Happy 4th Caroline!!!

Happy 4th Birthday my Sweet Caroline!

It is beyond hard to believe that our Caroline is now 4!  Funny how when I was younger 4 seemed so little and I am quite positive I will share this sentiment as time passes, but for now, 4 seems like a big kid.  She is no longer my baby.  When I hold her I have to wash my pants because he dirty shoes clank against my legs (who am I kidding, nearly my knees... and isn't this the truest sign of a big kid).

Well, last December we went to DisneyWorld and while we were there Caroline b.e.g.g.e.d for a Woody and Buzz Lightyear.  Me being the thoughtful loving mama that I am told her no.  She had watched Toy Story maybe 3 times and didn't care much for it.  Princesses are this child's livelihood.  So we came home with plush a Anna and Elsa duo as well as a plush Ariel.d (not a typo) and Sleeping Beauty.  Which, as predicted, she adores.  I thought this would be the end of Woody and Buzz.  

And I was flat out WRONG.

We came back from Disney about a week before Christmas, and since then I have heard nearly 1x a day every single day, "Mama, I want a Buzz and Woody part.ee for my birfday."  

Lesson Learned:  The heart wants what the heart wants.

So begins Caroline's Woody and Buzz Lightyear Birthday Party!!!

 Elle worked for hours on this precious sign!  I was so proud of her letters and coloring! 

We had fun decor and lots of balloons.  (Because this child loves, and I mean LOVES balloons).

Clearly her cake is not from a bakery, but I was proud at my attempt.

The kids colored Toy Story pics while all our friends arrived.

And played pin the appendage on Mr. Potato Head

Later they went outside to do the Shaw version of Midway Mania.  This is one of the Toy Story rides in Disney that spurred Caroline's obsession love and adoration for W & B.

The kids took turns blowing marshmallows out of their marshmallow shooters to hit the targets.  They loved it until the Alabama July heat started kicking in.  Rainey loved cleaning up.  And I loved Rainey extra for being such a thoughtful helper.

Thanks to 2 massive box fans we were able to go into "Buzz's Blacklight Room" without melting to pieces and enjoy...

the epicness that is the blacklight!

I mean... how fun and simple!  We roped off half the garage with a tarp, set up some card tables and hung some black lights.  I got some dollar store glow sticks and the place was transformed to Buzz's galaxy from far far away.  

We incorporated and little Woody in our Buzz world and had some wanted posters printed up that the littles could decorate with florescent markers.  (and let's face it, who knew they actually would glow! fun surprise!)

The markers even glow on people... holla!

We then went in for pizza and cake and all sugary necessities to make a birthday party acceptable.

Caroline specifically wanted BLUE cake this year.  (again, the heart wants what the heart wants).

I am so thankful for these two and proud to call them mine.

As well as these two!  And so thankful our 93 year old Nanny could make the party!  

And no Shaw function is complete without Elle's beloved Stitch.

We opened gifts (and by we, I mean Elle was a fantastic helper).

Aunt Tracie gave Caroline her new beloved purple scooter Blakely is riding and Fufi and Kaki gave her her very first bicycle!  

She got the hang of it pretty quickly so off to the pool we headed!

And then we crashed.

After the crash we played with all our fun goodies like these bubbles from her sweet teachers and friends Ms. Jodie and Ms. Missy.  Caroline kept blowing them saying, "Ms. Jodie and Ms. Missy love me so much they gives me these bubbles."  And I mean, ever single dip for more bubbles this was the precursor to the blow.  Gifts as a love language??

I could not be more thankful for this sister-in-law sister who is just simply the best.  She makes the Mr. Potato Head for me, picks up cow fabric for decor, drives out of her way for every family event.  Not to mention she knows my heart and loves it warts and all.  I feel genuinely sorry for those who don't get to call her a friend.

One last shot with the birthday girl!!!  

Caroline, I hope you felt celebrated and loved on your 4th birthday.  You are truly a delight.  You are sensitive to others and love your family, especially your sister, with a fierceness I never knew a little one could possess.  I pray the Lord will use your natural sweetness to draw others to Him and that you will be a light that shines brighter and brighter every day.  I am thankful I get to call you my Caroline and that God chose me to be your mama.

Broken Femurs are the Worst!

Question:  So what can be worse than a broken femur?

Answer:  Maybe nothing.

Stipulation:  Other than it not being your broken femur and someone you love, like your 4 year old nephew.

Kate had taken her crew to the uber dangerous lands of a local fast food restaurant (I don't think I'm allowed to say which restaurant it is...)

