Surprise! Happy 60th Birthday Mimi!

My mom turned 60 on Mother's Day this year. On the Friday night before, my dad threw her a surprise birthday party. I was so worried that it wouldn't work out (I made a lot of the plans - party planning is not my dad's thing - but it's nervewracking making plans an hour and a half away and just hoping for the best!), but everything worked out perfectly and the surprise party was a success!

Tommy, Addie Kate and I got there early to get some balloons, set things up, and meet everyone. Then, the plan was for my dad to bring my mom to meet the three of us and my brother and his wife at Flight Deck. I instructed my dad to complain the whole way there, like he usually would, so my mom would not suspect a thing. Dad called Tommy to say they were there, and I instructed the hostess that we'd be coming in, that we were the surprise party, and to seat us as usual. Of course, once Mom saw Addie, she was distracted enough that it really didn't matter. As soon as she walked in the room though, she was shocked!

A big thank you goes to Aunt Ellen, who picked up the cake for me, and then showed up at Hallmark at just the right time. The balloons wouldn't fit in our car, so I was able to put them in hers!

The party continued on. We had Flight Deck's "blue plate specials" for dinner, which was also the theme of the party. The cake was super yummy and Mom also got some great gifts. Thank you to everyone that came and helped make this day special for my mom. And, Happy 60th Birthday to you, Mom, we love you so much!

Below are some pictures from our fun night!

The Big Surprise:

My man and my girl:

Mom opening some of her loot:

Cookie took time out to color with Addie. Addie took right to her and would not let her quit! She kept putting crayons in her hand!

Addie and her cousin, Sanders.

Sue and Paul

Addie loved Mrs. Janice's cane and walked around with it for a while! Luckily, it was too heavy for her to swing it in the air!

My girl and me!

Aunt Lisa feeding Addie cake. (Uncle Mike in the background) Addie ate like a pig that night! I was terrified that we'd have a sick baby when we got home, but we didn't!

Trying out the new camera!

Tommy and Addie Kate gave me a new Flip camera for Mother's Day and I absolutely love it! I have been wanting one for a long time. It was probably one of those "If I don't get it for Erica, I'm going to have to keep hearing about it" gifts! Regardless, I just love it and can't thank my swet husband and baby girl enough!

Tommy had me open it before church yesterday, so the only play time I got with it was on the way to church. Below are two videos that I took (you may not want to watch them if you easily get motion sick!) on the way to church! We pass "horseys" on my parents' road, and Addie Kate loves them. You can also hear her version of "Happy Mother's Day" or "Happy Birthday" at the end. She simply says, so sweetly, "Happy Day!"

From now on there will probably be an insane amount of video on here!

Through Another's Eyes

At the Spring Fling, a fellow teacher's husband was taking pictures and got some great ones of my Addie Kate. She emailed them to me and I love how he captured her simple, sweet expressions. I love seeing how she looks through another's eyes. We always try to get pictures of what she is doing, and not necessarily the expressions on her face. He captured those expressions, and I love it! (I even love the one of just her sweet ear with her little curls around it! Who would have thought to take a picture of an ear?!)

Happy 1st Birthday Cody!

May and January are our busy birthday months (at least until more babies are born!). We celebrated Addie Kate's friend Cody's birthday last weekend. He was a perfect little host and we had a great time!

Addie has finally started calling him "Cody" instead of "Koby" who is her little friend from the babysitter's, and the first person she ever called by name. Addie also plays really well with Cody. Every now and then we have to have the sharing talk with her, but the last time just the two of them were together, we didn't have to talk to her about it but once! Ahhh, what a tough lesson to learn!

Happy Birthday Cody! Addie Kate is glad you will soon be able to run around with her! (Cody is exactly 6 months younger than Addie, and her other friend, William, is exactly 3 months younger - we mommies were all pregnant, but in different trimesters together!)

Cody and his Mommy opening presents together:

And Addie Kate staying entertained (for a short while!) with some of his ribbon:
Addie Kate checking him out while eating his cake - she was wondering what all the fuss was about! I love her serious little look!

Addie Kate loves David! He is always so sweet to her! He held down this group of balloons for Addie to play with, for a long time!

Addie Amusements and Amazements

Just like everyone's children do, our child amazes us every day! I love to enjoy these small moments with her, as I know they will pass too soon!

• Yesterday, we were driving down the interstate, and she yells out "Bi-Truck" for "Big Truck!" We had just passed an 18-wheeler. Hilarious! She then asks us "see-im?" for "See 'Em?" I guess Tommy and I have said that to her numerous times!


• Also yesterday, I pulled in Starbucks and ordered my standard Iced Mocha. I turned around to look at her while we were waiting and she very seriously says to me, "I Mocha!" and continued to say it the rest of the way home!


• The other day we passed a school bus (no, we do not live in the car, but it certainly seems so sometimes!) and she yelled out, "Skoo-bus!"


• We do have a really pretty drive home, and oftentimes, some of the only things that help us get there in peace are the "horsies" and "cows" that Addie gets to see.


