Happy Birthversary

5 years ago today I got the privilege to marry the best guy in the entire world. He's not perfect but simply perfect for me. 5 years ago we started our life together and while we had no clue what God had planned for us the adventure has been well worth it. I can't wait to see what path the next 5 years leads us down or the 5 years after that and so on. Not a day goes by without a lot of love and more laughter than either of us can handle.
Chachi, I wouldn't have ever braved this path without you and I can't wait to see where we go from here....I love you more than you know:)
2 years ago today God answered our prayers in the form of a spunky Cupcake Princess. I simply cannot believe my baby is 2. Bella Grace entered our lives in a dramatic way and has stayed true to her nature from the get go. She brings so much pure and simple joy to us there are not words. I've never experienced love like I have for her, heart melting love.

I joke with Rick that I still never got an anniversary present from the day she was born and his reply has always been " what are you talking about I helped give you your dream" and to that point he is right...

Bella Grace you are the best gift ever...the gift that keeps on giving...and your smile and jokes and silliness makes every day fun.

We love you baby girl!

Happy Birthversary to us!

*pictures of our fun filled day to come including but not limited to Anniversary lunch at Rainforest Cafe, building a new friend at Build-aBear, and family dinner with the whole clan including GranMary and her son & grandsons!

Sorry we've been busy!

Bella's birthday week is in full swing and we have been crazy busy! I need sleep and next week starts the holiday madness so I hope we can hold out until January!

On Friday Bella headed to Grandmas for a road trip to GranMary's with her biggest cousins. Lauren and Alayna! From what I hear all of them had a great time and Bella came home worn out!

While we didn't have the cupcake monster we used our time to finish about 95% of our Christmas shopping! We are still laid off living so this year is tight but can I tell you we had more fun 'hunting' for deals then ever! I don't think i'll ever go back to shopping/buying just because I can. It was way more fun looking for the best price/deal/quality than just doing it. And for the first time ever we had a budget which is such a brilliant idea I can't believe we ever didn't have one.( Thanks JRudd) So we were even happier to come in under budget! Yay for sales!!

AND

Since we came in under budget we used that money to sponsor an angel from a local charity. This one is a bit different than just an angel tree. In fact we are responsible for all/any gifts he will receive! That is huge but we are so grateful to have a home and healthy children that even though living laid-off isn't easy we still have so much. I can't wait to go shopping for our angel! It should be fun and since I know nothing about 10 year old boys I am dragging my nephew along for help, so we get some fun time together too!

On Monday Bella had her birthday party at school so she {of course} brought cupcakes to celebrate!There are no pictures of Bella in her first birthday outfit of the week because she was in no mood to co-operate:) So here is one of the 2 kidlets....can I tell you how AWESOME it is now that they play together! So sweet!

While Bel was in school Pierce had playgroup! All those babies are adorable! After playgroup we headed home to pick up Rick, went to the grocery store to buy all the trimmings for Thanksgiving, picked up Bel, headed to down town to bring some stuff to Grandma and finally landed at the Fornof's for a fun dinner and some good times with great friends!
Bella feels quite at home there and by the end of the night both my kids were naked( in just a diaper) and Bella even removed hers for some streaking good times! I'm so glad they love us regardless of our naked kids!

Tuesday was Bel's playgroup day and we headed for some pre-birthday fun at JumpZone.
Master P had his first bounce house experience and the giggles could not be contained!

and he also learned how to hold his own bottle

After playgroup we went for a quick lunch! Rick had an interview and it went well so we celebrated with Rita's Italian Ice Custard...im telling you it is the BEST thing any of us has ever eaten!
After naps we headed to B-town to help Grandma celebrate her birthday!! So it was another late night! We had so much fun eating homemade dinner and yummy cake with the family!

Wednesday....Rick, Poppy and Bel took a road-trip to GranMary's to help her with some stuff. In the mean time P helped me make lots and lots of bows, sew Bella's birthday shirt and we tried our hand at making charro beans. Pretty darn good might I add.

