Party on the Knob...

Such a beautiful day, beautiful mom beautiful baby!!! This is Natalie and little birthday girl Katie. Out enjoying all the craziness going on.
The Bit made herself at home again on our old porch. I knew miss Corny will love this shot of her old stomping ground still equipt with beautiful pansies to boot.
The boys and the Bit used the fence as a volleyball net. The men did their best not to step on the little people trying so hard to participate.
Look at my poor baby!! She NEVER stays asleep from the car seat to the house. But yesterday they wore her butt OUT!!!

This is the sweet hostest family, Chris & Natalie and Katie.
These two are destined to be partners in crime, especially when Katie can catch up to the wild Bit on her feet. She's soooo close!
Abigail had a difficult time understanding why she wasn't the center of attention and not getting any presents! Brian and I took turns pulling her away so poor Katie could enjoy her own gifts. Natalie was a doll, and had loads of patience for the piggy tailed intruder.
These dad's got REALLY into who could make the coolest balloon toy. This was Brian's 2nd attempt at a balloon animal. And we ALL had to express how impressed we were. Andres, below made a super cool hat although Jazmine wasn't too into wearing it so he willingly modled it for us all. :)

Such a fun day yesterday we went up to little Katie's first birthday party. Natalie was quite the hostest Mommy with cake all around and making balloon animals. The kids had a blast playing on Katie's big present her own train in the living room. She giggled politely as all the other kids rode. We hung out outside a lot in the breezy sunshine. Good to connect again w/ Jazmine and Andres Martigra and little wild man Daniel. Strangely Brian the Bit and me were the only American's on the lot! We had Chris's parents in from England, another family from South Africa ( who spoke beautifully) and the Martigra's from .....I think the Dominican Republic. Chris's dad said when we got there he was thrilled to meet some actual American's! Chris broke out the t Tim Allen 'GRRRRRhhhs' fun getting his bon fire going late afternoon to get rid of some brush. Brian, my pyro hubby was thrilled to help. Good responsible Chris actually called the Back Creek fire dept prior to starting it. I was impressed, Sam Shackleford never notified the authorities and always freaked out the neighbors with his "controlled burns"!! Natalie was just as freaked out as mom used to be w/ all the men out with the blazing brush on birthday party day! Love it! Thanks for the great day you guys! You wore the Bit's baby butt out (proof in the photo). Hope to play again soon!

Proud mommy moment

Real quick thought, anyone who knows me knows my first child, Tuggle has been such a special fuzzy (if arrogant) addition to my life for 11yrs now. I got her my sophomore year of college when my sister felt she was betraying her cat at home and was going to return the sweet grey kitty to the pound. Appalled I agreed to take her on as my very own responsibility and she's slept on my bed ever since. She finally forgave me after many long years and one military deployment (which somehow we're certain she was responsible for) for letting 'The Boy' in my life. Brian has worked tirelessly to win her acceptance with lots of honey ham and meat. She further forgave me for bringing 'the Fat Thing' home (her endearing title for Estella, our slightly overweight other cat). Lastly she forgave me for bringing home 'the Baby Thing' 20 months ago. Somehow she sensed the importance and similarity of this tiny thing to her own 'maum' and did ok. So, the purpose of this background is Abigail finally paid tribute last night to my dear fuzzy little kitty, on her own looked up at her glaring down from high on the couch and declared "Guggle!!". I was so proud I clapped and screamed in delight and had her say it over and over again. Yeah! She can say her name. Those of you who know me well know the significance of this to me. :()

Idol thoughts.....

Well it was a better week I must say. I enjoyed more of the performances this time around. One of my favorites being Mr. Aussie hunk here doing a GREAT job w/ some 'we are the champion' love!

The night started off good. Big nerd that I am I watched the opening number (which I usually find pretty cheezy) twice! The Bit and I clapped at the end of it both times. :) It was just so darn cute with all of them bobbing around. It's ridiculous really how much I love this show!

Brooke did well, even w/ her false start, w/ the Sting song. I really liked it. I don't think she'll win but I hope she gets a record deal. We haven't had a Carly Simon type singer in a long time. The industry needs her mellow self. I'd buy her album for sure! Ramiele is hurting. Her earlier performances are all that's carrying her through. This week was rough, yet again for her! Come on peanut, get back in there!!! Little David Archuleta was not well recieved but I liked his "Disneyworld performance!" as Simon called it. I laughed out loud cause I could totally picture little Tiki Birds singing along side him once Cowell said that but I still think he's such a talented little monkey.

I wasn't impressed w/ Jason Castro again. He's got some surfer boy charm but he needs too, to get back in there and pick some more clever songs. Kristie got lucky w/ a good choice keeping her in another week. She did alright w/ it I guess. Syesha did ok too. I just think she's hurting cause there's been too many other R&B artists just like her. She doesn't stand out as a new original talent. Carley did good, not my favorite week w/ her but I was thrilled she wasn't in the bottom 3 this week. Now David Cook however I thought was brilliant! Who would have thought to slow down and rock to Billie Jean!!?? He did a great job and he's shown to be the most original one there this year. I really like him a lot. More each week. And as for who was voted off. It was time for the Cheeze Whiz to go home. Kind of a boring week for him. I agreed w/ Simon (big shocker) and it was 'cheezy' to be putting his hands into the audience like that. Hellow!! You're not Brian McKnight or anything yet!!!! Just looked silly that's all. Ok gotta scoot, the Bit's up and ready to play. See, I have my priorities right!!! ......Alli Out!

