Thursday, May 28, 2009

Wrapping Up the May Birthdays...

Meghann at the recent 8th grade dance

...is Meghann! The first-born, but she has to wait until almost the last day of May (and after one brother and one sister celebrate May birthdays) before hers rolls around.

Ahhh...it's always worth the wait though!

And now, 14 Things I Love About Meghann:

1. She is ultra-creative. I came across so many pictures in her folder of things she has created that I couldn't decide which one to post. This is a simple one of a sculpey doll she made. She has also made sculpey Harry Potter characters, Charley Brown characters, a nativity scene, and on and on. She loves to draw, color, and lately she has taken up sewing. She made an apron, bonnet, and dress for her upcoming Pioneer trek. It does my heart good to see her love sewing.


2. She loves to read. And read and read and read.

3. She loves being dramatic. Oops...I mean she loves being in drama. And she's quite good at it.

4. She has some great friends. Here she is with her best friend Natalie.


5. She is an excellent student. She has surpassed both Brady and me on her math ability (where did she get that from???) and she excels in so many areas.


6. Her smile. Whenever she smiles big it just reminds me of the same cute smile she had when she was little.


7. Every now and then, she does something that just surprises us all.

8. Her gorgeous blonde hair. She's like me - fighting the frizz here in Florida, but she's got so much natural curl that it's just beautiful - humid or not.

9. She is a great big sister. Her younger siblings adore her and LOVE her to be the babysitter (could it be that she makes all-you-can-eat popcorn when we're gone??)


10. She's very obedient. The reason I posted this picture about "obedience" is whenever I tell her that her make-up is a little too overdone, she fixes it. She's a good girl.

11. She'll try new things. Lacrosse was something new for her. She discovered that she really doesn't like to run all that much (I don't either. Maybe she gets that from me too...) Notice I said she'll try new "things" - not to be confused with "she'll try new foods." Not happening. She's a very picky eater.

12. She's a collector. Now she has to get this from Brady. His office is like a museum, and her bedroom is quickly becoming one too. She has many fun collections. I found this picture in her folder and thought, "Now when did she take all of the spices off my spice rack and take pictures of her Littlest Pet Shop characters (which are now residing in the attic)?" Must have been sometime when I was gone.

13. She loves to grow things. I'm so glad she has a green thumb. Here she is picking strawberries at Pappys (she didn't grow these) but she started a garden last year with Natalie and she's done a great job at growing many things. Her favorite thing to grow is marigolds. We've started calling her Marigold Meghann because she takes the little seed things out of the dead marigolds and replants them. My front flower bed is teeming with marigolds that she planted from seed.

14. She's very dependable. Is this an oldest-child syndrome? I'm not sure, but Meghann is awesome at being dependable.


We love you, Meghann! Have a great 14th Birthday!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Kindergarten Art



I will miss these critters that have adorned my laundry room door (both sides!) this school year. Now that I've taken them down, the door seems stark white.
Along with the critters, I will miss having a kindergartener. Where does the time go?

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Birthday Girl

My birthday girl is looking for her birthday blog...

I've been so busy getting ready for and celebrating this blessed day, I haven't even sat down at the computer to give my Ode to Courtney.
But, alas, here it is.
12 Things I Love About Courtney:
(in no particular order)
1. She is a natural leader. Here she is getting the Leadership Award in 5th grade.

2. She is NOT a picky eater (thank goodness! One out of five!)

3. There is just something sweet about her. People have said that about Courtney from the time she was about two years old, and 10 years later, it's still true!

4. She's always good to come up with something to entertain her brothers during "quiet time" every Sunday (the "stair jumping" episode was all her idea).

5. She's not afraid of bugs. If a lizard gets in the house (believe me, it happens) she's the first one I call. I know she's not afraid to hunt him down and throw him out.



6. She gets excellent grades.


7. She loves to have fun.


8. She has a thing for monkeys...she just always has (remind you of someone, Andrea??)

9. Sometimes she still lets me do her hair. This isn't my do, it's a Libby Lu do, but she likes me to put her hair in pink sponge curlers sometimes, and she let's me french braid it too!


10. She makes us laugh. And laugh and laugh.

11. She feels the Spirit easily.


12. She has a fun and funky style that is all her own.

Our house would be dull and quiet without Courtney around. Happy birthday girlfriend!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Finally! Mother of the Year Award

Go here to see the news clip of my award.



http://news.cnnbcvideo.com/?nid=r9VvRh_35VL4o_3zoqC.dTM0NDg0Mw--&referred_by=16661468-z6FKBUx&p=jbj

(p.s. a friend sent me this on Mother's day. Where do people find these funny things?)

The Reason I Am Called "Mother"

...and the reason I sometimes want to change my name (he he).
AND, I wouldn't be a Mother without HIM:

It was a fabulous Mother's Day!

Friday, May 8, 2009

The Heat Is On

Temps have been in the 90's all week. Oh, Spring, where have you gone? We were so enjoying the days of windows being open, a nice breeze flowing through the house, kids playing outside until dinnertime, magnolia trees in bloom, lazy walks around the lake on a Sunday evening and no air conditioning bill. Now, I'm afraid it's all over. And it's just plain hot.


Monday, May 4, 2009

Happy Birthday to my Baby



Six things I love about JORDAN:

1. He is an equal-opportunity hugger. He is always very good about giving me a hug, then giving Brady a hug. If he gives Brady a kiss, he gives me a kiss. Makes us both feel so loved!







2. He still loves to climb up on my lap. He sits on my lap every morning for scripture reading so I can help him with the words. It's a great way to start my morning.



3. He's a boy of many talents, whether it's doing the splits or creating a masterpiece with his toys!









4. He's all Floridian - through and through. He might have been born in Arizona, but this boy loves the beach, the Florida Gators, and even catching the lizards that are plentiful around our yard.
The shirt is one of today's birthday presents



5. My plan was to have a girl at the end. So, even though my plan didn't work out, I'm glad Jordan doesn't mind playing dress-up.





6. He's a born leader. I've known that about him since nursery!




Happy Birthday Jordan!