whatever

fifteen YEARS.

we had a 15th birthday.

it is pretty awesome to watch a boy turn into man-size right before your eyes.
the have him still lay his head on your shoulder waiting for his dinner from the waiter.
and even let you play with his hair.
at a restaurant! 

                 
             

it's always fun to celebrate together.
and i never make cakes except for birthdays so i enjoy that too.
he requested chocolate with chocolate frosting. 

he also wanted to light his own candles.

after cake craig put on a video of them when they were little....scott's 4th birthday.
it was the highlight of the night.
their little voices.... sean's pacifier... the way the boys couldn't say their L's and C's...
the birth order traits showing up loud and clear even 11 years ago...and little baby talby just beaming in the swing while the chaos goes on all around her.

awesome.

we are so mad that we didn't take more video.

and now that is gone.   G O N E.

SO here is my Public Service Announcement for today .... take video of your kids.

TODAY.

of nothing.  

of everything. 

of them eating dinner.  

playing with their toys.  

singing a song.  

reading a book.  

playing dress up.  

taking a bath.  

sitting in the yard.  

playing soccer.

swinging on a swing.  

being tickled.

CRYING.  

LAUGHING.  

SCREAMING.  

because when it's gone  then IT IS GONE.

you WILL NOT remember the voices.
you won't.
i promise. 

your little boys with drooly lips, new teeth and chubby cheeks will get deep LOW voices and be taller than you and you will not have the ability to remember the sounds of them squeeling about the new "P-eeece Tars!!!" they got for their birthday (police cars) 

i am NOT kidding around here.

take video today and all the time of nothing special.

because it's ALL SPECIAL!!!

it is gone WAY too fast.

 

now stop crying and get out your video camera.

:)

 

 

 

friday.

aren't you loving my incredibly unique and thought provoking post titles this week?!

:)

my mind seems a bit blank to come up with anything more.

with craft weekend ending for the year...
and most of my big projects winding down...
i had one more big thing to check off the list.

talby's birthday party.
 
 
she invited a bunch of girls to the little hotel here in town that has a pool and a party room.
it worked out perfectly.
annie brought a friend along to keep her busy (didn't work) and sean was not supposed ot be there
but he was and when i asked talby if she wanted me to send him home with Dad
she said "he can stay. i don't mind"  
so he did.

 
he loved all the attention.
he was the KING of chicken.
:)


 

 




they ate pizza, opened presents, ate cake and LOTS of very LOUD time in the pool.
12 girls and 1 boy is VERY loud.

thankful for all of it.

 
happy birthday sweet girl.

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i know there were a lot of ads here this week.
it's just how it goes sometimes. 

but the good news....next week i have several giveaways!!!
i am excited for you.

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after a 10 day laziness break....
i went running this morning.
it was hard!
i am so glad i went though.
i have been so cranky and not sleeping well...

i think i am suffering from pre-menstrual syndrome (you have to say that dolly parton in steel magnolias)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

i need a new bible study or great book that is biblically grounded.
i was going to Bible Study Fellowship but going to wichita every week just doesn't work with my schedule this year.
so i am studying on my own.
what books or studies do YOU suggest?

spill it!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

 

happy friday to you.

ps...i am currently rocking out to Home by Edward Sharp.
(and singing loudly because i am alone)

 

wednesday.

 

      

(i had my settings off on my camera so lets all pretend this is....a newspaper photo...ha!)

she had a great birthday.
so grateful and sweet.
she wanted ice cream sundaes but i had to get at least one cupcake.  
we watched one of her favorite movies after dinner.
i like that kid a whole bunch.

we had a girls day just the two of us yesterday.

she used her birthday money (and her allowance...she is a saver) for some cute clothes.
i loved watching her pick stuff out.
she and i are finding our way.
me saying "it's ok to not like what i like" when we disagree.
or when she says "do you like it?" with a big smile then OF COURSE i like it.
i want her to form her own opinions...have confidence in herself and her choices.
i am so proud of her when she does.

and she is pretty darn cute. 

