entertainment

Our days fly by. I like to think we generate a good plan everyday to learn, play and generally keep ourselves entertained. This one was a good 30 minute game that made mama laugh and convince herself it was camera worthy. I ran outside and they spent at least 10 minutes switching sides as if there's a better view of me out one window as opposed to the other. Rookie, being the gentleman that he is, graciously relinquished control of his window to accomodate his indecisive sister. There he stood, in position and here she'd come. "Rookie, move, I need to see what this window has to offer." So, here's our show. Hopefully you find it amusing...

Both my children in their positions: Loving mama from afar...

Then, as always, Reese decides she needs a different view. Out goes Rook, in goes Reese...


And she's done and headed onto her next exciting adventure...

And Mr. Southern gentleman/mama worshiper is back. This time it's for good.

Wonder what the neighbors think when I'm outside, with a camera, laughing hysterically at my children, who are inside, unattended to. Hopefully,they don't blog about it.

bff.

Yep, I said it. It's old school, but sometimes you have to go there. Last weekend in Albuquerque our BFF's (best family friends) drove over from Gilbert, Arizona to spend the weekend with the McPherson's. It was wonderful. We have not seen them in (gulp) almost a year. Since we left AZ. Our plan was destroyed when we left the Angels and no longer had spring training in Arizona. So, we decided to make a new one...meet up in New Mexico. It wasn't our first choice, of course, but it was us, all of us together again. Marc, Mauri and their four fabulous kiddos...Hayden, Christian, Carson and McKinley all spent the weekend partying with us. We stayed up late, ate too much and begged Dallas to shave his stash. We had a lot of fun at the games but mostly just spending time together again. We were all inseparable in Arizona. Especially when I was prego. I think we were together every night. I miss them terribly. It's pretty rare that you and your husband enjoy another couple this much. God put us all together. Even Mauri's parents. They are wonderful parents to us and grandparents to Reese. Heaven sent. We love you Nielsen's and can't wait to be together again soon. I'm thinking Aspen PT going east coast. Is it not time to expand?
My favorite kiddos outside the Isotopes stadium...

Mauri and Marc...we love you guys! Is she not showing the love for my camera?

Believe it or not this was picture #42. ...and it was the best! Turns out it is hard for 2 nielsen chicks and one mcpherson to take a halfway normal picture.

My sweet little princess all grown up...

We love you Nielsen's! Thank you for spending your weekend with us. Reese loves all her gifts. We miss you and will see you soon...promise! Time apart for us is not good.

My husband has a stash

What else is there to say, really?  I understand the whole baseball superstition thing.  We've been through the shaving your head era, growing your hair out and vowing to never cut it era. I've even dealt with a little extra facial hair but never was I ever prepared for a mustache.  You spend one season living apart and you lose all control of your husband.  Seriously, this team and their craziness is at an all time high.  The clubhouse banter I've heard stories about does not touch a full grown, going out in public, stash.  Yet, he''s doing it.  Half the team is.  He's got a nickname even the fans are chanting on and on about.  Yes, I've officially lost control. The numbers are supporting it, though.  He hit 3 in two days, one of which was a walk off.  Then, Sunday, hit 3 homers in one game. As a wife you try and stop the urge to root against his production just enough to make the stash lose it's streak. Evidently it's a slumpbuster.  Who knew a stash had this much power?  I sure didn't. What I do know is that he is one tommy bahama shirt away from being a Don Johnson or Tom Selleck look-a-like.  Let me tell you, that is hard to look at day in and day out. I'm deciding now on my next trip out and pondering pushing it back a little just to give the stash time to run it's course.  The mess he puts me through.  But I love him.  I do.  More than life.  It's a cliche, but he is truly my best friend.  (Although if he keeps the stash much longer Deb and Mauri are gonna sneak right past him on the list).  We had a great time together this weekend. Lots of laughing and not all of it was about his stash.  Here's to finding other routes if we are in need of a slumpbuster again.  

