Splish Splash

 So today Reid is 18 months old (gasp!) and the CATS won and are Final Four bound so what better way to celebrate than by washing the vehicles and taking a bath at the same time-toddler style!

 He had more bubbles on him than what was in the bucket and on the cars!

 He loves to pose for the camera!

 Soapin it up!

 He found if he clapped his hands the bubbles would go EVERYWHERE!

 And then he tried tasting them

Look out world! I'm a handful and mommy and daddy are loving every minute of it!

Addilyn's SDRAWKCAB Birthday Party

     So I'm a little behind in my blogging updates.  But nonetheless, here is Addilyn's 5th (yikes!) birthday party.  I can't believe she is already 5!  I know I say it all the time, but seriously, where does the time go?? 
     I came across this cute idea on Tipjunkie.com for a backwards party.  Mentioned it to Addi once and she was sold on the idea.  I don't have a pic of the invites but we used different colors of cardstock and typed out the invitation for a wild and crazy time backwards.  It was a little more difficult than I had imagined because someone seriously needs to come up with a backwards font.  It just doesn't exist.  So after copying and flipping and pasting and resizing font after font, Josh and I finally got the invites done. 
     We split the party up into 2 parties.  One for friends and one for family.  I didn't wanna be cramped and overwhelmed here at the house and I wanted to be able to entertain everyone and not have anyone feel slighted.  It worked out perfectly.

Here is a pic of the girls being silly at the party.

     And if you look closely you can see the girls wearing their gumball necklaces they made.  They were a huge hit and each girl got to make their very own with as many gumballs as they wished.  We had very long rope like ones and some that resemebled chokers.  Lots of fun either way :)

Lunch time consisted of ham and turkey sandwiches and chips and instead of eating AT the table, you guessed it, the girls ate UNDER the table.

They thought this was so neat and all you heard was lots of giggling and an occasional munch!

And what kind of game pretty perfect for this day of craziness?

Yep! TWISTER!  I'm not sure how many rounds they played but there was do doubt it was lots of fun!

Our favor bags consisted of necklaces, bracelets, smarties, LOTS of gumballs, and balloons.  And each girl had her own personalized bag with her name spelled backwards!

Our decorations were few, but one of my favorite because I just liked the way it looked was our "Balloon Chandelier".  We had 2 of these.

They were easy to do and no helium required.  And of course, they were hanging upside down!

We had an arrangement of cookies on a stick and any kind of cupcake you could want.  And of course it had to spell out HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADDILYN but backwards!

And the dress attire was a HUGE HIT!  We had everyone dressed from normal to clothes backwards, to pig tails in the front, jewlery worn backwards, wearing pajamas, bathrobes, swimsuits and Uncle Evan even wore a dress and heels! :)

Aunt Ericka and Aunt Angela got in on the crazy fun in many ways.  They each wore 2 different shoes, their glasses upside down, short over their pants, mismatched socks that they cut holes in to wear as gloves and side pony tails!  And I love Angela's scarf as a belt!

Here is Nonnie and PawPaw with their clothes on not only backwards but they are even wearing eachothers shirt!  PawPaw had on Nonnie's and Nonnie had on PawPaw's!  So silly!

And of course Reid just looked so cute in his backwards (GO CUBS) hat and adorable overalls!

I took Addi's picture with each guest and we used those as her Thank You notes.  Turned out super cute and everyone had their own personalized thank you and way to remember the fun time!

By the end of the weekend this mommy was wore out but I know the birthday girl was happy and she still talks about her Backwards Party!

Happy Birthday Addi Dale!

My lenten sacrafice SUCKS!

So for Lent I gave up my Diet Mt. Dews, or rather sodas in general.  I knew it would be hard (don't judge me on this.). Having a diet dew first thing in the morning is my coffee.  Simply put, I gotta have it.  But I decided to make it my lenten sacrafice.  And as petty as it sounds it has definitley been a sacrafice.  It's only been 12 days since I've had one, (I had an ice cold one about 10:00 the Tuesday night before Ash Wednesday) but man oh man are the next 34 days gonna be killer.
      And killer is exactly what my headaches have been.  I used to never get headaches, or at least rarely.  I've pretty much had a constant one for 11 days now.  I now know what a crack addict feels like going through withdrawls--seriously.  I find myself telling myself "just one can will make this headache go away".  Really Emily, it's coming to that?  You CAN and WILL do this I tell myself over and over and over.  I just don't really believe that little voice yet.  And I can only drink so much water until I feel as if I'm gonna just float away. 
     I put a post out on facebook about the headaches and how agonizing they are and I had a friend make a good point.  "If something can give you headaches that bad then you know it's gotta be pretty bad for your body" .  Thanks dear friend, I hadn't looked at that way, didn't and don't want to and now that makes me feel worse for wanting a diet dew so bad! lol  I was told to drink lots of water, please see above comment about floating away.  And another one told me the headaches could last a couple of months.  No thanks, because if that's the case I will be asking the Easter Bunny for a big fat PolarPop of diet dew on Easter morning!  Another comment said that after this "giving up and doing without" I probably won't want to touch another soda in my life.  Yeah right!  I so don't see that happening! 
     When I mentioned that to Josh his response was "if you can make it the 40 days why would you start drinking them again"  Geez I don't know Josh, maybe because as I sit here and type this I can feel the cold of the can in my hand and the pure bliss of it's taste as I think about drinking one?  Why don't you hop on my lenten bandwagon and join me?!  Then we can both have horrendous headaches and bite one another's heads off?  (of course I say all this in pure love:) ) 
     And my poor kids.  Talk about biting heads off.  Every day I lose my patience a little more and more.  (It's really not that bad, I just feel like it sometimes).  And all over a silly one (or 5) 12 oz can of Diet Dew. 
     So I ask you people who proudly boast "I haven't had a soda in over a year" "It gets better I promise" "you can do it".  Is it really gonna be that easy because I like to think I'm not a quitter but I'm thinking this stuff is for the birds!
     But I'm just gonna keep telling myself, I CAN and WILL do this!

