Our Princess and her Party!

As Ella’s third birthday began approaching, I knew it had to include two things…dress up and princesses.  Now, seeing as how the majority of Ella’s friends are of the male gender, I knew I had to come up with something that could have a masculine touch, yet still honor my little girl’s most favorite things.  While searching the internet I found a fabulous Princess and Knight party by Jodi.  This gal knows what she is doing and was kind enough to give me costume pointers!  Now all I needed was an army of servants volunteers!!!  My best friend Mandi and darling husband came to my rescue and helped me crank out 14 costumes and a fairytale cardboard castle.  Oh, and lest forget the day-of-party helpers who saved the day!  My mother in law finished all those castle bricks while my own beloved mama wrangled kids and cut fruit!  Love those ladies!

Welcome to Ella’s Castle!

As the kiddos entered, they were dressed in their personalized princess or knight costume and headed to the backyard for the festivities!

 

Craft table for the kiddos!  The girls had crowns, princess stickers, wands, and necklaces.

Little knights got to decorate their own  shields and swords (balloon swords, mind you – ha!)  Y’all, have you ever tried to make one of those balloon shapes…my father-in-law almost passed out just trying to BLOW the thing up!  Kudos to Magic Mike – you have our sincere respect for your balloon-shaping talent!

 Out in the yard, guests could choose the princess table or the knight table for their eating pleasure!

And here’s Ella’s castle in all its glory! 

Once all the princesses and knights had arrived and played a little while, a special guest show up – Princess Belle herself!  We do not watch many Disney movies (because of content), but Beauty and the Beast is on our [short] list.

I owe my niece a big, fat birthday present for this one ;)  Ella was AMAZED by her.  She dazzled the little princesses with one of Ella’s favorite stories, Birthday Presents by Cynthia Rylant, and even sang our current family favorite tune, Beauty and the Beast.  Good thing “Belle” is such a good singer!

One of the sweetest moments of the entire party came courtesy of a certain little fella who has quite the personality.  As Belle sang our tune, Knight JJ came to Princess Ella and said, “Ella, can I ask you a question?  Will you dance with me?”  And that is just what they did!

I didn’t know whether to be smitten by the genuine sweetness of our fair-haired friend, or grab my sweet princess, run to Lowe’s, and purchase the strongest lock I could find for her bedroom door.  I decided not to cause a scene and just soak up the innocence – and maybe order the lock on Amazon ;)

 

Ella loved her castle cake (and I even went to bed BEFORE midnight)!

We love you, Sweet Princess Ella! 

We are SO proud of your sweet spirit and caring heart. You always look to help and never go a day without telling someone they are beautiful!  You love to cuddle, kiss my cheek, and sing into any microphone. You light up any room you waltz into and never meet a stranger.

Baby, we want you to know that YOU are the beautiful one!  Inside and out God has crafted you into a remarkable little girl.  You touch lives in such a special way.

Right now, being a princess to you means wearing a dress and crown, and twirling across the floor.  It makes you feel so special and beautiful.  Your Daddy and I want you to always feel like that princess - special, beautiful, loved, and unique.  Because you are, baby.  You are our princess.  Most of all, you our God’s princess, and there will never be a more beautiful you. 

We cherish you!

Friends are Friends Forever

Charyl and I have been friends since our days in Show Choir and “Footloose” on the campus of Chipola Junior College!  This girl has been with me through MANY phases of my life and God saw fit for us to enter motherhood together – just 2 days apart!  I will never forget that phone call when we “both had something to tell each other!”  Now there are FIVE of them and it is such a rare occasion for us to both be in “back home” at the same time!  I love this girl and treasure our time together…and we plan on much more time as we have already betrothed our eldest!  Ha!

Charyl and either Karis or Katie (they aren’t identical, but there is no way I could tell them apart!) and me and Audrey (who was waaayyy past nap time!)

Her beautiful girls!  I still can’t believe she had twins!

These two are quite something together!

 

And just for fun!

Ty and Ella - 2010

 

Ty and Ella – 2008

It’s in her genes.

Many (many) years ago there once lived a little girl who loved to talk.  Conversation was her favorite hobby.  She would lose herself amid all the blabber on the first grade playground.  And it never failed – she would trip.  Over the cement block, over the bulging tree root, over her friends new Sam & Libby’s, even over her own Keds.  Every time her knees served once again as the butt of the fall. 

Well, that little girl was yours truly, and it all came full circle when I heard the screams from the wagon after church last Sunday.  It had happened – it’s in her genes. 

She’s a trooper, though!

digging the new doo’s…

Check out our rockin’ new doo’s! 

