Minnie Mouse

Chloe just got this dress and headband with mouse ears for her birthday. She came to the dinner table still dressed as Minnie and by far, the most colorful person at the table.

By the time Chloe was done eating dinner tonight (chili), she decided she was too hot to remain dressed. She had to strip down to her undies before she could eat a Skinny Cow french vanilla bar for dessert. :) Glad I snapped the pics before we sat down for dinner!

Just for the record, the Skinny Cow chocolate truffle bars are tastier than the french vanilla truffle bars.

Happy 5th Birthday Chloe!

Today our baby girl turns five years old.


She is many things.

A siller and a goat. A tree-hugger and a fish.

She's a sister and a friend. A daughter and a sweetheart.

She's a tester and a bulldozer. A goofus roofus and a compassionate little being when she sees someone get hurt.

She is bizarre.

Chloe loves animals. So much so that she can't help herself from delivering three quick (and sometimes hard) pats to their backsides.

She is smart. She can write her name and the names of many friends and family members.

She is our Bean.

I can't believe my baby is five already

Happy 9th Anniversary

Nine years ago today, Todd and I exchanged vows. Having attended a handful of weddings since then, every ceremony has only reinforced how sacred those promises were that we made to each other on that partly sunny day in front of our family and friends.

To have and to hold. In sickness and in health. In good times and bad.

We have been very fortunate. The good times far outweigh the bad, which could probably be counted on one hand. We have a growing family with two beautiful and smart children. We have secure jobs and a stable home. We have been in the right place at the right time to help others get through a day or a year at a time. We are fairly like-minded, which has made us stronger together and more united in the decisions we make from small to big.

Till death do us part.

I love you honeys. Happy Anniversary!

Owen's Turns Seven Years Old!

So cool that he can read his own birthday cards now!

The little digital camera went over great! We told him it was just like our very first digital camera (because it has a hard metal casing all over). Owen has been obsessed with taking pics for well over a year now and can't keep his hands off the little disposable cameras and won't stop begging to take pictures using Kelley's new camera.

Owen taking a picture of me taking a picture of him :)
He just had to do a happy dance!



And then take pics of his seester :)
Owen was very happy to have company at lunch on his birthday

Not bad for a self portrait...hard to hold this camera out with one hand because it is so HEAVY!
HaPpY bIrThDaY OwEnSk!

Catching Up

We returned from too short of a vacation to Calabash, North Carolina for Kelley's best friend Mary's wedding. Kelley was a bridesmaid and Chloe was the flower girl. Considering I uploaded 930 pictures last night, it may be awhile before I have them all cropped/edited/sorted to start posting pics from Owen's bday, Kelley holding Wendy's newborn baby boy Logan or shots from the wedding.

In the meantime, this is the rain we have today.

Owen's 7th Birthday

Owen will turn 7 years old today. Shortly after 8:30pm, if you want to get technical. Time has flown since that day when both my parents, my grandparents and some of our best friends waited out the hours in the labor & delivery room at Northside Hospital with us. Since I have no siblings and Todd has only one, our friends present at the hospital were given honorary Aunt and Uncle titles.

In these short and fast seven years, we have watched Owen grow from a little jaundice baby into a big boy who makes us proud. He is smart and excels at math, as well as picks up new spelling words quickly. He can read just about anything we put in front of him now, which is exciting.

He is strong-willed and can't be swayed from his course of action once he makes up his mind. Owen gave up diapers completely (yes, even at night) before he turned two years old. He stopped sucking his thumb cold turkey when he was four years old when he realized he didn't want braces. In spite of tears and many falls, he got back up on his bike repeatedly until he could ride it without training wheels in less than an hour and through many tears of frustration.

Owen is kind. He is quick to put himself in other people's shoes and is very sensitive to other's pain or sadness. He is gentle with animals and will admonish his sister if she is too rough with our pets.

He loves to dance and will break out the moves to music on the radio or his own singing. Owen loves We Will Rock You and We Are The Champions by Queen. For the past two months, he has only listened to Queen's greatest hits in his bedroom as he is falling asleep.

Owen is whimsical and loves to dress up in costumes or have his face painted to take on different identities. He loves to be silly and because of Owen, we know that if boy privates could talk, they would sound just like Charlie Brown's teacher (wah wah wah wah wah wah).

