Easier?

Today has been one of those days when I looked at the clock and realized it is 10:45 and now is the FIRST time I have sat down all day! Ah! I thought this Mommy stuff was supposed to get easier! But- I am realizing there is no "easy" time- just different types of hard:) While I do get a full night's sleep these days and don't have to obsess over when to drop that last feeding or what that diaper means and lug a 300 pound car seat around- there is still plenty of action! A toddler/preschooler brings a TON of question-answering, behavior- correcting and princess-playing! Add in all of the outside activites- it makes for a full day. Today was spent getting some stuff done at Church, having a meeting for Spring Carnival ( I am a Chair and this is going to be MUCH more work than I thought- but hopefully fun!), Running to Kroger and Target, Loads of Laundry, Making Dinner, making 2 batches of brownies- cutting them into hearts and decorating them, stuffing MORE mailboxes with cards and brownies, making treats and cards for Molly's teachers, school director, secretary and music teacher, finishing up the plans for Molly's school party tomorrow (I am Room Mom), finishing up a sewing project, general cleaning. Whew! I cna only imagine whne we throw homework and more after-school activiies into the mix. As crazy as it is- I wouldn't change a thing. This is the life I always wanted and I am so happy to have it. So.... when it comes to

VERSE

I think I can say they are both hard... but both WORTH IT!

Valentines Party

Today was such a fun day... Molly and I hosted a V-Day party at our house:) Molly has been So excited because it seems like forever since we have all been able to get together. There were 13 kiddos packed into our house- as well as 7 mommies and a grampa- so it was close quarters but so much fun. I couldn't help remember the first get-together at our house when there were 7 infants who slept through the festivities- my how things change! Molly loved showing all her friends her new Big Girl room and bed- and of course playing dress up:) The highlights of the party were 1. Eating cupcakes! All of the kids dropped what they were doing and sat down for the first time all afternoon to devour them:) 1. The kids all brought Valentines to share and I made little mailboxes to collect them in. They were all so excited to open them up and see what goodies they had waiting for them. It was such fun because we got to spend it with some of our VERY favorite people- Molly's friends are so important to her and I don't know what I would do without my wonderful Mommy friends!

M&A of course had to dress up ASAP

Ava is singing her heart out here and putting on a big show... nobody was actually watching but that sure didn't stop her. Love her!

Milam found one of his favorite toys of Molly's, who he calls Big Bingo

How GORGEOUS is Hannah? Seriously?!?

The big girls were stomping around in their high heels and sweet little Alice Anne jumped right in and didn't skip a beat. I am pretty sure she htinks she is just as big as they are:)

The chaos stopped for a few minutes to eat cupcakes

Yum!

All of the stuffed mailboxes

Molly and Hannah looking to find which is theirs and get a sneak peak of their goodies

No one was more excited about the mailboxes than Hannah. You would have thought she won a pony she was so excited to get her own loaded mailbox!

After her pals left Molly sat down to scope out the goods..

She approves!

Here she is counting her loot and choosing which one she will choose tonight after dinner!

Catch-Up Post

I have been TERRIBLE about this blog lately. I have been under the weather lately and the last thing I want to do with my free time is get on the computer- all I want to do is veg on the couch! I also am completely obsessed with my new monogram machine/sewing machine- so I am on that every chance I can be. It is just so fun:) I have learned to sew Molly little outfits, and she always requests a matching one for Baby Dear. I am loving this new hobby, but Poor Kyle is getting fed up with the little bits of thread he finds everywhere! Some day I'll do a post of the things I've whipped up for Molly and Baby Dear! The weather has certainly contributed to my laziness- I am so ready to see the sunshine. One of the reasons I love Texas is the awesome weather- so what gives? Molly has been a real sport about being cooped up in the house, so that helps.

Molly feeling sassy in her new rain gear

Even she agreed it was just too yucky outside to really get out and splash- so we watched for the porch!

Molly checking the weather one chilly morning her robe. Molly is getting fed up with "Mr. Raincloud"- and I am, too!

