Picture Perfect Monday - Cuteness Warning!!

So, for Miss Sophie's 1st Birthday/Adoption party we are having a luau (ALOHA!!), so we had to take some special pictures for the invitations!!!

****WARNING: The following images are likely to cause you to want to hug, and possibly even kiss, your computer screen!!!***







(Can't say I didn't warn ya!!)

Pool Side Fun

So, Hubby and I (finally) put out the pool that our neighbor gave the girls a month or two ago. It was Sophie's first time in a pool. Every other time we have been to a pool, there was a LOT of action, so we kept her out of the way!

But this time the water was calm and safe. So both girls went for a dip. And both girls LOVED it!

Here is how it went down:

Sophie - Whoa! Little bit chilly!

Hattie - Hey "Soapy", try the slide. That is some REAL fun there!!

S - Naah, I think I will just sit here and play with the balls.

H - C'mon ya make a big splash at the end!!!
S - I know! You splashed ME!! Not so sure I'm liking that.

H - FINE, I'll just splash on THIS side!

S - Cool, that means I got this side all to myself!

S - Wait, now I'm lonely

H - Me too.

(Cue sad music)


After Sophie's teeth had been chattering a few minutes and her lips started turning blue, it was time to come out.

Sophie was willing.

Hattie was defiant.
She thought she was getting away with it,

But then I told her she was next.

Then she screamed the whole way up to the bath tub.

Good times!

Little Bits of Everything, A Whole Lotta Nothin'

A week from tomorrow our sweet Sophie Lee will be an official and FOREVER member of our family. She has been our child since before she was born. I can remember sitting in the office at the adoption agency, being so very nervous that the birth mom would take one look at us, change her mind and run like the wind in the opposite direction. But, instead, she walked in and it was like meeting a friend you never knew you'd always had. I immediately felt at peace and just felt God whisper to my Spirit that the baby was ours. Very much like the first time they put Hattie in my arms and I just KNEW. I felt God's promise and His peace beyond understanding both times. And at that moment, in that office, I knew she was my daughter. Kim (birthmom) handed us a portfolio of ultrasound pictures and I just knew that I was looking at a face that I would see for years to came. That I would watch grow and develop. I would hold this child when she cried, celebrate her victories with her and share her secrets. She was my daughter. I just knew.

And in a week, the world will know it too. The legal system will recognize what the Lord ordained in that room over a year ago. What I have cherished in my heart ever since. Thank You, sweet Father, for this child. Were would I be without her? Without them both? Such is the sweet gift of adoption. And motherhood.

Also - and that is the utterly genius way that I change my topics (I know, you SO wish you were me!!) - the washing machine broke AGAIN this week. Oh, I KNOW!!! So the last part we had to order had the same flaw as the original. My uber smart hubby found the flaw and fixed it on the original part and - thank you very much - we got our money back for the new one. $130.00 back!! But then it broke again. Now the rubber door liner had a rip in it. Hubby thinks that is may have been there all along and it was what was causing all of the other problems. This was the easiest fix so far, but at $119.00, it did not come cheap. But, then again, has anything lately?!?! We also took a little trip to Home Depot to see what our options are. We realized that, if we had not gotten our money back on the other part, we would have been better off buying a whole new washer. A top loader, but at this point I am so very over the whole front loader thing. I mean I want a washer like my friend Kathy likes to remind me that she has. It came from her hubby's Grandma's house and is OLDER THAN KATHY!!! And is still works like a champ. Ahhh, the good ol' days when they knew how to make stuff that lasted. Sigh.

And, in other news (that was my ultra smooth "Dan Rather" approach to the segue), I am also busily preparing for the Breast Cancer 3day in September. I tried walking the 60 miles in 2005, but I have bad tendons and only made it about 20 miles. After which many doctors have advised me that I should not try that again. So I have been crewing ever since. As a crew member I basically "work" the event. And I L.O.V.E. it!!!!

