The New Birthday Suit

Lately this Princess has had two demanding requests: dresses and "a suit". Ever since we've returned from the beach she insists on putting on a bathing suit. Lot's of times we can talk her out of it or distract her. She'll pull on any thing that looks like a bathing suit and say "beach". I found this really cute bathing suit (which just happens to have a tutu) on clearance for next summer. We've worn it around the house 3 times now.'Twice this past week she wore her new " night gown" down to Maw Maw's and when I got there to get her after work she still had it on. We absolutely have Princess on our hands.
I was able to get a picture of her tonight with her new birthday shirt on but only after promising that she could change into her suit. She made out like a REAL Princess today. She not only got a fabulous new wardrobe but a Princess Tricycle AND a Princess Scooter. Brax got a new scooter too!
Birthdays. what fun. I don't worry about my birthday anymore or how old I'll be. But what I do worry about is when I think about my children's next birthday and how much older they'll be.
Time flies. Hang on. We're on the ride of our life!

My Girl

                                  

Funny how a small moment can have such a lasting impression. Two years ago my small moment was a well thought out  C-section. We were going to  take Braxton to his Maw Maw's and Brandon and I were going to be at the hospital by 6:30 for an 8:30 C-Section. Somebody else had a better idea.
Our sweet Mckinley turns "2" tomorrow. It blows my mind when I think about how fast the past two years have gone. All that we've done. And all of the happiness and joy she's brought to our life.
 We laugh when we think about how our children made their entrance into this world. Braxton was two days late and was forced to make his arrival. Once he was born he was fine. I still feel like we have to force him to do a lot of things. But once he's there, he's fine.
Mckinley was a planned c-section. Down to the minute we knew what to expect. But she decided to come on her own terms when she was ready. No matter what everybody else had planned, she was coming. And that's who she is. When she's ready, you better be.
Day after day, all day,  I think about my babies. How wonderful they are. How beautiful they are. And how lucky I am. Out of all the people that God could have picked, I get to be their mom!

Catch Up

Too much has happened. Too much time has passed. Let's just look at the pictures and call it a month. Hopefully things will get back into a routine soon and I can post regularly. There's always something going on around here.
Enjoy! 

They Can Deceive You

Don't let this "little" stuffed animal bucket fool you.
And don't let the adorable smile from Mckinley surrounded by the animals fool you. As I was on the phone this morning she demanded (and I do mean demanded) that I pour out the bucket of animals in her bed. With her in it. It is full of stuffed animals that she received as gifts prior to being born. She loves them.
 And then leaves them for me to clean up!
Brax has become very interested in his Lego's this summer. He is becoming quite creative and even a little patient when he has to fix them because they came apart.

A HUGE Deal

It all started on the Fourth of July.
 Mckinley has loved the pool this year. Last year she would hardly get in but this year she loves it. She doesn't want to sit on the side (no matter how cool you tell her she looks), she doesn't want to be in your arms, she wants to be in the pool, by herself, and she wants to get there by jumping in. One problem. She can't swim. It was really making pool time no fun. I just dreaded the thought of getting in and fighting with her about having to stay in  my arms. Why not put on the extra life jacket we have, you ask? Because she didn't like it.
Fast forward to July 4th. We had our little pals over and they were in the pool like fish. Brax loved having someone to rough house with and cannon ball with. The bigger kids weren't wearing life jackets but he didn't seem to care. The smallest friend had a life jacket "thingey" that goes around the front. It's called a "puddle jumper" and Brandon put it on Mckinley to see what would happen. She loved it. She can now jump in and float around. And she'll even agree when you tell her she looks cool!
And before the end of the night Braxton took his life jacket off and came up and whispered that he could swim without it. I stood on the side ready to rescue watching. I held my breath and then I saw it. Braxton swam from one side of the pool to the OTHER with NO LIFE JACKET! We were all quite proud.
He asked when he climbed out if he could put his life jacket back on the next time he got in. Of course I said yes. But it's a great feeling knowing that he can be in the water without his life jacket if he had to.

Had to Show Off

Yep. Had to show you some pictures that a very dear and talented friend took for me. I have this frame and a huge wall in my den. I needed the right picture. Now I'm having a hard time deciding which one to frame.

Mountains of Memories

"So we loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly...Hills that is...."
The Beverly Hillbillies, one of my favorite shows. We used to watch it when I was a kid. Fast forward 15 years and I found out that right down the road from our place in the mountains "Jane" from the show had a mountain retreat. Just icing on the cake for a place I already thought was fantastic.
The kids and I just returned from a week in the mountains with Grandaddy. Brandon was able to come up and stay for a night and we took the kids to Tweetsie. Braxton already thinks the place ranks up there with Disney World (poor kid!) but the girl loved it. She squealed with delight as we came up over the hill and she saw the train. We had to board it as soon as we got there. Never mind it didn't leave for another 30 minutes. They both had a grand time. Thank goodness You Tube has a Mouse Mine video someone took!
The week was nice. We weren't rushed or pressed for time. We were in a good routine by mid-week. Strange feeling this week though. I found myself thinking about the times I was a kid and would go up there. I could picture my sister and brother and I doing some of the exact things that we did this week. I enjoyed telling my children about some of the fun times I have had up there and look forward to creating the same memories for them.