a day in the life of a price...

maddie's cupcake crusade!!!

2012-01-19T16:06:00.002-06:00

maddie was SO excited to go on her 5th birthday "cupcake hunt"! we had to do it early this year...in order to pull off her surprise! ella chose the hiding spot...and we set our little girl off on the crusade!

it is always so funny to watch them searching...while we are giving them "hot & cold" directions! i'm not sure who giggles more...the girls or the parents!

she finally found it...and this is what she found...

she was super excited...but i could tell her wheels were turning. she just had this little look on her face. she came over and whispered that she didn't want ella to feel left out...be. still. my. heart. she is just wired for OTHERS! after we assured her that daddy was going to make ella feel special too...she was on board!!!!! we had less than 24 hours to get ourselves ready for our adventure!

over a year and a half ago, honey & grandpa took our whole family (minus baby ava who stayed home with aunt mamie!) to see a "homegrown" version of les miserables at centenary college! N.e.V.e.R in my wildest dreams could i have imagined how much my maddie would be captivated by this production. she almost became obsessed with it...so much so, that a friend of my sister gave us a copy of the dvd. madeline watched it every day...multiple times...and memorized every. single. song.

when i found out that the REAL show was coming to dallas...i knew that somehow we had to take maddie. after deciding that it would be too expensive for the whole family to make the trip, we made the call that we would just let madeline experience it! thanks to honey...that is just what we were able to do!

we planned an overnight get-away just for my middle baby!!!!!!

we woke up early sunday morning (new year's day) and loaded up for our girls trip! maddie decided she wanted to don her pj's for the car ride...so that is just what she did!

ella was so "big" about maddie getting some special attention...and made me very proud. (sometimes our ella doesn't take this kind of news too well!!!!!!!) she waved us good bye and we were texas bound!

it didn't take long for maddie to start thinking about what she was going to bring ella as a prize...at the first gas station we stopped at, she wanted to buy ella some colored rocks!!!! :)

we rolled into big D in time to grab a bite to eat and then we headed to the theater! madeline was so excited...and ready for her snacks - HA!!!
i have seen the show 7 times and it does not disappoint! it was fabulous...and just as i imagined, my daughter loved every single minute of it! i think the 2nd half was like a lullaby to her because she became very relaxed...but she did not want to miss her favorite song! she loves the line in one of the last songs that says "to love another person is to see the face of God"! if that's the case, i've certainly seen the "face of God" in her.

when the play was over, we took our sweet girl to the american girl store so that she could pick out a new outfit for "emily"...and of course, she asked if we could pick something out for ella! she ended up choosing a fancy dress from me and crutches and a cast from honey! (*maybe she will be a doctor one day...because if you recall...she chose a wheel chair this summer!!!!)

after some fun moments "oohing & aahing" over all things CUTE in the store, we made our way to mi cocina for some yummy mexican food! maddie doesn't eat much - but she loves beans and "wice"!!!! one final stop at baskin robbins for some bubble gum ice cream...and we called it a day!

funny how a hotel room can seem like the most fun part of a trip to a child! madeline was giddy and exclaimed "wow, i've neva been to a hotel befuw!"!!!! to which i replied "yes, you have...you stayed at the ritz carlton when you were 2 months old!!!!!!!"!!! (only because daddy was being courted by a DC firm!!!!!)

she pretended on the phones...and "called" honey & me from the bathroom quite often! she thought that was the COOLEST! it was so fun to be able to soak her up...all by herself! she says the funniest things...and we were able to focus on every. single. thing. she. said!

after a good night's sleep...snuggling together...this is what my sweetheart looked like...

love. this. child. SO. much!

we got dressed and made our way to what is for sure honey's favorite breakfast spot in dallas...bubba's! so yummy! after a couple of pit stops (at the local tj maxx!)...we made our way over to northpark mall! maddie tried on some shoes...but unfortunately, they were a bit too big...and possibly too tall for our accident prone gal...but she had a ball!
she got to pick out a few more happies for her sisters, make a few wishes in the fountain for them...and add lots to her "wish list"!

it was a FUN, full day...and one that i won't soon forget! she never complained for a single second...and hardly asks for anything. she is a joy to be with - no matter what we are doing!

i wish i could document every cute thing she says...or all the ways she shows her unselfishness...but it would be impossible! i'll just hold it all in my heart...and ask you to take my word for it!!!!

on the way home, after lots of SNACKS (her favorite food in the world!!!!)...she said "mom, do i have to stay awake the whole time?"...sweet baby...:) i of course told her no...and within moments she was snoozing!

my goal was to make my middle child feel like she was "queen for a day"...and based on the smiles...and memories she recounts...i'd say we did just that!

no doubt i love my trio more than anything in the world...but there is just something special about stealing each one away...by themselves...

thank you, maddie...for making memories with me...and for me! i won't ever forget this...ever.

5th year celebration...

2012-01-12T21:25:00.007-06:00

maddie's actual birthday was such a fun day for her...& for us! we started out bright and early with a trip to krispy kreme to pick up her chosen birthday treat for her class! PINK donuts! somehow we managed to get to school on time...so that ava and i could get settled in for chapel! if it's your birthday, you get to be the leader, carry the flag in, & go on stage to sing "God bless america"...as well as announce your age!!!! maddie was so excited! she was smiling ear to ear...

two of my babies praying together in chapel...

showing mrs. "wose" (aka mrs. rose) that she is a WHOLE hand...*sigh*

love this baby...

blowing out her candles the first time...she got a little too excited...

so mrs. davison just lit them again!!!!

my sweet girl was SO happy...which made my heart SO happy...

make a wish!!!!

not to be outdone...ava had to have a candle too!

already learning some "not so great manners" from one of maddie's classmates!!!!! this child will gray me early...but i LoVe her so!!!

"my middle" baby

sweet mrs. davison

maddie & her "bestie"...mary banilla (aka mary linnea)

for dinner that night, we invited honey (grandpa was out of town :( ), cookie, & ben over for a special birthday dinner! uncle "b" was in town so he got to join us too! maddie requested roast "beast", honey's macaroni & cheese, corn on the cob, & chocolate pie!!!! ask and you shall receive! as we were eating, we all went around and told maddie what each of us thought made her so special. ella said that maddie was always willing to share with her, daddy said that he loved her singing, mommy said that i loved the way she always thought about others more than herself...and ava, well - she said she loved and i quote "christmas decorations"!!!!! she seriously could go on the road...

boo boo loved what everyone said about her...i wish i could capture the smile that was on her face and keep it there forever...and when we were done, she said "now let's go around again"! oh how i love her so!!!!

we finished the night with her chocolate pie, some left over donuts, and delicious s'more cookies (recipe to come) and another round of "happy birthday"!

the following pics are her response to daddy's "special" version of happy birthday!!!!! priceless...

i'm pretty sure our girl felt super special...which makes the night a success! happy birthday maddie boo boo! here's to hoping year #5 is your best year yet!!!!

we love you to the moon & back...a million times!!!!!

my maddie

2012-01-12T10:19:00.001-06:00

my maddie.

i've thought a lot today about why i'm always drawn to saying "my maddie"...& the only thing i can come up with is that i am just SO glad she's mine...that i want everyone to know it. she is truly such a blessing to me...and to everyone she comes in contact with.

she turned 5 today.

which means that for five years, i have experienced a love that cannot ever be explained on this blog...no matter how hard i try. i have experienced a pride so intense that tears could just stream from my eyes. for five years, i have been loved by one of the sweetest, most compassionate little people...and for five years...i have been blessed to be her mommy.

to say that "my maddie" is adorable is an understatement! she is incredibly unselfish...and super helpful to me - just a couple traits that make her so special. just last night, she went upstairs to clean their room by herself. when she was finished, she quietly came and grabbed my hand to take me up to see her "finished product". she was humbly proud of herself...and had placed a pillow in the middle of their room..."in case i needed to faint"!!!!! *melt*

she cries harder than her sisters when they are getting punished...even if she's been wronged.

she still can't pronounce those "r's"...which i secretly adore...and sounds a bit like she's from jersey! i may have to be committed when she does start saying things "cowectly"!

she still sings like a bird...and has just about perfect pitch! the teachers at school can't get over it...i'm thinking we need to get her way more involved in music soon!

