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...

BIG NEWS!!

Shine up your running shoes everyone - Anna is WALKING and we are all gonna need them! It will take an army to keep up with her! She decided on Monday to just get up and take steps. There was no warning of a shuffle here and there for a few days - she just took two steps after Daddy came home and at Molly Kate's dance show-off, she took off trying to get to her big sister on the dance floor so she could dance too! She is so proud and is doing really well keeping her balance in check. We have seen her take as many as 7 steps. The really special thing to me is that Molly Kate walked exactly 7 days before she was 11 months old and now Anna walked at 5 days before 11 months. Will they always be in such tight competition? I will post pics soon...

Visit to the Dentist

Molly Kate went to the dentist for the 1st time today! I must say that I dreaded it and felt sure that the drama would be thick, but she surprised me by doing absolutely GREAT! She was so still in the chair (most in part to Dora being on the TV) was polite and not the least bit scared. I was so proud of her. Of course, she chose grape flouride, a pink toothbrush and was so excited to get to dig in TWO treasure chests for being such a good patient! Yes, I know she is almost four and should have gone last year, but I am sure I can use having a baby as an excuse once again, right?

Faces of Molly Kate

For once, Molly Kate actually wanted her picture taken!! She showed off her many faces - see if you can tell which expressions she is revealing. There are happy, scared, sad, tired, pouty, super-excited...