The More You Celebrate Life

"The more you praise and celebrate life, the more there is in life to celebrate."

What a wonderful birthday!

 I was super excited to be in my 30s last year and they just keep getting better! I laugh about the above video because it's what motherhood is all about..sharing presents, cake and even your wishes with your children! We had a great family birthday dinner at Shugie's! Addison, Tman, Grandmama, Grandpapa, Aunt Roni, Uncle Aaron, Uncle Beej, Veronica, Aunt Lydia, Uncle Caul, Aunt Nat, Aunt Roni, Layla, and HBJ! I am very blessed to celebrate with what Addison calls it 'the village'. How lucky are we to have such great family?!?! These are the times I'm truly thankful where I am in my life and ok Turner blew out my candle because I feel there's not much more I could ask for!

Happy 31!!

I wish for more days like these with the ones I love! (GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE MADE BY SHUGIE...YUMMY!!)

The beautiful flowers Addison had on the counter when I got home. Turner brought me some sunflowers from the Farmer's Market. My mom made a special trip to Farmer's Market to let Turner pick some flowers for me. She said as he carried them so proudly to the car,  some women commented on how proud he was of taking those home to his mom! Love him!

 I tried to teach Tman the ropes on saving the bags and tissue paper. We recycle it all and he will learn :). I laugh as I write this because the bag Addison used to wrap my present I questioned him on where he got as I was opening it because it didn't look familiar to me... He's so lucky to be married to me! :)

The following day...

 this is why you have to have cute, young sis-in-laws that buy you cute clothes and jewelry because you always feel like that 'mother never put together' unless someone gets it for you! Love it!

I am the dork who has my co-workers take a picture of me so I can send it to my sis-in-laws to see my 'new look' - they are so lucky just like Addison! :) The curly hair is not a 'new look'...It's usually because I get up too late, but lately it's because I broke my hair dryer a few days ago and didn't purchase one until today!

Thank you for all the wonderful birthday wishes and making this 31 year old feel so special!

Wet Willies, Strawberry Cake, Giggles and Wonderful Friends!

Today was a great day! It's very odd to be saying that the day before school ends. Today we had "Organized Mass Chaos' with sixth graders. I was in charge of a group of kids and making sure they completed tasks such as: Running around a circle while yelling moo, giving wet willies, trading shoes and racing, wheel barrow races, shaving cream hugs, balloon pops, and much more! (I had to do most of these with them--I only gave ten wet willies for obvious reasons!) This is right up my alley and it was a great time. I love hanging with the kiddos and hanging with Gibbins! You can only have Organized Mass Chaos if you have a whistle.

 I was then given a yummy strawberry cake from a teacher-again-my favorite. I came home and squeezed in some Turner time hearing about his fun times with his friend. Turner has gotten to become really good friends with a little girl, Taylor. My mom met up with them at the library and Little Sprouts a year or so ago. They are now great friends. Taylor's great Aunt watches her and was my kindergarten teacher!  Needless to say, they are BFFs.

LOVE the picture above..his face!

Love Taylor's bow!

It ended with a wonderful dinner with great girlfriends! My birthday is a week away and Marcy was leaving for the beach tomorrow, so she squeezed in a birthday dinner with some great gals! It was great to eat dinner, relax and catch up with them! I am truly blessed and love days like this when it was simply a great day! I couldn't ask for more- wet willies, strawberry cake, giggles with Turner and wonderful friends!

Block Party 2012

Turner loved the free water

(I loved that he walked down the street like this as people tried to weave around him :)

I should share this picture with the Block Party organizers!

I loved spending the day with Turner

Our first stop was to hear Uncle Beej jam! He loves to hear the bongos. Right when we got home he went straight to his bongo Uncle Aaron gave him to 'jam'

I love listening to them. Beej is very talented!

Eating his Hammontrees sandwich. Yummy! Hung out with Grandmama and Aunt Roni a bit while listening to Uncle Beej

Why I love Fayetteville!

First face paint! He just sat still and let her paint away. He enjoyed it..and has his 'serious Turner look'. When she handed him the mirror he just stared and stared. Love it!

Painted a fishie like Mr. Grouper on Bubble Guppies!

It's only a block party if there's a sand table. He loved taking the sand to the water station and dumping it. We spent most of our time here.

Marcy, B, and me posing for the party on the block

 Hanging with his best bud Jackson.
Marcy and Jackson met us up there and it was great spending the afternoon with them!

Turner is the cool kid wearing his white sun bonnet while Jackson has a cool baseball cap on! Turner only wore it because Jackson put his hat on. It's really for the beach look, but that's all I had :). I forget he's not one anymore and will wear anything mommy gives him. He looked VERY cute last summer in his summer hat!

Don't be surprised if you see one of these in our backyard soon. Turner was hesitant to go through it, so Jackson was sweet and walked him through.

He decided to stand on the side and soak it up. He loved it and was just standing there the entire time...he's so funny!

Jackson having a blast! Turner cheering him on.

BLOCK PARTY 2012 DOWNTOWN FAYETTEVILLE WAS A BLAST!

McNair 5K

Getting ready for the big run by eating some yummy muffins!

Why I love my school is for stuff like this. IT was a 5K to raise money for Special Olympics in Arkansas. It was a wonderful morning and cause! The Ranger pod did an amazing job and I was so proud to be a part of it. I know how much hard work it took. I felt it was appropriate for him to wear his RUN DMC shirt.

Turner and I have been training for this race!

 Gibbins is the true runner so she was there to give me moral support

I really think Turner was there more so for the free snacks :)

Samantha, her little one and us 'ran' together. It was great to talk and walk!

Serious runner here :)

 There we are! I wouldn't say it to his face..but Turner did hold up my time a bit. What we do for our children!

Me and my bud, Virginia!

I can't wait for our next race. Turner and I may become running buddies! (I like his slow pace style :)

Pink! Pink! Pink!

Love my baby showers! We are super excited the Meesey family will be getting a girl to add to the boy mix! I had such a fun time being with my girls. Life gets so busy we don't get to see each other as much as we would like. I loved seeing all the cute pink items.

Hostesses!

I had to give Jenny a strawberry bag! I had so much fun picking the pink stuff. I first picked up this really cute blue/white skirt..and I thought..no..she's had blue the last few years :). Turner gave Olivia a taggie blanket just like he loves! He still sleeps with it every night that Aunt Shannon gave to him. She gave him two just in case!

The special touches!

Love the crafy banner Holly made! She is becoming our 'crafy friend'

Holly made this quilt, too!

Love my Jenny!

She's going to be an incredible mother of three!