Four years ago today I woke up at 5:30am after a night of tossing and turning in anticipation to meeting my first baby the next day. I got up, took a shower and fixed my hair. I even put on make-up because I knew I'd be taking a lot of pictures. I was just as nauseated that day as I had been the rest of the pregnancy ... but, I didn't care. Because THIS was the day I got to meet you. I had been planning and waiting and DREAMING of meeting you for months. I rearranged all your little shoes in your drawers everyday (even though I don't think you wore a single pair of those infant shoes). I washed and rewashed and ironed and reironed all your little dresses. Even onesies. I had had your hospital bag packed for months. I had sat in your room, rocking in your chair planning out every detail of your childhood. Exactly what you would look like, what sweet things you would say and do, even little outfits you would probably wear. But, NOTHING could have prepared me for how special you are today.
Avery, you are delightful from head to toe. You are darling and personable to everyone you meet. You love girly things as much as I do (I love that God answers selfish, silly prayer requests sometimes). You make my life better every day. I always thought I would have all girls, and we got a couple smelly boys. It's a good thing they're cute, because they are already so different from us!
I know we'll be best friends one day. I can sit and listen to your silliness for hours. You're already trying to be such a lady, and doing such a good job!!
I love you little princess, forever and ever.
Here are some of my favorite pictures of you this year. It's been a GREAT year!! You've gotten a new baby brother, you've learned a gazillion new words, you've started going to "school" twice a week, you have grown up SO much, and you have become such a leader!





Right now you weigh 37 pounds, you wear size 4-5 clothes, and you love the color pink. You like Max and Ruby, ALL Disney Princess movies, and all things "big girly." You are already so sassy and make me laugh SO hard. You say the funniest things. You are just the happiest kid ever. EVERYTHING is exciting to you. Almost daily you wake up and say things like, "Oh! Good Morning Mommy! Isn't today going to be the most dazzling day?!?!" Daddy even hands you pieces of mail and says, "Look what came for you, Avery!" It could be a Cable bill and you would say, "For me?!?! Oh THANKYOU?!?! Not kidding.
When we asked you what you wanted for birthday you said you wanted to pick it out. So this morning you woke up, running into the living room announcing it was your birthday and started off a great day! You had a pancake breakfast with Maw, a shopping trip with your Daddy to pick out a new outfit and some toys. Then you went to see a new movie and then to eat lunch. Afterward you got to go pick out a cake to eat after dinner. It had pink sprinkles of course. Pop Pop, Dede, and Aunt Tamra came over to bring you happies and sing Happy Birthday. After dinner you watched about 3 seconds of a movie before crashing on the couch at 7pm ... you were exhausted ... it was a good birthday.
Here's the day in pictures ...
You are SO loved, baby girl!! Especially by me!!
XOXOXOXO!!!!!
Mommy
When we asked you what you wanted for birthday you said you wanted to pick it out. So this morning you woke up, running into the living room announcing it was your birthday and started off a great day! You had a pancake breakfast with Maw, a shopping trip with your Daddy to pick out a new outfit and some toys. Then you went to see a new movie and then to eat lunch. Afterward you got to go pick out a cake to eat after dinner. It had pink sprinkles of course. Pop Pop, Dede, and Aunt Tamra came over to bring you happies and sing Happy Birthday. After dinner you watched about 3 seconds of a movie before crashing on the couch at 7pm ... you were exhausted ... it was a good birthday.
Here's the day in pictures ...
You are SO loved, baby girl!! Especially by me!!
XOXOXOXO!!!!!
Mommy
Friday, May 20, 2011
Unforgettables
This is going to have to be short and sweet. I think I always say that and then end up rambling on. Anywho, I have like a gazillion things to be doing right now; but ... ya know how that goes over here. If you came in my house right now you might turn me into that hoarding show. There are children's clothes everyyywhere for the upcoming Swap Shoppe sale ... whoops.
Plus, the rain is encouraging to just camp out right here on my couch, under a quilt watching Caillou with Avery while the boys nap. It's the rain's fault I tell ya.
This has been a fun week in the Boonies! We've played hard, swam a lot and just had a loverly time. And of course there were some funnies to remember along the way! :)
Dalton will pretty much eat anything. He'll try anything and isn't very picky once it's on his plate. However, if you ask him what he wants to eat he will either say, "Chicken and dip" (chicken nuggets and honey mustard) or "Mac 'n cheese." (Even for breakfast)


