Happy 4th birthday Addie Reese...

It is so hard to wrap my head around the fact that my baby girl has gone from this...

Addie Reese 3 1/2 weeks old

To this...

Addie Reese 1 year old

To this...
Addie Reese 2 years old

To this...
Addie Reese 3 years old

To this...
Addie Reese 4 years old

All the craziness....

All the silliness....

All the sass...

And all of the sweetness anyone could ever ask for
all rolled into one little girl.

Even though she is strong willed and stubborn at times,
the spontaneous hugs and kisses out weigh the fits any day.

Today she was filled with birthday cheer from the minute Kyle and I woke her up.
Daddy went and got her favorite breakfast... doughnuts!!!!

She got to have them on a picnic blanket in the playroom.
Her favorite morning treat because she can only have picnics
when Drew, her little "bother", is still in bed.

She was celebrated at preschool camp with a birthday party and then was picked up by her Poppa. They had their usual Wednesday date at King Burger where she had her usual fare and played the usual games on the playground. They went home and watched what is becoming her new favorite cartoon... Tom and Jerry.
She had another visitor stop by to bring her birthday greetings... her Poppy!
By the time Kyle and I got home, Addie was on a sugar and attention high. For her birthday dinner where did she want to go... King Burger... for Round 2!!!

Being silly with my camera on the way to birthday dinner...

The birthday dinner.
Photo credit: Addie Reese Sanders

Drew taking in the birthday festivities.

Getting her birthday cake request...
One Strawberry Cupcake

Making the wish!!!

The end to a perfect day

Newborn and 1st birthday photos by Benjamin Photography.

Randomness at home....

Well these pics have been saved for about a week and if you live around me you know because the weather has done a 360 turn in the past week. We went from 5 days of snowy weather to 65 degree... oh how I love spring.... wonderful days. But these are the random pics from my snowy days at home with the babies. I guess you could call this our "Easter" break and part of our "Spring Break". Our school system has gone over our snow bank days so the days which were holidays are now school days.

Addie taking a little nappy under her umbrella. I think she is praying for April showers.

Enjoying the $1 puzzle from the dollar tree for filling up her good girl sticker chart.

24 pieces all by herself...

Making the most of the days off and getting ready for V-day...

My attempt to make cookies to go with the valentines above but this idea did not pan out.
The cookies tasted great but looked terrible. Kyle said, "Where's the syrup?" and Addie said, "Too flat."
Honest critics for sure huh... I didn't want Addie to be the kid with the mom who thinks she can bake. I guess that is what Walmart is for and I think it is time to replace the baking soda and baking powder.... who knows??????

This little cutie pie is just getting too fast and too big.
I can barely get the pic before he is touching the camera.

Princess time on pajama day.
This is what Addie calls the days when we do not have to go anywhere.
She likes it when the roads are too icy and she gets to stay home with me...

I see you Addie Reese...

The Disney line up ready for the ball...
But I really think they are square dancing because addie sings this little tune
"Spin your partner round and round,
If you don't, I'll knock you down."
Such the lady right?

Nothing but fun times in the mornings....

The Little Red Caboose...

A couple of weeks ago... yes it has been a while since I last blogged... we had a short break from old man winter. The temperature got all the way up to drum roll please..... 58 degrees!! So Kyle and I decided to pack up the kiddos and go to the Red Caboose Playground in Bellevue. We had to make a run to Costco for formula and apple chips... Drew's staples these days. Talk about having fun on a nice day. Addie and Kyle played on the swings, tightropes, monkey bars, and more. Drew and I walked a few laps around the playground and played on the Little Red Caboose they have just off the playground. And of course I captured a few moments on my camera...

Drew checking out the train car...

Addie showing her love for the little red caboose...

A little tickle time with Addie Reese..

Me and my little girl...

Now only if I had gotten the tears and fits on camera when we had to leave? She is getting better but still has room for improvement. That's what the "4" year old year is about right?

What to do on a snowy day?

Not much sledding or throwing snowballs...

for there has been snow for the past six weeks...

So we stay in and play princess... in our pjs...
( I promise she is a lot happier than the picture shows)

and have crawling races...

we make our toes pretty...
("red for valentine's day" my little girls favorite holiday)

ride our little horsey....

and make lemon cookies.

