Easter Weekend 2011!

Wow!! What a weekend!! These past few weeks have been pretty rough around our house, and this Momma was more than ready for a 4 day weekend to "rest" and "recuperate". Between work, potty training, and psycho hormones, it's been a tad stressful for us all.

Little did I know what the weekend would have in store...

Friday wasn't too bad, especially since it didn't include work! MyMy even came and took Abigail to the park so Momma could do some last minute Easter/grocery shopping in peace! (It was pretty wonderful to know that none of the screaming children in Wal-Mart were mine!) Saturday morning was going to involve yardwork and housework, and a little bit of cooking, too!

And, that lasted all of about 5 minutes. Isn't there a saying about the "best laid plans"?? Yeah, I thought so. Justin didn't get two rows mowed before the lawnmower broke. And by broke, I mean BROKE. As in, Daddy can't fix it. He tried. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, I had just put my delicious Strawberry Cream Cheese Swirl Pound Cake in the oven, only to look over and find the cream cheese laying on the counter. As in, not in my cake. And then, the cake came out a tad more "done" than I would've preferred. It wasn't burnt exactly, just too browned. :(

My nerves had already been shot the previous week, just one of those "one thing after another" times, so it didn't take much to get the tears going...

The only thing that saved the day was that we had a date planned for Saturday night!

Planned is maybe not the best word. I asked MyMy to keep Abigail so we could go somewhere--that was the extent of the planning! It was wonderful, though, once we finally got around to it! Yummy Greek/Lebanese food, a peaceful meal, a little random shopping, and some hand holding--a perfect night, if you ask me!!

A wonderful church service on Sunday morning, followed by a delicious lunch and a little Easter egg hunt rounded off the day! Poor Abigail was worn out after such a busy weekend!

And then it was off again this morning to Lake Charles for a little bloodwork to make sure Miss Julianne is doing okay! I can't believe we'll get to meet her in only a few short months!! I, for one, am SO ready!! This pregnancy has gone really well, especially given the circumstances, so I'm not complaining one bit!! I just can't wait to meet my littlest princess!! A big thanks to MeMe for keeping Abigail this morning, and for the new PINK clothes for Julianne!! MyMy and I enjoyed a little sister time, which we don't get very often anymore!!

Now, to get ready for another long work week...

Here are a few pics from Easter Sunday...

You can tell by my face what kind of week it's been...

She was a girl on a mission!!

She found them all--about 4 times!!

Snuggled up with Daddy--so tired after a long day!!

Potty Training

Well, this Momma decided a few days ago that it was time for the potty training to commence.

When my child can tell me in detailed, complete sentences exactly what is in her diaper and what I need to do with it, it's time.

We only had a few diapers left yesterday, and Momma decided we weren't buying any more.

(I reserve the right to change my mind about that.)

So, armed with 5 pair of big girl princess panties, a new singing princess potty, special snacks, and a good bit of determination, we began.

She did pretty good yesterday, and even better this morning! She even gave Momma a BIG surprise in the potty this morning, which brought on the ice cream and EXTREME potty dancing!! (Of course, she later gave me a BIG surprise in her bathing suit on her swing set--lovely.) I'm trying to be patient, which is not in my nature, but I KNOW she can do it. I figure the next few days will be completely horrible, and then maybe she'll have gotten the hang of it...hope I'm right!! Right now, we're staying close to the potty and doing lots of dancing, praising, and snacking!! Whatever it takes!!

Like I said, whatever it takes.

Lazy Sunday

Today has just been "one of those days"...

Justin went to work this morning, so it was just us girls!

I wasn't feeling so hot today, so we didn't make it to church, and that always kinda throws us off.

We watched a LOT of Nick, Jr. and played outside a little, checked on the baby chicks and caught up on our nap! Miss Priss woke up in a particularly cranky mood, and immediately began ordering me to "GET UP!" and fix her a snack. I informed her that I was the Momma and I was the boss, and she needed to ask nicely if she wanted something. She eventually did, and I got her a snack. Apparently that snack was magical, because as soon as she finished, she sweetly walked over to me, smiled, and said, "Ok, Momma, now I'm the Abigail Boss, okay?!"

Um, no. Not okay, but nice try!!

We decided to run to town to pick up a few things from the store and just get out of the house for a few minutes. As usual, it was an interesting trip! At one point, she was trying to hand me a newly found booger, and I told her I couldn't get it right now, just hang on a second.

