The "Only Child" for a few days

Some pics of our trip to Gulfport

Waffle house? Hmmm... they look closed.

The stairway up to what used to be a humongous home on the beach - now a (really nice) trailer

Another home long gone

What's left of a school

This used to be a row of huge, gorgeous homes on the beach. This is what it looks like for miles and miles along the beachfront. Very sad.

Someone's beachfront property

Some pics from our playgroup trip to the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center in Gulfport, MS. It has almost been fully rebuilt. It's still incredibly depressing to see that area. You'd think a year later that they'd have it cleaned up and rebuilt. But nope... it's still a mess! Miles and miles of devastation and mess. I'll post some pics of that soon. In the meantime, hope you ENJOY these! I LOVE this one...

The weather girls. Delaney is showing Olivia where she is (in cloudy, cool Michigan). Madelyn is showing her where she wants her to be (in sunny, hot Louisiana - note the hurricane in the gulf - ha!). They miss her SO very much. Especially Maddy who asks me a zillion times a day when Olivia's coming over or if she can go to Olivia's house, or to Mishy-gun to get her. It's oh-so-sad:( I feel the same way about Trisha... except my way of saying it is "Come back, BIOTCH!" Love ya!

Delaney's favorite part was the silly mirror that made them 2-headed... and Madelyn's favorite part was the kick-butt treehouse. (My least favorite part was getting her OUT of the treehouse!)

They played "School", dressed Victorian, managed a supermarket, piloted and co-piloted an airplane, rode a gorilla, climbed in a giant treehouse, expored a Navy Sub, did lots of science experiments, visited old Mexico (check out Sophie in the sombrero;), kayaked a river, and much more... all at the Discovery Center. It was a great, educational, fun field trip with the playgroup.

New Song

My new favorite song... because Ryan said it's him talking. There are moments when I can't believe I found a man who still feels this way about me 10 years later.

Artist/Band: Paisley Brad
Lyrics for Song: She's Everything
Lyrics for Album: Time Well Wasted

She’s a yellow pair of running shoes
A holey pair of jeans
She’s looks great in cheap sunglasses
She looks great in anything
She’s “I want a piece of chocolate”
“Take me to a movie”
She’s “I can’t find a thing to wear”
Now and then she’s moody
She’s a Saturn with a sunroof
With her brown hair a blowin'
She’s a soft place to land
And a good feeling knowing
She’s a warm conversation that I wouldn’t miss for nothing
She’s a fighter when she’s mad and a lover when she’s loving

She’s everything that I ever wanted
And everything I need
When I talk about her I go on and on and on
Cause she is everything to me

She’s a Saturday out on the town
Church girl on Sunday
A cross around her neck and a cuss word cause it’s Monday
She’s a bubble bath and candle baby come and kiss me
She’s a one glass of wine and she’s feelin kinda tipsy
She’s the giver I wish I could be and the stealer of the covers
She’s the picture in my wallet
She’s the hand that I'm holdin when I’m on my knees and prayin
She’s the answer to my prayers
She’s the song that I’m playin and

She’s everything that I ever wanted
And everything I need
When I talk about her I go on and on and on
Cause she is everything to me

She’s the voice I love to hear
Someday when I’m 90
She's that wooden rocking chair
I want rocking right beside me
Everyday that passes I only love her more
Yea she’s the one that id lay down my own life for

She’s everything that I ever wanted
And everything I need
When I talk about her I go on and on and on
Cause she is everything to me

Fun with Pops...

and Mimi, too!

precious.

Decorating the cake - pink and purple hearts and pink sparkly sprinkles - oooooooh! Every little girls dream;)

Admiring the masterpiece.

Mmmmmm! ICING!

Don't ask.

HaPpY 3rD bIrThDaY, mAdElYn ChRiStInE!!!

Someone please tell me what this face is all about. She makes it all the time and it is SO hysterical!

We had a good time visiting with Ryan's cousin, Jason. Here they are being goofy at D'Angelos. We're very excited he and his family are moving closer:)

Madelyn and her "bess fren inna whoe wide world", Olivia, celebrated their joint Dora/Princess birthday at Chuck E. Cheese before Olivia left for Michigan. It goes without saying, she will be GREATLY missed (at least 30 times a day;)!

It was a great time had by everyone (except Olivia when Chucky came near;) I just have to add that Maddy calls this place "Chucky Jesus". Don't know why... maybe because it's her idea of heaven;)

Olivia got Maddy a Spongebob Foam Blaster for her birthday. The kids had a big time in the foam on the trampoline. It was hilarious! At the bottom, Maddy is making a foam angel;)

Our trip to the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans was really fun. The girls had a blast and learned a lot about sea life.

Sophie's little friend, James, and his mom, Emma, rode with us and hung with us for the day. Isn't he a doll? He's a little English boy from the U.K. with bright red hair. Too cute!

The stingrays were Delaney's favorite. This one seemed to like the girls. It kept hovering right in front of them. Very cool!

