Monday, January 31, 2011

I got an award!!

So, I've been awarded with the "Stylish Blogger Award". I'm not really sure why because I don't consider myself to be very "stylish", but I do appreciate the award! My friend, Kate recently started a blog, The Real Housewife, and I absolutely LOVE reading it! It's so real life, and though I admit that I laugh about things that happen in her household of 3 maniacs (as she calls her kids), I can relate to most everything that she says! I love my friend Kate because she is so genuine and real and her blog is such a great reflection of her personality. So, thank you Kate for this award.

Upon receiving this award, I am supposed to:
1) Thank and link back to the person that awarded it.
2) Share 7 things about myself.
3) Award 10 great bloggers.
4) Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award.

So, here are the 7 things about me:
1. I was born and raised in East Texas, went off for 3 years of college, taught a year in Waco, and made my way back to East Texas where I live now with my family.
2. I really don't like to cook and would really love it if I could afford a personal chef!!
3. I am deathly afraid of snakes...HATE THEM WITH A PASSION!!
4. My hubby and I really never dated (maybe one date), were friends for awhile and then just decided to get married one night. He proposed in May and we were married the end of September.
5. I love photography. I'm not great at it, but I have 3 of the cutest subjects to practice on!!!
6. Unlike my friend Kate, I LIVE by the calendar. I have one hanging on the wall next to the computer and I have another one that goes with me most everywhere I go.
7. I am a perfectionist when it comes to most things, except for my house. When planning a party I want everything to be perfect. Now if I could only be that way about my house...but having 3 kids makes it almost impossible to have a clean house.


And here's the bloggers that I would like to award:
Southern Giggles
and baby makes three
life as me
Heartland Family
Our Sweet Blessings
The Bitter Family
The Krauss Family
Burkett Blessings
Learning how to fly
The Parks Family

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Sweetheart Ball

Tonight was a big night for Camden and her Daddy. It was the Sweetheart Ball at Camden's school. Girls bring their daddies, grandfathers, uncles or brothers and boys bring their moms, grandmothers, aunts, etc... Several weeks ago Camden and I went shopping and she picked out a great dress (and for a great price). Love after-Christmas sales! She's been so excited about this night. At school, the music and P.E. teacher have been working with the kids on motions for several songs, including The Macarena, YMCA, and the Electric Slide, just to name a few. The other night Camden turned on the Wii and got Just Dance Kids out, found YMCA and showed her Daddy what they would be doing at the dance. She wanted him to be prepared.

So, this afternoon we started getting ready. First on the agenda, Camden wanted me to paint her fingernails and toenails. Then, she got dressed and I attempted to curl her hair. Didn't work so well. The curls stayed for all of about 5 minutes. Oh well, she was beautiful, with our without curls! After Jeremy got dressed, we went outside for a few pics of the beautiful couple!




And while Camden and Daddy were on a date, I had a date of my own with two pretty little girls! I let Claire decide where we go eat (it had to be somewhere in Lindale) and she chose Cracker Bell (what she calls Cracker Barrell). Pretty good food, and as usual, Carlyle was the social butterfly, waving and talking to everyone. What a charmer!!


I sent the camera with Jeremy and asked him to take some pics of his fun evening. He wasn't very enthusiastic, but he knew I would be disappointed if he didn't get any shots of the night. What a great husband to pull the camera out and capture such precious memories!! So, here are some pictures of the fun they had at the Sweetheart Ball!


Daddy and Camden dancing


Big spin


Camden doing motions to the Macarena


Camden and her friend, Kayley


Daddy and his girl


After the dance, Jeremy took Camden to Chili's for dinner (Camden's choice). They had a great night spending time together! Can't wait until next year when he gets to do it again with Claire!!!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Special visitor

Camden was so excited last night when I asked her if she would like Mrs. Robin to have lunch with her today. Mrs. Robin is the nursery coordinator at our church and she's in charge of Parents Day Out. She has known Camden since she was about 2 1/2 years old and she takes such good care of my kiddos while at church and school. She is a dear friend who loves my girls and I am so blessed by her friendship. Robin is always offering to bring us something when the girls or I am sick, she offers to take the girls to PDO if I can't be there and she's kept my girls more times than I can count. Her daughter, Mallorie, was the girls' first non-family babysitter and they LOVE her. Since we moved to Lindale, Mallorie has only kept them once, but they miss her terribly! Considering that she lives in Bullard and the drive to Lindale is between 30 and 45 minutes, I probably should look for another babysitter. However, I just can't talk myself into doing that because I know that no one I find will measure up to Mallorie! Needless to say, Camden was thrilled that Mrs. Robin was going to visit her at school and have lunch with her. Robin brought her a kids meal from Sonic and met a few of Camden's friends. When I picked Camden up from school, all she could talk about was her lunch date. Thank you, Robin, for making Camden feel so special today (and every other day).

This is a picture that Robin took with her phone and sent to me. She was very excited about her special M&M cookie, too!!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

16 months old

Today Carlyle is 16 months old. I can't even begin to imagine what our life would be like without her. She brings so much joy to our family. She's so funny and cute and sweet. And oh what a little temper this munchkin has. We love her, just the way she is!


Still not walking, Carlyle gets around great crawling. When she has a toy or snack in her hand and wants to crawl somewhere, she will use her elbows instead of her hands, as not to get her snack dirty. SO FUNNY! She loves her dollhouse she got for Christmas and will say "Hi baby" when she picks up one of the little people that go in it.


She also got a set of these little board books for Christmas and LOVES looking through them. They are the perfect size for her and she is entertained by flipping through the pages.