Whenever D does something "big-boyish" he says, "Momma,Will you clap?? Now laugh!" And if I don't laugh correctly, he laughs to show me how. He's such a mess!
Yesterday A and D were playing outside and they had water they were spraying on each other which made their barefoot feet muddy. They kept trying to come in and out, in and out. During one attempt I said, "Y'all need to stay out there until you're all done playing- you're filthy!" And Avery gasped and said, "Oh! We are SO sorry Momma. We didn't know we were filthy." Then she poked her head back in and said, "Hey Momma, what's filthy?"


When ever I tell Dalton to do something he isn't thrilled about he shrugs his shoulders and lets out a super deep sigh ... It always makes me laugh. How does he know to do that?!?!

Aren't they sweet!

Today I took Dalton to the doctor because he had run some fever and his throat was hurting him. Afterward we went to get an Icee to make him feel better ... A lady there saw him and said, "Aww! Aren't you pretty?!" He didn't miss a beat and said, "I not pretty, I Dalton."
I was just about to post this and I turned around to see A had fallen asleep on the top of the couch cushions ... Wuv her. It's her last day to be 3. How did that happen?!?!

Oh yeah, and Sawyer was there too. ;)

Hope your Friday is Unforgettable! XO
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Plus, the rain is encouraging to just camp out right here on my couch, under a quilt watching Caillou with Avery while the boys nap. It's the rain's fault I tell ya.
This has been a fun week in the Boonies! We've played hard, swam a lot and just had a loverly time. And of course there were some funnies to remember along the way! :)
Dalton will pretty much eat anything. He'll try anything and isn't very picky once it's on his plate. However, if you ask him what he wants to eat he will either say, "Chicken and dip" (chicken nuggets and honey mustard) or "Mac 'n cheese." (Even for breakfast)
Whenever D does something "big-boyish" he says, "Momma,Will you clap?? Now laugh!" And if I don't laugh correctly, he laughs to show me how. He's such a mess!
Yesterday A and D were playing outside and they had water they were spraying on each other which made their barefoot feet muddy. They kept trying to come in and out, in and out. During one attempt I said, "Y'all need to stay out there until you're all done playing- you're filthy!" And Avery gasped and said, "Oh! We are SO sorry Momma. We didn't know we were filthy." Then she poked her head back in and said, "Hey Momma, what's filthy?"


When ever I tell Dalton to do something he isn't thrilled about he shrugs his shoulders and lets out a super deep sigh ... It always makes me laugh. How does he know to do that?!?!

Aren't they sweet!

Today I took Dalton to the doctor because he had run some fever and his throat was hurting him. Afterward we went to get an Icee to make him feel better ... A lady there saw him and said, "Aww! Aren't you pretty?!" He didn't miss a beat and said, "I not pretty, I Dalton."
I was just about to post this and I turned around to see A had fallen asleep on the top of the couch cushions ... Wuv her. It's her last day to be 3. How did that happen?!?!

Oh yeah, and Sawyer was there too. ;)

Hope your Friday is Unforgettable! XO
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Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Wednesday Loves

I kinda love that once a week I am sitting down to say exactly what I l-o-v-e right now. No matter how frivolous it sounds, I just enjoy thinking of silly little things that make me happy. That is all.
Without further ado, Let me start with ...

Sonic's Vanilla Fanta. I really love everything at Sonic ... even the Hot Dogs ... Shhh, add that to my list of what to NOT tell my sister!!
It's probably 99% about the large styrofoam cups that are terribly bad for the environment, but absolutely one of my fav 100 things on earth. Is that contradictory? Don't answer that.
Anyway, the Vanilla Fanta is JUST like the old-school orange dreamsicle push-pops I used to love when I was little. I kept seeing it on the menu, but I was so scared to not get my normal Vanilla Coke! Finally, I did it. I'm trying to get off Cokes completely, so this is helping. It's amazing what the absolution of being in a bathing suit in public, in the very near future will do to a girl. Especially since my preggo sister raided my tankini stash only leaving two pieces ... NOT bikinis. There is a difference. I'm not sure what it is, but it's there. Thank goodness for my sunless tanner, if you can't tone it-tan it. Duh.
SPEAKING of which, I'll bring you to my next love: Arbonne Fizzy Tabs!

