Gigi's 1st Birthday

I know what you're thinking...It's about time! Well, life is crazy over the edge and I will make no other excuse. On with the birthday.

We had a Eric Carle Theme since we ask for books for the kids' 1st birthday. The invitations had giraffes on them and the cake was a caterpillar made out of cupcakes. We also had pots with dirt and little seeds for each attendee to plant and take home with them. Since Hottie was out of town for the past 2 dedications at church, we asked our senior pastor to come so we could have her dedicated. That was interesting. Gigi had a balloon and was banging it on my head. Then we took that away and she bent over and started pulling Goldilock's hair. Perfect. Well, we made it through and Pastor C prayed over us. Thank you, Lord! We ate and had a great time with close friends and family. When it came time for the cake, Gigi didn't know what to do. She tried taking it all in in a calm and relaxed fashion, but at some point she couldn't handle it anymore. She cried and cried and cried. All while taking bites of her cupcake between bites. After she was done, and I mean really done, she fell asleep for several hours. Here is a picture my great friend Marie took (I cannot locate the pictures taken on my camera) right before Gigi fell asleep. Thanks, Girl!

Happy 1st Birthday, Gigi!
I love you super duper lots!
Mommy.

Where's my picture thingy?

I can't find the thingy (forgot the name for it) that reads the camera card with the pictures on it. How frustrating!

Gigi has "slight pneumonia" in her left lung and a double ear infection. She wants me to hold her while she is sleeping. I love to my core so I held her yesterday and last night as she slept. Tonight, however, she was clearly feeling better and was not interested in going to bed at all. All the energy she didn't have the past few days showed up at 7:30 pm TONIGHT! She just fell asleep in her bed by herself not without tears. Hers or mine. We are all so tired. Hottie has finals this week and has been up late studying every night. Two more to go and a break for a week. Then on to more classes! GOOD STUFF! God is moving and has a great plan!

Today, I was honored to join my most greatest son, Goldilocks, for Muffins with Mom at his school. He was so excited and we had "super fun"! He has grown up so much in the past few months. He's thinning out and getting that school boy personality. Not many more pre-school days left. 6 to be exact. He's counting, not me. So sad. He's happy. He gets to walk across the big stage. Recently we have been having this amazing conversation almost everyday. It is always the same and it cracks me up! It goes a little something like this:

G: Mommy, when is it going to be tomorrow?
C: Tomorrow.
G: Will it be called tomorrow?
C: Nope. It will be called today.
G: But today is called today.
C: I know. And when it is tomorrow, today will be called yesterday. Neat, huh?
G: Long pause. He's confused. But I want it to be called tomorrow.
C: Well...we can call it tomorrow but we might get really confused.
G: Tomorrow is never going to come and that makes me really sad.
C: I know buddy. That's why we should live for today. OK?
G: Ok drawn out in a southern sort of way. Can I have some chocomilk (one word)? I want it warm. Not hot and not cold. And not wet (the outside of the cup).
C: No problem.

I wonder when he is going to catch on. Punka thinks it is hilarious! Speaking of her. What a time we are having with that girl. She is going through some crazy stuff at school. Some sort of fear, anxiety thing. We are at the point of "encouraging her with rewards". One professionals way of saying BRIBE without saying it. She has 5 more weeks and then we will figure out what to do next. She does think Mr. Marcus is really cool though. So sad he is leaving us. We'll get by ok though Marcus...not to worry. I'm sure her daddy is glad you won't be teaching her any more of your award winning dance moves. Marcus was Punka's first dance partner (outside of Hottie). It took him quite a while to work his way into her small circle, but he did finally win her over. Punka comes home on Wednesday and Saturday nights showing us the lastest dance moves (think sprinkler, running man, etc.) Mr. Marcus taught her. Great! Who let's these people in the children's ministry?! It's ok. He has been a great part of helping us get Punka out of this shell she crawled into last year. Thanks Marcus. You will be missed. No really. You will be missed. Mix and Kicks. Or was it Kicks and Mix?

Well, It has been a really long few weeks. I'm tired. I'm going to bed on this side of the edge.

Word to yo' mutha

Or, um, Hi Mom!

Please forgive me all who come here to get updated...or just get a good laugh. Life kind of took me over the edge and I've been slowly working my way back up. You know things like Hottie out of town, sick kids, school activities, Hottie in school, grocery shopping, sick kids again, dance (the kids-not me), memory verses, science projects, calls to 911. You know just the regular stuff.

So, obviously a lot has happened since mid-January. Here's a brief update.


Hottie went out of town for 2 weeks. Yes, we survived, but just barely! The kids made "dad"vent calendars to count down Hottie's return. It worked without too many tears. And Hottie came home safe and sound. Just in time for Valentine's day. I'm so lucky!



Punka. She. Does. Not. Like. Homework. Need I say more?


Gigi discovered that she fit perfectly in the frying pan. She loves to open cabinets so much I actually went out and bought the little latches to go on the cabinets. Did I mention this is the 1st kid I've had to do this with? And she is quite upset about the whole ordeal, too.


