A New Family Tradition???? Creekside CampOut 2010

BABY, it's COLD OUTSIDE!!!! That was what I was saying at 4 am when I woke up and had to tromp to the bathroom, actually I was saying that at 10:30 pm when I put the down comforter over my head to go to sleep!!
Yes, the Simpson family finally went tent camping.....sorta....yes, we were in a tent and yes we were outside but we were only 15 minutes from our house in The Woodlands at Creekside. They provided the fun and food and you just brought your tent and sleeping gear.
David planned for this months out. I thought I was going to get out of it but as the camp out came closer, it really sounded like fun. Of course Olivia started having "issues" with going even though both of us were going. Which is really why I decided to go because Olivia definitely wasn't going if I didn't go. Fortunately, she got over her issues and went and had a blast.
We arrived about 3:00 in the afternoon Saturday. Started setting up our tent only to discover the cover to the tent had been left at home. Thank goodness we were only 15 minutes from home,because back home David went. Good thing he did seeing as the next morning we woke up to a soaking wet tent with frost covering everything left out that night!
We had loads of fun, lots and lots of crafts, an awesome playground, nighttime scavenger hunt, movie, making smores, hot chocolate, popcorn, yummy barbecue dinner, hanging out as a family and of course sleeping in a tent!
It was freezing cold but we survived. This was the Saturday night we "fell" back for daylight savings, we were up at the crack of dawn and our hosts had breakfast ready early. Needless to say we ate and quickly packed it up and headed for home. When we got into the car the temperature in the car said 38 degrees....no telling what it was before the sun came up!
Of course my camera went dead after dinner so I have no pictures of our tent or our lovely sleeping arrangements.
Everyone agrees we must go back next year....especially since we were too tired to play flashlight tag! Which is what the girls were most looking forward too. Poor Emily was ready to go to sleep when we were on the scavenger hunt. We came back made smores had hot chocolate and did a few more crafts and she was begging to go to sleep. I took her to the tent to make the beds up and get dressed for bed. By the time her sisters got there, she was sooo excited about going to sleep she was bouncing off the tent walls!
Everyone fell asleep quickly even though lights out was midnight and there was plenty still going on around us. It was a cold night but the girls slept perfectly, they had two grown ups keeping them very warm!
We made some great memories last night....Thanks Daddy for planning such a fun outing for us! We love you!

Happy Halloween 2010

Last night we had all the cousins over for our annual trick or treating! This year we added a new cousin....Linley! Sweet baby Linley wasn't even three weeks old yet but we think she had fun! Also this year Allison, Emma and Meagan joined the fun and everyone had a blast.
Emily was Minnie Mouse, one of her favorite characters ever , so far in her 4 years on this earth! She had to go trick or treating on her scooter and no one was going to talk her out of it. She had been planning it for days. When asked how she was going to carry her candy bag, she already had a plan. She was a mess on that thing and by the end of the night she was shoeless and had a bloody toe that she didn't even know about! All she knew was she had fun.
Abby was Supergirl this year. She picked that costume out quickly when we went shopping. Olivia was a witch, a cute witch that is. I remember when I was a witch as a kid and I wasn't very cute looking. Wonder where that photo is??? We took our annual picture on the stairs with all the cousins, this year it was more chaotic than ever......but oh such great memories!

My sweet little doodles.....please don't grow up!

Everyday you do and say things that make me want to put you in a box and not let
you grow up anymore. 4 years old is still a baby to me but next year your 5 and a kindergartener.....
I am taking a moment to remember some very special things about my little 4 year old baby. Who I like to say is acutally a 16 year old trapped in a 4 year old body.

*You love to change your clothes several times a day.....many times I find you running around naked!

*You love to wear dresses most of all.

*You love to play on PBSKids and PlayhouseDisney and Nick Jr...which you like to call Nickelodeant just because you like the way it sounds.

*Mickey and Minnie and all their friends are your favorite characters ever. You go crazy for Minnie when we go to the Disney Store....which you call DisneyWorld.

