Birthday Fun!

Yesterday was my 37th birthday! The plan was to go to Dallas for a Def Leppard concert and then come on home. I decided that I didn't want to be away from the kids, so we decided Peter and Bradley would go to the concert and Laurel Ann and I would stay at the hotel and swim, get room service, etc. So- off we went!


Lulu is checking herself in the mirrored ceiling.


Bradley chillaxing.

Laurel Ann and I head to the pool, and Bradley and Pete head to the concert. About 30 minutes later I get a call from Pete- the concert has been postponed! Apparently the lead singer's Dad passed away and Def Leppard has postponed two weeks of concerts! It helps to check your email more than once a week (Peter!). So, the boys head back to the hotel, and we head to dinner. We decide on El Fenix and have some of the best Mexican food! The tortilla soup was fabulous! Bradley tells the waiter it's my birthday, so of course they come sing. I did get a complimentary sopapilla, so it was worth it!


After dinner, we headed back to the pool and swam until it closed. After a great night's sleep (you know you're getting old when you're excited about the sleep you got!), we got up and swam again! It was wonderful, because we had the whole place to ourselves. After showering and checking out, we had brunch at IHop and now we're on our way home. Even though it didn't go exactly as planned, it was still a great trip!
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Laurel Ann's 6th Birthday Party

It's Party Time!!

Avery, Laurel Ann and Chloe waiting for the fun to begin!


Lining up for the first event.....(That's as good as I looked all evening!)


Smashing confetti eggs on Bradley's head! He was equipped with a helmet.....


He was a very good sport about it!


On to the pinata!


Toni! She was highly recruited during t-ball draft! Look at that stance!


After the games, I told some Moms I didn't realize how violent our games were until we were in the middle of smashing eggs on Bradley's head and then whacking a pinata! They got their aggressions out! The rest of the time, the kiddos ran wild! I think they had a blast!


Time for presents....


Finally, the cake....Three guesses who is on her cake....Heard at the party---"Medusa", "the Cowardly Lion", "Brittany Spears".....and the answer is......Taylor Swift! Laurel Ann really likes listening to Taylor Swift and wanted a Taylor Swift cake for her birthday. Most Moms guessed correctly- the Dads- not so much!

Laurel Ann had a great party with great friends. It was another one of those times when our decision to move home to Hamilton was once again affirmed!!

There's a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place

...and I know that it's the Spirit of the Lord.

Laurel Ann has been especially sweet this week. I first noticed it Monday morning when she let me brush out her hair without complaint. When I commented on how well she was behaving, she told me she had asked God to help her be "kind, wise and smart." This sweetness has carried on through the week even during our current stomach bug. Last night she told me she would clean up her pillow after she'd gotten sick on it. That almost did me in- talk about a happy Mama's heart!


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No School!!

What a crazy three days it's been! Make that four as of tomorrow! We've played lots of Wii...Pete and Laurel Ann doing the "lasso" while playing Dancing with the Stars...



We've sung lots of songs...



We've played board and card games, roasted marshmallows in the fireplace, argued, fussed and fought, hiked to Nana and Papa's, and put icicles in the freezer. All in all- we've had a great week! We just hope Meridian is out tomorrow so we can have Pete for the day!

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The Planner...

Laurel Ann has an apparent talent for planning. I'm sharing with you what she worked on most of the day yesterday while sick at home. Let me also mention she would like a Wonder File (as seen on TV!) for her birthday!

Im haveing a christmas party
On december252011 and.
The gest Lest the pepol are chloe avery Averi Alyssa alyssta grace Allyson peter Alanae jazman Leae alyce roys
Boys list the pepol are levi sutton
Landon skylar bradly Levi Caden Cade Leunele en Zack
cj you are comeing To my party at 6pm and thes are the
Helprs Allyson Peter roys Alyce
Jim Kathy carylin leue thankyou
Helprs you wil have a meeting at
5pm you wil do a good job helprs you
Can come in fance close
Decorations and toys

Keep in mind- she's 5, so spelling, punctuation, spacing are non-existent! Did I mention she's a tad bossy as well?!?

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Too many "-isms"

Peter's mom has been with us for the past two evenings and (thankfully!) has helped Bradley with his homework. One assignment was to write a paragraph on the ecosystem and what would happen if half the "systems" disappeared...or something like that....Anyway, after a consult with Pops (Peter's dad) it was decided that Bradley should see what his textbook says on the matter. After Bradley reads a couple of paragraphs, he asks, "can't I just copy these two paragraphs- or is that evangelism?" Needless to say we got a good chuckle and explained the two words and how it might be evangelism if you were copying straight from the Bible!

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THE TALK.....yes THAT talk....(Reader Beware!)

On more than one occasion, Bradley has asked, "How does a woman CHOOSE to get pregnant?" Peter and I have been very creative in our way of evading the answer. "God blesses the family." "It's a special love a mommy and daddy share." "The stork drops the baby off on the front door step." While these are all true, (well, except for the stork..) we've not given the WHOLE truth. Well......tonight we decided to share a few more pieces to the puzzle.

Bradley was going about his evening chores, and while putting up dishes, I tell him that when a man and woman are married they have a special way of showing physical love. His reply- "Like arm wrestling?" I couldn't help it- I bust out laughing. I can tell this is going to be a typical "Bradley" conversation.

I decide a more direct approach may be needed...

"You know how you have a penis?"
"Yes...."
"Well a woman has a vagina."
"That thing on your belly?"
Hhhhhhuuuuuuhhhhhh?!?!? What in the world is he talking about? (Later I realize he thinks that because I had C-sections that's where a woman's vagina is located.)

At this point I realize a visual is going to be necessary, so I send him upstairs to get this anatomy pamphlet that we bought at Target in the dollar aisle- not realizing at the time how "anatomically correct" it was. So Peter and I sit on the couch and talk about the differences in a man and woman's body. At one point Bradley says, "Vagina- that's a fun word to say. Va-giiii-na." At this point I remind him that he doesn't go around saying "penis" or talking about it- and the same holds true for vagina. I'm afraid we're going to be getting a call from school!

Anyway, we continue on with our conversation and talk about how sperm fertilizes the egg.
"Sperm? Is that like spam?" Ummm.....not exactly! Again- laughter.

The funniest moment of the evening may be when Bradley realized the sperm has to meet the egg. And there's only one way for that to happen....

At this point, we realize we've overloaded him for one night and decide to end with the technical basics.

I can't wait to see what our next TALK will entail!