This is what I get when I say, "Look at the camera. Say cheese. Please??!!" They don't hear me. They are too loud. They have a mind of their own. They don't care. Until they are adults and accuse me of not taking pictures of them. Whatever.


Hottie and Punka went on a date. She spent all day trying to decide what to wear, where they were going to go, what they were going to do. Oh, my! Hottie took her to "Mr. Nick's" downtown where they shared stuffed red snapper and then next door to get pralines. And they brought some home to me still warm. Yummy! Punka was so elated. Before she went to bed she asked where we (she and I) were going the next day. I think dates are important and pertinent. Especially if it's with someone as cute as Punka.



I just wanted a picture of Gigi. That's all. Nothing complicated. Or so I thought!

This is a photo of me and Mr. Potato Head. Goldilocks made him to resemble a much loved member of our family. I beat you can't guess who it is GUAPS! Here's one of his creator. So Proud.


One more thing about this "moment". Everyone was required (by a 4 yr. old) to kiss the Guaps Potato Head. And we did. Just to appeased the boy. We do things like that ...occasionally.

I found them "measuring" Gigi. Punka and Goldilocks wanted to see where she matched up with the skeleton in the book. Gigi was quite cooperative (surprisingly) and kept trying to lay down on the book after they were done with their experiment!


We went to Atlanta and the Georgia Aquarium one weekend. It was so much fun! Everyone was worn out by the end of the day, especially Guaps and Grams. And my camera battery died, so we couldn't take anymore pics while we were in Atlanta. Bummer.


While we were in Atlanta, Hottie and I slipped away to see the Bodies Exhibition. It was very interesting. We were there for about 3 hours and Hottie said he could have stayed another 3 hours. He was way into the whole thing. If you ever get a chance to go, it's a must see. Very amazing.


She's walking. That's all I have to say about that.

I think that is all for tonight. It's late and I've done my duty updating our "fans" if I dare call you such! Stay tuned. Tomorrow I promise to share with you Gigi's 1st Birthday pictures. It deserves a post all in itself. For now, I'm climbing into the bed before anyone wakes up. Wish me luck!

In the bed and over the edge.

Nighty Night. Sleepy Tight.

SCHOOL GIRL!

Punka announced about 4 weeks ago that she no longer wanted to be home schooled. Hottie and I were open to it being a stepping stone, so that was okay with us. The challenge was finding a spot for her to start back at the beginning of January with only 5 days before schools were breaking for the Christmas holidays! We did it though and she loves her teacher, the class, the school. She has resource classes each day and homework every night. This is real school and there's no foolin' around in 2nd grade. She even had homework this weekend and was most upset about it on Friday. We made it through though! I'm very happy that she is excited about school again. Not so happy about making sure her uniforms are clean for Monday. Which reminds me...they're dirty.

Gotta go.

Over the edge in the laundry room at 10:42 on a Sunday night. Suds, suds, suds.

German Pirate Pants and dresses too!

Guaps and Grams went to Germany during the holidays and brought lederhosen back for Goldilocks and dirndls for the girls. We went to the park to take a few pictures and they had a blast! Goldilocks really digs his "german pirate pants" so don't be surprised if you see him wearing them some random day! Thanks Guaps and Grams!



Oh, the life. To run around the park with out a care in the world!

Can you tell I'm trying to update the blog in one night! I need another snack!

Over the edge and not stepping on the scale for a few days!

It's a blizzard!

This was the morning we left! FUN! FUN! FUN!

Gigi was not sure about the snow.

Goldilocks "licking the snowflakes!"

This is something Punka has wanted to do for a while!

Here we are! Our first family snow!

Looking at these pictures make me want hot chocolate...hmmm.
Over the edge with marshmallows!

Welcome 2009!

We had plans to be home for the new year. Obviously from the way this e-mail is beginning, you can tell that didn't happen!

We were in the plane, taxi-ing, taking off, Goldilocks saying,"put your hands up everybody!", all wheels off the ground...all wheels back on the ground, plane sliding, braking, turning and stopping. What happened you ask? We were wondering the same thing. The pilot announce the de-icing controls were malfunctioning so we were going to have it checked out. Yeah...good thing since it was snowing and had been all day! We were all deboarded and they took the plane to fix it and test the system. Then, we all got back on the plane for the flight. Did I mention we were flying with 3 children 2 booster seats, 1 infant car seat, 1 diaper bag, 2 backpacks and dinner in a plastic bag? And we were in the very last seats of the plane!!! Joy, Joy, Joy! Nevertheless, we made it safely to Atlanta...and promptly missed out connecting flight. Did I mention we had 2 servings of formula and 2 diapers? Joy, again. Lucky for us my parents were in Atlanta for the Tech/LSU game (sad story) so they meet us bright and early with backup, ate breakfast with us and sent us on our way. Nothing exciting happened from that point on other than not finding our luggage for about an hour. however, we spent New Years eve in a hotel. So, we celebrated the next morning! 2009 pancakes and all.


Happy New Year! I pray your year is filled with more blessings and lots of laughter!
I'm over the edge and looking for chocolate...I know I hid some somewhere.