happy 4th birthday grant!

It is so hard for me to even fathom that my little boy is now 4 years old! Exactly four years ago today I was getting ready to head to the hospital to be induced, only to receive a call from the hospital that they were too busy (WHAT...Too busy?????) and were going to have to push my induction off until the next day. I said NO WAY...I was mentally and physically prepared to have my first child today so it was gong to happen today! They told me they would call be back by noon to see what the rest of the day looked like. Sure enough, they called at 12:00 pm on the dot and asked me if we could be in by 3 pm...my reply was a resounding YES! We got there at 3, my water was broke and I was put on pitocin at 4 and he was born at 7:42 pm! I can remember that day and the excitement I felt when they said, "Here HE is." and handed him to me. I replied, "HE? It's a boy?" Now my little boy is growing up so quickly. I can not believe how he has changed in the last four years. This is our lovely family picture when Grant wasn't even a day old yet.

And the little Punk (that is what we called him when he was in my tummy and probably until he was about two, but it has faded a little) and he is being held by his proud Papa.

I don't even remember him looking like this...maybe it is just the picture, but he still doesn't have much for eyebrows. He asked me just last night why his eyebrows were "white" and mine were brown. Funny kid!

This was Grant on his 1st Birthday (actually the morning after) and he was lovin' his new wagon he got from Grandma Sue and Grandpa "O"

And since there are very few pictures of me with either of my children, I have included this beauty of Grant and I at his 1st Birthday party. Nice scraggly hair I have, huh?

These two are from his second birthday. He hit the jackpot and got his very own John Deer Gator for his 2nd Birthday! He thought he was pretty cool. It wasn't even fully put together and he had to hop in and try it out!

Oop! Another picture with Mama! Short hair this time. I kid of like it on me here, but I got sick of it fast and grew it back out.

On to the 3rd Birthday... This was his awesome cake we concocted. I had the bakery frost it like it was a dirt track and then I put my own "props" on it...a monster truck jumping 3 cars. He thought this cake was da bomb!

This party was the first one held not at our house. We had it at Trobecs, a local bar/restaurant. The kids had a blast trying to bash the Sponge Bob pinata and running around on the dance floor. He liked it so much we are having his party there again today. Wait until you see the cake he picked out this year!

And now I will share a few pictures of my little Champers from this last week. He is starting to get used to my camera being out all of the time and I actually got him to cooperate in a couple of these! I just love the wonder and excitement in his eyes in this picture.

And these were taken out on our "porch" in the natural light and I really think they are cute since the teal Girl Scout Cookies box really brings out the blue in his eyes...he he :) Let me know which you like best...I might use one of these in the i heart faces weekly photo contest...

1.

2.

3.

4.

or 5????

I am torn between 2, 3 and 5. I also have a few pictures of Grant with his new buddy, Trixie. This is my proud little boy after helping me give her her first bath. He is really turning into a very good helper. Can't wait to start giving him some chores! Maybe his first chore can be rubbing Mommy's feet!!! :)

And a couple more of him hugging (torturing) the little kitten kat!

Well, I guess I had better get showered up and ready for the big PARTY today. Everyone is still asleep and it is nice being able to sit here with a cup of coffee and reminisce about my beautiful children. I am really going to miss them being little. I just love being a Mom.

OOP...spoke too soon, I hear Tootie crying now. Darn it! There goes my peace and quite. Oh well, gotta love those kiddos.

I have more fun pictures to share from this weekend and I'll have b-day pictures soon.

Blessings to all!

Marli Marie

Introducing Marli Marie! Marli is my friends, Sheila and Rob's little princess. She was born on February 20th. The kids and I took a road trip over to meet her this past weekend. Of course, I HAD to bring my camera to take some pictures of the little bundle. Once I started shooting, I showed Sheila a few of the images and she told me to go nuts because she needed some photos for a photo announcement...so here they are!

Of course, I am not sure which pictures she is planning on using yet, but these are the ones that are my favorites.

I haven't had any time to do any editing so these are straight out of the camera.

Not too shabby, huh!?!

This is Nate, Sheila and Rob's 2 1/2 year old son. Aren't those eyes to die for!?! He is such a sweet little boy.

And there are my two little hoodlums corrupting poor little Nate!

Actually, they all played quite well together after a little 'warming up' time!

Check out the look on Nate's face. I am guessing he isn't quite as used to a crazy lady sticking a big lens right in his face as my kiddos are! Grant didn't even notice I was taking pictures. He was much more interested in whatever was on the boob-tube (sorry....not sure where that came from! That is what my parents used to call TV when I was little! Kinda weird, huh?!)

