Holy Crap!

Ever wonder what an O.C.D.-ridden mother's

worst nightmare looks like?

This.

McKenna's Masquerade Birthday!

Look out world... McKenna's now a pre-teen--a double digit! She's 10!

Awhile ago, I was talking with my mom on the phone about how I was a little sad that I only had one girl. My mom's reply put everything in perspective for me. She said, "But McKenna's a WHOPPER of a girl!" And that's the truth! I couldn't ask for a funner or sweeter daughter!

McKenna's very creative and dramatic, so we had to have a birthday party that fit the bill. After agonizing for months over the perfect theme, we chose to have a Masquerade Party. It turned out so fun! Just look at these mysterious drama queens!
This age group loves crafts-so we crafted it up! After watching the masquerade scene from "Phantom of the Opera" for inspiration, the girls painted their own masks and made jewelry.
But the biggest hit of the party was the chocolate fountain! (Thanks Aunt Brooke!) Forget cake! It was all I could do to contain them while singing Happy Birthday. They couldn't wait to dive in! Chocolate has this maddening force on women--no matter what age they are!
And boy, could those petite little gals eat!! They cleaned me out. I think they would have licked the fountain clean if I would have let them. And, thankfully, it wasn't as messy as I had imagined. We only ruined two shirts.
Of course, my own personal garbage disposal (Ashton) loved the chocolate fountain as well!

It was a terrific party for a terrific girl! We love you Kenna!

Puppy Love

If you read this blog, you know that Ashton is an adorable mess maker, but one thing that few people know about him is that he has an obsession. His tongue. It started the day he was born. The second he came out of the womb, his tongue was alive. My mom (always looking for deformities and handicaps) noticed it immediately! Almost a year and a half later, that tongue is still always buzzing and wiggling about. I actually think that it may be too big for his mouth. In 99% of our photos of him, his tongue is hanging out! Well, something amazing happened last week. Ashton found a soul mate. Someone who understands him. Someone who loves their tongue as much as Ash loves his.

Shelby. (Grandma Luke's Dog!)

That's right. And they celebrated their love of tongues in a series of slobbery kisses. Ashton was in saliva heaven. He would have gone on slapping tongues all day if I would have let him, but knowing that his Daddy was going to practically pass out at the sight of doggy germs, Ash only stole a few kisses before I swept him away... But Ash and Shelby now have something that can never be taken away. A bond. A force uniting human and canine. A shared love of tongues.

The Mess Maker

Don't let those sparkling baby blues eyes and toothy grin fool you... This 30 pound munchkin is a walking tornado. Nothing (under two feet) is safe from his destructive grasp.

Cupboards? His favorite toy box.

Wastebaskets? A bucket of discovery.

Toilets? A tempting treat.

Books? Just asking to be shredded!

Dishwasher? Knives, glass, and plastic... a steamy heaven.

No babysitter, nanny, or even.. Mother of the Year can match the un-doing power of this sticky, chubby creature. Will he ever be tamed? The world may never know.

Showtime - Part 3

For the last day of school, McKenna's school had a talent show. McKenna and her cousin auditioned, and were picked! They sang "What Is This Feeling?" from Wicked. It's pretty ironic that these two girls sang a song about loathing each other when they actually love each other more than life itself. These two drama-lovin' girls were amazing... or as Glinda would say, they were "unusually and exceedingly" amazing! May we present to you, McKenna as Elphaba and Kassidy as Glinda in their Broadway debut..........

Showtime - Part 2

Carson spent so much time listening to McKenna learn an audition song that he ended up learning it too. May we present Carson in his singing debut.....

How I Get Ready For the Day!

Why do kids love small, tight spaces? My boys are always making forts in the family room and playing under the computer desk while I type. I even remember playing under the grand piano as a kid when my mom use to practice! Well, sweet little Ashton is no exception! He has put claim on his own little space in the house: His very own cupboard. He discovered this empty cupboard in my bathroom a few days ago, and ever since, he climbs up inside it and just sits there the entire time while I do my make-up and hair. It really has made life a little easier for me. It's nice not having him pulling on the curling iron cord, trying to touch the toilet water, or exploring the trash can while I'm getting ready! He just sits contently in his cupboard. Tender mercies. Truly.