"na" still goes e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e - & really, i wouldn't have it any other way. it's just my maddie. anything less would be...well...less!

she still has the ability to get hurt A. LOT...& quite possibly could be the only human to figure out a way to get a paper cut from a kleenex. bless her heart...she's just such a doll!

she is aLwAyS thinking about others...and would literally give you everything she owned if she thought you needed or wanted it!

there's bound to be an invisible halo somewhere...

i realize i'm gushing...and yes, she's a typical child...definitely not perfect...although she's pretty darn close...

but i just don't ever want her to think that because she's in the middle...that she means any less. that i didn't take time to know her inside and out. that i didn't notice.

she's simply amazing. and she's had 5 years to prove it.

hard to believe i just typed those words.

five years.

five years ago today i was very busy. very busy falling in love with a new baby. studying every detail of her face, her fingernails, her belly button. very busy preparing my heart to love yet another daughter. i remember those moments like they were yesterday. it was just my maddie & me...quietly alone in our hospital room in the wee hours of the night...getting to "know" each other.

little did i know...that tiny bundle would completely and utterly blow me away with her unselfish ability to love. her amazing determination. her unassuming personality that just draws you in. her precious face. her humility. her ability to instantly forgive.

when i am having to type other years...like 25 or 40...i want her to remember that back when she was 5...she was unlike any other. a unique and sweet little girl...who was simply adored.

i love you, my maddie. God must have been trying to break the mold when He made you. you are like a breath of fresh air...and i will cherish all the breaths that i can.

traditions

2012-01-08T21:15:00.007-06:00

i've said it here before...and i'll say it again...

i. love. (with a big time love) traditions!

they make me feel warm and fuzzy...so i try to find ways to start them with my own family as often as possible!

this holiday season, i proposed to the tucker family that we start some kind of tradition with them a few days before christmas! our children adore one another...and the parents don't mind hanging out either ;)...so it just seemed like the perfect thing to do!

after scouring the internet and countless hours of late night thinking...i had an idea!

now, this actual activity may not necessarily be our specific tradition each year...i truly believe the tradition part will just be getting our two families together...but nonetheless, we rocked it out for our inaugural year!

we managed to surprise our kiddos with this...

an escalade limosine to drive us around...in our jammies...to look at christmas lights!

the excitement in my living room was palpable as we were waiting for the "stretch" to arrive! i don't know who was more excited...the kiddos...or me!!!!! listening to them giggle and guess what we were doing was so fun...and just made me so thankful for our family. i love that my little girls have precious little boys that they love so much...that i love so much...to share these memories with!

when the limo was parked out front...we opened the door & they raced outside! what a treat! we all piled in...loaded down with snacks...and headed to krispy kreme for some hot chocolate! for two hours, we road around...and i'm fairly certain that the kids wouldn't have minded a bit if we hadn't seen one christmas light! they were in heaven just riding! the volume was anything but "inside voice"...but thankfully, our children have COOL parents...and we just let them have fun!

poor russell, our driver! ava pretty much knocked on his window the whole time telling him to "roll it down"!!!!! he was sweet though and didn't seem to mind!

when our "polar express" came to an end...we all piled out and enjoyed a night together! my wheels are already turning for next year. our children are growing so fast...and i know that they won't always have the same kind of excitement for the same things...

but my hope is that they will ALWAYS...

look forward to the tradition.

of being together with those that we love...celebrating a special season.

can't wait for 2012!!!!!

our biggest, "bestest" christmas tree yet...

2011-12-19T23:49:00.000-06:00

it seems that we were behind in "all things christmas" this year...i mean, we had plenty of warning that it was coming...like 364 days and all...but still, it snuck up on me! judging by the amount of christmas cards that we received after christmas...it seems maybe we weren't the only ones!!!!

for ten years, jeffrey and i have always gone to cut down our christmas tree...and about 6 years ago, we decided to start tagging our tree early. just talking about it makes me kinda fidgety. picking out our tree STRESSES. ME. OUT!!!!!! i wish that i could explain it...i just want to pick that lonely little tree that wants to be ours...and not make a mistake! i know...it's certifiable!

anywho, not only does it make actually "cutting down the tree day" so much less stressful, it gives me double the opportunity to run amuck the happiness that is the tree farm photographing my children. let's face it, my husband probably views it as a double dose of torture...but it's a traditionally fabulous time for me!

well, this year...the time for us to tag our tree early...came...and...went...

*sigh*

i cannot tell you how disappointed i was. i was convinced that we were going to have to choose from amongst the left overs...because we were going THREE days after thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!

we arrived at "santa's woods"...and i may have been a bit pale...from first glance, the big ones were gone...

just as i was about to start tearing up, madeline proceeded to burn her fingers with hot chocolate...which brought me back to reality! (a word to the wise...DO NOT - i repeat DO NOT allow your 4 year old and 2 year old to drink hot chocolate at the beginning of said ~~photography session~~ tree excursion...you will be disappointed!!!!) after we made sure that her skin was not melting & reminded ourselves that sweet maddie could hurt herself in a room full of cotton balls, we got our game face on. people, there were brown trees and lots of stumps...like stumps where christmas trees used to be...and probably BIG trees used to be!

devastated...

we like huge trees...griswold style trees...the kind where you have to saw off the top kind of trees...

and in my moment of near defeat, an angel appeared! the owner of the farm, whom we have come to know in the last few years, came up to me and told me that there was probably a tree that we would love on the very corner of the field. i looked around to see if any other customers heard her...realizing we were the only ones there...and proceeded to scream at my family to R.U.N (ok, that's a bit of an exaggeration...but fairly close!!!!)

bless ava's little heart...her tiny little legs could hardly keep up with us...which is why i'm pretty sure she and maddie wore more of their hot chocolate than they drank!

when we arrived at "our tree"...i couldn't believe my eyes. it was absolutely beautiful...it may have even been glowing. folks, not only was this tree HUGE...it was perfectly shaped...and lasted us until january 7th. most definitely our best tree to date.

i'm sure there is a life lesson that is a HUGE as our tree was this year...at least a little bit suggesting that i "don't need to sweat the small stuff"...which is easier said than done for me!

it was a fun day...and way less stressful than i ever would have imagined! decorating it with the big girls gets more fun every year...they are so helpful and i love hearing all of their "oohs & ahs" as they unwrap their favorites - something that i vividly remember brooke and me doing when we were their age!

we were all sad when yesterday came...and we knew it was time to take her down. she was a beauty...and set the bar really high...but until then, we will begin the countdown again...to the most wonderful time of the year!!!!!

three gifts...

2011-12-17T11:19:00.004-06:00

no need to ask for gifts this year...i've already received three...

three of the most precious kind there is...

partying & performing...christmas style!!!!

2011-12-16T18:04:00.007-06:00

"JOY TO THE WORLD"...(sung in my best clark griswold voice!!!)...i am oh. so. thankful that school is out and we can begin to truly enjoy our holidays!!!!!! this momma bit off a tad much & my sleeping habits have been paying for it!!! i would do it all over again though...i'm twisted like that!!!!! :)

we started off last week with an absolutely precious performance by ella in the FBCS christmas program! talk about melting this mommy's heart! ella tried out and got a solo this year...& i am fairly confident that i was waaaaay more nervous than she was!!!!! she sounded like an angel...i wish i could share it here. i sat in awe of so many things while she was on stage...in awe of her confidence at such a young age, in awe of the spirit of christmas, & in awe that that sweet little girl is mine. she's such a doll face!

next on the agenda was maddie's class christmas party! another mommy & i were in charge...so we had our work cut out for us! i decided since i am in "LUV" with all things reindeer this year, that we would go with that "theme"! turned out wonderfully and the kiddos had lots of fun!

we try to avoid cupcakes at the parties simply because they are so messy...so i adapted an idea that i had seen last year! i turned krispy kreme chocolate donuts into rudolph the red nosed reindeer! they were adorable...and oh so delicious!!!!!

we had a book exchange with the "friendly frogs" and then played pin the nose on rudolph! great fun & a perfect way to end the year until 2012!

the prize (that everyone received) for playing the game...was a bag of reindeer food! we can't have santa missing our neighborhood!!!!!! these were definitely a labor of love (that my husband questioned about every 5 minutes...seeing as he was put to work too!!!!)...but definitely worth every second! i love their glittery noses...and i love the bows on the "girlie" reindeer!!!

today came the tricky part! jeffrey was out of town...& i needed to be in two places at once! maddie also had a special performance of "away in a manger" at her christmas program & ella had her party, that as co-room mom, i was in charge of!!!!! so since i couldn't figure out last minute how to cut myself in half, i ended up going to maddie's performance first...and thanks to my mom & brooke, i was able to dash away when it was over to get to ella. mrs. keen said that ella kept saying "but my mom isn't here yet..." broke my heart! maybe i need to ask santa for a clone this year!!!!!!!

maddie did wonderfully...she is such a little song bird! her mouth while she sings is the. most. precious. thing. EVER!!!! i was so proud of her! again...amazed at her confidence...i definitely could learn a thing or two from these little people! ava thoroughly enjoyed watching her sister perform...and licking on a bout 5 dumdums at once!!!!

this pic was when she saw maddie on stage...

