Happy Birthday Danika!!!

What a big girl you've become! November 2nd was Danika's birthday. Her requests for her party were simple. . . dress up and make necklaces. Sounds simple, but since boys were coming, I had to get a little creative. So we had a Princess and SuperHero party. All the kids looked fabulous. Danika chose to be Belle and thanks to after Halloween sales, I was Snow White. Anytime to dress up is a fun time for me! After seeing Colton's birthday cake, Danika requested a "big take with wots of pincesses". I found a cake similar to this at a local bakery, but they wanted $125 for it! I thought for sure I could figure it out. I think it turned out pretty fabulous and a lot cheaper! Pink cake with pink frosting - what else could she want!

We did a few fun activites.

First when everyone was arriving, the princesses and superheroes colored big pictures of Ariel and the Incredibles. Then, we made necklaces! My great friend, Laurie, make shrinky-dink princesses and superman medalions and we added sparkly and foam beads. The kids had a great time with the help of talented mommies! If you look in some of the other pics you can see the finished products.
Freeze Dance is always a big hit. Thanks Carrie for putting together a cd with fun dance music.

Danika opened presents in her new princess throne. It makes music everytime she sits down so of course everyone tried it out!
Those are the highlights! We had a great time and Dani is already planning her next party!

My Playgroup

Six years ago I joined a mom's league in our area to meet other stay-at-home mom's. I thought we'd share the highs and lows of motherhood, have playdates, and meet up for lunch. Well, Colton and I did join a playgroup with other kids born within a month or two of him. That playgroup was as much for the moms as it was for the little 1yr olds who were there to "play" together. Little did I know 6 yrs ago that these remarkable women would become some of my very best friends. How lucky I am! Together we've had lots of laughter and tears - childbirth, childrearing, death, divorce, etc. Thanks girls for being such great friends! You have made such a difference for me over the last 6 years and I look forward to many, many more.Jen, Debra, Penni, me & AmyThe kids!

We had a special little birthday celebration for Colton and Dani with just their playgroup friends. They ran around like crazies, ate cupcakes and opened presents. How fun!

Our group six years ago was a little different. Some of our friends have moved away though we wish they'd hurry back. Penni - we're holding our breath, so please come back! Colton and Matthew are the only two boys left since all the boys have moved away. They are great playmates!

My dear friend, Sabrina, is missing from these pics because she just had her 4th girl!!! Yeah! We're all so excited to get our baby fix with little AnneMarie.

What makes your girlfriends so special????

Happy Belated Halloween!

Better late than never to share fun photos of my darling children! Joel took the kiddos out trick-or-treating while I stayed home to work on Danika's birthday cake.Colton reminded us late Thursday night that we hadn't carved our pumpkins yet and we'd need to get it done after Dad came home from work but before trick-or-treating on Friday. Needless to say, I wasn't really excited to squeeze carving 6 pumpkins in on such a crazy night. Joel is a "mad-carver" and got them all done very quickly. I do admit that I wasn't the best sport about it and I was breathing down his neck while feeding the kids some mac & cheese as they cleaned out their pumpkins! Colton didn't enjoy the "cleaning out" part as much as he enjoyed "carving with a sharp knife". Such is a 7yr old boy. They all turned out very different and surely lit up our walkway for all the neighborhood kiddos.

Happy 7th Birthday Colton!!!

