Mother's Day!

This Mother's Day was the best one ever. It started with breakfast in bed. My sweet hubbie toasted me a bagel and topped it with cream cheese. I also had some coffee... 'cause my day is not worth anything until I wake up! Then my sweet family brought me my cards and gifts. Caleb picked out a blue wooden angel. It was so sweet. The angel was reading a book and he picked it because he knows I love to read. He is a very thoughtful son. I also got a dress and shirt from Luke and Parker and Maddie! I didn't want a big present this year. I just aked Scott to take us to The Melting Pot. It was delicious. A long nap, lunch and dinner with friends being with my amazing hubbie and adorable kids was all this momma needed. Like I said it was the best Mother's Day ever!

Easter 2009!

Maddie has a Hello Kitty easter basket!

Maddie loves Hello Kitty!

I love to color!

This is what you are used to seeing! All sweet and innocent!

This is what they hide from you. My little punks!

The best family group shot we had. We'll take what we can get!

Easter this year was pretty subdued. I was still recovering from surgery and still not feeling well. The kids had a blast. Especially Maddie Claire! She duped all her brothers into hiding all the eggs at least 892 times! They all had fun. We had a quiet lunch at home and had a restful afternoon. We colored eggs and ate lots of chocolate bunnies! It was very nice and low key. I would say it was the best Easter we have had in a long time.

Caleb is 6!

Caleb the Birthday King at school!

Caleb with Mrs. Connor!

Can I open my presents now?

My birthday brownie!

My baby boy turned 6 on March 31st! I can't believe it has been 6 years. Where has the time gone? This past year was a big one! He started Kindergarten! Started playing soccer! Learned how to ride a motorized dirt bike! Learned to read!

He is such a sweet and tender boy. He is very compassionate and really gets upset if others are hurt. He is learning to be a gentleman and really sticks up for the girls that are picked on. He is learning the true meaning of friendship. He is finding the power of prayer. His love for God and Jesus makes my momma's heart happy. I love seeing him grow in the Lord.

He is also 100% boy. He can be rough and tumble with his brothers. He loves GI Joe and all things that blow up and makes lots of noise. He loves to play with his Nerf guns. He and Scott will play hide and seek with the guns. They have so much fun. He loves all sports and loves to play football with Scott. He finally learned to keep his eye on the ball after being hit in the face a couple hundred times!

I love the fact he still loves to cuddle with his mommy. I also cherish every time he calls me mommy. I know the day is close when he will stop calling me mommy. I love the way he will pick "flowers" for me because he knows it makes me happy. I love the way he will tell me he loves me just because. I love the way he wants to take care of me because he is a "man" and that is what men do.

Caleb, you are the best son a mommy could have. I am so proud of the young man you are becoming. I see the way the Lord works in your heart. Even at such a young age I can see you letting the Holy Spirit guide you. Keep up the good work. I love you more than all the stars in the sky. You are my heart!

Love,

Mommy

Will start again...I promise.

Okay, so I have been out of the bloggy loop for a while now. I need to just start doing it again. Some recent events. I got a job... I lost a job. Caleb turned 6! I sewed my first real dress. I started making bows for Maddie. So much cheaper! Scott is looking for a new job. I had surgery.

I have may posts and pics to share. I will get to it starting tomorrow. Til then.

Joe's Italian - The best Italian ever!

My husband and I found Joe's about 3 weeks after it opened and immediately fell in love with the food and atmosphere. The food is authentic and delicious. After having too many experiences with plain, boring, bland italian food at chain restaraunts, it was like a breath of fresh air to eat food that was fresh, delicious and not mass produced. Each meal is made to order and piping hot when delivered to your table.
Your dining experience starts with fresh, hot bread, made by Mama, and a special olive oil and herb dipping sauce. This is not your typical breadstick but a dense, chewy bread that soaks up the special dipping sauce and melts in your mouth with a burst of flavor. With your meal you are given the choice of soup or salad. You can not go wrong with either choice. The house dressing is amazing and goes great with the chilled lettuce and vegetables. The soup is homemade everyday and really hits the spot on a chilly winter day. The minestrone soup is filled with fresh vegetables and the tomato basil soup is chunky and filling. When the main course comes to your table the aroma prepares you for what you are about to enjoy. I have had every dish on the menu and it is all scrumptious. My favorite dish is either the lobster ravioli or the gourmet veggie pizza. You really can't go wrong with anything you order. The desserts are in another world of their own. They are homemade by Mama and devine. Tiramisu is one of my all time favorite desserts and the tiramisu Joe makes is the best I have ever had. Mama makes a strawberry cake that leaves you speechless.
With the quality and quantity of food you get the price is perfect. I recommend Joe's Italian to everyone I meet. It is a great family atmoshere and can be perfect for a romantic meal away from the kids. You can't go wrong with Joe's Italian. It is like visiting a caffe in Italy while staying in Birmingham. Check it out!

