Family Time & Ryan's Birthday!

      Saturday, we made the 3.5-4 hour drive to Decherd to my parent's house. Ben moved in with them after he got out of the hospital in early March, and it was so good to get to see him! I cannot even put into words how greatly I was to be able to hug his neck and pick on him like a big sister should! I love my baby brother more than he'll ever know and I definitely appreciate him more now than I did before. He turned 24 last Thursday, and I just know 24 will be his best age yet!

      The girls enjoyed their time with Grandma and Grandpa while we were there, too. Usually when we visit, all of us go at the same time and it gets very chaotic with 4 wild kids under the same roof, so it was good to have a change of pace and much less overwhelming to visit on our own.

     Rylee Love hasn't seen Uncle Ben since before she turned 2, and Payton Joy hadn't met him yet, so both girls got to get to know Uncle Ben on this visit. Payton Joy loved him right away and was rough housing with him in no time. She couldn't get Uncle Ben out, so she jsut called him "buddy." It took Rylee a little longer to warm up, but once she did, you couldn't tear her away from him. Ben is such a great uncle and the girls absolutely adore him. Rylee is already asking to go back a visit again!

    Sunday morning we went to church, and came home with an extra child, haha! Mel is visiting from Georgia this weekend, so while she went to lunch with some friends, and Nonna took Callie home for a nap, we took Austin to "Rylee's house" for some playtime. Rylee had a blast with Austin, then we headed over to Nonna's for an early Easter Egg hunt, since Austin and Callie won't be here for Easter next weekend. It was Payton's fist time hunting eggs, and she did pretty good. All the kids had a blast.

       I can never seem to get a good picture of these kids together, but it's probably because when they get to see each other, they are way too busy playing to stop for a picture. At least we got some fake smiles from them this time, it's better than what I usually get... ha!

       Today is Ryan's 25th birthday, so we headed to his parents house after work for a birthday cookout! Ryan and the girls and Austin had a blast on the fourwheeler while they waited for dinner to get ready. Ryan is just a big kid at heart, and that's what makes him such a great daddy!

         Rylee is obsessed with sweet baby Callie and is asking for a new little baby sister. Sorry, Rylee, I don't think that wish will come true. We had so much fun spending yesterday and today with their cousins. It's sad that they don't get to see each other much, but they really make up for lost time when they are together! I love these sweet kiddos so!

    And Ryan, I guess I like him just a little, too.. haha. I honestly could not picture how my life would be if he wasn't in it. I love him more than he'll ever understand. I may get irritated with him from time to time, but that doesn't have anything to do with how much I love him. I'm so glad to celebrate this birthday with him and all his future birthdays, too. Happy birthday, Ryan David. You are truly the best father for my girls and husband to me that I could ever ask for. Thanks for putting up with me! :)

Half Birthday

      Payton Joy is 18 Months old today!! She is officially one and a half years old! I cannot believe how quickly she is growing up. She doesn't have her 18 month physical until mid April due to scheduling conflicts, so I will post more about her growth and development once she has her check up.

    We decided to have a mini party to celebrate her half birthday today. Last night, Rylee helped me make a cake and today we had Bailey and Kaden over after school to play and celebrate with us. Liz and Mary arrived around 5 and joined the fun. IT was perfect timing, so they could watch the kids while I cooked pizza quesadillas and pizza rollers. Both were a big hit, but I think I like the rollers and little more than the quesadillas.

      After dinner, we put 1 1/2 candles on the cake and sang to sweet baby Payton. It won't be much longer before she won't be "baby Payton" anymore, and that makes me so sad. Why do they insist on growing up so quickly?!

    I love you to the moon and back, Payton Joy! I'm glad we got a little time today to celebrate your life and how much you mean to all of us. I cannot imagine my life without your big smile and even bigger personality. Happy half birthday, my Joy!