Thursday was another busy bowmaking day. We also attempted family pictures and Bel's birthday pictures...yeah....she was having none of it. We did however get some amazing pictures of P! That boy loves him some B4...so if you're local call her and if she doesn't hang out with your kid on a weekly basis you're pretty much guaranteed the best pictures ever...me...well Bella knows all her tricks...she also know she has candy...and it went down hill from there!

Even with all of Bel's diva-tude we did get a few of the family and loads of P and one or 2 of Bel...however today is Friday and I am bringing out the big guns....whats that you ask...


CUPCAKES!

Yep we are heading to B4's studio to get one picture of the Cupcake Princess for her birthday...just one and if she is devouring a cupcake then so be it!

After that it is cleaning and more bow making and some more cleaning before Saturday and the big party on Sunday!

See tomorrow is her real birthday and our 5 year anniversary so we are just hanging out the 4 of us. We have lots planned and I can't wait to spend the day free of bows and obligations and just be a family!! Woohoo!

Sunday is church, nap, party then rest...lots and lots of rest...before Monday when we have a park play day and an afternoon play date with Zach and Sailer. Crazy. And after we survive all of that we will be cleaning and cooking for Thanksgiving.

It's official...the holiday madness is here!

Let sleeping dogs lie

There is nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby{who just happens to be dressed like a puppy}.

Wordless Wednesday: Grumpy Old Man Face

The Zoo is always better with friends!

Monday was a school holiday for Bella and with nothing better to do we decided to head to the zoo! I just feel like while we have a few weeks of beautiful weather we should be out in it because soon enough it will be icky and we'll be stuck indoors!

We were all totally excited when Karen called wondering what we could do together...guess what...they came to the zoo too!! The zoo is always better with good friends!

Bella and the boys! They are 19 months apart and Karen gives me great hope we will survive the terrible 2's with an infant in tow. (Levi is 1, Bella almost 2, and Jace is 3)

The cheetahs are never out and today they were all lovey and stuff...very sweet vicious animals!

Bella shared her monkeys with Jace...

and John rescued a sippy cup. Who knew jumping like a kangaroo could put the cup in danger:)

and we've never actually seen a kangaroo jump until John entered and quickly exited their pen!

Then we all rode the train. I had some mixed emotions on this one...we've gone almost 2 years without having to ride the train because she didn't know it was there...but alas those days are over!

Bella put in a call to Pop-Pop


and by the end of the day Master P was done!
But best of all we discovered 3 of her 2 year molars are through...one to go and it might be the end of us all!

We are all just trekking along on the laid off living train...but most of all we are really enjoying having family time. It's been such a gift to have Rick be able to be home to do these things with us!

5 months of Fun

On Sunday Master P turned 5 months old! He has been such a joyful addition to our family! There isn't a day that goes by that one of us doesn't comment on his sweet spirit or happy nature. His smiles at strangers and passersby opens our world to so many new people who honestly just want to share in his delight. He is the happiest baby and we are so blessed!

What has he been up to:

• He blows raspberries constantly and cracks himself up
• he babbles non-stop. It took him a little bit longer than Bel to find his voice but now that he has there is no stopping him
• he's rolling like champ
• he is sitting up
• we no longer take the infant seat everywhere as he prefers to be sitting like a big boy. Although if he is sleeping we still use it!
• We've opted out of his 4 month appointment because bringing a healthy baby to a place covered in germs is just too risky. So we are waiting until flu season is over for shots and such. So unofficially he is weighing in at 19.2lbs (87%) and 28 inches long(96%)
• He's wearing mostly 6-12 month clothes except Gymboree wear he is in 3-6month stuff.
• He is still eating constantly and now has at least one bottle and one solid a day as I just cannot keep up with him.
  