Also, I have a confession. I've been working out. You heard me ... Working out. Which is NOT my thing. I used to LOVE to work out, I did kickboxing several times a week and even lifted a weight or two and everything. But, then I was in a super traumatic car wreck and my knees are pretty much permanently messed up. Dr. H told me I would probably need double knee replacements eventually. And that just sounds AWESOME. Anyway, long story short, any kind of impact exercise is not an option. My knees hurt when it's cold outside, much less pounding pavement. However, I have a new obsession ...

Next on my list are these Fabric Floaties.

Lastly, is my new bedtime. This is not a joke. I have been in bed by 9pm for like two weeks now. I remember my mom going to bed at 8:30 for years and always wondering what in the WORLD she was doing. I know now. Totally get it. Considering I have to wake up BY 5:30-6 if I want any time by myself in the morning, I just have to get to bed early. Thank goodness for this ...

It makes it more bearable.
Well, I think that's all for this week! I hope you have a Loverly Wednesday! :)
Special News
Today we found out THE most special news! Sarah Baker and Ben are expecting a B-O-Y!!!
We are all SO thrilled and beyond excited to meet little Benjamin "Noah" Wellons in mid-October. I am already counting down the days to snuggle that sweet little thing!
This morning I told Avery, "Tonight we are going to Dede's and we will find out whether Rah-Rah has a boy baby or a girl baby in her belly." Avery got excited and said, "If it is a girl baby I will shout, and if it is a boy baby then Ben will shout."
Oh she is so funny! We got to Dede's and SB had requested Chicken Spaghetti, Salad, Bread, and Watermelon. ;)
I took a bunch of pictures on my real camera, but that would involve pulling out the laptop, sitting at the table, downloading and uploading ... So I'll just use my phone pics for now and try to update later ... Which I always say and never do. Soooo typical of me.

I mean, how sweet is my mom?!?! We literally planned this THIS morning and we come over to this lovely arrangement ... I realize she doesn't have little ones at home, but still. She just makes everything wonderful. I love her with my whole heart.
Notice the colors are all cream because we didn't know what it was yet.
SB wanted us to wear either pink or blue to say what we thought it was and then after dinner (yes, she made us wait THROUGH dinner, I was SO mad!!) we picked out a white w/blue sprinkle cupcake or pink ... So here I am in blue with my boy cupcake!

Then we all went out back to see which cupcake they would pick to tell us whether it was a boy or girl!

Everyone has their cupcake predicting their choice ...
I have a video of this that is just REFUSING to load. But, it was BLUE!
We all cheered and cried ... Because that's what we do.
It was a great night!!
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We are all SO thrilled and beyond excited to meet little Benjamin "Noah" Wellons in mid-October. I am already counting down the days to snuggle that sweet little thing!
This morning I told Avery, "Tonight we are going to Dede's and we will find out whether Rah-Rah has a boy baby or a girl baby in her belly." Avery got excited and said, "If it is a girl baby I will shout, and if it is a boy baby then Ben will shout."
Oh she is so funny! We got to Dede's and SB had requested Chicken Spaghetti, Salad, Bread, and Watermelon. ;)
I took a bunch of pictures on my real camera, but that would involve pulling out the laptop, sitting at the table, downloading and uploading ... So I'll just use my phone pics for now and try to update later ... Which I always say and never do. Soooo typical of me.

I mean, how sweet is my mom?!?! We literally planned this THIS morning and we come over to this lovely arrangement ... I realize she doesn't have little ones at home, but still. She just makes everything wonderful. I love her with my whole heart.
Notice the colors are all cream because we didn't know what it was yet.
SB wanted us to wear either pink or blue to say what we thought it was and then after dinner (yes, she made us wait THROUGH dinner, I was SO mad!!) we picked out a white w/blue sprinkle cupcake or pink ... So here I am in blue with my boy cupcake!

