Half Raised

My oldest child is nine today. Nine. That means he's half raised.

Good night moon! Where, oh, where has my little boy gone?

Double his age from right this very minute, and he's gone, off to college somewhere in this great, big world. Wow, that'll wake ya up!

Seriously, I got all teary one day last week when this incredible thought hit me like a ton of Arizona desert rock!

I have been a SAHM every minute of his life, and it feels like I haven't had enough time with this little guy. It goes way too fast. Life truly is but a vapor, and this truth becomes so real when you have been given the amazing gift of a child.

As difficult as it is, I don't regret being a SAHM. Really, I've only got 9 years left to raise this son of mine, and then he will be considered an adult, on his own. I am sitting here thinking, surely this can't be right! Only 9 years left. Crazy, it is.


I could choose to dwell on all the things I think I should have done differently, but I won't. Today I will celebrate my oldest whom I struggled to bring in to this world almost to the point of death. Thank you, God, for letting me stay to raise my son.

Happy birthday, Mullin. I love you with all my heart. ---Mom

My Baby's Three!!

Good morning princess! I can't believe you are already 3!! Seems like yesterday when my water broke right as I was slipping under the covers for a good night's sleep. Needless to say, I slept not a wink that night. ;)


We let you open your first present very early on Sunday, June 22 just before Daddy walked out the door to lead worship at church. Yea! A Hello Kitty DVD. Now you will be completely occupied while Mommy gets herself ready.

We were so glad Paw and Cece came to visit the weekend of your birthday! We are all ready for church, and you are so excited about your party that will take place after a good nap.

After church you got to open your presents from Mommy and Daddy and Paw and Cece. Lots of My Little Ponies from us, and Dora galore from Paw and Cece!

Later you had a fun My Little Pony Swimming party. It was so fun having a party with 4 little girls!! This was your first party with friends!

Mommy made you a My Little Pony Cake with some of your mini My Little Ponies.

Happy Birthday Hon Bun! I love you and hope you had a wonderful day!! I look forward to many more girly birthday parties.

Birthday Celebration

Both my mom and brother share the same birthday--May 3rd. My sister hosted a fun birthday party with a tropical flare. The kids had a blast soaking each other with water balloons. I had a blast eating my second favorite candy--Jelly Bellys!!!
The kids had fun playing ring toss on Blake's head. Guess which amazing aunt got to hold baby Easton while they played??
See that cool baseball cake my sister is adorning with candles? I slaved over it for my brother who, by the way, will be enjoying his very last year in his glorious 20's.
A close up of the adorable baby Easton. I can't believe I didn't even get a photo of the twins. :( I have to admit, I wasn't a very good picture-taker at this party.

32's Come and Gone

Had a great birthday. Got to go on a date to The Cheesecake Factory with my husband. Last date was May of '07. Our gracious friends from church offered to keep our kids so we could go out. Would you believe it, they even gave us a Cheesecake Factory gift card. Oh my stars!!! I ordered the best tastin' steak ever. Oh, and their desserts are out of this world. I have had a few of their tasty treats before, but this time I hit the jackpot with Chris' Outrageous Chocolate Cake.--- As described on their menu: CHRIS' OUTRAGEOUS CHOCOLATE CAKE A Cheesecake Factory Original - Layers of Moist Chocolate Cake, Chewy Brownie, Toasted Coconut Pecan Filling and Creamy Chocolate Chip Coconut Cheesecake---YUM!!

Besides stylish gardening tools, an awesome date, and some birthday money, I acquired a few more wrinkles and spider veins. You can imagine how trilled I am. I am still clinging on to youth the best that I can, though. Still no gray hair. Will I be able to say that next year??? Oh please, I hope so!!!!

Happy Birthday Paw!!

Hope you are having a wonderful day!!



Even though I can honestly say that I don't miss the Beans-n-Rice meal, :) I miss being able to celebrate with you. Even the boys are wishing they could be at your birthday dinner!



Glad to hear you and all the rest of our TN family is okay after such devastating weather. We were thinking about all of you last night as we watched voting results.

6 Years Ago

Six years ago I gave birth to a chubby, little, red-headed, blue-eyed boy. Couldn't have looked more different than his 2 1/2 yr. old big brother. Couldn't act more different, either!!! Happy Birthday, Lincoln!!! Mama loves you with all her heart and soul!!

