Surprises

I LOVE surprises...like I really, really love them. I can know that a present for me is sitting somewhere unwrapped and NOT look or go near it b/c I like to be surprised! I told Tony that for my 30th birthday, that I wanted a surprise party with all the people that I love there. Yes, I actually told him that I wanted a surprise party. Here's the last few days as I saw them.
On Sunday, I celebrated my 30th birthday with my parents, sister and almost brother in law. I made a pink crown princess cake b/c Hudson said I needed to have a princess party! Monday, I celebrated with Tony's family...mom and dad in law, sister and brother in law at O'Charley's. We brought extra cake to share. That evening, Tony and I went to Macaroni Grill (which I've decided is my favorite place to eat!) and then to Chic Fil A for an ice cream cone! Tuesday, my actual birthday, I was a little sad to have to work, but woke up to find birthday streamers outside my room. That was a fun suprise! I didn't have to work the entire day, which I didn't know ahead of time. So, I decided to leave my little ones with Lois for a while and got a pedicure and shopped a little...just spending some time on my own! That evening, when Tony came home, the boys gave me the presents they had gotten me...a princess toy and a princess streamer witha wand...which you know I had to spin around and dance before I left to go to my card club. My sweet card clubbing friends had me a surprise baby shower and gave me gifts for my sweet baby girl, which was a nice treat! Then, they had brownies with candles and sang Happy Birthday to me! Another nice treat! So, I was thinking my days of birthday celebration were over with no surprise party! I had already started thinking I would plan Tony a surprise 30th party, which he would not so much enjoy, but as I said...I LOVE surprises.
Earlier this week, Lori emailed and asked me if we could take pictures tonight, Friday, with a new lens that Justin had gotten. She told me that b/c of the summer sun, he's liking to take pictures at 6:45 or 7...that sounded good to me! So, I decided that I'd wash Hudson's hair this afternoon and I was getting ready to cook about 5. The phone rings and it was an agent wanting to show our house between 6 and 7:30 TONIGHT! So, I ditched cooking dinner and started getting the house ready. It was mostly clean, just needed to be picked up and vacuumed. So, Tony got home and we got everything ready! I had thrown on a pair of shorts and pulled my hair into a pony tail. My bangs kept falling in my face, so I finally pinned it up with a bobby pin. I picked out clothes for the boys to wear, something for Finley, grabbed jammies and off we went. I did think to grab a pair of earrings...and Tony did say...aren't you going to be in the picture...with Finley, Lori and Kylin. No...I was sure not! On the way, however, I did put on makeup...the first time since Tuesday! We got to Lori and Justin's to see Tony's parents cars in the driveway. I said to Tony..."maybe they came to be in the pictures with their grandkids." Tony said "maybe they have food." I decided to change the boys in the car. First was Hudson, I changed him and sent him in. Then, I changed Walker and sent him in. I grabbed the box where I had thrown all the things to take for the pictures, Tony had Finley and in we went. I was talking to Lori, making sure that we weren't going to be in the pictures, and now that I think back, she did have a weird look on her face, which I thought nothing of. Then, as I walked in towards the kitchen...people I love all yelled surprise! WHAT? I really was totally shocked and I cannot believe that my sweet Tony pulled this off. He gave NOTHING away. He even kept up the surprise saying that maybe his parents had brought food! Poor Hudson and Walker were a little overwhelmed with all the people when they walked in, but good that I had sent them in ahead of me, or they might have been scared rather than just overwhelmed! I had a great time with my sweet friends and wonderful family! I told Tony that this makes up for the no gift 25th birthday! I just love him...especially when he surprises me!

30 years

Today is my 30th birthday. I've been feeling a little overwhelmed by it. 30 seems like a big milestone for some reason! I'm leaving my 20's...really far away from my teens and...as my sweet brother told me today...halfway to 60! While talking with my mama, I started thinking of all the things I've done in these 30 years. I thought I'd make a list of some of the big ones!

I came to know Jesus Christ and asked Him to be my personal Lord and Savior
I got straight A's in school
I spent weeks during summers with my sweet Nanny (I sure do miss her!)
I sang the song from The Little Mermaid in the Junior Miss and won a talent award for it
I was voted most Outstanding Student of my senior class by my teachers
I was a regional cheerleading champ my senior year
I preached my one and only sermon my senior year
I got accepted early to UGA
I went to every GA football game my sophomore year, except one(the Auburn game-my Granny had passed away)
I sang in a girls group, mixed vocal group and then a praise band at the BSU
I've been to colleges: UGA, Gordon College, Perimeter College, Emmanuel College and Walden University
I have an undergraduate degree and a Master's degree
I've been on mission trips to New Orleans, New Jersey, Tennessee and Korea
I've been to these states: Georgia, Florida, SC, NC, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Virginia, West Virginia, Illinois, Nevada, Texas, Pennsylvania, California, Hawaii (I'd like to see each state in my lifetime!)
I've worked as a lifeguard, as a nanny, at a bookstore, at Old Navy, at Sylvan Learning Center and I've taught Kindergarten, EIP, 2nd grade and this fall, I'll be teaching 1st grade
I met and married the love of my life
I bought a house
I bought a car
I have had three sweet babies

God has truly blessed my life and I pray that I can serve Him even more my next 30 years!

