Charli Beth's Birthday Sock Hop

I finally gave pictures to share and keep as a memory of the fun sock hop party that we celebrated Charli's birthday with. We were overly excited about this party. The poodle skirts, records, root beer floats, oh my! The cuteness overload was almost to much for this Momma to handle. My Mom and family friend Shannon did an amazing job creating the pieces to decorate the party with.

When Charli's friends arrived she quickly wanted to start their dancing. For the majority of the party she was the only one up twisting and doing the splash splash. It was so cute and brave of her to continue to dance. It never did phase her what-so-ever, because of the fun she was having.

We served pizza, root beer/coke floats, cupcakes, cookie French fries and hamburgers, along with old fashioned bottle drinks. Pizza and Sam's cupcakes are always the way to go! So yummy and easy to serve. After eating the kids danced more, hula hooped and played with balloons.

Charli had asked me about a month before he party if she could have donations at her party to give to a homeless shelter. I thought this was the greatest idea ever, even more so since our home is completely over ran by toys. We had donations from guests at the party, our church and friends. We were able to donate over 200 items to the local Hospitality House - the home in which I stayed at during Bryar's NICU stay. Everything there along with the building is from donations and is such an amazing place.

When we started opening gifts we had to time everything completely right, so to say the least it was chaos. Charli received cowgirl attire, horse bedroom decor, horse toys and more. When finished I blind folded her telling her that we had a game to play outside, but everyone had to be very quite and follow us, little did she know it was not a game but a ............horse!!

Charli has been saving her money for almost two years to buy a horse when the time was right. After much talking, debates and finding the horse that was in her price range we found the most laid back 5 year old quarter mare.

After coming back inside the kids twisted, shouted and were all ready to party down while the parents chatted. It was such an amazing party and the days since have been super busy. My next post will be all about my new cowgirl and how turning 7 has come with more responsibilities.

March Of Dimes

As a Mother of two premature babies, with one having a lengthy NICU stay I can only be forever grateful for organizations like March of Dimes. Each day thousands of babies lives are saved thanks to the donations and miracles given by March of Dimes.

This year my sister and I have created a family team called The Cruzin' Cousins to walk with the local charity - this Saturday. We are truly excited and cannot wait to meet new friends at the park.

If you or your business would feel that it is best to donate to this organizations you can do so by following the link below. All donations are 100% tax deductible. If you donate $200 you can have your business name on a sign along our walk. What a great marketing tool as well as a way to help the tiniest fighters!

If you are local and would like to join our team to walk please do so by clicking the link too. Thank you!

http://www.marchforbabies.org/team/t2059131

Charli Beth's 7th B-Day!

On Saturday, we celebrated Charli's birthday. We slightly celebrated this year a little different this year because we had something huge planned for her. With the "something huge" that was coming we had to pass by a lot of time, so she was extra loved {yes I refuse to say spoiled.}

We were out of our house by 9 a.m. and headed to ihop per the birthday girl. Sadly, Curtis was busy on the farm and was unable to attend. But it was super sweet being able to soak in time with both of my littles while they practically ate Ohio out of business. We were able to sneak a candle in her pancake to blow out too :) She thought she was so cool but politely asked me not to sing.

We went to the mall, out for ice cream, to pick up canned goods (she collected non perishable items to donate) and then off to Ralphies Fun Center for the afternoon. It was such a busy but a fabulous day to celebrate Charli turning 7. We enjoyed a nice dinner with my parents and the staff sang Happy Birthday to CB. She absolutely loved every minute of it.

I ended up sending her home with my parents for the night just to be sure ER surprise was not found :)

Her birthday party sock hop was held the next day! I had a photographer to take photos so I will be blogging the party very soon!

Happy 7th Birthday Charli Beth!

April 6, 2006

4lbs 2 oz

17 1/4 in.

 

I seriously cannot believe that I just typed that title. It seems like yesterday that I blogged about her turning two. Where does time go, and how has she gotten this big this fast? It seems like a blink of an eye ago I was sitting up with my Mom timing contractions every few minutes then fell asleep after the quit.

 

Charli age 7:

 

Favorite Color - Pink, Purple, Green

 

Number - 12 because that was Daddy's number too.

