ANNABELLE IS 1!!

Time flies when you are having fun and this year has been a lot of fun!!! But I really cannot believe it went by so quickly that Annabelle has already had her first birthday.

October 18th was her first birthday and it was that time a year ago that we very quickly welcomed her into the world. I say quickly because my water broke at 12:30 a.m. and she was born at 1:10 a.m. It all happened so fast that the doctor almost didn't make it. He swooped in at the very end and caught her shoulders.

Regardless of how it happened, we were so glad to finally meet our sweet Annabelle. She weighed 8 lbs. 8 oz. and was 21 inches long. She had the fattest little face that we instantly fell in love with.

A year later, she is almost 22 lbs and is 31 inches long. She is walking, talking, laughing, eating everything in sight and along with big sister Ava Grace, she lights up our world!!!

Happy Birthday, sweet Annabelle!! We love you!

My Lil Cheeseburger Pirate

A few weeks ago the girls and I got McDonald's and came home to watch a movie and have a carpet picnic. This is what happens if you turn your back even for a second!! Luckily, I had my camera handy. I would have hated to miss this momemt!!

ARGHH, I got me cheeseburger!!

Way too long between posts...

August Update at the end of September...

Ava Grace's Party Recap -

Ava Grace had the best 4th birthday party - if I do say so myself. "Pony Rides and Water Slides". Thanks to Aunt Bess and Uncle MeMe, we were able to do just that. We set up a water slide borrowed from Uncle Bubba, Aunt Molly and crew and saddled up some horses out in MeMe's backyard. It was so much fun. We had a great turn out and the best hotdogs and ladybug cupcakes to top it off. AG came away with some pretty great gifts too. We are so blessed to have such great family and friends!!

After Ava Grace's party, our nephew Noah spent the week with us. We went non-stop the entire time. We went to the park, the movies, to Jump n Jungle, to friends, we played on the slip and slide and just absolutely had a blast!!! We even ended the week with Annabelle getting her first tooth!!

Ava Grace spent the next week with her Granna and Grand Pappy in Howe. They had a house full of unexpected guest, but they made the most of having young girls to play with AG, fix her hair and swim with her. They swam all week, went the the sprinkler park, swam some more, did crafts, went to the zoo, watched a Disney movie or two and just soaked up each others company. She had an awesome time there, as usual!! She even came home with a souvenir - a terrarium full of leaves, catepillars, cocoons - soon to be butterflies that we would let go. It was really a lot of fun watching their transformation.

The past two summers that AG stayed with them, I was so busy with work and getting ready for Annabelle that I didn't really have time to miss her. I missed her terribly this time. She is my entertainment around the house. Though I was glad for the break and got a lot done with only one, I must say I was glad to get her home on Saturday! She was so tan and looked like she had grown.

With Ava Grace gone, I finally took some time to just watch Annabelle. Ava Grace is always on the go and wants so badly to play with AB and get her attention that it was nice to just let her play. Don't get me wrong, they are the sweetest sisters, but a lot of times, AB will get a toy taken away or I am in the other room helping AG or making a meal or something. This time, I just stopped and took her all in. She is such a happy baby and wants to discover all that the world has to offer. She now pulls up on all of the furniture and my legs in order to get a better view and to take a few steps. She will be walking in no time. She also cleaned my floors quite a bit. We started construction on the front bath while AG was gone and Annabelle cleaned it up with her belly - she was still army crawling everywhere until about 2 weeks ago!! It made me crazy to change her clothes every couple of hours, but I don't think she seemed to mind being dirty.

As for the bathroom, we are well on our way to being finished and it looks amazing. Neno let me splurge a little and get granite from a local dealer that was sellling remnants. I love it!! Let me see if I can recap all that we have done in there....

1. Demo all walls in bathing/toilet area.

2. Remove countertop and sink

3. Drywall bath area

4. Put in granite vanity top

5. Remove cabinet doors and drawer fronts

6. Remove existing doors

7. Remove mirror

8. Move light fixture up

9. Have plumber install shower plumbing in wall

10. Drywall/Concrete backer board in bath area

11. Remove existing toilet

12. Tile floor and bath surround

13. Install beadboard in bath area

14. Texture

15. Paint

16. Grout tile

17. Seal grout/tile

18. Hang mirror

19. Trim out entire room

20. Hang doors

21. Reface cabinet

22. Paint cabinet (still need to finish painting these black)

Some of these things aren't completely done, but we are getting there and I am so excited about the outcome. Here are a few pics....