Me, Boo & Reesie all took off today for Kiawah Island, SC.  We'll be there all week, but I've prepared blogs to keep you entertained.  Luckily I had pics from the weekend.  You didn't think I'd leave without keeping the blog going, right?  No, I need to keep the people around me happy.  I don't want anyone else I know to hop on the ole stash bandwagon.  

storytime

Need to get out of the house?  Head to your nearest library!  I was so good about starting Reese in gymnastics by 6 months and storytime shortly after, then as the season has left us traveling so much, we'd fallen off our schedule.  A few weeks ago we ventured to the library for storytime.  Unlike Pottery Barn Kids (that we did in spring training) they do a little music too. It's really fun.  Last week several of my girlfriends brought their kiddos and we took over storytime.  It was great and so was lunch afterwards.  I had fun girls!  We'll miss you this week, but be there next. Of course I took a quick snap, nothing pro, but they sure are cute...

Most of the time they did what they wanted, not so much following the poor lady in the front of the room. (left to right: Reese, Annie, Sadie and Jackson.)

Jackson's a little hunk hanging with these three crazy chicks all day.  Guess he's used to it since his mom's in a family of three girls and now he has Sadie as his only cousin.  Isn't he adorable?

Happy Birthday Aunt Boo & Donna!  Both of which are turning 27....love you lots!

the age of independence

Reese is eating everything now. With all those teeth and the approval for table foods, she's been in heaven. The downside? She's only interested in food she can serve herself. Same piece of chicken from my spoon is gross unless she can pick it up and eat it herself. Please understand the emphasis on this. She's a big fan of her veggies (or anything). It takes her forever and she makes a total mess, but little miss independence can do.it.herself. And I let her.






Big Brother is a big fan of her new found freedom. He's the certified clean up committee. You don't need your dyson when he's around.

back in ABQ

Hi all! Just a quick blogging update. Thursday night I hopped on a standby flight to Albuquerque to visit Dallas. Our best friends from Arizona, the Nielsen's drove over so we could have a fun, family weekend (maybe not family b/c Reesie isn't here). We're all having a blast at the games and touring ABQ. I have missed them so much! We're back at our sarcastic antics as though we've spent no time apart. We are missing Reese. It is hard to bring her since I hop the ridiculously cheap standby flights (thank you Elizabeth!) but she is not missing us, I'm sure. She is spending today with her Meme and Papa as they drive to Aunt Boo & Uncle D's. She will have the attention of the people who love her most (excluding mommy & daddy of course!). I'm sure she is running Aunt Boo's house as we speak. Hope everyone has a great weekend! As you can guess, I keep the blog's and Reesie pics a coming. Can't disappoint my avid readers!

Here's a pic I just got from Aunt Boo's camera phone:

Uncle David is helping her ride her babystyle car from Papa! So fun!

typical

Just like a woman. She has it all and yet she spends her days chasing a man. Not to mention a man that would rather scope out the birds outside than pay her any attention. Jeez.
On another note, I'm glad to see that one of the chicks in this family enjoys spending time with kitchen appliances. Look close...you can see the toast soaring from the toaster. Nothing like a hot, fresh slice of wooden toast. yum.


And just when I think there isn't one single jenn trait in my daughter, she dances. It's no beyonce, but it's a jam about colors and she loves it. Her bootie shakes and her knees bounce. Next month we'll be working on some choreographed numbers for the blog...

Thanks Gramma Margo for my adorable birthday outfit.  I love it!  My swimsuit too.  You really spoil a girl all the way from Arizona!

special bond.

The bond between sisters is a closeness like no other. To see that love now captured between my sister and my daughter is heartwarming. It soothes my soul. Her adoration for her Aunt Boo is breathtaking. She hates to see her leave. Boo came and spent a few hours with us last night. We played, went to dinner, all of which doesn't seem like much, but it did our little pumpkin in.


