Happy Birthday Sweetheart

(this is her in my "mini-me" outfit, had to get it since it had the scarf)

happy birthday to my sweet sweet little girl. Yesterday was loads of fun. Started out with a waffle breakfast. Then me and all the kids headed to the dentist. Poor Mackenzie has a cavity and was soooo upset about it. But i assured her it is more my fault than hers, so not to worry. I ended up having to stay home with Turner with a fever, but took the opportunity to clean clean clean in preparation for the ten or so 6 year olds to destroy it tomorrow! After we got home from picking Kenz up at school and Austin from the babysitter, Pop and Terry showed up. For dinner we had "cheesy chicken" - Mackenzie's choice. For her dessert - Banana splits - and boy were they YUMMY! In fact, Mackenzie got to build her own and couldn't even finish it. Gotta love it when ice cream is too much that a kid throws in the towel on it! For presents she got new earrings, clothes, My Little Petshop pets, Miley Cyrus CD, and Hannah Montana themed T-shirt, socks and lip gloss....see a pattern here.

After dessert, Kenz and I decided to work off some of that banana split, and turned up the music to her new CD and danced the night away. That is a moment I'll take with me for years to come...danced all over her room, up on the bed...we were rocking out!

It makes me so sad to see time moving so quickly. I told her that if we were moving we could just skip her birthday this year and she could be five for another year, because no one would know she was supposed to be 6 yet...she didn't buy it. I just know that she is 6 going on 16.

Showing off her new earrings. She got all dressed up when she got home in this dress her best friend handed down to her the other day. See here she looks all cute and sweet - like a 6 year old

And here is the 16 shot - all sassed out in her hip outfit, HM sunglasses on, and talking on the cell phone, all propped up on the chair. It was like having a glimpse into the future.

Showing off her Hannah Montana shirt. Listening to her new AM/FM radio that she was dancing all over the house too.

And our token family shot on the birthday.

As she was going to bed, I asked if she had a good birthday...she said yes. Asked her if it was the best one ever...she said yes! A few minutes later I went in to check on her, and she was sleeping with her earphones in listening to her new CD. Man, can anyone figure out how to bottle up an age and keep it forever, because it is just magical and so much fun!!

We can't wait to post on the big birthday party/sleepover tomorrow. I think the girls (and mom and dad) are going to have a BLAST!

Connecticut

My dream home!

When some people dream of their perfect place, they dream of the country, desert, florida, or California. I've always dreamt of this place, I just didn't know where it was exactly. But now I do.... Oh pretty pretty please let this job work out. The job seems perfect too, so much opportunity and growth. Everything seems so perfect, maybe too perfect! I'm trying to keep myself grounded, but I'm on cloud nine. We should know by the end of the month!

So much since the last post

Wow, just can't believe how much is going on.... So since the last post - Aaron and I both had our birthdays. Welcome to the 30s sweatheart. For Aaron's 30th, we had a semi-surprise dinner for him. Had a great time out with friends, and ended the night at the boat winning some dough on the craps table. Last night for mine, we went to dinner with some wonderful friends. We've been kid free this weekend with the kids at Grandpy's house, and have supposed to have been getting a lot of school stuff done...but we've been a little preoccupied. Now for those details..........

Most people know we have been looking for opportunities to move out of the St. Louis area and thinking we would like to get up to the North East. So last weekend I had found a job online (internal) and applied for it. Went to work on Monday not thinking too much about it. I know how long these things take right. Well, on a side note, I got a call on my way out of work that Turner had just gotten sick. By the time I picked him up and got home Mackenzie had joined in the fun. Then later that night Aaron and I both joined. It was one of the worst nights of our life in and out of the bathroom. So Tuesday we all stayed home. I think it was Wednesday when I called in to work to check my voice mails and had a call to set up a phone interview. ended up having that Thursday afternoon. It went GREAT. The hiring manager had said that she would be making a decision on Monday or Tuesday about who they would be bringing out for on-site interviews, but then Friday morning she replied that they had already decided to bring me out. Sooooo I have travel arrangements to be in New London Connecticut on February the 8th for an interview!!! It is all so crazy and happening so fast, but that is the way we do things, so it fits. We are trying not to get overexcited, I know I don't have the job yet, but everything is just fitting in to place. There is a possibility that me and the boys could be in Connecticut in April, with Aaron and Kenz coming as soon as school was done. (Of course I still don't know if I could leave my little girl behind, she may just have to cut Kindergarten a little short). So, keep your fingers crossed for us. We are so excited and feel that this would be such a wonderful experience for our family.