 

******************************************************* 

 

i got out my electric mattress pad for the winter.

oh yeahhhh.

my toes are nice and warm now.  :)

 

********************************************************

 

so...i got to see Flight on monday.

holy cows.


it is definitely rated R.
it was... hard to watch?  very real?  very grown up?  intense?  but seriously... SOOOOO good.

ha ha ha

it stuck with me.

but i can't quite figure out why....

and no spoilers in the comment section.
i don't want people getting mad at me! 

the couple sitting next to us...they were talkers.
"oh no he didn't"    "oh no...don't do it"    "GASP!!!"

AND she sang the words to a whole song that was on the movie!

seriously. 

and the school called craig at the very last 4 minutes of the movie.
so he missed the ending.
craaaaazy.

 

*********************************************************

 

have you filled your boxes for  Operation Christmas Child?




i usually post about it but time got away from me.

my kids loooooove to do this project.
i hope you do it too.

and i saw that if you drop off your shoe box at Chick-fil-a... YOU GET A FREE SANDWICH!

bonus!

 

*********************************************************

 

here is somehting happy for you this morning....

i am off to run errands.
walmart...the bank...the post office.
so exciting eh?

what to make for dinner?
the question of my life... 

 

 

 

 

big.

we had bubble loaf for breakfast.
we went bowling.
she wanted to try dumplings now that she is 8.
we went into Noodles and told htem that and they gave them to her for free!
she loved them.
YAY!!!
she picked out a cake at Sam's Club. 
we ate at Pizza Hut.
then came home and opened gifts and ate the cake.
it was a GREAT day for Annie.
mission accomplished.

happy birthday sweet annie girl.

 

 

eight.

we have sweet little 8 year old in the house! 

we brought treats to school.  
"8" shaped donuts.  :) 

i found her shirt at the children's place....she wore it proudly. 

when i got to her classroom they were making posters for an election.
her group's poster said "Do It Our Way...VOTE for P.J. Day!"
so cute.





some of annie's work up at school...




we went to Sonic after school for an ice cream treat while we waited on big brothers.



in the evening she had her birthday party!
10 little 7 & 8 year olds came out to play.





oh my.




she is all set with Lego Friends.  
her friends brought her such sweet gifts.  



they roasted hot dogs and ate chips and go-gurt.

(can i just say again I LOVE LIVING HERE!? cause.... i do.)



no surprise... the boys were ALL about roasting the hot dogs themselves.





we have speakers set up in the barn so talby had her iPod hooked up and DJed for us all evening
all of annie's favorites....a repeat of taylor swift, selena gomez and the Biebs.  
with Dynamite every three songs repeated again.

she gave a little lip sync concert.


there was a dance party/freeze tag/basketball game going on too.

we made s'mores instead of birthday cake.



it was such a nice night.
she loved having her friends...loved being outside...running around crazy.

later after craig and i cleaned up i found her upstairs in her room alone playing with her new legos.
i said "did you have fun at your party?"
she said "YES...but i am so WORN OUT!!!"

ha ha ha

today is her actual birthday.
she has changed her mind 10 times about what she wants to do.
could make for an interesting day.

 

happy birthday big guy!

for Sean's birthday i asked "what would you like to do?"
he said "could we go to the old house and get our tramploine and bring it to the new house?"

um....yes!
i love his simple request.
he didn't ask for anything elaborate or expensive.
just the trampoline.


the neighbor's puppy LOVES the trampoline.




then we got out the sprinkler....so much better!




this picture IS annie in every way.

he wanted to light his own candles....but i only had 6!! (mom fail)
and he still wanted us to sing.

we got him a giant cookie (thanks grandma) and we had homemade ice cream (thanks dad) on top.

 
twelve year olds are very goofy.

he asked for Lynette's noodles and ham for dinner.
we talked about how we barely made it to the hospital for his birth and how Craig nearly passed out.
he always says "i chose to lay down on the floor in the delivery room...i did not fall down there"
everyone loves to hear their birth story in our family....but especially that one.
:)

the next night Sean had his birthday party with a few friends.



they went to Ice Age 4, ate pizza, they goofed off all around the house and then our neighbors let us swim. 


 

 

 

 

 

 




he had another friend come later but the camera was put away by then....sorry jonah.
you missed all the pictures!

they watched more movies and sprawled all over the living room staying up reeeeeally late.
it was a great party for sean.
he was happy.
this year has been SO good for him.

makes a mama's heart happy to see.

happy birthday big guy.
i can't believe you are TWELVE!!