...and this is when she heard a song she knew...such a little "sassafrass"!!!! i laughed out loud when i saw this picture!!!!! she'll have her turn on stage before we know it!!!

ella's party (the part i actually made) was adorable! the other room mother is a reincarnation of martha stewart so i knew everything would be top notch! my only contribution was the "take away" reindeer ornament (i told you...i'm addicted to rudolph this year!!!) that the kiddos made! they painted clay pots and turned them into rudolph jingle bell ornaments! after a book exchange and a snack, they played a cute game...of decorating a christmas tree...or a friend! they split into groups and decorated each other! lots of holiday happiness!!!

ella was getting her daily dose of "teacher hugs"! i asked mrs. keen what she was going to do without "ella hugs" during the break...she gets lots every day!

we love this teacher SO. VERY. MUCH! what a precious soul!

ella & her best pal, kendal

i am so excited about spending the next 2 weeks with these three little people! we have a BIG surprise planned for them next week with their cousins...but other than that, i am looking forward to spending time in our jammies, decorating cookies, watching christmas shows, & just enjoying being together!!!!!

this time of year is so special to me for so many reasons. i have much to be thankful for...& blessings abound! i hope your christmas season is filled with just as much!

our little colorful rainbow...

2011-12-13T23:42:00.005-06:00

every year, the k4 classes at st. paul's attend a harvest festival. it is absolutely the most precious thing in the world! they each come up with their indian name...maddie's this year was "colorful rainbow"...and then they decorate t-shirts to wear on the special day! we got to experience many of the things that the indians did...it was bitter cold on this day...but we all had so much fun!

they got to "pop corn" over an open fire...

canoe...

hammer copper...

make butter...

look adorable...oh wait...:)

color teepees...

& paint teepees...

they also go to make candles...but i didn't get a good picture of that!

maddie & james

maddie & her friend reeves (aka "weeves)

maddie & her bestie...mary linnea (aka "mary banaella)

maddie & her biggest fan!

thank you, maddie, for such a fun, fun day! i'll hang with "colorful rainbow" any day of the year!

halloween, thanksgiving, or christmas?!?! oh my!!

2011-12-13T23:01:00.004-06:00

how has my life come to this?! i suppose it was bound to catch up with me at some point...that little thing called time...but good grief, i wish i had more of it...or more "merediths"!!!!!!!!

as i sit here looking at that tab entitled "new post"...i think to myself "do i post about halloween, thanksgiving, christmas...or gasp - the beginning of school?". it's almost enough to make me close my computer and brush my teeth while crying. overwhelming. to say the least.

i don't think i've surpassed the statute of limitations for thanksgiving...so i think that's where i'll start. it doesn't seem right for me to post about halloween (my least favorite holiday) while attempting to revel in my most favorite one. so i won't. i'll save those for a "blast from the past" - which will apparently have to be often...since i've been MIA for a while now.

let's just get reacquainted with a few highlights from our last few months. here goes:

ella has lost her TWO front teeth...so yeah, she really wants them for christmas!!! i've been to mexico (again) with my sisters...so. much. fun!!! jeffrey ran a half marathon...he rocks! maddie is as sweet as ever...and will be performing a solo at her christmas program...God love that child! ella sang a solo at her school program and our church program...both of which made me cry & my heart swell with pride! jeffrey and i went to NYC with two other couples from church and had an absolute blast! i did not sing a solo...although i did sing in the ensemble...baby steps! ava is still as sweet & zesty as ever...talking up. a. storm!!!! we've cheered on our tigers & hogs...each of us got to attend a game...at a real. live. stadium!!!!! we've feasted, treated, "farmed"...and been doing a lot of living...just not a lot of blogging!!!!!!

here's to hoping that 2012 brings sleep, peace, & time to my life...yeah right...i just woke up...& realized i must be dreaming!!!!!! :) i love every minute of our crazy and wouldn't trade a second of it!

without further adieu...let me just leap and "start again" with our thanksgiving festivities!!!!!

as one of the room mothers, i was given the task of creating 3 table arrangements for ella's feast! they were incredibly easy and looked really cute! i just painted clay pots black and taped a buckle on...to look like pilgrim hats!

unfortunately, i was not able to attend ella's feast. we had to "divide & conquer" because both ella & maddie had their celebrations at the exact same time on the exact same day :( makes this mommy sad...but what can you do? see...if only i had "more merediths"!!!!!!!

maddie and i had a great time at st. paul's...it's such a precious place...and everything they do is so sweet!

"lofty" plans!

2011-11-17T22:35:00.001-06:00

a couple of months ago...i got the wild hair to build the girls a loft in our play room. well, let me clarify...i got the wild hair to have jeff build the girls a loft in our play room!!!!! HA! just kidding - i put a lot of work into it myself...but of course, the engineer genius of the fam pulled the whole thing off without a hitch!!!!

i called him at work at about 4 o'clock on a friday afternoon and proposed the following:

me: "hey, do you think we could build the girls an inexpensive loft in the play room?"

jeff: "yeah, i'm sure we can. it will just take a little planning."

me: "ok, well can you start planning...cause i would really like to go to lowe's when you get off of work."

jeff: "like tonight? seriously?"

me: "yes!!!"

we proceeded to go to lowe's at about 7 p.m. to buy the necessary supplies to build our girls a loft!!!! at midnight i was hand cutting pickets with a jig saw and jeffrey was headed to wal-mart to get paint!!!! we are nuts...but we actually had fun doing it! knowing how much the girls were going to love it kept us going! for about $150, we were able to create them something new and fun!

i must say that the final product exceeded my expectations! it turned out pReCiOuS...and i'm fairly certain that an entire NFL team could stand up there and it wouldn't fall down!!!! other than the incessant climbing up and down that my youngest daughter finds fascinating it has been an awesome addition to our "play land"...freeing up lots of space!!!!! thankfully, we made the ladder detachable...so when she has given me my quota of heart attacks for the day...the ladder goes down!!!!

i'm so thankful that my husband has learned to channel his inner "bob villa" on the fly...cause that's how i roll around here...and i don't see that changing any time soon!!!!! :) yes, i always have had "lofty goals"!!!!!!

before the gate and ladder were complete!

ava's chant as she climbs up & down is "mommy, i can do it!"

my poor, poor neglected...

2011-11-17T14:58:00.002-06:00

BLOG!!!

it is really bad when your friends start wondering if you are alright because the blog is dormant (thank you, friends...i LoVe you dearly for that!!!)

sure in the past, i've had good excuses like "1st trimester blahs" or cross county moves...but this time, i've got nothin'!

we have been insanely busy...and i have just felt a whee bit overwhelmed for some reason lately...nothing in particular that i can necessarily pin point...just normal "overwhelmed" i guess!

it isn't like i don't have anything to blog about either! we've had horseback riding, loft building, dressing up, & feasting...i'm tired just thinking about it!

so never fear...this "blogger"(i'll use that term loosely for now) is back in business...

thanks for caring about our precious family!

stay tuned!!!!!!

sometimes it's just that kind of day...

