Me & My Daddy

Hi, Ann Elise here, just checking in. Have I told all you bloggers how much I love my daddy? My daddy is the bestes daddy in the whole wide world. He plays with me and rocks me to sleep every night. I love you daddy!!!!!!!!

Daddy is a little camera shy at times but trust me, he's holding my hands as we dance in the kitchen in my brand new Tinker Bell night gown. I saw this in the store with my mommy and I just had to have it.

Don't I look cute?

These next two pictures are of me curled up in my daddy's lap ready for beddy-by-land. My mommy was trying out a new feature on her camera. What do you think? I know already...you think I am just precious.

Everybody thinks that. :)

Random Pix

My hot dog has a first name is O-S-C-A-R.
My hot dog has a second name it's M-A-Y-E-R.
We were driving through Tupelo a couple of weeks ago and to our surprise we found not one but two Oscar Mayer Wiener Mobiles parked behind a Mexican restaurant. I didn't know they served hot dog tacos. Ewe...could you imagine if that were true? Gross!

Me, Corbin & The Wiener Mobile

My kiddos with Nana from Thanksgiving.

Ann Elise with her lion just before getting her ear tubes.

She absolutely loves that lion. She will even roar on cue.

Munchin' with the Martins

We were blessed enough this past Sunday to get to have lunch with Matt's family. It was especially nice to get to visit with Loyce.

You scream.
I scream.
We all scream for ICE CREAM.
AE: I was visiting Mommy at work today and I decided to give her ice cream a try. WOWIE! Is that stuff good or what? I really just couldn't get enough of it.

Maybe I will just touch it first...

Lip-Smacking Good!

Santa Plus Three

Ok. So I know it has been a while since my last post and I have a lot of catching up to do, but for now a small post about our visit with Santa will have to do.
After only an hour of waiting in line it was finally our turn to see Santa and the only one of us who was even remotely excited was Corbin (who just so happens to be the one Santa is most likely to leave coal in his stocking).
Corbin couldn't wait to jump on Santa's knee and start rattling off his list of X-Box 360, Playstations 1, 2 and 3, WII (which we already have), PSP, puzzles, a scooter and of course games to go with all his new gaming systems. In the words of Santa, " He only wants enough that a second mortgage would cover."
Leecie just stared at him with this look that said - if I weren't so tired of having to wait in line to see who ever you are then I might be tempted to pull off that white stuff that is stuck on your face because you just look weird.
Matthew was none to thrilled to see Santa this year. (insert tears filling Mama's eyes) He says that he is ten-years old and too big to sit on Santa's lap when he's not even the real Santa...just one of his helpers. (Shew! We are getting too close.) Anyway, I did manage to talk him in to standing next to Santa for a picture (so "Leecie wouldn't be scared", that girl is not scared of anything, but it worked none the less). When they were done with the picture Santa looked at Matthew and asked if he wanted to sit on his knee and Matthew started waving his hands and said "no thanks" so Santa asked what he wanted for Christmas and Matthew just said "not much" and walked off. Teenage years here we come!

Happy Birthday Matt!

Today is Matt's 32nd birthday. How about a little bit of a back story...Matt and I have known each other since high school. Back then, my too shy hubby would barely utter a "Hey" when I spoke to him in passing, ah, but how quickly that changed. Matt and his roommate had a party one night and Belle and I decided to go. We were hanging out talking and then I noticed that the person sitting next to him had gotten up and I took the opening. I sat down next to him locked my arm through his and proudly declared that he was going to be my date for the night. Then, on his 21st birthday, Matt proposed to me in a photo booth, I very happily accepted and have absolutely no regrets. And ladies, let me just tell you what a find he truly is! He is truly my soul mate, my lover, the father of my children, my comforter, my hand holder, my body guard, and my very best friend. Geesh, I tear up just thinking about all the roles he does play in my life. WOW!
Matt, I just want you to know how very much I love you and that I thank God for you daily. You definitely make me smile, make me happy, make me whole. If I could go back back in time I wouldn't change a thing.
Happy Birthday My Love!

