Last letter to my girls in 2009

Dear Hassie Clare and Quinn,
First and foremost, I LOVE BEING YOUR MOM more then anything in this world. It is the most rewarding and gratifying experience. This year you guys have evolved from toddlers to "almost" little girls. You started off the year at 2.5 years old and finished it up at 3.5 years old.
I've said this before in other letters, but I had no idea being a mom would be this much fun. You guys crack me up on an hourly basis. I love taking road trips with you, shopping and outings to things around town. My favorite times are at our house, in our pj's reading a book or playing. We have had a great year!
Our first family vacation to the beach was very memorable. I loved watching you experience the ocean and sand for the first time. I'm looking forward to many more trips to the beach over the years.
Other big events for our family in 2009 were potty training, Aunt Karrie's wedding, trips to Maema's house in Missouri, going to school, all the trips to the zoo and museum's, moving Nana and PawPaw from Conway to Southaven, all the good times you had with your nanny Tay Tay, Onyx's kittens ... just to name a few.  
One of the coolest things that I witnessed this year was watching you become best friends. You are both so different with unique personalities. One of the things you have in common is that you both have the kindest, sweetest heart. You guys talk to each other about everything when you get into bed at night and for naps (I listen over the monitors). You both play dress-up and "pretend" every waking moment.
My wish for you is that you grow up maintaining this love and friendship you have for each other. I say this at least once a day to you both, "do you know how lucky you are to have each other?" You always reply with "yes mommy, she my best friend." I hope that when you read this in 30 years, it will fill your heart to know that the friendship with your sister started from day one. I know there will be difficult times along the way between the two of you but I hope you always find your way back to each other.
Your dad and I have been talking about having another baby. Our biological clocks are ticking and time is a factor. We both seem to be on the same page. At this time, we are at 84% no and 16% go for it. I guess we will see what happens in 2010.
As I type this, you guys are in your playroom. Hassie Clare is wearing a pink, fury princess dress but calling herself Dorofee (ALWAYS in character as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz)). Quinn is wearing a ballet leotard with a tutu and calling herself Belle. You both amaze me with your beauty, intelligence and kindness. I could not ask for anything more.
I love you with every bit of my existence,
Your Mommy

PS - This wraps up my first year of blogging. I hope to continue it throughout the years so that you have a glimpse of what your childhood was like.  I'm a terrible writer and even worse with grammar and spelling so forgive me. My main purpose in keeping this blog is for you to have this to read when you get older. Maybe my grandkids will even read it (wow ... I've never ever thought about that). I write from my heart. I want to make sure you always know how much I love being your mother and how much fun we had when you were little. Being your mom is the greatest honor I've ever had!

NYE w BFF's

New Year's Eve marks the 10-year anniversary that Jamie and I started dating. We met the summer on 1999 (I almost had to break out in song with that sentence). Our first New Year's Eve together was one we will never forget but hardly remember ... if ya know what I mean. From NYE 2001 - 2006 we spent bringing in the new year with the beloved Hammer's. We have made some great memories. We took 3 years off because of babies and a death in the family. We decided 3 years was long enough so we started back the tradition of spending it together.

Of course the dynamics of our NYE has changed drastically. Our first NYE together as a group, we spent at a fancy restaurant in St. Louis. We dined next to Jack Buck and other local celebs while eating fine foods and drinking expensive beverages. Fast forward 9 years and we spent NYE in Olive Branch with a 6 month old, 3 3 year olds and a 6 year old. Eating take-out lasagna and drinking whiskey and wine (again ... I almost broke out in song). Honestly, I can't tell you which night I had more fun. I am thankful for our memories of past NYE but very grateful for the NYE's spent with all of our kids. Good times all around.

It was an awesome weekend. All 4 girls (from oldest to youngest - Morgan, Jenna, Quinn, Hassie Clare) played together so well. They played dress up, read books, ate lots of junk food, watched movies, played with every toy imaginable. I got some serious baby lovin' from baby Benny. He is such a good baby and so flippin cute. We spent a majority of the long weekend catching up, swapping parenting stories, talking about old times and enjoying the kids. Our only outing was to the Memphis Children's Museum and to a Japanese Steak House (we all forgot our camera). Both places were a hit with the parents and kids. At night, after the kids were asleep, we spent time laughing on the couch and enjoying some adult time.

Hasie Clare(AKA Dorofee) and Quinn (AKA Belle) talking to Benny.

Morgan reading bed time stories to the 3 year olds.

The girls have started copying the way Morgan reads....it is so cute! They put their finger on the page and pretend to get stuck on a few words. Morgan reads so well for a 6 year old!

