My Little Citizen of Who-Ville

The first day of school, Delaney came home with a ton of papers in her folder. She only cared about one. She pulled it out and said "mommy, this one's for the school play, can you sign me up for it"?
I told her I would sign her up for auditions but the rest was up to her! Little did I know "the rest" meant rehearsals on Friday nights and Saturday mornings FOR FIVE MONTHS!!!! It also included two discs of songs. I should probably insert here that Dr. Seuss isn't a favorite of mine. As in, I don't know the characters except for a few, never read Dr. Seuss books, and I think green eggs sound disgusting!!!!! Nonetheless, I have listened to more Seussical Jr. songs than any person should be subjected to.  All for this moment right here.............

The night before the play, we were talking about how proud I was of her and she told me she was nervous and what if she got stage "frightened". Then Delaney asked me if I would put a note in her lunchbox. (Asking me to do this never takes the fun out of it for her).

The next morning, she said "don't forget my note".

I would have totally forgotten! #oooops

I told her to "break a leg" of course and she told me "everyone kept telling me today to break a leg". One of the cast members really did have a broken leg!

I wasn't just proud of Delaney, all of these kids (K-8) put on a great performance!

They were treated to a "cast party" after the show complete with popcorn and ice cream.

This little Who never missed a rehearsal and bounced around singing and dancing for five months. She was just so excited to be in the school play.

She had tears in her eyes after we got home and tried to tell me they were just watery.

I said Delaney "you didn't see him, but I did, your daddy was there".............

Kids are expensive (no matter what age)

Delaney made a list of the things her babies need. And since they're her babies, she got to use her money! At least she's learning early how expensive babies are :-) Although I don't think you can ever really prepare yourself!! Like whenever we drive by a nail salon I hear "mommy, can I get a pedicure".......I just laugh as I drive on by.

Speaking of how expensive kids are.....

To My Future Teenage Daughter,

When we go prom dress shopping (I am going to go ahead and assume you'll be dragging me along--$$) and you find a dress you like for $700, just go ahead and put it back on the rack 'cause "that ain't ever gonna happen". Unless of course you saved up your money from your part time job. The other day my friend and I were shopping and a young girl and her mom were buying a prom dress and the cashier said "that will be $745". I gave my friend the "um.....did I just hear that correctly look" and it turns out, I DID!

The conversation then went like this:

Mom "Since when, we have always just put down like $100 and then I paid on it each week"

Cashier "Our policy is half down and you have to have it paid off 30 days before prom"

Mom "I can't do that, I'm not even working (friends, I can't even make up this stuff, she said that!) and I don't go back to work until next week". I am quite sure at this point, she was standing there waiting for the cashier to change their policy!

Teenage daughter "Mom, maybe this is a sign, I wasn't in love with that dress anyway" YEP, STILL NOT MAKING THIS UP......now, "if" I were the parent who spent $700 on a prom dress I am pretty sure Delaney would be "in love" with it so much she would be sleeping in it for the rest of her life!!!

They left. No dress.

I already know I am going to love the future teenager you'll be. You are larger than life and before I know it, we won't be picking out stuff for your baby dolls and we'll be trying on prom dresses

Much, Much, cheaper prom dresses!

Love,

Mom

Broadway, Doctor, Teacher, GIRL SCOUT????

I try to remember to put funny things Delaney says in my Notes.

Here are a few of my recent favorites:

ME: "Delaney, everyone knows your daddy loved you more than anything"

D: "Even the people in Mexico"

ME: "um, well, ok, sure, even the people in Mexico"

ME: "By the way, do you want to go to Mexico for vacation"

D: "No, I don't like Mexican souvenirs"

D: "mommy, does Santa make all your dreams come true"

ME: "no, so don't ask for a dog"

D: "do you think God made me to be a girl scout"

ME: "no"

D: "well you're suppose to follow your dream and my dream is to be a girl scout"

ME: "you just want the cookies"

ME: "Delaney, do you know why Siri has an Australian accent"

D: "she must have a cold"

She asked me if I thought she should be a doctor or a teacher. I told her teacher and she said "no, I think I want to be on Broadway"!!! Her school play is in less than three weeks. Which means no more Friday night/Saturday morning rehearsals :-)

My little future doctor, teacher, girl scout, or Broadway play performer

She fills our house with so much Joy and Happiness!!

(even when she's in trouble and grounded from the ipad...which led me to tell the young kid in the McD's drive-thru to wait to have kids!! he said "I will, I'm only 24")

Christmas 2016

To say we celebrated BIG the whole month of December is a huge understatement. Delaney was off for two and a half weeks which felt like two and a half years!!

We enjoyed every minute of her break and the holidays.

Sneaky showed up on December 1st and "hung around" and got into all sorts of mischief.

Luckily, However, Sneaky had to head back to the North Pole :-) Christmas Eve.

This Christmas will always be known as "the end of an era". Someone in the house was not happy, but, we now have not one, not two, but three artificial trees. They may all three still be up. Maybe we should just decorate them for Valentine's Day.......

