Braylee and Elle-Belle

Braylee's best friend at daycare is Elle, who Braylee calls Elle-Belle. Braylee and Elle will both be 4 in September, on the 22nd and 23rd. :) They have been begging for a playdate outside of daycare for months. Elle's mom and I have tried to plan it before, and we finally found a day that worked for both of us. So, after running a few errands this morning, I picked up Elle. Braylee had already decided she was going to let Elle choose where we ate lunch since Elle was her guest. (This was a proud Mommy moment.) Elle chose McDonalds (big surprise, huh?!). Since the weather was so pleasant, the girls agreed to a picnic rather than eating in. So, we ran through the drive-thru and headed home. We had our blanket all spread out in the shade, when I reached in to pull out our food and realized they had given me a filet-o-fish instead of chicken. :( I was bummed. But thankfully, the girls are healthier eaters than I am, and they agreed to share the fish sandwich (once the tarter sauce had been scraped off, of course). The girls played so well together. As soon as we dropped Elle off, Braylee was asking when she could come back again.

Showing their fish sandwich.

I don't think I've mentioned that our daycare is closing. :( We're very sad. Our girls love it there. Braylee has been going there since she was 10 months old. She had just started walking, and I remember how "big" she looked sitting in the circle with all of the other kids...but she was still a baby! This Friday is their last day at Danyelle's. We have found another daycare that I think my girls will love too. It is where Sydney and Addison go, and Krista has highly recommended it. We were able to stop by today for a little visit. Braylee was only shy for a minute and then went off to play with Sydney. Brynna took a little more coaxing, but when it came time to leave, she cried. So, I think we've found a good fit.

Braylee's 1st day at daycare--August 8, 2005

Shaving Cream and Boating

Saturday, I dumped a bunch of shaving cream on the bar and let Braylee draw in it. We used to do this at the daycare I worked in while I was in college. Braylee loved it, but Miss I-don't-like-to-be-dirty wouldn't touch it! ;) Instead, Brynna sat on the bar and played with my cell phone while she watched Braylee.

Writing her name

Sunday was a busy day. After church, we went boating with Gramma and Pappy at Boggs. Braylee was practicing her backstroke. She also mastered climbing up the ladder (really not the easiest thing to do) and jumping off the side of the boat. Brynna loved being in the water and as usual fell asleep on the boat. I guess it lulls her to sleep. However, she cannot handle watching her Daddy and Pappy ski! She pouts and cries until they get back in the boat. I kept reassuring her that it's fun for them. At one point, she covered her eyes with her arm! It was cute, but I wish it wouldn't have upset her. We had to hurry home and get ready for the Youth Program at church. The program was for the kids and sponsors to share about the mission trip we went on in June. It was fun remembering the great experience we had.

Gramma & Brynna

Neither of these pictures were planned. I guess Brynna is just so kissable,
it's bound to be caught on film occasionally! :)
This is Brynna pouting while Daddy was skiing.

Yesterday, we met my Granny for lunch at the White Steamer. We took a walk on Main Street back to Daddy's bank and then went to the library before heading home. Last night, we had the preview night for Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University at church. For anyone around here who is interested, you can still sign up today or tomorrow...classes start Sept. 8th. Alex and I have been living by Dave Ramsey (which as Dave says is really God's way of managing money) since about a year after we were married. We've been living debt-free for the last 4 years. It really is a wonderful feeling!! Although I'll admit, I'm sure I wouldn't be in this position if it wasn't for my financial adviser husband. Alex manages our money and I just follow along. :) If you are in the area and available on Monday nights, let me know and we'll get you signed up! You won't regret it! Ok, enough of my advertising...

Braylee is always posing and asking me to take her picture!

Daddy had some very important clients in his office yesterday. :) Here is Brynna discussing mutual funds...

And Braylee helping Dad organize his desk.