However, being knee deep in pink ribbons has, as it always does, led to many an emotional breakdown. I know people who have survived this stinking disease - my friend Alice, my sister Marla (my hero as a child and to this day) and my girlfriend Holly - who is stunningly beautiful in her newly growing back, ultra cute spiky "do". Heck, my Grandma Norma died in November at the age of 95 - of natural causes. She was a survivor too.

But my Paula did not make it. And I miss her every single day. And, man oh man, does it EVER stop hurting?
So then I am thinking about this picture:

This was taken about 7 months before Paula died. Morgan was 6 and Faith was 4. And it hit me, Hattie is 4 right now. And I cannot tell you how hard I cried.

I look at my little girl, who for the most part is fiercely independent. But in a matter of moments she can be running to me in tears because she "bonked my toe" - or head, or finger or shoulder ... (always a "bonk" though, so very cute!), needing the one thing that can make it better. A kiss from her Mommy. And I realize how much she needs me. And THIS is when Faith lost Paula.

Rip. My. Heart. Out.

And that is why I participate. Because "everyone deserves a lifetime". I am raising money for the cause. I am in no way intending to make this a shameless plug. HOWEVER, if you feel so led, there is a button on my side bar with a link to my fundraising page. Thank you very much!

Well, that is about all I got for now. But I will be posting, in the next few days, a plea for help with a church project. Stay tuned ... or, ya know, just come back then.

SuperModel

I still have 39 minutes to wish my friend Amanda Jo (AKA SuperModel) a happy birthday!!! Seein' as how I could not get her on the phone today (ummm, excuse me, but what is the use of a cell phone that you carry everywhere if you are NOT GOING TO ANSWER IT?!?!?! Of course, you may have dropped it in the potty - yet AGAIN! In which case I shall forgive and, yet again, offer my pink RAZR as a replacement if yours ever does quit working!)

Anyhoo - I am down to 36 minutes - just wanted to let you know that I love ya and am so very Blessed to call you a friend. You are an AMAZING woman, a wonderful mom, as beautiful on the inside as you are on the out (and believe me, that is saying something!!!!), caring. loving, gracious and kind. Being called friend by you is an extreme honor!

Love you forever SuperModel!!!

XOXOXOXOXOXOX
Love,
"RockStar"

Picture Perfect Monday - Hattie Likes ...

... getting dirty ...

... getting MUDDY ...

... going swimming ...

... and her grandparents!!!

The Big (dreaded) Day

Today is the big day - my (gulp ... deep breath ... sigh ... tear) 40th birthday.

Can someone please tell me when I got this old? 'Cause, honestly, I do not FEEL that old. I chase a four year old and a 10 month old around all day, and I think that keeps me pretty youthful. At least I hope so.

Of course, said 10 month old is still not letting us get much sleep. So I probably LOOK every bit of these 40 years!! Ahhh, thank goodness for makeup!

My mommy had to leave this morning. There were tears - more like a four year old than a 40 year old!! I was hard enough to say goodbye when she was on the other side of the state, but this "other side of the COUNTRY" stuff is super stinky! I hate goodbyes as it is, but on my birthday? That aint right!

Hubby knew that she wouldn't be here, so he had a little shin dig for me last night. And there was not even one black balloon, over the hill joke or cane and walker gift. Thank you for that Hun!! There were, however, a LOT of people (he has two bros. and two sisters, they have families ...) and a LOT of food. It was a ton of fun. He sure knows how to love me well :)!

Also yesterday, my washer FINALLY got fixed. We spent $130 on a part that was just as defective as the original one. But my BRILLIANT man found the flaw and took the old part to work and fixed it himself. Then he came home and fixed my washer. But not before the girls, my mommy and I spent a good chunk of the day at the laundromat! It was steamy and humid and not so much fun - but not as bad as i thought it would be. I had three of my very favorite people with me and we bonded. It also helped that there were toys there, we brought bottles and food AND we remembered to bring a DVD player and Lady And The Tramp!!