Parker was playing in the play area.  He had just gone down the slide when a larger kid, who was hanging on the side webbing, decided to jump down onto the slide.  Where Parker was.  So essentially he landed on Parker.  On Parker's femur to be precise.

Kate said Parker started crying like she had never heard and she just knew something was bad wrong and she had to leave.  She bustled everyone into the car, and headed to Mom and Dad's.  She said half-way there it looked like Parker was going to pass out so she knew she needed to get him to the hospital.  I'm pretty are she put some lessons she learned from childhood in the practice and stop dropped and rolled her kids out of the car at my parents so she could fly to Parker to medical care.   

She got to Children's downtown and they whisked that little fella back right away.  They did multiple tests and were worried about brain damage.  

My poor sister's phone died while at the hospital.  Clint was rushing in from Atlanta to meet her at the hospital.  It was pretty much one of the worst days for my poor sister.

Thankfully they let monkey do all the test with Parker.  Children's is simply the best.

Even if you don't know Parker I know you have a heart, and I know this breaks it.

Results finally came in.  No brain damage, no broken spine, but a badly broken femur.  This meant 

6-8 weeks in a body cast.  

PAUSE:  4 year old in a body cast.  Active 4 year old boy in a body cast.  Just take that in for a moment.

Let's revisit the good news.  Had the larger boy landed any higher up and the doctors said Parker's lungs would have collapsed.  They were seriously worried about spinal damage.  If the child had landed on Parker's head they said that force would have killed him.  So in light of all this, praise the Lord it was just a broken femur.

Bless his little heart.

It is moments like this that I am so very thankful we live so close to such exceptional medical care.  Thank you Children's of Birmingham for taking care of our kiddos.

Family.versary

This January 25 is my and Jay's 13th Wedding Anniversary!

WAHOO!!

We have not had lots of family time lately (nor could we get a sitter) so we went out as a family to celebrate.

We went to the always fabulous and always family affordable local mexican place.

"Take one while you kiss me mommy!"

When this little one decides she doesn't want her picture taken, you just have to secede and know eye contact isn't going to happen with a smile.  It's either or.  So I take the smile and forgo the eye contact.

And one last picture of just Jay and me after we put the kiddos in the car.  It may not always be rose petals and peach tea, but this man is my best friend.  He makes me a better person and I am forever thankful He saw fit to let Jay be my person.

Golden Flake Field Trip

Elle's first field trip of the new year was to one of the best places ever... the Golden Flake Factory!!!  Y'all, this is where they essentially make Elle's dreams come true.  Elle could eat chips morning, noon and night, and indeed asks for them more than that.  She was thrilled!!!

We watched a quick video giving the history of Golden Flake, then we donned our hair nets and hit the behind the scenes!

Mama heart explode.  Love it when this one wants to hold my hand.

After we watched how the filter potatoes, wash them, peel them, slice them, fry them, and season them, they allowed the kids to get some fresh HOT chips straight off the conveyer belt on their way to be bagged.  This is essentially all things happy radiating from the core of Elle's being.

After the official tour, they gave all the kids sample bags of some of their different flavors.  Narry a sad or disappointed face in the bunch.

All off Mrs. Shirley's Song Birds lined up for a class pic!  What a super fun day!!!

New Years sans the Hubs

So while Jay is still in Gatlinburg with BYG (insert my sad face for missing them this year) the girls and I recovered from Margaret Anne and Sean's wedding (insert super happy face that I got to be there!!!)  

Jay texted me first thing wishing me a Happy New's Years Day and asked for a picture from "right this minute..."

Just what every husband dreams of right?!  HA!  Had to include in the blog though because this was the for reals look of a mama who has had 2 little girls post Christmas bliss and chaos, then had those 2 littles in a wedding that occurred after their bedtime.  They did wonderful but I was one worn out mama.  Hence the non-refreshed face.

Meanwhile, while I was trying to pour caffeine into every pour and cell in my body the girls were bright eyed and bushy tailed.  Just another day in Christmas Vaca Bliss.  Elle was giving Caroline a makeover with all her "make.ups" that Santa gave her.

And while Elle gave Caroline a makeover, Caroline gave multiple makeovers....

Let me just say, some of these ladies had to be washed and scrubbed (1/3 part original dawn to 2/3 part hydrogen peroxide) up to 7 times.

We got dressed to go visit grandparents and before we even left the house this is what I walked into...

This my friends is the epitome of tired.  I feel ya sister.  We canned all plans for the rest of the day and had girly movie time.

Which made everyone happy.