I went to was either already out of what I really wanted or the lines were soooooooooooo long there was no way I was waiting to save 2 dollars and 46 cents or whatever the measly savings was. So, what did I end up with? Those items that my kids will play with for 5 minutes 23 seconds and those items my husband said we didn't need. And now I get to return to said stores and return a bunch of stuff. At least I don't have to go at 5:30 am, but I can if I want to. And I bet there won't be one line in sight!

As for the nickname, I was calling her Lil' Lil, as in Little Lillian, but the kids were having a hard time understanding it and thought I was stuttering. So Drew came up with Lil' G, as in Lillian Grace. We think she will be very grateful when she becomes a big time rap star in L.A.

All Hallows' Eve

Or Halloween. Whatever floats your boat. We had a fun time carving pumpkins the Monday before and proudly displayed them outside.


Emma designed her own pumpkin and Mady's. She also did the majority of the carving herself. Way to go Emma!

This one was a team effort by dad and Cooper. If you can't tell it, has all different kinds of eyes carved out. A very interesting pumpkin indeed! Cooper loved drawing on it and as you can see was very intent on his masterpiece.

Mady loves kitties so she was all for this pumpkin designed by her sister. I helped with the whiskers......and the eyes........and the nose. She really did try but when you are four the knife doesn't always go where you want it to. I was so excited to get a real smile from her. Lately they have been a little awkward looking.

I was designated pumpkin seed extractor. Drew tried his hand at it but didn't have the desire to get every seed and stringy thing out like I did.

This is what Lillie did the whole time we were carving. She is such a good baby!

Does anyone else stress out about costumes every year? I do.I tried to go simple this year. Although I had planned on making Emma some scrubs, that was a DISASTER. Luckily Target had just what we needed. I did make Cooper's vest and rescue pack which turned out pretty good. It was getting him to put it on that was tough. Mady wore an old dress up that I think Brenda gave to Emma a few years back. I spruced up ballet slippers with some gold stretchy material and she was good to go.




For your viewing pleasure we have Princess Jasmine, Diego, and A Veterinarian. They were quite the trick-or-treaters. Emma and Cooper were out there from 6 to 8:30 pm. Mady gave up a little early and helped me pass out candy. We ran out so she kindly offered her own candy to the kids! It was very cute. And, ladies, the man in the attractive 70's clothes is taken! Sorry!

And last but not least is our little green M&M. I made this for Emma's first Halloween and all 3 girls have used it since. We had a Halloween party with the youth on Tuesday so I made a costume that would compliment Lillie's since we go everywhere together these days!

We do have a picture of me wearing the costume holding Lillie but I did not feel like posting it seeing as I had just finished running and I look like...Well I just don't look good! And the picture of me carving is oh, so beautiful. Once again no makeup or hair done. At least I had taken a shower, right? Anyway, on to Thanksgiving where we can glut ourselves on REAL food.

Fall Fun

We headed off to Gardner Village for a fun FHE while Drew's parents were in town. There were quite a few people there enjoying the Halloween decorations and fun shops. We really enjoyed our cookies from the bakery!

I love these pumpkins.The petting zoo was closed so we had to climb the fence to look at the animals.

Can you spot the witch in this picture?
I had Lillie all wrapped up in the Moby and I definitely got some strange looks, people asking if I had a baby in there, and where I got such a contraption. I used to sell them but I am no longer in that line of work, but if you are dying to get one I spotted them at Target the other day. So much for the little guy! But I still unabashedly promote the product. It is awesome!

I am a Mother

I just finished reading Jane Clayson Johnson's book and if you haven't read it yet you should. It was refreshing and insightful. And just the reminder I needed as we celebrated bringing another child into our home last weekend.

We had a lot of family and friends to support us as we blessed Lillie last weekend. The group picture includes most of the people who were there. Some had to leave quickly so they aren't pictured. We enjoyed yummy soup and salad at our house afterward. And now we know that our little home holds at least 50+ people!

The Group

The Mothers

Lillie was blessed in the dress that my mom made for my little sister and the person for whom she is named, Angeliica Lillian. Angeliica died when she was just a baby and I was 2, so I didn't get to meet her. But I know that she has been with me and helped me throughout my life. So, when I got pregnant this time I only had one name in mind if our baby was a girl. It was a beautiful day for a blessing and a beautiful day to remember why we are here on the earth. This baby girl chose to come to earth just like the rest of us and I am so blessed to be her mother.

The cute blanket was made by Grandma McDaniel

Oh, Happy Day!

This is what Lillie thought of being one month old-just imagine the sound coming out of that sweet, adorable, LITTLE baby!



My good friend Jana took these pictures for us. She was so patient and got somevery cute non-crying pictures. I actually love all of them. They will help me remember, if I ever feel the need to get pregnant again, that new babies aren't all smiles and laughs! But they are so sweet!