477 Luau Subway Art

Google some luau words.

Check.

(Katie had printed up some coloring pages that inspired the turtle and the fish)

 Sharpie outline.

Check.



 Watercolor in some fun.

Check.

 Realize your paper is an odd size, but just stick some old patterned paper behind it, and frame.

Pat yourself on the back for finding the frame on clearance for $6.99.

Check. Check.

Cute, easy, fun .... (fine, cheap) ... luau party decor.

Check.

476 Katie Turns Ten

On the 23rd of May my little girl turned ten. I didn't expect it to be an emotional day, but I was wrong. How could ten years have passed since I held all six pounds and two ounces of her for the first time! And now, she is old enough for her very own phone. We did force her to wait several years since the first time she asked for one, and she finally got her reward for (impatiently) waiting.

This year Katie decided she wanted a luau for her birthday. This is the front of the invitation I created. She requested the flamingo, and she is currently obsessed with zebra print (like 95% of girls her age right now), so I came up with a combination of the two. 

We accomplished a massive feat by getting the house ready for family and friends to come over. Not to mention getting the pool back up, which required several truckloads of sand. All the work and sweat was worth it. Katie was all smiles (not only when she was opening all the cards stuffed with cash)... well, until the sun started to take a toll on her. She had spent the entire day out in the pool, so by the time the party rolled around she didn't last too much longer in the sun.

Ginger wasn't very cooperative with the leis...

It was great to see our friends and family having a good time! For once we managed to properly estimate the food we needed, so we didn't end up with a refrigerator full of leftovers. I know, it is sad that I count that as one of my main accomplishments of the day (along with managing to take a shower before guests arrived). It would have been nice to have a little more cake left though.

Another successful birthday is in the books! Happy birthday my beautiful girl! I am so proud of you, and I can't wait to see the wonderful woman you become .... but, if you don't mind, can you slow down just a little bit!?

475 Spring Break in Atlanta (Where else?!)

I look forward to Katie's school holidays more than she does I am sure. It is the only time we can make the trip to Atlanta to visit the family. This trip was much more sun=bdued than we expected. Mom wasn't feeling well, and then neither was I. But we managed to survive and have a little fun. Luckily all the kids need for fun is an open Walmart or two...

I did get to visit my best friend, Ashlee one evening. We hung out, chatted, stood a broom up... like you do. Mainly, Ashlee said that her old broom probably wouldn't stand, so I had to give it a try... TADA!

Ashlee just had surgery on her hip, and I was super surprised that she was able to get around as well as she did! That girl has serious strength! It was wonderful to visit with her and her family. It was definitely time needed.


Connor did get his first big boy bike ... and BIG boy helmet. Seriously, BIG! We had to get him one of the helmets labeled for a 14+. His head is large. Very. :) Lucky for Katie, that large noggin is very generous, and he allowed her to ride his bike sometimes.

We also spent time watching the birds around Grammy's house. Connor got very interested and Grammy pulled out her North American Bird Book. Totally reminded me of my Grandma always having her bird book handy, looking out those same windows. Must be an October baby thing!

And of course we had to do pinecone bird feeders. Great idea Grammy!

And you can't forget cousin visits. We headed up to see Claire and Milly on Wednesday. The kids play together so well. It is super cute how they insist on being as close to each other as possible. Four chairs around the table, and they squeezed four booties into two seats. We left the kids to consume pizza and giggle in peace, and us adults went to the living room to chat. Claire was off school Thursday and Friday, so the girls begged for a sleepover. How can I say no when they see each other so little? They make my heart happy when they are all playing together.

(Connor and Milly crack me up in this picture... look at their eyes! both crossed the exact same way)



Connor wasn't what you would call "happy" when we left Katie to spend the night, but there is no way I was subjecting Leslie's mom to that hooligan in the morning. Besides, he would get extra snuggle time with me, and he would see everyone the next day.
Before we left Wednesday, the girls were trying to convince Carolyn/Mimi to take them all down to the "creek" that is "near" the house. Leslie and Geof vetoed the idea, way too much stress to place on Mimi to keep track of the three. And I later found out that the creek is also not so very "near"... and the "creek" is fairly substantial...without many good paths to get down to the water. I found this out when the kids talked me into a quick trip to the creek. It was definitely not quick...it was very hot, but not quick. Milly was still napping, and the kids were tired of jumping on the trampoline, so I agreed.