• He is sleeping through the night and goes to be between 8-8:30 and wakes up at 9:30! He is also taking 3 naps a day....2 tiny naps and a longer one in the middle of the afternoon. He is showing signs of dropping the morning nap so we may try that and see how it goes.
• He is held 98% of the day. Thank goodness for a sling! I think we are both just really enjoying him with the idea he is our last, whether or not that turns out to be true...who knows but for now we are treating him as such!
• He loves to swing at the park
• He has been left with his first ever 'sitter' and we are so thankful we have good friends we trust to watch him!
• Pierce is the best thing ever. We've spent the last month marveling at how much he's changed and how fast it has happened! We cannot wait to spend the rest of our lives remembering fondly his baby years!
  

5 month Monkey Pictures:
This picture is special because he is wearing his big cousin Garrison's hat!

It's been wonderful being your mom Master P!

Look what we've been up to!

We've resumed our pre-Pierce pace and are back to going a mile a minute. Honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. It is so much fun to experience life all over again through Bella's eyes. The only downfall, if you could call it that, is that Bellabowz has reached new heights. I am so grateful but having trouble finding the balance...so our life is a work in progress because i just realized I have to sleep sometime!
On 11/3 we had Playgroup Tuesday and had a blast at the park...



On Wednesday it was so nice out and Bella was getting restless having been in the car all day while I ran errands, so we stopped another park to soak in some of this beautiful weather.
Here she was 'helping' Pierce roll over.

Isn't he just adorable...

On Thursday Rick hosted a charity golf tournament and was gone all day. Since he talked Zach's dad into playing and we moms were alone we met up at another park to let Zach and B play....too bad there were no pictures! They had a wonderful time!

Friday, Pierce and I attended the monthly Mom's League meeting and it was nice outside when we got home we headed with the kidlets to the zoo!

And of course there had to be a diva moment...no fussing or melt downs here...nope she told us 'i tired' and sat right on down.

These days we spend most of our time watching the monkeys...Bella just loves them!

Friday night Bella spent the night with Grandmom & Granddad!

Saturday Rick and I headed to "catch the vision" the membership class at our new church. So now I am ecstatic to say we are members of Gateway. I love it. Even after a long night we are both still excited about waking up and heading to church!

After our class Saturday we headed to watch what we thought was G's last football game. Instead we found out they made it to the playoffs which is super super exciting!

Then we headed back to pick up the cupcake so she could attend church with us on Sunday! It was a crazy long day!

Happy Veteran's day!

There are few holidays that register as more important than this often not remembered holiday.

In our house, it will always be special.

If i didn't learn anything else from my parents { but trust me I did} it was the value of patriotism.

See my dad, or Bella's beloved Pop pop, is a Marine.

And as the motto goes "once a Marine, always a Marine".

That motto certainly rang true.

So Happy Veteran's Day Poppy and to every other Marine and Veteran out there.

Thank you for keeping me and my family free. For braving a war I wouldn't dare touch. For performing a duty I am not courageous enough to do.

Thank you for serving our country when you are often not respected enough for the job you perform for us, to keep us free.

And to my very own Veteran. Thank you dad. Thank you for making patriotism a priority. Thank you for teaching me the importance of standing to salute the flag during the National Anthem. For being a proud American. Teaching me to support and respect our countries leaders even though I don't agree with them and for understanding I have a right to vote and must exercise that right or to not disagree at all.

Pop, you have the kindest most stoic heart of any man I know. You live life at both ends of the spectrum but through all your tough guy antics you are a sweet man. You've taught me the value of giving to others when you don't have anything left to give. That the simple gesture of buying a cheap lunch for an elderly person or a soldier in uniform is more than enough to show your appreciation for humankind.

Or telling an enlisted person "Thank You" might be the best thing they've heard all day.

That teaching a young child kindness to others will get them further in life than any book ever could.

That what you have will never matter more than what you give.

You've taught me a love for people and for helping them in any way I can.