And don't forget about lil' miss stink-bomb-stink-butt! Isn't she turning into quite the little ham!

Okay, back to the baby. Ahhh...so cute. I stuck Tootie' bow into Marli's hair since she wouldn't keep it in her own hair.

Look at how tiny those feet are! Couldn't you just eat them right up?

I really went crazy shooting in black and white. I just love how some of these pictures turned out!



Mid-way through the "shoot" Little Miss Marli started getting a little squirly.

This was the only minor fuss I saw the entire time we were there. She just had a little burp...

...and back to snoozin'! Doesn't she look just like a little angel?

I am so used to thinking Audrey is the baby and now that I see her compared to this little baby my thoughts are really put into perspective. I was just thinking today how much I am going to miss her being my baby. She is at that in between stage right now but I know once she turns 2 there is no denying she is no longer a baby :(

I really wish I would have had my DSLR camera when both of my children were babies. Every day would have been a photo shoot at our house!

Can't go back and change time, so I guess I will have to make up for it by taking MANY pictures of my friends little dumplin's!

I better get to bed...it is going to be a long week. Hopefully I will sleep as peacefully as little Marli is sleeping here...

sweet dreams...

weekend at the cabin

Two weekends ago we were invited up to our friends, Ron and Amy's cabin for a family weekend. We we headed up on Saturday around noon so that the kids could catch a cat nap on the way up, which they did. Since they were all rested they were rarin' to go once we arrived. They wasted no time digging into the toys and as soon as our other friends Lisa and Dan arrived, Tootie immediately made friends with Lisa. Aren't they cute together...matching blue eyes!

Audrey was enthralled with Lisa's chunky jewelry. I guess my el cheapo fake diamond pendant isn't nearly as interesting!

And here is Audrey's version of giving loves...leaning in to get a kiss!

This is Ron and Amy's little girl, Kaitlyn. Isn't she just a honey?!? She is such a sweet and polite little girl. Maybe she was just being shy around us, but she has way more manners than my two kids put together and she is only 20 mos old!

And this is Amy with her little Darlin'. You'll see more of Amy soon, just wait!


And this is our little fox friend that was scampering through the woods near their cabin.

Both Audrey and Kaitlyn had fun eating 'with' or should I say near each other.

I wish my kids had as good of eating habits are Kaitlyn. She eats all of her protein and veggies so well. Audrey is pretty good and will try most things and she will far out eat Grant. He is pretty much a pizza and chocolate milk kind of kid. He will eat lettuce salads now. Yeah! (isn't that just terrible that I have to be excited over a lettuce salad!)

Oh, and have you ever met...Genie (Gene Simmons daughter that is!) Check out that tongue...she could easily be an offspring of KISS!

Okay, she doesn't quite have the hair for it yet, but give her a couple of years. I think she may end up with some curls.

Here is our little fisherman's first success. He went out fishing with the big boys and had to come in and show me one of their trophy's. Not sure if he actually caught this one but he sure was proud of it!

I just love his little alfalfa sprout he was sporting all weekend. I bet they all thought I don't ever comb my kids hair! He has since received a hair cut an the mess is much more manageable now!

A big congratulations goes out to our friends Dan and Lisa who just got hitched this past weekend. Don't you think this would've made the best engagement picture?????

Okay, so once the kids were put to sleep, we poured a few drinks and Amy rolled out the ever famous karaoke machine. Amy just so happens to be the self proclaimed "Queen of Karaoke" see for yourself!

Oh, did I mention that she has a stash of hats and wigs that all must wear during the 'performance'? And this is a picture of 'Rocker Mama" on the lead guitar. Lisa is 4 1/2 mos pregnant with their first child (a boy) and you can not even tell! Lucky girl.

Two hot karaoke mamas!

Go ahead, show us your thang!

Boy, I am glad I had the camera this night. Keeps me from looking silly like the rest of the folk!

Did I just say silly...I meant distinguished. Nope...I really did mean silly!

This is Ron, Amy's (the cowgirl) hubby. Giddy-up Ron!

And this is the cowboy with my hubby the gangsta!

And here is the entire 'motley crew'!

And these last two were earlier in the day, but were two of my favorites. The pictures speak for themselves...simple and beautiful!

I suppose I better go make my son a milkshake since he has been begging me since 7 pm.

Night night, ya'll!