Happy 3rd Birthday Addie!

I can't believe Addie Sue is three years old! Time has really gotten away from us. She's growing up fast.

We had a tea party on Monday with some friends of hers (and their mommies). Then, we celebrated her actual birthday on Tuesday with the Wilsons. My folks are coming in this weekend to celebrate with her too. She's going to start expecting to have a birthday week every year instead of just one day if we don't stop all this celebrating!!! :)


Andrew and Addie playing


Brayden, Abby, and Addie Sue playing make believe


Some of the kids were mesmerized by the dogs outside. I realized afterward that Addie was the only kid that has a dog out of all the kids at the party. That's probably why everyone else has cleaner houses. Just think how much these kids will love the zoo!


Would you like a spot of tea?

Her party was pretty low-key and relaxing. The kids played in her playroom. We had "tea" in which the kids got to pour their own juice and had yummy sandwiches, jello jigglers, etc. Then, they got to decorate their own cupcakes and sing the bday song, which Addie was happy to lead.




Brayden, Abby, Addie, Kaylynn, and Andrew (Kaden, Elaina, and Brynn are not pictured)

At the end, each kiddo got to take a swing at the pinata and fill up their bags with candy. I thought the mommies wanted to hurt me because their kids got waaaay too much sugar. I feel guilty...but Micah told me not to be stingy on the candy! :)


What good is a party unless you end it with blowers and couch jumping?



Other February happenings:

I went to North Carolina with my mom to visit my sister. She is expecting her third child... a girl, and had a baby shower. It was great to see my nephews and play with them. They're adorable!

Addie had some trouble with tape.


My nephew, Aaron, was the student director at his school for the show, Willie Wonka. This just happens to be one of Addie's favorite movies too! I think I was scared of it as a child, but obviously, Addie is fearless in this aspect anyway. She loved it. But, she was scared to death of actually meeting Willie Wonka after the show was over.

Here she is hiding between my legs. Maybe she thought he would turn her into a blueberry!

Bye-bye crib, Hello Big Girl bed

Well, we should have done this a long time ago, but we finally got Addie Sue her big girl bed. She's been crawling in and out of her crib for months now, but she seemed to enjoy the comfort of it so much that we just didn't bother with changing anything. In fact, if we left the railing down for her so that she could get out easier, she'd cry for us to put it all the way up!!!

I noticed a couple weeks ago that one of the screws had worked it's way loose...so I figured now is as good a time as ever to switch beds. She is almost three.!


Daddy took the crib down on Sunday afternoon.


Addie loves her bed and has slept great in it so far. She's even taking her naps!


The first thing she tried to do was jump on it...then climb under it to hide!!!


Mommy and Addie reading books before naptime.


A homemade obstacle course...


Hair do update: I also discovered how to get Addie to leave her hair up in her barrettes: grow out her bangs! She gets really tired of having to blow her hair out of her face, so now she asks to have her hair fixed. LOVE IT!


Having tea with Jenny B Bunny



Helping Daddy put together some shelves for Mommy

Bad, Bad Blogger

So I've been a terrible blogger for a number of reasons. Many of which I'm not even going to bother to tell. We've had some ups and downs in our family...let's just leave it at that.

Miss Addie Sue is turning into a little girl right before our eyes. She's asking questions all the time now. I'm kind of afraid of what she's going to say when we're out in pubic. The other day, we were at Target at Customer Service and she asked if the lady helping us "has a baby in her tummy". She didn't, so it was a bit awkward. I acted like I didn't hear her and took her off to look at something else.

Addie Sue is also skipping naps quite frequently. I'm more surprised if she does nap than if she doesn't. We got one of those child-proof door covers and put it inside her room, so now she doesn't come out every 10 minutes and ask if her naptime is over. Instead, she plays. Last week, she was playing a harmonica and singing "Longneck Bottle, get out of my hand". It was hysterical!

Some of Addie's favorite things:

• Sleeping Beauty- all princesses in general
  
• painted finger nails
• Longneck Bottle song - by Garth Brooks
• Taking care of babies- covering them up especially
• movies- doesn't matter which...she watches whatever she can
• books
• retelling parts of stories and acting them out (Three Billy Goats Gruff, Nemo, Three Little Pigs)
• Cake and ice cream- or the idea of it, she rarely eats half of it
• Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory- talks about this movie constantly."Remember when Violet chewed and chewed and chewed her gum and she turned into a blueberry." "Yeah- I might turn into a blueberry!"
• singing...she's really good at singing "Bushel and a Peck"
  

Some things that Addie dislikes:

• napping
• bad dreams- just started having them
• cleaning up
• when people don't follow rules- she has some bossy tendencies

Can't find the camera, but I'll post some pictures as soon as I do.


