Life with my sister

"I mustache you a question?" "Will you be my Happy Birfday Time?" (How Henry says "Happy Valentine's Day...so cute!) His daddy said "yes" and got some love with his coffee. Cupid showed love to Henry with a Veggie Tales card, a big balloon, a red truck, Cars candy and a Mater teeth sucker. He was most smitten with the red truck. Red is Henry's best color. He loves it. His teacher said this was Henry's day because it would be ALL red, ALL day. So funny, but true. We gathered up our love soap for his teachers. Next, we gathered up our bucket of mustaches for his little friends. He had lots of mustache questions to ask and certainly scored many "birfday times" with his cute card and tasty, cute mustache cookies. (you must watch the video I posted last night in the previous post!) I got to his school for the party and the mustache was no longer on his shirt. He had peeled it off. Oh, Henry! He was still a cutie without his 'stac...

Henry wishes you a "Happy Birfday Times!" (His way of saying Happy Valentine's Day)

Henry is having a big time today passing these cute cards out with little polka dot mustache cookies by The Cookie Lady, Amy C from the "Wild west town of Fort Smith, Arkansas" (Did anyone else see the Olympics ticket article circulating online...the description of my hometown made me laugh out loud). Henry better not get rejected today! I think with a mustache as cute as his and with these yummy cookies, he is sure to have a pocket full of Valentines before the day is over! Abby

I left this by Randall's coffee pot this morning. He cracked up at the serving size - "U Decide 'Cause U Da Man!" I covered a $1 box of SweetTarts with it instead of chocolate because he is my sweet and my tart! I found this wrapper online and printed it off. A $1 love gift. Can't beat it! Now, I have to come up with something for tomorrow.... hmmm ?! Abby

Henry had his first official babysitter over the weekend while Randall and I drove to Memphis to eat oysters, mussels and other seafood goodness. You just can't eat like that in J'Town so driving a little ways is worth it sometimes. Our cute little babysitter is one of Henry's afternoon teachers. He loves her and she asked me if she could babysit for us. I think I hugged her! She is the cutest thing. Shelby attends ASU and is good friends with the daughter of one of Julie's good friends. Henry loved playing with Shelby and we loved the little date night we had. She said he showed her everything in the house. I believe it. That is so my Henry! This morning we were matchy-matchy in celebration of love week so we attempted a family photo before church. Henry was most excited about being permitted to stand on the couch that he skipped out on the "cheese". So, we tried again. Taking a decent photo with a toddler is near impossible. I love how he is looking at me. T...

We attempted a little photo session before school one morning this week. It was for Henry's Valentine's Day card. He loves to say "cheese" but sitting still is not his best thing. He has so much to do and see. He has never been 2 before...it is a big deal. He makes me laugh. Always smiling and saying "cheese" but not looking at the camera. I practically stand on my head, bark, moo, sing, etc to get his attention but he just laughs and looks all around. There is so much to explore and see when you are 2. He is going to be a heavily sought after Valentine, don't you agree? The girls in Toddler 2 may do some hair pulling over this boy on Feb 14 th (I am such a modest mother). We can't wait to share his card with you on that day. I am doing a super fun theme for him this year. Last year it was airplanes and this year may top it. Oh, what fun it is to be the mama of such a fine boy! Abby

I love a trifle. They are so fun and usually always super yummy. I want to make this recipe for my next little shindig. Doesn't it look scrumptious?! Seriously, my mouth is watering. This was our Valentine's Day dessert. It made me smile. I asked Randall what he wanted and he said "a mousse and a graham cracker". He didn't think I would really serve it to him, but I did! Be careful what you ask for. It was yummy, simple and a crowd pleaser. I made a box of instant butterscotch pudding. I then added whip cream and cracker crumbs. I found pretty glasses and added the garnish. My boys soaked this up! It reminded me of my childhood and I wished I had made cook and serve instead of instant. My mama would put chocolate pudding in these pretty little glasses that had a real big silver rim. She would not let us eat it until they cooled all the way. I can remember standing in front of the fridge with the door open, just waiting! I love this little foodie of mine. He w...