The cutest darn letter ever written

Jesus and god I love you jesus and god I bin a gdu grl I glad that you
Had a son namd jesus ho wuz aur savyr mary wit to bethuhm thir wur
No rom opin but this had a bon wir jesus in then mary bekam jesus muthr
Othr
Bi
Mackenzie
Non;fikscin


In case you needed any interpretation

Jesus and God, I love you. Jesus and God I’ve been a good girl. God I’m glad that you had a son named Jesus who was our savior. Mary went to Bethlehem there were no rooms open, but this man had a barn where Jesus was born in. Then, Mary became Jesus’s mother
Author By:
Mackenzie Lively – Non-Fiction

Happy 2nd Birthday Austin

Computer must have gone down yesterday when I tried to post this. We had a great party last night with his God-families over. And even Grandpy and Grandma Pat stopped by on their way through town.

Happy Birthday Austin!!!!



I love hearing you say "SpongeBob Squarepants"

You love cleaning with your vacuum cleaner and using the Attachment to get in all the corners and edges - I've taught you well!

Yesterday when it had snowed you couldn't wait to go out and play in the "snowing" and then while we were out there you would be across the yard and start yelling Mom, and when I'd ask what it was just so you could say "I love you" - something you have likely learned from your brother Turner

You give great kisses and hugs and love having you cheek right up against my face when You are giving me hugs so I can just smooch on those chubby little cheeks - I just love em.

I love the way your hair spikes out in back off to the side.

You love your "Charwee (charlie)" and are still always giving him hugs and kisses and it is often that I hear you laughing and running, only to see you a short second later go by pulling one of Charlie's toys with him close at your heels, then you usually fall, Charlie tackles you, Charlie nips at you, you start crying and come tell me, I tell you you are ok and to tell Charlie to be nice, and then the whole thing starts over again.

You are a parrot, repeating anything and everyone - but mostly your big brother.

You are talking up a storm - your latest new word "What EVER!" yes, you even do the hand motion (W E). Thank daddy for teaching you that one, refer back up to previous line! lol

You are out of your crib now and in a big boy bed. Sure we had to lock the door for two nights, but now you do pretty good. Of course you have starting figuring out that Mackenzie and Turner sleep together and they sneak in our room, so I think you are close to following in their footsteps, again, refer back to previous line about you wanting to do EVERYTHING they do!

Gosh Austin, I could go on and on and on with all the things I love about you. You are seriously one of the most adorable kids in the world. You make our house, our family, and our life better by just being a part of it. Thank you for giving me the honor to be your mother. I could never repay you for all you have given me in only 2 short years. I love you!!!

Pictures Finally

Finally - some pictures....

Me and my hubby on our 7 year anniversary

The kiddos across the table on our anniversary.

Out sledding in our front yard the only day so far we've really even had snow on the ground.

Mackenzie's first ice skating adventure in downtown St. Charles.
I think she liked it! (the tooth still cracks me up!)

Our only family picture during the holiday season.

The kiddos with their Grandpy and Grandma Pat

This was one night when we got just enough for a dusting, so Mackenzie and I HAD to go out and make some snow angels.

Christmas morning 2009

Rumor has it we are supposed to get 4-8 inches of snow tonight!!! Bring it on - we can't wait.

Monkeys and Bananas

Put eight monkeys in a room. In the middle of the room is a ladder, leading to a bunch of bananas hanging from a hook on the ceiling.
Each time a monkey tries to climb the ladder, all the monkeys are sprayed with ice water, which makes them miserable. Soon enough, whenever a monkey attempts to climb the ladder, all of the other monkeys, not wanting to be sprayed, set upon him and beat him up. Soon, none of the eight monkeys ever attempts to climb the ladder.
One of the original monkeys is then removed, and a new monkey is put in the room. Seeing the bananas and the ladder, he wonders why none of the other monkeys are doing the obvious. But undaunted, he immediately begins to climb the ladder.
All the other monkeys fall upon him and beat him silly. He has no idea why.
However, he no longer attempts to climb the ladder.
A second original monkey is removed and replaced. The newcomer again attempts to climb the ladder, but all the other monkeys hammer the crap out of him.
This includes the previous new monkey, who, grateful that he’s not on the receiving end this time, participates in the beating because all the other monkeys are doing it. However, he has no idea why he’s attacking the new monkey.
One by one, all the original monkeys are replaced. Eight new monkeys are now in the room. None of them have ever been sprayed by ice water. None of them attempt to climb the ladder. All of them will enthusiastically beat up any new monkey who tries, without having any idea why.

This was part of our message from church last night. It really hit home with Aaron and I. I feel like we are just trying to get the dang bananas, and everyone else is telling us it can't be done without any real reason why, just because they have learned it is unconventional or undoable. So from now on - leave us alone and let us get our damn bananas. If we get sprayed, that is fine, we'll pick ourselves back up and appreciate the unexpected shower. When we finally get them and are sitting there eating our bananas while you all look on, we'll share and tell YOU to go for the bananas next time!!!!