Giddie Up....

Thanks to a group called Our Military Kids my girls are getting to do a lot of extra curricular activites and "H" chose horse back riding. This child was born to live on a farm with a million animals. I must say though I think she may have found her calling. We watched as she led and rode this huge animal as if she had been riding forever. I love it when we find something that makes our kids happy and they love doing it as much as we love watching them do it.


This is the arena that she guided her horse through barrels and over small jumps. Doesnt she look so cute; I mean professional.



This was when we first got to the farm. She saw that her horse was in the pasture with her lead on and she was afraid she would trip, so she ran over and brought her to the van while we waited for Miss C to arrive. She has no fear of any animal...wish I could say the same for her daddy and me.

A Day At the Beach....

What do you do when Big Papa leaves you with 7 sad faces because they miss their daddy? You go to the beach and invite as many people you can to share in your time there to take their sweet little minds off their situation.

Memaw and Pepaw treated the girls and myself to a little beach retreat at our beach of memories. We stayed in the same hotel we stayed in when I was a little girl and family came to visit and play (just like old times)! Grandma Sarah was looking down smiling at all her greatgrand babies playing together and cramming themselves into a tiny room just to be together. It was great!!!! We will remember this trip always and will have something to tell the next generation about the fun at that little hotel on the beach.

I did convince the kids to give me one photo shoot before we left and we even convinced Little "O" that the water would not get him if I was taking a picture. It took a lot of persuading. He must have a tinge of his daddy's fear of what lurks in those waters (sharks)!!

Yes, it was freezing the first day when we took this picture, but we did not care. We came to play on the beach and that is exactly what we did rain or shine (mostly rain). Thank goodness for some answered prayers and the rest of our trip was sunny and warm. We even came home with a few pink cheeks. Thank you again Memaw and Pepaw for an awesome trip that we will always remember.

I"m Leavin' On a Jet Plane....

Dear Big Papa,

Be safe, and hurry home!!! We love you!!!

Love,

Jenni Leigh

My Flair Hair Men...

Yes folks, thats right, for all those of you who have no hope for having that mane of hair that your wife was drawn to you by in the first place, there is hope. Flair Hair! Look at my two bald men transformed in seconds. In Baby "L" this miraclulous creation gives me an image of whats to come, but with my Scooter Boo, its an image of what has been. Good thing they both make my heart melt just as much without the hair.

Lunch at Brother "J"s

We went to my brothers for a going away lunch for Big Papa and we had a very relaxing, enjoyable time. The kids played and we enjoyed just being together with family.

Of course, whats a get together without cake and presents. Aunt "M" provided a cake and my parents provided a big bag of goodies that Big Papa would know how much everyone was thinking of him while he is gone. Ankle braces because we all know how much those things need some extra support, soap for those stinky sweaty days in the dessert, socks because we all know that if you love someone you want them to have warm socks on their feet, and so many more things that I would take up too much space listing them all. Thank you Mommy and Daddy for loving and caring for my Scooter Boo as much as I do. (OK almost as much)

And of course, it would just be wrong to go to my brothers house and not post a picture of their beautiful baby boy. Baby "J" is such a sweet spirited baby, how could you not want to just pick him up and kiss his sweet little cheeks. Thanks "J&M" for opening up your house and hosting such an enjoyable time together.

Time With Papa "D"...

Well, you will just have to believe me that Papa "D" came. I guess we were so enthralled with his new camera that I forgot to get mine out. We dont get to see him very often so when he came to the house the kids were very taken by him. They always have silly stories to tell after Papa "D" visits, come again soon, the kids really love to see you. However, because I keep forgetting to send you these pictures from Easter, I figured I would post this one of you and your sons flexing. Macho, macho men!!!

Lunch at Nana's

We went to Nana's to visit with all the cousins and family before Big Papa flew out for his lovely tour of the dessert. We had a great time and the kids despite the rain seemed to have a great time just visiting and playing with their cousins.


Why do kids like to find the tightest corner of the house to play for long periods of time? Cousins "H", "G", and "J" thought they could hide from my camera but they werent expecting me to use the girls to get their pictures. Ha ha I got you anyway!

Cousin "C" always has a sweet smile for me when I have my camera out. He must know he's a cutie!


And Little "J" he says cheese before I even have my camera to my face. That boy loves to have his picture taken. What a sweetheart!!


And last but not least Aunt "B" and Baby "J" (I guess shes not really a baby anymore but shes the baby of their family so that name will just have to do) I have to catch them in action. Baby "J" is on the move the whole time she is at Nana's house. No wonder she weighs less than my 1 year old. Shes in constant calorie burning mode!

Thanks for the great time together Nana and Pepa we had a great time and it was so nice to not have to be the one cleaning and grilling (in the rain).

