Mom and Luke time

The big guy and I had some fun alone time this afternoon. Big sister at sleepover, check. Little sister taking a nap, check. Time for mommy and Luke to hang. First on the agenda, a game of Disney memory. Luke sufficiently kicked my bootie like he always does. That kid is dynamite at memory, he cannot be beat. Next on the agenda, make some chocolate chip cookies.

Luke thought it was awesome he got to add all the ingredients himself instead of taking turns with Amelia. He even got to crack the eggs! He was cracking me up though during baking time, I just had to share it. While we were gathering the ingredients out of the pantry, he was so excited he was running in circles and he ran up behind me and said, "Hello, mom, you SO get an extra kiss for this." Then he ran in the pantry where I got a double sign language, "I love you." Pretty good for just making some cookies. Anyhow, so we started mixing everything and before we added the eggs I let him taste some of the dough. He couldn't believe I kept letting him have more tastes and he said, "I just can't stop eating this dough mom!" Me: "Me neither Luke, it is so good. " Luke :"Okay mom, okay, that's enough, you have to save some for the cookies." Yeah, yeah, I guess. After they baked his verdict on the cookies he made himself, "Awesome, good, you have to try these mom." I would have tried the cookies but I was too busy ducking behind the island licking out the cookie dough bowl. Because although I will not expose my children to salamonella, I will certainly risk my own body for yummy raw cookie dough. Afterall, my mom says I should be immune because I was raised on it, right mom?

Luke is whole-heartily obsessed with Star Wars these days. He loves, loves, loves it. Often he is talking to me and I feel like it is a foreign language because he his talking about droid poppers, Ashoka, Annakin and Darth Mal. You can actually see the question mark over my head. Today he retold me this whole story about Darth Mal and burning these droids and all these dreadful things (yes, I realize he is not yet four and maybe Star Wars is inappropriate, please direct any and all complaints to his father) and I said to Luke, "Luke, that sounds horrible." He said with such annoyance in his voice, "Moooooom, that is just how it is in Star Wars world." Well, excuse me.

Ride 'em Cowgirl!

Amelia was given a horseback riding experience for her 6th birthday from her Grandma Joan. She and I went to the stables yesterday and oh boy was she excited to ride a horse for the first time!

I took this picture right after her instructor put her on the horse and that smile never left her face for the two hours we were there. Amelia did really great with her horse Bullseye, a 30 year old sweetheart of a horse. She learned how to make him stop and go and turn each direction by using her reins. She did better than I did with my horse Levi. Levi did not quite agree with my leading him where I wanted to go, let's just say he had his own agenda.

Off we were on the trail. I have to admit, I had a slight panic attack when we first started and I watched my first born baby trot (okay, that is an exaggeration, more like meander) on a 900 pound animal away from me. Once we got going though I relaxed and we both had a great time.

Amelia leading Bullseye to the pond for a drink. It was really special to watch Amelia's enjoyment throughout the whole ride. She had such a fantastic time, what a neat birthday present. Of course Amelia is already asking when we can go again, let's just say, we have to wait until mommy doesn't need to be sitting on a pillow anymore and wincing, ow, ow , ow every time she sits down.

Addison Kate is Six Months old and Kids Theatre

Say it isn't so, Addison turned six months old! Our little baby is getting bigger by the second. Addison has so much personality now and just loves to laugh and squeal at Amelia and Luke. As evidenced by the picture, she is now sitting up on her own. She loves to sit and play with her toys and eat her books. We are hoping she will eventually turn a new leaf and enjoy reading the books but we will see, after all she was born in Mississippi. (Kidding, kidding).

Had to get a picture of her cute, little hiney. We are in the south we monogram everything, including hineys. Is it hineys or hinies, or hineys'? Anyone?

I took Amelia and Luke to Sleeping Beauty and The Beast which was a cute children's theatre production downtown. It was a comedy of all sorts of different fairy tales intertwined and the kids got a big kick out of it. We had a very grown up night with our friends, Mckenzie and Hayden, going out to dinner and then to the theatre. Yes, Amelia is wearing a sweater, in Mississippi, in July. I think it was a chilly 80 degrees that night, crazy girl.

Beach Trip and Amelia's 6th Birthday!

We were lucky enough to head over to Ft. Walton, Florida this past weekend to celebrate Amelia's 6th birthday. We went with our great friends the Neff's and had such a fun time. I love this picture of the kids swimming, their faces show how much fun they had this weekend. They were pretty much in the water from sun-up to sun-down everyday.

Tubing with Amelia.

Tubing with Luke. Luke loved to go fast and constantly was giving the boat a thumbs up to indicate faster, I was like whoa buddy, slow down. At one point, we hit a wave, accidentally and went flying up in the air like three feet. I screamed at the top of my lungs and Luke just said, "Woo hoo, I love going over those big waves man."

The early birds. These girlies were the only ones up in the house at 7am so they had a grand ole time swinging on the porch swing and trying to catch some minnows down by the water.

