Rewriting a Story

One of Neely’’s presents that I absolutely love is this sweet Three Little Pigs set. 

While cousin Amelia was here this toy saw a lot of action. The pigs were constantly on the run from the Big Bad Wolf, who was huffing and puffing all over the place. Neely Jo hasn’t really paid much attention to this little set but our cat, Winks, seems to be curious. I woke up and found the poor thing with the second Little Pig’s house stuck on her head. She was crying bless, bless her heart. Now we eat an astronomical amount of pork products in this house so I figure Winks just wanted to see what all the fuss was about and was trying to get at that second piggy. So now when I tell the story to Neely Jo the Big Bad Wolf will be replaced by the Pork Hungry One Eyed Cat. 

Enjoying a Sick Day

Yesterday I got a pone call from daycare that Neely was running a fever and that I needed to pick her up. Luckily the call came in at 4:45. Since she has to be fever free for 24 hours I got to keep her home with me today. Thankfully she didn’t run a fever all day and she seems to be feeling fine so it will be back to the grind tomorrow. I am very thankful that we had a good day. I would love to be a stay at home mom and I absolutely adored getting to spend the day with my baby girl. And I am sure she adored getting to spend the day with her birthday presents. She made sure to chew on each and every one of them.

I also LOVE to cook so I made chicken and dumplings from scratch. I was thinking Neely Jo would enjoy that seeing how it seems to make everyone feel better when they are sick. Nope. She ate carrots and blueberries. Spit the chicken out and smashed the dumplings into a creamy paste all over her high chair. Seriously. This meal was a process to make. I spent 3 hours cooking it and even went out and bought a dutch oven for the ordeal. The good news is that Derrick ate enough to make up for it. 

Neely Jo's Birthday Weekend

This weekend we had Neely Jo’s birthday party with family. We were so excited that my parents were able to come in from Ashland and Katie and the kids came up from Atlanta. Derrick’s Mom and his sister’s family also joined us for the party. It was a really sweet little day and we are so happy that we both have family that helped us make it a special party for Neely Jo. 

Amelia Kate making sure Neely Jo took a good look at her presents...

Jack organizing the magnets...

 Eating flowers...

After the party,  everyone seemed to be a little jacked up on sugar so the best place to run around like wild hyenas is of course...Jacksons!  And it didn’t hurt any the Jack is a little obsessed with pumpkins right now and Amelia has been “praying the word of God for a zebra”. Both of these things are at Jacksons along with pork burgers and apple cider floats. Everybody wins. Especially if Grandpa (Dad-Dad) will buy you a ride on pony.

Jack riding Flash...

Amelia riding Mr. Peaches...

It's been a long day...but the work week is half over

I had to get up early for work this morning and work late this evening. It has been a LONG day. And tomorrow is looking to be even longer.  When I got home Neely Jo was already tired, cranky and needed to go straight to bed. I played with her for a few minutes until she looked like she was going to absolutely rub her eyes clean off of her face. Then Derrick cuddled her up and she was knocked plum out. It breaks my heart on the days I don't get to spend much time with her. BUT I do have a little "happy" from school today. Neely Jo was the "Student of the Week". Now seeing how I worked late and Derrick picked her up I have NO CLUE what exactly that means. Or how it is decided upon. Or if there will be a parade in her honor (pretty sure that last one is a negative, but wouldn't that be nice?).  Anyway, here is my "happy"...

Happy Four Year Anniversary!

Tonight Derrick and I are celebrating our Four Year Anniversary.  Since he is on fall break he cleaned the house, did the laundry and cooked dinner. Life is pretty sweet! 

And so is this video he made me as part of my present...

Neely Jo's 1st Birthday

Tonight we celebrated Neely Jo’s 1st Birthday!!! We are having a family get together this weekend, so tonight was just the three of us and it was perfect. 

We gave Neely her big present tonight...her rocking horse. Meet Big Brown, named after our favorite (because he was the best ever) Derby Winner. Neely Jo is loving Big Brown. We may need to run out and buy her a helmet because she is slightly aggressive. She will have to tone it WAY down if she ever wants to be a jockey. (The pictures are all fuzzy...but the first one is my favorite.)

Her birthday cake was a carrot cake because, well, the girl loves all things orange. Carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins (and maybe even UT football one day). I am just going to go ahead and say that I was completely unprepared for this cake eating business. I kinda was thinking she would sit there and eat her cake, bow in her hair and I thought it would get messy, but I had no idea. It started off pretty...

And then it got funny...

And then it was a little out of control...

And then I was just down right scared....

Luckily, Derrick volunteered to give her a bath.  That water had so much icing in it is was  like milk. And PS...I know I should probably stop using that infant tub, but it is about the only way I can contain her. Otherwise she dunks her head in the water, slips and slides all over and don’t even get me started on the dangers of her dancing in the tub. 

After all the cake we got to see what the view was like from Sugar Heaven. Neely Jo was 100% W-I-L-D. I almost called my sister to see how long a sugar high lasts. She is a nurse. She should know stuff like that. She probably should have been here to help. 

And finally she is asleep. Snug as a bug. It was a good day. 

And this is all that's left.  Cake eating is a messy business.