2011-10-18T08:15:00.005-05:00

a "lick the beater kind of day"...

a fun day...

where we let it all "hang out"....

without a care in the world...

well, except for licking!!!!

where sharing suddenly doesn't seem so hard...

and being clean isn't important...

but being adorable very much is!!!!!!

where a mommy falls deeper in love...

with two little people...

that melt my heart just about as much...as the melted chocolate in their bowl!!!!!!

"we're suckers for our girl..."

2011-10-06T15:16:00.010-05:00

ava's 2nd birthday celebration was a sWeeT success!

since she is obsessed with suckers...it only seemed right to have a lollipop party!!! for as long as i can remember, this little one has thoroughly enjoyed partaking of yummy confections on a stick!!!!! i keep thinking that the luster will wear off, and i know our day is coming...but for now, dumdums get us through just about anything life has to offer!!!! grocery runs, road trips, or shots...she's a happy camper with a "gucker" (what she used to call them!!!) in her hand!!!!!

we could not have asked for a more beautiful day for our beautiful little's girl's birthday party! it was perfect! i was able to transform our front yard into a "candyland" just in the nick of time (thank you, mom, jeffrey, & unc...couldn't have done it without you)!!!

our guests were treated to lots of suckers...with i think both kiddos and adults alike...enjoyed!!!

there was lots of bouncing, riding, licking, running, licking, more bouncing...and more licking!!!

ava had a ball and spent most of the morning walking around with a bouquet of suckers in her hand! i joked with jeffrey that i wish we had had a bell that rang every time she opened a new sucker! she was in lollipop heaven!!!! and definitely on sugar overload!!! i wanted to replace her handful of sticky suckers with a bouquet of broccoli!!!! you only turn 2 though once i suppose!!!

after a sweet birthday serenade by some close friends and family, we sent all of our guests home with their own jars of suckers! everyone needs their own stash of sugar right?!!!?!!!?

it was such a sweet celebration...perfect in every way! i am blessed every single day...but it is in these special times, that my heart becomes so full it could overflow. i have now been a mommy for 7+ years...but each time one of my precious daughters blows out those candles on their cake...i am once again reminded of the wonderful privilege i have been given. there is no greater gift in life!!!

we love you, sweet ava! you're no doubt the cutest lollipop in the bunch!!!!

two years never seemed so short...

2011-10-06T12:43:00.000-05:00

it seems like just moments ago...that i was hearing those all familiar words being uttered in our delivery room...for the amazing third time...

"it's a GIRL!"!

i'm actually stunned when i think about the fact that our ava, my baby, is t.W.o. years old.

wasn't she just a mere few months old being toted in her infant carrier from carpool line to carpool line? learning to crawl on our living room floor with me lying right beside her showing how it's done? flying to disney world in the tiniest matching dress we could find so she would be just like her big sisters?

and here she is now...even more "just like them"...big.

*sigh*

ava ashley price is a mess with a capital M! she has somehow, at just a little over 2 feet tall, taken over as CEO of this household...which includes telling any and all to "go away" if she is not pleased. (however, do not mistake this fact to mean that we have lost control...because i don't think we have!!!!! ha ha ha) she is sassy...and as she will tell you...she is "kind, smart, & important"...only it's SOOOOOO much cuter when she says it!!!

she will eat nearly everything you put in front of her...especially if it involves some sort of dip...and based on her scrumptiously adorable thighs...i don't think anyone would dispute this fact! she is a whopping 27 pounds...placing her at the top of the pile size wise in comparison to the other price girlies!

did i mention she's sassy? mmm hmm.

she does not meet a stranger...and is intimidated by no one. she talks c.o.n.s.t.a.n.t.l.y! it's quite amazing to hear her vocabulary...just today she told me she was "nervous that that truck is going to get us"!!!!!

our little firecracker is quite aggressive...which i suppose comes along with the territory of being the little kid on the block...but man, she gives me fits! she will push, pull, & torture playmates. it is completely unacceptable & new to us...so i have been praying often that she would play well with others...

but with this being said, she is one of the sweetest baby girls you will ever meet. in a lot of ways, she has been our easiest one. she loves with reckless abandon...and she will hug and kiss me and say "i wub you, mommy"...makes this veteran melt every. single. time. those sweet words never get old...no matter how many times you hear them.

she loves to be on the go...and will ask me when we get in the car..."mommy, hobby wobby?"! that's what i'm talking about girl...she's my running buddy and i love every second of it! i can't imagine the day (and don't like to, really) when she is not my side kick 24/7...it just feels right.

ava has brought this family countless moments of joy and we have been so incredibly blessed. even though she has taken a 180 in the "temperament department"...from laid back to "sass-ational"...we wouldn't trade a minute of her little bitty life!

i look forward to watching her grow...and helping her channel her independence!!!

ava...you are loved beyond what you could even imagine. you are no doubt the baby of the family...and you have managed to steal all of our hearts with your big puppy eyes and precious spirit! i pray daily that God would use you in wonderful ways...and that you would love Him and others with the same zest with which you live life!!!! we are so proud of you...and i am eternally grateful to once again call you by name...my beautiful baby daughter.

i love you for a million tiny reasons...mommy

21 months...

2011-09-11T11:27:00.000-05:00

brings about a lot of change. you might remember a time when ava slept in here...

i sure do...because those are memories that are burned on my heart forever. our third daughter slept next to me - in this isolet - for many, many months...

while she was growing.

and even after she had long outgrown this isolet, it stayed in our hallway because it preserved a glimpse into her "newbieness" (i love making up scrumptious words!).

well, we had to let the isolet go recently...i suppose it was time...although i don't plan on letting go of my baby any time soon!

before we bid it adieu though, i had to have one last photo shoot. somehow a lot has changed in 21 months...don't ya think?!?

***this post is a obviously a tad bit late!!!***

you're never too young

2011-09-10T11:17:00.000-05:00

to have special friends.

thanks, eva...for being one of our best buddies! we love you!

"mmmm...so good"!!!

2011-08-27T13:01:00.003-05:00

those would be the words spoken by my almost two year old...pretty much whenever anything hits her lips!!!! it is just about the most precious thing ever! with that being said - i thought it would be an appropriate title for my recipe posts...because even though the world may not think our cookin' is "mmmm...so good"...my little ava sure does!!!!

enchilada lasagna

1 rotisserie chicken

5 cups of mexican blend cheese

1 can of cream of celery

1 can of cream of chicken

1 1/2 cups sour cream

1/4 cup canned and chopped green chillies

small corn tortillas

1 tsp cumin

2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

mix the cream of celery, cream of chicken, sour cream, green chilis, cumin, salt, & pepper together in a bowl. spread 1/2 cup in the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan. dip corn tortillas in water and place in bottom of dish. layer with chicken, cream mixture, & cheese. repeat two more times leaving the chicken off of the top layer and adding LOTS of cheese!!!!! bake at 425 degrees until the cheese gets golden and bubbly (about 25-30 minutes)!!!!

like ava says..."mmmm...so good"!!!!!

***i must give credit where credit is due...this deliciousness came from none other than...you guessed it...pinterest! ahhh, my newest love!!!***

tubin' on bruin...flashback!!!

2011-08-17T15:56:00.000-05:00

this summer, our family had yet another fun opportunity to head to the lake with our wonderful neighbors! we went last year & the girls (along with their parents) had an absolute blast! they loved tubing and swimming and jumping off of the pier...over and over and over again!

this year, our little baby is not so little anymore...and joined her big sisters on the tube! ava ashley has NO FEAR...which is hard for this worrying mommy!!! she looked so tiny and so precious out there with her wind blown hair!!!!

this was the girls' "pretend we're sad that the tube ride is over" face!!!! they are so funny!

thanks woodens...for making us feel like family! we look forward to many more lake weekends to come!

no words...

2011-08-16T11:26:00.000-05:00

for how much i'm in love...

some things in life come along just when you need them...

2011-08-12T22:34:00.004-05:00

life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets.

so, love the people who treat you right

and forget about the ones who don't.

and believe

that everything happens for a reason...

if you get a chance - take it;

if it changes your life - let it.

nobody said that it would be easy...

they just promised

it would be worth it.

it's hard to say goodbye to summer...