We always read before bedtime on Christmas Eve......

I wish you could see the clock in this picture. It was officially Christmas! Delaney is a very light sleeper so there's a "waiting period" after she goes to bed before Santa can get to work! My "pregnant Christmas" Julie told me to enjoy my pretty tree because once Delaney came, it would be full of ornaments made at school.  I sent her a close up of our tree and said "remember when you told me the tree would look like this". Delaney never messed with our tree when she was a baby but somehow at age 6, she has redecorated it approximately 5,874 times!

Santa's elves had a heck of a time putting together her stroller and at almost 1:00 a.m., decided The North Pole uses cheap plastic and said the heck with it and left the carrier detached!

Delaney was so confused when she saw this picture in my phone. We got up at the same time (and she never saw me take it) and she couldn't figure out how I could take this picture after Santa came. She asked if I got up early and took it "ya Delaney, that's what happened"!
Delaney needs to stay out of my phone and mind her own beezwax #ooops

Santa told Delaney she left the best cookies ever this Christmas and really hopes she leaves them again next year. I'm telling you, they are like eating a glass (or two) of hot cocoa...AMAZING!!!

(Santa is also glad to see they are Limited Edition).....

Delaney (or I) thought it was too cold to go outside and leave carrots for the reindeer so we decided Santa could take them to them. Our Santa prefers egg nog :-) Either you love egg nog or you hate it (more on that later).

On Christmas morning, Delaney woke up at 8:45 (I was hoping for 9:00).....

Before she opened that first present, she ran to my stocking and pulled this out of it (I have no idea when she did this). Apparently, she can't spell MOM!

This is a major step up from what she got me last year.

She wrapped a box that had a pair of socks in it...HER DIRTY SOCKS!!!!

BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER!!!!
(Even if it isn't Frye Riding boots)

Up at 8:45 and presents unwrapped by approximately 8:47!
She said "I just love the wrapping paper Santa used this year"

We searched everywhere on Christmas Eve for the bottoms to her Christmas pajamas.

I still cannot find them.

Her PBK knockoff sleeping bag #santashopscostco

#cheapplastic

Gotta find those bottoms.......

Elise on her new ride....

Braxon reading on his new toy box

On Christmas morning, Delaney was told to go put on her fancy gold dress, isn't it pretty???? #kidsneverlistentotheirmom #shewearswhatshewants #sheisherfathersdaughter #maybenextyear

Elise thought it was a pajama party (look at that baby bed head would ya)!

It's been a long time since we had a booster seat

and high chair in our house

Cherry bites (thank you Pinterest, no bake cookies and cupcakes). I also made an egg nog pie and uncle Mark was nice enough to try it. However, it was more like "egg nog pudding". It didn't set even though I made it the day before. It literally had 3 ingredients!! #onlyme

I think Dave's family got a little worried when I opened up a bottle of whiskey at 1:00!

Pomegranate Irish Mules...YUM!! (again, thank you Pinterest).

I had to laugh when I thought back to the last time we hosted Christmas. 'Twas 2005 and I was an "outlaw". I rented tables, chairs, flatware, china AND SHIPPED A KENTUCKY HAM TO OUR HOUSE!!! Fast forward 11 years and inlaw status and the menu was a little different....as in chili served out of paper bowls and a pizza for the kids! Having a chili bar worked so well it may just be our new tradition. And, I know the chili was good for the simple fact cousin Steven ate it...I repeat, cousin Steven ate my chili (oh, and there wasn't ANY leftover)!!!!

I know no one gave this baby girl a time out!!

Braxon was outnumbered by the girls!

Grandma Millie and her daughters (someone forgot to tell her to wear her black boots and leggings)

I wanted a picture of the kids in front of the tree, this is what I got!!

Ahhhhh, the hand on the hip pose AT SIX!

Silly girls....

After Dave's family left, we went to grandma and grandpa's house to play with "Alexa", or, as we will forever call her in our house, "Alexis", although she will never answer!! I feel like Alexa is going to come in handy with homework as Delaney gets older!! She's way smarter than humans #justsayin

The big hit this year was baby alive.

I can't think of anything we didn't need more than a new baby in the house!!
Delaney's babies and their gear go everywhere with us. We need a bigger car now....

Christmas didn't stop on Christmas. Why does Delaney look 12 next to Levi???

Levi, the only 4 year old I know who eats onions and olives! Delaney should take lessons.

Poor Luke.....

oh those eyes!!!

To go with those eyelashes......

And to those of you who always ask how Aaron is doing...well, you can see for yourself, he's about 6 feet tall and headed to college in the Fall where his momma went!!

We hate the cold and are ready for Spring. The only good thing about January as far as we are concerned is that's when we start planning our vacations. Spring Break is booked and our "framily" trip to the beach is in the works! Dave's friend said "do you ever talk about anything besides vacation".  I said "uh, not in January".

We can't wait to share our 2017 with you!!

Happy 2017!!!

Guess who I got to spend NYE with??????????

(And a ton of some of our favorite people)!!!