Happy 4th Birthday, Ava Grace!

Here is your story....

You were born at 2:06 p.m. on Saturday, July 30th, 2005
You weighed 7 lbs. 1 oz and were 20 inches long

On Satureday, July 30th labor began at 3:15 a.m. It wasn’t until 6:45 a.m. that we went to Covenant Medical Center to for you to be born. I was observed for an hour or so with contractions 2-4 minutes apart and dilated 2 centimeters & Doctor Broslow started to send us home. The nurse checked my blood pressure as we were about to leave and it was high. The doctor decided it was best for me and you to get labor started right away. The doctor broke my water at 9:15 and petocin was started at 9:20 to speed things along. Finally, at 11:20 I gave in and wanted the Epidural. It was all down hill after that!

Your daddy was told to let me rest—to go home or get lunch—that it would still be several hours. WRONG! At 1:40 p.m. I was told to get him back to the hospital—you were ready to be born. So I called him to tell him and he was in the shower at home. When he entered the room, the nurses were all there and ready to go. Dr. Broslow was right behind daddy and you were born at 2:06 after about three really good pushes! You were perfect from the moment that you arrived. You were placed on my belly while daddy cut the umbilical cord. I will never forget that moment.

You were gorgeous then and you are gorgeous now. I cannot believe you are four. I am so blessed to be your mommy and to have watched you grow and make me smile and laugh. You are such a joy and I cannot wait to see what the years bring and what you will throw at us.

Happy Birthday, Ava Grace!! Daddy & I love you very much!!!!

Here you are at 2 weeks - posing for your announcements

Now, you are 4 and fabulous!!

Getting All Caught Up!

Struck by Lightning -

This gave us the scare of our life. Last Saturday, Neno and I were watching TV after the girls had gone to bed and it began to rain. Neno went outside to listen to it under the covered patio and lightning hit so close and so hard that it send him running back inside. After settling in to watch a show that Neno and I both enjoy, it happened again, but this time it felt like it hit the house. No joke, we didn't just have a power surge, we had everything going nuts. The TV spazzed and then went off and our alarm that hasn't been tripped in 4 years starting going crazy. We had no idea how to turn it off and were sure that it was going to wake the girls, but they slept right through. We were sure that it hit the house so Neno set out with a flash light to make sure that nothing was on fire or smoking that was attached to the house. Once he made his rounds and with no TV to watch, we headed off to bed. Then, the doorbell rings - not a regular occurrence at 10 p.m. so we answered it to find our neighbors. They had come down to tell us that they saw the lightning strike close by and when the went to find out where, the bark from our oak tree was in the street. That lead them to our tree and the spot of the strike. Here are a few pics of the damage...

You can see the entrance and exit of the lightning!

Annabelle is 9 months -

AB turned 9 months on Saturday and I know I have said it before but I do not know where time goes. She is so much fun and I just love when she gets excited. Like Ava Grace, she has some great expressions. I have decided that she will probably not crawl like most babies. She could care less to get up on all fours and take off. The army crawl works for her and it gets her anywhere in the house that she wants to go. She has also started standing up in her bed occasionally. So, we had to drop it down so that we wouldn't find her on the floor one day. She is so proud when she gets all of the way up in the bed. She starts to get excited and bounces which puts her right back where she started from on her rear. She is getting too big!

She broke the mobile pretty much as soon as she grabbed it. Gorilla glue to the rescue!!

AG Swim Lessons-

On July 13th, Ava Grace started swimming lessons at Tech's new leisure pool (It is fabulous). I would have to say that our short stint at TEGA earlier in the summer got us off to a great start. She had no hesitations about getting in the water and taking off. She keeps telling her teacher, "I can do it by myself." And though we aren't quite there yet, she is getting really close. She wants to go under and get diving toys, she wants her teacher to back-up when she jumps and she is not afraid of holding her breath and staying under water for a while. I love it!! She is a little fish! I have also had the chance to play with my camera some when we have been out there and I captured a few good pics...

