Back Blogged

Between cameras being lost, broken and memory cards being filled I am finally going to update this little blog of mine.  Since the last time I blogged, Summer turned 3.  While this doesn't seem like a huge milestone in life, to us it was HUGE.  Little sunshine of mine has really grown up so much in the last several weeks.  Her teachers have even noticed how grown up she has become and is really acting and making better choices on a daily basis.  I am so grateful to God for this sweet little being that I call a daughter.  Here is a photo collection of her birthday celebrations.

Excited to be at Gran Gran's with all the family

Wow momma look!

Wonder what they would do if I put my hand in the cake?

A party at school TOO!

Cookies designed by Fellers...

The orange cake...she got into the orange extract by accident

It didn't stop her from eating the cake...

A 3rd party for our "little sunshine"

Eating more junk food with Grandma wrapped around her finger:)

Grandma and Grandpa were there to celebrate

Notice the necklace says "neal"  she stole it off the picnic table and refused to take it off!

A table full of friends and food that she loves.

Kind of embarassed that they are all singing to her...

Disney...a dream or a disaster?

Yes, I am officially blogging for a trip back in March.  I am so back logged, but feel the need to document this stuff so here I go. 

My sister and mom decided they wanted to take the girls to Disney for Emily's 3rd birthday instead of having a big party. We were supposed to go back in November, but all got sick so we re-scheduled for spring break.  It took a lot of convincing on there part as I have always (and will continue) to say that Summer was too young to enjoy such a big trip.  Steven came along to chauffer and protect us ladies on this adventure.  He won daddy of the year for putting up with us 5 girls! 

We made the mistake of giving Summer a dose of Zyrtec for kids right before leaving the hotel and she had an adverse reaction.  She was that kid, you know the one...the one  kicking/clawing/clingy/grumpy and miserable in the line in front of you. Then she was the kid with her head hanging over the side of her stroller completely asleep while all of Disney was going on around her.   Poor thing didn't snap out of her fog till after dinner...Needless to say, we won't be doing Disney for another few years. 




Watching the Mickey Characters perform with a grumpy face



These two were in heaven!  Look at Emily's face...she was in AWE!





This picture sums up our whole trip:)

These 3 had a blast:)

Just starting to perk up!

This is why...who doesn't LOVE PRINCE CHARMING

She couldn't believe that it was REALLY Cinderella

In 

The next day...on the way home:)

Turkey Hunter...

 It went a little something like this...

Summer-"Mommy, when I grow up I want to go turkey hunting."

Me-"ok, but you know you have to eat the turkey afterwards"
Summer-"I don't fink (think) so..."
Me-"maybe we could sign you up for ballet lessons"

Proud of her daddy



Being Tortured by her daddy

Posing with dinner

A weekend of fun.

So despite the fact that Summer got sick on that Friday, we chose to head to Niceville for the weekend to spend some time with the Atwell's.  All was good until Sunday night when we got home and then I got sick with the stomach bug too.  It was AWFUL!  I felt so bad for dragging her to Niceville after I got sick as she must of felt terrible, but she handles pain so well that you would hardly have known she was sick!  Either way it was a delightful and relaxing weekend.  Amazing weather, great company and lots of love...Couldn't ask for much more:)

A family shot...eating pretzels and gatorade just in case

Doesn't look sick to me!

Mommy the water is COLD

Snacking on the beach...her favorite pass time

The postcard picture of my two favorite people in one of my favorite places...I LOVE DESTIN

In honor of the presidents.

Family is often complicated...especially when divorce is involved.  I am so thankful, that even though my parents are divorced that my mom and my Granny have stayed close over the years regardless of the fact that she isn't married to my dad any longer.  After losing one grandmother a few weeks ago, I really treasure living in the same town and getting to have special days and memories with my Granny that is still with us.  When we had the day off for President's day it was a great opportunity to head downtown for lunch with all the girls.

Valentine's Day...a month later.

So you wore your Daddy's Little Valentine Shirt 1 full month after Valentine's day. In fact you wore it the day before St. Patrick's Day.  Daddy got you dressed, and I asked why he helped you choose that shirt and his response was "she is Daddy's Valentine all year long."  Pretty much sums it up:)

Here are some pictures from the REAL Valentine's Day party at school. 

A day late and a dollar short...

When you turned two almost one full year ago we had a ladybug party in your honor.  Lot's of friends and family gathered at Tekesta park to celebrate.  I don't think I ever posted pictures, so I am posting them today in the even that I ever get around to printing this blog.

Eating with your favorite daddy

Two Caroline's and the Weiss boys

All things ladybug...You loved the cake and cookies I mean ladybug spots!

If you look closely you can see where a little finger took a taste before the official cutting.



I love this picture of you and Emily. 



Just For Today...

These past few weeks have been complicated, trying, tiresome, exhausting...yet I am exhilarated, amused, happy, and blessed.  Over the past 7 weeks I have all of the following:

• The loss of one grandmother-sudden and not expected
• The hospitalization of the other (she is now home and fine)
• Watched one of my dearest friends lose a grandmother too...
• Surgery on my grandfather down south
• The flu hit my child and 12 of my 17 staff members to whom I call family
• Found out my father-in-law will be starting dialysis anytime now
• Watched my child undergo an adenoidectomy and have her 2nd set of tubes inserted with NO issues which included a meal to Chick-Fil-A right after per HER request!
• Slept in the bathroom with my hands hovered around the toilet thanking GOD that he had allowed Cassie to clean it the week before as the severe stomach bug that my little toddler brought home in mild form on her, was like a beast on me.  