The kids LOVED having Stephen throw them in the water. Anytime he was near, he had four kids screaming at him, "throw me, throw me!" Look at that air on Amelia, yikes!

Out on the boat, heading out to the rope swing.

Amelia swinging like a monkey. I couldn't get a good picture of Luke (sorry big guy) because I was holding Addison and the video camera and the digital camera and an aggressive little crab kept biting my foot. The things I go through for this blog :)

In Destin at our favorite restaurant, The Back Porch.

The big kids.

After we ate, it was time to surf some waves. The kids love riding the waves but not as much as their daddy. I think Stephen was smiling and laughing more than any of the kids. I hardly have any pictures of Amelia and Daddy at this beach because they kept running out to more waves. Amelia kept asking Daddy to take her to the "big waves." Luke was more content to stay by me, nice and close by. And Addison spent most of the time asleep.

Mckenzie, Amelia and Hayden, our bathing beauties.

Cynthia and I, what a fun time we had.

Our manly men.

My big guy Luke.

Addison woke up!

Cutie patootie, sitting in the sand.

Addison is almost six months old already, such a little beach baby.

Our three that keep us laughing.

The kids were all about fishing on this trip. The dads couldn't keep up with four kids trying to keep their poles baited up. Here is the first fish Amelia caught on this trip, a little pin fish (it's hard to see, it's between Stephen's shoes).

Luke's first fish, he didn't want to hold it. Apparently, I do not know too much about fishing in salt water. I wondered, "Where are the worms?" We fished with worms when we were kids but my kids are learning to fish with shrimp and squid! After Luke caught this little pin fish, Stephen put it back on the line and tossed it back out. All of a sudden, Luke's bobber went, WHOOSH, way under water. Stephen yelled, "Reel it in Luke, reel it in!" Luke was trying but saying he couldn't so Stephen grabbed the rod and pulled and pulled. All that came up was half of this fish with a huge bite taken out of it! Some big fish put up a fight but then just ate the fish and swam away, ahhh, the big one that got away.

Amelia got an early birthday present, snorkel and mask. She couldn't get enough snorkeling and loved it. Even Luke learned too and they spent hours face down in the water, only coming up to yell what they saw.

Addison, just chillin'.

Finally, the big day arrived, July 19th! Our Amelia Grace turned six years old!

Amelia said to us that day, "Mom, my birthday couldn't have been any funner. I got to fish, snorkel, go tubing and my best friends are here." It just melted my heart. I agree with her though, I would like to spend my birthday there too!

Happy Birthday Amelia Grace, we love you so much!

Us and the Neff's, finally we got a picture of the four adults, thanks for taking it Amelia.

Birthday cake time, the birthday cake had dolphins on it which was very fitting for a beach birthday. We saw lots and lots of dolphins on the trip, Amelia and Luke even saw a baby and a mommy dolphin.

What a great vacation!

Fancy Nancy Birthday Party

Amelia had a Fancy Nancy birthday party this year and it was FABULOUS! She and I had so much fun decorating the house with as much fuscia, lavender and silver we could find. Thankfully we live in the south and beads abound in these parts; hence, everything that could have a bead hung from it, did.

Amelia showing off her glamorous attire.

Even a fancy girl can kiss her daddy.

Addison wanted to be fancy too.

The girls had etiquette lessons and here they are showing how to curtsy. They also learned how to drink fancy, pinkies up of course! Next, the girls practiced perfect posture by walking with a banana balanced on their head. Very fancy and pretty funny for Stephen and I to watch. They finished up by learning how to wave like a princess.

All of the "Fancy Nancys."

The girls decorated their own tiaras. Plenty of jewels, glitter and sparkles for this project!

The girls then had to practice the etiquette they learned. It was a fancy relay! Two teams and the girls had to dress up in dresses, high heels, purses, necklaces and race down the hall all while balancing the banana on their head. I had know idea how competitive little six year old girls could be! They were really rooting on their team members and helping each other get dressed as fast as their little hands would let them.

Singing Happy Birthday to Amelia! Note all the removed boas, beads, other "fancy" apparel. I had a whole pile of ditched high heels, rings, bracelets, boas, wands and tiaras by my front door to be claimed when the party was over. It is fun to be fancy but these girls learned early that sometimes to be glamorous really just itches, pokes, pulls, squeezes or just plain hurts. It was a fun party and Amelia had a smile on her face the whole time so it was worth it. (Although, I am still picking up pink and purple feathers all over the house).

Don't take my food away mom

Addison loves her rice cereal, l-o-v-e-s i-t! One can tell by the death grip she has on my hand while I am feeding her. She also yells and shouts baby obscenities at me if I am not quick enough with her next bite.

Still happy because she is still eating.

Addison throwing her bowl down in disgust because she finished all her food. She cries every time she finishes her cereal and glares at me hoping I will give her a refill.

Again, I know I am biased but cutest picture ever.

All snuggled up in Luke's bed for story time.