Buggy's Big Day

I've attempted to finish this post several times and for some reason just can't get it done. I'm pretty sure it's because I can't wrap my head around the fact that my baby girl is three. If I bury my head in the sand long enough, obviously she'll still be a little bitty thing like I remember her being and won't really be so big. At some point I'll have to accept it, and maybe that time is now.

If I must, I must...

When the birthday girl arose from her slumber, we took her straight to the kitchen where we had a little surprise waiting for her...

She asked for a bagel, strawberries and marsh mellows for breakfast so that's just what she got.

The princess on her throne...

Time to sing to her and blow out the THREE candles...

She still thinks it's funny when we sing to her, and usually she sings right along with us...

All three candles out in one try...

I love how Bethany still gets into it and makes the girls feels so special...

Sweetness!

With her baby in hand, it was time to head to school...

She was dying to get there in a hurry for one reason alone...

Cupcakes and a party!!

Cate and Brock...

It was red day in her class, but when you're a girly girl like Cate Bug you don't have time for red on your birthday. Ha!
I always have a hard time sending the girls to school on their birthday. I've never told you this before, but I'm a tad bit sentimental. KIDDING! How many times have you heard that?! It kills me not to spend every minute of their big day with them, but I know how much they love being with their friends at school and having a party. So we baked some mini cupcakes and I let her party with her class.
After Grandparents Day was over, we immediately went to pick her up a little early.
Why, you ask?
The flag says it all...

We had lots of celebrating to do, Buggy style.
Which meant two things...
1. Ballet attire

2. Babies and more babies

The weather was perfect and it was way too gorgeous not to be outside. So we parked it on the porch until it was time for Bebby's pep rally.
Afterwards, we played and played some more. And just about the time the birthday girl could have crashed, the genius parents that we are (insert sarcasm) announced that a trip to Chuck E. Cheese would be a fabulous way to round out Cate's big day...

Who could pass that up?! We loaded up on tokens just to be able to win a few Tootsie Rolls from the prize counter, but that's the name of the game. Whatever makes her happy! :)
Thankfully, all the action and sugar didn't keep her up too late that night. Her birthday party was the next day and she needed her beauty rest!
To be continued...

Hick Chicks

Thursday after Bethany got done with cheer practice we reached panic mode - she had to have a pair of overalls for the "pepper rally" as Cate calls it for the next day. They were going with a Hartselle Hicks theme, and B had to be as countrified as possible. We don't own the first pair of overalls. So we hit every spot we could think of between 4 and 5 o'clock desperately searching. B went into Wiley's - our last stop - and had no luck, but they told her to check out a store a few doors down. We went in for overalls and came out with these...

Honestly, could you say no to that?
I think not.
In high country fashion, we set out for the Japanese restaurant to kick off Cate's birthday celebration. Despite very little sleep the night before and no naps that day, I'd say we fared exceptionally well. Everyone very much enjoyed themselves, including the almost-birthday girl who sat straight up in her seat watching every move the chef made...


We never found overalls, but B managed to pull a cute Hartselle Hick outfit together like I knew she would...

And since I love it so much and have watched it umpteen times, I've got to share this video. It's B's squad doing a dance they learned just for this pep rally (she's near the center - and I apologize for the quality - it's a lot better on my camera than it is here)...

That song has been stuck in my head since Friday afternoon, but that's perfectly ok. I've been doing what moves I remember along with it and am sure to have burned a few calories! Ha!

THREE

Happy birthday to the most fabulous person I know! Computer troubles are plaguing us and blogging from my phone is rough, so this is nothing like I hoped it would be. But when we're back up and running I'll do it up right! We love you a million times all the birthday cakes and tutus in the world Cate-Cate!!

Arranged Marriage?

Did I get your attention with that title?!

This is Parker:
(took this one last night at church)

Parker's mother Amanda and I have decided that we're gunning for an arranged marriage. They're pretty smitten with each other. It's really kind of funny, and even though we definitely don't push this kind of thing it makes me laugh. The other day Amanda told me that Parker was on the verge of getting in trouble. What did his younger brother Brock have to say about it? "Oooohhh, Parker I'm telling Towns you got in trouble" and that's all it took. Parker's dad told me that he's never seen him straighten up that quick. I told him he had our permission to use that whenever need be.
Amanda and I have already gotten these two matched up as well...

That's Brock there with Cate. They've been in the same class since they were babies and absolutely adore each other. It was meant to be...all the way around!
You know I'm kidding about all of this. The girls aren't allowed to even talk to boys until they're 45. Maybe 40 if they're lucky.

The other morning Cate and I accompanied Towns to school to help get things ready for their Grandparents Day celebration. On the way in, Towns asked me to take a picture of her and automatically hit this pose...

Where do they learn this stuff?
This was the next one...

They don't get it from me. I promise I don't walk around the house posing. Very much, at least.
{Hope y'all can take a joke or two today!}
Towns was in heaven getting these cookie jars ready for the grandparents...

While she did that, I was in charge of hand prints for all the kindergartners.
Washable red paint (that's not at all washable) + white jeans = DISASTER!
It's all good, though. Anything for those precious kiddos!
Cate kept herself busy pulling all of Mrs. Lindsay's wipes out of the package and dumping all of her crayons out in the floor. Hey, at least it kept her out of my red paint!
We had to cut it short to get to dancing and Bible study on time, and Cate had to leave her baby in the nursery. Seriously.
We had to book it downstairs to drop her off so we could get to where we were going on time...