Next thing I know, she's feeding the booger to her tiger she got at the Railroad Festival, saying, "Here's you food, Tiger. I know you feel better now."

Isn't that special?! Never a dull moment at our house, I tell ya!!

Tomorrow Daddy and I are going to check on Julianne again and make sure she's still doing good!

She has been moving and kicking like crazy, which I LOVE!! She is pretty active, especially at night, so I'm a little worried if she has her days and nights mixed up already. We're gonna have to get that straight pretty quick!!

As I type this, my big girl is sitting next to me, loving on my face and giving me kisses!

I am so very blessed! Don't know what I'd do without my girl(s)!

Fun times at the Railroad Festival!

Friday night we loaded up and went to the Railroad Festival in DeQuincy!

I've been going for as long as I can remember, and I have lots of fond memories, especially getting all dressed up with Em to go ride rides with a bunch of carnies...:)

We picked up Granny and headed out, and oh, the fun we had!

Abigail just called it the fair, which is her favorite thing right after her chickens!

She had a blast riding all the rides!

Since Momma was sort of unable to ride this year, Daddy got the pleasure of accompanying her on the ones she was still a little small for. I think he kinda liked it!

What can I say, she loves the four wheeler ride!

This one was so funny--Granny and I were sure that particular balloon was gonna fall off!!

I worked all night to get her that hat--she hated it.

She was so pooped after all the riding and "fair"-ing! Nothing like a little back rub from Granny to make a girl feel better!

Happy Birthday, Nana!!

Happy Birthday, Nana!

We love you bunches!!

PINK, PINK, PINK!!!

Those of you who know me well (okay, any at all...) know that pink is my least favorite color in the world.

Pretty sure that comes with being a redhead--it's just not our color.

When we found out that Abigail was a girl, I swore up and down that she would not be swathed in pink all the time, as so many little girls are. (No offense to anyone, just my own issues!) I did pretty good for awhile. She had plenty of pink stuff, but I was able to interject a bit of purple, turquoise, etc., into the mix!

And then the "independent stage" began...

Help me, Lord!!

ALL, and I mean ALL I have heard lately is PINK!!

In the past week, she has told me that "girls drive pink tractors" (and so do Daddys, sometimes!), "pink puppies are my favorite" (poor Hopper!), and "pink is for Princesses--I'm a pink Princess, Momma!" (Well, duh.)

Just today, she informed me that she liked pink refrigerators (yes, she said refrigerators) and pink thunder (not the regular kind, just the pink kind).

This Momma's on PINK overload--and poor Daddy, bless his heart!!

And now we're gonna have another girl--what's a Momma to do??!!

Get 'em a pink tractor, I guess...:)

Sweet Springtime!

I don't know about y'all, but I sure am glad that Springtime is here!!

Winter is fine, but I was more than ready for some pretty weather and some outside time!

We have had an incredibly busy weekend, so busy in fact, that I couldn't even get all the pics on here! We were able to finish some yardwork around the house and do lots of "going" as well! I'm gonna be glad for tomorrow so I can try to rest!

Yesterday morning, we all worked in the yard! Abigail and Daddy planted wildflower seeds in her playhouse flower boxes, I mowed, and Justin built an extension onto the chicken yard. Those biddies we got about a month ago were getting too big for the brooder, so now they're outside in their own little compound! (The chickens live better than we do around here!)

Saturday afternoon, we took a little break from the chores to go to Aryana's first official T-ball game! It was too cute! The Diamond Divas did a great job and won by several runs!

Way to go, Aryana!!

After coming back and finishing fencing in the chicken yard, we all got cleaned up for the rodeo!

PawPaw Jerry met us there, and Abigail was so excited to see him!

As usual, they walked around and found all kinds of fun stuff to do!

(Momma loves it when PawPaw Jerry comes, because then she gets a break! Thanks, PawPaw!)

And today was the best of all!

We loaded up this morning for Southeast LA, to see the beautiful and sweet Miss Avery Jones be baptized! I don't think Rosedale UMC will ever forget the Slaydon family!

It was so wonderful to see old friends and new, and get to celebrate a VERY special little girl's baptism. What a blessing!

We are so blessed to have such amazing friends!

Love you, Jones Family!!

Tomorrow looks like it'll be a stormy one around here, so maybe the Princess and her Momma will get to catch up on their naps! Sure wish Daddy didn't have to go back to work...