Then we all went out back to see which cupcake they would pick to tell us whether it was a boy or girl!

Everyone has their cupcake predicting their choice ...
I have a video of this that is just REFUSING to load. But, it was BLUE!
We all cheered and cried ... Because that's what we do.
It was a great night!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Crock-Pot Tastiness
Today, I did something crazy. I cooked dinner at 9am. That's right people, 9am. I saw this recipe the other day through a tweet by The Pioneer Woman. I always have way more energy in the morning, so cooking this early makes it even simpler.

The recipe is for Hawaiian BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches ... Umm... Yummo! And they are hands down the easiest things I've ever made. No really ... THE easiest!!
All you do is place chicken thighs in the bottom of your slow-cooker; cover it with a diced onion; throw in a can of pineapple chunks (drained); and dump in a bottle of your fav BBQ sauce. Then simply turn the slow cooker to low and let it cook for 7 long hours. Holy Moly. It just doesn't get any easier. At the end of the day pull the chicken off the bone and shred before mixing it back in with all the tastiness that has been simmering away all day! There was an option to pour the drained pineapple juice in at the end too, but I prefer mine a little more savory. I love that all day my house is filled with the delicious aroma that reminds me dinner is already finished! Whew! So great! It even inspired me to clean the whole house from top to bottom. Now I'm working up the courage to clean out my closet which I totally ransacked during all the tornadoes throwing out anything that could fall on top of us. I'm still sitting here debating on that ... Maybe I'll do it while watching Sister Wives later ... I do love some Sister Wives. ;)
Anyway, I served up the yummy-goodness on big whole wheat buns with corn on the cob and baked beans. It was a big hit in the Boonies! Try it at your house!
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The recipe is for Hawaiian BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches ... Umm... Yummo! And they are hands down the easiest things I've ever made. No really ... THE easiest!!
All you do is place chicken thighs in the bottom of your slow-cooker; cover it with a diced onion; throw in a can of pineapple chunks (drained); and dump in a bottle of your fav BBQ sauce. Then simply turn the slow cooker to low and let it cook for 7 long hours. Holy Moly. It just doesn't get any easier. At the end of the day pull the chicken off the bone and shred before mixing it back in with all the tastiness that has been simmering away all day! There was an option to pour the drained pineapple juice in at the end too, but I prefer mine a little more savory. I love that all day my house is filled with the delicious aroma that reminds me dinner is already finished! Whew! So great! It even inspired me to clean the whole house from top to bottom. Now I'm working up the courage to clean out my closet which I totally ransacked during all the tornadoes throwing out anything that could fall on top of us. I'm still sitting here debating on that ... Maybe I'll do it while watching Sister Wives later ... I do love some Sister Wives. ;)
Anyway, I served up the yummy-goodness on big whole wheat buns with corn on the cob and baked beans. It was a big hit in the Boonies! Try it at your house!
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Saturday, May 14, 2011
Those Days
There are all types of days at the Boone house as I'm sure any other ... We have busy days, whiney days, slow days, rainy days, crazy days, inside days, happy days, at home days, and days that I just refer to as "those days." Those days usually occur when things just don't fall the way I'd like, where I probably didn't get much quiet time, or even a shower. Days like today as I run in USA drug for pull ups and the cashier asks me if I'm ok
due to my ensemble and "hair-don't."
;)
Sometimes just a normal day of diaper changes, juice cup refills, fight club referee-ing, and really just watching out for youngin's while cooking up dinners all while bouncin' a 19 pound baby on my hip is kinda exhausting. I'm itching for 8:30 so I can lie all these yayhoots in their beds and talk to their daddy. I'm telling myself that this day will make tomorrow even better. All the while I'm folding laundry and I turned on the 20/20 I recorded last night about the cute blogger momma of 4 who was in a plane crash and her 65-80% of her body was badly burned. Her face being the worst. After being in a drug induced coma for 3 months and multiple surgeries she came home after 5 months and her kiddos could barely speak to her because she looked so different. When I say I have this nightmare all the