What's Been Going On?!

Yikes!  I think I took a vacation from blogging.  But I'm baackkk! :)  There's not been a lot going on in our household lately, but yet at the same time we've been so busy.  I'm over winter.  It's just that simple.  I was holding out for a big snow storm (and so was Addilyn) but now that we're ending February, I just wanna see Spring.  And I think Addilyn and her daddy are too. Last night they took advantage of the warm weather and got out her new bat and glove she got for her birthday.  And I think she's found another sport to love.  She's really big into gymnastics right now and I think we're signing her up for softball this weekend.  Let the busy (or shall I say busier) times begin!

And I can't forget Addi's big birthday celebration we had a couple weeks ago!  I can't believe she's 5!  Where does the time go?  We kicked off her 5th year with a crazy and fun Backwards Birthday Party!  I'll have pics soon.  It was a huge hit and she's still talking about it.

I've been picking up a few days here and there at NTouch Massage and Wellness Center helping out doing some massages.  It's been a lot of fun, I feel good doing what I went to school to do.  And it's also been some mommy free time.  Who would've thought working would've been mommy free time?! :)

Since having kids I've found myself getting more into the holidays that aren't as big as Christmas and such.  Like Valentine's Day (which I like to call Cupid Can Suck It Day lol) and St. Patrick's Day.  For Valentine's Day this year I surprised Addilyn with a new plate with hearts all over it, a new glass that matched and red pancakes in the shape of a heart.  (Now if a guy had done that I probably would've puked all over him from all the lovey dovey-ness)  But it's fun when it's for my kiddos.  And Reid wasn't left out either.  He got a new sippy cup and red pancakes too!  I can't wait for St. Patrick's Day to roll around.  Wonder what a little leprachaun might leave for my kids?

WE LOVE OUR CATS!!  Anything blue in our house is considered "GO CATS" by Addi and we can even get Reid to give a fist pump and little ramble that sounds close enough to "go cats".  We watched and celebrated the Cats victory over the Cards at Dee and Heather's and got a couple of cute pics of the kiddos.

We are also in the process of finishing our basement.  I think any project that consists of this house and my husband will be never ending.  Don't get me wrong.  I can't wait for it to be done and Josh does awesome work.  But he's so stubborn to do any and all of it himself that it feels like it takes forever.  Work all day, come home, work on basement, go to bed late, up and repeat the next day.  But Addilyn and Reid enjoy working with him.  Here are a couple pics of them getting down and dirty and with Daddy!

So with just 20 days till Spring, we can't wait to see what warmer weather has in store for us!  Stay tuned!

FALLing in love with family time!

I'm a little behind, but it's finally my favorite time of the year-FALL!  I love the changing of the leaves, pumpkins, extra hour of sleep (kids willing!), birthdays, long sleeves and hoodies and of course it leads up to my favorite holiday-Thanksgiving.


 My birthday was back in October and when Josh asked me what I wanted to do, I told him I wanted to take the kids to a pumpkin patch.  So, that's what we did.

Family picture at Hinton's

Addi saying HI

Addi and Daddy went through the corn maze.  Reid found himself
a tractor and kept himself busy.

Looking for the perfect pumpkin!

Reid could've cared less for the pumpkins.  He just wanted to get
down and get dirty!

Nope, I think these pumpkins are too big!

I think they found the perfect ones!

Reid seems happy and intrigued with his choice!

Addi on the hayride on the way back.  She had so much fun.

Reid and Addi playing in the tunnels.  He thought he was
so big keeping up with his big sister.  He looks so big
in this picture!

Isn't he too cute?!






I LOVE this picture.  I think it captures both of their personalities
so well.  You've got Addi who wants to be right in the middle of things
and is such a diva.  Then you've got Reid who is just so laid back, takes everything
easy.  I love my kiddos!