4th of July-

Over the 4th we ventured to Lake Buchanan (Nana & PawPaw's) to have some family time with my parents, siblings, nieces and nephews. We also had some special visitors as my friend Kristen, her husband Brian and precious daughter Presleigh joined us for a day. We hiked down to the "Big River" as there isn't any water behind my mom and dad's house right now. It is so sad, but the hike was worth it. The kids loved picking up shells and swimming in the "big river" as Ava Grace would say.

The girls and I stayed behind for a few extra days so that we could play and mom and I could talk business. I even got to soak up a little sun while the girls were napping. That was fabulous. We met Molly, Emma Beth, Marlee, Janie, Pepper and Jackson at Chick Fil A in Austin one day for just a little extra cousin time and it was so fun to see all of them together. I am not going to rush it but I cannot wait to see all of them growing up together.

And Now, We Are All Caught Up...

Ava Grace - ism

We were stopped at a light today and Ava Grace said "mommy, look at that truck it has HONK A HORN on it! Is this how Uncle Bubba does Honk A Horn???"

It all came together for me when she flashed me her horns symbol that my brother and his kids taught her. I didn't have the heart to tell her it was "Hook'em Horns."

Not that it matters. She won't ever need to know that anyway!!! Love ya, B!

Am I Cute?

We have been working on consistency in disciplining Ava Grace. That includes holding to a promise made for punishment. So, that brings me to today's blog.

Before Church this morning, my darling angel was throwing a bit of a fit in the parking lot. She was whining and stomping her feet to get Neno to pick her up. I politely grabbed her by the arm and walked her between two cars in the parking lot. As I tried to talk to her about how she should be acting, she continued with the attitude to which I then promised a spanking when we got home.

I am going to credit the great message that we heard this morning and the celebration of Father's day with my memory loss of that spanking. Hours later, Neno remembered and asked me and Ava Grace about it.

When I asked her about that spanking and whether or not she remembered why she was to receive one, she responded with her stock answer of "I don't know." That was quickly followed with I don't need a spanking because "I AM CUTE!"

As Neno and I laughed, it continued. "Mommy am I cute?" "Daddy am I cute?"

I guess our discussions now will be to reassure her that she is awfully cute, but that does not get her out of punishment.

I love the innocence and logic of my almost 4 year old.

Back In Business

After buying my mother-in-laws camera Easter weekend, it decided not to work in auto mode, a month later. Now, another month later, I have made my first really big purchase. Yes, I broke down and bought a new camera. But, I couldn't go back to any old camera. I had to get a GOOD one. After having a Canon Rebel, I couldn't settle for anything less. I promise to be blogging again with fabulous pictures taken with my new XSi!!!! And after my class in July, I will be a pro - or so we hope!

Two weeks, really???

It has been two weeks since I last posted anything and even today, I am wondering what to write...

In the past two weeks, I helped host a baby shower, Ava Grace started camp at TEGA, we took at trip to Granna's and have been recovering from the trip to Granna's. Sadly, of all of these things, I have one picture to show for it. My camera had a part break Memorial day weekend so I don't just pull it out for everything. I have to manually focus and that is no fun!!!

Anyway, here are a few details from all of the items listed above.

• My friend Alysia had a baby at the first of May and we had a "Sip and See" shower for her and her beautiful addition - Piper!! It was fun to get out and get around some other girls. Piper was 9 pounds, but she looked tiny compared to Annabelle. It is amazing how fast a child can grow in almost 8 months. I can hardly imagine her having been that little. Ahh, tear...

• I decided a few months ago that I wanted to put AG in swimming lessons this summer and looking into it, I found TEGA. They offer swim lessons, but they also have Kid's Day Out or "Camp." I could chose how many days a week she attended and which days. During that time, she would get swim lessons, arts and craft time, gymnastics and rest time. So, I enrolled her and on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, I drop her off at 8:15 and pick her up at 3:15. She LOVES it!! In fact, on the first day she took off and didn't even say good-bye to me. I should have been ecstatic but I was in shock all day. When I picked her up I told her hello and that I had missed her. Her response, "Mommy, I love camp!!" She had gotten nothing less than perfect reports from her teachers and has continued to love it. Her last day will be Thursday the 18th. I might have to get really creative with our activities after that. She is going to want to go back!