That self discipline will get me far, even though I struggle with that one each and every day.

But thank you most of all for helping teach Bella & Pierce the same love of America you have taught me.

And you are right the Marine Corps hymn will always put a baby to sleep...
"From the Halls of Montezuma, to the Shores of Tripoli..."

Thanks to you I know every word and am able to sing it to Pierce, your perfect little namesake.


Happy Veteran's Day Poppy! We love you very very much! Thank you for serving!

Life Lessons

Life really is all about those tiny moments that can teach us something.

Today was a HUGE giant teachable moment for me. A lesson in humility so to speak.

Bella has been two all week. Tantrums and craziness and it has completely worn me down. Today after 4 days of the same crazy Bella I lost it.

I yelled at my baby. I did. I am not proud but we all have our moments.

It was a scary glimpse at myself. I apologized to Bella because regardless of how I was feeling, yelling just made her feel worse, me feel worse, and I NEVER want her to feel like her feelings don't matter.

So we went about our day and I made a point to breathe and try to be better. To try and not be frustrated because she couldn't understand why standing on her brother wasn't an option. All the while Pierce screamed bloody murder.

Then just when I thought it would never get better, and totally considered locking us inside until she can be married off, God showed me it could be a lot different.

As I was pleading with Bella because it was time to go, feeling frustrated and getting angry with her for not minding, I looked up and saw an unbelievable woman.

She was a mom. A mom like me with a daughter not much older than Bel. She was quiet and alone as she moved about the park. She didn't stop for friendly chat like the other moms. She didn't sit and read while her daughter played. She couldn't just let her daughter run free like I do.

This tiny woman painstakingly lifted her wheelchair bound daughter and silently carried her up to the tallest slide and slid down with her, over and over and over because that was the only way her daughter could pretend to be 'normal'.

A lesson in humility.

It was just then I really knew the love God gives a mom. Here I am complaining of the tantrums and the crazy terrible twos and you just have to know this mom would love to experience that, to have a normal little girl. To be able to enjoy the casual playground chit chat I honestly take for granted.

It was a beautiful moment to watch that mom love her daughter so much. To be so vulnerable. I'm not sure I could do that. To go about activities like nothing is wrong, like we all have an ill child. I'm pretty sure I would sit at home wary of the eyes of everyone else and what they think.

Today all I could think was of how I want to be a mom like that. To love so much I would do anything to make the lives of my children the best possible in spite of others or how I may be judged.

I know that life will always have its moments. There will be times when I get frustrated and it overcomes me. I know that. Yet now I also know I can be better, that I will be, all I need is a little reminding from the Man Upstairs.

So today I choose to take this 'red flag' from God and learn from it...

Proverbs 11:2 Pride leads to disgrace,but with humility comes wisdom.

Keep Reading

There are loads of catch up posts so keep reading!!

Busy Busy Bees

I briefly considered letting Bella skip school this morning because she honestly needed some sleep. Poor girl is all kinds of off her game:( Then I remembered it was picture day and woke up sleeping beauty to get ready.
She is not a morning person at all.
This is her new baby grandma got her and she insisted on taking her to school also. I decided to pick my battles and let her baby go to school. She was the perfect student and even appeared in a few pictures. I can't wait to get those back...at least the outfit is cute right?

While Bel was in school I took Master P to playgroup. It was fun I promise but no pictures. Then time to grab daddy and run a billion and one errands. Including bow deliveries and meeting Harper the most perfect baby ever. She is so so precious and I almost had baby fever...almost...and then it was gone:) It is crazy what can be accomplished with only one baby...

Yet even with only Master P for entertainment we still didn't get it all done. So after we picked up the Cupcake Princess from school we headed for our weekly trip to costco. ( I know we went with Grandma on Saturday but we didn't get any cold stuff so we had to go back)

and Master P was super excited to sit like a big boy in the cart!