Spring Break 2015

     Our Spring Break didn't start off too great. Friday, just as I was leaving work, I got the call that Payton's temp was over 103. She had had  a little bit of a runny nose and a low grade temp the day before, but I was hoping it wouldn't amount to anything. We don't ever get that lucky. I rushed to take her to Dyersburg to see Dr. Melton before their office closed for the weekend, and it turns out she had a severe sinus infection. They gave her a dose of tylenol when we arrived, but her temp climbed the entire time we were there, and they were concerned for her so they gave her a dose of motrin once it reached 104 and within a half hour it was down a full degree to 102.9, so they gave her a sinus cocktail shot and a prescription for antibiotics and let us go home.  Saturday morning, she woke up grumpy but her fever was down, so we decided to go to breakfast at iHop and do some shopping. We got her a new Minnie Mouse nightgown, and as soon as we got home, she put it on and she was a brand new girl. Minnie fixes everything!

    Sunday morning, we went to church. The weather was absolutely beautiful, so the girls and I spent the entire afternoon outside. Then Monday, the weather was similar, so we spent another day enjoying the sunshine. I worked on some housework and got some sewing done as well. I love Spring Break! 

     Tuesday, we went to The Children's Museum of MEmphis with Liz and Kaden. Our kids were decked out in green for St. Patrick's Day; no one wants to get pinched! ;)

     We had such a good time at the Children's Museum. Payton got to do so much. I was afraid she'd be too small for a lot of it, but she really wasn't. They learned a lot and had so much fun doing it. I'm glad we've made this an annual tradition!

     Wednesday, Kaden came and spent the day with us. Rylee and Kaden had a blast playing together. Liz and Brandon headed to Memphis for an early birthday lunch for her and to head to the doctor because..... LIZ IS PREGNANT!!! I am so excited to be an aunt again and have another precious baby to love on and spoil rotten! Kaden is going to be an amazing big brother. He is already so excited! After they picked him up, I got my report cards done for next week. That is the only school work I brought home this break and I was glad to only spend 1 afternoon on school work this break!

    Thursday was Liz's 30th birthday, so I brought her over some lunch and we had a little picnic in her living room floor. That was a lot of fun! Then she kept Payton for the afternoon and Rylee and I headed to get our hair done.

     Last Tuesday, Rylee had a substitute at school, and decided to pull a fast one on her and give herself a hair cut. She cut the front of her hair pretty short, and it couldn't deal with it being short in the front and long in the back any longer,s o we went to get it evened out. I cried and cried over it, but it really isn't that big of a deal. She looks absolutely adorable with her new haircut. I think it just made me sad because she looks so much more grown up now. Where did my baby go?!

     After we got our hair done, we headed back to Liz and Brandon's for dinner. Brandon made chicken nachos and the kids decorated the house and made Liz a cake. We laughed and played and sang happy birthday. I think everyone had a really good time.

      Friday, Nonna took Rylee out to the Movies to see Cinderella and the Frozen Fever short movie. Rylee was so excited about her special day and she had a blast. I spent some quality time with Payton Joy,  then when she napped, I got the house back in order and did some more sewing. Have I mentioned I love Spring break?!

    Yesterday, Mary had a little party for her upcoming wedding. While I was gone, Ryan and his dad worked on his lawn mower while Nonna took Payton shopping for some one on one time. Both of these girl love their Nonna so and thoroughly enjoyed their one on one time this week. This morning we went to church, and now we are enjoying our Sunday afternoon together. It has been such a great week off, I'm sad to go back to the really world tomorrow. Only 9 more weeks until Summer Break! ;)

We Got Our Snow!

    Well, we got our snow! We woke up this morning to 6 inches of the stuff, and the girls were THRILLED! As soon as they woke up, we went out to play in it. Payton enjoyed trying to run around in it, while Rylee made snow angels and painted in it and made a snow volcano. It was too dry and powdery to make a snowman, so we went in to let it melt a little before attempting that.

     The girls got their first try of ht cocoa while we watched frozen and enjoyed the morning together. Then Rylee played indoors while Payton napped and Ryan finally got out of bed. He hasn't been feeling well, so he was glad for a snow day to catch up on rest.

     After Payton's nap, we headed out again and we made our family in snow people! It was so much fun!

   The girls were so happy that daddy was able to join us in the fun. Today has been a perfect day, and we get to be off again tomorrow, so yay for an extra long weekend together! :)