• We set off last Wednesday for Granna's for some family time and Neno's 10 year reunion. Beth and I loaded up with the girls after AG got out of camp and were on our way to get some good pool-side girl time. The guys would join us on Friday night. We swam everyday, got good tans and got lots of good family time. Though, it never seems to be long enough. I did leave the crew on Friday for a Advisor Training for AXO, but joined Neno and Ava Grace at his reunion on Saturday afternoon. Annabelle got to stay at Granna and Grand Pappy's to nap. It was a fun event and I got to meet a lot of people that really think a lot of my husband - I loved it. I loved hearing all about him in his "Glory Days" - Mr. HHS, Mr. Touchdown and according to one of his friends, he still holds just about every record in football and track at Howe High School. That is right ladies, he is taken!!!

• Now, about that recovery. I have mentioned in other post that it seems to take days for us to get on track after being gone or having family in town and this one is no exception. Annabelle and I have been fighting sinus infections and now that we have arrived back home, AG has one, too. YUCK! Lots of snot and crusty noses - MY FAVORITE!! It doesn't help the girls that I am that mother that cannot stand a crusty nose and I want to clean it constantly. AB has really learned to fight me off. AG on the other hand has decided that she doesn't like it either and runs for a Kleenex every time there is sign of a runny nose - GOOD GIRL!!

As for the rest of the week for us, AG will be back at camp tomorrow and I am off to talk to a friend about building a website for mine and my mom's new business venture. As I know more, I will post more, but please pray for us. I am very nervous to be putting it out there - finally. For those of you that don't know, my mom and I have started creating baby items since I became a mom and now we want to share them. I am the eyes and creator of most projects, but she is the one that has the know-how to put it together. Together, we make a great team. She has made the most amazing stuff and now you could get your hands on some of it too.

What Goes Around Comes Around...

All of my life, my mother has said, "what goes around comes around" or "paybacks are hell." I have known that those sayings are oh so true, but I experienced it first hand last week!!

We traveled to Austin for my niece Marlee's 5th birthday and some family time at the lake. Marlee's party was on Wednesday and we stayed in Austin with my brother, sister-in-law and their three kiddos. Thursday was reserved for the girls to play together, but it started off with a little "payback."


When I was about six years old, my brothers were supposed to be watching me while my parents were at work. Needless to say, they were not!! So, I proceded to lock myself in my mom and dad's room and cut my bangs. I had watched mom do it before and was sure that I could too. NOT PRETTY!!! My mother was FURIOUS at me!!! I have heard the story numerous times over the past 24 years. So here it is "coming around"...


We, as in me, Molly, Emma Beth, Ava Grace and Marlee, were talking about how long AG's hair had gotten as the girls were sitting down to breakfast. I think I was feeding Annabelle when the next thing I heard was "Ava Grace, I don't think you should do that" come out of Emma Beth's mouth. I told AG to sit down for breakfast and as she re-entered the room, she was holding a handful of hair. She smiled at the girls and said that she changed her mind and wanted short hair. Yes, folks, she cut it herself - PAYBACK!!


She picked it up and whacked it!! I now have a baggy with her hair and we are not talking first haircut - inch. We are talking INCHES!!!


We did go today to try to have it fixed. Kacy tried to blend it by cutting some layers and feathering it so that it wasn't so obvious, but it is the first thing I see. It did look cute when we left the salon but after a nap, this is what we get...

7 Months, Already???

Today, at lunch, Annabelle and I ventured outside so that I could document her 7 month marker. Here are some of my favorite pics. We love you sweet girl!!

FIVE Amazing Years

Five years ago today, I married my very best friend. I don't say it enough but I truly consider myself the luckiest woman in the world. Neno is kind, giving, focused, loving, talented, an amazing father, a Godly man and he absolutely completes me.