Here's the cutie when he turned a big 2. So hard to believe he's six now! Time just won't stand still even for a moment.

Here's the birthday boy today. Looks so grown up.

He just wanted a simple celebration this year, not a big party. This morning Grandma and Grandpa D. kept Shiloh while we took the boys to see The Water Horse. GREAT movie!! Shiloh brought the grandparents back to our house for dinner and of course cake and ice cream.


Lincoln got a few remote controlled cars, Lego's, crocks, art supplies, army toys, and $!

Lincoln, I hope this birthday will be a very fond memory for you! I love you!

A Very Harry Birthday

Happy 8th Birthday Mullin!

Mullin's birthday menu: Cauldron cake and chocolate ice cream to eat, and Butter Beer and Pumpkin Juice to drink. The kids also made their very own edible pretzel wands.

The boys liked pulling out the juicy worms from the bubbly green potion, and gobbling them up.

Games: Guess the Potion, Guess the Bertie Botts Bean, and Harry Potter Scene It.

Watching their faces while eating the Bertie Botts Beans was so funny!!! Mullin won that game!


Mullin and the boys had a great time, and now it is time for Mommy and Daddy to rest!

Sweet Sue is Two

Happy Birthday Shiloh! Mommy loves you with all her heart. Your two years has gone by too fast!


Newborn
















One















Two

















For party pics see Mark's blog

Did Ya Miss Me?

Well, it has been too long since I last blogged, so I have got some catching up to do. I will do it mostly by pictures and not endless babbling.

By the way, this is me at my 31st birthday party. My arm looks fat.

Lincoln's First Birthday in Arizona

We held Lincoln's big 5th Birthday Bash at Chuck
E. Cheese! His cousins and Grandparents helped him celebrate his special day.



I am so proud of my big 5 year old!



Eating pizza was quite the messy event!



How cool, a photo with Chuck E. himself.


Happy Birthday to you!

Of course, ending the celebration with the opening of presents is always fun!
Thank you all for coming and making his day wonderful.

Lincoln misses his very own special birthday dinner at Pawpaw and Grandma's! Lincoln loved all the gift cards--he bought lots of Star Wars stuff!!

Lincoln thanks everyone for all the cool gifts that are keeping him very occupied!!

The Perfect 7

I can't believe that 7 years ago I birthed my oldest son!!! Seems like ages ago that I labored for 12 long, painful hours to bring forth our firstborn son. It was worth it, though! And here he is celebrating his 7th birthday with a few friends and lots of baseball stuff!




On his birthday night he got to go to a RedBirds game complete with fireworks! He got to stay up until midnight, and for him that was a huge deal!!!

My Hon Bun is One!

I can't believe our little girl has been here an entire year already. Sometimes the days seemed so long, but the year has been so short! I have had loads of fun playing dress up with her, having a girly, pink butterfly room, and picking up Carebears and dollies off the floor. She has brought so much joy to our home, and she has a smile that makes your heart melt like honey butter!!

The beautiful Birthday Princess!

The Birthday Girl and her very proud Mommy!

The very yummy strawberry butterfly cake. I made the cake to match the butterflies on her crib quilt.

Shiloh loved her cake and ate every bit!

Ooh, presents! She got so many fun toys, cute clothes and hats to match, and books, my favorite being The Itsy, Bitsy Spider that literally made her jump and crawl away.

Mommy, Daddy, Mullin and Lincoln gave her a Disney Princess ride on/push toy which she absolutely adores. I love it when she puts on her bracelet, necklace and crown that came with it.

I am looking forward to another year with this precious and feisty little princess!

Birthday Blues

Well, in less than a week I will be 30! I get a bad taste in my mouth just thinking about having to say it. I am glad to be alive and all, but it is just weird that I will never be in my twenties again. This decade of my life has come and gone, and on one hand I can't help but think, "What in the world have I accomplished?" On the other hand I think, "Well, for goodness sake, I have gotten married and birthed 3 kids!" I think I often suffer from TGIGOTOS syndrome. (The grass is greener on the other side) I am expecting a gray hair to appear any day now. I would say the same for wrinkles, too, but I already have those. Spent way too many hours in the Arizona sun. To all who are still in their 20's--- Enjoy it!