HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY, BOPBOP!

Just wanted to wish the girls' BopBop a happy early birthday. His big day is on Saturday. I wanted to go ahead and get this post (plus a couple of others below) on here before then. Especially because he and DamDam are going to her '10th' high school reunion this weekend. I wanted him to be able to see these posts and know we're thinking about him!

Enjoy the videos below BopBop and we hope your day is great!!! We love you!!!



PS Wanna see some pics of you on the new bike! Give DanmDam some practice using the new camera! =)

Reese Sings for BopBop

Reese wanted to sing Happy Birthday for BopBop. I was thinking about waiting until his b'day on Saturday, but I didn't think she's sing it for him over the phone. Don't know why she looks so unhappy in the very beginning, but that's just how she is sometimes. She's kinda moody, but we love her anyway! Click on play and enjoy!

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**I'm not sure if you can still see the video or not. It's cute, in spite of the look on her face! =) Here's the link for you to see and hear her!

Maggie's Turn

Maggie did a little bit better when it came to saying Happy Birthday. It didn't quite come out as happy birthday, but at least she tried. She even blew BopBop a birthday kiss, but dummy Mommy stopped the camera before we got the entire kiss on tape! Boo! Mags loves ya, too, BopBop!
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video Hosting **Here's the link for Maggie's video!

Anna's Turn

Anna wasn't as in to wishing her BopBop a Happy Birthday like her sisters were. She was A LOT more interested in trying to get the camera! She loves ya BopBop and hopes you have a great day on Saturday!!
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video Hosting **The link for Anna!

So Sleepy....

My girls can strike a mean pose while sleeping. I don't see how they get themselves into 'position' like they do. These first two pics were taken a couple of weeks ago on an afternoon after school. Since we're all up kinda early on school days, the girls usually sack out in the afternoon. I was in the back folding laundry, and it got very quiet. And as all moms know, the quiet is when you begin to wonder "what have they gotten into now." Anyway, I went to the living room to check on them, and this is what I found. Anna and Reese snuggled together on the couch; Anna likes to be close. Maybe that's why she's had some difficulty sleeping the last month or so. For one, I believe she's beginning to get a fear of the dark, and maybe she's missing having Mags as her bed buddy.


And here's Maggie.....all we need is the chalk outline around her. Notice, she hasn't dropped the fingers from that mouth. Good ol' security blanket. Both of them have always sucked their second and third fingers on their right hands.....no paci, no thumb! Just those two fingers. Warren and I are worried that they'll still be hanging on to this trait when they get ready to leave for college! =)



And, while I was finishing up supper a few nights ago, Warren got settled on the couch for his afternoon M*A*S*H watching, and Anna snuggled up to him and got still and they both fell asleep! How cute are they?

Lovin' Ol' Bella Bean

I am going to have to get copies of these pictures. I love how they're being so good around Bella. They don't really like it when she chases them around the yard, but when she's still, they like getting close to her. They really do love her, and so do I. She is such a sweet puppy, even if she is a little crazy sometimes! She's been a great addition to the family!

**Anna is in the top two pics and Maggie is on the left side of Bella in the last two**

Big Sister!

I am so incredibly blessed to have this sweet soul in my life. Even though we have our tough moments, she just brightens my day just by being here! I love her so much! This little girl is EXTREMELY hard headed, and I do know where she got this trait. From both her parents, her great granddaddy, and some other folks, too. But, I don't think I'd have her any other way. I think this helps her be so determined, and she is that. I can do it myself Mommy is an everyday phrase around here. She really is a very sweet, loving child. She's my Reesie!














She loves to run. She'll just take off running in the backyard, and man, she's FAST! I guess I would be too if I only weighed 30 pounds and had her legs! I think this first pic turned out great, even if it wasn't something that I was going for. She was running towards me, and I just snapped it. I love how her hair is blowing away from her face. It's a keeper!














She's taking a little break in this second pic......














Only to start running again!

What a Ham..Part II

Maggie can ham it up in front of the camera, too, although not as big or as often as Anna.

She used an old step stool to help her get in the swing. These babies are quite the problem solvers. If there's something up high that they want, well, they'll use anything they can as a stool in order to help them get it. Very clever!!!

CHEESE!!

Her sweet face just melts my heart!! Maggie was the one we always called the more serious one, and she still is, but she's not a worrier like Anna. We think Maggie is going to be the very serious, studious one and Anna's gonna be the class clown! =) But every class does need one, right? Mags is not a real big adventurer; never has been, don't guess she ever will be. Guess that comes from her serious side--she needs to really think through something and know the risks. She doesn't seem scared (unless we're in a car wash--they HATE them), but she isn't always ready to try something new. Hopefully she'll grow out of this too!

