The Big ONE!

I simply cannot believe that Anna is ONE!! We had planned to have her party in our backyard, but it always seems to storm when we plan parties. Luckily, the church let us have it in the story area of the preschool hall. As you can tell, I made her cakes (only for first birthdays!) and we had some snacks. She had such a great time walking around wondering why everyone was there, staring at her in the highchair! Since I do not let my children have sugar until their 1st birthday, she had no idea what to think of the cake, but did a fairly good job of it. She got to spend time with her entire family, eat cake, get some really great gifts AND Daddy turned her carseat around all in one day - can't beat that!!

The Carnival Came to Town!

Every Spring Break, the carnival comes to downtown Trussville. We have always talked about going, but this was our first year. We had such a great time that we went TWICE and are already looking forward to next year when Anna may be able to do a few of the rides.

On Saturday, Molly Kate was excited to see Will and his family there. They even talked Molly Kate into riding the Scrambler! We wondered how many of the rides she would get on, but were shocked when she even wanted to do that BIG, TALL slide by herself! I guess she really is growning up! After it closed, she had a funnel cake with Daddy and a game or two to win a big pink flower and headed home, much to MK's dismay...

...so on Sunday after church, we went back for round 2! This time, I got the bracelet to ride with MK and Nana met us there to watch the action. As you can tell by the pics in the second collage, Anna didn't last as long as she did on Day 1, so Nana retreated to the back of my car to play with her. She had a blast eating goldfish and roaming all over my car! Nana seemed pretty excited too! Since I had gotten a prime parking spot right next to the carnival, she could still see and we went over to rest and visit some. Of course, we had to have a hand-dipped corn dog and funnel cake during one of our breaks! It was another fun day - this time we ran into Maggy and Mallory, the Hardin boys and Molly Horn! Molly Kate was absolutely exhausted after two days of action - it was worth so much to see all of her smiles!

My Beautiful Babies

These are the pictures that I sent in to Regis and Kelly's Beautiful Baby contest this year. Well, they may not have won the big scholarship money and the cover of Parenting, but they will always be THE most beautiful babies to me!! Don't you think they should have won!??!

Day at the Park

During Spring Break, Eric took a day off and went with us to the park in Leeds where the BIG slides are! Molly Kate and her friend, Will, had so much fun flying kites with Eric and playing on the playground. She is getting to be such a big girl and so independent. I must say that I was kinda glad that the tallest slide scared her and she wouldn't do it. All is not lost - she is still somewhat my baby!

Anna and I tried to stay in the shade with Katie and Reese. It sure is hard to keep Anna on the blanket - she is definitely an explorer! Molly Kate and I joke that Daddy and I should have named her Dora!! It does feel good to be able to get outside when it is warm and bright enough for sunscreen! Remind me that I said that when it is 100 degrees in July!!

Botanical Gardens

This week was Spring Break and we got to go picnic at the Botanical Gardens with Nana, Uncle Brian, Savannah and Lucy. It was an impromptu picnic but don't worry, a run into Publix saved the day! I mean really, we remembered the ketchup for the chicken but forgot plates - who needs plates?!? Anna thought she was big stuff eating crackers out of the bag (notice she tossed the baby food) and Molly Kate was so excited that Uncle Brian made her a ketchup dipping bowl out of her bread. It took her FOREVER to eat her one piece of chicken but she did finally eat it so she could have a doughnut. I ahve to tell you that she even tried "dropping it" on the ground but I surprised her by just blowing it off and handing it back to her. From where does she get that stubborn gene? Inside the gardens, we posed for lots of pictures and basically followed MK and Lucy around. They were our self-appointed tour guides! We had such a fun day!

