Endsley turns 1!!!

This birthday girl got to wake up and celebrate at the beach!! Rise and shine! I love her little sleepy face. You can see the only two teeth she has at the moment.

Before the birthday festivities began we headed down to the beach for about 5 minutes! She was none too excited about it, so we went back to the pool.

The party crew minus two...

The birthday girl eating her pizza and fruit.

Her smash cake

Cupcakes for the kiddies! Note to self...never order bold colored icing for toddlers ever again! Total mess.

Not so sure about this...

Whoo hoo!

Some of our party crew...

She really loved her cupcake!

Opening her gifts.


The party was a little chaotic! We had ten children in the condo. It is a nice size condo but trying to feed them and have some sort of organization to it all was a huge task. Not to mention the icing being everywhere. I was beginning to sweat thinking that my mother in law was going to ban me from using the place ever again. All was well though and the mess was cleaned!
After her nap she came back for more pool time!
This year, just like all the others, flew by! I have to say that this birthday did not make me sad. I wasn't sad when Riley turned one either. I think it is because at this age they is still so babyish. Year three might be a different story. Happy 1st birthday baby girl! You have been such a joyful addition to our family and I can't imagine life without you in it.

7 years!

We are celebrating 7 years today! Thanks mom for watching the kids while we snuck away for a few hours to get our grub on at Stoney River. Happy 7 years honey! It seems like yesterday we were dancing to the music of Super T!

A night out with the Jones'

There was a little festival in downtown Franklin on Friday and Saturday, so we went with Brooks, Leigh and the kids on Friday night. We had a dinner at Pucketts and then had a little dessert at Ben and Jerry's! I think Riley and Houston enjoyed the icecream the most! Best little buds!

Endsley and McKennon...it won't be too long before they will be terrorizing the older two!

Eating like a big girl and temper tantrums!

This baby loves to eat! At this point, she will still eat just about anything we give her. She has been eating graduate meals a lot for dinner. She is also a little dramatic. I guess it's a girl thing. Who knows?! But sister can throw herself down with the best of them and she's not even a year old!

"I can't take it anymore! Ahh...life is just not fair!"

He must love me...

Before we moved in last year, Jeremy and my dad spent a lot of time painting every room in our house. There wasn't a wall that wasn't touched. Closets, garage....everything! Well, I was not happy with a few of my choices and begged Jeremy to let me change the color. I begged him because he would be the one painting. Our bedroom and the living room/kitchen/stairwell/hallway needed to be changed. The bedroom was not a big deal. The rest he was not happy about. He really didn't have a choice after I bought samples and slapped them all over the walls! Anyhow, he painted and our marriage survived it! Here he is painting the stairwell. Just a little scary!

Daddy gets to come to a game!

Jeremy has to work every Saturday but one during the month, so there hasn't been an opportunity for him to attend one of Riley's soccer games until today! I know she was very excited that he was there and that he was thoroughly entertained by these three year old's soccer skills!

It's Mule Day ya'll!

We were in C-town at the crack of dawn on Saturday. My hair (and Riley's)...yes I do that on occasion... had not been flat ironed, I had not been caffeinated and the kids had not eaten when we arrived. Thanks to the Jones' hospitality we took care of most of that and headed down to the big ole' pancake breakfast. It was a first for us. Actually, the whole day was a first for us. Jeremy normally rides in the parade but didn't this year. After the pancakes we parked it on the grass and waited for the parade of the mules! Friends, Houston and McKennon

Check out those J*hn Deere boots!

Riley and I were kind of matching with denim dresses and boots. I wonder how long she will play along? I think that Endsley looks like Jeremy in this picture and I never think that.

"Misskennon", as Riley calls her, passed out on Leigh.

I told Brent I would post this for Ann. I mean, really...you know you want one!

This was the first of the shoulder rides for Brent. Houston followed and I think his shoulders were screaming shortly after.

The Grand Marshall was Miss Naomi. The woman looks phenomenal for her age. Really.

Waving at the people in the parade.

I just had to post this. There was actually a girl posed as Daisy on the General Lee. The best part about this was that the guy in the passenger seat would reach up and grab her hand so that she could hold on while they white smoked it. All the while she maintained that perfect pose. It was definitely a highlight for me.

Clapping for the mules. She kept saying that she wanted to ride one.

Pop Pop owns a funeral home and has something for the Harley lovers. Want to ride to the grave in style? Well, here's the ride for you! Nonna spotted this gem on the T*day show and the rest is history.

Pop Pop and his peeps

We may have to make an appearance in this next year. Poor Ron was all by himself with the grandkids.

I love the sense of community and the tradition of this day.

11 months 6 days

I can't believe this little pumpkin will be 1 year old next month! When Riley turned one I felt like she had been around forever. Not this time. She still feels so new to me. Maybe it's because she is so petite?! Being little doesn't stop her. She is walking everywhere. She can now go from squatting to standing and then take off walking/toddling. She loves to play with anything that is not a toy. The toilet is still a fave. I have to keep the doors to the bathrooms shut. Any drawer that she can open and pull everything out of, the garbage bags in the pantry. Basically, if she is on the floor my eyes have to be on her. She isn't the best car rider. I think she will be much happier when we turn her around. When we ask her for a kiss she will lean in with an open mouth. I have tried to get a pic, but she is too fast! I have cut her bottles down to two a day. She is still eating stage two and three foods, but will eat anything off my plate. I have also tried the graduate meals. She loves to feed herself and babbles constantly. I believe she is beginning to know that we are "mama" and "Dada." She says "ma-ma" to me all the time. The other night when she was on the changing table she looked at Jeremy and said "da-da" over and over. The little toot is walking everywhere because she is trying to keep up with this one! She absolutely loves her. Riley is like a little mother to her. She tells me what she "wants" or "needs" all the time. When Endsley is getting into something she isn't supposed to, Riley will say to her, "no mam."

Another month gone. I might cry when she turns one. Lets hope I can keep it together! Love you sweet girl!