2011-08-11T23:08:00.002-05:00

*sigh*

there's a 1st time for everything...

2011-08-11T10:21:00.005-05:00

there is absolutely no denying anymore that my very first baby is indeed not a baby anymore. at this very moment in time, she has 1 1/2 days of FIRST grade under her belt...and i still have tears in my eyes.

everyone tells you that time is gonna fly when you have children...and it's easy to assume that "yeah, yeah, yeah...i know"...until you're laced up in those shoes...walking smack. dab. through. it.

first grade. see how that rolls off your tongue.

there is nothing baby about that. it's spelling tests, reading, eating lunch in the cafeteria...it's the real deal. and "yeah, yeah, yeah...i know"...i just wasn't prepared.

i remember letting go of ella's tiny hand at asbury methodist (what seems like many moons ago) and thinking that there is no way i'm going to be able to make it. those first few days without her were some of the strangest in my life. i would look in my rear view mirror in a panic - staring at her empty car seat - and have to remind myself that she was at "school".

while it might be hard on this mommy to spend time during the day without her...my little girl is happy! she has the most precious group of friends and she loves learning!

if she's going to be anywhere, i at least want to know she's in a safe place that makes her smile!

she is a "keen cool kid" and lovin' it so far! she told me that she gave mrs. keen a hug today and was told "i needed that!"! that's what this mommy needs to hear...that my baby is being loved on when i'm not there....cause goodness knows i'm going to be lovin' on her when she is!!!!

i found these adorable "edible pencils" on pinterest (if anyone should wonder...yes, i'm addicted) and knew that i must make these for the first day back to school. they were a hit...and i must say...so fun to make!

i also saw this idea for a "back to school" bouquet...so we decided to make our own version for mrs. keen! she loved it and it made ella feel very special!

i couldn't be prouder of my daughter...and i know i can't stop her from growing up...so i'm just going to take time to relish and remember...

there's a 1st time for everything...

and our time is now.

look what the "back to school fairy" brought...

J.e.L.l.Y. shoes (like circa 1980's jelly shoes!!!)

ella...we are so, so proud of you! every moment i spend with you is like a breath of fresh air. your humor & funny wit make me laugh from the inside out. your smile puts one on my heart. i love the kind of friend that you are...and i hope you will always keep putting other's feelings before your own. the day we spent together on tuesday, just you and me, was a day i won't soon forget. i look forward to sharing so much together. as your mommy, i am responsible for shaping your outlook on relationships and life...and i don't just want to do that through words...i want to do that through actions. what i never could have imagined though is how much i would learn from you. your ability to let things "roll off your back" while smiling that precious smile is such a gift. i look forward to seeing what God has in store for your amazing little life. you are a shining star, precious one...and you shine like no other! i love you past heaven.

the great american "adoption"...

2011-08-11T08:34:00.002-05:00

after our super fun stay at great wolf lodge, we made our way over to the next super fun adventure!

the girls were going to get to "adopt" some new price family members...and then eat lunch with them!!!

yes, we were going to spend the day at any little girls' dream store...americangirl!!!!

it's hard for adults to keep their cool here...so you can only imagine what ella &maddie were feeling!!! we were bouncing around that store like ping pong balls!

before we left for dallas, maddie had made the decision that she was going to get a doll that had a wheelchair and glasses. well, nothing changed her mind - and the first item purchased was the wheelchair! just might be the cutest thing you've ever seen! even cuter - is the story she tells about why "emily" is "pawalyzed"! i. love. this. little. girl!!! emily is a blond haired, blue eyed beauty!

ella chose a precious little brown haired, brown eyed doll - named "lilly"...along with a couple of new outfits!

we all had SO much fun "ooohing & aaahing" over all of the adorable, tiny merchandise and then made our way upstairs to the cafe!

such a precious experience! the dolls have their own seats and their own cups and saucers! the food was delicious - complete with a fruit skewer full of fun shapes - and super kid friendly!

it was such a fun time...making memories with some of my favorite gals...old & new!!!! i look forward to many more years of "girl trips"...and can't wait 'til my tiniest girly girl comes along too!

"thank you", honey...for such a memory filled experience! we love you!

ella with her "babies"!!!!!

maddie is such a good "mommy" to "emily"...*love*

ella with her pretzel appetizer

the best of friends

they had the cutest game on the table...these strips of paper that were conversation starters! ella was asked what her favorite summer memory was...i believe she was living it out right before our eyes!!!!! so sweet!

lilly & emily price!

a mommy's heart bursting with love...

emily in her wheelchair...with her glasses...she's truly a "doll"!!!!

great american adventure...

2011-08-03T16:53:00.000-05:00

a couple of weeks ago, my mom treated the girls and me to a fun filled overnight visit to dallas! everything planned was pure f.U.n. for the girls...from the goodies in the car to the destinations! our first stop was the great wolf lodge.

all i have to say is WOW! this place was awesome!

we laughed and laughed and had the best time! the girls were so brave and tried all of the slides that they were allowed to ride...and HONEY even rode every. single. one of them! impressive! after almost 5 hours of non-stop "water parking" - and a few hundred stairs climbed - we looked like happy drowned rats!!!!

we all had pizza and ice cream for dinner...and then got the girls all cozied in their bunk beds...

because we had yet another "american" adventure awaiting us the next day...

truly a dream come true for any little girl!

awaiting departure...so excited!!!!

checking out the view from our room!

getting measured for the slides...

she's SO big...:(

having a blast on the "lazy river"...

watching 1,000 gallons of water...fixing to dump on the girls...going...

going...

GONE!!!!

our little water bugs...

waiting on story time in the lobby!

violet!!

the cute mural painted in the "bunk bed room"

to be continued..."new members" of the price family!!!

chiles rellenos casserole

2011-07-31T14:31:00.000-05:00

this is such a yummy recipe...not for the faint of heart and may cause some hair on your chest...but de-lish!!!! i think you could tone down the "heat" a little bit by using mild rotel, less cayenne, and monterey jack cheese instead of pepper jack!

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 onion, finely chopped

2 pounds 90% lean ground beef (i used laura's 92% lean and it worked perfectly!)

4 poblano peppers, stemmed, seeded, and chopped (i highly recommend using gloves to avoid the stinging digits...trust me on this!!!!)

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon dried oregano

3/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 (10 oz) can rotel tomatoes

10 ounces shredded pepper jack cheese (2 1/2 cups) (monterey jack cheese can also be used)

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup skim milk

2 large egg whites

1. adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium heat until shimmering. add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. stir in beef, breaking up meat into small pieces, and cook until no longer pink. using slotted spoon, transfer beef mixture to paper towel-lined plate. pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat from skillet.

2. add poblanos and cook over medium-high heat until browned, 8-10 minutes. stir in beef mixture, garlic, cumin, 3/4 tsp salt, oregano, 1/2 tsp pepper, and cayenne and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. add tomatoes and cook until beef mixture is dry, about 1 minute. off heat, stir in 2 cups cheese. scrape mixture into 9x13 inch baking dish, pressing into even layer.

3. combine flour, remaining 1/2 tsp salt, and remaining 1/4 tsp pepper in bowl. slowly whisk into flour mixture until smooth; set aside. using stand mixer fitted with whisk, whip egg whites on medium low speed until foamy, about 1 minute. increase speed to medium high and whip until stiff peaks form, about 3 minutes. whisk 1/3 whipped egg whites into batter, then gently fold in remaining whites, 1 scoop at a time, until combined.

4. pour batter over beef mixture. bake until topping is light golden and puffed, about 15 minutes. (mine took a bit longer!) sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes. let cool for about 10 minutes.

this would go great with a lemon oil salad and some chips and salsa!!! we will definitely be making this again...but probably need to tone it down a notch if we are going to share!!!!

soaking up the last rays...

