Let It Snow!

We finally got a decent snow storm in Kansas City!  Around 10 inches of snow and 2 snow days!  It was pretty crazy...highways shut down, a state of emergency called by the Governor, shopping malls closed down, etc.  Thank goodness Grandma had picked up some snow boots and snow suits for Ella and Parker...they couldn't wait to get out in the snow with Daddy!  Even Wilbur was excited...ahem...isn't that right, Will?  (This dog is a baby in the snow...he would not leave the deck to go to the bathroom...the farthest he got was the bottom of the steps of the deck!)

 

 

 

Daddy built a pretty cool fort with a tunnel...he actually added to it while we all napped! 

 

 

A Pretend Birthday Party

This morning, Ella decided that it would be fun to dress up and have a pretend birthday party.  I guess it was my birthday and Parker's, because we sang to both of us. :)  Ella made sure to set the table just so...

The kids dressed up.  Ella wanted me to be a princess, too...I guess I need to find some dress-up clothes! 

Parker made sure the birthday cake was ready to go while Ella made a sign on her etch-a-sketch.

Then, it was time to sing Happy Birthday and cut the cake.

Are you wondering yet how I got Dusty to agree to Parker dressing up with Ella?  Well, I didn't ask.  Of course, he had to put his boots on.  The kid LOVES shoes!!  I think he looks cute!  He's only 22 months...it will be okay. :)

Oliver took his long morning nap in the swing while the festivities were going on...

Liberty Fall Festival 2012

Aunt Tracy came to visit for the weekend of my birthday.  We had a wonderful time.  She brought a cake and after a weinie roast, we sang while on Skype with Grandma and Grandpa Layton. 

The next day, we went to the parade for the Liberty Fall Festival.  The kids had fun collecting candy and watching the floats and bands go by. 

Looking at a bug in the grass

Oliver slept through most of it...my little pumpkin.

After the parade, we stopped for Jimmy John's (YUM!!) for lunch and took naps.  Well, most of us did.  Dusty went to the flying field and Ella doesn't always nap any more...maybe twice a week.  Later that evening, my sister and I went to Applebee's for an appetizer and then headed home to nurse Oliver and get things ready for Daddy to feed him.  My sister and I enjoyed an evening out to celebrate my friend, Eve's, 40th birthday on the Plaza.  It was a fun evening!

The next day, Aunt Tracy left early.  I hated to see her go and missed her right away.  We went to lunch at Steak n Shake and headed to the carnival to ride some rides.  The merry-go-round was fast!  At first, while I took the kids on it, Ella said, "I want to go on this one time."  She thought it was too fast, too!  Later, though, she decided it would be fun to go with Daddy.

Ella went inside a pirate ship, but that didn't go too well.  It was scary for her with the loud, rickety bridge and it was tight quarters with kind of like a maze.  She ended up getting her foot stuck in the ball pit and started crying.  It broke my heart that I couldn't help her (parents weren't allowed to go in), but the guy running it was very nice and went in and helped her out.  A nice kid had already helped her get her foot unstuck, but she was ready to be done.

So, while Daddy chased Parker around with a bouncy ball that he bought him (bad idea!), I took Ella on another ride, the kind that you can make spin as fast as you want.  A little boy offered to ride it with her.  Great!  Well, not so much.  He was spinning it as fast as he could and I could tell Ella wasn't liking it too well.  I also didn't want to keep him from having fun.  So, I asked if she could be moved to another seat where the kids weren't moving it at all.  The sister was relieved that Ella jumped aboard because she wanted to spin it, but her brother wasn't letting her.  So, she moved to Ella's old spot and everyone was happy!  Well, most everyone.  I think the guy running it was about to scream. :) 

And as for the ball?  It ended up getting deflated.  Poor Parker, but he would have had us running all over the carnival after it!  He loved to kick it! 

My 35th Birthday

We were going to take the kids out to dinner for my birthday, but I decided that it would be more fun (and relaxing) to stay at home and have a picnic.  So, Dusty went to 54th Street and brought dinner home and he stopped at Price Chopper for a cookie cake, my favorite. :)  We brought out the blanket and Oliver's bouncer and had a great time.  The kids could get up and run around for a few minutes and then come back and take a bite.  This was much better than sitting contained in a restaurant crossing our fingers that everything goes smoothly.  Ella loves picnics and thought this was the best idea ever.

