My Baby...Half a Year.

I truly can't believe this little guy has gotten big so quickly! It seems like these last six months have flown by. We tried to celebrate Owen being so big...although it is bitter sweet.

AT SIX MONTHS:
Owen is one of the happiest babies I have ever known. He loves to smile!
He loves to roll all over the entire floor if we will let him.
We broke out the exersaucer and he is loving that.
He has the cutest baby babble around.
He is definitely my favorite son:)

Big stuff on his six month day.  Owen got to sit in the high chair. At first he was a little unsure of this.

Then he decided he loved this high chair business!

So, we decided it was time to break out the good ol rice cereal.

Of course, all of his sisters had to be there and try to help with this exciting event!
At first Owen acted like he loved the cereal.

Here is me and Viv and Nicolette trying to convince him how yummy it is.

We were all very excited.

Then...things started to take a turn...Owen was like, wait...what is this junk?

Now, he's like, ya this is junk...I hate it...

Owen really hating it.

Now, he's telling me enough already...Rice Cereal = TEARS!

Of course, being the persistent mother I am, I was so not ready to give up!

Finally, Owen gets his way. He was much happier playing with toys while sitting in the high chair instead of eating. Luckily, this is not my first baby and I know he will be loving his cereal in no time at all:)

Now, because Owen was so pleased to be sitting in his high chair in the kitchen...I had a fabulous idea! Of course, my girls felt like the idea was some sort of "ruining their summer torture", it wasn't.  We organized the kitchen. It was fun. They had fun. They tried to D.I. every recipe book I own, but luckily I'm too old to fall for that kind of jazz.

Daddy and Owen hanging out. Owen already loves to hang with his dad.

Some huge excitement came on Owen's six month b-day. Lexi's birthday present arrived!

This present inspired the girls to get working on their bikes.

Lexi's very cool "cruiser" bike is here and put together by her ever helpful dad. This bike is so cool. I hope it gets lots of riding!
Happy six months Owen. It was a busy day. A fun day.
Thanks for being my" knight in shining baby".

14 Years and 1 Week

One week ago tonight we were celebrating Lexi's 14th birthday. I have to admit it feels very bittersweet. I think my mind is still trying to catch up with my life. I truly don't know when this happened...when my girl grew up!  

Lexi can:

fit into my shoes

take care of Owen

play the piano better than me

clean the kitchen to my standard (when she wants)

Take charge like nothing I have ever seen in someone her age

be an amazing help 

Happy Birthday Lexi! Thanks for being my super, terrific, 14 year old girl:)

I love how supportive my girls are of each others birthdays. Every sister needed to buy a gift for their big sis. Nicolette chose some of Lexi's favorites:)

Ava also chose gifts that Lexi loves (mostly candy) Lexi loves candy. I wonder who taught her that love?

Vivien chose mascara. Lexi  loves mascara. she goes through a bottle a month...at least. I thought it was so cute of Vivi to know Lexi loves new mascara.

For some reason I don't have a picture of Lexi and Lilli. Lilli bought Lexi a gift she had really been wanting and it took all of Lilli's allowance. I thought this was very nice and giving of Lilli.

 We headed to Texas Roadhouse for a yummy birthday dinner. Lexi wanted to take her family to dinner, which I thought was very kind and fun! Luckily, cute, nice, sweet Kristy was willing to take on those little ones in the family who don't do well at the restaurant. This left us with a very enjoyable birthday dinner:)

Then came the real craziness...I some how (with the help of Lexi's friends and cousin) pulled off a surprise party for the birthday girl. Here is a picture of most of the group that came. I think they all thought I was a nut making them pose for a picture...hey that's just the breaks when your mom is a blogger;)

Lexi requested the birthday cake I always request...Baskin Robins ice cream cake with mint chocolate chip ice cream. yummy! The writing on the cake is a bit sloppy, seeing that the guy behind the counter pretty much refused to write on her cake! So, when I offered to do it myself he said, "sure come on back." So, I headed to the back of Baskin Robins and did my best, especially considering I have never written on an ice cream cake before. Well, when your the mom you just do what you gotta do! And, we were so not having a cake with no happy  birthday on it.

The cute friends helped set up while we were at dinner with Lex. They did a great job:) She was very surprised! 

This is Lexi "fake" blowing out her candles. 

This is my boy hanging out at the party...oh, I really love this guy. He is definitely, a knight in shining baby.

Avoiding the camera...

One really great thing Lexi has going for her, is one amazing dad! This guy does so much for his  daughters. He spent a good hour trying to get the movie to work. The movie was having a few "technical" problems. Doug does not give up though and eventually he had the movie fully set up and on the go...There is NOTHING this Dad can't do! 

* on a side note, Nicolette is one patient three year old. She sat here pretty much the whole time just waiting for the movie to start...oh she's a funny gal. Yes, she had one of her famous tantrums when she could not stay and watch the whole movie, but we'll just focus on the positive for the sake of the birthday post.

I had to add this picture of the party waiting for the movie to start. 

A BIG thanks to the popcorn lady, babysitter, patient friend, who let Vivien "help" her with the popcorn making. Thank you Kristy for giving us the "real"popcorn for our movie party! I think some peanut butter thank you cookies should some day make it your way:)

Happy Birthday Lexi! We love you!

Sephora is Here!

It's exciting...one of my most favorite stores is HERE! This store is just plain fun. 

Sephora is much more than a make up store. They have all kinds of great girl things and even a few boy things:)

Owen got to come with me to my exciting Sephora shopping trip. He was a good boy!
I think he loves Sephora too;).

My cute friend Sara was with me. We finally had to ask someone to take our picture, because the darn self portrait with the iphone camera was so not working out! Thanks for going Sara:)

If You're In the Neighborhood...

The girls are selling fresh squeezed lemonade. We made it. It's extra yummy.

One problem, it's seriously HOT outside. I don't know how long this excitement will last. Nicolette has already quit the sale and she lasted about a full five minutes.

The girls are also selling some of their things so that they can have a yard sale. We've never had one and I think they feel deprived, so they are taking matters into their own hands. Fun times at our house this summer!

Dad's Day

We had a fun Father's Day this year...( I hope Doug would concur with this).
Lilli is not in the picture because she was busy spending part of her summer with my parents.

Lexi took this picture. I'm afraid I am developing a fake smile in my old age...bummer...

This is Owen's first Father's Day. And, Doug's first Father's Day with Owen:)

Ava and Vivien set the table very nice and festive to celebrate their dad. Ava even made this fun place card note.

I had to threaten people with no dessert if they would not smile for the picture...that's probably what the funny smiles are about:)

Nicolette picked out this rope herself to give to her Dad.  She was very proud. I am also happy to report that the rope has already come in handy and been used.

Ava and her Dad.

Vivien also picked out some fun gifts for her Dad.

Lexi got her Dad a shirt.

Doug, Owen and Grandpa.
What a cute group of boys they make!

Oh Nicolette...

Doug has been busy and received this hat in the mail after his hard work doing the NRA thing.

Nicolette really liked the hat.

Maybe she could be the next NRA poster child;)