STOP! Time needs to slow down. My little baby will be four at the end of this month and I have no earthly idea how it happened. Its like a blinked and there was this little boy standing in front of me, no longer a baby in my arms. Oh, he's still my little cuddle bug, but I know that one day soon it won't be like that anymore. I just want to grab on tight to this time and not let it go.

He has already informed me that he wants to be called "Nate" instead of Nathan. He tugs his hand out of mine as soon as we step up onto the curb out of the parking lot. He can put on his own shoes and socks with ease. He knows how to work an iphone. My "little wide eyes, bright eyes, beautiful blue eyed baby" is now my precious big boy.

His party is going to be superhero themed. So, I took my little buddy out for a photoshoot. I'm saving a lot of the pictures for his invite (which I am SO EXCITED about getting), but here are a few from that evening!

One of the things that I love to do most is plan a party. I don't know what it is about it, but every bit of it makes me happy, from the little details, to the night before mad dash to get said little details finished, to the look of my kids' faces when they see the final product. Love every minute of it. N's birthday is coming up in exactly one month and I am in busy party planning mode. E's second bday party planning has already started, too!

But...

Emma turned one back at the end of October and we had a super fun party for her. I am just so behind on things with Christmas, then the move, and just life, that I never posted about it!

Her theme, because all of my parties have to have themes, was "Our Little Pumpkin is turning One!" Here was her invite, front and then back:


Our colors were pink, orange, and black. Here is her cake from Misty. She's done all of our b day cakes since N was born. They are sooo good!

For the adult favors, I made pumpkin favors and wrapped them up with pink ribbon. For the kids, I bought pumpkin bags and filled them with different things. I made sure to buy them big enough so that they could bring their very own painted pumpkin they picked from the pumpkin patch home.

I made a banner that I hung behind the table. Each circle has her monthly picture on it. I really wish I could have taken a better shot of it because I was so happy with the way it turned out!

Just a few more detail shots.

Outside, we created Emma's Pumpkin Patch. We set up some bales of hay, had a ton of pumpkins of all sizes and a scarecrow we made ourselves. Each kid got to pick out a pumpkin and paint it. We set up a folding table with paint, all sorts of paint brushes, and an art apron that I personalized with each kid' name. It was so much fun to see all their creations!


So, that is part one. I am being beckoned by a little superhero to fight some bad guys! Part 2 will have to wait!

Nathan LOVES to sing. His two favorite songs are Somebody Like You hoo hoo and Bare Necessities. Here is he singing the second one and showing off some of his mad dance skills. Ha! Gotta love this boy!

1. Its actually Wednesday morning, but oh well. Things have been so busy here, with Garett working late, Nathan having middle of the week T Ball make up games, and just life. So, I am a day late.

2. There was a time when it was just Nathan and me. He was on the receiving end of all my attention. Since having Emma, my attention has had to be split into two. I think that really affects him sometimes, so I do try to have some one on one time with him. When Emma naps, I do try to do something special with him. The other day, we made cuppycakes. He loves to bake with me and has become quite a pro at cracking eggs!

3. Which brings me to the little girl who almost never gets alone time with me. This summer, though, I am going to sign her up for a Little Gym class, leave Nathan with my mom and we are going to have some Mommy and Emma time.

4. Nathan's end of year T Ball party is at our house on Friday evening. I have been so busy getting that all planned and ready. It is going to be so cute and so fun. For sure there will be pictures to come! I can't beleive that my baby has finished his first season of T Ball! Everything is going be too fast.

5. Garett bought me the True Blood books for Mother's Day and I have already finished all 10 of them! They were so good! So, I started Netflixing the HBO series. So far, I am a little disappointed, though! I had heard how good the TV series is, but I just don't see it. It takes place in Louisiana, and they are just way overdoing their accents. Its like those Texas movies where everyone wears cowboy hats and speaking with a heavy twang. Just ruins it, you know? We'll see. I am only 4 episodes in.

6. The kids favorite thing to do when it is scorching hot outside and mommy just cannot bear to spendanother moment in the sun.


7. As I am typing this, Nathan is in trouble in his room. It is the first time I have ever sent him to his room asa punishment, and he did not like it. I just don't know what else to do. He just gets so upset with Emma and hits her really hard, every single day. I am at my wits end here. He is such a good kid and a loving brother, but he just loses his temper with her sometimes. And, I know it is normal, but it is not normal for my 1 year old to have red marks on her where he hits her. ugh.

8. I was looking through my pictures, and this was taken a year ago this week. My how things have changed! We are living a in a different house, in a different city. The kids have grown up so much. G has a new job, we all have new friends. Crazy to think about.

9. We are going to have a new addition to our family in February! My brother told us yesterday that he and Anne are expecting a baby! We couldn't be more thrilled for them and cannot wait to meet their little one!

10. I need it to rain! I am so tiredof spending my evenings trying to keep our grass alive! It needs to rain everyday, but Friday! Anyone know a raindance???

Even though they are fighting like cats and dogs a lot now, they still really do love each other.


(And before people--like my husband and my dad--ask why N isn't wearing a shirt, its because he chewed on it, got it all wet, and then took it off. I wasn't going to miss these moments just because he is shirtless!)

Mmmm, long weekends... What else can I say, but that they are great. There is something so magical, something so wonderful about knowing that there is that extra day off. Unfortunately, Garett did have to work most of Monday, but he was able to sleep in a bit later and come home a bit earlier (even if he does have to work tonight after we put the kids to bed).

We woke up early on Saturday and drove down to Galveston Island for our annual "Ink and Drink" shrimp boil and Uncle Bobby's house. Lots of good food and company! N wasn't too thrilled with the main course (crawfish), but E thought they were pretty cool and really wanted to show me. I'm on N's side here, though!




He did love the desserts, though!



To say that the kids had a blast at the beach is a total understatement. Emma LOVED every minute of it, in case you can't tell. My tiny dancer let loose and just had fun.


That silly Emma and her grandpa. She loves her "pawpaw".


And her grandma!


Nathan, on the otherhand, took some time to warm up to the waves. He wasn't crazy about going out into the ocean, but found a little tide pool that was just his size. Then, the boy ran as fast as he could up and down the length of the water. And, he is the best sand castle builder ever.


On Sunday, we finally finished painted Little E's room! I cannot wait to get it all fixed up and just perfect for her. I'll have to share pics later, once its done.

We also spent A LOT OF TIME at the "park" in our backyard. A month or so ago, we bought the kids a new playsystem and Emma wants to spend every waking moment on it. She has this cute little park dance where she stomps her feet and sings,"PARRRRRRRRRRK!" I love it.



And I love summer!

I know I never posted the wildflower pictures of Nathan, and to tell the truth, I sort of forgot about it. But, today Lisa sent me some of the pictures she took of the kiddos on that same day and I am in love with them. Thought I would share!

I am so happy that Lisa and I found this field. We were just driving around looking for new locations to shoot at, and came across this gem. This is definitely a field that we will all be returning to each year!