Tent Camping

Eric decided to put up his tent in our backyard this week and "Camp Out" with Molly Kate. I admit that I was thinking, "Boy, Anna and I are going to get a great nights rest with the house to ourselves!" I also thought neither of them would really stay out all night, but they did! They watched a movie, read books, ate gummies and believe it or not, Molly Kate actually stayed in her sleeping bag all night - she NEVER stays under the covers! Anna, on the other hand, had a rough night and didn't sleep well at all, so the joke was on me. I thought about taking her out to the tent in the middle of the night since I knew Eric wouldn't get much rest sleeping on the ground. In the morning, Anna and I took them the leftover doughnuts from our trip with Nana, Brian and the girls to the Botanical Gardens and they gobbled them up.

I was so proud of my little campers! Molly Kate LOVED it and can't wait to do it again!

Sunny Days!

Finally, Spring is here and we are so excited! Along with the sunny weather comes the...

ICE CREAM MAN!!

Lunch after the Parade

We went to 5-Points for lunch once the parade was over. I feel the need to explain a few of the pictures in the collage. Eric took the green pipe thrown at MK in the parade and acted like Popeye needing "me green spinach," Nana looked like a Who from Whoville in that headband, Lucy and Molly Kate really love each other and the girls loved watching the Irish dancers and the bagpipe guy in Pickwick Plaza. Even if it was cold and rainy, we had a great day!

St. Patrick's Day Parade

It was a rainy day today but that didn't stop us! We have a tradition of going to the parade in Birmingham and nothing would bring us to break it. Eric, Anna and I met Molly Kate, Nana, Brian, Terri and the girls at the corner of 20th St and 6th Ave. It was pretty cold and windy so they piled up in the back of my car to pile on the green garb Nana and MK picked out from Claire's and to wait until the parade was in view. Anna is on antibiotic for a terrible cough and congestion so she stayed in the car with Eric. Now, I will let the pictures tell the story...

Here we are standing at the corner listening to the bagpipes...the parade is coming!!

Poor Anna had to stay in the car with Eric. I thought the whole reason was to keep her OUT of the wind?!? She is cute though, huh?

There's the bagpipes! Notice Anna...everyone in the parade sure did!



My crazy brother - Terri, we warned you before you married him!

Anna, we see you in the mirror! Why is my window have all of those handprints on it? Guess I will have to get the Windex out to be able to safely drive. Sadly, I didn't get any pictures of Molly Kate getting candy - I was too busy getting it myself! Tootsie Rolls were flying and I just can't watch those get run over!

Snow Day!

What a great surprise for a little family from Birmingham to wake up to SNOW!! We woke up on March 1st with 2 inches on the ground and snow still falling pretty hard - it was beautiful!! Of course, it was Anna's first snow and she loved it from first sight in our front window. We bundled her up and sat her down in it, expecting panic, but she just smiled and started playing! We only kept her out a few minutes since she had been sick, so Nana took her in for the warm up. Molly Kate and Eric, on the other hand, stayed out a really long time twice during the day! The first time, they went to Mr. Josh's house to attempt sledding on a paper box and the second time, they went to the cul-de-sac and rode on the plastic sled that Mr. Chris had. Eric said Molly Kate was a dare-devil and loved every second of it. During the between time when we dried clothes and warmed up, we made snow cream and had hot chocolate...yum! Mr. Sunshine came out and melted the snow about mid-day, but we still had lots of fun and were very thankful for the beautiful day!

Skating Rink

Tanslee had her birthday party at Funtime in Fultondale. For those of you who knew the place growing up, no...it has not changed one bit! The paint, the skates (still old school - not inlines), the music and even the carpet appeared the same which made me panic each time Anna tried to get down and crawl! I know what you are wondering and yes, there are still "those couples" that hold hands and skate backwards like they have done every weekend since they were 14! Even though they are much older and their kids are now skating around them, they are still intimidating! I never was a very good skater and didnt have the nerve to try my hand at it, but Aunt Tara did and Molly Kate LOVED every second of it! She wants to go back and asked Aunt Tara for skates for her birthday! If she only knew Nana lived right behind the skating rink...