He loves sports and tends to gain attention from softball coaches at batting cages and tennis coaches in camp because he is quick and has excellent hand/eye coordination.

Owen is independent. In Kindergarten, he would get up after his alarm went off and get dressed before brushing his teeth. Many mornings we would find him in the kitchen making breakfast for himself with either cereal in a bowl or waffles in the toaster.

Owen is a brother, a friend, my son, a goofy boy and as he sometimes reminds "just a person who wants have fun."

Today we are driving to North Carolina to see my friend Mary get married on Saturday. Today we get to spend 7 hours in the car with our newly turned 7 year old. Today, we are thankful he is ours and we're celebrating another birthday.

Trip to Stone Mountain

The kids got their faces painted at the Yellow Daisy Festival going on at Stone Mountain.

Owen was transformed into one happy cat.

And Chloe opted for the very feminine skull with fire coming out of the top.

This was a chalk drawing pumping a new Buick as we walked up to the Festival. Pretty cool seeing such a big chalk drawing in person.

Our friends Daniel and Christal met us at the Festival and stayed for fireworks with us. First time we have seen them in probably close to a year. Daniel and I had fun taking pics of each other and of the fireworks. Christal is pregnant and due to have a baby boy on November 8th. She looked great! :)

Fireworks in front of the mountain

A tribute to 9/11

I love that my camera can take pics at night that will leave the shutter open long enough to catch fireworks like this!

The three Civil War heroes of the South. General Robert E. Lee is front and center.

Birthday Wishes

Owen drew a special card for Grandma Eloise that she just loved.

He also included four quarters, which was the best birthday present he could think of to give her. Grandma's reaction made Owen feel like the best gift giver ever!

Grandma has the digital picture frame in her lap from Mike & Gail. She couldn't take her eyes/hands off it for the first 30-45 minutes she was over before starting to open new cards/presents.

Even Maggie got a birthday hat :)

Grandma is looking over at Owen as he started us off singing Happy Birthday. He shouted a CHA CHA CHA after every line in the song, which amused Grandma.

First wish

Second wish

Third wish

To more (and healthy) birthdays just like this one!

Happy Birthday to Grandma Eloise!

This is what I will remember about Grandma's 91st birthday. Or really any time that we have Grandma over. She is always laughing, whether she finds us amusing or she's stirring up a little trouble. :)


Mmmmm, German chocolate cake!
And....

Apple Pie. With vanilla ice cream!
Because when you're 91, you should get all the cake and pie you want!


This card sang Kool and the Gang's Celebration. Owen had her open it over and over so he could sing along with the song.

Kisses for Chloe because she was singing along, too.

The Bean just loves birthday parties, singing and cake!

I think she looks like such a pixie, leaning over and digging into her present bag :)

Thinking she likes what she sees

Always a good sign when she wants to wear it right away and then can't stop looking at it :)

Owen Dancing for Grandma Eloise!

Grandma Eloise turned 91 today!

Reason enough for Owen to shake his groove thang :)

Mouse Catch and Release

Last night, I was in the midst of an Etsy listing frenzy when Todd came barreling down the stairs and breathless into my office.

Honeys!

You've got to come upstairs!

Now!

There's a mouse!

In our bathroom!

Quick!

Go get it!

He might even admit he ran just like a school girl down those steps.

Hello Little Mouse.

I see you in there. That corner doesn't hide you.

Ahhh, there you are. My, what little ears you have! You're lucky Tiger wasn't here, because you would have been toast. Feel fortunate it was my big bumbling Henry who caught you and just wanted to play.

Here's a little carrot as a parting gift. Take it with you, if you want. Or eat it before you leave. Now shoo. Go find another backyard to explore. Without three or four cats.

Todd was thankful I caught the mouse so he didn't have to check into a hotel last night. :)

We are a good fit for each other. In many ways, we are very much alike. We like the same artwork, architecture, interior design and most music. We share the same religious, parenting and political beliefs. But when it comes to intruders on the homefront, we go our separate ways. I catch all the snakes, lizards and rodents. He handles all the large insects and spiders.

I love him for that.