Happy 4th Birthday, Darling Girl

We took Anna to a store and told her she could pick out an outfit for her birthday. She was as excited as I would be with that present. This is what she picked out hands down. She is very proud. And she thinks she looks cute. I would never pick this out, but she does look adorable in it! She has a great since of style!

We went to church the next morning, and she obviously worn her new outfit.

Here she is posing at church!
We brought doughnuts to Sunday school for them to sing Happy Birthday to her.


We came home and opened presents. She loved her Tinkerbell nightgown.

Here she is waiting on the boys to bring in her chairs for her table. She looked excited, but I am not sure she really was.
Andrew wrapped up one of his old build-a-bear and gave it to her. She was REALLY excited about that. He is so sweet to her!

I've been tagged

I've been tagged by Daphne to do the following:

1. Choose the 4th picture folder on my computer

2. Choose the 4th picture

3. Explain the picture

4. Tag 4 people to do the same.

So I cheated a little, but the picture was a newborn picture of Anna, and if I included my husband's files, it would have been a newborn picture of Andrew, so I decided to find 2 that they looked alike it. Both are just days old. So precious. You would think I was getting baby fever by now. I just keep waiting....

I tag...

1. Erin

2. Presley

3. Megan

4. Brandy

I am pretty sure these are the only people that read my blog because they are the only ones who leave messages. There are a couple of you who leave messages, but don' t have blogs, so you get bonus points!

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving that we celebrated by eating, going to Bass Pro (very impressive), and to see Bolt! Very fun, busy day! Friday we went shopping, and came home today. We stopped and ate at McAlister's and told Anna it was for her birthday...

This is Anna dancing to Andrew singing Happy Birthday to you, you live in a Zoo!

Happy Birthday, again

We had a little birthday celebration at Grandma's. Anna got the purple nightgown to match Bitty Baby. I don't think I have ever seen her this excited about any present! She was super pumped!

REUNION!!!

On Monday, I was working on scrapbook stuff, and the kids pulled out their baby scrapbooks (they love to look at them), and of course Taylor is plastered all over both of their books as if she is my child! So they start missing Taylor. I called Susan to see if we could meet up, and they could! We met at Chick-Fil-a, and played for like 2 hours! We miss you all sooo much...

There were these 2 bad kids, and one of them kept sneaking in our picture! He came down the slide as I was taking the picture. It is hard enough to get a picture of four kids. I have never had to deal with a stranger trying to get it too! WOW, that becomes really complicated dodging kids! Anyway in hindsight, it was pretty funny!

Anna and Jack taking a rest!

Our babies! They became best friends at Mommy and Me at 5 months old, and still love each other!

Anna's 4th Birthday Party

You provide the faith and trust, we'll provide the pixie dust...

My baby girl on her 4th birthday (party)

We also had Tinkerjuice (it was a Tinkerbell party). Tinkerjuice is green hot chocolate. The kids loved making it (especially Addie). It tastes horrible, but is available at WDW!
The girls jumped in the jumper...
While the boys played football and soccer. This was the first year we let boys come to Anna's party.
And we had purple sand in the sandbox. I found this sand on clearance at Walmart for $.50 a bag! It is now down to $.25 a bag. I really do love a bargain!!!
The mommies sat on the porch and drank their coffee and hot chocolate... While the Daddies stood by the fire.

Anna and Anna Dale came up to me and said let's open the presents. Anna Dale leaned over and peeked in one of the bags and said, "Oooh, Annnna!" I love girls!
Anna is not quite the social butterfly Andrew and I are. She is much more like her Daddy. One time Anna heard me tell someone she was shy. A little later Anna told me, "Remember, Mommy, I am shy. Mommy, what does shy mean." Andrew was super pumped about Anna's party. He loves a good party and having people over (just like his mommy). I kept asking Anna if she was excited about her party while I was setting up. She said why do you keep asking me that? Later she said Mom, I am super pumped about my party. What does pumped mean?

After Anna opened her gifts, she went inside for a nap (while the party was still going on).

The boys went inside to watched the football game! They lost, we won this week!!!


Balloons are such a great addition to party.

It almost hurts me to type 4th Birthday. Is it possible my baby is 4!?! I guess it is appropriate the last post is a newborn picture of her. She is so big. Anyway, her birthday party was on Saturday, her actual birthday is not until the 30th, so she keeps asking if she is four yet. I keep saying, not yet, but her rebuttal is, but I had my party, and the cycle continues. Yesterday at church someone asked her how old she was, and she stared up at me with absolute confusion! Poor kid. It is terrible to have your birthday in the middle of holidays! That is why we had the party so early, otherwise everyone (including us) would be out-of-town for the holidays!

Anyway we had the party in our backyard, and although it was cold, it was comfortable. All Anna wanted for her birthday was a jumper. And although I tried everything to discourage it, she finally won, we she said with a defeated and sad voice, "Mommy, we can just have whatever kind of party YOU want to have." So, I ordered the jumper, made hot chocolate, and coffee, Dan built a fire, and we told everyone to dress warm! It was originally a costume party, but we dropped the costumes for jackets! We had a great time, and I am so thankful for all our friends!

On Sunday, Dan was ordained as a deacon. I am so proud of him. He really does portray all the qualifications that are described for a deacon in the bible. It is amazing the work God had done in his life. He got up to talk in church, and I asked the kids if they wanted to stay and watch. They said yes, and wanted to know what a deacon was. I tried my best to explain, and Anna asked, "Will he still be my daddy?" Andrew was pretty fascinated with the whole thing. I hope he will remember that day always, and strive to live a life pleasing to Jesus always (and Anna too)! Thanks Toni for your help!

