30th Birthday Horseback Riding

For my birthday last weekend all I really wanted to do was go horseback riding. My two most awesome friends and Darrell planned a great day for us. So we started the horseback riding training on this one: Not really, but that would have been funny if Mandi or Damanda jumped on and tried it out. Maybe for her 30th (today) she could give us a show of that ride.

So here was our fun riding group (Linley was left out this time, maybe in a few years).

Jackson had one of the biggest horses and was a little apprehensive at first. Notice the timid smile.

It didn't take him long to get the hang of it and the guide decided it was time to let Jackson lead the rest of us, guideless, on a trail. He did a great job, but he did run over every small tree in the way.

After just a little longer it was time to run. I love the squeals of delight that came from Jackson as he bounced up and down on his horse. Those squeals helped to drown out the hint of fear I had from my 5 year old running on a horse.

But the story just would not be complete without talking about Darrell's ride. Let's just not say horse and call it a pony, Fancy. The biggest person on the trip on the smallest horse-gotta love it. Too much saddle-Not enough horse:)

Thanks for the best Birthday!

Happy Birthdays

So first thing is first: Happy Birthday Linley. I have terrible pictures from her 2nd birthday party, but this one was kind of cute.
Here are two things we love about Linley:
1. That smile and hair (she captivates every audience just by the power of her facial expressions)
2. Her desire to be around Jacksie (as she calls jackson) or me, or Darrell ,or Gee or just about anyone. She loves to be near people!Now on to my birthday, which hasn't actually happened yet-I am still 29 and 2 years younger than my Husband:)
However, as I came to work this morning I was hoping that I would get a homemade card from a friend here at work. She always makes the most hilarious personalized cards.

Well, I think I take back that wish, because this is what I got-oh and many of YOU are involved in the making of this card so THANK YOU VERY MUCH for making it hard to eat my delicious chicken mini's for breakfast.

Have no idea what I'm talking about? Just take a look at THIS post and the comments section and compare to the LOVELY words in red! So thank you to you all for a rather disgusting start to my birthday!

School

I can't believe I am old enough to even write this post. Jackson went to his first 1/2 day of Kindergarten this week. He loved it and I only teared up twice. My mind was racing before the day actually came. I was thinking about school supplies, carpool lanes and lunches. Let's just stop at lunches.



My wonderfully artistic sweet cousin puts a lot of pressure on a woman when she gets this kind of a lunchbox for her preschool son. I was still feeling good about Jackson's LL Bean lunchbox until we left it at a friends house. So here it was time to pack up his lunch and I had two choices:



1. Use Linley's pink lunchbox and risk him being called names for the rest of elementary school or

2. Use this: and hope that no other Kindergarteners knew what a breastmilk bag was. I obviously chose option 2.



So here he is, a very proud young Kindergartner with his very proud sister.

My New Neice

I got to FINALLY meet my new neice this past weekend. Jackson and I headed south to Atlanta to spend some time with my brother and sister-in-law and their two kids. Jackson was so sweet to Mary Martin and wanted to sleep next to her on the floor Saturday morning.
Saturday, Jim decided we should all pack up and head to the zoo and then he decided he couldn't go (just like a man:) So Kate and I took the three kids (one of which is only 3 weeks old) to the zoo in 94 degree weather.
I had a great time and I think the kids did too. Mary Martin slept the whole time. James wouldn't hold my hand, but had no problem holding Jackson's.

We of course had to stick our heads through all of the cutouts.The best part of the cutouts was when James got in one backwards.

The Jewelry Hokey Pokey

You put your right foot in You put your right foot out

You put your right foot in and you shake it all about

You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around.

(Jewelry)That's what it's all about

Big Headaches

Sometimes uncles can be such a headache! Just kidding, but we did have our first blood of the ski season two weeks ago. This sweet unsuspecting young lady, who shall remain nameless, was vicious on the screamer:) I will, however, post her picture on the internet for all to see!

Check out the blood! My favorite part was when Grams pulled out the 1983 first aid kit with moldy gauze and expired aspirin to try and patch things up. Thankfully Paul declined.

And then there was this headache: Always beware when a child comes inside from playing and says, "mommy listen to this funny noise I make when I breathe." So my one day off that I had planned on using to clean was instead spent doing this: Luckily we have one of those machines at home so after a breathing treatment, z pack and steroids we were back home for a day of rest and then a day of rest at mommy's work. (Mom of the year award: Dianne for not even knowing her son was sick when he actually had bronchitis!)

And finally the last headache: The Sunday Night Headache. You know the one when your daughter is helping in the kitchen and decides to sit down on the stool (backwards), except you can't sit down when the next step is actually lower than the one you are on and this happens: Of course Linley was the one with the hurt head, but you can't snuggle one and not the other.

Happy Birthday

A few days late on this one, but Happy Birthday Hottie, I mean Darrell!
I do love the end of July and beginning of August, because for 30 days Darrell is two years older than me. He he. We celebrated 3 times, but none of them were anything big. We started the celebration at the lake with his folks and a homemade carrot cake.With the help of his coworkers, the kids and I surprised him at work with an ice cream cake. Linley helped daddy eat his piece and then started in on "jacksie's piece." We rounded out our celebration with a kidless night at Mafi's-super yum.