Z lost his 4th tooth!

Great to be 8!

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." Mahatma Gandhi  

After waiting a few months to be baptized for various reasons - today B felt HAPPINESS as she followed through on her choice to be baptized!

She chose ice cream as a snack afterwards . . . . it was easy to prepare and easy to clean up - good choice!

B is growing up.   She's baptized now and is responsible for her own choices.   She now has to rely on the Holy Ghost as her guide - but that is how it is supposed to be - parents have to let children grow up! 

" Ships are safe in the harbor, but that is not what a ship is made for." M. Angelou  

At the end of the day, I asked her what she was thinking and how she felt today and she said, "I was thinking when I got in the water it was cold, VERY COLD but it made me excited to be getting baptized.  Out of the water I was still thinking I felt good and that I got baptized!  I was happy AND that the water was freezing!  I'm glad I choose a day mammaw could come.  I love the necklace, the music box, the scriptures and that I have a bag of my own.  I felt it was a good day and I felt happy!" 

I have a video/slideshow of B and her first 8 years - if you are ever visiting me - ask to see it - I'd love to show it to you!

Z's Birthday!!!

 Celebrated at Breakfast . . . .                                             Celebrated at lunch . . . . . .

 AJ came over and threw a ball around a little bit . . .

 He got lots of nice presents from family - including this nerf gun from AJ and Watch from Uncle Matt.  The gun has a story . . . . last year he got a gift card from a friend to Target.  He picked out this gun - but then chose to put it back and get 2 movies instead.  He talked about regretting that decision for a year.  So when this birthday came around if he was asked "what do you want?"  He said "a gift card to Target:  to buy a Star Wars Nerf Gun."  :)   So AJ hooked him up and he was very happy.   He like ALL his presents!!!!  

                          Happy 7th Bday Zman!!!  We love you and are glad you are in our family!!!!

1.  Favorite Food:  Chicken Rice Skillet

2.  Favorite Drink:  Juice & Gatoraide

3.  Favorite Ice Cream Flavor:  Orange Dreamicle & Vanilla Bean

4.  Favorite Animals:  Monkey, Pig, Koala, Thorny Devil, Turtle

5.  Favorite Church Songs:  Praise to the Man, The Golden Plates

6.  Favorite thing done before falling  asleep at night:  Getting into my cave (blankets hung around his bunkbed) & hugging my sheet.

7.  Favorite thing about being  a brother:  Playing Just Dance with my sisters.

Derby #138!!!

A bunch of people at church worked the Derby Weekend this year as volunteers - donating our "salary" to the Boy Scout Troop at our church.   What an experience!  I've NEVER been to the Derby.   It was a crazy busy, tiring, fun day.  We met at the church early to get to a MUDDY parking lot nearby to ride a shuttle bus to Churchhill Downs and be onsite at 630 AM!  It was fun to see all the hats and Derby Fashions and feel the excitement  - but standing ALL day is hard on your back!

 We we're not "supposed" to take pictures of famous people - but towards the end of the day . . .    Here my friend Brenda is with Danny Glover.  She was up by a VIP section . . . she had seen him go in (she saw a bunch of people up on her floor)   Later he came out alone and was just looking like he wanted some air . . and she couldn't resist talking to him.  She said, "Can I just say I loved you in 'Angels in the Outfield'?  That movie really helped one of my sons."   Well then he wanted to give her a hug so she asked for a picture.  :) 

I lucked out and didn't have to stay down by a SUPER busy gate . . . I got to go up to a VIP ticket taking spot - - - it got busy but it wasn't insane like downstairs.  We had some people come through I recognized and some I didn't . . . . Tom Brady from the Patriots came through and left through our spot. (first picture, below left).  His buddies were asked by my friend Patty if they were football players - they were like "no".  She seemed doubtful of their answer . . . and after they went through someone told us who they were.  :)   Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers came through our line - I had to be told who they all were too - as we were putting wristbands on them.   Then Guy Fieri (below right) came in our gate - he was recongnizeable!  :)  He's on the food network and even though I don't have that - he stands out.

Then Ashton Kutcher came through - he was the total star when he came in . . . straight face, sunglasses, and no expression - he walked in my side of the ticket taking area - but he didn't stop by me since he had someone else hand me his ticket.  It happens so fast when they come through . . .   But as he left with his stack of money - he was much more personable!  :)    

John - the founder of Papa John's Pizza came through . . . gave my friend Tonya a free pizza card.  :)  Mary J. Blige came through our gate - she sang the National Anthem!!! 

We had lot of "not famous" people too!   My favorite was a guy from California in seersucker pants!  It was his first Derby, he was so excited and he talked to me EVERY time he went in and out.  :)  And so many hats and other fashion statements!!! 

Here's me and my friend Marcie . . . . we lucked out and got to slip away from our spots and go and watch the Derby!  We couldn't believe it and we had an awesome spot!!!  We were in shock how close we were to the track!!!!   We just tried to blend in in our uniforms and no hats . . .   We were there to sing "My Old Kentucky Home" and to see the horses walk in (above).    I even made a friend and asked if he was going to keep his glass mint julip cups sitting on the ground - he said no and asked if I wanted them?  YES - free souvenir!!!  :) 

(left picture) "And they're off!"   and (right pictue) FINISH LINE:  "I'll Have Another" won and we had to quickly go back to our spot!!!  These pictures were taken with a girls cell phone - so they aren't the best - but I was glad to have something to show our spots!!!    :)  No zoom lense!

Crazy day . . . but memorable!  :)

Z's party w/ Friends!

       Luckily we had no rain and we were able to have Z's party outside as planned in the backyard!!!

 We decorated sports pendants & a bag and had a relay race that involved runnng over to the treehouse, climbing up, grabbing a ribbon off a stick, coming down the slide, then going into the black tube to grab another ribbon on a stick, then running back to the starting spot.   It was a fun break in what mostly happened which was jumping on our "new" free trampoline!!!   D got it set up just in time for this party!!!  Our kids were SOOOO excited!   Some kid's moms looked a little worried since they are used to trampolines with net enclosures . . I grew up with a trampoline and no enclosure so it doesn't bother me. 

 We ate a little dinner then it was PINATA time!!!! 

D made the pinata a soccer ball !!!  Impressive! 

 B was a little sad she didn't get a chance to hit!  I let kids hit twice and go youngest to oldest . . . so  a couple kids didn't get a turn.  SORRY!  Next time only one hit each!  :)  This was our first pinata at a party!  My sister suggested the tarp underneath and colored paper confetti inside with the candy to FLY out when it broke - it was fun! 

After cake and ice cream and opening presents . . . all the kids went off to play and that left Z alone finishing up his cake!  :)  The sight made me want to take a picture.  He got some cool presents - so he wasn't complaning!  :)    I think it was a successful party!  He invited 7 friends - 2 couldn't come at the last minute - but 2 of his friends brought a brother - so he still had 7 friends!  :)   But if the party would have been inside - that might have been too many kids?!?!  Very thankful to be able to have it outside!

P.S. Here's our new piato furniture that we just got with the Christmas money from D's dad!  We love it and are very thankful to have it!!!!