ONEderful birthday

We finally had Kate's first birthday party last weekend. Although she had been one for several weeks, she didn't seem to mind the delayed celebration, and it was easier on everyone to wait until the Christmas season had passed. We had a winter One-derland theme for her party, so snowflakes and snowmen covered the decor. We had brunch, because Kate loves breakfast food and she is happy at 10:00 in the morning. It was a winning combo. Her four grandparents, Aunt Brooke and Uncle Daniel, the Rivers, the Rishers, and Ms. Lynn were all in attendance. While the adults ate breakfast and mingled, several people kept slipping powdered doughnuts to Kate. So when time came for the cupcake--the memory to catch on camera of her smashing icing and cake all over her face--Kate just stared at the cupcake and looked around at all the crazy adults holding cameras telling her to eat the cupcake.

Strawberry, lemon, and banana caramel cupckaes from L'Oven Bakery. I remembered after the party that I had cupcake toppers with snowflakes on them, so just picture these with cute pink snowflake toppers.
Drink table--milk bottles for kids, mimosas for grown ups

The food table--sausage and cream cheese crescents, egg and bacon English muffins, cinnamon pita chips with fruit salsa, pink fruit cups, and powdered doughnuts
Party favors--mason jars filled with hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, and peppermints
Our royal couple, Kate and Will

We had a ONEderful year with our Kate-a-roo and were thankful to celebrate her first birthday!

A week to play with Christmas toys

Since Christmas was on a Monday, we had a full week (and an extra day) to enjoy our Christmas presents at home before we went back to school. For my kids, that meant a day of enjoying their Christmas presents then a few more days complaining about not having friends at home to play with. So we recruited friends.

Since Aunt Brooke was off school today, she wanted to keep L&B. Tripp was in town staying with Nani, so Brooke thought it would be fun to keep them all. Not sure if "fun" is the adjective I would choose, but the kids had a blast with Brooke and Daniel.

The next day, we kept Tripp at our house. The weather was warm and sunny, so we played outside most of the afternoon. Benton and Tripp played soccer and practiced their golf swings (somewhere, their Cappy's--and their daddy's--heart was full of pride). After a trip to Gracie Bleu, we managed to get all the kids to sleep before 8:00.

We cooked out with the Rivers for New Year's Eve, which was a great night. It's crazy that we now have six kids between us, so going out for dinner is out of the question. Plus, we never have found the fun in going out on NYE. So we had two babies in cribs, four toddlers (still counting L&Reed as toddlers and nobody can stop me) lying in the bed watching a movie and eating popcorn, and four adults enjoying steaks and grown-up conversation. Great end to the year! And has been customary for five years now, Lindsey left an article of clothing at Reed's house. This time, it was her shirt (we changed her to pajamas there). We have had a running joke since she started this at the age of several months that one day it will no longer be cute--or even acceptable--for her to leave clothes at Reed's house or leave his house wearing his clothes instead of her own (as she often does).

New Year's Day we went to church--Benton had been asking about church for the entire break. I hope it was partly because he loves learning about God, but I know it is also because he loves playing with all the kids in his class. That afternoon the Halls came over, and L&Madilyn played with their AG dolls while B&Mimi (his precious partner in crime) did their three-year-old thing. At one point we had three princesses and a pirate running through the house. It was a fun day to kick off 2012!

Christmas 2011: mission accomplished

While this Christmas was definitely less hectic than last (newborn baby=chaos), Christmas still kept us busy. Christmas Eve we went to the Ruffs' house so the grandkids could decorate cookies for Santa. This did not take long because the kids were eyeing the un-opened presents. Kate did not care about opening her gifts but spent her time fighting Daniel and Brooke's puppy Bronx for dog toys and treats. Lindsey and Benton knew what to do though, and they loved opening gifts. Benton got a tad overwhelmed and just kept saying "I want to open MORE presents." Daniel and Brooke gave him his first Star Wars toys, and they were definitely his favorite new "men" (as opposed to "bad guys," the two classes of humans in his world).