We also made cookies yesterday. That was fun - here are some pics of my pretty big girl - a cookie pro - and my lovely baby - a cookie rookie - and their Grandma sharing more good times.
(pay no attention to the other woman in the pics - she is getting old, ya know. Plus, she had NOT done a thing with her hair yet!!!)






I would show you the finished product, but the cookies did not last long enough to take a picture!
They were yummy though!

Getting Old and Getting Organized

So, I told ya that my Mommy is in town. And I told ya that she spoiled the girls silly. Well, today she is spoiling me.

My mommy is an organization QUEEN. And I am ... well, NOT. A sad fact that drives even me to the brink of crazy. I cannot tell ya what it does to my man.

My poor, sweet, wonderful man. (Did I mention handsome and patient?!?)

So, we went on a little trek this morning to a few different stores. We gathered some organization tools and accessories, because my mom, she had her a plan. We had us some lunch and did a little more shopping (all with both girls, and they did so great. So very great!), and then headed home to get me organized. What would've taken me a year, 11 months and 29 days, took my mommy about three hours.

Sadly, I was not even organized enough to take the "before" pictures ahead of time. BUT, when we are through, I promise I will post the "after" shots. 'Cause they are gonna ROCK my friends! She is doing my kitchen and my craft area - which has been more like a dump and run area. Actually, they have both been dump and runs. But the way she is doing it, I truly feel like I can keep it nice. I am so very excited.

She has to leave on Friday - my actual birthday :( - but we are having a time while she is here. Later we are off to the laundr-o-mat. The washer, $200 plus in parts later, is broken AGAIN! My hubby, who has fixed everything else, is at his wits end. We do not know what we are gonna do. Do we keep spending money to fix it or do we just give in and get a new one? STINKS!!!!

Looks like I may get a new washer for my b-day. I can live with that. I just hate to spend all of that money.

Prayers are welcome and coveted.

Sweet Times

My Mommy is here. And it kinda rocks. She is spending the week with us. One whole week of having my Mommy all to myself. This is the best part of following my man to the other end of the country - I don't have to share Mommy time.

Except that Mommy time is completely taken over by Grandma time.

She and Sophie had a rockin' good time on the couch - literally. Sophie likes to bounce and rock-n-roll all over the place. Or, in this case, all over Grandma's tummy.


Until she just plain wore her little self right out!

Hattie gave Grandma a little concert on her whistle.

Gave her a little of the Word from her Bible (which Hattie literally has memorized!)

And then, for kicks, let Grandma read the Bible to her!!!

For my girls (and my mom) to be able to make memories like this, I will gladly take a backseat to their time together!

Besides, I got my time in last night when we went to see Mamma Mia together.

Oh. My Word. I LOVED THIS MOVIE.

As soon as it was over, I asked her if we could see it again tomorrow night. If you are a fan of the musical, a chick flick, a love story, a feel good time, a comedy or Meryl Streep, see this movie. I had heard that Meryl Streep had trained as a singer, but good golly. I had no idea. She was amazing! And combine that with her acting ability and SHAZAM!!!! Pierce Brosnan reminded me of Christopher Plummer in Sound Of Music - not so much of a singer, but oh so charming! And the girl who played the daughter - WOW!!! She lights up the screen and has a voice on her to die for!

Can ya tell I liked it?

I did. And I want the soundtrack. If anyone is keeping track my birthday is in 3 days.

But let's not discuss that.

Hey, guess what ... my mommy is here!!!

And we saw Mamma Mia!

It was OK ... :)

Picture Perfect Monday - Grandmas

My mommy is in town (YAY!!!) and I am telling you, the girls are LOVIN' it - 'cause when Grandma comes to town ...









... two little girls get Spoiled BIG TIME!
(ASnd this is just the first day of shopping!!! Gotta go - girl's night with my mommy to see "Mama Mia"!!!)