*You have know your alphabet since you were three but now you know the sounds of every letter, which in my book makes you a very smart little girl.

*The other day when I ask you to please try working on staying 4 you said you were working on something else!

I wonder what in the world that could be???

I am soooooo sad.

That was the text that came across the phone at 3:30 AM while David and I were in NYC celebrating our 10 year anniversary. I am soooooo sad. Yes, that was a real kill joy! Olivia has in the past year developed a small amount of separation anxiety that went over the top when we told her we were going to NYC for two nights and that she and her sisters would be staying with Nana and Poppy. The other two were thrilled beyond words. Olivia started having stomach aches and was in the nurses office at school the whole week before we left. One day I got a call from the school nurse because she was having a meltdown at school. A couple of days later it was her teacher calling. Usually, me talking with her on the phone calmed her down but it was really kinda crazy. The Friday before we left, I was having lunch with Olivia at school. She was in line getting her food and her teacher came and sat down beside me and politely ask how was she to handle Olivia next week? I laughed and told her we weren't going to be gone the whole week just two nights! You could see the relief on her teachers face!
That night we celebrated Olivia's birthday at Incredible Pizza with Nana and Poppy and Auntie and Uncle Steve, Jenna, Jaci and Jeremy. Karaoke, her favorite thing to do and Olivia is awol! In the bathroom half the night with tears pouring down her face. Some birthday celebration.
It only got worse when we left. Mom said she threw up a couple times and cried a lot. She called us a lot and texted as well.
Olivia......you came close to ruining our NYC trip.....something you will want to remember one of these days, because I am sure your daughter will do the same to you one day!

Happy 9th Birthday to my first born!

Where has the time gone Lulu? 9 years old you are, just yesterday you were the cutest little two year old running around acting like a 9 year old! You were a joy to have and I am glad I had three years with you before daddy and I had another little Simpson girl. We could take you anywhere, shopping, you loved that and our trip to Boston when you were just 2 1/2 was fantastic! You were a trooper. You were a go with the flow kind of kid (those days are gone) as your mom and dad went 90 to nothing checking out all the sights. As auntie says you were born a grown up in a baby's body!
Now you have a nine year old body! I am so very proud of the little girl you are becoming. You really try hard to please your momma and daddy and do a great job. You are kind, polite and sweet. You love your sisters and take good care of them. Even though they are younger you will watch all their shows with them and play all the games they like to play and will always include them even when you have your friends over. That makes me very proud!
You are such smart girl too. I am so impressed by your reading abilities. You are an awesome reader and do so well in school. I love that you love school and want to be there everyday. I love that you want to be involved in everything at school even if it means getting there early, which means getting up early which is not your favorite thing to do. No doubt you LOVE to sleep in!
Another, no doubt, is YOU are a natural born performer! You have no fear....and being on stage is where you always want to be....lights on you not to mention every one's eyes. And that doesn't scare you at all. That is another quality about you that impresses me. To be so young and have no stage fright! Simply awesome.
But what I am most proud about is that you know Jesus and love Jesus and recognize that even as a 9 year old you need Jesus. He will always be there for you Olivia even when momma can't be....just remember that!
I am so thankful that God allowed ME to be your mother! What a blessing you. Happy Birthday Olivia......I love you more than words can say.

The Tooth Fairy is Coming Tonight!