Well, I was going to gripe and whine about Valentine's Day this year. It started out good. Stephen gave me two books for my Kindle, actually he watched while I downloaded them. I gave him a filter for his Keurig . We laughed and smiled at each other. No kissing, because there had been no teeth brushing. I don't care what they do in the movies, but kissing before brushing is just gross! Stephen then told me that he had to go to a senior adult revival, lunch and meetings. UGH! I didn't like it at all. I had a bit of an attitude. And when I say bit of an attitude I mean it, it wasn't that big of a deal. So, no lunch together we still had dinner. And then he called to say hi and mentioned that he had something to do at church for the evening. This is where I had more than a bit of an attitude. I didn't fuss or yell. I just said ok and was short the rest of the conversation. Girls, you know how we can be. He then texted me and asked me out. It was so very sweet. I told...

Can you believe it has been a year?! He was just becoming the little heartbreaker that he is. This year I had this fun shirt made and matching cookies. I know you must laugh at me. I can't hear you, but I know you do it. I had cookies made for his Valentines. It was way cute, and I realize that none of his little friends know they match his shirt, but his mama knows and that is her little Valentine gift to herself! And here is my sweet little 2011 Valentine. Look how he has grown. Love is in the air, for sure! He decided to taste test his Valentines, wrapper and all. Henry wants to give you one of his yummy Valentine treats and tell you he loves you the BIG much! Happy Love Day! Abby

Can I just tell you what a proud aunt I am today! My Samuel is such a sport...wow! Please read the post below on his big accomplishment. My little heartbreaker has celebrated his first Valentine's Day! He got 1 Valentine at daycare. 1. I first thought he had not gotten any and I was so sad, but I cleaned out his bag for the week and it was at the bottom of the bag. It was from a friend named Sadey. I was afraid I was the odd mama bringing Valentines to the infant room. I am so glad Sadey's mama was excited about her first Valentine's Day too! This little heartbreaker got a St. Bernard puppy from his Mama and Daddy and we named it Sparky. I saw this soft, floppy dog at the store and knew Henry had to have it. And he loves Sparky. Henry's personality is becoming more alive everyday. I just love learning about him more and more each day. Such a fun boy, he is. This mama has the 2 cutest Valentine's in the whole world. Randall and I are not big Valentine's peopl...

This is the little cupid boy who has stolen my heart. He was headed to daycare this morning looking most festive and lovable. He took his special Valentine's with him to give to all his little friends and his teachers. I love being the Gitty Mama Valentine of this cutie! Abby

The Kissing Bandit This is the beginning of Love Month for us. I know, it is cheesy, but I am cheesy! The Kissing Bandit has been part of Love Month since 2002, when Randall and I fell in love. Last year the Bandit was not able to hold air. We blew him up for 6 years...yes, the same balloon for 6 years! I took it to random florists, Walgreen's, etc and begged for helium. It is too fragile to hold air anymore. This picture was taken during his last year with us in 2007. In order to get it aired up that year I had to buy a balloon at the flower shop...so I tied it to its arm. You do what you have to do! Here is the history of the Kissing Bandit: Randall came to my cousin Hollye's backdoor V-Day of 2002 with this balloon in front of his face and body. It scared the pee-waddling out of me, at first glance. Claire Allyn was only 1 year at this time and it was taller than she was. It walked on the floor as the air hit it. She was scared to death, as you can imagine. We took it acros...

I am so glad Valentine's Day is over. I am not a huge fan of it. I love that it teaches kids to express love and show kindness to friends and family. I also enjoy all the red, pink and fun decorations. Other than that, I am not a huge fan. I think my hubby shows me love everyday and there is really no need to place great expectations on him on February 14th. He is not the frilly, romantic type guy that is going to shower me with rose petals, candles, Godiva (though we do have some in our house leftover from Christmas - thanks to my sweet neighbor), romantic music and poetry. I think I would gag and then laugh at him if he did do all that! He had roses delivered to me on our first Valentine's Day in 2002. I was in Conway at the time and the florist wouldn't deliver them to my work so he had them sent to to my Aunt Babs' house and I didn't get them until the 15th, when I arrived back in Memphis to celebrate with him. They got mixed in with all the other flowers from m...

Looking for a creative & easy way to send a Valentine card? Smilebox is the answer. It is simple, fast and well received. I have posted an example of one of the many cards I have made: Make a free ecard - it's easy! Abby