Though I didn't plan any of these challenges to arise in my already jam packed schedule of a life, I am learning that God wants me to take it Day By Day.  He wants me to not stress about the things that I don't have, but more so on the things that I do. I  came across this quote on one of my Grandmother Martha's devotionals. (I am now the keeper of her daily study bible) and I love it...

"Just for today, I will be unafraid.  Especially I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful, and to believe that I give the world, so the world will give to me." 

It's only fair!

poor little dog

Now by posting these little snippets of Summer stories, it would seem that we are potty mouthed sailors that swear all the time.  In all actuality we really have cleaned up our mouths due to our little offspring, but the little girl is JUST so perceptive and if a word slips, she picks it up immediately and runs with it.  And since I posted one that she blamed Steven, I will own this one ALL day long.

I took a shower the other day and Steven and Summer were playing.  I come out of the bedroom and Summer is yelling at the top of her lungs "DAMNIT Maggie, DaMNIT, I said DAMniT DAMNIT DAMNIT."  Steven looks up at me and smirks...she said that's what mommy says when she is frustrated with Maggie.

Dirty Sucker

This one is posted in honor of the DOWNAT's...

So, a few weekends ago, we took a family vacation to the hunting camp in Georgia. We were joined with the Downen's who are some of our bestest friends in the whole wide world. Well as we were limited on supplies etc. we decided to head some 20 minutes into town towards the Walmart. A car pulls out in front of us and Steven yells at the driver in a slang dialect "you DIRTY SUCKER" Well, this must have been some inside joke between him and Glenn as they start laughing really hard. WELL then, Summer pipes in from the back seat "you DIRTY Sucker." I gasp, the rest of the car start laughing...

So, in my most calm voice I say to her..."Summer, that is an adult term and it's not kind to say" You are safe to say that word as much as you want in this truck, but once we get to Walmart you are all done using that unkind word." Well, if you are like me you are thinking to yourself, "right Sher, like she will even listen to you...she is going to yell this semi-slanderous term in public for the rest of her child life embarrassing you at the most optimal of moments."

Fear not my friends, my little 2.5 year old starts yelling "Dirty Sucker, Dirty Sucker, you are a Dirty Sucker." I asked her if she was finished and she calmy responds "no, DIRTY sucKERS, DIRTY suckers, DIRTY suckers" We approach the Walmart with hysterically laughing adults and 11 year old and I again take a deep breath and say "Summer, we are at Walmart, and you have had the chance to get all your Dirty Suckers out, if you feel the need to say it again you will just say "Sweetie PIE."

Now is about the time you laugh to yourself under your breath saying YEAAAAH right...like that little girl is going to listen...Well, when we get Summer out of the car she looks up at me and at the top of her lungs yells out "SWEEEEEEEETTTTTTYYYY PIIIIIIEEEE."

And that was the last time the DOWNAT's heard the phrase "Dirty Sucker."

Medicine-From 2.5 point of view

me-"Summer if you take this medicine you will feel healthy and strong"




Summer-"that medicine is bisdugsting"



me-"it's my job to keep you safe and your job to help me"



Summer-"throw it in the garbage mommy...trash is safe in the garbage"



me-"your medicine isn't trash it helps you feel better"



Summer-"it's bisdugsting and it taste like trash"



me-"would you like some juice with it"



Summer-"no thank you mommy, juice isn't trash...just throw the medicine away so i can rest my body"



me-ok Sum, it's time for daddy to give you your medicine.



.

A goal.

I set a goal of getting more pictures of me with Summer this year.  It would exceed my goal to get more of all 3 of us as we have like a total of 3 from last year:)

Pig Tails are BACK!

After Summer lost most of her baby hair this summer, she absolutely refused to put pigtails back in her hair.  I am  happy to report that she wore pigtails today and was actually happy about it.  The older she gets the more demanding she is about her wearing what she wants to wear and her hair has to be just how she wants it. Shocking that she is headstrong with Steven and myself as parents...

Having a serious discussion with Grandma

I am resting Grandma, please don't look at me.

I'm Hiding!

Peek-A-Boo I see you!

New Year's in the Keys

When Stacey and Drew decided to have an intimate wedding in the Keys over New Year's, I immediately said SIGN ME UP!  What a wonderful, relaxing, and adventurous get-a-way week for us.  We sent Summer to the mountains with Meemaw and Bubba and headed down Tuesday evening to Orlando to spend the night with the Downen's.  Jennifer and Brian Drawdy met us in Orlando around lunchtime Wednesday and we headed south to Marathon.  Thursday and Friday night we stayed on the resort with The Clicks, The Prestons, CLC, and the Drawdy's.  It was a houseful, it was a riot and it was fun.  I am so blessed to have all these amazing friends in my life.  

When I look back at the weekend here are a few things that stand out in my mind.

• A dead body on the side of the road
• Two full size beds within spitting distance of one another
• Lizard poop
• Kayaking in a broken kayak
• Iguana's
• Overflowing hot tubs, wine and spirits
• Sparklers
• Broken air conditioner
• Sunset Grill-man that She crab soup was good!
• Talks of hangovers, babies and  times remembered
• Overall - friendship built over the years and many many memories

 Congrats again to Stacey and Drew Smith....

Brian & Jennifer...notice his redbull vokda at 8am...Happy Vacation!

Been friends since we were 5... the fun still continues

Oh Brian, my hands HURT after all that rowing!

In front of the pool that we never swam in

Teamwork

The mansion we went and explored

Jennifer's pet iguana...if I had captured her reaction I would have won on Funniest home videos!

Relaxing by the pool at the resort

Before the rehearsal dinner-Sadly I have no pictures from the actual wedding night.