Then he played it off because he is cool like that:)

After Costco we ran quickly home to drop the stuff off and wardrobe change before heading to the park to play with Jaxon and Ella!

Thanks MamaTam for the cute Elmo shirt! I am so not a fan of character clothing but this one isn't so bad...and it is better than the costume Bella now begs to wear everywhere.

There was lots of sliding... and it is only in Texas you can play in the sprinklers in November....
the 3 mosquitoes:) These 3 play so well together with only a year difference between all 4 babies it is going to be so fun watching them grow up together!

The kids had the best time! It was almost 80 out so not too bad out. OH and mommas who live around here this is the BEST park ever. It is completely enclosed so there is absolutely no fear of turning your head and you kid being down the street. AWESOME for those of us with 2 little ones and only one set of eyes!
We played for 2+hours then decided to head home as bedtime comes awfully early these days (6:30/7ish) and because we hadn't been home all day!

After a quick dinner and bath time Pierce who usually stays up until 8:30 couldn't take any more..
Sweet baby P! He was clean and full and out like a light!

and even Bella who got to wear her new jammies was ready for bed early! It was super fun busy kind of day!

Sunday at the Zoo!

Yesterday was a BEAUTIFUL day and after the early service we had the whole day to hang around! Knowing the weather was supposed to be nice we planned a family day with the Cipriano's! It was so fun!

Daddy's and babies with the monkeys!

Bella LOVES the monkeys and is pretty content with just seeing them and skipping everything else!
She and Vinny got to run around like crazy little people and had the best time!

Bella enjoyed climbing the fences and giving me a heart attack.
but Pierce was a feeling snuggly and spent most of the day in the bjorn

Bella is getting a hang of the birds and is no longer afraid.

and Vinny loved the new experience! He wasn't afraid at all!

Regardless of the fact we were at the zoo having fun and doing everything Bella asked...she is still well on her way to 2 and decided to practice her terrible 2 act early. She was in rare form I tell you...we just had to laugh because there was no making her happy. The best was the parents who commented and looked on and laughed. We were lucky to hear many an encouraging "you'll survive" because yesterday there were moments I didn't think we would/will. God bless this child...if this is any indication of her teenage years we are in T-R-O-U-B-L-E!

While Bella mellowed out with some snacks we took advantage of a super cute outfit and got some quick pictures of P.
KISS rocker tee courtesy of Ebay...and the over shirt too for that matter! Can I tell you how much I love EBAY...no seriously...it is love.

and this boy...he is the best thing in the whole world.
I cannot believe for the life of me he is almost 5 months...the time has FLOWN by this time...

Bella decided she was indeed having fun and got in on the pictures too...I just wish I would have left her cute church outfit on too....oh well this will do!

She and Vinny had so much fun climbing and exploring and we enjoyed talking to J & LA!

I introduced Vinny to toddler gold... *Cheese Puffs! In our house these will cure all aliments and meltdowns...all you need is one and life is back to bliss in a jiffy...toddler gold...try it and you'll never go back!
*must be used sparingly and you cannot substitute store brand. It is just not the same...trust me on this one.

Quick group shot with some of our favorite people!


Bella had such a good time she was hiding...

Thank you C family for a wonderful day! I apologize for Bella ruining your naivety about what the next few months hold but maybe you'll be prepared and hopefully we'll still be around to remind you you'll survive!

10.31 Elmo by day Cupcake by night

Halloween was a crazy busy day...first Elmo headed to Garrison's football game:)
Grandma loves Elmo too:)

MamaTam, Alayna, Lauren, Pierce and me watching the game!

The only pic of me and Bel. She is not into taking pictures at all these days...

Elmo watched the cheerleaders so intently! Even though Ive always said I wouldn't let Bel do cheer-leading or gymnastics ( too many injuries...i learned from personal experience with both) I just might cave. When I asked her if she wanted to do that she said...I do it...so maybe in a few years but nothing serious!