Easter Sunday..

"daddy that was magically delicious can I have more!?"

We had a great day Easter Sunday this year. Again, mommy was a little sleepy having gotten called in the night before (darn those full moons!) but God was good, I got home by 1am so I was able to sleep some and still function Easter morning. The Bit got into her basket early and had (as shown above) her very first Hershey kiss, caramel filled (I accidently bought those). She was one happy bunny let me tell you! She got her OWN gardening supplies (so she'd stop stealing mine while I plant flowers), complete w/ Dora the Explorer purple gloves. We headed to church (sorry totally forgot to get the family picture in front of the flowers, too sleepy, slipped my mind!) But we enjoyed a big ham lunch w/ Christine and her friend from work, and the Klowhon family (that bought my old house). Their little Katie and Abigail played like puppies on the floor after the meal and we talked for a good while stuffed to the gills. It was a good day!!

Idol thoughts....

Whew, rough week fans!! You ok!??! Brian and the Bit had to endure an earfull on all the ...talented performances...cough cough! Well surprisingly little miss Syesha was the only one who wowed me this week. I loved her sweet soulfull version of "Yesterday". Having said that, I am sooo ready to be done w/ the Beatles, Lennon and Paul! They were great musicians yes but can we get a little variety please!?!? These poor kids need something else to choose from. Their song pickins are getting worse! My only other 2 I could even stomach last night were the Davids. Archuleta was adorable again yes, but I am ready to see him boogie a little, loosen up a lot and shake that baby bum of his! He's still one of my favs, just so stinkin sweet and talented. And Mr. Cook was wonderful again even with his nursing home hair do. Can I get a stylist on that boy PLEASE! He has been my late in the game favorite. The stringy hair man can ROCK!

Michael Johns was ok, forgetable but I still think he's super talented and genuine. And I'm a happily married woman but those kangaroo's know how to cook 'em! Ramielle just plain let me down. Her's was kareoke and boring! I like her but she's got to get focused again or she's going to be in trouble. Kristie Cook's legs aren't going to keep her in the game much longer so she's got to start singing better SOON! Chikezie was the Bit's outstanding favorite. The little squirt just giggled, bounced and clapped through his whole very weird song. I don't agree w/ my littlest A.I. fan, but she's entitled to her opinion! Carley was a bit boring even if she was going for deep and moving. She bout made me cry w/ her winding up in the bottom 3. I truely think that St. Patty girl wants it more then any of them!

Brooke was way too yellow all around this week. Jason's dreads nor his goofey face carried him through his PAINFUL version of the french love song. Ugg! Dig under all that matted hair and get back to your dirty roots hippy man!! And finally, I'm proud of my this great nation again. They got it right w/ our rocker nurse. Yeah, you were different, yeah...you could rock but...yeah... I'm glad you're going home. Now please give us some new songs next week. Me and my chubby shortie are anxiously awaiting some fresh new material to enjoy. Until then....'dahhh nahh na nahh na nahhhh na nahhh na nahhhhh' ...........Alli out!!

Thank God for Spring Time!!!

Such a fun day in the sun! We don't have a lot of room in our little house right now so the reappearance of the sunshine again after a long dark winter is such a blessing! The Bit and I just LOVE being outdoors so we are in such better moods now. I know Brian's glad too for that reason. He comes home to us laid out in the yard with dirt under our finger nails and decked out in our summer tanks. My girl is such the princess but she is into some dirt and sticks too. She'll just want her nails repainted and to put her "sparkly sparkly" necklace on for a smile when we go back inside. :) Today was productive. We hit the mall early to visit the Easter bunny. She did better then w/ Santa but still not super. We'll send the grandparents a wallet one soon. ie, the dressy pictures below. the rest of the afternoon we put our blue jeans on and enjoyed the 75 degree day (sorry Michael!) .

I got some iron furniture sanded and repainted and she enjoyed ice cream and watching me.



She shares our sensitive light eyes so I taught her the use of some cool shades. They didn't last long but I got a good laugh til she took them off again.

Mommy ice cream and dirt rock!!

A day with the "Grooooschooskis"

These are our new buddies and playmates Lilly and Zabien. My new friend Madeline works in L&D with me and she has the sweetest little ones. They get along great together. Zabe is 5 and has said of Abigail "she doesn't say much but she has a great personality!". So warms my heart!! And precious little Lilly is a few months younger then the Bit but they have such a good time together. Both girls are tiny spitfire wild women and feed off each other. We went to an old familiar park and picniced and played and watched the tree men cut a tree down cheering with each crash. Such a great day in the spring time sun and I actually came home with some sunburn on my neck!!! Yeah winter is SOOOO over!

She mastered the slide this time!! Up and down all by her big girl self!!

She looked concernd but she really was enjoying them taking the rotten tree down one crashing chunk at a time.

Like mother like daughter!!

Ok you can say it's a bad thing to teach a kid but I turned out ok! Poor Brian didn't get much of a lick after I showed the Bit how to 'clean' the brownie bowl. She was SOOOOOO into this fun new experience mommy showed her. My dear mother used to always let me clean the bowl. And the only one I'll let share my gooey love affair with is Abigail! Brian lovingly knows not to come between his wife and her chocolate! Thank God for brownie batter!!! Luckily he was too into his cheescake creations and laughing at his girls to be too sad. :)