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The next stop Christmas Eve was Anne and Chris Fairey's house for the Morris family dinner. This was Anne's first year to host, and it was a success. Since they have a playroom upstairs, we did not see Lindsey, Benton, Tripp, or Anne's girls for a couple of hours (until they got hungry just when dessert was served...hmmm...). Kate and Sophie both made a quick appearance then settled in for bed. After dinner we loaded up and headed home to put out Santa's cookies, bid Chippy the elf farewell, and get the kids in bed to await Santa's arrival.

Christmas day we woke up to discover that Santa did indeed arrive. Lindsey has told everyone all season that she wants a Belle Princess Like Me doll, and Santa delivered. She was ecstatic. Benton changed his list daily, but at one point he wanted a batcave, and he was certainly excited when he saw the Batcave (and the man, Robin, and the bad guy, Joker). Every time Benton opened a gift this season, he squealed, "That's just what I wanted!!!" Kate had a couple of gifts but was content to open a bag of puffs and eat breakfast while the kids opened gifts.

We loaded up the car, and, since it was Christmas, let Shelby go with us to Tupelo. We threatened (as we do every year) to put a bow on Shelby and leave her with my dad, her favorite human. We had a brunch in Tupelo, then round three of presents began. Once again, Benton got just what he wanted, Lindsey loved all her gifts, and Kate slept through the fun. Although it was sad to spend Christmas without Ben's family, the kids are at an age that just makes Christmas a delight. We capped off Christmas with a movie (Chipmunks for kids and me, Mission Impossible for the men) then stayed in Tupelo. Today David and my dad went after-Christmas shopping, and I met up with my closest friends from high school for our annual Starbucks reunion. Being out of the routine left Benton confused, as evidenced by him asking my mom all day, "Are we going to church?" and "B, do you know God?" Benton can throw a fit like no other, but he definitely keeps us entertained.

It was a merry Christmas for us, and we are grateful for the family and friends in our lives that make us feel loved all year long.

Happy birthday, baby girl!

Today is Kate's first birthday! It must be fun to have two older siblings around birthdays, because they make the day an event. Kate's party will be in January, but we are still celebrating at home today. Yesterday Lindsey and Benton had friends over, and they wanted to decorate a gingerbread-man-shaped cookie cake for Kate. After decorating, before they would eat, they insisted on sticking a candle in it and singing happy birthday. Kate loved all the fuss over her.

Today L&B woke Kate up by singing happy birthday again. Her big day started on a sour note with a checkup at the doctor that included a finger prick and three shots. She was not a happy girl, but she soon perked up. David took off today, so the whole family went to Newk's (all the kids love to eat there; Kate and I shared a five cheese pesto pizza, so she was covered in green). Then we went to the cupcake store. Lindsey picked out a vanilla cupcake with santa hat icing, Benton picked out a chocolate cupcake with Christmas tree icing, and Kate got her first ever cupcake. Oh, how she loved it!

..Kate has been such a blessing since the hospital sent her home a year ago in a stocking. She is our little ham and loves to make others laugh. She adores her brother and sister and keeps us laughing with her antics. Happy first birthday, Kate a roo!

All I want for Christmas are my two front teeth

This has been Benton's theme song this year, but now Lindsey can join him. She lost her first tooth Friday! She had been saying her tooth hurt for a while, and the dentist said it was just loose. She complained all Thursday night about it and could not sleep or eat (she can be a tad dramatic). When she got to school Friday, Miss Natalie took care of it and pulled the tooth! I was in Tupelo and got a text from Natalie with a picture of my snaggle-toothed girl. There is no better place to lose a tooth than at school, because you get to wear a sticker, the class sings the tooth song to you, and you go on the lost tooth board. And the best reason to lose a tooth at school is because mom does not have to pull it!

On "wear your festive Christmas attire" day, Lindsey claimed to be a reindeer wearing an elf hat. She got mad that people kept saying she was a cute elf.



