Gameday

We had such a fun day yesterday for Jeff's birthday. Here he is with his baby...aren't they cute (and aren't their blue eyes just to die for?)!

It was the first home game in Tuscaloosa so that was exciting! Jeff's parents were in town and then Jennifer and Buddy came as well. We got 2 babysitters to come watch the children from 2-10pm. It's kind of crazy that we have to get 2 sitters (and expensive) but our 3 are kind of hard to handle at dinner time and bedtime. But, they did awesome! The sitters had the house clean when we got home and the kids were in bed by 830 which is truly a miracle!!! So back to gameday...I dressed everyone up in gameday attire just because. And, I totally made Abigail's little top (which you can't see very well) at like 11:30 yesterday morning. I just appliqued an A and tied some houndstooth ribbon around the straps of a shirt that used to be Ellie Kate's. I actually have the fabric to make Abigail a dress to match EK, but well I just haven't made the time to do it. So, since we were all dressed to match, we decided to get some pictures. You're shocked, I know. Ha! I'm so glad we got a pretty good one.

We also got a really cute one of the whole extended family but I think Jeff's mom might want to use it as their Christmas card, so I won't spoil it (especially since I think I'm going to design it)!

Going on campus was fun. We stopped by my old stomping grounds (Alpha Chi house) and saw the updates they did over the summer. The house looks amazing! I wish I could afford their decorator:) Ha!! I had fun looking upstairs on the 2nd floor where they have re-hung all the composites. Man, I just can't believe it's been 11 years since I was there. And then I can...especially when all the cute little 18 year old girls were walking around flaunting their stuff. I felt really old...and really frumpy. I'm fine with getting old really. I'm right where I always dreamed of being at 31. However, I do wish I still had my cute little 18 year old body. Sigh.

The game was a bit slow...but we eventually began playing like the #4 team in the country. ROLL TIDE! All in all, it was a great day!

Oh, and Jennifer and Buddy (sis and brother in law) just got back from a trip to Peru and brought us all some awesome gifts. Samuel LOVED his horn!

And the girls got adorable hats that I want to get some good pictures of them in later (I have very high expectations for some cute fall pics in these hats).

I Heart Faces - Contemplative

When I saw this weeks theme, I knew just the picture to post!!!

Contemplative definition (from I Heart Faces): thoughtful observation; full or deep consideration; dreamily or wistfully thoughtful: a pensive mood; expressing or revealing thoughtfulness; quiet modes of apparent or real thought; can be marked by some sadness, but doesn't have to be.

Click on I HEART FACES to see more awesome entries!!!

Big Birthday!

Happy 30th Birthday to Jeff!!!! Last night I threw him a party and it was a lot of fun!

Here is the invite I made (with a few edits to protect our privacy of course)

And here are some shots from the party...

Target special for the cake (it was actually really good)!

yummy jambalaya I made for the 25 guests!

then it was time for the big present and cake....

I surprised Jeff with a Wii...but I think Samuel was more excited about it (which I knew he would be)!!!

Happy Birthday To You!!!

Playing the Wii!

I'm so thankful that Jeff is now part of the "old club!" He is finally 30!!!!

I love you Jeff!

Redecorranging!

We had a busy weekend over labor day when my parents came for a visit. Whenever they come, it seems that we always put them to work! It's crazy how much we got done around the house in just 2 1/2 days. We have lived here for a year, but when we moved in I was 22 weeks pregnant and so I am just now getting around to doing the things I have wanted to do since we moved in. I've been in a nesting frenzy since we got back from Colorado. I spent most of my birthday money on home improvement projects and accessories for the family room (3 new paintings and new drapes). Anywho....here are a few before and after pics of things we got done while my parents were here...

Jeff, my dad, and even the kids worked on taking out all of our overgrown shrubs out front and then planted new encore azalas and some other plants. It looks SO much better!

I painted the laundry room cabinets and spray painted the hardware. I also cleaned/organized all the junk that was in there.

BEFORE

AFTER

The biggest project was painting over the wallpaper in the dining room. I really didn't like the emerald green stripes. Well, it took 2 coats of primer and 2 coats of paint to finish it! I definitely had to recruit Jeff for some help when my arm was shaking from so much rolling. We also moved the armoire into the corner (after suggestions from the home tour a few months ago) and I moved the hydrangeas to the other corner.

BEFORE


AFTER

We have also played fruit basket turnover with the kids rooms. It has been crazy. I have lost count how many times we have moved beds and furniture! Needless to say, we are both tired of moving and rearranging rooms and I am more than frustrated that none of my kids can share a room at this point. I know other families do it, but my kids just couldn't seem to handle it. So, now all the rooms are switched. Abigail now has Samuel's room, EK has Abigail's room, and Samuel has EK's room. We are cazy! It's too complicated to explain how it all came about, but let's just say all the rooms look great now and all the kids are sleeping the best they have ever slept...so I suppose it was all worth it!!!

Thanks to Aunt Jenny and De-De for the beautiful bed in Abigail's room (this is so Samuel can sleep in that bed when we have guest so that they can then have his comfy queen bed).

I'm keeping the crib in EK's room in hopes that maybe she and Abigail can share a room at some point in the future

Hope you enjoyed an updated tour of our house!!! Thanks mom and dad for all your help!!! The only thing left to do is paint the kitchen (I HATE the yellow plastic bag faux finish on the walls) and that is going to happen sometime int the next few weeks! YAY!!!

She Has Stolen My Heart...

...a thousand times over! Oh, how I love this crazy little girl!

just a f.y.i....the girl has never taken a paci before in her life...she just likes to chew on them!

She learned to write some letters today. Since Samuel usually has homework every night, Ellie Kate loves to sit at the table and do her "homework" with him. So, she learned how to write an H and a T. It was so cute how proud of herself she was!!!

10 Months Old!

Folks, I almost missed this one! I feel like I just did her 9 month post.  It is so hard to believe my sweet little baby is only a few months away from her first birthday!  She seems to be growing and changing so fast. 

At 10 months old, Abigail LOVES to eat. This gal can put away some food:).  She loves table foods and just shovels it in!  She drools over the snacks her siblings eats and is notorious for finding the smallest of crumbs on our dirty floor or under furniture (gross, I know)! 

Some other favorite things:

- her bottles

-baby dolls and stuffed animals...she just gives them big hugs and squeezes them...it's precious

-me...ha!  Abigail is most definitely a mama's girl

-books

-going outside

-being held

-Pepper, our cat

I think she will be a late walker like her sister as she seems pretty content getting around with her bear crawl.  However, I caught her climbing the steps the other day! It about gave me a heart attack, but of course I still had to grab the camera.  

I love this little girl so much and not a day goes by (seriously) that I don't thank the Lord for the miracle of her life!  What a sweet gift she is to our family! 

Ready To ROLL...

Well, college football season is upon us!  In our town and at our house...we are excited and ready to watch the Crimson Tide Roll!!!!!!  

For the next 3 months, lawn maintenance will be suspended and put off, hours will be spent in front of the tv and on the quad and in Bryant Denny Stadium.   Everyone is talking and ready to see just how far we can get this year! Just like the video below states....we are in Tide country...and we live for Alabama football!!!! 

ROLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!

if you want to watch the video...don't forget to stop my music player at the bottom of the blog:)

So, my friends, what about you?  

What team do you pull for?  Let me know in the comments section!