When we started dating in 2000, we eventually chose our song "Keeper of the Stars" by Tracy Byrd and I must say that God definitely had a hand in putting us together and making us a family. I am thankful for that everyday.

Here is a glimpse at one of the most amazing days of my life. Most people think I am crazy when I say that I would go back and do it all again. I loved being engaged, I loved planning a wedding and most of all, I loved standing in front of our friends and family and marrying the man of my dreams.

To my husband, this remains one of the best days for me as it is a marker of the amazing 9 years that we have spent as a couple and the past 5 as man and wife. You are my best friend and all of the best parts of me. I love you!!!

And she's off...

This is a very short video that took yesterday of Annabelle crawling. By no means is she up on all fours, but she can army crawl like a champ to get what she wants. I am sure she will be doing the real thing in no time.

What a Wonderful Weekend!

We had a fabulous weekend with all of our family and friends, capped off by a sweet and sentimental Mother's Day. Here goes...

Friday - The girl's and I spent the morning with their Aunt Bess (Beth) and Aunt MariAnne. We went shopping and to Chick-fil A. I have to admit that I made the mistake a while back of telling Ava Grace that if she wanted something in a store that she should remember it for her birthday (July 30). That was my easy way of saying "you aren't getting it now". Now, all she does is go through stores saying, "I want this for my birthday". She was convinced on Friday that it is July and that should be taking these items home with her. I pray I can make it two more months and beyond, as I am sure it will continue past the actual birthday.

Friday night was spent out at Jeremy and Beth's with all of the other friends and family that ventured in for a cow-filled weekend. They had seven adults at their house and we had five adults plus five kiddos at ours. Sadly, I got lots of individual pictures but nothing of all of us together. Here are some cute pics of the kids from Friday night...

Saturday- Holly (Neno's cousin's wife), Carrie (Neno's sister) and I stayed in town with the kiddos until lunch time and then we headed out to Ropes to catch all the action. The guys had been hard at work since early that morning and by lunch, they looked a little worn out, but they still had a full afternoon ahead...

Here is the crew that put in all of the work on Saturday. They stopped long enough for a picture during their lunch break. The following photos are the guys at work...

Sayler and Ava Grace thought it was fun to be out in the dirt and hanging on the fence. They were too cute.
Aunt CJ, Aunt MariAnne and Annabelle taking part in the festivities.

Saturday night- They finished up around 6:30 and we were back at J&B's for dinner and some time to kick back for the guys.

Can anyone see how dirty Jeremy's face is??

Hebron and Holly used this time with all of us around to celebrate Barron's 1st birthday (he will be one on May 15). This was the funniest part of the evening. Barron had on overall's with no shirt, we put a match in his cupcake for a candle and when he wanted nothing to do with it, his daddy shoved some icing in his face - poor Barron. I just kept hearing Jeff Foxworthy - "You might be a redneck...."It was also Ava Grace's first experience with a mud fight. Kennedy decided it would be fun to put muddy water in a squirt gun and AG was at the other end. She thought it was hilarious and it made for a cute picture.

Sunday- MOTHER'S DAY- This was a great day from start to finish as my sweet hubby was the first to tell me Happy Mother's Day when he was on his way to start breakfast (eggs, biscuits and sausage gravy - it doesn't get much better). Then it was off to Church. We had both of the girls dedicated and AG has carried around her little pink bible ever since.

After Church, we headed out for lunch with all of the family - Carrie, Jeremy and Beth, Hebron, Holly and their kiddos. MariAnne and Seth didn't get to join us as she had to get back to Fort Worth to work, but we are so glad they joined us for the girls dedication - thank you!!!

Sunday also marked the start of a new series - "Raising Hellians". The challenge was to take the week and read a chapter of the bible or a bible story to your kids. We did just that with AG last night and she is especially fascinated with how the woman in the bible became a pillar of salt. She wasn't really sure whether or not she could believe it was because she didn't listen to God.

It really was a great weekend!!! We loved having everyone here!!

(I guess I will have to post the remainder of the weekend pics in another post as it doesn't want to let me add anymore).

What's Up, Wednesday!