After posting the picture of Andrew, I couldn't help posting a picture of Anna. She was the absolute best baby in the world. She did everything the books said (unlike Andrew who did nothing the books said. I told Madeline that he was broken). Anyway here's a picture of my precious darling girl!

mowing the yard

Andrew mowed the yard the other day for the first time. And yes, Cindy, we mow the old fashion way! No self-propelled or riding mowers for us. We are real men at this house! Andrew has been mowing with his Daddy since he could walk. I wish I could find a picture of him mowing the very first time, but as sad as it is, we didn't have digital photography then!

Thanksgiving is coming

Both kids had "hats" on when I picked them up from school today. All kids always look so cute in these! The first time I ever picked up one of my babies wearing one was at Christmas time when he was two and Anna was just a couple of weeks old. I went to pick him up at MDO and was running a little late (remember 2 week old baby), and when I rounded the corner, there my baby was wearing reindeer antlers and a red nose. It was the most precious thing I have ever seen. Fast forward 4 years and Anna is an Indian and Andrew is a turkey. He keeps begging Anna to switch with him, but she's not budging. Still two very precious babies, but amazing how fast the time goes! I think the most precious time in my life was the six weeks that Anna was born until we found out we were moving. If I could freeze time, that would be it. But, alas, we keep going, and those babies keep growing!!!

My little soccer player

Today was the last game of the Fall season of soccer. Dan has done a great job of coaching, and we have a great group of boys and their families! Just minutes into the game Andrew takes the ball down the field to score, but misses (which was a little unlike him), but he must have fallen as he skidded on his knees and he stopped only when his head hit the goal post. I didn't see it actually happen, but I notice all the parents rushing onto the field. They said they heard his head hit. He is fine, but scary nonetheless. I was so grateful to all the friends/parents out there who helped care for him, get first aid kits, etc. And grateful to God for protecting my precious angel. He went back in the game with 4 minutes left, scored a goal, and then back to sit in my lap! We wanted to end the season on a good note. Just wanted to blog about it so I can remember our first sports injury/scare! I planned to take picture/ video of this game, but didn't get a chance. I will try to post a picture in the AM of the goose egg on his head! I learned a lot from "experienced" moms about head injuries. Thanks for all the advice and help!!!

Halloween

Before I had kids, I always said we would be those cute kids on Halloween that matched. My favorite being, of course, a MSU football player and MSU cheerleader. Then I had kids and learned quickly there are no matching outfits for superheroes and princesses, so alas, I gave up on my dream of cute matching Halloween costumes. Unlike Presley who pulled it off with THREE kids! So this year on Halloween day, Andrew had dress up like Disney at school. He, unfortunately could not wear his Boba Fett (Star Wars) costume to school, so he decided to wear Mr. Incredible. At school, one of his classmates had on a Power Ranger costume, so when Andrew got home, he decided to be a Power Ranger for Halloween. The big surprise was Anna. If you know Anna, she is incredibly girly, so when she announced she also would be a Power Ranger, I was shocked. They looked cute in their matching Power Ranger outfits, however, not the cute that I would pick out on the one year I would get to dress them the same! Oh well, I guess you know who runs things at our house! Maybe I will put my foot down next year!?!

Also you will find a picture of Anna and me curving the pumpkin. Andrew was completely grossed out from sticking his hand inside the pumpkin and quickly decided he was done! I guess he gets that from me. I am afraid a doctor in the making he is not!

The Snow White Anna is a picture from the church fall festival. Three different costumes for 3 different parties. Anna subscribes to the theory, never be seen in the same costume twice!

Update on mom

Thanks so much for all the prayers, messages, phone calls, etc. Mom is doing great. She is back at home, and she finally slept today for the first time. She hasn't had really any pain at all. It has all gone much better that she expected. The kids and I are back home, and Cindy stayed to play nurse. The hospital, doctors, and nurses were wonderful! We were very impressed! My mom plans to be all better by Thursday, and by the way she is progressing, I believe her. If you are looking for a doctor to do that surgery, she had a GREAT one! Thanks again for the support!

Mom's surgery

I just wanted to give a quick update on Mom's surgery today for those who I don't have email for. For those of you who don't know she had a hysterectomy and her bladder tacked up this am. She has done great all day ~ staying awake and visiting. Better than me, I about passed out when the nurse (Alicia, she's wonderful) started describing more than I wanted to know! Mom has only pushed the morphine pump once (I thought she should pump it all day). This evening she was starting to get uncomfortable, but not in much pain. In the morning, they say will be the worst when the doctor sees her. I know she would appreciate prayers for that! If all is well, she should be home tomorrow afternoon. Good thing Cindy is here, she is a great nurse. Dad and I, we are just there for entertainment purposes only! Thanks for all the prayers!!!

By the way, Happy, happy birthday to AMY!!! Sorry I haven't called!!!

Christmas Card Picture time

Don't you just love trying to get the "perfect" Christmas card picture? I don't understand why kids don't respond well to, "If you don't have a perfect smile for this picture, I am going to spank you!" I feel that is pretty easy to understand?!?

Halloween

We had our first Fall Festival at Anna's school. She was Tinkerbell, and Andrew was Boba Fett. At our next Fall Festival at church, Anna was Snow White. I wonder who she will be for Halloween. Isn't it great to be a kid. I was a bat at the school Fall Festival. Sorry no picture to show!

A couple of weekends ago we headed up to Nashville for the weekend to Dan's brother's house. His grandmother, Mrs. Nancy, aunt, uncle, mom, and dad all met us there. We had a great time with lots of good memories!