Maddie's 2nd Birthday!

MADDIE IS 2 !

Maddie turned 2 on January 5, 2009. She is such a joy. She enjoys Wonder Pets, playing dolls, Barney, Hello Kitty, playing with her brothers, shoes and purses. She completely radiates joy. Our family would not be the same without her. She knows how to keep us entertained. She is so cute. We love you baby girl. You are my heart and joy and I love you more than the stars in the sky!

Maddie with her brothers!

Maddie and mommy!

The huge red velvet cake daddy bought me. I have him wrapped around my finger!

Me blowing out the candles. Mommy got me trick candles and I got to blow them out a bunch!
Family photo!
The Hello Kitty ( Maddie calls it Hi Tittie) doll my brothers got me!
I love Hello Kitty!

Cheese!

What's Missing?

My big boy sleeping.

What's under his pillow?

Is that a giant tooth pillow?

I got $2... but why?

I lost my first tooth!

Christmas... finally!

I am going to show you our December all in one post. We had a great holidays. I think my favorite part of Christmas this year was seeing it through Maddie Claire's eyes. This is the first Christmas she knows something is going on. While she did not like Santa she did like anything with lights and trees. At first she was afraid of snowmen. We figured out she did not like the snowmen with the pointy carrot nose. Don't ask me why! Anytime she saw a tree or lights she would yell out "Look mommy ik bee". I guess that is how she said Christmas tree. It is the middle of January and she is still asking where Ho Ho is. I am so tired of Ho Ho right now it is not even funny. I don't have any pics of Christmas Eve night because we spent most of it in the ER. Maddie had her elbow pulled out of socket and we thought it was broken. It was a very interesting night.

This is Caleb and Maddie Claire waiting for Santa to ride by on the fire truck. In our city he comes by on Christmas eve and hands out candy.
Here comes Santa clause!

Doesn't it look uncomfortable?

Caleb ran and was the first one to get to Santa. Maddie Claire just kept whispering "No, Ho Ho scare me".

Caleb had made a jingle bell bracelet at church and begged to be able to give it to Santa for Rudolph. If you look closely in Santa's hand you can see the bell. He told Caleb he had a bell missing on Rudolph's harness and this would be perfect. The look on Caleb's face was priceless.

Here is our mantle. Santa stocked it well.

Caeb loaded up on all things boy. Star Wars, G I Joe, skateboards... what more could a boy ask for.

Maddie Claire got some babies, which she named Brooke and Bailey all by herself, some Graco baby equipment and a Barbie trike. She was too cute when she saw it for the first time.

Yeah, Lego's!

A baby Cinderella!

Maddie Claire's favorite part.

She loved tearing up the paper.

I am so serious!

More GI Joe's

He has been asking for this since this summer.

My favorite Christmas photo!

Caleb's gingerbread house

The other side

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Coming attractions!

Coming soon to this blog is:

Christmas
Caleb's first lost tooth
Maddie's 2nd birthday
My red hair!

Good Eats!

For anyone who lives in the south part of Birmingham there is a new restaraunt you have to check out. It is Joe's Italian. The best italian food you will ever put in your mouth. When you walk in the door you are transported to a cozy, warm, inviting atmosphere where Papa Joe is waiting for you. Joe has this thick italian accent that makes you want to sit down and eat all the spaghetti in the place. The bread is warm and chewy, the salad is crisp and cold, the pasta and pizza is the best you will ever have. The espresso is hot and bitter just like it should be. The tiramisu has no words to describe it. If you haven't checked out this place you need to. It is located at the beginning of Weatherly.

Your Garland Is Showing!

Hi, welcome to my blog if you are coming over from Nesting Place. This is such a fun little show and tell. Hope you enjoy what you see and feel free to drop by anytime! If you want to see some more holiday garland fun you can visit here.

This is my mantle. I love doing my mantle different every year. I don't buy new stuff just rearrange what I already have.

This is my favorite wreath. The mirror is there all year long. The wreath looked lost when I put it there by itself so I put it in front of the mirror and loved it.

This is the left side of the mantle. I put gold berries in the garland to add some pizzazz.

This is the right side of the mantle. I love putting candles in a vase.

Here is a close up the garland and stockings. This year I added the angel ornament. It just adds that little something to the whole look.


Here is the another look at the garland.

I have a huge wall that was very hard to decorate. I put 9 mirrors up and it was awesome. For the holidays I hung gold horns in the middle.

Here is a close up of the horn.

This is what I have hanging over my dining room window.