Graphics....

Hadley is completely obsessed with drawing and all things art related. For her birthday, she wanted a graphics tablet. I had never heard of a graphics tablet before Hadley asked for one.

A graphics tablet (for those non-arty folks like me) attaches to a computer via USB, and you use the stylus to draw out pictures on it. The pictures show up in photoshop, sketchbook, etc, and you can edit the picture. The tablet we got Hadley came with photoshop, which she's been salivating for, so we got sketchbook pro to go with it. Do I know what it does? Nope, I haven't a clue about any of this stuff, but Hadley was thrilled with it!!!

Googly Eyes...

She Smiled at Me...

Lacey has been known to work me like bread dough. She looks at me, and there is something about her that reminds me so much of Ella when she was little.

When I least expect it, she gives me a big smile.

Isn't it great to be an Aunt!?!?!?!!

Things I Saw on the Road...

Taking a road trip through Alabama is full of sights. One of my personal favorites from the last week of travel....

Think whatever you want; this sign cracks me up!!

Did Someone Say Ball Pit?...

Too/Two Sweet Feet....

Layton put on skates at the party. He didn't skate much though. He spent the whole time in the ball pit and arcade. Maybe he'll skate one of these days...

Roller Girl...

Layton's friend had a birthday party not too long ago. It was at the skating rink in a nearby town. I took all three of the children because the birthday boy's mom said it would be okay. Ella and Hadley both had a great time learning to skate.

I didn't get any good pictures of Hadley. She was a hot, sweaty mess the whole time. Ha!

Wet Fun...

Happy Birthday!....

One of Layton's favorite friends from preschool had a birthday party not too long ago. It was pirate themed. I thought the cake turned out so sweet!

What do you think? Is this not the cutest pirate cake you've seen in a while?

Ahoy! Continued...

Layton was sporting the eye patch for a while. Then, he was going to go swimming, so what was he to do? He put the goggles on top of the patch.

Maybe this isn't the most functional look he's ever had, but it served his purpose. He got to keep the eye patch and got to swim with goggles. He is obsessed with wearing goggles in the pool, so he can open his eyes without them burning from the Chlorine. 

Ahoy Matety!...

If you loved pirates as much as Layton loves pirates, you'd sport an eye patch too. Ha!

Here Froggy Froggy...

Jay rescued this little guy from a pool filter.

I, of course, was totes grossed out by the fact that he had a frog in his hands, but the kids loved it. :)

Happy birthday to Ella! She is eight today!!!

Jack...The Cute Thing He Did...

This is Jack. He is so sweet and did the cutest thing at a birthday party recently.

Jack's father plays the drums for a local band called Richie and Deemer. It's a great band. They are never overly loud and play some fabulous tunes. Well, at a birthday party, Richie and Deemer were the entertainment as they are the favorite band of the guest of honor. Partway through the set, Jack grabbed his play guitar from his bag and joined the group on stage!

It was so unbelievably adorable!!!

The New Crocs...

Layton finally grew enough that I had to get him some new shoes. He wanted blue crocs, so that's what I got him. He had them for about two weeks when I snapped this picture. He only had the shoes another week or so after this. Why? I'll tell you.

Our beloved babysitter Rachel took the kids to the mall one day. Layton proceeded to throw one croc down the escalator. AND. The escalator basically exploded the croc. No joke. You should hear Ella tell the story of the atomic croc. So Rachel had to tote poor one-shoe Layton to a store and buy some flip flops. Ha!

Embarrassing and Sweet...

Part of this story is Volume One of bad pictures of me, and part of this story is just about the sweetest thing that I have ever experienced.

A few weeks back our friends Amanda and Sam got married. The week leading up to the wedding was also filled with get togethers and being able to meet Amanda's friends from out of town who came in for the wedding. While we were out one night, Layton got to missing me something fierce. Ella knows my cell phone number by heart and helped Layton call me. He and I chatted for a few minutes, and I promised to be home soon.

When we got home, Layton was curled up in our bed sound asleep...with a a picture of me from 8th grade and a picture of me from junior year in high school.

I was so touched that he had taken the hubs prized pictures of me for a cuddle. Such a sweet and touching moment even though I was mortified by the bad hair and cheesy sweater. :)

Happy birthday to Hadley!! She is twelve today!!!

Ready for Some Slightly Cooler Weather...

It has been super hot here recently. So hot that we haven't even taken the top off the Jeep much because it's just too hot to sit in the sun at red lights. I love Fall and Spring. I love when it's not too hot and not too cold. I love it when we can wade in the creek and be just fine....

It Never Gets Old...

Watching Ella and taking her picture never gets old. Honestly.

Brooke...

Yipee! I finally got to see baby Brooke!! She is so precious. She was asleep, and I make it a point to never wake a sleeping baby. :)

Her big sisters are already absolutely smitten with her. Alexis just had to show me little Brooke's fingers.

There is nothing sweeter than the smell of New Person. It's even better than the smell of new car. :)