Friday Photos

Family in photos...the Sunday that Miss Finley was due...

A few weeks later...Easter Sunday...such a sweet family...I love these boys (and our precious girl!)
Note...we have to hold Walker so that he doesn't run off while we take the pictures! (heehee)
Finley's 2 mo. check...15 lb 11.5 oz, 23 3/4 inches...she's a big girl!!

What's that?

Earlier this week, I posted about Hudson asking where things come from...and for every time Hudson asks that, Walker asks..."what's that?"

Walker: Mommy, what's that?

Me:Cantaloupe

Walker: Oh, I like cantaloupe. What's that?

Me: Tomato

Walker: Oh, I like tomato. What's that?

Me:Honeycombs

Walker:Oh, I like honeycombs

He seriously will go on and on and on asking what's that...and he always likes it!:)

Where does that come from?

That's the new question that Mr. Hudson has been asking...about everything. A recent conversation during lunch.

Hudson: Where do french fries come from?

Me: Potatoes

Hudson: Where does hamburger come from?

Me: A cow (hoping there are no further questions about this...going into the fact that we are actually EATING the COW)

Hudson: Where does ketchup come from?

Me: Tomatoes

Hudson: Oh, from a garden.

Me: Yes

Later, after nap...

Hudson: Mommy, where do Honey Combs and Cap'n Crunch and Yucky Charms come from?

Me: A factory

Hudson: What factory?

Me: (um...these where did they come from questions are getting harder to answer) mmm...Post, Kellogs...I don't know...maybe a mill...(now thinking of General Mills).

Hudson: What's a mill?

Me: A place where they make stuff...(then I decide I need to tell him that the ingredients of the cereal are actually grown on a farm and then the mill puts them all together and makes the cereal

Hudson: Oh...I think maybe the grocery store makes it.

Me: No, that's just where we buy it(now the teacher in me thinks that I need to teach my 3 year old a lesson in economics...but for now....we'll just leave it at that)!

Sweet Baby Girl

My Little Helpers

Why did you get me a pink one?

This past Friday, Hudson, Walker, Finley and I went to Commerce to spend the night with my family. Beverly had a luncheon on Saturday, and Finley and I were going...the boys were going to stay with my Daddy while we went to the lunch. Friday night, the boys got to bed a lot later than usual. At 9:30 p.m., my Daddy was taking Hudson to go potty. They came out and said that his paci had fallen into the potty. Well...I don't take extra pacis...just one for each boy. My mama didn't think that we could clean it good enough since it is something that goes in the mouth, so Beverly and I went to Walgreens in search of a silicone Nuk pacifier. Well, they had two packages, both with two HOT PINK pacifiers. I debate for about 1 minute if we should try CVS to see if they have blue ones, but decide it's not a big deal...just for sleep. We buy them, and on the car ride back, we start talking about what Hudson might say. Beverly says, let's not tell him, and maybe he won't say anything. I'm like, we could tell him they're red like Elmo...maybe he'll think they are. Well...we come in with the pacis to an eagerly awaiting Hudson. However, I don't let him see them yet. I boiled them for a few minutes, let them cool and then get one to give him. I just put it directly in his mouth, trying not to let him see it. Of course, he takes it out to examine this "new paci". Immediately he gets this funny look on his face and says..."Mommy...why. did you get me. a. pink one?" I wish I could type the look on his face and the expression as he said this...like what was I thinking getting that boy a pink paci. He then proceeds to tell me that pink ones are for girls and he usually has a blue one...b/c that's for boys. I convinced him that it didn't matter and we'd get a blue one when we got home. He slept fine with his pink paci and then the next morning he shared the other pink paci with his brother. So here are my boys with their hot pink pacifiers. Doesn't it always work out like that...too funny!This is the most recent picture of Miss Finley taken yesterday!

Back to Work

Last Friday, I started back to work. And then, I worked this week Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Needless to say, I am exhausted. Of course, I was heartbroken last Friday when I had to leave my sweet baby, Finley. I was worried about how she'd take a bottle, since we hadn't tried that at all. I am very blessed to have Lois keeping my babies. I wasn't worried at all. I can't imagine going back to work and having to leave my 6 week old at a daycare with strangers! Lois is definitely part of our family. My boys love her...and Matthew and Lillian! When I told Walker that Lois was coming the next day, he wanted her to be there right then. He went to the door and kept crying Wois. I really am blessed that I have such a super lady watching my people! Finley did great! I left a "schedule" with Lois to tell her what I've been doing with Finley...when she's been eating(still varies some) and when she sleeps. Lois said she was a little confused by the bottle at first and then drank it right up! She really is such a sweet girl! And there's not much school left until SUMMER! Time really does FLY! Finley is already 7 weeks old. I'll try to post an updated picture soon (this one is on her BIRTHday!)