 

Animal - Horse

 

School Subject - Math

 

TV show - Little House on The Prairie and Good Luck Charlie

 

Food - Turnips

 

Drink - Milk and Sprite

 

Toy - Stick horse and Buttercup the stuffed horse

 

Goal in Life - To be a cowgirl (of course)

 

Charli Beth,

I cannot believe that you are sever years old today. Time has flown since you arrived and changed my life for the better; changed me for the better. You still instantly amaze me daily with your witt and just how beautiful you are. You are getting freckles on your face and you think they are so "cool" because Daddy has them too. Your innocence and love for others melts my heart into a trillion pieces. You have the biggest heart of any person that I have ever met.

This is by far going to the best birthday of all. I wish that I could tell you why, but you will have to wait until your party on Sunday. But one thing that I know is that this year you are going to grow more and start to love the Lord more which makes me the most proud Mommy ever. When you started asking questions about how you become saved, I just wanted to smack myself into reality and remind myself that this is what it's all about rather than being sad that I only have a few more holidays to enjoy you believing.

Each day that you learn something new, and realize just how bright you are makes me so proud. The proud smiles on your face as you run home from the school bus makes me tear up daily. I will have to say it again, I am so very proud to be your Mother.

 

You are what has made me, me. We struggled together, we learned together and most of all we have had so much fun together. We have a special connection, one that I will only ever have with you and no one can ever take that bond away. In saying that, I want you to know that I am still so proud of the way you have stepped up in becoming the best big sister ever. Your brother loves you so much and I know that you always have his best interest at hand; hence putting back toys at store just so you can buy him one. I can only hope that you will always love our family and the attention as your do today. The fact that you save all of your "Mommy love notes" in your lunch box makes me happy. I hope you take the time to read them and remind yourself just how much we all love you.

This year you are going to learn so many new things and our adventure is going to take us on new journeys but your Daddy and I are so excited to teach and share these memories with you. We love you so much and cannot wait to celebrate your life together with our families.

I love you,
Mommy

p.s.
You are my favorite girl, in the whole wide world. 

Forgotten Photos

Holidays are practically the only time that my little family ever gets "family" pictures together. We just typically blow it off. Which we shouldn't. I want our kids to have a gazillion pictures of their childhood and of our family. I want to be that Mommy that is okay with being in pictures, even if I feel icky that day.

I have low self esteem. I think just about every woman in the world can find something about themselves that they are not happy with. But the one thing we can do is change those things. We can go on diets, exercise, use products to improve our skin and our lives. But we have to want to do it. I want to change something's about myself because my skin is becoming so much better (thanks Arbonne!) and I want to feel great being in the pictures. I want my kids to look back and say dang Ma, you had it going on at twenty something! Or my husband to look at me now and think how lucky he is (which I'm sure he does already haha!) So I will change to be happy with me...what are some of your favorite exercise plans? I'm not great with diets but plan to eat better.

Easter 2013

This year our Easter was very busy but blessed beyond belief. I was able to attend the church Easter play that Curtis was apart of with Charli. She really watched attentively and was asking a lot of questions. I was so eager about her seeing the play and the sermon on Easter Sunday because of the many questions we had been having conversations about.

We visited our home church on Saturday for an Egg hunt and fellowship with their youth. The kids had an absolute blast and I loved being able to watch B hunt for his first time. Little activities like these mean so much to me after working odd shifts and missing them with Charli as a tot.

As the Easter bunny left our house through the night on Sunday, he pooped jelly beans in our floor! What nerve that bunny has! Charli thought it was hilarious and disgusting at the same time. Their baskets were super cute and very simple. They both received sunglasses, a book, a ball, outside toys and minimal candy since Charli isn't a fan - yay! She also was able to egg hunt in the house since it was a nasty morning outside. The bunny left eggs in some funny spots, which made her belly laugh :)

We made it to church and the kids were very dressed to impress. It was SO cute but sadly they are so on the go these days I did not get one great picture of them together. We are lunch at my in laws and had a quick egg hunt, then went to our home town to another family dinner. As I say every holiday, we were busy yet very blessed. :)