"Mommy, I think I just broke my tooth" Yes, Mommy I did just brake my tooth...sniff sniff and the tears start flowing! I look back in the rear view mirror is see a terrified Abby with tears streaming down her face. Then the hysterics start. As Emily and I are trying to calm her down and let her know she just has a lose tooth and that means if she pulls it the tooth fairy will come. We didn't seem to be getting anyhwere with her when through her sniffing and tears she says, "are you going to take a picture" Ahhhh, thats my girl, lets rememember this is a photo op if there ever was one!!!!
When you get home to races in the house to look at her tooth. She gets a paper towel and starts to work. Within a minute or two she had the tooth out! Abby lost her first tooth. She was sooo excited. She went and found her tooth fairy pillow that my aunt made all the girls.
When I was putting them in bed that night Abby asks me "what does the tooth fairy look like? I told I did not know, I had not seen her. Then she asks does she have wings? Again I say I don't know, only to be interupted by Miss Emily, "yes she does, I saw this commerical and she has wings because she has to fly. Yes Emily knows pretty much everything from commercials. Of course hearing her say commerical makes it the cutest thing ever.

Cupcake Wars

The Simpson girls have a new favorite show. ( Thank you Jaci) We love to watch Cupcake Wars. Of course Olivia has been asking to make cupcakes for weeks now. She also wanted to bust out the bags and tips to ice the cupcakes, so she could do it like the pros! Her and Abby had a good time, Emily was more interested in eating them and putting sprinkles on them then anything else.

Abby's Starts First Grade

Being the last sister to start school was probably a good thing for Abby. She was excited to put her new clothes on that Nana had bought her for her first day of school and excited to have her picture taken, but once we walked into school and sat down the excitement level seemed to disappear. It almost looked like she had tears in her eyes which made me get a little teary. I asked her if she was okay and she quickly said she was fine and wanted to change the subject.
I know your in good hands Abby. Mrs. Loftin is one of the best teachers out there. Olivia still claims her as her favorite teacher ever! This year might be a struggle for you especially in the beginning. But this I know....God will be with you everyday you are there and Mrs. Loftin will not only help you grow and learn but she will leave a mark on your heart that will forever change the student that you are.
I love you sweet Abby....God's Blessings on your first day of school.

Our first Sweetheart Saturday

11 o'clock until 4 o'clock.....that is how long we were out in the hot sun today watching football (of all things) and waiting for Olivia to cheer at halftime for two different football games. It has been a long month of 3 times a week practices among others things I don't care to mention....but why not....missing her sister's birthday party, selling trash bags, saying she has mean coaches, etc, etc.....Her and I were both ready for the season to be over with and it hadn't even started.
I was truly dreading today. Sitting out in the hot sun, yuck. But once I saw the look on Olivia's face when she was performing......it erased all the bad and her smile made it all good!!!! She didn't even complain about the heat. It probably helped that she was awarded Senior Spirit Girl of the week! That was a surprise to her. She didn't know it until she heard her name called out over the loud speaker! I think that was the biggest thrill for her. It was a fun day for Olivia and and not so bad for her mother too!

Happy 6th Birthday my sweet little Abigail!

Yes....you indeed are growing up too fast little girl. Six years old and a first grader! Each year really seems to go by faster than the last. I could have sworn just few months ago we were celebrating your 5th birthday at Pump It Up.
This year has been a year of changes for you. Your toddler look has faded, there is no baby left in your face! You have beautiful long hair that you and daddy want cut off. You learned to ride your bike this year. We discovered your passion for drawing and card marking and just about anything artsy and crafty. You would decide you wanted to draw something, you would ask me to find a picture of it on the Internet and then you would copy it. You could copy just about anything. Olivia brought home a craft book from school and you saw a cute little teddy bear in it. You drew all the pieces cut them out taped them together then added a bow just like the picture and you never asked for help. But making cards is about your all time favorite thing to do. Aunt Rhonda gave you a card making kit for Christmas and you went to town. You are so very thoughtful and you love making cards for everyone.....now you don't always remember to give them to them, but you always make them.
You love giving me "the best big hugs" were you wrap your legs around me tight and hold my neck tight and hug away. Momma likes those too! We have known your love language is touch for a couple of years now and since you love having your hair brushed or you back rubbed you are more than happy to do the same for momma. You are a very good foot massager! You get the lotion and go to town....and momma loves it!
You still have the prettist smile and you love to smile.....I will always remember you as a baby and walking into your room in the morning and you always greeted me with the biggest smile.
You are much more quiet than your sisters, which is a nice break for momma, but I know there is a lot going on in your head and every once in a while you share it with us.
This year you had another ChuckE Cheese birthday party. Your friend Christina had one so that made you want another. It was a very fun party and of course all your cousins and aunt and uncles were there. Nana and Poppy, The McFarland clan and Sarah you friend from school and church. You requested a cookie cake this year, so we made one at home and you helped decorate it! It was a great evening celebrating our sweet little Abby! Happy Birthday my sweet girl.....momma loves you so very much.