And what's more fun than reading a book? Having your sisters read the book to you. I love watching all the girls play together. Camden and Claire are so sweet to Carlyle, even though at times they get frustrated with her because she's in "their" stuff. Most of the time I catch Cam and Claire showing Carlyle how to play with something, reading to her, letting her play tea party with them or just snuggling with her while watching cartoons. Sweet sweet sisters!



Three sweet girls!

Funny faces

Sunday, January 9, 2011

SNOW 2011

This afternoon all 3 girls and myself took a nap and when we woke up we saw a blanket of snow covering the ground. Camden and Claire couldn't get dressed fast enough. They had so much fun...except when they got wet and were freezing. Snow is fun for awhile, just don't think my family could live where it snowed all the time. But, it was a nice surprise and they sure had fun!










Papa's birthday

Papa's birthday was Thursday so we celebrated on Friday night by going out to eat and then back to my parents' house for cake and gifts. Camden and Claire helped me bake a cake. We stopped by Target to pick up some plates, napkins and candles and Camden insisted that we needed balloons. Claire found party hats and said we have to have them. When we got back to the house, Camden passed out balloons and Claire gave out party hats. Everyone had to have one, according to the girls. Carlyle loved the balloons and even wore her hat. Happy Birthday, Papa! We love you!!




Saturday, January 8, 2011

Recap of 2010

In January, we started off trying to get some New Years pics of the girls.



Camden and Claire discovered they could dress Carlyle up.

We dressed up for church and Carlyle wore her dress and bonnet. So cute!



Our family went to Baylor for a basketball game. Go Bears!!



The month of February was fun for the girls! They loved preparing for Valentine's Day!

Camden joined two of her friends at Tyler Junior College's Belle Babes. She went to the college and met with the Apache Belles, learned a dance routine and performed it at half-time at one of the basketball games. She had a lot of fun and looked really cute!





And we got snow...a very rare occurence and the girls LOVED it!






The month of March seemed to have a theme-flowers, flowers, flowers! We made a visit to Mrs. Lee's Daffodil Farm to take some pictures in these beautiful flowers.

Then just a few pics of my girls.


Carlyle turned 6 months old.

And every year my mom and I take the girls to the Azalea Trails, stroll around and try to get some cute pictures. Love this tradition!




April also had a theme-EASTER! First there was Easter egg dying.


Then, the annual Easter egg hunt at our church.

And, finally more Easter fun at Nana and Papa's house and Marme' and Pops' house.




We started off the month of May with Camden playing t-ball. She had alot of fun and was really pretty good.




On Mother's Day, we had Carlyle's baby dedication at church. All of our family joined us, which was so nice.





Carlyle got in a baby pool for the first time, sporting her bikini.

We attended Camden's Pre-K graduation.




And we celebrated Memorial Day with our flag dresses. Just love these dresses!!!


June was a busy, busy month. This month consisted of dressing up,

swimming,

swimming,

swimming,

and more swimming,

napping,

posing for pictures,

sno cones,

more sno cones,

more posing,

a trip to the Ft. Worth Zoo,

dessert at the American Girl Bistro,


feeding baby,

and finally, PJ day at school. Whew...told you it was busy.


We enjoyed spending lots of time with family in July.

We had fun at Chuck E. Cheese.



And lots more fun in the water.


We also took a tour of Camden's new school and met her principal, Mrs. Sustaire. She was so kind and made Camden feel so welcome. I'm pretty sure Camden has the best principal (except for her Daddy) and the best teacher!!



Camden and Claire love playing together and had so much fun this summer.

They love having their little sister right in the middle of all the fun (at least most of the time).


August was a big month! Camden started Kindergarten and she was SO excited! She loves school, loves her teacher and loves her friends. She amazes me at the knowledge that she retains! We are so glad that she has such a desire to learn!




This month we also celebrated Claire's 4th birthday! I can't believe that in 7 short months, Claire will turn 5 AND start Kindergarten. WOW!


September was a great month! Carlyle loves the swing at church and loves to take naps in it.

We celebrated Carlyle's 1st birthday with an Ice Cream theme party. It was so much fun! We had so many friends and family that joined us on this special day!






We ended the month with a trip to the East Texas State Fair. Oh what fun!!!





October was full of fall fun! First we went to the pumpkin patch.

Camden celebrated her 6th birthday!

More pictures with the pumpkins.

Made a visit to Waco for Baylor Homecoming.


Took more naps in the swing at church.

And dressed up for Halloween.




We spent NOVEMBER being thankful for family and spending alot of time with our cousins.


Uncle Jeremy came to visit and all three girls couldn't get enough of him. They had the best time playing with him. He was a good sport and I'm sure he loved all the attention he got from his favorite nieces.

And Camden's school had a Veteran's Day program where they honored veterans. Camden invited her Papa, since he is a veteran and her class made him a special card. They sang some great patriotic songs and did a wonderful job!


DECEMBER was a very busy month. It started off with Camden losing her first tooth! She was so excited. Now she has 3 more that are loose.

Then we had our annual Gingerbread house decorating party. All the kids had a blast!



Jeremy and I took Camden and Claire to ride the Polar Express. It was a neat experience, even if the girls were a little scared of the train.

As homeroom mom for Camden's class, I planned and organized the Christmas party. Everyone seemed to have a great time!

We kept up with our tradition of making Christmas cookies with Nana.

We celebrated Jesus' birthday.

We had a great Christmas together with both our families.

And we rang in the New Year with smores and sparklers.



What a great 2010! Looking forward to an even better 2011!