A Few More Presents....and Cake & Ice Cream!

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Preston,
Happy Birthday to you!

Blow, Preston, Blow!

Opening his card!

Cade helping just like little brother's should. :-)

A book he really wanted.

As you can see on the table a Wii Sonic Hedgehog game!

And last but not least...the movie Bolt! And thank you to Grandmas and Grandpas, Aunts and Uncles for all the additions to his piggy bank. He loves to save money, so that is always a plus!

We also promised him a trip to Nickelcade, but that will have to wait until another day. Today we just tried to cram too much in, but I think he had a lot of fun!

We love you Preston! We are so proud of you, and happy to have you in our family!

Build-A-Bear with Preston!

A couple weeks ago when we took Alyssa to Build-A-Bear for her birthday, the other kids said they wanted to do it too. So, when we started talking about the different things we were going to do for his birthday, he made sure not to let us forget that.

He wanted the turtle. He didn't even look around again, he just marched straight for it, he had already made up his mind.

Here he is getting stuffed.

Sewn up!

Grabbing the camoflauge clothes he had already decided on.

And getting the Birth Certificate.

Meet MEAN GREEN! That trip was MUCH faster than the previous time. Ha Ha

Happy Birthday Bud!

Birthday Lunch with Doug!

My brother was here visiting from Ohio this past week and wanted to take all of his sisters to lunch for our birthdays while he was here. We planned to go to Brick Oven and I couldn't wait! As it turned out, my sister Shawnee was not able to go, so we did really miss her.
We did have a nice time though, and here we all are enjoying soup, salad bar, pizza,
and amazing garlic bread.

One of the first things Doug said when we sat down was,
"I need a sign that says...No, We Are Not Polygamists." Ha Ha

You gotta know Doug! It was fun though, I wish we could do that a lot more often. Not necessarily on Doug's dime, but I really enjoy getting together with my siblings, they're great. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time!
Thanks again Doug! We Love You!!!!! Come back soon!!!

Happy Birthday Preston!!!!

He's 10!

Preston Fun Facts:

Favorite color: Orange

Favorite food: Waffles

Favorite activity: Read

Favorite friends: Corban, Brantley, and Honorio

Favorite Restaurant: McDonald's

Favorite Store: Walmart

Favorite Song: Louisiana Saturday Night

Favorite TV Show: SpongeBob

Favorite Movie: Star Wars


We Love You!!! Happy Birthday!

Flashback Friday!

Mom & Dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary - June 2002

For my mom and dad's 50th wedding anniversary, my mom didn't want a big formal party. She just wanted all the family together. We decided to surprise them with a 2 day getaway. My little sister Maria found a cabin you could rent.

She took my mom and dad there as if they were going to buy into a time share for it, and were wanting my parents opinion. (They didn't suspect a thing since their real anniversary wasn't until September, but June was the best time we could all get together.)

This took a year of planning, and sometimes I can't believe that we pulled it off. We were all waiting in an upstairs bedroom, and we all said surprise when they came in. My mom and dad were really surprised, and I know it thrilled them to have all of us there.

I don't remember exactly how many there were of us crammed in that room, but there was a lot, including small children of whom we were trying to keep quiet.

The surprise however was not over. My brother and his family had flown in from Ohio and my parents did not know that they were here. They had been hiding in a bathroom in the same bedroom. Once we all came downstairs and were laughing and talking about how we put all this together, my brother Doug and his family came downstairs.
Needless to say there were more tears, and plenty of laughter too.

My sister Robin had made of video of my parents kind of like when you get married. Here we were all watching it.

Some of us camped in the yard, and went on 4 wheeler rides. Even my 90 year old grandma!

It was great just relaxing together. Watching t.v. and hanging out.

We played games, visited, and enjoyed being together for 2 whole days. I even think every single one of us was there at least for part of the time. A definate memory I'll never forget.

The whole group! What a crew! I think now that picture is outdated by
about 15 or so additions!

A Day at Hogle Zoo!

Here is the family at Hogle Zoo on March 21, 2009. We decided to head there for fun one Saturday, and we went with Eric's uncle and his family.

Here is Russ, Talina, and their kids.

Mr. Elephant

Still watching the elephants! Cade never smiled or anything. He just stared at everything. Not quite sure of what to think.

Oh, the favorite job at the zoo. Cleaning up elephant dung.
You definately gotta have a good back. :-)

A very tired rhino.

There were so many people!

A beautiful giraffe.

Russ and Afton

Here areall the kids together.

The kids loved to see the snakes.

They even have a new carousel ride since we were there last.

Alyssa and Jaida waving.

Eric and Cade riding a polar bear.

Eric and I.

Sally the camel has 2 humps. (Sorry, I'll never forget that from Barney.)

This is a cool elephant statue. It plays a little song, and in the summer it sprays water at you.

We had a good time, and now since it has started winter again,
we're glad we went when we did. Ha Ha

Flashback Friday!

SPRING PICTURES 2004

Today for my flashback friday post I thought I would post some old Spring pictures of my kids. These were taken in 2004. They were taken by me, so they are not that great, but man my kids are little cuties if I do say so myself.

Just being goofy. I'm not sure if Alyssa ever looks at the camera.

Here is Jaida leading us all in a song. :-)

Now the song is over, and she is getting ready to cut us off. Preston is just really happy to be there in the background.

Wow, adorable! They grow up SOOO fast!

Look at the chub in his cheeks! Man, that is long gone now. Now he is a bean pole! We are hoping to beef him up a little before high school.

Slight little mischevious, crooked smile. But adorable none the less.

You can't beat that little grin. Such a happy little soul! And look at her cute little bottom teeth poking out. I love these posts! It is so fun to look back.

4th Picture Tag!

Oh boy, this is an exciting 4th picture tag post. The rules are you are to go to your 4th folder, and blog about the 4th picture listed in that folder.

This is on Jaida's 1st birthday. Don't ask me why this photo was even taken, but here I stand, and my niece Jessica, and my sister Robin in the background.

Don't they look thrilled to be there?

It must have been a boring moment. I have no idea what I'm doing.???

Thanks for the tag Jenny, and Hydee a couple weeks ago! I wish it could have been a more exciting post for you all. :-)

Flashback Friday!

Alyssa'a 1st Birthday!

Since we finally got our hard drive situation taken care of, I decided I better get back to posting my Flashback Friday posts. On the 1st of March it was Alyssa's birthday, so as a "flashback" I decided to post about another birthday from the past.

In our family on the 1st birthday, you get a jello cake. Your one chance to play in your food, and make a complete and total mess. None of my kids have ever really gone to town in it, but we can't not do it because it is tradition!

Happy Birthday Alyssa!!!