First day of Fourth Grade......Miss Olivia

We were bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning..... I am sure Olivia will not be as easy to wake up for the remaninder of the school year. She was no doubt excited this morning. Friday night we found out at meet the teacher she has the teacher she wanted and the one momma requested. I know the principle doesn't like to hear parents name names when requesting teachers, so I was so thrilled that even though last year I decided to name a name she still decide to give my daughter that teacher! Jaci had Mrs. Brewer and so did Jeremy and so goes Olivia.
Pulling up to the school this morning I said, "do you want me to walk you in?" "Of course Momma, it's the first day of school, you have to walk me in", she replies. Music to a momma's ears. I hope she says that next year as a fifth grader.
This afternoon when I picked her up she had the biggest smile on her face. When I asked how her day was her reply was, "AWESOME". I love Mrs. Brewer. I asked if she liked her better than her teacher last year and she said yes, to my surprise! Momma loved her teacher last year and didn't think it could get any better. Olivia was specific in the things that she liked better about this teacher and I have to say they were all things the signaled she wasn't as strict maybe in the beginning but I didn't think her teacher was strict last year, but apparently she ran a tight ship and had guidelines these kids knew to follow and I see nothing wrong with that!
Olivia is ready to try out of choir and hand bells, which we had already decided that she wouldn't do, but apparently the excitement of a new school year and the thought of school programs was just too much for her. She already knows she wants to try out for DI so we had decided last year to nix choir......we shall see
I am just so thrilled Olivia LOVES school so much. I am thankful she is at a school that we all love so much! It is a blessing indeed. So excited about what the year holds for Olivia!

RIP Summer

So long summer, we say tonight.....it has been a good one. Too many deposits in the memory bank to list....and I didn't do that great of a job this summer blogging them all either. But we had a grand summer and it is with sadness and excitement that I say good bye to summer. Tonight we celebrated with the girls all time favorite summer activity....jumping on the trampoline with the sprinklers on it. Daddy tripped it out tonight though by hanging the sprinkler from the top of the trampoline. The girls had a blast especially since Daddy was playing with them and then daddy managed to talk mommy into getting on and jumping around a bit! Abby could tell I was a bit leery and she said, "Momma you can just get off!" Daddy grilled hamburgers and we had are last summertime supper! It was a great ending to a great summer!

First day of Pre-K for Emily

As soon as I walked into her room and said, "time to wake up Emily, it's your first day of school", her eyes popped open and she started making her way out of the bed. No doubt little doodles was excited for her first day of school.
She quickly got dressed, hair and teeth brushed. She did stop to ask, where are my sisters? They had left with their Daddy earlier this morning so he could take them to meet Natalie, Aunt Ruth and MawMaw to go to the the waterpark. Shhhh, Emily doesn't know she is missing out on this! I told her they went with Daddy this morning. She was so excited about school that didn't even phase her.
Of course she wanted to take some pictures and video and then off she went to get in the car with lunchbox and napmat in hand!
Of course she walked right in hugged her teacher and was greeted by her buddy Melissa and off she went.....I am pretty sure she didn't even say bye momma!
What a blessing to have a child that loves school and what a blessing to be able to send her someplace that I have not a worry in the world about dropping her off there. No sadness or hesitation. I know she is in a great place and will be well taken take care of and will come home with a wealth of new knowledge!
Yes, we are off to a good start in our school year!!