Papa's Birthday Party

My dad's birthday is this Tuesday, April 13th. So my mom planned a surprise "party" for him today. I hesitate to call it a party because it was "just us" - my family, Holley's family, and Mary Michael's family. But y'all know by now that my family is fun so it doesn't take much to make it a party!


We headed to Birmingham right after church. We were supposed to be there at 1:00, but traffic on 280 was at a stand still for an hour because of a couple of wrecks. We finally rolled in around 2:00 and "surprised" Papa. By this time, Mary Michael's and Holley's families were already there, so I'm not sure he was really surprised. But I think it's safe to say that he was just as happy to see us as we were to see him!

Lucy was decked out in her party attire while shoving a fist full of ice cream down her throat.
Mary Michael and Papa.


All of the "Grandbrats" (as Papa calls them) crowding around Papa as he opens his presents. Sunshine getting her sugar!

Haooy Birthday, Papa ! Love you!

Lovely Day

The weather here was PERFECT today! Perfect for a day of birthday parties.

AAA, L'il Man, KitKat, and Sunshine all enjoyed birthday parties for dear friends and classmates. AAA bowled with friends, L'il Man had a real-live Club Penguin party, KitKat played at the park, and Sunshine partied like a pirate!

KitKat has a new BFF named Ashley. Ashley and KitKat exchanged phone numbers this week and my phone has been ringing off the hook! When Kit Kat came home with Ashley's number,which Ashley had written on a piece of paper for KitKat, I giggled. KitKat asked me, "Is a nine up or down?" She has asked me this question before, so I knew that she was asking me if the number "9" has a circle at the top ("up") or at the bottom ("down"). I replied, "Up. A six is down." "Oh", she said, "that is supposed to be a six then." Then she proceeded to dial the number.

KitKat and Ashley made plans to meet at the park today at 2:00 sharp. I have never met Ashley's parents, and not even spoken to her mom. On the way to the park, I said, "KitKat, she may not even be there. I haven't spoken to her mom." With all the confidence in the world, she replied, "If she's not there, she's probably picking up the cupcakes and Capri Suns." "Cupcakes and Capri-Suns?", I inquired. ""Yes. She said she's bringing cupcakes and Capri-Suns." We finally arrived at Hickory Dickory Park. And guess what?! There she was...Little Miss Ashley ( with cupcakes and Capri-Suns) and her mom. She's adorable and is also missing her two front teeth. After talking and laughing with Ashley's mom, it turns out that missing teeth isn't the only thing these two have in common! Miss Ashley is also a strong-willed child. She's the youngest of five children. (I should have stated, "Thankfully, she's the youngest of five children." Her mom said that if Ashley had been the first, she wouldn't have had any more children! I told her that God gave me Kathryn to keep me humble because I was well on my way to writing a book entitled "How to be the Perfect Parent"!)

We compared "notes" and I laughed hard! Ashley is also a "Fashionista". If you observe Kathryn's clothes on my blog, you're probably wondering, "Does she really think KitKat is a 'fashionista'?" Yes I do! I can't stand 95% of what that child wears, but we have come to an agreement: If I don't absolutely hate it, she can wear it. How do you like that?? Well I don't like it either, but I have to choose my battles with this little one, and this is a battle I choose to lose. And it hurts. You have no idea. Ashley's mom said the very same thing! On Ashley's first day of school, she came down the stairs with a pair of too-tight jeans and one of her mom's scarves tied around her forehead like a gypsy. And Ashley's mom bit the inside of her cheek and said, "Well don't you look lovely?"

I can totally relate. In fact, when I asked KitKat to get ready to go to the park, she came downstairs with a pair of black knit (like sweats) shorts on with a black tu-tu on top them. She paired it with a hot pink shirt with a rhinestoned-flower in the center. She read my mind, but smiled and said, "Please?" I could tell she was thinking, "Please? I look SO cute. You have to let me wear this." So I just bit the inside of my cheek and said, "Okay then. Let's go." Painful, I tell you.

Saturday nights always stress me out because we have to pick out church clothes for KitKat. In fact, picking out church clothes for KitKat is what sends me to church. You see, I have to confess my sins and ask for repentance for the things I thought and , yes, even said, on Saturday night while picking out her clothes. And once the outfit is picked out, we move on to shoes. Even more painful.

So tonight was no different. I picked out a cute knit Old Navy dress (that I would have never let my firstborn be seen in! Oh, how I have changed!). She O.kayed it as long as I let her wear her tall black boots with it. It's a sleeveless dress, by the way. So I nixed the boots. So she nixed the dress.

Moving on.

She picked out a short skirt of Sunshine's with that same hot pink shirt that she wore today. I think I may have said, "Over my dead body." I think she may have said, "Well then it's a deal." Not really, but I'm certain she was thinking it!

Well...obviously I digressed. I titled this post "Lovely Day" because I was truly going to write about what a lovely day we had today. But apparently I'm not over the dreaded Saturday night clothes dilemma.

I hope you had a lovely day too! ;)

Friday Night Fun!

I think I just had the MOST FUN Friday night I've ever had in my life...ever!
The kids put on a "We are the World" impromptu concert complete with a handwritten invitation to the highly anticipated event.

When we arrived at our destination (the playroom!), we were escorted to our reserved seats by the cutest little escort you've ever seen!

The opening act was Sunshine singing "Big Green Tractor" in her white tu-tu with rhinestones. Jason Aldean, eat your heart out - you got nothin' on Sunshine!

Following Sunshine was the star of the show, KitKat, singing "Raining Sunshine". What a performance!

I think I see performing of some type in her future. I'm good with that as long as it doesn't involve poles of any sort.

L'il Man worked the sound and lighting while the girls performed.

By changing the color of the outfit (or by using half of the Zhu Zhu pet ball) in front of the "spotlight", he could change the color of the light hitting the stage. Awesome!

Pretty clever (and pretty resourceful)!

AAA, who, believe it or not, had a case of stage fright, sang "Naturally" (Selena Gomez).

L'il Man surprised us with a solo of "We are the World" (Haiti version - he really like the rap).

Encore!!

(Sunshine burned her hand while working lights during L'il Man's performance).

This was my all-time favorite performance in. my. life,

A Family Affair

Who knew that soccer could involve the whole family??!!

1. The soccer star

2. The spectators:3. The brother who found a bunch of "other brothers" to play with (and KK's foot!):

4. The Coach (well...assistant, anyway)

5. The Fan Club (a.k.a. "Mom")

And the reason we're all there (and KK's tummy!)!

Quote of the Day

KitKat to me when I woke her up this morning: "Everytime I go to bed and then wake up, it's morning!"

Happy Morning to ya!

Resurrection Day!

Holy Week In Review: Post Two

THE SWEETEST EASTER EGG HUNT EVER!


Sunshine's sweet pre-school hosted the sweetest Easter Egg Hunt. The weather was absolutely perfect and everyone was dressed in their precious spring clothes.

Below, they are listening patiently and carefully as their teacher tells them the Easter Story.
Such a precious group of little girls!

Sunshine surprised me. Each time she found an egg, she stoppped to open it. If it had jelly beans in it, she put the egg back where she found it. I had no idea she didn't like jelly beans!

After the hunt:

I think she was excited about the egg contents!

What started out as a sweet game of Ring-around-the -Rosey...

...quickly turned into "Gimme that!"

(looks like the boys won!) :)


Parachute fun (I remember playing this when I was young).

SWEET girl!

Best friends!