The Big One-O For My Precious "K"

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl, you are now officially double digits. You have been waiting so long to be able to say you are 10 and now the day has come. I think you even looked a little taller this morning when you woke up. We all know you only get prettier each day, both with outer and inner beauty. You have such a sweet loving and giving spirit. I guess you will always be known as "The Little Momma" and very deservingly. You give me such joy having you as my sweet daughter. We love you, Sweet Girl!!!

I know, not exactly the picture you thought you would see after a speech on my swwet little girl, however, this is what "K"s birthday consisted of.....wings, wings,and more wings....oh yeah, and some fried pickles. Yum Yum.

Everyone got to paint their own cupcake or ice cream as a party favor. What great sports Memaw and Pepaw were for letting a bunch of little artists use permanent paint at their dining table. Hey, you only live once, and believe it or not I dont think a single drop of paint ever hit the table. Not to mention, the kids had a great time designing their masterpieces.

Here is what the finished products looked like.....

Then we played an old party favorite "pin the tail on the donkey" only we had "pin the purse on Penny". To be such a simple game, kids really enjoy the sillyness of it.

Even our usual party pooper (Cousin "N") seemed to have an enjoyable time pinning his purse on as well. Isnt it nice to know that sillyness is still alive. (And contagious)!

Then it was cake time (look at how Little Bro "O" is staring at it with such desire). Cake has always been my kids favorite part about birthdays. You would think with as many b-days that we have each year we would get sick of cake, but oh no bring it on!!!

"K" designed this one herself. She loves sprinkles, can you tell?

Next, was the official conga line for the birthday cha cha cha. Memaw is hurt pretty bad in her knee, so she gave the honor to Big Papa who has been secretly yearning to be in the conga line for years. Its official, youve been conga'd, now you are 10!!! Happy Birthday Sweet "K"!!!

Have Your Cake and Eat It Too...

Yes, my dear friends, that is an electrical plug on my dear sons birthday cake. If you had witnessed Baby "L" zap his tongue as many times as I have, you would have chosen this same theme as I felt compelled to do. I figured the only way to make food look appetizing to this little fella was to drape it in something familiar to eat.....plugs!!!

See, we took the plug off the cake and gave him a slice to eat and he looked at us and said, "You want me to do what with this stuff?" Ok, so maybe he didnt say it out loud, but look at that face....it says it all.

Baby "L" decided the best thing to do was to feed it to Big Papa before he tried it himself. "Here Daddy try this bite, its good!"

After the cake and ice cream, Memaw took Baby "L" on his first conga train while singing happy birthday Jamaican style. Its a tradition, as you will see if you look back at my many b-day posts. Its not officially your birthday until you conga with Memaw!!

And then there's the party poopers who are too big to conga. Shame on you 2 for party poopin' on the conga line!!!

Yay!!! Its present time!!! Thank goodness for gift bags...Baby "L" loved ripping the paper out of each bag. Then, there was someone by the name of Big Bro "O" that seized each gift (Im sure it was to check for age appropriateness) as Baby "L" pulled them from the bag. Things got a little aggressive around the gift table, but what would a memory be without a good fight?

Just as Baby "L" thought is was about over, Pepaw swooped in with a great goodie bag filled with lots of stackers and shape fitters. And this baby hasnt gone a day without stacking or sorting over and over and over. Whats funny is that his sisters and Big Bro "O" do it just as much as Baby "L"!!!

After all the hoopla, Nana entertained Little "O" (and the rest of us) with her animal sounds song. Little did Nana know that once you do something funny, 2 year olds love to make you do it 100 times more. "Again..., again..., again..."

Then Baby "L" tried to play a game of hide and go seek with Pepa ....I wonder if he knows that this doesnt make him invisible?

When it was all said and done and the smoke had cleared and Baby "L" was finally able to see what wonderful gifts he received, he fell in love with his baby Tonka's. He loves to roll the wheels and make motor sounds with his mouth. He has driven his little Tonka trucks many miles on my kitchen floor since we got home from the party. Thanks everyone for making this celebration of Baby "L"s birthday a day to remember and cherish for ever. Now I must go and cry ......my baby is growing up!!!

Happy 1st Birthday....

Happy Birthday Baby "L"!!!! You are now 1 year old!!! Well, to sum up your first year of life in one word I guess it would be electric!!!! You have been a gift of many adventures (to say the least). I would say that you are truly my need for caffeine, and my spice in life lately. There has yet to be a dull day from the day you were born, and I have loved every waking moment with you (ok maybe not the 1:30, 3:30, and 5:30 am wakeup calls). I am now wearing an eternal mask of dark circles under my eyes thanks to your multiple waking sessions, but I wear my mask proudly because I wouldnt trade this year with you for the world. Ok so maybe you ate the trim around the window, and cried when I wouldnt let you eat the blocks of wood that you found outside, and get this strange kick out of shocking yourself with Daddy's computer cable; you're still my Little Lyndy Boo!!! and I love you today, tomorrow, and forever. Happy Birthday!!! I hope it is as electric as you are!!!