Two Years Down, Forever to Go!

Yeah, I know...not very original.  I think I used that same title (insert a "One" instead of a "Two") last year, which given my recent blog activity, is probably just a few posts back!  But in all honestly, get used to it.....I hope to be using it for a looooong time!  Anywho, staying on track....when Tim and I went to the Bahamas in April, we said it was for our Anniversary...and our birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day....and any other up and coming holiday, big or small, in the foreseeable future!  I never got a chance to blog about it, but it was pretty amazing...definitely all I needed for a great Anniversary!  

     

But thankfully, we were lucky enough to spend some time together on Sunday, too!!! 

My favorite cupcakes (yep, we started with dessert; that's how I roll ;) 

packaged in my favorite boxes...

(Ok, this isn't my FAVORITE box, but they were out of that one, so this one did the job!)

Then onto my favorite winery....

Mmmmm.....

And ending it all at my favorite restaurant for my favorite dinner....

and one of my favorite drinks...

with my favorite guy!!!

(I'm sorry about the weird shadow on your head making it look like you have male pattern baldness...I love you anyway...and that's good to know for future reference ;)

Love you, Babe!  Thanks for a great two years....and a perfect day to top it all off!!!

  

Confused

I don't know why I can't seem to get back into the blogging swing of things.  Is it because we're really not doing much these days but hanging out and I don't have much blog about?  Or is it the opposite...that we're busy ALL the time???  I'm not sure how it's possible, but both feel true!  Ever since we moved, I feel like there is always something to do around here, running errands, trying to get something checked off the "TO DO" list, just the everyday life stuff.  But at the same time, we haven't been venturing out as much as we used to for family outings.  We're more content here....we have more space and we can breath!  The kids are more than happy running around outside, riding bikes and scooters, or playing in the pool.  And I am happy watching them....while I try to keep up with cleaning and laundry (some things never change...no matter where you move).  I think about blogging a lot...I miss it!  But at the same time, I'm just enjoying hanging out with the kids and not feeling so attached to the computer.  This is what life looks like around here lately.  What about you???       

UH-MAZING!!!

Not even sure that word does it justice.  Tim and I took a trip to Bahamas (honestly, I think I'm still there mentally) and we visited some of the MOST UH-MAZING places I have EVER seen!  I'll blog more later; I'm still adjusting to being back...and I need to figure out this new blog layout thing (I hate change)!!!

You are my sunshine

My only sunshine

You make me HAPPY

when skies are gray

You'll never know dear

how much I LOVE you

Please don't take my sunshine away

Emma is not my ONLY sunshine (or "shunshine" as she would call it), but this pic I snapped of her yesterday reminded me of this song...which is HUGE at our house right now!  The kids love it...and sound SO DANG CUTE singing it ;)  I HAVE to record it!  I hope you all are enjoying a little sunshine today...I know we are :)

Kallie

Last, but certainly not least....my baby C.  Kallie is fierce....she knows what she wants and is strong-willed.  Ehem, correction....STUBBORN!!!  She might be our "baby," but she doesn't act like it.  As I've mentioned before, her name around here is Lil' Mamma!  And even when she was a baby, she used to give me a look that said, "Really???  YOU'RE my mom?!"

Despite having the will/determination of a hundred horses and being able to throw a temper tantrum that is just short of looking like she is either possessed or having a grand mal seizure, she has THE BIGGEST HEART EVER!!!  She LOVES with her whole being and when she feels so obliged, she will share her most beloved possessions with you - her Lambchop, her money, and her chocolate (and if you're ever lucky enough to get the latter, you better feel pretty darn special).    

  

She's quite shy around strangers and it takes her a while to warm up.  One of our new neighbors has already learned to tell the girls apart by remembering that Emma will always say "hi" to her first.  

She hates the camera and will rarely look right at it and smile.  And most of the time, when she does, you can tell she feels awkward.  That's why I LOVE when I catch her real smile.  I love seeing her happy and comfortable and confident....and the smile that comes from that, makes my heart want to burst!

