My Pre-Birthday Dinner!

My birthday isn't actually until the 23rd - but my babysitter leaves for school early, so I usually have my get together the weekend before.

We went to Gloria's to eat (one of my fav's) and really had a great time!

Me and my guy.

I am the luckiest girl in the world! He's the greatest husband and bestfriend a girl could ask for.

Me and Misty.

She's one of my oldest and greatest friends. We've been friends since we were 7 years old.

I am so thankful for her and her friendship!

Doug and Grace (newlyweds : ).

I have known Grace since High School and really enjoy her.

So thankful she and her sweet hubby were able to come!

My Neighbors (Paula and Dave Guidry).

We are so lucky to have such great friends living right next door.

We see them often and really love spending time with them.

Me and Stephanie.

She was my boss (and friend) when I worked for CASA. So happy she was able to come.

I miss seeing her everyday.

Me and my sweets again : )

Misty and Nacho.

Nacho's gift to me was his handlbars. ha!

After Gloria's, we went to Weekends and had so much fun! I love LOVE these guys and am so thankful for each one of them.

Thank you guys for making my birthday so special! I love you!

Loretta "Charlotte" DeGloria Hays / November 1, 1919 - August 8, 2010

My mom, Aunt Charley and I went to Amarillo for my grandmother's funeral. It was a very sad time. My grandmother is an extraordinary woman and she will be greatly missed! She was 90 years old and her heart was just tired. She died in her sleep at the nursing home where she lived.

Although I am not thankful for the occassion, I am happy I got to spend time w/my family. I'm sad I don't get to see them very often.

My mom and her siblings:

mom, Aunt Charley, Uncle Leroy, Aunt Pam

and Uncle Wayne

my cousin, Nena & Greg

(They actually live around the corner : )

Aunt Pam & John

my cousin, Monica and her family

my cousin Jimmy and his girls

my cousin, Kay and her family

me and Monica

Me and my mommy

Me and Aunt Pam

cousins : )

Grandma's grand-children

Grandma's great - grandchildren

Mom, Aunt Charley and I stayed w/Aunt Pam the first night. And then the second night - I stayed with Monica and her family. I went w/Monica to go help her and her daughter, Brittany, paint her senior parking space for school. It was really cool! I had a lot of fun! It was neat to hang out w/my couisn, Monica (who is my age) and her family.

Monica and I painting Brittany's spot. We got a stencil from Hobby Lobby and had planned to put this zebra pattern over the whole spot. It didn't work out that way. It took alittle too much time : )

Brittany posing for me :)

Brittany and Monica posing w/the finished parking spot.

Hers was definitely the cutest : )

I was sad to leave Amarillo b/c I will miss the grandmother that I am named after and I will miss my family! I hope to visit more often with David and my boys. RIP Grandma Hays! I love you!

Will's Party/Sleep-over

Last year we had a pretty big party combined for Ben and Will - so this year we did something smaller. They each got to invite a few friends over and have a sleep-over. Will invited 3 boys (Scott, Jacob and Blake).

Here's his invite for the party!

Our theme: Super Mario Bros

I normally get my cakes from Terri, but since I was only having a few boys - I decided to make the cake on my own. I've only made one other cake and that was a Birthday Cake for Jesus at Christmas. But I found it was easy (from a box). Betty Crocker really does a good job : )

My challenge was decorating - as I am not the artist in the family. That would be my husband and he's on vacation. So I was alone to create Super Mario on the cake. I used some spray icing from a can w/decorative tips. I think it turned out fine ... for the kids, at least, they all liked it. But as you can see, I am not a cake decorator. The good news is - my Boy loved it and said the cake was awesome (Yea Mommy!)

 

Here's the boys playing outside with their Super Mario and Luigi hats on. Sun is in their eyes that's why they are squinting.

In picture: Scott, Will, Blake, Jacob and Andy (without his hat)

 

 

So, lets try again w/o the sun shining in their eyes.

In the picture: Jacob, Scott, Blake, Will and Andy

 

 

Present time:

He got a cool car from Blake, a game from Scott and Super Smash Brothers for the Wii from Jacob.

From mommy and daddy he got a Nintendo DSI

 

 

What party doesn't have goodie bags? We love goodie bags.

Inside was a Mario or Luigi hat, a Super Mario Bros water jug, and some Super Mario Bros gummies

 

 
It was a great party. We ordered pizza, played games and watched a movie. The boys had fun!

At the end of the night - the 3 boys decided not to spend the night. They weren't quite ready for sleep-overs. Will was really disappointed b/c he wanted his friends to sleep-over, but eventually he understood it wasn't him they didn't want to be with - they just weren't ready and that was fine!
 
And this morning - when we all slept until 9:30 a.m. - I was thankful that we didn't have a sleep-over : )
 
Happy Birthday William! We Love you Sweet Boy!

Happy 6th Birthday William!

I can't believe how quickly the time has gone by. I can't believe you are already 6 years old. I still feel like you are my baby (and I know I treat you that way sometimes too : ).