My not-so-little boy!Wow! I can't believe he's seven. Some days it seems like yesterday that he was a 7lb bundle of screaming joy and now look at him! Today is Colton's actual birthday, but the celebrating started on Friday night with 20 boys coming over for a Clone Wars party. Yes, star wars again this year. Since last year was a little over the top, we settled for pizza and a movie this go around. I did try my best to create a lightsaber cake and I think it turned out pretty great! There was enough cake to feed an army, but who doesn't like leftover cake! Colton's big gift from us was a new bike. He hasn't had a bike to ride for quite a few months since he's grown so much. He's had to turn down bike rides with friends for too long. Joel extended Colton's old bike as far as it would go last spring and it still hurt Colton's knees to ride, so that's when Daddy came to the rescue and started researching bikes. No way was he going to go to Academy and buy a bike that he'll just outgrow. No, he had to go to a bike shop and get one that he can use forever! "It will grow with him, don't worry." We celebrated with a family party yesterday and ate a little more of the massive lightsaber. Both sets of Grandma's and Grandpa's, Aunt Ashli, Uncle Zane, Keegan, Konnor, Uncle Scott, and Cousin Abe came over. A big thanks to Aunt Stephanie, Uncle Lance and their kiddos for remembering Colton's big day all the way from Oregon! Everyday when he takes care of his new hippo webkin he'll think of you! We also celebrated Grandpa Stanley's 70th birthday. What a milestone!

Fall Festival

We had a great time together Friday night at a Fall Festival for our ward at church. It was outside at a historic farm in Grapevine. The kids had a trial run in their Halloween costumes and if I do say so myself, they looked darn cute! There was a cake walk and lots of fun playing carnival games. Colton was feeling pretty "free" from parental supervision and ran crazy with his friends. I kept asking Joel, "Have you seen Colton???" and he just kept reassuring me that he was having a great time and we'd find him later. Well, he found us when it was time to start the trick-or-treating portion of the night - only because we had his candy bag. I could tell at that moment that he'd find me only when he desperately needs me. Maybe this is a sign of things to come! He is almost 7 you know and feeling quite grown up!

Ladybug & Harry Potter

Danika is doing this funny thing in pictures now where she has to touch her face. Usually she's pulling her cheeks out and making a "monster" face. Thankfully we took this pic caught her just before that scary face!

Texas State Fair

Monday was "Fair Day!!" This simply means that we get a free ticket to the fair and a day off school to do with as we please. Well, I haven't been to the fair since I was hugely pregnant with Colton, so this was our year! My friend, Amy, invited us to come along with her and her girls for a fun filled day. Joel was very jealous that he couldn't come!

Elli, Anna, Colton & Danika

There were a lot of great activities for the kids, including a "Little Hands on the Farm" where the kids acted out the duties of different kinds of farmers. They planted seeds, harvested what they planted, gathered eggs, fed chickens, milked cows, sheered sheep, sold their goods, and spent their hard earned money on a snack.

Danika thought they were real chickens at first!

Colton even played along and drove this way too small tractor to get his goods to market.

We spent the majority of our day with the animals. Joel wasn't even with us - he's so proud. This picture proves that yes, I was there, near smelly cattle to give my children a lesson on how it all works. Colton was quick to point out that this cow needs to find her babies because she's lot lots of milk. About ten minutes later, we went to a "milking" demonstration and this very cow was relieved. The kids were fascinated at the process of getting the milk from the cow into our fridge. I even learned a few things from the informative farmer.

There was a great petting/feeding area where the kids got up close and personal with all kinds of animals from pigs to zebras to giraffes. Yes, all of those at the state fair. It kind of felt like we were at the zoo. For $5 we got lots of food, which Dani kept pouring on the animals until she figured it out to just hold it in her hands. Sometimes I forget to explain these simple things to her. She wasn't scared at all, so she had a ball.

Dani (yes, that's a crooked pigtail line!) feeding a baby camel.

I do admit that the piglets were dang cute. Their mama, not so much!!!

No day is complete at the Fair without seeing "Big Tex" the official mascot of the State Fair of Texas. Somehow we got out of there without riding any rides or eating much junk food.

We had a great time and we'll definitely go again next year!

Thanks Amy for inviting us to come along!

What a Great Day!

Saturday was the annual MEND Walk to Remember and it was wonderful. I'll explain a little, but words just can't describe the emotion and spirit that is felt as everyone there remembers a baby that they've lost. I've served on the committee for the last three years and though it's a lot of work, it is such a blessing to be a part of something so wonderful. This year we had just over 400 people remembering 160 babies. These are the angels that were distributed this year.