As I listen to Ava Grace playing in her room, I am reminded what a blessing it is that I get to be home with my girls. The past three months have flown by and time will continue to do so, I'm sure, but at least we are making priceless memories together.

Like today, we headed out to Jump'n Jungle. It is a big barn filled with jumping castles and slides and it is perfect for wearing AG out. She made two little friends and spent the morning chasing them down slides and through obstacle courses. She did stop to get a much needed drink and to lose her jacket. She was a little puddle of sweat. Annabelle just laid back and took it all in. I am sure that she will take off to catch her big sister as soon as she can.

By the way, this is now the face that we make all of the time - Tongue out!! As for this little cutie, she is going to spend her first night away from Mommy tonight. We asked Jeremy and Beth to babysit and since they live out in Ropesville (25 minutes away) we thought we would try it. AB goes down between 8-8:30 and has been sleeping until 9 a.m. I pray that she does that for them tonight. Neno and I are going on a date - YAY!! We have been doing game night and have been to friends' houses for dinner, but we haven't gone out by ourselves since before Christmas (YIKES!!). I cannot wait!

Not much else is going on with us. We are preparing for lots of company this weekend as the guys work their cows. If I haven't mentioned it before, Neno, Jeremy and their cousin Mike own cattle. MariAnne, Seth, Hebron, Holly and crew will all be joining us for the festivities. That's if you call castrating festivities??? Either way, it will be a lot of fun to have them here.

Other updates from the week:

1. I signed AG up for her first camp at TEGA - she will go 3 days a week starting June 1. She is so excited to get to swim, do gymnastics and probably just get away from me and AB for a little bit. She is way too social to spend all of her time with just us.
2. We are having the girls dedicated at Church this Sunday. They are doing it on Mother's Day - totally fitting!! This is something that we have wanted to do, but they only do it twice a year or so and the last one was right before AB was born. We decided to wait and do them both together.
3. AG has decided that she likes the show - "Dancing IN the Stars". She tries to dance and then wants me to critique her and let her talk into a microphone. Hopefully, I can get it on video to share. It is priceless!!

Garage Sale Gab!!

Beth (my sweet sister-in-law) and I set out last weekend to clean house - both our houses. I have had stuff piling up since Neno and I got married 5 years ago and she and Jeremy had their fair shair of duplicates since they got married in January. We weren't sure how it was going to go, but we made out like bandits. Unfortunately, we got cheated on a few things - sad society we live in- but on the whole, it was really good. And by the way, Friday is the day to have a garage sale. We made a majority of our money then. I was even able to buy my new treasure - a oak dining room table - and finally got rid of the furniture that has plagued me since we moved into this house. I have a clean slate to get what I want for the fireplace room.




Anyway, back to the garage sale and the whole reason that I was writing...





We started our day on Friday at 7 a.m. with a posting on Craigslist that said NO EARLY BIRDS. Beth had bairly pulled up with our Chick Fil A for breakfast and we already had people coming up. We were so frazzled. We didn't have everything priced and thought we had an hour to get ready. So much for thinking!! Right off the bat, a lady put a bunch of jewelry in a bag and asked Beth how much for "3 watches" (Beth realized later that it was more than 3 watches). Beth told her $2. It wasn't until Friday night that she was just sick over all the things that lady made off with - 3 watches, some rings and a necklace (I think). The day did get better, though. The stuff we thought wouldn't sell did (little figurines and trinkets that Beth and I laughed at as we were setting up) and I finally got rid of decorations from my wedding 5 years ago. I really think I made this ladies day when I told her the price of the vases and mirrors. She even came back on Saturday for all of the marbles that I had in mason jars. I second guessed the price of all that stuff all weekend - oh well, it is gone now. And the whole idea was to clean out!!!


We really had a great time, reminiscing over old clothes and stuff that we were selling. Beth made fun of my leather pants. Yes, leather pants!!! And sadly, we got some good laughs over our clientele. The best had to have been when I was trying to get Ava Grace inside for a nap and she spotted a man with a pony tail. Before I could get her inside these words came out of her mouth...

"Mommy, that man looks like a girl!"