Madelyn's favorite were the seahorses (mine, too). You can see the wonder and amazement on her face.

More pics from the Aquarium

Sophia found her feet! And, boy, do they taste GOOD! Wanna try?

Rain, rain, go or stay?

So, what does it say about me that I LOVE thunderstorms? Love them. I get all giddy inside when I see the black clouds rolling in. One of my favorite things to do is sit on the back porch and watch the lightning show. It just hasn't been raining enough this summer. Except for today. Thunder, rain, lightning, tornado watches, the whole bit. [Insert collective, overdramatic sigh here.] What has me sighing is the stircraziness it causes the kids. I can’t take them out to burn off their endless amount of energy. [Another sigh should go here, along with a pout.] Over the past few weeks we have grown quite used to being outside, even with the temperature being so freakin' hot. They just like to play outside and I just like how easy it is to get them to nap afterward, not to mention they aren’t all up in my grill when we're in the backyard or at the pool or the park, so I get a bit of a break. Many times I sit outside with them and read a magazine while they play. All I would need is a cabana boy that resembles Matthew McConaughey.

So today, instead of going outside, we get to sit inside and argue, fuss, and fight over toys and movies. And then attempt to play board games with a toddler who hasn't a clue about taking turns or rules and an overachieving, competitive, sore-losing 6-year-old. And then, at some point, they always beg me to perform the choreography from my days as a high school cheerleader. Why do they find that so amusing? It's more amusing when my sister gets in on the action and we break out in some ZHS Bronco cheers;) Oh, and lest we forget, be the milk maid to a very hungry little princess. Not that I am complaining, but dude, I am going to have to run them up and down the hallway 1000 times before naptime. Sitting down and watching Go, Diego, Go (the latest cartoon obsession) doesn’t burn off anything but brain cells.

We've had a pretty low-key weekend. Friday we went to the Aquarium of the Americas with the playgroup. We went to the mall and Lowe's, planted some new plants in the back yard, went to the gym and the pool. I had a Girls Nite Out last night with the playgroup moms. It has been nice and pretty relaxing.

Anyhoo. Off to tend to Squirty McTootsalot and plan the next rainy day activity. Crafts, anyone? Hopefully that cabana boy will be around sometime soon;) I'll try to post some of the zillion pics I've taken lately sometime tomorrow.

HaPpY bIrThDaY, nAnA!!!
We love you and hope you enjoyed your special day!

Sophia's latest stats.

At (almost) 5 months:

16.3 pounds - 75th percentile for weight

27 inches - 95th percentile for height.

16.75 inches - 63th percentile for head circumference

We went in for her 4 month checkup and immunizations (yeah, like a month late;(). She's doing great! Is she going to be tall? She went from being 16th percentile for height at birth to 95th now. Wow! And she still has her Daddy's peanut head - ha! Anyway, she's just perfect to me:)

Missing My Babies

Wow - it's seriously quiet around here without a 6 year old and 2 year old. Ryan has been working nights and I worked all day today (out of the house). From 9am-7pm. Really. I know many of you didn't think it was possible;) Well it wasn't fun, that's for sure. We busted butt getting the Parenting Center organized. It desperately needed it.

Anyway, I miss my Bug and my Fitz. I know they're having nonstop fun at Nana and D-Daddy's. Yesterday they went to the movies and the park and the beach and swam in the backyard. Today they were going shopping and swimming and McDonald's and the park and out for pizza. Tomorrow they're going to the zoo and the lake. Spoiled rotten, no doubt. They're totally NOT going to want to come home. But they must... I miss them terribly! I forgot how easy one child is. Ridiculously easy! And did I mention quiet? I'M BORED! I actually walked around Target for 2 hours last night without whining, begging ankle-biters. And got to watch a whole movie and take a bath uninteruppted. Astonishing. I think I'm going to go get a pedicure tomorrow. By myself. Whoa.

Okay, gotta go call them... Have a good night!

Our 4th of July Weekend...

"Look Ma, No hands!!!" Madelyn and Delaney being pulled behind the boat. They LoVeD it!

We always say "She is SO freakin' cute!!" She just is. And she's got quite a belly on her in this pic.

Ryan and Squirt splashin' in the water

Sophia Grace and her new best bud, Elijah Williams. Aren't they adorable?!?!

Elijah dipping his feet in the water. That boy doesn't miss too many meals:P He is precious!

Laney on the slide

My attempt at getting a pic of the 4 girls. They just weren't cooperating, but this is a cute one of Hannah smooching Sophia. AWWW!

And... My attempt at getting a pic of the 3 of them in their patriotic colors. Well, at least Sophie found Maddy's ear.

Ray and Eli

Like father, like daughter. They even drink the same!

Grandma Christine playing with Sophia. She thought she was pretty funny!

Hannah playing in the backyard. She especially like the mud... and that includes eating it!!

Bounce, Tigger, Bounce!