She put sweet Mrs. Joyce (the faithful nursery worker) in charge of Ella Bella and off to dance she went. Thankfully Mrs. Joyce knows Cate and how she is with her babies. So she ever so kindly agreed to make sure Ella Bella was well taken care of...

Weekend of Perfection

It's early Sunday afternoon and I'm already hoping this weekend doesn't end. It's been the most laid back, anything-goes weekend we've had in a while. Towns kicked the "anything goes" part of it off at Publix Friday afternoon. It was meltdown central in the check out line. I truly appreciate the marketing geniuses who place the candy, inflated helium balloons, stickers, drinks, etc. right where children can see it (read: see it, want it, throw a fit for it even if it means lying on the disgusting floor of the grocery store screaming while watching to see who's paying attention). Long story short, I took the girls outside to get their minds off of it while J paid for our groceries. Within a few seconds, Towns was serenading the passers by with her rendition of "You're A Grand Old Flag"...

I couldn't not get a picture of that! Of course, when she opened her eyes and saw what I was doing she toned it down a little. We made homemade pizzas for dinner, and then B spent some quality time with her shadow before our crazy night really began...

At precisely 10 p.m. B and I parked it on the porch waiting for a "hell night" chauffeur to arrive for her JUG initiation. She was instructed to wear a bathing suit under all black clothing and to be blindfolded. Let me tell you, she was a nervous wreck and I had to keep her calm while trying to hide the fact that I was ten times more nervous for her! Not an easy task!! We sat on the swing until midnight and no one showed up. She thought they'd forgotten her and I assured her that couldn't happen. But we agreed we weren't staying outside any longer than that, and truth be told, I wasn't letting her go anywhere that late anyway. My mother used to say "there's nothing good going on past midnight that you need to be a part of" and I heard myself repeating those words. Turns out it there were communication issues on who was supposed to pick B up, so the girl got off the hook! No mayo and sardines for her...ha! The JUG girls felt horrible about it and were at our doorstep Saturday morning with goodies and major apologies. If nothing else, it was two solid hours of quality time. We talked about it all. If you know B, you know she talks non-stop when she's nervous! Love it! She sure was cute waiting so patiently like a good pledge...

Saturday morning we got busy in the kitchen making waffles. Until that day, I'd hidden from the girls the fact that chocolate chips are especially yummy in homemade waffles. I couldn't hide it any longer. The chocolate feigns loved them! It was too beautiful not to be outside all day, so naturally a trip to Bridge Street was on the agenda. When B walked into my room as I was getting ready, I almost fell out. This is why...

She put that outfit together herself, and looked just beautiful. Not that she's challenged in the fashion arena or anything, but goodness! She had it going on!
One day when she's walking the runway, these two will be name dropping...

B shopped around and missed the mini farmer's market Towns, Cate and I stumbled upon. These orange pretties are what got our attention...

That made for a good photo op...

I don't think I've seen Towns quite so excited about anything in her life. A change of seasons sends her over the edge!

We bought fresh peas and peaches, too. Couldn't pass 'em up!
As soon as we got home, blondie couldn't wait to paint hers...

Have I mentioned that I let the girls take their strollers with us?
Not sure what I was thinking when I agreed to that, but they sure did love it...

Towns isn't picky about her baby, but Cate won't have anything to do with putting clothes on a baby doll. She strips them down!
Bebs had promised the girls a makeover which they reminded her of as soon as we got home...


Cate skipped out on the make up and preferred teaching school instead. I was the star student...

The teacher wanted to be in charge and take a picture. This is how it went...

Not quite a framer, but nice try!
By this point, you've surely gotten the idea that Bethany is the best big sister ever. She never disappoints. And when she said "who wants to put cheerleader uniforms on and go practice stunts?" they were all over it!
Buggy can't seem to get over the paci even though we've gotten rid of it once before. Habits are hard enough to break, especially the second time around. I've got to hand it to her, at least she can color coordinate them with her outfits...

Sweet one of the three of them...

Now down to business...

Excuse the panty shot, but Cate wasn't getting away without her turn...

B nearly got her head taken off!
More stunting for Towns...

B's pretty serious about teaching Towns tumbling and stunting. Truth be told, that's where Towns got her love for it. B works with her a lot in the afternoons to help her get better. She tried to teach her how to do a twisty move when going up in an extension (something I've only seen the Auburn cheerleaders do) and this is what happened when Towns didn't get it the first time she tried it...

Tears, tears, and more tears. Followed by a pep talk!
B's theory is to always end on a good note, so they practiced more of what Towns is better at so she wouldn't get discouraged. And one more just for fun...

Do you know how much I love them?!?!

We rounded out our Saturday in the kitchen getting ourselves even deeper into fall mode.
Pumpkin shaped cakes!

They worked so hard, I couldn't let them go unrewarded...

The finished product they iced and decorated themselves...

Nothing like cake, icing and chocolate chips before bed time!
Such fabulous weekends obviously make my good judgment go out the window...