Happy 6th Birthday Karis!

Karis, today is your 6th birthday.  As I look back over your years, tears come to my eyes when I realize what a joy you have been in our lives.  You are such a precious gift that neither your dad nor I deserve.  

These are my maternity pictures when I was preggo with you.  I ended up going into labor a few hours after these pics were taken but didn't have you for 48 more hours.

I went into labor on a Saturday night while your dad and I were sitting in Lolli's living room.  My contractions were 5 minutes apart when they started and were consistent all night long.  I called the doc and he told me to try to get some rest and come in in the morning.  Yea right?!  Try to get some rest???  I did my best and prepared to go in the next day and have you.  But you were 3 weeks early and the doc gave me some meds and sent me back home...I was TICKED at him.  I knew you were on your way.  I went in for a checkup on Monday morning and the doc sent me straight over the hospital in a wheel chair because you would be born that day!  I was so excited yet nervous at the same time!  I labored all day and by 7:00 that night, I still hadn't dialated past 3 so they decided to take you via C-section.  

You were born at 7:31 p.m. weighing in at 7 lbs. 10 oz. and were 19 3/4 inches long.

(Yes, that is you coming out of my stomach!)

This is at your 1st birthday party...

2nd birthday party

3rd birthday party

4th birthday

5th birthday

6th birthday

You have grown up to be such a sweet, polite, respectful, fun, obedient little lady.  We are so proud of you and thank God every day that He blessed us with you.  You are one of the lights of my life! 

Love,
Mom

Our Sunday

We all woke up late this morning (possibly from our super busy weekend and girl slumber party haha) but managed to all get ready and out of the house in about an hour!  I kept the nursery this morning so I wasn't in the service but it is always so refreshing to see my church family!  We love our church.

Last night my mom sent us home with this kid 4-wheeler.  A friend of hers was selling it because there was a piece broken on it and Jay was going to fix it for Brayden.  Brayden was just as excited about the helmet as he was the actual 4-wheeler.  He slept with it last night haha!  This afternoon it was still in the back of Jay's truck and Brayden kept wanting to just sit on it. :)

Along with all the clothes Lolli bought Karis yesterday she also found this new bike for Brayden.  He was soooo excited!  It is a little bit bigger than his other one so it is easier for him to ride.

Today my girls wore matching outfits so I had to take a picture of them...

Besides what Jay and I gave her at her birthday party, we wrapped up a few other little things for her to open on her birthday morning.  But because of one thing that was in there, we went ahead and let her open it early.  Here she is opening it...

Part of it is a best friend necklace she has been wanting to give half of it to her best friend Mari-Morgan. I knew she wouldn't see her all week long and we are going over there tonight for small group so I wanted her to be able to give it to her.

Brayden wearing some 3d glasses that came with a present she got yesterday (sorry pics out of order and I don't have time to fix)...

These are all the happies that were in her bag...

Tonight we went to small group and Karis shared her BFF necklace with Mari-Morgan.  I took this pic with my iPhone of them tonight...

Happy Birthday POP!!!  Today is his official birthday!  We love you!

Family Birthday Celebration

After Timmy's party, we came back to my parent's house to have bday party #3 of the day.  My dad's bday is on October 3rd and Karis and my brother Matt's bday is October 4th.  So my mom made a roast, green bean casserole and rolls and we had a family celebration.  

My mom surprised my dad a riding lawnmower for his birthday.  Their yard is huge and the old riding lawnmower they had broke so he has been using a push mower.  He was super stoked about it!

Sad to say I only got one pic of Uncle Matt but this is he and Karis who share a bday on October 4th.  Matt has been so sweet to have to share his birthday for his whole life (first with my dad their bdays being one day apart) and then when Karis was born on his bday he had to share again.  I told him hopefully his future child would be born on my bday so I could repay him the favor of having to share a bday someday.  We love you Uncle Matt!

Our friend Ryan came over with his two girls to my mom's house to celebrate with us (his wife Debbie was out of town) and this is his youngest Addy who is 2 months older than Lucy.

And here they all are together taking a bath...check out this bathtub at my moms' house!!!  It could bathe an army!!  My kids love it because it is like swimming!

Uncle Jonathan and Aunt Jenna gave Karis money for her bday and she was thrilled!

Uncle Matt and Aunt Tiff gave her a fashion set!

Thankful to have such wonderful family to celebrate special days with!  I love my family!

We came home and CRASHED after such a long, busy yet wonderful couple of days!

Yard Sale jackpot and Timmy's bday

For those of you that know my mother, she is a yard sale extraordinare...seriously a professional some might say.  She has memorized streets in her city, knows how to track them and knows exactly what neighborhoods and even houses have good sales.  She targets the good sales and on most all Saturday mornings you will find her and her amigas making their rounds at sales across the city.  She buys most of my kids' clothes at yard sales for super cheap!  I do like yard saling like my mom but am not a pro nor can I find the good sales like she can.  Anyway....Saturday morning my mom hit the JACKPOT at a yard sale.  She will tell you it was probably the best yard sale day she has ever had in years....and most of it was for my children.  I am SOOO thankful she loves to do for my kids...I appreciate it so much!

She came home with all of these clothes for Karis.....

Most of it came from one house and the lady was selling them all for $1 a piece.  But there was so many pieces to go through, my mom just offered her $50 for all of it (2 bulging lawn bags full) and the lady agreed.  When we got to counting, it was over 200 pieces of clothing from Gymboree and Gap for FIFTY DOLLARS!  You wouldn't be able to buy one outfit for that much if bought at full price!!!

This is just one of many stacks that are all a Gymboree line (meaning they all mix and match with one another).  I think this stack had like 13 pieces that all went together.

More stacks (each stack is a Gymboree line)...

We packed it all up and it took 4 garbage bags to bag up all the stuff.  Karis is set for this year!  Thanks Lolli...I am glad you hit the jackpot!!!

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After Karis' party, we headed over to our buddy Timmy's house for party #2 of the day.  He is practically family (use to be a foster child of my parents until he was adopted).  He turned 10 today and my kids loved being a part of his special day!

The "big boys" played kickball for a while and then came back to eat dirt cake (such a great boy party idea) and open presents.  Brayden never would eat it because he thought it really had dirt in it...haha!

We were singing to him here...

He is blowing out candles here...notice Brayden is "assisting" him!  :)

Karis and Emily

 (Timmy's sister...flowergirl in my wedding 7 years ago)

Opening gifts

His brother Nick

We love you Timmy...Happy Birthday!!!