time, I'm not kidding. Like, several times a year. I dream I'm in some kind of terrible accident, I'm severely burned and then my babies won't let me hug, kiss, and hold them because they're scared of me. So seeing someone go through this kinda rocked me world! I've been crying since the opening credits. And it just made me realize for the 837,192,632nd time that we are only here for a moment. Nothing is forever, nothing is guaranteed or promised except that God will love us through it. I spend so much time dwelling on such fleeting things. I so easily overcommit myself and then get frustrated by my busyness that I don't put my time in to the areas that count. I'm in a process of Spring Cleaning ... Out with the things that aren't of the utmost important. To declutter our lives. My mom always says , "if not you, then who. If not now, then when." in reference to life, marriage, and child raising. Meaning if I'm not doing it, then who is. Or if I'm not investing in my marriage then who will (Besides that tall, dark, and handsome hubby of mine)
Am I making any sense? Probably not. And I'll probably end up deleting this post ... Ha!
Hope everyone has a Happy Saturday that is less polarizing than mine!! ;)
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due to my ensemble and "hair-don't."
;)
Sometimes just a normal day of diaper changes, juice cup refills, fight club referee-ing, and really just watching out for youngin's while cooking up dinners all while bouncin' a 19 pound baby on my hip is kinda exhausting. I'm itching for 8:30 so I can lie all these yayhoots in their beds and talk to their daddy. I'm telling myself that this day will make tomorrow even better. All the while I'm folding laundry and I turned on the 20/20 I recorded last night about the cute blogger momma of 4 who was in a plane crash and her 65-80% of her body was badly burned. Her face being the worst. After being in a drug induced coma for 3 months and multiple surgeries she came home after 5 months and her kiddos could barely speak to her because she looked so different. When I say I have this nightmare all the time, I'm not kidding. Like, several times a year. I dream I'm in some kind of terrible accident, I'm severely burned and then my babies won't let me hug, kiss, and hold them because they're scared of me. So seeing someone go through this kinda rocked me world! I've been crying since the opening credits. And it just made me realize for the 837,192,632nd time that we are only here for a moment. Nothing is forever, nothing is guaranteed or promised except that God will love us through it. I spend so much time dwelling on such fleeting things. I so easily overcommit myself and then get frustrated by my busyness that I don't put my time in to the areas that count. I'm in a process of Spring Cleaning ... Out with the things that aren't of the utmost important. To declutter our lives. My mom always says , "if not you, then who. If not now, then when." in reference to life, marriage, and child raising. Meaning if I'm not doing it, then who is. Or if I'm not investing in my marriage then who will (Besides that tall, dark, and handsome hubby of mine)
Am I making any sense? Probably not. And I'll probably end up deleting this post ... Ha!
Hope everyone has a Happy Saturday that is less polarizing than mine!! ;)
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Friday, May 13, 2011
Unforgettables
It's hard to post funnies right now, because so many of the funny things they say are due to their sweet voice inflections or just how profound it is for a 2 or 3 year old to be saying the things they are! So bear with me ...
Hopefully I'll remember all the unbelievable cuteness that they live out daily, years and years down the road. I can just have complete breakdowns thinking about how in a few years the little precious, darling 8 months, 2 years and 3 years old versions of these babies will be gone- replaced with older different versions. Ok Ok, I'm tearing up. This is too deep for Friday Funnies. But really, in case you didn't know I just totally love love these little ones. And especially if you're that momma who heard me yell out a bad word really loud the other day in the parking lot of the athletic club when Dalton jumped on top of me crushing all the slushies in my lap ... I really do love them. Bc I'm sure in that moment it was doubtable.
Okay ... To the Unforgettables:
One day this week I was getting everyone dressed but I was still in my PJ's. Avery walked up to me and said, "Momma, you really need to get dressed. Noone wants to see you like that."
Dalton is obsessed with "surprises" lately. Good and bad ... I won't go in to details on the bad, they aren't worth remembering. But every. single. time. He says: "Close your eyes ... No peeking! Open ... Surprise!!" I love him.

