Happy 8th Birthday Sweet Lilly Bean

Rise and shine, Lilly Bean!  Happy birthday!  We woke up bright and early, snuggled Daddy a little bit (he's recovering from his first hip surgery!), made some breakfast and off to school we went - don't worry, we checked out a little early...

And we went shopping for an ice cream cake!  But we had a few minutes to kill so we went into Tuesday Morning to see if they had any nutcrackers yet.  They do, but this year we (YOU) want a girl nutcracker or an animal - so we held out 'cause they didn't have any.  They did have a "Gourmet Chef" with a pig's head (no joke!) and we thought that was hilarious but you didn't think Anna Jane would appreciate that since she recently stopped eating pig.  So we passed.

Funny Jack got to hang with us this afternoon until Anna Jane came home from school and then...

We went to piano lessons.  Anna Jane got a Coke after school 'cause she was accidentally left there - minor misunderstanding.  Thank goodness for Ms. Bolt who called Mama and brought her home.  Gave her a cupcake, gave her a Coke - all is right with the world.

We made your favorite for dinner.  Ham and pea pasta.  Everyone ate all of it.  

We settled in for present opening - and a family pic.

Uncle Mark came and brought Stella Pup (funny Jack!) (Aunt Kimber had to work late - boo!)

Babi came (but Duda is on his golf trip!)

Teti came (Uncle Bryan had to work late - boo!)

And we sang you Happy Birthday and ate your pretty pink ice cream birthday cake, and opened your awesome presents.

Then, Lilly Bean, when everyone left you came and found me standing in the kitchen.  You looked forlorn, your eyes were red, you said, "I don't - I don't want to get older.  Next year I will be 9 and I just don't - I don't want to grow up."  I picked you up in my arms (not easy to do these days, you are only about a head and shoulders shorter than me now - 4' 4" to be exact) and I got to hold you, and cry with you a little bit my sweet baby girl.  Every one of these days with you is a gift and I have treasured every moment - even the ones I may have wished away - they are all treasures in my box of memories.  I love you, Lilly Bean.  I love all you are.  It is bittersweet watching you grow so fast, knowing this is all fleeting, and all temporary.  One day we may be celebrating the 8th birthday of your little girl and we will wonder again - how does it all go so fast?  

We read through some of your old birthday love letters - the ones I've written you on this blog.  We watched your 2nd birthday video.  Even Anna Jane cried.  And then Daddy - of all the things - started playing Taylor Swift's "Never Grow Up" (THANKS, DADDY!) and you looked at me and said, "I want to go to bed now."  So up we went.  I tucked you in, with Big Dog of course and you are sleeping soundly, peacefully and tomorrow - you will be 8!  And you will be a happy girl, because that's who you are.  You will love on us all - you will be concerned about your Daddy; you will play with your sister; you will try to get your brother to eat some "real" food so he doesn't get in trouble; you will help me clean up and organize (something you actually love to do!).  You will be our Northern Star - it's who you are.  You are the brightest star in our sky, Lilly Bean.  You are the one we all look to when there are cloudy skies.  You shine the brightest, sweet girl.

Happy birthday, Lillian Marie.  Lil Marie.  Lilly Bean.

Happiest of birthdays.  No more tears.  Growing up with you is the most wonderful thing.  I love you, sweet Bean.

Love, 

Mommy

Goodnight Greenville

 Daddy made a dream come true for himself...and we are so excited.  It's made so many people happy and excited!  Can you guess what it is?

 Even SUPERHEROES are excited about Daddy's news!

 Daddy's news is so big he literally got ON the news - not once, TWICE - here he is.  On the NEWS.

 Miss South Carolina was so excited for Daddy even SHE wanted to support his vision and be a part of it!

Well since we know you already know what it is we will just tell you - Daddy's new book Goodnight Greenville launched last week!

There's even merch, y'all!

Last week at Duck Derby there was a Goodnight Greenville booth where they had readings and Daddy signed copies of his book.  It was so fun and we are so proud of him!

We got our very own copies of Daddy's book signed by Daddy!

