Birthday Party Dilemma

Ok, so if you know me, you know that I love a party. I love to plan parties, I love to attend parties, I love every little detail of a party... the invitations, the punch, the food, the table decoration, the atmosphere and the favors. So I am in major turmoil over what to do for Clara Beth's first birthday. I have some sense, so I know that inviting everyone I know is illogical, however, I want to invite family and friends but it's nearing the mark of 70+ people. My house will not hold that many, nor can I afford to cater a party that big (even though that is what I want to do). I realize that a one-year has NO CLUE as to what is going on and I realize that it's more for adults but I want her to look back on it and know that it was planned and executed with perfection. Maybe I have a problem. Ha! Ha! This is not good. This is really the first time I have put my thoughts out there and I am discovering that maybe I am one of those overkill moms that annoys everyone else. Hmmm....if I am fretting this much over her first birthday what will I be like in years to come? Will Clara Beth end up on MTV's Sweet 16 show!?? Ha! Ha! I want all of you to come celebrate with us, but just be forewarned that my hub is the rational one and he will probably make me settle for a mediocre, low-budget "gathering" of just family. Sigh...Sorry Clara Beth!

My little "Burrito Girl"

Super excited to be "Cutielicious"

Future Patti Griffin (only let's hope not)!

Socializing

Clara Beth has had a busy week! Last night we went to my friend Lori's house to meet her sons Benjamin and Jack! I enjoyed seeing the boys and watching CB try to keep up with them. She mostly stared at them and wondered, "what are they doing?!" I had to explain several times that they are "BOYS" but I am not sure she understood. We are learning how very different boys are from girls!Today, we had lunch with little Edee Sue and Sadie. Edee is already one and Sadie is 20 months. It was a quick visit, but well worth it just to hug their necks. I hope Wendee will bring Edee this way again so that we can visit longer and do some swimming!

We are going to a fundraiser tonight for a sweet little boy named Eathen! He is 4 years old and needs a kidney transplant. Randy ran into Eathen and his dad at a concert a few weeks ago and he learned about Eathen's condition. He called me last week and said that he couldn't stop thinking about Eathen and that he was working on organizing a fundraiser for him! I was very surprised...it's not everyday that your husband calls and tells you he is organizing a fundraiser! It made me really proud of him and I wanted to help in any way! So, tonight we are going to St. Pete's in Deep Ellum to hear David Dewese in concert and to hopefully raise some moolah for little Eathen! If you would like to know more about him please look at his website. His life has been full of hospitals, surgeries and fear but you would never know it. He is a fighter and I pray that we can help him have a full and happy life! http://cotaforeathene.com/

I will have photos from tonight's event soon!

Edee Sue, Clara Beth and Sadie Bliss

Clara Beth and Lori

Jack, CB and Ben

Sweet Jack and Clara Beth

Weddings Galore

We had a good time at the wedding last weekend! My precious friend Natalie finally tied the knot and now she and Clayton are in the Bahamas! I am fortunate to have these sweet friends in my life as they make me laugh so hard it hurts! Clara Beth did so much better this trip! I was concerned we wouldn't get any sleep, but I think having Grandmommy with us did the trick! So from now on we will be traveling with my mom in tow. Ha! Ha! Yeah right!

Kelli (Jube), Kerri, A. French, A. Lewallyn and Nicole at the Best Western or "BW"
The beautiful bride, Natalie!

Randy sang in the wedding!

CB dreaming and planning her wedding!

Allison, CB and Grandmommy (the lifesaver)!

Nine Month Cutie

All is well on the homefront these days! We went to Austin last weekend to celebrate the wedding of our friends Michael and Kasey. They got married at Michael's aunt's house on Lake Travis. The ceremony was beautiful but man was it HOT! They are in Belize on their honeymoon...oh to be them! We stayed with our friends the Robinettes who live in Barton Creek. As always, they were wonderful hosts and it was great to visit with them. CB had an allergy attack and we think it was from being around the lake so she wasn't happy most of the time. Two sleepless nights did me in! But there is not much time to recover as we are heading to Wichita Falls this weekend for my friend Natalie's wedding. I am a bridesmaid and Randy is singing! My mom is coming along to help us out so maybe CB will do better this weekend. We are enjoying every minute with our little angel. She is patty-caking, conducting the orchestra, scooting on her tummy and talking non-stop. She fakes me out on the crawling though...she'll get in the crawl stance and then belly flop! I have a hunch that she does it to make me laugh and it does! It's been a long, hot summer. I am ready for fall, cool weather, leaves and football!

Our friends Michael and Kasey got married in Austin

Hanging with Dad and trying to stay cool!

CB got to meet Caroline - FINALLY!

Mom and Dad think I am pretty cute!

This is a hat from Aunt Linda!

My precious friend Chele

This is CB playing with cutie Reagan "Punkie" Robinette!

This was her first time to swing! It was nice and cool outside and she loved it!

I couldn't resist this face! The days of sitting in the Bumbo on the table are numbered!

Summer Break

Clara Beth is nearing nine months so it's time for an update! We had two weeks together and Mommy is really sad today. Getting back to the grind was not easy, but we managed. She is back at Ms. Jodi's and I am sipping on coffee to try and wake up. The beginning of our vacation started out pretty rough! I ended up in the ER on July 4th with severe stomach pain. After some poking, proding, a sonogram and a long two hour test we are still not sure what caused the pain. It's very likely it was my gallbladder but I have to repeat the long test in two weeks just to help clarify. Fortunately the pain is gone so we got to have a little fun while I was off work. Here are just a few highlights...

We had lunch with precious friends Joel and Susan Williams

Mommy's favorite fish face!

We are working on crawling!

CB got her first taste of a fast car! Although we only sat in the driver's seat!

Swimming with Foster and Ms. Stephanie!

Playing with Pecca and Campbell!

This is CB's first trip to the Mesquite Rodeo! She has been twice now!

Father's Day

We had a wonderful Father's Day! My dad was out of town on vacation so that was sad, but it was great to see Randy and CB together. We had a fun-filled day of shopping and lunch on Saturday. Then Sunday we went to church with the Lewallyns and then headed to Fort Worth to spend some time with Uncle Greg and Aunt Erica. Erica's family was so gracious to have us out to their beautiful home! We played Wii, watched golf, enjoyed the sun and visited!

CB goes to the Zoo!

CB made her first visit to the Fort Worth Zoo in June. We had a great time, even though she slept through a lot of the animal sightings. She enjoyed riding the train and seeing this billy goat. Our friends, the Robys and Stringers joined us. Henley and Liam had a blast running around...we could hardly keep up with them!

Liam is so over taking pictures!

Mommy and CB on the Zoo Train!

All the girls eating lunch!

Henley is ready to go! Whoo Hoo!

Henley loves to "help" CB with her paci!

Mommy and CB at the Zoo