This makes me smile. My heart flow. Seems like the world stops.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Yay! Daddy is 28 today. I love birthdays. I especially love birthdays when my husband closes in on the age gap between us. This is how it should be. We are 2 years apart. You can refer to my previous posts on this issue in the 30 section in the sidebar------------->
Anyhoo, We tried our very best to celebrate Daddy's bday with a cute photo, instead, this happened. We spelled out H.A.P.P.Y B.I.R.T.H.D.A.Y. that got knocked over faster than you can say "cheese." After weighing my odds, we selected a shorter version of I LOVE 8. She never looked at the camera and was mesmerized with the 8 block. Scratch that.
Finally, I threw my two kiddos on the chair and snapped away. We're not talking professional pics here, but funny, oh yeah, it was funny. Rookie was not.happy.about.the.situation. Seriously, it took him a good 30 minutes of pouting before he would hang with us girls. Reese sure thought it was funny, though and after all this is her world.




Happy Birthday Sweetheart. Your girls adore you.

oh how I love thee.

let me count the ways.
There's really too many to count. This little gal is a crack up throughout the day. I am exhausted by days end (which is a nice cure for insomnia). Hmmm... the things we're into at 12.5 months old. She loves her new piano. The funny part is, she does not bang on the keys, which is what we prepared ourselves for-some serious key slamming. Nope, she uses her fingers and gracefully pushes them. To be specific, it's a ripple effect from pinky to pointer finger. I'll video it. It's funny. Concerning, though. I was asked to leave 5th grade band, so I'm thinking I'll be of no help if she's taking the musical route in life.

She can now "blow" her nose. When she's got some boogies she makes her blow noise, I go get a tissue, place said tissue at the end of her nose and voila! She blows. very cool. Sorry, I have no picture. Thought I'd spare you, figured you didn't need a visual of this one.

She places phone calls to daddy all day long. She's a hands free kinda girl and this whole "cord" thing on this phone is tripping her out. Does she not look stressed? It's her landline. She uses her cell in the car.

She walks, no, runs, everywhere.

She's also mastered the "release" of blowing kisses.

And then she's back to being my precious little angel, curled eyelashes and all. All of sudden they are curled. Aunt Boo & I are amazed. No shu uemura eyelash curler for this gal.

This is a favorite. I love her face when she falls after practically running across the house, steals my heart.

Hope everyone in blogging land had a fun Tuesday!

My First Birthday Party!

Let me just start by saying, as a mom, that it is so cool to have your child's first birthday party. Was it kinda thrown together because of this crazy baseball life we live? yes. Was it hotter than mess outside in July? uh huh. But did I enjoy every minute? you bet. Reese had the best time. She was not really into her presents, though. Luckily, Chase and Emory knew how to open a present in record time. I tried to keep it simple. I must admit, I'm a little turned off by the obnoxious one year old parties. I think they are supposed to be close family. Just my opinion. We weren't looking to be covered pre and post party by E!. We enjoyed barbecue and all the fixins and then a delicious cake. I loved her cake. It tasted as good as it looked (which I think it looks good, people). For everyone who lives here in GA I got it at babycakes. I loved our bakery in Arizona that did our birthday cupcakes, etc (last year baseballs and gloves for dallas and princess tiaras for my sisters birthday) and I worried that no one would come close, but they are amazing. Reese may not have enjoyed opening presents at her party, but she has played with every single one of them today. Thank you again to my wonderful friends and family. Her toys and outfits are adorable. Thanks to mom, dad, boo & d for her pottery barn table & chairs (that I can't wait to put in our playroom of our new house). One more thing to note, if you want great pictures of your child's birthday party, hire someone! Seriously, I get home and see my shots and I am terribly disappointed. I didn't get a picture of half the people there, not really many of Reese looking, none of her Papa, not even one of Reese and her mommy! I stink. So, I apologize in advance. I can send you the video if you need more. Also, a quick thanks to the ever so giving Braddy's for letting us borrow their backyard! Man it will be nice when we have a home. Here's some pics. I'll get more posted on our family site by tomorrow. Enjoy!



Reese kept walking to the pool (smart chick) and Aunt Boo had to redirect...


This girl's smile is contagious...








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Thanks Aunt Boo for my birthday tiara!

One more thing...as of last Tuesday (I am a bad mommy for not posting this) Reese is walking. So, at 12 months 8 days. Dallas took the credit. She is now walking everywhere. Today I was chasing her around the house. I think I'm going to miss my little hip rider.