 I almost erased this picture. My phone was moving and it was blurred, but the more I look at it the more I like it.

 We had to do some stone skipping... of course.

I finally convinced the kids it was time to head home. They were hot and tired, and Katie was SUPER pouty... When we got home, Milly was up and about, so they all headed out to the trampoline.

 Not exciting, but dang this picture is cute! Connor found these goggles at Kohl's with holograms of sharks... he used them as "safety goggles" to protect his eyes from any stray toothpaste.

 And of course, there has to be a trip to the park. They were so happy when we got there (after Katie had thrown a two hour outright temper tantrum about not getting another hamster)... but it was very hot, and it didn't take long before they were completely worn out. Connor spent the whole time playing tag with any other kid he could find. HE IS FAST! I had several parents asking how old he was and commenting on his speed. A few times I pulled him to the side with a gentle reminder that the game isn't fun to the other kids if they never get to catch him. He was not a big fan of my idea to slow down...

 See? Plumb tuckered!

AND! We needed to head home for the other set of cousins to come play! It is always interesting to see how much taller Austin will be each time we see him. He started this past week with his school's football team, and I bet he is going to impossible to get past! And Spencer can now sit up and CRAWL! Why is everyone growing up so fast?! Also ... impossible to get them to stay still for more than a few moments.

 Connor had a great time beating up Uncle Vince... I half heartedly tried to stop him, but it is just pay back for all those sandwiches I had to make him when we were younger.

 And I cannot convince kids not to make silly faces... but I am rather partial to those crazy kids anyway.

Another Spring Break come and gone... Now I just have to make it through the next two months before Summer Vacation! Woohoo! I can't wait to head back and see my family again! I love you all, and I miss you so much!

474 Dandy Fun

Just wanted to share a few dandelion pics. The kids have been dragging me back into the park again, so I have to amuse myself somehow. Actually, the dandelion that the T-Rex is holding was what started it all. Connor came up to me while I was getting ready to take them out to bring me a "flower". He is so overwhelmingly sweet (on occasion).

Beware girls... Just because he comes bearing gifts it doesn't mean he can be trusted.

Wasted wishes.... So sad.

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Trying to figure out how to post from my phone since I rarely get on the actual computer.... And most of the pictures I take are on my phone right now.

473 January 2012

I honestly have no idea what we did the month of January.
I know the television got turned off a lot more often.
I know my head nearly exploded multiple times from frustration.
I know I managed to get out of the house ... a few times.
I know Connor decided he would rather stick out his tongue than smile.
I know Katie improved at school ... but she still comes home clueless about what her teachers have actually said.
I know Sugar has been toted about and kissed so much that I literally have to remind Katie that she can OVER HANDLE her hamster to the point it will hurt it. Plus, EWWW, kissing a hamster!
I know we can't wait for the tax return to post.
I know we had snow flurries ... and 70 degree days. We had the heat on full blast, and we had the windows open.
I know I made art... I even kept up with my photo a day thing... so far.

472 Atlanta Trip - Winter Holiday Edition

Ever since Katie started school I try to use every school holiday for a trip home to see my family. I have probably mentioned it before, but the older I get the closer I want to be to my family. I miss Mom ... and even my stinky brothers and their families. It is always worse around a holiday, when I want to watch the kids all ripping into their presents together. And, I will admit, it was really hard for me to get in the Christmas mood this year. I caught it right there at the end, but it was a close one.

I did get to take the kids home for a week. We got to visit a bit with everyone, see some friends (although not nearly enough), and generally relax and enjoy. It was MUCH needed.

Katie does have her own bed ... but most nights she either started out here and moved, or she just stayed the whole night. I might be "mean" but I am also super cuddly.

 We took a drive into North Georgia to do a little gem mining for Katie at The Lilly Pad Village. The water was COLD, but we had a blast. It was a bit off the beaten path, but the staff was really nice! I would definitely recommend it if you have a little rock hound in the family.

And of course, I have to share some pics of my adorable nephew! We got a chance to babysit him for a bit. Katie and Connor were absolutely smitten. Spencer really is one of the happiest and sweetest babies I have been around. And he LOVES a camera! What's not to love?

It got a little chilly, so we had to break out the hats.

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

And then ... I had to go home :(