Ella Claire:

Check out the curls Mrs. Kimmy helped us tame!  Ella LOVES to get her hair “done.”  She just stares in the mirror in awe.  I hope she always says “I’m Beautiful.” You are baby girl, inside and out!

Audrey Anne:

How is she looking so old in these pictures?!  My sweetie in her first ponytail!  I love that face…reminds me of her Daddy.

Now if we could do something with my roots we would be all be good to go!  Ha!

Home Again, Home Again

Due to Premier Designs (and immense love for my family and *most* things back “home”) it seems the girls and I are taking monthly stints to Jackson County.  I strongly feel God will one day move us back, but until then, we enjoy the open fields, lazy days, and daily Wally World trips that these trips bring.  Most of all, we enjoy FAMILY!  Here are a few snapshots of last weeks trip!  It was so nice to spend Mama’s last week of summer break together…oh, and these trips always fill Daddy’s I-just-retired-and-only-fish-and-shop calendar as well;)

One day, we ventured to the river – Daddy’s sacred ground!  Ella tends to prefer the swings rather than the fish.

 

100 points to the person who correctly guesses who is the bigger kid??????????????? (And please excuse that ridiculous shirt my dad has on…it was his prized $2 find from Wal-Mart that day…sigh.)

 

 

Ella even convinced Mamaw to join the fun!

 

Audrey discovered a new and exciting playground trick…

 

I am always so thankful for the joy when these four are together!

 

Next time we will have to get the camera out at the Basford farm :)  There’s a lot of joy there too!

My Late Twenties ;)

It may be all downhill from here…or maybe the best is yet to come…either way, my husband totally outdid his normally card-and-present self on this birthday in 2010.  Y’all, the man baked.  A cake.  With cream cheese icing.  That’s my man!

The birthday weekend began with Daddy and the girls entering the kitchen.  I wasn’t sure what may happen so just decided to run away…to JoAnn’s.  Doesn’t everyone want to run away to there?!  I came back home to a baked cake, happy children, and my home still standing.  Somebody was speaking my love language!

After the kids went to bed, Jonathan and I had a night full of laughs as he decorated this baby…

I mean, I do love America, but this is what you get when you combine 1) a husband who never bakes with 2) a small town grocery store with limited ammunition!  And I absolutely love it!

The next morning The Others and the Immeasurably More clan all headed to the beach for a fun in the sun day all planned by my darling!  We splashed and ate sand for about an hour before the trifecta hit.  In a matter of SECONDS, rain began soaking every inch of our belongings.  Half-naked children + rain pellets falling faster than the speed of bullets + beach sand turning to mud + an 8 mile trek + 1,328 beach “necessities” = GREAT memories!  I was laughing so hard I could hardly walk!!  I really wouldn’t trade that moment for anything!  We waited the rain out while we bribed our children with candy played with our children under the shelter and then made our way to a local restaurant! 

 

 

It was perfect, darling!

And look what found a new home on our porch…a new deck box!  The man went to Pier 1 and picked out this beautiful gem!  I didn’t even know he was aware Pier 1 was a store!  I was totally surprised!

Buzz and Jessie

Two weekends ago, our little Jessie had her main man Buzz (AKA Jackson) over for our first we-have-no-reason-except-we-love-you  cousin sleepover!  It seems just like yesterday sweet Jackson was just a little chubby fellow in my arms – now he is a 4 year old space man…and now there are five cousins.  Can you say “reproduce?”   Jackson is a terrific little leader of the crew and Ella dances right along with him!

Friday night was spent playing Buzz and Jessie as they ate, frolicked, and bathed!  Saturday we all got up late (amen) and headed to our local splash park!  There must be something synonymous with BASFORD and RAIN, because the flood gates opened as we drove up.  Never fear, if we can’t splash we can ALWAYS eat!  We headed to Beef O’ Brady’s for some grub (and boys sure can EAT…I feel sorry for my dear Laura’s grocery budget in 10 years with THREE boys!) 

 

As we finished the sun started shining and we headed over to the splash park!  It was LOVED by all and no one wanted to leave! 

One of our favorite things to do: Ring-a-Round-the-Rosy!  By the third round we had 3 other children join us!

 

A million bucks if you can name the child that doesn’t like to get her hair wet!!

Baby, you get it honest and I love you for that!  

We headed into town that evening to meet the others and hand over Buzz.  I had to snag one last picture of Buzz in, of all things, a pink car seat.  It may be the most pink he ever sees.  And he will probably want to hurt me for this later in life…haha!

We love you, Buzz!