2011-07-20T15:02:00.007-05:00

there is nothing ever great about only having "one more day" at the beach...but we did have a great last day!! i literally only left the beach for one small moment all. day. long. it was positively delightful! ava, madeline, & myself lived through an "almost drowning" of my tiny one...which caused this momma to have to sit down for a while (talk about true "sea legs")...but it didn't take her long to face her fears! she wanted to hit the waves again!

i tried to relish every sight, sound, and smell...knowing that the next day would bring paradise to a screeching halt! the kiddos bounced between the beach and the pool and enjoyed their last day as well!

we headed to baytown wharf in sandestin for dinner that evening and had a blast! the kiddos all remembered the fun things to do from the time we had been there before. our dare devil, ella, decided to try out the zip line (eeek!) and madeline and nate did the euro bungy! they all were so precious! it makes me feel so warm and fuzzy to see my children having such a great time.

i know i won't soon forget the memories made on this trip. each one just another page in the book of life. our life.

i am so very blessed.

livin' the good life...

2011-07-19T22:19:00.005-05:00

in my opinion...it just doesn't get any better than the beach. sooo...it was no surprise that we hit it early on our third day! by this day, the kiddos wanted to spend part of their time at the pool and part of their time playing in the surf and the sand!!!! thanks to candace (our a.M.a.Z.i.n.G babysitter) that was completely possible!!! we just divided and conquered...and i'll have to admit...my "office" was beachfront!!!!

searching for shells, feeling the sand on my fingers and toes, listening to the waves crash on the shore, building castles, watching the seagulls, soaking in the shade of an umbrella...just a few of the reasons i. heart. the. beach. it was so great to see my little girls loving it as well...sMiLe!!!

after our day of "play", it was time for "business"! another round of pics! the adults were going out to dinner (thank you, "candath"), but we got the girls dressed again and headed back to the beach! i am SO happy we did...because we caught some treasured moments!

after we got the kids settled for their "nighttime" swim...all the "big people" headed to grayton beach to "the red bar"! we had such a great time and enjoyed such a delicious meal! it was nice to have some relaxed adult conversation in such a fun place!

we headed back to catch a few zzzz's...because we were planning to set up shop early for our last day of vacation...man, the days fly by...

***even though it doesn't seem like it...i truly left off LOTS of pics that i love...sigh***

sun, sand, & surf...

2011-07-17T22:36:00.010-05:00

we all couldn't wait to hit the beach on wednesday morning...and that's just what we did!

the kids absolutely LoVeD the beach...every. one. of. them! i was oh so happy! they had the best time riding the waves on "shelly" (the lovely "sea turtle" raft) and building sand castle after sand castle!

our smallest beach bum, ava, was a trooper! she wasn't phased by the gritty sand or the big waves...although i think her favorite part of the beach was the snacks!!! :) baby "lukey" loved the beach too...and found it quite hard to keep his little eyes open while he listened to the waves!!!

after soaking up all the rays we could possibly take...and desperately needing to give our big kiddo's eyes a chance to heal (you seriously should have seen them!)...we got dressed for our first round of photos!!!! even though my husband would strongly disagree with me, this is my favorite thing to do at the beach! i don't think there is a more beautiful backdrop & i just love letting the girls have fun...while snapping LOTS of pics!!!!

after our family photo shoot, we headed out to a new restaurant, stinky's fish camp, for dinner! it was so yummy and lots of fun!

it seemed like we had so much vacation left...but we all knew that it was going to fly by...so we nestled in for the night...and rested up for our next day of "beach bumming"!!!! :)

we got our toes in the water...

2011-07-11T22:22:00.006-05:00

the price family could not get to destin fast enough on tuesday...and we were so excited to meet up with the tucker family, along with "aunt cookie" and ben! as soon as we arrived at our condo...the kiddos started asking to head to the beach...and i'll have to say that the adults were ready as well!

the emerald water and white sands of destin don't ever disappoint...and even though we battled gobs of seaweed this time...it was still fantastic!

ava had never been to the beach (other than in mommy's tummy!), so i was excited to see how she would do...of course, she l.o.V.e.D every second and even enjoyed riding the waves! she is such a fearless little girl!

the "bigs" had a ball and couldn't get enough of the waves and water either!

after an amazing first afternoon...and almost outlasting the sunset...we all headed out to a yummy dinner at the original dewey destins! such a fun place to eat! our children soon learned to keep up a "vacation pace"...and even ava rallied with the rest of us adopting "teenager" hours of sleep - you only live once, right!?!?!

our trip was off a wonderful start...and it felt soooo good to know that we had three more FULL days of sun and sand...which of course, is never long enough!!! i think i would always want "one more day" no matter how long i was visiting the beach...it is truly just what the doctor ordered for me!

after getting everyone tucked in...we anxiously awaited morning...so we could sink our toes in the sand again!!!!

testing out this thing called "the beach" for the first time...gosh i love this baby!!!

at least someone could make good use of the seaweed!!

"mere mere" loves this fella...such a cutie!

diggin'...

every girl loves a castle! getting started on their masterpiece!

cutie patootie!

sweet, sandy maddie boo boo!

adorable "k-love" searching for "she shells"

just can't get enough of this baby...

sweet lukey...whom ava just couldn't get enough of!!!

besties!

oh. my. word. how did my "baby" get so big...love her so...

such sweet friends...

our fun family of five

precious tucker fam...

beloved "aunt cookie" & ben...aren't they "pertty"?!?!

friends turned family...

"mere mere" with my latest hunk of burning love...doesn't get any sweeter!!!!

beach bums at dolphin view...

2011-07-11T20:15:00.003-05:00

i'm completely overwhelmed...how do you possibly blog about a fabulous beach vacation...and choose pics to illustrate the fun...

when you took 1,449 photographs...

and you like just about every single one of them!!!!

i wish i were exaggerating...but i'm not!!!

i think i'm going to have to break it down by days...and try to just choose my absolute favs!!!

we had such an amazing time with our family and extended family and the days flew by - isn't that the way it always goes when you're having fun - time just flies!!!

i can't think of many more places on earth that i would rather spend my time...or leave my footprints. hearing the sound of the waves and the sound of the little's giggles warms my heart like the florida sun!

it just makes my soul say "aaaahhhhh"...

'til next year, destin...i'll just browse through my many pics...and smile at all of them!

the weirdest, yummiest recipe...

2011-06-22T22:13:00.008-05:00

the following recipe is going to knock your socks off for several reasons...

1. it sounds positively dreadful

2. it is absolutely delicious!!!

jeffrey has been doing this serious diet...which means meredith has been doing it somewhat...so when he asked me to buy kale at the store, i have to admit...there was a teensy bit of eye rolling...and gagging!!!!!! HA!

while i watched him fixing this, i thought to myself "ain't no way i'm trying that!"...but when he came in grinning from ear to ear and exclaiming that i would love them...i had to try!

OMG...oh. my. gosh.

they are actually edible...and tasty. it's hard to admit!!!! it seems that ava is addicted!!!! score one for the home team!!! without further delay...here is the incredibly simple recipe. i dare you to try it...and let me know what you think!!!!

kale crisps (kale chips)

wash your bunch of kale. tear into small pieces being sure to remove the hard, woody stem from the leaves.

mix 1T of olive oil & 1/2T of balsamic vinegar and pour over the kale pieces. mix thoroughly making sure all pieces are coated. place small pieces on cookie sheet (we lined ours with parchment paper) and sprinkle with sea salt to taste. bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes until the pieces appear crispy. ***this is super important...because if they're not crispy...they're not tasty!!!***

go ahead...be skeptical! i sure was! i can assure you that in all my 34+ years...kale has never touched my lips...but folks, these are like lays potato chips. seriously.

if i'm lying...i'm dying. :)

please try this & let me know how you like 'em...truly one of the craziest things ever!!!

my how you've grown...

2011-06-22T16:22:00.008-05:00

look how much these two have grown...

you may have forgotten...but at one point in their lives...they were tiny enough to fit into one isolet.

now they can play together...occasionally push each other's buttons (ava ashley...mmmhmm)...and grow together as friends...

that have literally grown up together since birth!!!!

"baking" memories...