Most of you know Braylee loves the UPS guy...but I think I might have disappointed her on Friday. We were driving to daycare and passed a UPS truck. I told her I had just ordered more clothes from Gymboree, so the UPS guy should be visiting us again soon. I was impressed with her next question..."How does the UPS guy know we ordered more stuff?" I explained that the computer tells the store what I want, they pack it in a box, and then they let the UPS guy know when it's ready. Then he brings it to our house. She asked, "He doesn't make it?!" No wonder she thought he was so cool! She thought he made everything he brought to us! ;)

Happy Birthday, Papaw!

Today is my Dad's birthday! He was out busy doing test plots when I called him...well actually, Braylee called him. :) Even though my parents live about an hour away, part of my dad's sales territory includes our county. Every once in awhile, it works out that he can stop by for dinner or for some quick kisses and fives from the girls. I'll admit I am a bit of a Daddy's girl. I remember when we first got married, I'd catch myself saying, "I could call and ask my dad..." or "I bet my dad would know..." :) One of my all-time favorite memories of my dad is when he first saw me in my wedding gown. I wasn't prepared for it...I was standing in my Grammy and Gramps' front room getting a picture with my brother and my dad came around the corner. I think I stopped him in his tracks. ;) It was definitely a special moment. Dad was on his way to the hospital when Braylee was born. As soon as I had handed her off, I had to call him. He still says the hospital has her time of birth wrong. His cell said 8:41 when I called him, and her birth certificate says 8:45. :) He has an amazing memory about silly details like that. My girls think he is so silly, which he is. They love their Papaw!

Me and My Dad Dec. 97

Swimming with Braylee in St. Louis June 05
Swinging with Braylee at her 2nd Bday party Sept 06
Snuggling with Brynna Thanksgiving 07
Mamaw & Papaw with the grandkids at Lark Ranch Oct. 06

Happy Birthday, Papaw!!

Happy Birthday, Emilee & Trista!

My niece Emilee celebrated her 12th birthday on the 19th. This picture is from last summer, but it's one of my favorites. I still can't believe she is in 6th grade already! We love you, Emi!!

My youngest sister Trista is 22 today! She and I are an odd sister pair. We are so very much alike in certain ways and polar opposites in others. We've been super close ever since she was really little though. I used to read her bedtime stories almost every night. And we used to share a bed for awhile since we were both scaredy cats. ;) I'll never forget one night when she was having trouble going to sleep...she was probably about Braylee's age. I told her to picture a volleyball game in her head...you know, passing the ball back and forth in your head is a little like counting sheep. Anyway, she rolled over a few minutes later and said, "What do I do now? The game is over." :) She's a sweetie, and she makes me laugh. I thought I'd share a few pictures of her with my girls. She *kind of* likes them. And I promise, these really are all pictures with Trista. She has a tendency to change her hairstyle frequently.


This was taken Sunday when the girls finally had their bellies full after waiting so long on their food. Braylee & Lillie were very patient.
The quality of this picture is bad, but it was too cute to erase. (Notice Braylee working a puzzle in the background.)

Monday, I hosted a jewelry party at our house. The girls sampled some of the snacks before the guests arrived.

Braylee was the mom and Lillie was her baby.

Tuesday was a beautiful day. I took the girls to the library. As we were walking in, they were sidetracked by a little bird. It was fresh out of it's nest, unable to fly yet.

Here's Braylee working that same puzzle again. :) She received it last year for her bday from Abbie & Gil, and she's become obsessed with it! I need to find her more like it.

A Successful Day

Yesterday after church, we ate lunch with Abby & Kevin and their kids at one of the Mexican restaurants. We waited for what seemed like forever on our food, but Braylee and Lillie were so quiet and patient. Brynna and Karson on the other hand didn't tolerate the wait as well. We enjoyed the company and eventually enjoyed a great meal, so the wait was worth it. We had a relaxing afternoon at home. And then...we sold our camper. How easy was that?! I had mentioned at my Granny's a few weeks ago that we planned to sell it, and thanks to my uncle Tim, we sold it! So, now we can really start searching for a new camper! Yeah!