We saw friends from school who also came out to support Daddy!

And Ollie, Vivienne, Aunt Tracey and Uncle J (and Grandma!) came out to show Daddy the love, too!  It was a great weekend!

We are so excited our Daddy is a bonafide published author!
Love,
Lilly, Anna Jane, and Jack

Happy Birthday, Duda!

Happy birthday to our Duda!  You know what we don't have, Duda?  A picture of you and your favorite little man doing his favorite thing which is sitting on your lap on the couch when you're here.  Clearly, Mama needs to take more pictures!  These days of phone cameras make her LAZY!
We hope you have a great year, Duda.  You're a great Duda and we love you with all our hearts.  Enjoy Nashville!
XOXOXO
Love,
Mama, Daddy, Lilly, Anna Jane, and Jacky

Adios Toofer!

Adios toofer!! I lost my first one yesterday! It has been loose FOREVER! Like FOR. EVER. I have another couple loose ones on the bottom too! So far my top two are pretty solid. Dang. I can't believe I'm losing teef. I can't believe how fast these babes are growing. Feels like yesterday I was blogging about eating peas for the first time or pooping on the couch. Now I'm almost finished with kindergarten. Y'all. It goes so fast. It is a beautiful, wondrous, messy ride this life.

Here is my toof progression throughout the day. Mama knew that sucker was coming out today so we documented it!

Little bit looser!

Hanging by a thread! We will spare the nasty pics. Truth be told the whole losing teeth thing kinda grosses mama out a little. It really grosses mama out when a kiddo loses their tooth and their mama goes and posts bloody pics on social media. Why why why???  Please people! That's what filters are for! Ain't no one wants to see that! But everyone loves to see a toofless smile (NO blood!)

Love,

Lilly, Anna Jane, and Jack

Ps My bangs are making a comeback!

Meatloaf

Mama made meatloaf, grits, and green beans for supper. Anna Jane said, "mama your cooking is good!"  Jack said, "NO! Your cooking is not good!" Then he rolled around and screamed on his chair for 20 minutes. Then he crawled in Mama's lap and gave her a big hug and got all lovey dovey and said, "Mama please I have cheese crackers?" Mama said he had to eat one bite of one thing on his plate. He steadfastly refused. For like, 20 more minutes until finally Anna Jane convinced him to eat one green bean. Then she got him to try grits by telling him he will die they are so good. Then she got him to eat his meatloaf by belching in his face. Team work y'all.

Love,

Lilly, Anna Jane, and Jack

It's My Party!

 I better never complain about my 6th birthday party FESTIVAL when I grow up.  Gah!  This was quite the extended celebration!  I went to Babyland General Hospital the week before Easter, I was at the beach the week before my birthday, I got this party thing...I got it going on, Sister!  6th birthdays are DA BOMB!  Y'all remember my BFF Lila Grace?  This is her, and my new friend Julia from school.

 Isn't Charlotte adorable on the far right?  That's her sister Caroline and Lilly's BFF Erin!

 These are my school friends Anderson, Harrison and Julia

 And this is my friend Kylie from preschool.  We miss Kylie.

 Look at this picture of me, and look at the picture of Duda above - do you see the dimples?  Duda Dimples!  Guess who else has them dimples?  I'll give you a clue - he's in a forthcoming picture!

 Look how excited I was about this card.  OMG.  It has a CAT on it!

 Harrison!

 Julia, Brooks and Nate.  Love Brooks.  LOVE HIM.  We are so much alike it's weeeeeeird.

 If ou look real close you can see Uncle Mark has the Duda Dimple too!  CUTE!

 BFF's 4-EVA!

 I bet you thought this was Lilly for a second!
Nope!  It's her BFF Erin!

And oh, yeah, I GOT to show you - Mama found a cookie lady who makes cookies of like, whatever you want.  So she had Chelsea cookies made for me because I said I didn't want cake.  I had cookies and ice cream.  Awesome.

Happiest, happy birthday Anna Banana Bear!  We love you so, so super much!
Love,
Mommy and Daddy