2011-06-22T16:04:00.004-05:00

i was in charge of making desserts and appetizers for our lake weekend...and i was very happy when i discovered that one of my little "pretties" wanted to help me! it is always more fun to have company in the kitchen! we waited until the little littles went to sleep and then ella & i got busy!!!! here is what we made all in one night...

white cupcakes with white icing

"everything but the kitchen sink" bars (to die for...!!!)

rice crispy treats

chocolate chip pie (thanks, mandy...it was delish!!!)

black bean hummus (definitely a price family favorite...so, so yummy!!!)

pepper jack salsa

i can assure you...we were not going to go hungry...in the dessert department at least!!!!

ella was sooo precious...and it just made my heart want to burst! we talked and laughed together...and it just made me look forward to the day when she is older (ok...that part i don't really look forward to)...and we talk and laugh...and she shares with me. i desperately want my children to want me to know them...to truly know their heart. and i want them to know that no matter...they can tell me anything...good or bad.

for now, i'll enjoy my beautiful 7 year old...and the memories we made while licking the beaters!!!!

i love you, ella elise! i'll "bake memories" with you anytime!!!!

camp "fun in the sun"

2011-06-21T13:59:00.011-05:00

this past weekend, my little family was graciously invited down to lake bisteneau to spend some fun filled time with the varnadore family, kat & josh...and soon to be "baby august", along with aunt cookie & ben! we had a blast!

we started off the weekend with a yummy hamburger dinner and the kiddos enjoyed being chauffeured by "aunt jen" on the golf cart!

on saturday, we attempted to take the barge out for a spin and let the kids play in the lake...totally unaware that there was a "lake wind advisory"!!! even though we didn't learn of this until sunday evening...it didn't take us long to realize it once we got out there! we let the kids jump in, after we were anchored (or so we thought)...and the next thing we knew...the current was pulling them (along with mr. rodney!) one way and the boat the other! ella went into panic mode...which i can't say i blame her for at all...and "uncle ben" had to jump in for a rescue mission!!!!! whew!

once all of our crew were safely aboard, we made the executive decision to head back in for some pool/slip & slide fun!!!

during "quiet time", most of the adults played a devastating game (due to MY score) of mexican train...and then we decided to brave the lake again! ella, maddie, aunt cookie, ben, & i joined the roberts family on their barge for an evening swim! this time the conditions were perfect! mr. david took ella & maddie on their very first jet ski rides and i believe that ella is hooked! she said "let's go 70"!!!! heaven help me...this child is going to give me fits as she gets older...and her daddy just smiles from ear to ear!!!!

we had a delicious supper...and then enjoyed some of the BEST...i mean truly the BEST...homemade cookies and cream ice cream! perfection on a spoon!

after another fun morning on the lake sunday (celebrating all the daddies)...we cleaned up and headed home!

thanks varnadore family for including us this weekend! having grown up going to "camp fun in the sun"...it is so special to be able to share these same memories with my own family. if only those walls could talk...they would have some tales to tell!!!!

we can't wait to make more memories with you!

friendship & fish...

2011-06-15T22:43:00.006-05:00

friendship = my dear "old" friend, megan and her precious family + my dear "new" friend, april and her precious family

fish = our KIDDOS!!!!

last week, the girls and i set out for tyler, texas bright and early to spend the day with some of our favorite people! we were going to attend nolan's bowling birthday party...and megan graciously invited us to come back to her house to enjoy an afternoon of swimming in their new pool! (which is absolutely beautiful!) the salleys came too and it was the perfect combination!

our children swam and swam and swam...except for poor malynn who had an accident the week before and broke her arm :( - and who wins the award for being the best sport out there!!!! all of our kids get along SO well and it was such a delight to be around ALL of them! they are so very cute!

megan and chris are fabulous hosts...and after a super fun day and a very yummy dinner...my very tired crew headed back home to shreveport!

we are so very thankful for such great friends...and i consider every second spent with my "old and new" ones a blessing!

i also have to give chris a HUGE "thank you" for watching ava for me after nap time so i could enjoy the mommies and the kiddos...that is no easy task...and one which i don't take for granted!!!!

our "matching" princesses...and we didn't even plan it!!!

so cute watching all of them get ready to release this balloon!

we have "lift off"!!!

...all the way up to heaven - kids are truly the most precious things in the world!

look at these "cool dudes"...relaxing!

by far the cutest "buns" of the day!!!

sweet megan with ava!

this pic was taken almost exactly one year prior...look how much my baby has grown :(

last year at this same time...life passes by so quickly...i hope i remember every precious moment...

"ketchup"...

2011-06-15T22:31:00.003-05:00

this happens to be my most favorite condiment in the world...and it describes exactly what needs to happen on this blog! ok, so maybe not that kind of ketchup...but you know what i mean!!! i am SO behind...and have lots of activities to document...but it all just seems so overwhelming!!!

between my girls trip, the end of school, the loss of emma, and the mad rush of summer...i've sat down at my computer countless times...and just come up empty. *sigh*

i'm hoping to hop back on the "blogging train"...'cause there's lots of memories being made...

and i don't want to forget a thing!!!

d.r.e.a.m...

2011-06-06T22:08:00.006-05:00

that is at least one word i would use to describe this vacation!!!! in fact, i feel like i've been a bit "short circuited" since i returned home...i quite possibly became TOO relaxed...& have had to retrain myself to fit into our crazy life!!!!! ha!

this was truly an amazing experience...and one i won't soon forget!

i never could have imagined as i was agonizing over leaving my family behind that i would have such a wonderful time...but i sure did! it didn't take me long to get used to being pampered & waited on at one of the world's best resorts!

we arrived at grand velas riviera nayarit on a wednesday afternoon...not realizing how magical our vacation would be! i was in the company of some of my oldest & dearest friends...celebrating our "30th" birthdays...about four years late!

from the first "good middle of the night" text message received at 4:10 a.m. until we parted ways at the airport...the four of us had an absolute blast!!!! we laughed until we cried...and since we've been home...i've probably cried until i laughed thinking about all the wonderful memories made!

the views were breathtaking, the food was fabulous, the staff was amazing, the spa was incredible...and the company was unbeatable!

i put together a photo book for all of us...which i wish i could share here...and i might feel compelled to carry it in my purse...because i just want to show everyone where their next vacation needs to be!!!!!

i also feel the need to share my enormous appreciation for my husband! he somehow managed to take wonderful care of our girls (by himself) AND completely re-tile our bathroom...which was a complete surprise to me when i got home!!! he said he didn't want to take time away from ella, maddie, & ava - so he only worked at night while they were sleeping! what a keeper!

i definitely think it might be good for mommy to get away some...and if it involves home renovations each time...i'm all for it!

i can't say it enough - every day was exceptional...& i look forward to going back...when are we gonna book, ladies?!?!?

girls...there will never be adequate words to describe how special this trip was for me. what an amazing experience...celebrated with the best of friends...sprinkled with laughter...& oh so much FUN! i would presume that there are few people that go through this life with friendships so rich & i feel incredibly blessed to know that where my footprints have been made...yours have been made as well. from little girls to mothers, we've written many "chapters" together...and i so look forward to the rest of the story. here's to many more memories in mexico...here's to forever!

te amo...mercedes

i'm struggling...

2011-05-18T23:03:00.003-05:00

period.

i don't exactly know how to crawl out of this place...i feel completely stuck.

i have returned from an absolutely AMAZING vacation to mexico with some of my oldest, dearest friends...and it's been hard for me to rebound since being back. can't really explain it.

(i promise to post about it though...truly was the best trip EVER...)

it looks like the unfortunate and unbelievable time has come for us to say goodbye to our precious emma. the cancer seems to have spread to her eye...and let's just say...it looks like something from a horror film. every time i look at her sweet, sweet face, my heart literally breaks and aches more than these measely words can express.

i wanted her to live until i got home...and she did. but now it's time to say goodbye. and i feel so lost. and oh so empty.

please pray for my family...because friday afternoon, jeffrey and i will lay with our sweet "first born" and wait for her to peacefully fall asleep. forever.

how does a person do that?

i hate that i'll have that answer.

once again, the tears seem like they will never stop flowing because i will miss every special thing about this amazing dog. she's been like our family's hero. protecting me all those nights that jeffrey worked out of town. keeping me company when loneliness crept in. sleeping at my feet in whatever room i was in. watching out for my girls while they played in the yard. looking at me with those sweet eyes.

i will miss her all the days of my life...and cherish those that i spent with her.

well done, emma lou. you've loved and been loved more than any dog could have dreamed of. sleep well, ole' girl. you will never be forgotten.

i get to...