Snuggle bunnies.

Hassie Clare bear and Jenna bear.

Hassie Clare and baby Benny.

Disney movie marathon in my room.

Big Ben (Quinn's Godfather), Little Ben (Jamie's Godson), Hassie Clare and Morgan.

We are so lucky to have such good friends. Not only do we have a ton in common, we truly respect them. Paige is a complete and total OCD control freak, especially over her kids. For that, I am the most thankful because I don't feel so alone in the world!!!!!

THURMANS + HAMMERS = 4EVER

My Freddie's 70th Surprise birthday party

He is a Christmas baby. Born December 25, 1939. Until this year, he has NEVER had a birthday party. My mom always made it special for him with little things, like a cake and birthday presents. We decided this year it was time he had a birthday party and we decided to make it a surprise. It was on Friday, December 18.

Everyone chipped in and we had a wine and cheese, plus lots of other goodies.  5 of his 8 kids were able to make it, along with several grandkids. Two of them traveled from Kansas and Illinois. Planning for this during the holidays was a challenge but we pulled it off. I think he was truly surprised. He got emotional several times throughout the night. I have no doubt it was a birthday he will never forget. He is a good husband, a great father and an excellent grandfather. We are lucky to call him ours.

SURPIRSE

It took him about 30 seconds to "get" what was going on ... he was adorable!

My girlfriend Jennifer made his cake. Everything was edible except the wire on the cheese slicer. Everything. It was pricelses. The label on the wine bottle reads "Fred's Happy Birthday Bouquet. Aged 70 years to perfection."

E (aka Nana, my mom, Punky, Carol, Grandma) with her IL grandkids. They call her E because when their first grandkid was born she wanted to be called Nannie and he (Casey) could only say E. They are the sweetest most well mannered kids, plus they love their Aunt Kristi. Hasie Clare and Quinn think it is very cool that they have twin cousins.

Fred hanging out with old friends. He smiled like this the entire night.

I wish his mom could have come to the party but she doesn't get around very well these days.

 

My brother, my mom and my sister.

The birthday boy opening presents.

Cousins hanging out inside a dollhouse in their playroom.

Christmas morning 2009

Christmas Eve night we went over to my parent's new house for dinner and to be with my family. The only thing missing was Aunt Karrie and Uncle Brent. Low key evening with good food and lots of love. Maema came down to spend Christmas, with us which made the holidays even better.

Christmas Eve night - leaving food for Santa's reindeer in our backyard.

Opening up the butt load of presents from Maema the night before Christmas Eve.

Quinnie showing off her new Tag reader from Maema (very cool gift by the way).

I never in a million years thought I could get so excited about Christmas morning. It truly is magical to watch the excitment and joy in a childs face the morning after Santa pays a visit.

Look at all the neat stuff Santa left (Q stuff on the left, HC stuff on the right and group stuff in the middle)

Love at first sight. She named her Lizzy but still refers to her as Christmas baby.

Chairs Santa and Nana got the girls. HC is holding her new baby that swims.

HC's favorite present from Santa BY FAR was princess lip gloss in her stocking. She puts on several layers every 5 mins. She is also holding a small Lite Brite (that we put away because I didn't realize it came with 2 million tiny pegs). In every picture over the weekend after Christmas, HC is holding 1 or both of her new lip glosses. I have to pry them out of her hands when they go to sleep.

"Oh my goodness, we didn't even see the big thing Santa left for us by the door cause it was covered up with a blanket."

Barbie Dream Townhouse (the one thing they both told Santa they wanted).

Maema and Hassie Clare checking out her new picture frame.

Ruby LOVED her stocking. Onyx liked her stocking also!

Quinn's top 3 gifts from Santa in order:

1) Christmas baby

2) Princess umbrella

3) Barbie Doll House

Hassie Clare's top 3 gifts from Santa in order:

1) Lip gloss w the pink top

2) Lip gloss with the green top

3) Mickey Mouse Jelly beans 

They really loved everything Santa brought them and all the gifts friends and family gave them. They are huge movie buffs and got a few new movies, new pj's, art supplies, bath towels, books, princess decor, personal portable DVD players, Princess vanity .... way to much all kinds of good stuff. Yes, we need to buy a bigger house but since that won't happen anytime soon .... our motto is "out with the old, in with the new."

The perfect day.

December 27, 2009 - the Sunday after Christmas. We didn't leave the house or get out of our pj's. Nothing spectacular happened. In fact, to most, it would have been a boring day. But for me ... it was the perfect day. I laughed liked I haven't laughed in months - I snuggled and flirted with my husband more then I have in a year - I loved-on, wrestled and played with my kids all day long, without any interruption.