That's what we do on a snowy day.

10 months old....

And this little boy is....

is stealing my heart.... more everyday.

This month Drew has really shown that we are on the edge of toddlerhood. He is getting more independent and less baby with every passing day. He is pulling up on everything. I think the view is better for him. He can crawl super fast. He is beginning to show signs of climbing up the stairs. He can slide down the sofa to the floor. He can stand for a few seconds by himself. He can hold his bottle with one hand while sitting up on the floor.

During the day he really just sips the bottle and plays a little ... which means less cuddle time. But at night he still likes to cuddle in the big comfy chair with his bottle
and his favorite girl... momma.
He wraps his little fingers around mine until all of the milk is gone.
He then looks at me with a sweet, flirty grin.
This means it is time to snuggle and rock for a few minutes with Twinkle, Twinkle in the background by the glow of his nightlight.
Then the game begins of looking back at the crib... looking at me... with a grin... leaning in to my cheek to give me a kiss... then snuggling his face into my shoulder.
We do this for a few minutes then off to bed he goes... for about 12 hours if we let him.

Yes good night time sleep habits but daytime naps are a thing of the past around here... for the most part. Some days, he will sleep in his swing or in his car seat, but no crib naps for this boy. He also can get around this house faster than a speeding bullet. He is into everything... Allie's food and water bowl, the trashcans, the toilet paper, and my favorite pulling the vent covers out of the floor. He loves to play with Allie and throw her duck... or try to eat her duck... yuck and chase her all around the house. Allie is still the one thing he is faster than.

He likes to feed himself, so do not even try to put a spoon to his lips, because he will just shove it away and make a bigger mess. He is a southern boy when it comes to his food because this child will not pass up green beans, meatloaf, or mac 'n cheese.

All I can say.... boys are a lot different than girls even at 10 months.
And that I am thankful that Drew was wonderfully made... just for us.

10 years ago...

This little pup was born and brought into my life as my "first" child.
Found at Walmart on the bulletin board by my mom and dad.
Saved from a life that was not the most fancy at a local trailer park for 50 bucks.
She has been a friend by my side for the past 10 years.
When I got her she was 1 lb. and could fit in kyle's shirt pocket.
When I took her to the vet for the first time, she did not stay in the kennel part of the office for the day but in the lab coat of the vet techs.
She can jump a mile up and can scale a baby gate to get out of the kitchen.
She can push you out of the bed with all of her 7 pound might... which I find it hilarious that she gets to sleep with us but our "other" children cannot.
She can dig her way into the blankets to find her perfect spot and if you want to make her happy fold clothes fresh from the dryer.... she will sit on top till they are gone.
She was burped like a baby when she could not swallow her food.
Tears of sadness flowed when the vet in Knoxville said she would not live to be one year.
Shout of joy came out when my family vet said she would be fine... thanks Dr. Carroll.
She has traveled i-40 more than any dog should going
from Knoxville to Memphis to visit family and friends.
She has been understanding and patient when
these "other" children keep coming into our home.
She will bring her duck to anyone with hands to throw it.
She loves to play chase with Addie and Drew.
She has selective hearing when outside and never wants to go in.
She loves to go for walks... long walks... three miles...in the summer...
around the lake so she can torture the ducks.

She is the one and the only Allie.
No one knows what kind of dog she is but she always gets a smile.
She loves me so much and I love her too.

Happy 10th Birthday Allie

Life of a teacher on snow days...

This is what snow days for a teacher look like... after sleeping in to 7am... making breakfast and having it picnic style in the floor while watching Super Why... bidding daddy adieu for the day (which is always short because he wants a snow day too)... sipping coffee while a sweet baby boy is at my feet whining to be picked up... playing with Polly pockets, princesses, drums, and dinosaurs... we finally get in our "southern" snow clothes and enjoy the time outside.

I am pretty sure this picture was snapped right before
Addie stopped holding Drew and he did a face plant in the snow.

Addie's face in this pic is priceless to me...

Addie's tiny snowman...

Drew loving the snow...

And after a week of snow and ice
it's back to work I go.