This is such a special time to honor my daughter, Savannah Kate, who passed away during birth on January 3, 2004. Not a day goes by that I don't think of her and what our family would be like if she would have made it. Right now my heart is full and my eyes are flooded with tears as I think of her. I miss her! It's so interesting how as soon as you find out that you're pregnant, you start making plans for the baby. Not just how the nursery will look, but you develop hopes and dreams for your unborn child. Every mom out there knows what I mean. When all of that comes crashing down and you go home from the hospital without your baby, it's hard to even breathe (really, you'd rather not breathe than live another day in misery). About 4 months after Savannah was born, I wasn't doing very well at all. Everyone else had "gone on" and I was just stuck, not really knowing how to grieve or what the process was to "get back to normal". Well, in that time I found MEND, Mommies Enduring Neonatal Death, and through the support I received there I was able to slowly come out of the fog and live again. I learned that I would never be the Calli that I was before Savannah and that I would form a "new normal" for my life. Since MEND is a Christian based support group I felt very comfortable expressing my feelings on eternal families and the hand of the Lord in my life. What a great blessing that Families are Forever. I know that I will see Savannah again and what a joyous reunion that will be.

This will give you a glimpse of the Walk to Remember. It's from last year, but look closely and you'll see a few pictures of my family. Mend Slide Show Make sure you have your sound up because there's beautiful music.

Fun Weekend

What a weekend! We had a lot of fun and a lot of family time - nothing better (especially since I got some great girlfriend time in, too!)

Colton has started Flag Football and is doing great! Yes, we start them young here in Texas. Luckily for a worried mommy, tackle doesn't start until next year. Colton plays the entire game both offense and defense and he has scored a touchdown in both games. He was penalized 15 yards after his first one for excessive celebration. Jez ref - it's his first real touchdown outside of our living room! I'll post good pictures as the season rolls along.
Just this weekend he got up the courage to try wakeboarding. Until now, he's been very content just to go tubing. I was suprised at how well he did for his first try - much better than his mother! His athleticism definitely is helpful! Uncle Zane was a big help, too.

Rochelle and Laurie are two fabulous friends who are birthday twins! I was lucky enough to be invited to a fantastic "slumber" party on Friday to celebrate. It is an annual event - yippee! A bunch of women in pajamas eating amazing food and laughing hysterically. Thanks Laurie for the pictures and if you'd like to see more click here. I made it home about 1:30am to get a little sleep before waking up early for Colton's football game. Man was I tired. It doesn't take much for me to realize that I'm no longer "young", young at heart maybe, but my body is screaming, "girl, get a grip . . you are 32 not 22!"Rochelle & Laurie

Katri, me, Monica & Laurie

Women

I am so thankful for the fun women in my life!!! It only takes a little time away from friends to make you really NEED a girls night out with them. The beginning of the school year always seems crazy, so I knew I needed some quality friend time. Friday night I got some girls together and we saw the new movie The Women http://www.thewomenthemovie.com/ and went to Cheesecake Factory for dinner/dessert afterwards. I had a blast. Everyone that came new me and one other person. I love expanding circles of friends! The entire theater was full of groups of girlfriends and we all noticed the two men that were dragged into the "chick flick" by their wives. Dinner was great afterwards, though the thought of looking through the huge volume that Cheesecake Factory calls their menu is quite daunting. I always get the barbeque ranch chicken salad and again it did not disappoint. I had to get a salad since at the movie I drank enough Coke to drown myself. I am really trying to give it up, but that night watching a good movie with great friends warranted indulging in my drink of choice!

You know you need a night out with your girlfriends, so put something together and enjoy yourself.