You know how some days seem to just fly by and you can't get anything done? I had the opposite today! It was fabulous!! I don't know how I got so many things accomplished! I had forgotten I was hosting a jewelry party this evening. Thankfully, while I was fixing breakfast this morning, my husband reminded me! The girls and I picked up around the house and then went to Wal-Mart to buy food for the party. While we were there, I ran into an old friend...I hadn't seen her in almost 3 years! We picked up a hodge podge of stuff and headed home. By this time, it was lunch time and I figured I wouldn't get most of my To Do list done. Thankfully, the girls went down easily for a nap. And while they were sleeping, I made all of the food for the party (not much really), pulled out the sewing machine and made a new curtain for our back door, painted ladybug shirts for my girls' birthday party, emailed, called my Gramps, watered my flowers, chatted with a few friends on the phone, cleaned up a little, put laundry away, and decorated my kitchen table with some new candles. I was in the process of working on a birthday gift when my sister Trista arrived. So we woke up the girls and looked at her pictures from her latest modeling trip. The party this evening seemed to be a success too. I love days like this when you feel like you actually got some things done!

Please keep my Gramps in your prayers. He has been sick for a long time. He was transferred to Methodist this evening and may undergo a new procedure in the next day or so. He told me on the phone today not to worry about him, but it's hard not to.

No time for pictures right now since it's late, but I'll try to post some tomorrow.

Brace Face

Go ahead...call me Brace Face. I can take it. Tuesday, I thought I was going to be fitted for an expander at the orthodontist. They did...but then she said, "OK, now I'm going to prep your top teeth for your brackets." I was sitting there thinking about what she had just said...and it hit me that I'm officially stuck with braces for the next 24-30 months. Maybe it's better I didn't know I was getting them Tuesday since I had no time to worry about it...but had I known, I would have eaten the corn on the cob that is sitting in our fridge on Monday night. :( I only have the top braces on right now. I'll be having the surgery to widen my palate sometime after the expander is put in which is currently scheduled for Sept. 15th. BIS06 ladies...this may mean I'm out for the Atlanta trip in October. :(

It has been such a nice, quiet week. We've spent almost every spare moment watching the Olympics. Thursday night, I let Braylee lay in our bed to watch the Olympics (thinking she would fall asleep right away) while Alex and I watched in the family room. Around 11pm, I decided I would head to bed and watch the Olympics there until I fell asleep. To my surprise, Braylee was STILL awake! I asked, "Aren't you sleepy?" She said, "I'm waiting on gymnastics!" Unfortunately for her, she fell asleep about 5 minutes before gymnastics started! She was very excited to see the American girls win the next evening when I was rewatching it.

Thursday evening, Andre', Mandi, and Gabe stopped by for a visit. As they were getting ready to leave, Gabe dumped a cup of water all over himself, right after Andre' had just changed him into a onesie for bed. So...he got to wear one of Brynna's home. ;) He looks pretty cute in multi-colored hearts.
Today, the girls and I went shopping with Jamie and her kids. We always have fun when we shop together...no real plans, just play it by ear. We do a lot of browsing and bargain shopping.

One store we went to had a fenced in play area! The kids loved it. The play kitchen reminded me a lot of the kitchen set we used to have as kids.
We ate lunch at McDonald's. I hate to say we eat there often, but we do. The girls usually love their happy meal toys. McDonald's usually does a great job of doing gender-specific toys, which recently for girls were Polly Pockets. As soon as I sat the tray on the table, Braylee said, "That's a boy happy meal." - the box was covered in black and gray Star Wars characters. Sure enough, I pull out some boy-looking toy. I take it to the register and ask if we can trade it for a girl toy. The cashier responded, "Oh they are unisex. They are all the same." Are you kidding me?! Darth Vader for a 3 year old year girl? If they wanted to stick with Star Wars, they could have given the girls Princess Leia or something. Braylee and Ava showed their disappointment. I think Brynna wants to be potty-trained, but her body doesn't always cooperate! ;) She begs to wear panties and pouts when I make her wear a diaper...but I'm not cleaning up messes all day! She's used the potty 4 times today, but I've also changed 2 wet diapers and one pair of wet panties. So, she's about 50/50 right now.
While the girls were napping today, I watched the movie P.S. I Love You. Someone should have warned me!! I cried probably 5 different times. I'm glad Alex wasn't home to make fun of me!