A few weeks after this trip, Ben and Kelli invited us over for pumpkin carving.  We ate chili, the kids carved pumpkins and bobbed for apples and just had a great time playing.  Thanks for inviting us!





Addilyn, Claire, Chase, Carson, Caroline and Annie's pumpkins. 
They look so good!



Reid and Addi saying Happy Halloween!

My cowboy and cowgirl! 
Aren't they cute?!  I kow I know, I'm biased, but I can't help it.
Addi wanted to be Taylor Swift and we decided Reid was Lane Frost because of
his two handed wave! 



They had a blast trick or treating and we've got more candy than we know what to do with. Addi has already planned out the next 3 years worth of costumes! 

Now it's time to enjoy some more family time and soon it'll be Thanksgiving and Black Friday shopping!  I can't wait!!

Reid Turns 1



 Last Sunday we celebrated Reid's first birthday.  This past year has flown by so quickly.  He is the happiest little guy ever, most always in a good mood and has brought so much happiness to Josh, Addi and I.  As Addi says, "he's the best little brother ever".

Our birthday boy!!

The weather couldn't have been better for our outside baseball blowout!  We had hotdogs, nachos, soft pretzels and sent our fans home with none other than Cracker Jacks and Sunflower Seeds.  Oh and of course baseball cupcakes!



The cupcakes, smash cake and favors.

What's baseball without some seeds??

Get your Cracker Jacks!!

Everywhere you looked there seemed to be baseball-from our cupcakes, to our pennant Happy Birthday sign and Scoreboard through the months.

The scoreboard that hung in Johnson Stadium.  Pictures of Reid from birth to now.  Month 1 to Month 12.

These baseball vases will now go in Reid's room!

All the goodies!  Reid sure racked up on everything.  And it'll probably be the only time I say this, but he needed everything he got!

Reid loved playing in his cake, but eating it-not so much!

Daddy and the birthday boy!

Mommy's baby isn't a baby anymore!

Big Sis got in the spirit with her baseball shirt!


As I said, it's been the fastest but yet such a wonderful year. 

Reid,

You will always be my baby boy and I love you oh so much.  Your cute smile that shows off all your teeth that make you look like such a big boy melts my heart everytime.  Your giggle is infectious and you make my heart smile.  I can't wait to see how you grow over the next year, however I'm not rushing it!  I can't wait to see how you and Addi grow to love eachother more and to fight more I'm sure.  She loves you very much.  And I know Daddy can't wait till you can join him in the garage and outside doing "manly" things.  You have blessed our lives in more ways than you will ever know.  Happy 1st Birthday Bud!!

I love you~

Mommy

Happy Birthday Jared!

For the past 3 years I've always wondered what birthdays are like in heaven.  You see, we have a very special angel looking down on us and each August we celebrate his birthday in a big way.  Jared was an avid golfer and having a golf "get together" just seems right every year.  And every year, we have a great turnout, wonderful weather and always a great time!  And every year, Addilyn knows we have to buy flowers and take them out to Jared.  She normally sings Happy Birthday to him, but this year some of his buddies were visiting him the same time we were and she got too shy.  Here's a pic of some of Jared's buddies visiting with Jared and having a beer too!

I want to take the time right now to thank the guys who come every year to participate in this event.  You all were true friends to Jared, and I think I can speak for the whole family when I say you guys are awesome for still coming out and keeping his memory alive.  Thank you!!

I'll share some pictures now from the day...

Addi posing for a pic at the driving range with her golf clubs.  When someone commented on "how good she was" Addi replied with "I play putt putt!"  What a diva!

Evan putting

Uncle Russ going for the drive

Gotta love little Aniston's dress!!  Her Uncle Jared would be sooo proud!

Griffin taking part in the day!

Saundra's tean.  Thank guys for coming in and for all the fun! 

Ethan, Josh, Brad and Dusty.  I think (actually I know) they had a lot of fun!!

Austin, Dee, Zach and Trampus.  And I know they had a lot of fun and laughs as well!

Saundra and Brady.  Must've been a good putt!

Father and Son team-Greg and Keiland

Such a pretty view!

GO TOPS!!!  Jared would be proud!

Jared's memorial garden at Russ and Saundra's hous.  And the concrete with Jared's initials in nothing else but golf balls!

 
 
The next two picture are very sweet. Even at the innocent age of 4, Addilyn seems to have such an understanding of where Jared is and that even though he's not physically here to celebrate with us, we continue to celebrate him. The day after the golf outing, we gathered as a family at mom and dad's and had a cookout. There was leftover ice cream cake from Russ and Saundra's the night before (we go there and eat and party after golfing). Addi said it was a birthday cake and was adamant on singing. She made mom find a candle and light it and all by herself (I think the rest of us were holding back some tears) sang "Happy Birthday" to Jared in the sweetest voice. God love her heart, she was only 13 months old when he was taken from us too soon, but yet, she talks and acts as if she knew him for so long. I know he was definitely smiling down on her as she sang to him!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JARED!