My mom said it perfectly when I told her about my day. She said, "You enjoyed your family. You didn't have to be the disciplinarian, the boss, the housekeeper, cook, the work from home mom, the taxi driver, etc." Remember I'm the chronic over-booker. I took the day off and it was a day I will hold onto as long as I can.

At first I thought we were having so much fun because the girls were in such a good mood. They were not fighting or whining. But then I realized it wasn't them, it was me. Or Jamie and me I should say. We were 100% relaxed. We were not challenging them or asking anything of them. We even played hookie from Church. They had ALL of our attention. We were not distracted with work, chores, projects, yard work, NOTHING!

We piled onto each other on the couch and watched the movie Up (or as Hassie Clare calls it "Falling From The Sky"). We listened to music and danced .... a lot. We curled up in the bed and read books. We ate good food, well .. not good as in healthy but good as in yummy. We talked and talked and talked. Hassie Clare and Quinn's memory amazes me. Most of the day Hassie Clare asked that we only refer to her as Dorofee (ya know, from the Wizard of Oz) and Quinnie insisted I call her Belle (the Princess). Even Ruby was in a good mood and full of energy (even though I think it was the senior vitamins we started giving her).

Yesterday was just a small reminder of why I love my life so much. Why am I the lucky one that has 2 great kids and a wonderful marriage? I like to think that I don't take it for granted but I think I get so caught up in the hussle and bussle of life that I do take it for granted ... just a little bit. But not yesterday. I enjoyed and cherished every second of our day together.

I asked Jamie if he thought anyone else in this world was as happy as we are at this very moment. He replied, "God I hope so."

Relationship with Santa & Elfis

YEAR 1 
The girls were 6 months old. Because they were so premature (2 months), we agreed with their doctors that they should stay out of the public during the RSV and flu season. Thus .. no pics with Santa.!

YEAR 2
Hassie Clare and Quinn's first trip to see Santa. They were 18 months old. We went to the Pink Palace Museum to see the Enchanted Forrest. When I was kid, we went every year. It has not changed one bit except the location. Even smells the same! Back in the day, it was at the Goldsmith's downtown.
Here is the photo:

2007 - I love this Santa Claus.

YEAR 3

In 2008, we (and by we I mean Jamie) decided it was cruel and unusual punishment to subject the girls to Santa because they were still deathly afraid of him. He even came to our house for a special visit but the closest they got to him was taking a candy cane from Mrs. Claus. I have it all on video!

YEAR 4

In 2009, we decided to take the girls out to Uncle Dave's store for the opening day of the Christmas season. Santa arrived on a Bass boat. There were cookies and crafts. This was before Thanksgiving but it was a nice way to get the girls in the spirit. Quinn changed her mind about seeing Santa.  However, we (and by we I mean I) tossed her in Santa's lap for a picture.

Quinn screamed so loud she even scared the moose (check the top left hand corner of the pic). We seriously thought she was going to set off the store's alarm system. About 2 seconds after this picture was taken, Hassie Clare freaked out also because Quinn was hysterical.

Quinn decided after this melt down that she liked Santa and would sit in his lap the next time she saw him. Hassie Clare decided she no longer liked Santa and he was scary. After explaining what all Santa does (multiple times) they both finally agreed that it would be beneficial to their toy collection if they liked Santa. So, when Santa came to their Mother's Day Out, they sat in his lap. I was hiding and watching them (figured they had a better chance if I was not around). The school took a pic but the picture is very dark and blurry.

Then Santa came to our house and they loved him! I have it all on video but I had left our camera ealier that day at a Christmas party (thankfully recovered it the next day). Aunt Jenny is suppose to send me the pics she took!

So all in all, after 4 Christmas's, I think they finally love Santa.

ELFIS

This is our Elf (Elf on a Shelf). He joined our family in 2008. The girls named them all by themselves. They were just starting to talk well and use sentences when we got him. They had heard the name Elvis several times and I think that they thought when we said Elf we meant to say Elvis ...are you following me? Thus the name Elfis was born. Elfis lives at the North Pole all year and comes to our house the night we put up our tree. Every night when they girls go to sleep he travels back to the North Pole to report to Santa how good they have been. Before the girls wake up, Elfis comes home and sits somewhere different. Every morning to girls jump out of bed and run around to find Elfis. If they touch him then he will lose his magic. When Santa comes on Christmas Eve night, he takes Elfis back with him to the North Pole. Jamie and I have so much fun with this little tradition we have started. See ya next year Elfis!!!!