Sawyer has become obsessed with the bathtub now that he can sit up! I love it! He splashes and plays and plays for as long as
I let him. I'm just hoping and praying this carries over to the beach, lake, and pool.


Whenever Dalton does something he thinks is really big boyish he puts his hands on his hips and goes into "Deep Voice Dalton" saying, "That's how you do it!" It is so stinkin' funny.
Yesterday I was on the phone and someone told me something or other and I said, "well, that's just stupid." Avery came up and covered my hand in hers and said, "Oh Momma. We don't say stupid, we had a deal remember? That's just not a nice word."

Sawyer has been in to all kinds of things this week ...
Here he is sitting up in the cart ...

Here he is escaping out the back door ...


"What?!?!"
Sarah Baker and I got so tickled when I ran by her house one morning this week and we were sitting in her living room talking and watching The Today Show. Sawyer was rolling around the floor until he pulled up on the couch and grabbed the remote. Somehow he hit the button and it changed the channel to Sesame Street. We laughed and laughed that he was just trying to watch his own show. :)
Earlier this week we were at my moms and Avery was playing with Emerson. She came outside with a big wad of money she had "found" in Emerson's wallet. I told her she had to take it back to E and how he earned that money by doing chores. Then that night in her prayers she prayed, " Dear God, I really pray I'll do my chores tomorrow so I can get some money, so I can be prepared for anything."
I'll end with this little pic I snapped of Avery reading Dalton and Sawyer her princess book in the car. She was showing the pictures and reading just like she was a teacher. Love that lamby.

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Hopefully I'll remember all the unbelievable cuteness that they live out daily, years and years down the road. I can just have complete breakdowns thinking about how in a few years the little precious, darling 8 months, 2 years and 3 years old versions of these babies will be gone- replaced with older different versions. Ok Ok, I'm tearing up. This is too deep for Friday Funnies. But really, in case you didn't know I just totally love love these little ones. And especially if you're that momma who heard me yell out a bad word really loud the other day in the parking lot of the athletic club when Dalton jumped on top of me crushing all the slushies in my lap ... I really do love them. Bc I'm sure in that moment it was doubtable.
Okay ... To the Unforgettables:
One day this week I was getting everyone dressed but I was still in my PJ's. Avery walked up to me and said, "Momma, you really need to get dressed. Noone wants to see you like that."
Dalton is obsessed with "surprises" lately. Good and bad ... I won't go in to details on the bad, they aren't worth remembering. But every. single. time. He says: "Close your eyes ... No peeking! Open ... Surprise!!" I love him.

Sawyer has become obsessed with the bathtub now that he can sit up! I love it! He splashes and plays and plays for as long as
I let him. I'm just hoping and praying this carries over to the beach, lake, and pool.


Whenever Dalton does something he thinks is really big boyish he puts his hands on his hips and goes into "Deep Voice Dalton" saying, "That's how you do it!" It is so stinkin' funny.
Yesterday I was on the phone and someone told me something or other and I said, "well, that's just stupid." Avery came up and covered my hand in hers and said, "Oh Momma. We don't say stupid, we had a deal remember? That's just not a nice word."

Sawyer has been in to all kinds of things this week ...
Here he is sitting up in the cart ...

Here he is escaping out the back door ...


"What?!?!"
Sarah Baker and I got so tickled when I ran by her house one morning this week and we were sitting in her living room talking and watching The Today Show. Sawyer was rolling around the floor until he pulled up on the couch and grabbed the remote. Somehow he hit the button and it changed the channel to Sesame Street. We laughed and laughed that he was just trying to watch his own show. :)
Earlier this week we were at my moms and Avery was playing with Emerson. She came outside with a big wad of money she had "found" in Emerson's wallet. I told her she had to take it back to E and how he earned that money by doing chores. Then that night in her prayers she prayed, " Dear God, I really pray I'll do my chores tomorrow so I can get some money, so I can be prepared for anything."
I'll end with this little pic I snapped of Avery reading Dalton and Sawyer her princess book in the car. She was showing the pictures and reading just like she was a teacher. Love that lamby.

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