Poor Kaylee...Addie had to cover her up with towels (tucking her in) and Kaylee just moped around the house until someone took them off of her.


Addie got to go to Sydney's 3rd bday PRINCESS party this month too!

Check out this funny conversation we had about her favorite movie:

2009

We've been busy this season, just like most of you have been too. Here are some of the highlights:

Addie and Daddy dancing...


Cooking Christmas goodies...


celebrating Jesus's birthday on Christmas Eve...




Opening gifts with Cousin Rowan...


Playing with gifts from Santa...












Playing with cousins...


(Joyce's dog Elliott & Lucas got acquainted and became buddies)

hanging with the grandparents...



wearing new clothes...


Hope you had a wonderful Christmas! Blessings to you all in 2009!!!

Santa X Three

Addie's seen Santa 3 times this month! I think he knows what she wants for Christmas by now: a candy cane. I know it's pretty extensive, but I'm hoping he'll be able to come through for her.

The first time we saw Santa was by accident. We were at Bass Pro Shop and we went downstairs to look at the animals (Micah was upstairs drooling over shotguns). Santa was sitting there waiting for us with no line at all. We just walked right up to him and Addie had no problems sitting on his lap and talking to him. In previous years, she wanted nothing to do with him.
I don't have a digital photo to share...but it's cute----trust me! lol

The second time we saw Santa, we went to Village Heights Church (we met the Wilson's there). Addie got to meet Santa AGAIN and make some really cute crafts (photo frame, ornaments, and a Birthday Card for Jesus). We also got to eat pancakes and sausage.



Andrew and Aaron sat with Santa and Mrs. Claus too. They've been visiting this particular Santa for years. I thought the photo turned out well. Interesting Tidbit: This Santa is in the Garmin GPS ad!!!

The third and final time we saw Santa was this morning when we went to Crown Center with our friends from PAT.

They had a great obstacle course set up for the kids to play on instead of waiting in line the entire time.

Addie Sue with her friends: Kaden and Noah





We saw a huge train town @ Union Station too.


I was thrilled when we got home and Addie decided a nap would be a good idea today. She's been trying to skip her nap more often these days....drives me crazy.

Addie is still crazy for princesses. She usually hates to have her hair done, but one morning she wanted every hair bow we own in her hair. Here's what we came up with.


Funny quotes by Addie:

"Can you stop it?"

"Stop poking each other!"

"Just a minute. I'm trying to ______."

Things I'm thankful for...

We went to my mom and dad's home for Thanksgiving. It was a small group of us, but the food was amazing- as usual- and we had time to relax. WE also managed to get out early Friday morning to do some shopping. I was up anyway so when I heard my mom upstairs getting ready, I jumped in the car with them. We had our eyes on a computer in Best Buy's ad-- and I got one. We really like it so far. It's a lot faster than our previous one.
Anyway, on to the pics...

Addie made a Manger Mobile


Lucas helped me crochet hats for the new little babies born in my caseload this month.


Addie was princess Aurora most of the weekend. She loved this dress Memaw has for play. Memaw also got her a small Christmas tree of her very own!

Things I'm Thankful for...

1. this new computer- we can watch video again...so nice!
   
2. warm home
3. job that I enjoy
4. health- in spite of sleep issues
   
5. stable finances- we live within our means which helps reduce stress over money
   
6. My daughter knows how much she's loved
7. I have sweet doggies that follow me everywhere I go. I don't think anyone could love me more than my chocolate lab
8. Husband that works hard to support our family.
9. my parents who never let me down and pray for me often
   
10. being a mother- I'm so glad I've had the chance
    
11. two reliable cars that are PAID for.
12. good books and movies
    
13. a sister I can talk to almost anytime of the day
14. a couple, really close girlfriends I can tell anything
15. quiet time to pray and study God's word- I don't get to it everyday, but it really helps me frame my mind for the day
16. working out- I feel so sloppy if I don't get a work out in a few times a week
17. friends I've made at work- they're a good group of gals
    
18. my family in town- we really only have Micah's sister close by- but she and her family are a GODSEND- my parents should live in town...they help out with Addie so much!
    
19. a phone call I got from my brother in Australia a couple weeks ago
20. my walks with Supavan
21. Freedom- people all over the world don't have it
    
22. my dishwasher, washer and dryer- all the conveniences of home
23. safety- or at least the illusion of it
24. my vacuum cleaner- it's a Dyson, and I have two huge dogs, need I say more?
25. hugs, kisses, and sweet loving words from my precious toddler- "I love you beary much."