William, you are an incredible boy. You love unconditionally w/your whole heart (like mommy). You are generous and giving (like daddy). You put everyones needs above your own (like your daddy). You already have perfect manners (like your daddy). I know you will grow into the gentlemen that your daddy is and that pleases me. You are out-going, fun and social (like mommy : ). You have a fun spirit and sense of humor (like your PaPa). You excel at most physical things you do (i.e, riding your bike, roller blading, etc.). You are creative and artistic (like your daddy). You are sensitive and caring (like your mommy).

Thank you for always being so affectionate with me. I love that you are affectionate - 100% of the time. I am thankful that at night, you must hug and kiss me and tell me you love me before you go to bed. I love that about you. I love that you give me love for no reason at all. It melts my heart!

I love it when someone calls you Will and you say "It's William" so matter of factly. I am thankful that you are proud of who you are. I am proud that you are proud of your middle name (James) b/c "it's just like your PaPa."

We are thankful today (and everyday) for our special, sweet boy. You are a great blessing and we love you dearly!

Happy Birthday William!

Bye Bye Binky(s)

It's been 3 years, 2 months and 26 days of Andy having his "binky, pacifier, baby" and Today, Finally, it is Gone! He stayed awake till 1:00 am two nights ago (Sunday) and finally passed out from exhaustion and it was without his binky. He lost it and couldn't find it and we were so tired (and annoyed) that we didn't bother to find it. He woke up yesterday and asked for a bit. We were moving furniture and changing the boys rooms around, and he found it. He had it for his nap - then he lost it again. This time I hid it. He went to bed w/o it and I have to say, he's really done ok. He normally wakes up several times a night looking for it and he slept the whole night through. He has asked for it - but it's not as bad as I thought it would be.

Sometimes when he cries and wants it, I feel sad because it's been his comfort (in combination w/his blue blanket and pillow from Ikea) for over 3 years. But it passes and he's ok and so am I! I had planned to take it away before he starts preschool in September. So I'm thankful that it's gone now.

Update - October 13, 2010: After Andy gave up his Binky, he also gave up his blue blanket and his Ikea Pillow. All three were a package deal and made up his "baby". Well recently, in the last week - he has picked up the blanket again and is enjoying it again. He isn't really wanting the pillow b/c he prefers to sleep w/o a pillow.

Ben's Birthday Party / Sleep-over

Ben's Birthday was actually June 20, but our summer has been so busy that we've been unable to have a birthday party for him. Since we had a pretty big combined birthday for Ben & Will last year - we did something smaller this year. Ben invited 3 friends and we went bowling, went to McDonald's and then home for a sleep-over. 

Our theme this year: Super Mario Bros

Here's Ben's invite (I took out personal information : )

And what party doesn't have goody bags, right?

Inside each goody bag: a Super Mario Bros water jug, 1 pkg of Super Mario Bros gummies, a thank you card from Ben, and the costume for the evening: a red or green shirt; and either a Luigi hat or Mario Hat (made by ME : ) with a moustache. I ordered the hats from Oriental Trading and got felt from Hobby Lobby to make the white circles, the "L" or "M" and the moustache. Super easy and the kids loved it.

The costumes were a BIG hit! The boys loved them!

left to right (Caleb, Chris, Ben, Andy, and Will).

One of Ben's friends couldn't make it, so he had two friends from school.

Having the colored shirts also made it easier to keep up with the boys and spot them at the bowling alley. Although they were all very good - it was great to be able to look and see green and red shirts : )

My sweet 8 yr old BIRTHDAY boy, relaxing : )

Will, stopping to smile, while waiting for the games to begin

(Chris & Caleb in the background : )!

My awsesome babysitter (and friend), Jamie, explaining to the boys about bowling. I love her and am so thankful for her and all she does for our family!

Jamie, demonstrating to Ben, the proper technique : )

A little fuzzy but .... Ben, Caleb, Chris & Will (moustaches ended up on their shirts. too cute!)

Ben with his souvenoir bowling pin that all the boys (and girls) signed.

Sweet Andy sporting Jamie's shades : )

Jenna and Andy.

Jenna came along to take care of Andy. They stayed in the arcade most of the time and had a great time. So thankful Jenna was there. I was able to be with Ben and the boys and not stress about Andy.

Me and my boys

(Ben, Andy and Will)

It took a lot to just get this. It's hard to shoot a moving target : )

After bowling, we had a little arcade fun.

(Caleb, Chris & Ben)

Ben on the motorcycle game (he looks very intent, doesn't he?)

Andy on the motorcycle game

(I looked over and he was playing this on his knees. SO cute!)

After bowling and the arcade we went to McDonald's for dinner and to let the boys play. It was a great way to let them run around and exert some more of that energy all young boys are full of : )

Ben's sovernoir bowling pin and the Mario & Luigi hats I made. I am very proud of them.

I think they turned out pretty cute.

This morning - the boys are up early, playing Wii and enjoying their time together. Only Chris ended up spending the night. Caleb had a family committment today - so his mom picked him up late last night. All in all - it was a great birthday celebration. Everyone had fun and really enjoyed themselves.

Breakfast time for the boys. David made eggs, sausage, biscuits, and English Tea (a normal breakfast for the weekend).

Ben, Chris, Will & Andy : )

Happy 8th Birthday, my Dear, Sweet Ben! I love you!