Seven and Summer!

 

Where does the time go?

Kaderick is 7 months old. He loves mommy, especially between the hours of 9pm and 8am. Last month I said 8pm-8am, so maybe we are making slow progress. Ha!

 

Daddy and sisters are really fun to play with and he loves to convince Kayla to hold him for his naps. I'm not sure who likes that the most, Kade who gets snuggled for an hour and a half or Kayla who gets to read for that time.

 

 

The girls have so much fun playing with my old Barbies, so it's been extra fun for daddy to pull out his old Tonka truck complete with Tex and Red for Kade (and daddy) to play with.

 

Kaderick is doing a little better in the way of solid foods--he might make it through a whole (small jar) a day now. Not that it matters. When you are 20+ pounds at 7 months, I think you are healthy enough.

He was just about to take off and crawl--he was scooting everywhere--when he figured out that he could also pull himself up on his own two feet.

 

 

Now THAT is fun, and he is SO proud!

 

Otherwise, our summer is going great and WAY too fast! We saw the school supplies out at Walmart already! Ugh! We've kept busy with our garden, but not done any real canning or preserving yet. I suppose all that will be ready to do about the same time we start back to school. I'm wondering how I will ever manage--but know that it will become routine eventually. Meanwhile, we will enjoy one day at a time.

 

Thanks for stopping by, I still LOVE your comments.

Everyone says "HI!"

The kids, the hubby,

The DOG

and I!



The Birthday Girl!

11 years ago this big beautiful baby girl joined our family.

She was two and a half weeks late and born screaming mad at the world. I really think she'd liked to have punched the surgeon! Seems she didn't want to part with momma and is still a bit of a momma baby.

She was a beauty though--and at 8lbs 10ozs, and 22 in, she never did look like a newborn.

 

2 weeks old

 

If you've read my blog long at all, you know that I LOVE being a mommy and making things special for my kiddos! Some have asked how we can make things look so nice on a budget, so that is why I always try to share our "secrets and sources" when I post. We spent just over $75 on this party, gifts, party goods and decor, favors, food and pictures all included. We always let them choose a theme for their own party--and try to keep it fun and inexpensive. Kalli chose Barbie. Some of the Barbie stuff out there is so strange, but after putting on my thinking cap and visiting pinterest, we came up with a pretty cute party.  We picked up a refrigerator box (free) and painted it (most of the paint was already in the garage) like a huge Barbie box. Birthday Barbie (Kalli) fit just fine! =) I used pink Zebra duct tape around the doorway to cover up my crooked cut job.

 

We also let them choose the entire menu for one meal. Kalli chose a BLAT bar and fresh grilled pineapple. We had fun putting the fixings in (clean) Barbie things, like lettuce in the corvette.....

 

....and avacados in the bathtub! Pretty cheap serving dishes! =)

 

She chose cheesecake for her cake and we had a variety of topping choices. Very fun for creative little girls!

 

She invited a few extra friends to her party. We always leave this up to the girls too. This is their special day so we want them to be with the ones that make their life the most special. Kalli is our social butterfly--always flitting here and there visiting and hugging her friends. They had such a fun time playing Barbies!

 

A bunch of pretty Barbie dolls, and one handsome Ken (Kaderick).

We don't spend a lot of gifts, and are thankful that the children all appreciate and care for the things they do recieve. They are still playing with Barbie things that I had as a girl! Kalli did ask for a Barbie kitchen and I found one on craigslist complete with stove, cabinet, fridge and a ton of food and dishes for a GREAT deal. You would never know it was used!

 

After the party, Kalli and I kept tradition of momma taking birthday pictures while on a little walk. Not only does this save me some $$, we get time together and they are more relaxed with mom than a strange photographer. Granted, my camera is cheap and someone else might do better, but we get by fine.

 

She LOVES butterflies, so we snatched a couple from off her wall to shoot in the pictures.

 

Kalli is also a writer. She's said from the time she was way little that one of the things she was interested in being (besides a baker) was an "aawwwthor" (she really used to drag that "aww" sound out), so we did pictures of her journaling. Many times I try to incorporate their current "likes" in their birthday pictures thinking it will make for great memories.

 

Kalli is a sweet girl, with a tender loving heart. She's give you her last blanket (and she's quite attached to those) if she thought you needed it.

I am blessed to me her mommy!