A Truly Blessed 2009 Christmas!

Santa was very good to me this year! Once again he surprised me with something even though we always agree that we won't buy anything for each other...just the kids! Last year he shocked me with a laptop and I felt terrible b/c I didn't have anything for him! I made him SWEAR this year that he didn't get my anything and he just flat out LIED! This was a true shock! My original wedding ring set always irritated my skin, so he went and got me another one that is very similar but hopefully will be better on my finger! This picture definitely doesn't do it any justice! It is beautiful! Guess I should've known better than to believe that he wouldn't do something for me! I'll have to come up with something EXTRA special for next year! Don't think I can top this though! Oh, and he also got on one knee and proposed again in front of the girls! It was very sweet! I love you, Michael! This was the "aftermath" of Santa's visit...minus the Barbie dream house that had already gotten moved to their room!Christmas Eve in their Christmas PJ's that Mimi got them...Gran Gran with all 4 of her great-granddaughters...Sweet Gran GranCousin Colby, his wife Melissa, and their baby Leighton...Aunt Trinia and cousin CandiceKaitlyn & Aubrie at Mimi's on Christmas Eve....look at all those presents. Mimi ran out of room under the tree, so she had to go up the stairs with them....SPOILED MUCH!My aunt & uncle Trinia & Jon (mom's brother)I wish this pic wasn't blurry, but my camera was on the wrong setting...it would've been a really good picture!Nanny & Papa got Kaitlyn a cake maker...she LOVES the show "Cake Boss" so this was right up her alley!!!

Hope everyone had as good a holiday season as our family did! God is so good!

Happy New Year!

Kaitlyn turns 9!!!

I can't believe that Kaitlyn is already 9 yrs. old! CRAZY! She was barely two when Michael and I started dating. She stole my heart from the moment I met her! She was my first child no matter what anyone says! I've never considered her a "step-child!" Don't get me wrong, I know my place and I would NEVER try to take the place of her mother. But I know this little girl was part of God's plan for my life! He has given Michael and I a wonderful gift by allowing us to play a part in raising this special young lady! Here are 9 things I love about Miss Katybug!

1. You are the BEST big sister anyone could ask for!

You have a "motherly" instinct and your brother and sisters are so lucky to have you!

2. Your smile is addicting!

You can light up a room with your sweet spirit,

even though you are very shy around those you don't know!

3. You are thoughtful!

You put others first and are ready to help whenever or wherever there is a need.

4. You work so hard in school.

You know what you have to do to make good grades and you go for it!

5. You are so mature for your age.

You always have been ahead of your time!

6. You are so much fun!

You have a wonderful sense of humor and love to make people laugh!

7. You are beautiful!

You have the best features of both your parents, both inside and out!

8. You love to shop!

This is new! It is so much fun to see you develop your own style!

9. You are so adjusted!

Even though most kids have trouble with going back and forth between mom and dad,

you never seem to mind! I know it must be hard at times, but you don't let anyone know it!

I love you very much, Kaitlyn! I hope you know that I am always here for you!

Okay, enough mushy!

Kaitlyn wanted to have a slumber party and I volunteered to have it here. Her bday is on the 19th which fell on a Saturday this year. Perfect, I said! School is out on the 18th, so we'll have it that Friday night! I totally wasn't thinking about the fact that class parties at school would be that day and that the kids would be loaded with sugar and excitement! I let her invite 8 girls, thinking that with the holidays, some would be going out of town! NOPE! All but one came....with Kaitlyn, I had 8...3rd graders in my house! WHEW! At 2:30 a.m. I MADE them go to bed...they were WILD, but it was fun!

Kaitlyn & Mimi
and with Nana...her mom's mom....

Blowin' out candles on her A & M cake...her Uncle Bryant on her mom's side

is an Aggie, so she LOVES A & M!

We had a fashion show!

This is her bestie Sadi...which is really cool! Sadi's aunt Jana and I were

close friends growing up and were at MANY slumber parties together!

Opening up her presents....all the girls would squeal before she even opened each one!

It was head-splitting loud, but hilarious at the same time!

The gang!

I knew that Aubrie would want to be right in the middle of the big girls, so to be fair to Kaitlyn, I let her invite one friend to hang out with. She chose her sweet friend Kate and they had so much fun and it kept Miss Aubrie out of her big sisters' hair. Kate didn't spend the night and Aubrie went home with Mimi and Michael and Emma went to Mimi & Poppy's to spend the night. That left ME with all 8 girls! But atleast I didn't have to worry about them being quiet so others could sleep!
Silly girls!

School Parties & Programs

Some shots of Aubrie's PreK party.... Kaitlyn got to come with me since she got out of school early...
I only got one good shot of Kaitlyn's school program. My zoom wasn't doing well....
Emma & her buddy Ridge at their Kiddie Kollege party & book exchange...
Aubrie at her school program....

Can you tell she was a wee bit excited!?

Rudolph Party

We had our annual church Rudolph party at the Kerby's the first part of the month. Always so much fun! Emma really enjoyed Santa!
Aubrie & Kate

Emma loved her little Magna Doodle Santa brought...

Kaitlyn never to big to sit on Santa's lap!I was so glad that E wasn't afraid of Santa this year!

Kaitlyn who was a "helper" for the night! She didn't want to be put in the same category as the little ones.Emma & her friend AddisonNot taken at the party, but in front of our tree at home....

Thanksgiving Fun!

Okay, so I know its been awhile! I've been uploading these same pics to Facebook, and I feel like all my blog readers are also my friends on FB....but I have decided to still do the blog since I am going to eventually print this for the girls' scrapbooks! So bare with me! Aubrie and her best school friend Grace at their PreK thanksgiving feast.
Mimi & Aubrie

Mommy & Aubrie
Here are the turkey cookies we made for the feast....so much fun!
Very proud of her cookies!