What a Ham...

Look at these faces this silly girl likes to make. Anna really knows how to ham it up in front of the camera. She is such a doll, and a real lovey girl. She likes to snuggle, until she feels herself getting sleepy and she'll jump into action so she won't miss anything.

I'm afraid that she's inherited some of my not so good qualities. When she worries about something, she keeps on worrying; she doesn't really let it go and move on to something else. I, too, have a tendency to let things fester. I don't really move on either. Hopefully she'll grow out of this. Not a great quality to have. She has always been more of a happy go lucky soul, and she still is, but this worrisome trait is becoming more apparent.

She is very tender hearted, and recently has become the punching bag around here. Maggie has transformed into a very aggressive little girl. She has started biting (and I don't know how or why--the only family I know that was a biter was my little brother. Surely she hasn't inherited that from him!), and she is a big thrower of things (usually fits) but more often than not objects--hard objects. Notice the bruise on the right side of Anna's forehead? That's a result of Maggie throwing one of my old cell phones at her 'big' sister at close range. It looked awful right after it happened, and Anna wanted nothing to do with Mags for the rest of the day. Don't blame her. Anna's sweet skin always seems to be the big target for Maggie's teeth, too. She doesn't really bite; she just leaves her open mouthed teeth marks in Anna's skin. Bless this poor baby; hope she isn't scarred for life!

She LOVES sticking out that tongue!

Who couldn't love that adorable face? Isn't her ponytail cute?

What a Fun Day

We had a great day on Saturday. DamDam called us around 8:30 that morning to find out what we had planned for the day. We were talking about going to Delta State for Pig Pickin' but decided against it. A six hour trip (three hours there and three back) in one day was probably not a good idea for the little ones. Since we didn't head to the delta, we told DamDam & BopBop to come on over.

Reese and I did the grocery shopping that morning, and by the time we got home, her grandparents had arrived. She was excited to see them. BopBop was busy weedeating the edges of our house and the fence, and the babies were enjoying swinging with their DamDam. She had the GREAT idea of having a picnic since the weather was AWESOME!!!! We got some fried chicken and headed out to Lake Lowndes for our picnic.

It was so NICE--being outside and letting the girls run around. I haven't had that slow paced and relaxed day in a LOOOOOOOOOOOONG time. Those don't happen too often around here. The afternoon couldn't have been more perfect. A great time was had by all.

After the picnic, the 'boys' stayed home with the babies while the 'big' girls went shopping for some fall clothes for the girls. They each got two new outfits and I cannot wait to see them in their clothes. They're too cute, but like their daddy says, "They look cute in anything." And he's right! :)

Enjoy the slideshow at the beginning of the post. Thought that'd be the best way to show all our fun from the day!!! (and Aunt Kay, I hope I'm not in trouble anymore) :)

What's Goin' On?

We've been quite the busy bees around here today. As it was Reese's first day of school, summer has now officially ended and we are back in to a weekly routine. Good thing, too. While I hate that the summer is over, I am ready for a little break from all three girls for a few days a week. I can get things done easier when just watching the twins. Funny, but true.

Today was jam packed with activity. As I mentioned earlier, Warren and I didn't get much sleep, so we're both exhausted and were when we got up this morning. I'm only getting up an hour earlier than normal on school days (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays), but he's up at the same time, too, getting ready for work. An hour isn't all that long, but it's a big switch when I acutally have to get dressed and be somewhere by a certain time. Plus, getting three kids up and dressed and ready to go, too. Staying home has spoiled me when it comes to getting ready in a given amount of time.

We made our school morning doughnut run; Reese getting her usual cinnamon twist and the babies got a glazed one a piece. Then it was off to school. I was so afraid we were going to be late for the first day. We weren't necessarily late, but we sure weren't the first ones there either. Eason's mom, Mandy, was dropping him off as we arrived, so I'm glad that Reese was able to go in with him. Mandy, Warren, and I were hanging out by the door, watching, making sure our kids were going to be okay. That's when it happened......Miss Meghan closed the door right in our faces, without so much as a "Hi, nice to see you this morning. We really need to start class now." Needless to say, the three of us were a little miffed by that. Mandy and I talked for a while after we dropped the kids off and for a few minutes by phone this afternoon, and while we are still 'unsure' of Miss Meghan (she's not Miss Jamie, from last year, so she will be different and I don't think she has taught little kids before. We're hearing from the grapevine that she student taught second graders. To me, second graders are BIG kids compared to my four year old.) Meghan may just have first week jitters like everyone, so we'll just have to see. Mandy and I did agree on this---if she's sweet and kind to our kids and most importantly, if our kids like her, then everything is good.

