Dance, Dance, Dance....and a Ball Game

Whew! Yesterday was pretty event filled and a little brutal, honestly. I'm wiped out! We spent around four hours at Lollipop's Dance Recital and then had to make a mad dash to watch the end of My Boy's last bball game. Thanks to the grandparents for backing us up yesterday. It left me with the question.....what will we do when we have THREE kids that need to be three different places???? I'll cross that bridge when I get there!

I'm so proud of my little girl. Nothing makes momma's heart pound like seeing her baby girl already to dance! She is definitely a star in the making!

Don't they look so pumped for the day's activities? Ok, ok....they are looking into the sun!
Hello! Hi there! How are you? Thanks for coming out for me!

(I'm on the opposite side of the stage, she was just waving away to anyone who would wave back :))
This cracks us up! My girl gets into it!

Her second dance was the tap dance. The baby had her fill at this point so daddy was filming and taking pictures while Mommy tended to Gumdrop up at the front near the stage. We didn't get as many pics!
Someday I'll be up there with my big sis!
And finally......the end of the baseball season (Thank goodness!!!!). Doesn't he look thrilled to be playing? I think we are all glad for a break :)!
LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL! I can't believe it! In three months I will have a 2nd grader and a KINDERGARTENER!!!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Ok, a few words: Miss Big Girl got her ears pierced!

Throwdown

My Boy has been loving the cooking show "Throw Down" with Bobby Flay. I don't know what the obsession is, probably some combination of a little boy's love to compete mixed with his love of cooking shows (he's been watching them since he was a baby). Anyway, he decided this weekend he was going to have a Throw Down of his own and that his little sister would be his competition. She agreed to the challenge and it was determined that it would be a cake Throw Down. I'm all for cooking but I decided to create parameters. We used one box of cake mix and let them each pick what type of icing and accessories they would like to use. I think everyone had fun, we decided this would probably be the first of many throw downs!

Doesn't she look like she's ready to throw down with her daddy?

Let the competition begin!
The creative process.....check out the game face on Lollipop!
Cakes are complete--- let the judging begin!
The Grandparents came over to judge.....
Lollipop was awarded "Best Rainbow Sprinkle Cake" and My Boy was given "Best Berry Flavored Chocolate Chip Cake" and each was given a $10 prize
This was just cute and I couldn't resist!

9 months and Mother's Day

Happy Nine Month birthday baby girl! I can't believe how fast you are growing. I love:

her squishy cheeks

her baby ham hocks (that would be her legs)

her laugh

her smile

that she dances every time she hears music

how she sings herself to sleep

the way she raises her arms when she wants me to pick her up

that her hair is curly when its wet

that she smiles at me when I tell her "no"

the way she lights up when another family member walks into a room

the face she makes when she sees her water cup (so happy!)

that she loves our dogs

that her favorite toy is a toothbrush

watching her discover a new toy

seeing her wave

the way she fits perfectly on my hip

well.....I think I love pretty much everything about her!

I wish these curls would stay put when her hair is dry! Here's to hoping for the future......
How I found her after naptime this morning. Guess whose mattress is getting lowered tonight?
The best Mother's Day gifts ever come straight from the heart. I must admit that I dreamed about these gifts when I was little. What could be better than a drawing from my little girl and a letter from my little boy? I'm so blessed!

If you want to see some of the baby's six month photo session click here. Stephanie and I have known each other since Junior High. She is so talented and I'm so lucky to have such a sweet friend in her. These pics are absolutely fabulous!

He's Going the Distance.....

We had our first ever track meet this weekend! I absolutely adore our school and feel so thankful that we have so many fun things to do. Beginning in 1st grade you can be on the track team. We've been practicing for a little over a month after school. My Boy is a distance man! He ran the 1500 m (1600 m is a mile, a long distance for a 1st grader), 800 m, and did the long jump. He didn't have much success in the long jump but did such a great job in his two races. The 1500 didn't have many competitors so all grade levels ran together. His classmate won the entire race and beat a handful of 1,2,3,and 4th graders. It was so awesome! He finished 7th overall but 2nd for his grade. He also ran against multiple grade levels in the 800 and finished 3rd. We are so proud of him! He didn't feel great and it was wickedly hot. I'm so proud that he got out there and did his best! I'm excited for the future and ready for years to come of sweating it out to watch these kiddos do what they love! Way to go My Boy!! You made my Mother's Day!

Long jumpin'
Finishing up that brutal 1500

Baby gumdrop had a fan club!

The beginning of the 800, he's in lane one

Wordless Wednesday-My Pillow :)

Letter to 16 year old me

Little Miss Momma wrote a letter to her 16 year old self yesterday. I thought it was so inspiring. She challenged her readers to do the same and I decided to take her up on it. To read her letter click here.

Dear 16 year old Me,

Hey there, its me coming at you from 2011 at the age of 33. Its hard to believe I've more than doubled my age since 16. It feels like yesterday that these photos below were taken. I'd like to tell you that I'm wise and have life all figured out but I don't. I'm still learning every single day. I do have a few things I would like to tell you though.

First of all, forget him. He doesn't matter. I know your heart is broken into a thousand tiny pieces but it will heal. Waiting for you just around the corner is "The One." That's right. "The One." You really will find the love of your life right in the halls of high school. When you see him that day at the track meet you'll know it. He's been around before. He's going to make all your dreams come true. I promise you happiness like you never thought was possible. That boy you are all broken-hearted over, forget now.

While you are at it, forget the mean girls. You know who I'm talking about. You know who your real friends are. They are the girls that you can tell anything to. They are the girls that would cross hot coals for you. To this day I've never really figured the mean girls out. I'll tell you this, in 2011 Heather will still be your best friend. Cheryl will be a phone call away. Tab lives in the same town as you, you won't see each other often but she's always there. You are still friends with Carman too. The longevity of these friendships will amaze you. Keep your heart open. New wonderful friends await you. I'm so excited about a few that you will meet in years to come.

Josh's death is still going to make you sad 17 years later. In 2002 he's going to have a nephew named after him. His name will live on. You are going to love this little boy like he's your own. I'm not going to tell you who his momma will be but I will tell you this--I mentioned her name in the paragraph above. You are going to find that God is big and works in amazing ways.

And lastly, quit with the worry. This is something you will struggle with for the rest of your life. If you try to deal with it now then maybe we will have it easier later. Also, your body is not something to fret over. I don't care that you think you have tree trunks for thighs and that your backside gives you nightmares. They make you who you are. Seriously, look at yourself! You are beautiful! This body of yours is going to do amazing things. Its going to bring life into this world. I'm not going to tell you how many lives or whether they (there I went and said "they" now you are onto me!) will be boys or girls. I want you to be surprised. Because the day(s) that you find out those things will be some of the happiest days of your life. I would never want to spoil the fun and take those moments away from you. You are going to melt. "They" are more than you could ever imagine and truly God's greatest gifts.

Most everything is going to work out. Trust in God and let him lead the way. Listen to your instincts. Go to church in college. Enjoy your wedding day, it goes by so fast. Don't sweat the little stuff. Hold your babies even when you know you need to be doing other things. And remember that you are loved.

With love,

33 year old Me