Matt with his proteges.

(I am in so much trouble with this crew.)

Daddy with his little girl.

My biggest kid at play.

Happy Halloween

Ok. Ok. I know I'm late but things have been hectic. Corbin was sick followed by Ann Elise getting yet another ear infection. Yuck! Anyway, all was well on Halloween night and we were able to get in some trick-or-treating and a hayride.

Here are a few costume pics. (Sorry, I don't have everybody. Wes and Josh did not dress up, Eli wouldn't cooperate and I didn't see Kaylen but two seconds, it was dark and I knew my camera would have freaked out trying capture something in the dark. So, next year, I promise.)

Clone Trooper Matthew.


Corbin in his role as Bumble Bee from Transformers.

Fairy Princess Ann Elise with her magic wand.


Bumble Bee Ainsley with Mimi.

She was so cute waddling around in her costume.

Oyce (Matt's grandfather) with Ann Elise.

He turned 86 last Monday.

Happy Birthday Oyce. We love you!

(I must say that I really love the picture above with Oyce. AE was so sweet caressing his face. It made me want to cry. Oyce is definitely a person we admire.)

Mrs. Bacon (our old neighbor) with her self proclaimed grandchildren, C, AE & M.

Seven Months Old

Ann Elise turned seven months old on Sunday and has changed so much over the past month. She is crawling, getting into a sitting position all by herself, and in the last couple of days has started pulling up. She is so sweet and is already showing us that "little girl" personality. She is drawn to anything pink or shiny. It is amazing how different girls and boys are right from the beginning. And she knows that she rules the roost already. She gets waited on hand and foot by everybody in our family. We are constantly getting "parenting advice" from Matthew and Corbin... it is too funny and so sweet that they love her so much.

Just hanging out at daycare.

My first time on the swings. More Mommy. More.

Mimi's floor is slippery so I'd better put on my bib cape so I can crawl faster.

I'm out of here.

Happy Birthday Matthew!

Matthew turned ten on October 27th. He did not want a party this year, just a skateboard, a friend to sleep over and and for a family dinner. (How grown-up) Anyway, we have gotten it all covered except for the family dinner...it's coming later. We took Matthew and his friend Brendan out to dinner Friday night at the Kyoto Hibachi Grill, to see Beverly Hills Chihuahua and then to the Skate Park on Saturday and they had a blast.

Now for Mom's sentimental side note:

It is so hard for me to comprehend that our first born has now been a part of our lives for a whole decade. (Wow! Decade has a whole new meaning to me now.) And what a blessing these past ten years have been. God is truly amazing! I tear up as I stop to think about all the blessings He has given us and that we all too often take for granted.

Matthew is:

very intelligent

inquisitive

talkative

argumentative

sweet

kind hearted

out spoken

deep thinker
fast reader

blonde

blue eyed

hyperactive

prayer warrior

great big brother

stubborn

nostalgic

Matthew is such a wonderful person and a true blessing to be around. He knows how to push my buttons more often than not, but he also knows just what to say to make me rethink my attitude sometimes. I cannot imagine my life before him or without him. It has been such a short ten years and the next are sure to go even quicker. It's hard to believe that when the next ten years have come and gone my Matthew will no longer be living under my roof but out living his own life....without me knowing his every move. Oh how sad that makes me. But if he turns out to be half of the person he is now I know he will be fine and knowing that makes me feel a little more at ease....but I will still be checking in with him as often as he will answer my calls.- HA! :)

Matthew & Brendan showing off their boards.

Matthew getting a feel for things.

Of course Matt had to get his turn on the skate board.

He only busted it once...

but once was enough for a good laugh.

Happy Birthday Hunter!

Hunter-man turned two a couple of weeks ago and he celebrated John Deere style at the community center.

Hunter was too busy to pose for the camera.

Corbin and Cassie taking over the bounce house.

Little Kids Beware!

Ann Elise, Aunt Heddie and Mommy