Kate is ONE!!

The crown has been passed...


I can't believe my baby girl is ONE already!! She's so fun that the time is just flying! Here are a few pictures from Moonlight Beach. Isn't she beautiful!




Here are some pictures from her birthday party. We had about 40 of our closest friends over for the big day! It was a nice day we had the jumpy jump out and the kids played in the sandbox - it was a fun day! Kate really got into her cake! Alex wouldn't touch his (on his first birthday) but, Kate dug right in!





Alex questioned, "We share everything, right?" before tearing into her presents!!

Poor thing - barely got any presents!!

60 miles in 3 days!

In November I will be walking 60 miles in 3 days in support of those who have been affected by breast cancer. No one in my immediate family or group of friends has battled it yet. Statistics say that 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer though so I figure it really is just a matter of time. I pray that there will be a cure for this invasive disease before my kids grow up. I didn't think 60 miles in 3 days was really that big of a deal until Tom put it in perspective by saying, "That is almost a marathon 3 days in a row!" I said, "Yea, but I'm walking not racing!" Then, he said, "It's like walking from our house to Sea World - 3 days in a row. Like walking from our house to Rosarito Beach, Mexico or north to Huntington Beach!" My mom said, "That is like walking from our house (in Johnston) to Tammy's house (in Aiken), walking back to our house and then back to Tammy's house!" Oh and did I mention that I'll be CAMPING at nite. In a PINK tent! Now, you guys know I am not a camper. I don't even sleep well in a hotel. So this is big! I have also agreed to raise $2500 for the honor of walking 60 miles in 3 days. If you'd like to help support me by making a tax deductible donation please click on the link below to visit my breast cancer 3 Day webpage. 85% of the net proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, the world's largest and most progressive grassroots network fighting to end breast cancer. 15% of the net proceeds will benefit the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund, a special field of interest fund that will provide support for breast cancer initiatives including research, treatment, prevention and education.
Click here to visit my personal page.

Wild Animal Park makes Alex brave!

Here are some pictures from our last trip to the Wild Animal Park. They have a new play area that Alex ran around in for about an hour and a half while Kate took a nap in the sling.


Cute story - Alex was running around like a mad man. The kid who in our own house won't let me get two feet away from him took off and didn't look back! At one point he was picking up leaves off the ground and throwing them in the beehive looking thing. Well some kid who looked to be about 6 told Alex to "Stop it!!" in a real loud voice. Mama bear, knowing that Alex would be intimidated by this big kid, started over to intervene. Mind you Alex was not bothering that kid one bit. Well... Alex leaned over and got in that kids face - I mean nose to nose (Alex on his tip toes) and said in the biggest baddest voice I have ever heard, "You are a BAD GUY and you BETTER leave me ALONE!" The big kid tucked tail and ran and did not go near Alex again! I just swelled with pride!

Kate and her friend Sierra

Kate and Sierra, my friend Anne's daughter, were supposed to be about 2 weeks apart in age instead they are about 2 months apart. I got to babysit Sierra the other day and had a blast watching the girls play together! The funny thing is these pictures totally represent me and Anne. Sierra is in the cutest dress with leggings and a barrett in her hair and Kate is in jeans and a t-shirt and barefoot!

Teeth and stuff

As you can see, Alex is doing just fine. By 10:am the day after he knocked his teeth out, he was climbing all over the barstool and the elliptical machine. I now understand when my mom used to tell me that I gave her gray hair!!


A couple of pics of Katie's chompers - one a bit under duress because I had taken 9 zillion photos and couldn't get one with her teeth showing...




My little slice of Heaven on Earth... There is nothing better in the world than when Alex and Kate are playing and laughing together!














Alex and his "sleeping beauty" London



Alex and some of his art from school... Just in case you were wondering - he still loves the trash truck and the yard waste truck and the recycling truck!



Katie getting into the toys - literally!

Alex gets an early visit from

the TOOTHFAIRY...




He was climbing down from the barstool when his feet got caught on the rung. He fell on his face and knocked out his two front teeth!! I was holding him while Tom was cleaning up his face. Alex saw all the blood on the paper towel and said, "Oh no, that's not good." This happened at about 6:50 pm and we were in Alex's dentist office by 7:10pm. It was pretty traumatic for us all last nite but, he's a tough kid and by 10:am this morning he was playing again.
More exciting teeth news: Kate finally has her two bottom teeth. No more gummy grins for us! She is thisclose to crawling, too. We just had our corners bull nosed (rounded) in the house, had a/c installed and got a new heater. Tomorrow the painters come... After they are done we're going to have the carpets cleaned and I'm hoping that I can get my house back in order before she takes off... Wish me luck!!

Finally got my braces off!!

I finally got my braces off!! Yay!! I told my orthodontist that 20 years after having braces the first time you'd think they'd have made some advances with the retainers. Not so. When I wear mine I still feel like I have marbles in my mouth!

Kate just loves being upside down!!


She's just now getting her first two bottom teeth but, she hasn't let that slow her down! She is already thisclose to being done with baby food! She loves to eat whatever Alex is eating. Peas, carrots, corn, black olives, pasta, chicken nuggets and loves meatballs!!


She was happy with the mini waffle... until she saw what Alex got...



She's 10 months old today - January 31st! Can you believe that she'll be ONE in just two short months!!