More Birthday...

I finally got around to posting Manze's birthday pics from 2 weeks ago! It was a fun filled weekend. It started off on Friday celelbrating at Mrs. Beth's house (her babysitter), Saturday was her party at Punp it Up, Sunday (her real birthday) we had lunch at El Potrillo and they sang to her and put the sombrero on her head, then Sunday night we went over to my parent's house to celebrate! Monday morning she wanted to know why we weren't singing Happy Birthday to her! LOL!

Friday morning in her crown...on the way to Mrs. Beth's house

celebrating at Mrs. Beth's house

PUMP IT UP

This picture cracks me up. They had to watch the informational video (like they really understood it) and they were all intently watching it!

Playing at Pump it Up



Tommy at Pump it Up...he was all over the place playing (by himself at times or dueling with Troy)...I asked him, "Whose birthday is it, yours or Manze's?" We know where we're celebrating his birthday this year! LOL!

Family Picture

cake and presents

Celebrating at my parent's house

My sister got her a rock star outfit! She LOVED it!!!!

Wearing the sombrero at El Sombrero

Happy Birthday Manze

On January 18, 2006 Manze was born! I can't believe 3 years have FLOWN by! Our precius baby is growing up so fast! She is such a sweetie and we love her so much! Here are some pictures of her on each birthday so far! I have some fun pictures to add to a later post about her party and more!

Manze on the day she was born

1st birthday

2nd birthday

3rd birthday

CATCHING UP!!!!

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a relaxing holiday! I know I have and it's going to be so HARD to go back to work on Monday! We enjoyed ringing in the new year with our friends Jason and Teresa in Vicksburg. We gambled, won some money, then danced to Dr. Zarr's Amazing Funk Monsters. I now finally have some time to sit and blog about what we've been doing! I've crammed everything into one loooong post, so beware! What have we been up to?? I was very busy monogramming and getting orders out for Christmas, so I am now taking a much needed rest before I begin again! Manze loved seeing Santa this year (the past two were quite traumatic = pics to come). Santa came to visit Manze (after we told her if she didn't go to sleep he would pass by her house....she immediately went to sleep)! As you can see, he left her some great things (almost all PINK, which is what she requested this year = pink presents). We enjoyed being with family and friends during the holidays and resting up for the new year! Oh, and my parents celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary on the 28th! Amazing!

Manze's loot Santa left her!

Manze running in to see what Santa brought!


playing with the cash register and pizza set

riding her new Radio Flyer tricycle

playing dress up in her pink tutu and pink headband

posing in her pink princess dress and pink headband

Riding the tricycle in her dress up clothes



DINNER WITH FRIENDS

Our good friends Jason and Teresa had us over to thier house for dinner before Christmas! We had a blast and Manze made a new friend, Avery! We played Rock Star...Tommy and Caden played guitar, Jason played drums, and Doug sang (he sings in Dr. Zarr's so he was automatically handed the mirophone). The guys were very serious and the rest of us enjoyed dancing and singing along (especially the girls).

Manze and Avery

Doug, Caden, Tommy, and Jason playing Rock Star

Manze grabbed the mic and sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Caden and Tommy = so serious

Tommy attempting to sing!


WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LEAVE AN ALMOST 3 YEAR OLD ALONE

One night after dance I realized how quiet it was. Manze is a ball of energy, so if it's quiet it meand she's into something she doesn't need to be into! I found her with the contents of my purse scattered on the floor enjoying a bag of M&M's she found in my purse!

You would have thought we would have learned our lesson! Nope! Another quiet moment found Manze with my lip gloss and mascara all over her face and her doll's face because "my dollie needed make-up too!"

Snow Day

Yesterday, we were under a winter storm watch! I thought for sure we wouldn't go to school. I waited and waited for my phone call, but it never came. I woke up to torrential rain and still wondered if I might get the phone call...nope. I drove (swam) to school. The roads were flooded. I knew it was going to be a crazy day! Around 8:30 it started snowing...huge cotton ball size snowflakes. My students were all going crazy! I let them bundle up and play outside for about 5 - 10 minutes (it was COLD). The whole time I was so sad I did not get to spend this moment with Manze. You see, last year it snowed too...the day after her birthday on her birthday party day! We were running aroudn trying to get ready for her party and get there, we didn't get to play in the snow. I thought de-ja-vu...I'm missing another snow day with her! We ended up dismissing school at 11:30 (total craziness calling all the parents and getting the kids home in the sleet) and when I got to my car I had to get all the snow off before I could get in. I picked Manze up and we headed home. By that time it was sleeting bad and we could not play in the snow. Later Mrs. Beth (Manze's babysitter) e-mailed me these pictures. She took them outside and all the kids LOVED the snow and couldn't get enough of it. I hate I didn't get to play with Manze in it, but I'm glad she was able to get out in it! These pictures do not do it justice. When I got to my house it looked like a winter wonderland...too bad I didn't get a picture...I need to get on the ball!

Manze and Wes in awe of the snow

Manze, Claire, and Wes watching the snowflakes fall

What I've been up to....

I've been busy monogramming, appliqueing, and more! You can tell Christmas is right around the corner! I have literally come home from school, turned my machine on, and monogrammed until about midnight every night! I am so excited and having a blast! I appreciate all the orders I've gotten! Check out my website at: http://ballpointdesigns.blogspot.com/ to see more! Let me know if ever need a monogram, applique, or more! I have other items like sports bottles and linen hand towels too!

The Advent Calendar

When I was growing up, my dad always brought an Advent Calendar back from overseas to me. I loved celebrating Advent and opening the doors each day to get a piece of chocolate. If you dont know, Advent is a season of the Christian church, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus...or the period immediately before Christmas. I decided to start this Christmas tradition with Manze this year. Her cousin Loo Loo (a.k.a. Alexa) gave Manze an Advent Calendar and we started it on December 1st! It was hard to explain to Manze that she could only open ONE door and eat only ONE piece of candy. Once she got over that fact, she had a blast! Here she is with her calendar!

opening the door

Here's my candy!!

YUMMY!!

Thanksgiving 2008

This Thanksgiving we went to the country (Shubuta to be exact) and I'm not kidding about the name! My dad's side of the family is from Laurel and Jackson and his dad grew up in Shubuta! Before we could travel to the country, my wonderful photographer (Melanie Thaw) took a family photo of everyone (me, Tommy, Manze, my parents, my sister, my niece, and my brother and sister-in-law) for my mom. We were ALL in town for once and that was the only time we could take it. Melanie is awesome! Not too many people would get out on Thanksgiving Day and do that! After the picture, we all headed to Shubuta for some family time and great food! Manze had a blast hanging out with all her cousins (especially Macon who is 18 months old). Macon's mom Michele and I are the same age. When we came for Thanksgiving one year, we sat at a small white table eating our lunch. The table is still there, so we had Manze and Macon sit at it so we could get pictures! It was so cute! Manze is in love with my brother and follows him everywhere...she does not let him out of her sight! The whole time she said, "Where is my Bucky...I want my Bucky...that is MY Bucky!" She loves her Uncle Bucky and Aunt Amy and we are so glad they were able to come for Thanksgiving!

Manze and her Uncle Bucky

Manze at the little table

Manze and Macon