1st Annual Christmas Teddy Bear Tea

The girls got invited to this over the top, ridiculously cute gathering.  They were so excited about bringing their teddy bears dressed in clothing. The hosts of this tea did a great job! On top of all the great food and decorations, they had a professional photographer taking pictures of the kids. Seriously .... they look like Glamour Shot pictures but I promise they were snap shots of them in front of a Christmas tree. This guy was that good! He took several of them while they were playing and eating but these were my favorite 3 pics.

At this morning tea, they consumed more sugar in an hour and a half then they have ever consumed in their life.  The look on their face is the look of heavenly bliss....with a sugar high.

Her crooked smile kills me!

Qunnie was just getting ready to do her "I'm shy let me cover my mouth and make a silly face thing"  when he captured this shot.  It looks to me like a posed pic ...  I could not believe it when he showed it to me on the camera.

The main living room had a long kid's table adorably decorated. Each little girl had their own place setting with Christmas plates full of every candy, cookie, sweet treats you can imagine. When we first got there and walked into this room and Quinn saw all the food she threw her arms in the air and shouted "wooo hooo."  The girl is serious about her food and she gets very excited about anything associated with food. 

Each place setting had white gloves and a feather scarf (thus Quinn's pic with the boa). They also had an adult food table and served Mimosa'a which made me very happy:-()

It was such a fun "girly" morning. I'm already looking forward to next years Teddy Bear Tea.

Christmas Past - 2006

This was our first Christmas together as a family. Jamie and I were exhausted and broke but loving life. The grandparents smothered the girls with presents. We filled their stockings with toys from their playroom (I don't think we can get away with that anymore). Jamie and I were so excited Christmas morning that we woke the girls up early! I remember being overwhelmed with emotion. I felt so lucky and blessed .... and I still feel this way, especially around the holidays.

FIRST CHRISTMAS 2006

6 months old

Quinnie

Hassie Clare

Christmas Eve

Hassie Clare

Christmas morning (look at Quinnie's smile - ohh I'd give anything for one more day with them at this age)

Christmas morning

The past few weeks & Christmas Cards

As you can tell by the lack of posts, I have been a bad  blogger lately. Yes, I have many excuses and yes, they are all valid. So here is what we have been up to in the past few weeks:

1) Children's Museum of Memphis - we joined a few weeks ago and Taylor and the girls have already gone twice. They LOVE it!
2) Olive Branch Christmas Parade - as always, we met the Hagel's downtown and had a good time.
3)  Remodeling our kitchen - still working on it. The latest thing we have done is change out all the hardware on the cabinets. The fun never ends:)
3) Christmas parties for Mom - 2 back to back parties last week with my girlfriends. My bunco group and my softball group.
4) Grandpa & Glenda in town for a visit - it was horrible ... for me. I was sicker then a dog with bronchitis and sinusitis. Still not feeling 100% and I'm on my 4th day of drugs.  They were so sweet about it but I felt so bad for missing all the family time. On Sunday, they went with Jamie and the girls to see Princess and the Frog (originally they went to the Desoto County Theater to see The Wizard of Oz but all the tickets were sold out).

In my line of work, the holidays are by far the busiest time of the year. With that said, I'm working a ton of hours. I've only done half of the shopping that I need to do before Christmas. I'm sending out 100 Christmas cards this week. AND ... I'm working on something else but I can't mention it yet cause it is a big ole secret.

BIG NEWS ..... Quinn sat on Santa's lap for the first time ever this morning at her school. This child is scared of everything ... EVERYTHING. Even the Chicalay (Chic-Fila) cow. It took everything she had but she did it. I'm not going to lie. I popped a tear out. She looked so tiny and she was being so brave. I was so proud of her for conquering one of her fears. She told us she was going to sit in his lap the next time she saw him. And she did. Once she makes her mind up about something, there is no stopping her.

Last year Taylor got the girls dressed up in Christmas outfits and took them outside to try and capture a good Christmas card picture.  She has a way of getting them to do things. I finally figured out her secret ... she puts small candy in her pocket and rewards them when they do what she asks of them (yes ..... like a dog). Hahah. It works and she usually gets some pretty good shots. This year was a little more challenging because it was cold outside and well ... they are 3 years old. Taylor has creative ideas and a knack for the camera. Aunt Karrie and I picked out these outfits. My mom thinks they look like pj's. The girls love that they are soft and twirl around when they spin!

Christmas Card REJECT pics

CHRISTMAS CARD PICTURES