These are from the annual mother/daughter tea at church hosted by some of Lindsey's friends. I had to leave early, so I did not get any pictures of the actual cookie decorating, but I snapped a couple of the pre-game coloring pages.



Remembering MaCille

It does not seem fair that my grandmother died right before Christmas, but it is also certainly not fair that some people never get a family member like MaCille in their lives. I know the best Christmas present she could get was walking up to Jesus and being reunited with her husband. In fact, she will get to spend her first Christmas with him in 13 years, so we need to rejoice for that.

I am blessed to have had my grandmother in my life for 31 years. She met all three of my children. Kate will not remember her, but we have pictures to prove she knew her. I am sure MaCille sang "ba-oh, baby" to her as well as countless other children who she has rocked in her lap.
Benton and MaCille got along fabulously because they are both great snugglers. The last time we were at her house while she was healthy, Benton ran right in and jumped in her lap. He also loved her walker because it was the perfect place to store his toys.
Lindsey will remember MaCille, and not just because she has the memory of an elephant. In fact, yesterday Lindsey was writing (her favorite hobby) and needed her pencil sharpened, so she brought me the pencil and a little wooden pencil sharpener shaped like a rooster. I asked if she knew where that sharpener came from, and she said, "Of course. MaCille gave it to me because I like to write." MaCille also loved to read, and I think that hobby skipped a generation and landed with me (like how sewing skipped me but hopefully will land on Lindsey). But what Lindsey will forever be indebted to MaCille for is her bobby. Anyone who knows Lindsey knows that bobby is her lovey that has slept with her every night of her five years of life (and isn't showing signs of going anywhere anytime soon). MaCille gave me bobby at Lindsey's baby shower. So MaCille's memory will live on in our house through a worn-out but well-loved blankie.

I have the special honor of keeping MaCille's memory forever through my name. My first name was also her first name. I do not think any other child, grandchild, or great-grandchild was named after her, so I am very thankful for the name Mary. It's funny that in high school I hated having a double name and wanted to drop the Mary, and MaCille did not like that idea at all. However, she did not go by Mary herself.

On a side note, as I have been writing, I've tried spelling MaCille several ways. I think each grandchild probably has his own spelling of her name. I guess that is why mom picked B as her grandmom name--no way to misspell that one.

We will miss MaCille in this house, but we are all better off for knowing her.

"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears teh Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31: 28-30

Breakfast with Santa

We took the kids to breakfast with Santa at Cedar Hill Farm on Saturday morning. Benton is a bit skeptical of the big guy this year, and he keeps saying he just wants to call Santa. We walked into the breakfast and Benton got a bit shy. As we stood in line to see Santa, Benton acted brave. It was our turn.

Lindsey ran and jumped in his lap and promptly told him she wanted a Princess Like Me Belle doll. Benton clung to my leg several feet away, so he told Santa from afar that he wanted Transformers. At this point, we put Kate in the lap with Lindsey and attempted to get a picture.

(I love how Kate and Santa are looking at each other. They both looked surprised to see the other, then she SCREAMED!)

We ate a delicious breakfast, then it was time to go. The adorable ending to this morning was that Santa gave each child a book that he wrote a personal note in. Lindsey of course loved this part. However, this is where Benton's breakdown began. He told Santa he asked for a Transformer, not a book. He was adamant that Santa was ruining Christmas. The elf worker tried desperately to explain to Benton that the book was just a little treat and the Transformers would come on Christmas day, but there was no consoling the kid.

Outside the restaurant was the farm, and Benton calmed down quickly when he saw all the animals. There were precious baby goats and sheep to pet and even a peacock (side note: the night before a bird flew into our house. So random and so creepy. Benton thought we had a peacock in our house. So he assumed the peacock at the farm had found its way home). All was merry and bright at this point, so we decided it was a great time to load up and head home. At which point Benton began breakdown #2: he wanted to see the monkeys (at the farm. Because why wouldn't there be monkeys at a farm?).