I immediately went into mommy-mode and told her that we don't say things like that because it hurts peoples feelings. Beth and I laughed about it for the remainder of the sale and anytime that a man with long hair came up we looked around for Ava Grace.



As much fun as it was, I have to get on my soap box a for a minute. I was appauled to see a young girl come shopping with her mother only to have her mother change out price stickers on our stuff. She even let the girl try to scam us with a ten-key calculator. We had $5 on it and I saw the young girl put a 25 cent sticker on and then replace it with a 10 cent sticker before she got to Beth. We aren't stupid!! Beth stood her ground and said it was marked at $5 and that the bathroom accessories that she was trying to buy were marked at $1 and not 25 cents (she compromised on that one at 50 cents). She even lied about a price that I quoted her on a shirt. I am not upset that we didn't get the money, because if she needed it that badly, I would have given it to her. I am upset that she was teaching her daughter that it is okay to cheat people and to lie. That is just wrong and that is part of what is wrong with our society today.


On Saturday, we had some extra helpers when Neno, Monica and Braidy joined us. The Curry clan had put a few things in our garage sale so they came on Saturday to lend a hand.


Saturday was a much slower day. We even ransacked our houses to find more stuff. Beth and I boasted a little about how great our stuff was because we were complimented on prices and we had repeat shoppers. We even had a sweet lady at the end of the day saying "I can't believe I missed this sale. I cannot believe that I missed it!!"


Overall, it was a huge success and Beth and I were more than satisfied with the outcome. We were also more than exhausted for the rest of the weekend. Garage sales are hard work and I won't consider it done until I get what was left out of our garage.


One last note, I was telling Neno on Sunday how glad I am that Jeremy married Beth. I wouldn't have been able to do that garage sale without her and I wouldn't have wanted to do it with anyone that Jeremy dated before her. She is wonderful and I am so glad that my sweet bother-in-law found the "perfect" woman for him and a fabulous sister-in-law for me.

Happy 1/2 Year Birthday, Annabelle!!

Well, it is official. We have a 6 month old in our house!!! On Saturday, Annabelle turned 6 months old.

WHERE DOES TIME GO?? And I sware, it has gone faster with me at home that it did with me working.

Anyway, she had a big day....

She went to the Tech Red and Black Game - her first football experience - with all of her Red Raider gear on. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera for the game, but we at least got one before she went down for her nap with all the red and black on...

She played her first game of footsie with Braidy (Ryan and Monica's precious boy that is 9 months)...

Then later, as Monica called it, lost her bathginity to Braidy. They are pretty cute together. I pray that they are as close as Ava Grace and Johnny (Braidy's big brother) . And if I remember correctly, AG lost her bathginity to John. We better watch out for those Curry boys.

Annabelle's 6 month milestones:

• She is rolling anywhere that she wants to go.
• She is eating big girl food and loves it.
• She just discovered how to do the motor boat. This mommy's shoulder stays pretty wet with her spit, but she thinks it is fun.
• She laughs out loud at Ava Grace and thinks that AG is the coolest thing ever!!

Easter Part II

Okay, so now it is Friday and I thought I would have the rest of the weekend's happenings posted by now - Not so Much!!!

I have found that after a full house and a full weekend of activities, it takes me, my girls and my house a week to recover. Plus, we are all fighting off sinus infections. Yuck!

As for the rest of the Easter weekend, I am just going to do a quick recap.

Saturday: I played with my new camera. I bought Carol's (Neno's Mom) camera - Canon Rebel. It is about 4 years old and looks like it just came out of the box, but all of us Falls know that is not the case.

Annabelle got to be my first subject.

Everyone came to our house for dinner and when it started to rain, the kids had to go play in it!!

Sunday brought all of our family together again for an amazing Easter Service at Experience Life. God is doing amazing things through E-Life. Check out Chris's blog (http://www.chrisgalanos.com/) to see some pics of the service and the beautiful crosses that Neno built for the service. I have such a talented husband.

After Church, it was back to our house for family pics, Easter egg hunt and lunch...

God is so Good!! I have to thank Him for sending his Son to die for us!! That is what Easter is all about, new life!! We are so blessed to get to celebrate that with family and friends!!!!