She used to be a HUGE Daddy's girl.  Even in the NICU, she would do extremely well when Tim was holding her - all of her stats would improve.  If I came around, her stats would immediately start to fall and her machines would start beeping.  I was convinced that she hated me.  But now.....100% Mamma's girl! :)

She's not particularly athletic, but she has recently stated that she is a "really good soccer kicker" and thinks she can "beat Torrie" (a friend who actually plays on a soccer team).  She loves being outside and is the girl always picking flowers and chasing butterflies!  She also LOVES to color, draw, paint, or do anything artistic! I'm pretty sure "the greatest grandma" (Tim's mom) has a small forrest worth of papers that Kallie has colored for her. 

She loves boys and I'm fairly certain she has a crush on her cousin, Dylan.  She talks about him when he's not around and when he is, she's constantly asking him "Are you my best friend?  Do you like me?" And she is crushed every time he says no.  She is extremely sentimental and tends to pick one thing from whoever's house we're at and wants to bring it home.  And this post wouldn't be complete if I didn't mention Kallie's love of comfort.  She has a pair of leggings that look like skinny jeans (I call them her pajama jeans, or jeggings, if you will ;) and she would wear them EVERY DAY if she could!  She has also been wearing the same Tinker Bell pajama gown to bed for 2 1/2 years now (it's becoming more of a tunic with three quarter sleeves).  And you can pretty much tell the time, right before it gets dark and the street lights come on, when Kallie will disappear and then come back downstairs, wearing pajamas, slippers and her hair undone of all piggy-tails.       

  

She's my big sweetie, my little old soul, and every night when I tuck her in, I tell her I love her "tons and tons, bunches and bunches."  I hope she knows what that means.  I hope she knows that I love her more than she loves Lambchop, money, chocolate, her favorite pajama jeans, and her trusty old Tinker Bell gown....combined!    

Well hellloooooo there!

No really....hello, hellloooo, helllloooooooooo..........anybody there???

Has it really been this long?  Yep, I guess it has.  And this is my ATTEMPT at getting back on the horse ;)  It's been a while...some things have changed - the kids are 4 now (aahhhhh) and we moved...and some thing have stayed the same - namely me being a freak about doing things in order (even if 8 months later), so up next.....Kallie!

Emma

When she was born and even when she was a baby, I thought she was the sweetest thing to ever live.  When I looked into her eyes, I felt like I was looking into the soul of an angel. 

Now I know that sometimes the sweeter they are, the more hell they can raise!  Let me put it this way....she really is the sweetest thing, but she's got spunk and sass..and can spit fire when she wants to!
She is named after my Grandma...and that actually wasn't totally planned.  We thought we might use Emma for a middle name, but the babies went into the NICU as babies A, B, and C.  And they stayed that way for the first little while.  Then Emma had a massive pulmonary hemorrhage and the doctors didn't know if she was going to make it.  I couldn't let her go as Baby B...Tim and I looked up the meanings of names we had been bouncing around.....Emma - strong.....Brynn - hopeful.  And that's how she became Emma Brynn.  We call her Emma B, and she REALLY thinks the song "Imma Be" by Black Eyed Peas is about her....you should see how excited she gets every time it comes on - lol!

My little "middle child."  She has finally started coming out of that shell and claiming who she is....and I have loved watching her become more confident and sure of herself!

She's a girly girl through and through...yet she is super coordinated and athletic.  She loves climbing and tumbling, playing baseball, soccer, and she can hula-hoop like nobody's business!!!  I really have to post a video of her hula-hooping....it's the cutest thing EVER!!!

She is smart and can read people.  She knows what people want from her and depending on her mood, she'll play to that and do things to try and please them...or she'll do things to push their buttons.  

She is nosey as all get out...just like her Daddy!  You know those neighbors you see peeking out of the blinds when anything is going on outside???  Well, that's Tim...and Emma!  At restaurants, she's the one turned around just staring at someone else's table and listening to their conversation.

She also looks just like her Dad...same eyes exactly!!!  It's weird, and kind of cool at the same time, looking into little faces that look just like your husband's.  Still blows me away sometimes!  And I guess it's a good thing I still like looking at my husband ;)

They've all taken their turn, and I'm sure they'll continue to do so, but right now...Emma is the leader.  If she goes, the others will follow!

She likes to play shy sometimes, but she actually loves being the center of attention!  Her smile can light up the whole room....it sure does light up my whole heart.  I love her crazy free spirit, and can see past all that fire....into the soul of an angel...my angel :)