 
Afterwards, we decided to take a quick walk. The kids love to walk Wilbur. That reminds me...I keep promising him a walk by ourselves when he won't have to worry about getting his feet all tangled in the leash. He is so tolerant. We couldn't ask for a better dog with the kids.

Lastly, we sang Happy Birthday to Mommy.  As you can see, I loved every minute of it.  Ella loves to sing and Parker hums along...getting a word in here or there and doing a good job of humming to the tune!  I think we sang and blew out candles 4 times.  It's a tradition in our house that once is just not enough. :)

I had a wonderful 35th birthday and I am looking forward to a fabulous year with my little family. Just when I think I couldn't love them any more...

P.S.  Thankfully, I read an article about moms often not being in pictures because we don't always have the time to get ourselves looking the way we would like.  The article talked about how our children deserve to see pictures of us and they love us no matter what.  We moms are beautiful in their eyes.  So, since this blog is dedicated to my children so that they will be able to read it and see pictures years and years down the road as well as share it with their own children, here I am in the pictures.  No make-up, I need a haircut, and I need to start Weight Watchers.  C'est la vie. :)

First Night of Tee-ball

This is the first summer for tee-ball.  The kids rotate through different stations: fielding ground balls, playing catch, batting, running the bases, throwing the ball through a large hole, catching balls (pop flys :) ), etc. 

Batting Practice

Running the bases

Sometimes playing in the dirt is more fun!

Parker can't wait to be able to play!  He loves balls!

One of Ella's biggest cheerleaders...Daddy :)

Oliver Davis Riley's Birth Day

To my precious baby boy,

On August 22, you entered the world and made Mommy and Daddy proud parents once again.  Your due date was August 15 and I tried to give you the chance to make an entrance on your own, but you were just too cozy and it was time for you to be born at 41 weeks. 

We arrived at the hospital at 6 am.  The nurse got me all situated, started an IV, and at 6:50, she said she would be back to start the pitocin (that's the stuff that kicks your little tooshy out!).  Daddy and I ended up falling asleep until around 8 am.  I turned to Daddy and said, "I think they forgot about me."  Shortly after, a new nurse (Jenni) walked in and she was suprised that my pitocin had not been started.  Her shift started at 7 am and she thought the previous nurse had taken care of it.  Well, we didn't get it started before Dr. Morgan came in and he was not happy to see that the process had not been started and it was 2 hours after I checked in.  Oops! :)

That morning, Daddy and I watched tv, talked to the nurse, walked around the hospital floor, all as our anticipation was building.  About 12:30 or 1, I got my epidural.  Daddy and I took another nap until around 2 pm.  Then, things started progressing really quickly.  I called Grandma and Grandpa who were home with your brother and sister and told them that they needed to get to the hospital as soon as they could.  Daddy had gone to eat lunch around 3:00 with Mema and Papa and I was starting to panic with him not there as I could tell you were going to be here very shortly!

I was right!  The real fun started around 3:45.  Your birth was so different than your brother's and sister's birth.  With Ella, I pushed for about 2.5 hours.  With Parker, I pushed for about an hour.  With you, we were waiting on the doctor!  It was crazy!  When you were ready to come out, you were ready!  I told the nurses, "C'mon, we can all do this!"  They replied that they could do it without the doctor, but they really didn't want to.  All I knew was that it was time!  After what seemed like forever, Dr. Morgan came in and the look on his face was priceless.  I'm not sure he believed the nurse when she said to hurry since he knew my history.  He put his scrubs on (not fast enough according to me) and we had our baby minutes later.  You were born at 4:04.

It was amazing, awesome, miraculous.  I said to Daddy, "What do we have?" and he said "BOY!" with so much excitement in his voice.  Then, we were anxious to see how much you weighed.  I think the nurses were guessing in the 9 lb range and Dr. Morgan was guessing around 8 lbs 15 oz.  He was a little low...9.5 lbs and 21 1/2 inches long.  You were a big boy!  The biggest of all 3 children, but the easiest to deliver.  Here are some pictures of your birth day.

Right before leaving for the hospital

 

I was so glad Dr. Morgan was able to deliver you!

Already in love

Daddy looks just a little proud, huh?

Our nurse, Jenni

 

Damara's 12th Birthday

We spent one afternoon at Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Heather's house to celebrate cousin Damara's 12th birthday.  The kids had a blast jumping on the trampoline and eating popsicles.