After the game we headed to Costco with Grandma and Babies R us! Bella was happy to share her costco love with Grandma before heading home to trick or treat! We had it all planned to go to the local BooBash on Main St. but reconsidered when we realized how busy it was going to be and how Bella isn't a fan of lines. All that plus the fact she didn't have a nap and it just didn't sound like fun. So we hit up some of my old high school friends who now live in the same town with families of their own and my parents neighbors who have lived there since I used to go treating many moons ago!Again...Bella got one lolli and was done. So we spent the rest of the trick or treating talking to an old friend and catching up!

Thanks Grandmom for this super cute bag! We can't wait to use it for many more treating experiences to come!

After we had all the Halloween fun we could handle we headed back to Pop & Grandma's for some dinner and fun with the big cousins!
It was a great Halloween...there are no pictures of Pierce because he slept through it:) Sweet baby had a better time with Poppy then going door to door and we had fun with some Cupcake only fun!

10.28 Mom's League Halloween Party

Wednesday we headed to the annual mom's league party! It was so much fun! We didn't go last year so I was looking forward to this one!

I volunteered to help set up so we got there early and Bella got to play with her buddy Anderson for a bit!

Then it was time for the party so we got our costumes on and tried for yet another picture...
it wasn't too bad...no smile but better than the others:)

Then a try at a picture of both kidlets...
they aren't looking but at least they look like they like each other!


Pierce got a chance to play with Colton a friend from his playgroup!

And Bella got to play all day with Anderson & Zach!


Rick was there too and took pictures:)

I spent most of the afternoon chatting while he kept up with the princess...


Then it was time for the costume parade!! Bella was a happy girl!
After the parade we headed to the treat stations to get candy...

and after she dug through to find a lolli she was a happy camper and left to eat it!


Then she found the real cupcakes and it was all over...
A cupcake eating a cupcake!

And Pierce couldn't handle all the fun and took his nap in the middle of all the chaos!

We had a great time and it was a fabulous party!

And we did luck out and get a family shot! The kids aren't smiling but at least we are all in it!

Fall Festival

Tuesday we headed to the fall festival for our church! It was so much fun. Unfortunately(or fortunately because even P slept until 10) we slept through playgroup so no pictures of that but I did get a load of orders finished and worked on getting some sort of order to the house...a never ending task!

Grandma came over to help me with the kids since Rick volunteered to man a booth for a few hours:) Plus it was nice for Grandma to reap the benefits of the "oh how cutes" since she worked so hard on the costumes!

We stopped first to ride the ponies and get it out of the way before the lines got forever long!

Bet you didn't know a cupcake could ride a pony now did you:)

Sweet P!

We went to find Daddy and to see how he was doing and found out he was working this jumping thing...Bella asked to do it and we waited in line...I will say it was nice Daddy was working that one...Bella had a blast though!
Such fun times!

This might be the most perfect picture to sum up the cupcake princess...seriously she is so silly all the time!

Grandma got a preview of her birthday party and watched Bel jump!

Then we headed to the 'weeones' area and played some games!

After all that game playing I thought it would be a great time to try to get one picture of the kids together...but no again i'm sure it wont ever happen! I think I might call in reinforcements soon...Oh Brandi if you see a muffin and cupcake on your porch please get one picture before you call to return them:)
Am I the only one with a kid who tries to eat the decorations!

Then we found Trish, Logan, Jaxon and Ella and we all rode the train!
Or at least they all rode and me and Bel!

The 3 kidlets....one born ever year since 2006!

Then we hit up the ponies one more time!

and took a picture with "Pastor Morris"

On the way out we found the petting zoo and Bella was in heaven!
She was trying to kiss the goats...

then the llama started spitting and she shouted 'ooh yuck'

but she had the best time of all with Grandma...

Thanks Mom for coming and enjoying the chaos with us! We had a great time and plan on making it an annual event!