Princess Tea Party

I am a little late but here's our princess tea party which I believe was a success.

One of the little tables all set up for the party.
Princess crown covered cupcakes

All the princesses and 1 prince enjoying their tea and lunch.

The Birthday Princess with her face covered in cheetos.

My baby girl is 4 today!

Four years ago my BIG 10lbs 1 oz baby girl was born. Time flies too quickly....

1 day old

3 Months!

5 months!

9 Months!

Almost a year!

Happy 1st Birthday!

Happy 2nd Birthday!

Happy 3rd Birthday!

We celebrated a day early because Nate has school tonight.

Happy 4th Birthday!

And modeling her new Snow White costume.

We have a princess tea party planned for Tuesday morning!

Where oh where have I been??

We've had a super busy summer! Between swimming, summer school, my sister's bridal shower and playdates I just haven't had any extra time. And the time I do have I am either cleaning up or playing Bejeweled on Facebook. I must admit I am addicted. =)

The kids LOVE the pool. We must go swimming everyday.

I secretly love it. It tires them out and they go to sleep so easily.

Right after Memorial Day we took a little trip to Branson. We hadn't been in 5 years so I thought it was time to go and also Natalie got in free to Silver Dollar City because she's still 3.

Our good friends, the Sheriffs, were in Branson camping at the same time we were there so we all decided to go to Silver Dollar City together. We had so much fun!

Kelli and I rode this new ride called the Electrospin. It was crazy! It spun in a circle while going side to side. But as it went from side to side it also climbed up higher and higher and got faster. Here is us after it was over.

Yeah, I felt like I was going to puke.

Well, we were having a good time until our girls decided they didn't want to ride on the Happy Frogs together and Bryce didn't want to sit with them, either. Here's their grumpy faces.

Of course, as soon as it started they all quickly smiled.

When we went to get lunch we saw this watering fountain and of course had to take a pictures by it. It says McCoys Only, No Hatfields!

Unfortunately, we can't seem to pose for a picture.

We ate at The Mill and we were seated at the table that magically starts to rise while you are eating. The table was up to our necks by the time it stopped rising. The little ones had to stand in their chairs just so they could eat. We magically lowered the table by using the weight of our elbows to push it down. =)



The next day we rode the Ducks. Both kids got to drive it while we were in the water.

The next day we went back to Silver Dollar City. I had to take the kids' picture here. I have an almost identical picture of my brother and me back when I was 8 and he was 3.

It was much warmer that day instead of the first day we went so Bryce played in the wet area and got soaked! Note to self: Bring swimsuit next time we go to SDC.





And here's what happens after a Very fun day at an amusement park:

And finally before heading home we had to stop by at the fish hatchery. Those crazy fish jump out of the water for the food.

We had so much fun, but it's just as nice coming home.

Now I must plan a Princess Birthday Tea Party for my little Princess.

She turns 4 in just 2 weeks.

Our Memorial Day Fun

We spent most of the weekend at home and by Monday I was itching to get out. Thanks to the new Metro Family magazine: Exploring OK with children we found a neat spot to go to that we had never even heard of before. We went to Chickasaw National Recreation Area about an hour south of us. We went to hike, but the best part was playing in the water. It was so beautiful down there and we will most definitely be returning.

And in honor of my anniversary tomorrow here is a picture of my husband of 9 years. :)

We had such a good time. I wish I would have brought our swimsuits. Bryce was sopping wet when we left. We had to stop at Walmart to get him new clothes. Thankfully, I had a change of clothes for Natalie in the car. We ended our day at Pizza Hut. Yum!

The new Natalie

I finally took Natalie to a salon to get a haircut. I trimmed her hair up in the fall, but she has never had a real haircut until today.

It all started good. She's too busy watching the tv to look at me.

About midway through the haircut she started to get a very grumpy look on her face. I asked her what was wrong and she told me that she didn't look like a princess even though I had promised her she'd look like a princess.

Then the hair stylist cut her bangs. That ruined it. Natalie was almost in tears by the time we left. She didn't talk to me the whole way home. Once we got home she kept telling me how she wants her old hair back.

It took several tries to get a picture but she finally smiled after I told her that her hair would grow back out to the way it was again.

So here she is with new bangs. I wasn't even sure if I liked it at first, but it's growing on me.

Arrgh Matey!

Will it ever stop?

Blah blah blah... It's been on and off raining here for 3 weeks.

I am watching the news and it's not good. Storms are rolling in tonight and they could be severe.

Wait--Just saw the 7 day forecast--After Saturday there appears to be no more rain for a few days. Yay, it will stop raining.

mei tai and am I crunchy???

My very sweet neighbor is having her first child this summer. She's so giddy with excitement and that makes me so very happy for her. Well, silly me decided I'd make her a mei tai baby carrier for her baby shower gift. Umm.. yeah... I don't sew. I suck at it. But I somehow managed to get it done after a lot of cussing and screaming. The stitching doesn't look all that great, but it's made. I even tested it out by carrying a nearly 40lb Natalie in it so I know it will be fine for an infant.

If you don't know what a mei tai is-google it. It's seriously the best baby item out there. I carried Natalie in mine almost everyday for a year and carried in it regularly up until age 2.

Here's the one I made. It's reversible with polka dots on one side and stripes on the other.

I am disappointed. As much as I carried Natalie in it I only have 1 picture of me carrying her-at least only 1 that I found. Here she is happy as can be while riding on my back. Her little face was covered in eczema.

So while at the baby shower this afternoon someone brought up cloth diapers. I mentioned that I tried them and used them with Natalie and suddenly I looked like the freak in the room. Which leads me to my question--am I bit crunchy? Crunchy as in hippi, natural, organic, etc.

Let's see:

I have cloth diapered.

I wore my baby in a baby carrier.

I homemade her babyfood.

I use mostly vinegar when I clean.

I make homemade laundry detergent.

I make our pasta sauces and breads from scratch.

I try to buy foods without high frutose corn syrups.

I recycle on a regular basis.

I no longer use paper plates and paper napkins.

I try not to use as many paper towels.

Yep, I think I am towards the crunchy side. Yikes!

Touch a Truck

Every year the Mom's Club of Norman hosts Touch a Truck. It's where all sorts of trucks/buses/and even a helicopter comes together in one area. The kids get to climb in and honk the horns. They love it. The best part is all the proceeds go to the children's area at the Norman library. Natalie and I visit that library on a weekly basis for storytime so I love that we get to help out the library while having lots of fun.

Natalie hanging out in the police car.

Bryce also in the police car.

Natalie getting a hug from the Braum's cow. We got to ride a tiny elevator to get into the truck. Once inside we quickly wanted to leave--It was cold! Actually it was colder in the front and back of the truck. It has three different temperature ranges so that the different dairy products stay at the right temperature.
They gave us free ice cream coupons! Woot!

Natalie and Bryce got to hang out in a hummer.

Bryce pulling the cord to honk the horn on the big semi. It was super loud!