• Another day on our way home, we passed some really pretty flowers, that I didn't think she could see. Sure enough, she said, "af-ers" which in Addie-ese means "flowers."


• When she wants more of something, which is all the time, she asks, loudly for "Mo-ah, Mo-ah!" Tommy thinks that's her southern accent. Whatever it is, it makes us laugh all the time!


• She is the queen of the temper tantrum. Often Tommy and I can see one coming on, or know what sets her off, and can avoid it. But there are still tons that happen and we have no clue why. Hopefully with consistency in discipline, we'll get through these!


• She still loves to be outside. I'm so glad (even though I don't like to be outside) - I want her to have as big of an imagination as possible, and I know playing outside sparks a very well-rounded imagination. I see so many kids that have none whatsoever. I blame all these electronic toys, games, and the television, and will try to avoid it if at all possible. (I think it's worked. When we rarely do turn on the television - like if we just cannot take her fussing anymore - she'll watch it for maybe 5 minutes, and she's done!)


• Even more than being outside, she loves the sandbox. Every day that it's sunny, I dump tons of sand out of her shoes, clothes, and even hair! I wonder how much is left in the sandbox!

No, she was not in trouble. She just walked over there and sat so serenely for a few minutes!

(These pictures were taken on Saturday afternoon. Addie Kate had gotten fussy so my mom took her outside to break the mood. I looked out our window and saw them sitting on the swing together so sweetly. I loved it. Before I could get out there with the camera, the moment had passed! At least I can remember it by writing it down!)

Wearing Mommy's Dress

Addie Kate wore another one of my old dresses this past Sunday at church. It was so absolutely precious on her; I should have let it be one of her Easter dresses. I was worried because it was so short (I think my generation wore dresses the same length of the Brady Bunch girls!), but it ended up being just right. My mom made this for me for my second Easter - I would have been about 20 or 21 months old, so a little older than Addie Kate is right now. I just love having her wear some of my old clothes. Thank you Mom for saving these for me!

Oh, and like the scrape on her forehead? She and the concrete had a little roll on Thursday afternoon, and I think the concrete won! Bless her heart!

Spring Fling

Last Friday, my school hosted its annual Spring Fling. It's basically a small-scale carnival, that is the biggest fundraiser of the school year. There are bouncey houses, a big slide, a few little rides (Including the strawberries that go round and round like the Tilt-a-Whirl and Teacups at Disney World, to which I promptly looked at Addie Kate and told her, "never, ever." If she wants to go on that, she'll have to ride with her daddy!), fair type food (and food from our business sponsors, Chick-fil-A, Wedgy's Pizza, and Brewsters ice cream), a roped off area for "String Fling" (silly string), and lots and lots more.

I again, thought it was going to be one of those places where I needed to just make an appearance, and again, I was wrong! We had a great time! My mom was up to keep Addie for us for the day. I know she enjoyed seeing Addie having fun with the big kids!

We started out just walking around, seeing what all there was to offer (Oh, yeah, and we forgot a stroller, nice.). We ran into my principal who was there with her granson that is 1 month older than Addie Kate. He is just the cutest thing. Addie really liked him, and he'd just smile at her and put his little head down shyly. Precious. My principal says that we need to go ahead and draw up the marriage papers.

While we were walking around we found a little pinwheel. Addie quickly learned that the wind made it spin, and would just hold it up in the air and point it at us, smiling and giggling. I love watching her enjoy the small things in life. Especially when she was around all that chaos, she enjoyed the pinwheel.

Finally, we went to buy some tickets. We knew Addie Kate would want to go down the big slide and possibly ride the little caterpillar train. I took her down the slide two times. She loved it, as usual!

Waiting in line for the slide:

Climbing up - this is always the fun part for me!

And here we go:

Weeee!

(Some of my students were in the background cheering me on - I don't think they could believe a teacher went down the slide - that's why my thumb is up cheesily at the end!)**

After the slide, we took her to the little caterpillar train. I asked the crotchedy old lady that was running the thing if I could ride with her, and she said no, that it was 10 and under. I was ready to just leave when a teacher that I work with asked if I wanted Addie Kate to sit with her niece. I didn't think she'd do it, but sure enough, I put her in the little car and she was fine! She just sat there and waited patiently for it to start moving. When it did start going, I ran to the other side of the tunnel, and saw her coming out. She had a sweet, little, curious smile on her face, kind of saying that she didn't really know what was going on, but that she was enjoying it! I was in shock and so very proud of my girl! When it was over, Tommy and I just looked at each other and said, "She's growing up." What a bittersweet statement.

The little girl in the car in front of her was screaming the whole time - that's what I thought my child would be doing! (Remember the post about the little train in our house that she freaked out about? But she rode this? Ha!)

Waiting patiently, like such a big girl! Love her little foot propped up there!

She has just recently started to cross her arms - cracks us up! I guess it's just comfortable!

Here she goes!

After her little train ride, we walked around some more, seeing what else there was and visiting with people. Addie and her daddy enjoyed some pizza, but then we went to Sabroso's for dinner! We really ended up enjoying ourselves. The weather was great, and it was so fun to enjoy these things as a family!