2011-05-08T22:14:00.002-05:00

play dress up at 34 years old. cut up food into little pieces. change poopy diapers. fix hair with braids and bows. rock little girls that are 19 months, 4 years...even 7 years old. pack lunches. wash little bitty clothes. take bath toys out of the tub before i bathe. hear giggles from the other room. wipe dirty faces and hands. go to t-ball games. attend field days and field trips. dry tears. give hugs. clip tiny fingernails. color. snuggle tightly during nightmares. answer precious questions. step on barbie shoes. feel proud. play hide and seek. kiss sleeping cheeks. brush little teeth. have play dates. wake up on the edge of the bed because someone "little" snuck in between. play "i spy". bring goldfish everywhere i go. love like there's no tomorrow.

and i get to...

hear three little voices saying "mommy"...and they're talking about me.

what an everyday blessing.

happy mother's day to all those that have been, are, or will be mommies.

what a special day indeed.

18 months old...

2011-05-04T22:25:00.000-05:00

hard to believe that title belongs to the tiniest price girl! i still expect to walk into her nursery every morning and find my "baby"...although that's becoming more difficult based on all the "not so baby" noises coming from the monitor!

she's a pistol to say the least...and we affectionately call her the "bobcat" lately because she is rather hard to tame!

even so...i love that little thing to pieces.

our little blue eyed, cotton top is sugary sweet underneath all that sour! she has really good manners for someone so little and will usually say "peas" & "tank kew" on her own...or hit you in the face...she's either hot or cold!!!! HA!

she is extremely verbal just like ella was and talks up a storm! she truly has too many words for me to list but some of her more recent additions are potty, pank "spank" (hmmm!), tow you "hold you", gucka "sucker", drink, ca "car", & hug...just to name a few! her little voice just couldn't be any cuter!

she is v.e.r.y. independent (just like maddie) and likes to do things all by herself. she weighed 23 pounds at her last visit but must be storing some of the food she eats in her hollow leg because this little one can flat out eat me under the table! she loves things like sweet potatoes, spaghetti, any fruit, beans, broccoli slaw, cottage cheese, and avocado...and dumdum suckers! ella probably didn't even know what a sucker was at this age...but when in rome you do as the romans, right?!?!?!

she still faces backwards in the car...and quite frankly, i think she would tell you that she has the best seat in the house! she gets a "front row view" to the road show going on in the back! (aka ella & madeline!) she takes a great afternoon nap for usually about 3 hours and goes to bed like a champ between 7:30-8 and sleeps until about 8:30 in the morning (sometimes it can be 9 or 10...without any sedation required!!!)

she's a complete ham! lately she has perfected a "fake cry" that makes me belly laugh every time! she loves to have her "cup & her bunny" when she "rocks" at night and will frequently ask for hugs! m.e.l.t. my heart!

although she's a bit of a handful lately, we love this little firecracker more than we ever could have imagined! she loves her big sisters...and i'm pretty sure she loves being the baby! those big girls definitely look out for the little one. this mommy can't imagine my life without these girls...my pink trio...

and i'm so thankful for our latest addition!

ava ashley...what a blessing you are!

the wheels on the bus...

2011-05-02T14:53:00.004-05:00

on the city bus that is!

the safari scouts headed for a trip around town today on the bus! they have been doing a transportation unit and this was a perfectly fun way to spend our monday morning! the whole price family (minus ella...boo) went along for the ride!

the weather was absolutely dreadful...and threatened to cause a "rain check"...but the rain held off! instead we just froze to death! bless ava's heart...i don't know who her parents are...but someone should really get a hold of them! anywho...we all walked to the bus stop and waited to board!

we took a little spin around the city and came right back to our starting spot! we even sang "the wheels on the bus" while we rode! it was so cute to see all the kiddos so excited! they each got to put their .60 in the machine and pick their seat!

such a fun, fun field trip...and just another reason we LOVE st. paul's!!!!

waiting to see our bus!

mary banilla (aka mary linnea) & maddie

ava being a "big girl" too! (and i just had to include the precious, obligatory nose pick...gotta LOVE kids!!!!)

maddie "paying her way" on to the bus!

ava was lovin' it!

our crew

"thank you, mr. bus driver"...for keeping us safe!!!!

a day in the life...

2011-04-26T23:13:00.007-05:00

of a 7 year old birthday girl...in pictures!

the birthday girl started out her day with breakfast in bed...

when i brought it in to her...she said "i feel like a princess!" that's what i was going for, sweet girl!!!

getting an early morning birthday call from her daddy who was out of town!

blowing out her candles with all her sweet "hight hikers"! we were minus one candle...so we all agreed she was just blowing out the "passing of her 6th year!"

such a sweet class...we are going to miss this group being together

sweet girls...miss ava was napping

mommy stealing some sugars from her BIG girl!

ok...here ella is laughing hysterically at us playing the "hot & cold" game to help her find the birthday cupcake! i WISH we would have caught these moments on video...but they'll just have to be recorded on my heart! she was precious!

she FINALLY found it in the real oven! it was so funny to see her so timid about touching it...because of course, they usually know never to touch the oven!

finding out that she was going to get to have a "mock" sleepover with all her special girl friends in her class...in the next couple of weeks...date is TBD!

sweet sisters...ella is fixing to open her gift from us...some doll clothes! don't you love my wrapping?!?!

we had our church group over for a birthday celebration tonight! john & ella both have their special day this week! it was sO mUcH fUn...& apparently there was a tornado warning that occurred...but we knew nothing about it! we were having a blast!

ella fixing to enjoy her birthday surprise...a deli casino apple pie...one of her favorites!

i love maddie's face that you can see in the mirror...she's so happy for her sister! what a peach!

i think she had a great day...and went to bed as a very happy 7 year old!

i've spent 7 years "past heaven"...

2011-04-26T14:00:00.000-05:00

it is truly hard to comprehend that our ella will be 7 years old today...at 2 o'clock. yep, it was at that exact moment seven years ago that our ella blinked her way into our world and our hearts. i can still recall every detail of every moment...and every feeling that i had when they placed her on my chest. i'm not sure i had ever cried more tears of joy.

the hole that had been in my heart forever was instantly filled. i was a mommy to a beautiful and healthy baby girl. she was perfection in a tiny little 6 lb 4 oz package.

we were definitely feeling the love.

and still are. on this special day of her birth. and all days.

ella was a very happy little baby...she could turn on the charm...and smiled at everybody! she was also a handful when she wanted to be...and extremely opinionated about most things! she had an amazing vocabulary from a very young age (still does, really)...i just found a list of all of her "words" and she was saying over 100 of them at 16 months! things like "touch it", "there you go", "mamen" (amen), "sing" (swing), & "memma" (emma)! she weighed 18 pounds at her 1st birthday and nursed until she was almost 16 months old.

every bit of her 220,898,482 seconds of life has made me proud. and happy to be her mother.

she's an amazing big sister and a wonderful friend. she's curious and intuitive. she's concerned about others. she still has the most precious freckles a mommy could ever have the opportunity of kissing. she still sucks her two fingers when she's "simmering down".

and...

she still blows me away.

in the blink of my eye, she'll be walking to get her diploma or walking down the aisle...and this day will seem like ancient history.

the day when at seven years old, she loved spaghetti, coloring on anything and everything, eating strawberries by the bushel, holding my hand, having her fingernails painted different colors, riding her bike without training wheels, cuddling after dinner...at the table!, asking questions like only a 7 year old could, swinging and singing...

most of the time, with that huge, squinty eyed grin on her face!

ella...you can't begin to understand the depth of my love...but i certainly hope you feel it. each day with you is a gift. april 26th at 2 o'clock is certainly on my list of most treasured blessings.

i love you, sweet girl.

i love you past heaven.

you've got to be kidding me?

2011-04-13T21:24:00.000-05:00

tell me that's not written all over her face!!!!!