While Reese was at school, the babies and I were busy busy. I had to drop our bed comforter off at the cleaners and we made a WalMart run to pick up some odds and ends. Once all that was over, it was close to 10 am. Reese gets out of school at 11:30, and I really didn't see driving all the way back home (a 10-15 minute drive) just to hang out for a little while before having to load A&M back in the car to go pick up the big girl. So, I decided to see if the lady who cuts the girls' hair had an opening for A&M; she did at 10:30. We rode around, killing time, and then got their hair cuts. They did GREAT. It was their first 'real' cut. And they look too too cute; we can actually see their eyes now! I'll post some before and after pics later.

We picked Reese up and she decided that she needed a folder at home like she uses at school, so, you guessed it, back to WalMart. This trip was fast and stress free! Yippeee!

We made it home around 12:15 and had lunch and resumed our daily home activities---hollering, aggravating, pulling hair---you get the drift! :)

Getting Ready for the First Day of School

Today was Reese's first day of school. And let me tell ya, what a day it was. The adults and babies in our house didn't get a good night's sleep last night. Anna & Maggie didn't go down easy for the night, and they fussed for a while and they were awake fussing again about 3 am. What has happened to my wonderful sleeping babies? They used to be GREAT at going to bed; 1000 times better than Reese
ever was at that age or now for that matter.


Anyway, now that Warren's job doesn't require him to be at work as early as his previous one did, we're both up and at 'em about the same time on school days. But, this morning he didn't leave the house at his usual time. I asked him about it, but he was very vague as to why he hadn't left yet. I finally had to ask him if he was going to go with us for Reese's first day. He said he was! I was so glad that he'd be there to see her on her first day. It's just a special thing for me since he works so hard and feels as if he's missing out on so much. I try to assure him that the big thing he's missing out on is a lot of screaming, yelling, hair pulling and aggravating each other! He helped her brush her hair and her toofies while I got the twins up and ready.

My big girl all ready for her first day of school

getting some love before leaving for school

Meeting "Miss" Meghan

On Tuesday, we went to Reese's school so that she could meet her new teacher and take a look around her new room. (We call it the big kid classroom. She always referred to the kids that were in that classroom last year as 'the big kids,' so all summer I told her that when school started again, that she would be one of the big kids! She seemed to take a liking to that title). She did great meeting Miss Meghan, and she seemed to like her. Course, I haven't really ever known of anyone that Reese didn't like. She's a very friendly little girl. Anyway, she did great during our few minutes there, but when we got home, I mentioned that she'd be going to school on Thursday, she started crying and said she didn't want to go to school. Great, I thought, how are we gonna handle this. She continued that most of the afternoon, but yesterday when I said something about school, she didn't cry one bit. Instead, she got very excited, which made me feel much better.













waiting her turn to go into her new room













getting help on a puzzle from Miss Meghan












more puzzle fun with one of our bestest friends from last year, Eason and Miss Meghan












Miss Meghan took her picture to go on the bulletin board, and Reese just had to see it

The Medium Sized Girls

That's what I call Reese & Lauren when all five girls are together. Erin's the big girl and Anna & Maggie are the babies or the little girls--and Reese & LaLa are the medium sized girls. Whenever we know that E & LaLa are coming for a visit, Reese talks of nothing else until they get here. She is always so excited to see these girls (and I am, too). They live a lot closer to us now than they have in a really long time, but we still don't see them as often as Reese would like! Just wanted to share some shots of the middle girls!

Erin & Her Many Faces

My sister and her girls were here Saturday (we all got together to celebrate my brother's birthday). Erin was doing her modeling faces, and I of course had the camera ready!

I cannot tell you how much I love this child! I feel like she's more mine than my niece. I remember waiting and waiting and waiting for her to be born; I thought she'd never get here. And when she did, she just added so much to my life and still does. I look forward to hearing about what she's doing and how she's changing. It's so hard for me to believe that she's ELEVEN!!! Where does the time go?

Not only is she a beautiful girl, she is one of the kindest people I've ever met. She is very polite and very mature for her young age. She reminds me a lot of her mother when she was younger. Brandi always acted very mature and seemed older than she actually was. Erin doesn't hesitate to help me out with my girls when I need an extra pair of hands or an extra set of eyes! That is a HUGE help to me.

E, I love you very much and am very proud of the sweet young lady you're growing up to be!!!