Molly getting tickled in her bed

The few days it has been remotely nice we have been outside all we can

Check the pose

A few weeks ago we met our friends for a picnic in the park- so excited to be able to do that all the time~

These 2 sweet girls miss each other a lot- it's hard to find play time with different school schedules:(

Sweet As Can Be

One of Molly and my favorite things to do together is bake. Lately we will bake 3 or 4 times a week- she just loves it! She loves to get our matching aprons on, pull up her "baking chair" and get to work. She loves breaking the eggs, mixing and pouring, but her favorite part is stealing bites! She definitely has a sweet tooth- just like her Dad. I hope these are memories that she will keep with her for a long time and that she will continue to be my co-chef as she grows older.

Don't worry- we are making frosting here- so no raw eggs:)

My sweet partner!

The Many faces of Molly

The number one thing Molly wants to do is DRESS UP! We got her tons of dress-up items for Christmas, so we have been having fun with them. Her dress up chest is bursting at the seams now! If you knock on our door there is no telling what you might find....

Molly the Cowgirl riding her Puppy that she pretends is a horse

Molly the Bride with her wedding bouquet

Her Bridal Portrait- ha!

She is WORKING it here!

Molly as Ariel

Molly is still obsessed with princesses, but her new thing is being so into weddings and brides. She tells me all the time that she wishes she could get married. She Got a new bride dress, doll and wedding Little People set from Ninny and she has been in wedding heaven. She wants to act out the whole deal- the walk down the aisle, the vows, the kiss, the first dance, cutting the cake and throwing the bouquet. She alternates between wanting to marry Milam, Caleb (kings of leon), Prince Philip or Prince Charming!

Christmas Day

We had a great Christmas! Kyle and I both slept horribly the night before because we were so excited to see Molly on Christmas Day! She slept just fine though- ha! We do stockings and gifts from my family at our house and them go to Kyle's parents for the big shebang- and I mean BIG! Molly was so pleased with her stocking and was just as excited to see Kyle and I open ours. My dad gave her a set of new Princesses and she was over the moon excited to get a big Tiana doll. She was so sweet and thankful. At Kyle's parents Santa visited her in a big way. Her biggest excitement was getting the American Girl Molly doll she was dreaming of. Once she had Molly and Tiana she was done. She didn't want to open any more gifts, just wanted to go upstairs and play with her dolls. So- she slowly opened her gifts over the course of the day and Kyle and I opened many for her! What a crazy kid! But I would rathe her be like that than beg for more gifts. The morning was so busy and crazy I didn't get ANY good photos- but got some of Molly frolicking in our snow. It was such a great day and I'm sad it is all over!

Christmas Eve

We had the most wonderful Christmas Eve this year! We spent the day with Kyle's whole family and Molly just loved getting to play with her cousins Kate and Mary, who are 1 year older. The age gap seems to fade each visit and this time they were playing so well together. The thrill of the night was that Molly got to be in our Church's Christmas Eve pageant as an angel! Anyone who knows Molly well knows that she lives for the stage so she couldn't wait. On the big night we had to fight to keep her backstage she was so ready to get out there and "show everyone my beautiful angel dress"! When she finally got to go out she was a HOOT! She decided to forgo the instructions f hanging to the side and make her way front and center...and I do mean front and center. She then did some poses, pretended to fly like an angel and waved at the crowd. She then got down off the stage and walked down the aisles waiving, posing and curtseying. She then got on stage again to do some more posing and to go tickle baby Jesus. It was hysterical! We were very proud of her:) That evening we attended her Mimi and Poppys party and was surprised by a visit form Santa! After battling to get home in the ice we finally got her all tucked in and ready for a visit from Santa!

Molly, Mary and Kate with Santa!

Molly reminding Santa about that American Girl Molly doll...

Molly in action

Please note the extremely cheesy pose

Molly and her dear friend Peyton showing off their wings backstage

Two true angels!