Puppy Love

Okay, so I never really thought that I'd end up a dog owner. Of course, growing up with mom allergic to anything "petish" and thanks to dad being a marine biologist, by education, we got a lot of fish! At night we'd just lay and watch the fish in the tank. Not quite the best pet, but there was no responsibility on my part, so it worked out just fine. Fast forward to me marrying a cowboy who grew up on a small farm. Fish were just not going to be enough for Joel. It didn't help that Colton's first sentence was, "When can I get a dog????" I put him off by saying that you have to be five to have a dog, but then he turned five!!! Needless to say, with much debate about the kind of dog we'd get, we found our puppy. Colton named him Boston, since it rhymed with his cousin, Austin.

Danika (2 1/2) & Boston (2)

Just over a year later, Santa brought us Henry. Surprise!!! They definitely add a lot to our family - a lot of responsibility and a lot of fun. Great idea Colton!

Colton (6 1/2) & Henry (1)

A New Year

This summer went by so fast! Some days were the "dog days of summer", but it flew by and I didn't do all of the great things I had planned to do with Colton and Dani. Oh well, I'll keep the list for next summer. Not really, I'd loose it!

Sometimes I just can't believe how big my kids are getting. Colton started 1st grade and is loving it now. PE everyday really helps him love it! When I picked him up the first day I asked him how 1st grade was and he said, "Okay, if you like school for 7 hours!" in a really sarcastic voice. He just can't believe that kindergarten gets out a whole 45 minutes earlier than him. It's tough being a first grader! He loves riding the bus and doesn't really want me to meet him at the bus stop after school because he'd much rather look like a big kid.

"Get out of here, Mom, and stop taking pictures!!!!"

Danika is now in the "Bunny" class at Noah's Ark Preschool. She is so excited to go, but she wants to go everyday. Too bad, little one, twice a week is enough to be away from mommy. She pick out a "Hello Titty" shirt to wear on her first day.

Overall, the first week went great! I did get a call on the 3rd day of school from the nurse at CES warning me that Colton had a run-in with another student while playing freeze-tag and to expect a bump on his head. Needless to say, I wasn't expecting this to step off the bus!

Fun with Cousins

We were so happy to have Joey and Aron come visit us for a week right before school started. The kids really had a lot of fun (an so did I). I just love those boys! They stayed at our house every night except one special night. We decided to have a cousins sleep-over at Grandma O'Brien's house. Yippee! I was really excited since Colton and Danika are "big kids" I didn't have to stay. I dropped them all off in the afternoon and the fun began. Ashli brought her boys boys, too!!! They took a trip to the park, duck pond, played legos, painted wooden cars, baked cookies, played outside and swam. They were very busy kids. I'm sure mom and Ashli were busy too! I went over the next afternoon to claim them and they went on and on about how much fun they had at the "Cousin's Sleepover". I will now encourage that to be a quarterly tradition. Mom's big on traditions, so maybe she'll agree. We also went to a really fun waterpark in Allen by Ashli's house. So fun!

Addictions

Okay, so I'm now totally engrosed in watching as much of the Olympics as I can possibly see. I've got everything set for the dvr just in case I miss anything crucial to my olympic happiness. Sleeping is totally getting in my way! I can't reitterate enough that I'm an Olympic Addict. OAA anyone???? I've got to take a break to watch Michael Phelps compete in the freestyle 4x100 relay. If you missed it tonight, you must watch it on http://www.nbcolympics.com/ and be amazed! And what about Darra Torres? 41 and still an olympic athlete and a medal winner! WOW!!! I also just saw a gymnast compete at 33 yrs old who I watched compete in 1992.

Okay, so as you all know, my other addiction is Coca-Cola. How appropriate that Coke is a huge sponsor of the Olympic games. Here is the wording for one of their commercials....

"If you've had a Coke in the last 80 years, you've had a hand in making every Olympic dream come true."

I have to say that I took great pride in all of the olympic dreams I funded single-handedly!!

I even have my kids watching. We love it all! What are your favorite events?