Her very first "pony tail"

Ok, so its not really a "pony tail", more like a "sprout", but too cute to not share :)

Watch out, here she comes... she's a plant eater!!!

This little bugger is in to EVERYTHING... nothing is safe with her around!  Good times I tell ya.

In Loving Memory - My Jameson

Growing up I never really had a family pet... so when Ken got me the dog of my dreams in July 2006, it was love at first site, and we were a match made in heaven.  I had always wanted an English Bulldog, and I got everything I ever wanted and more from him. 

Jameson had a personality that was unlike any other dog I have ever met. He was a total lover, and rarely left my side.  He was my full time companion when I worked from home, and ALWAYS knew how to make me smile.  He was smelly, and had crazy teeth, some would say he had a face that only a momma could love... but oddly, everyone loved him.  Even people that didn't care for big dogs, eventually let him into their hearts, he just had a way about him.

We had our ups and downs (very few) with him, but honestly I wouldn't have had it any other way.  He tought me alot about love, which may sound silly, but he did.

I lost him one year ago, and I can honestly say that I still cry at least one time a week.  I never in a million years ever thought that a dog would have impacted my life as much as he did.  His loss is definately one of the hardest things I have ever gone through. I will forever have a hole in my heart, and hold my memories of him so very dear.

Maybe one day, I will get another bullie that will help to heal me.  Until then, I will continue to think about him when I am sad, and know that if he were still alive, he would come lay his head on my lap and just sit with me until I feel better.

He was the most gorgeous boy

He even let us dress him up

If a loved one was sick, he was right by their side to help them feel better

Jameson loved Grandma Mary, and was so gentle with her.

He and Guinness were the best of friends, Guinness misses him too

May his puppy soul rest in peace...  maybe one day I will get to see him again.  Smell his stink and get a wet kiss.

Embracing her inner "Ace Ventura"

After dinner last night, I had wiped Calliope down to clean her face and hair, because she got a little crazy with her dinner...  her hair was sticking up all over, so I was playing with it.  I couldn't help but not give her the "three horn" look!  And afterwards it hit us that she looked a little like Ace Ventura! She is just too cute for words sometimes!

She has a hard life...

So a week or so ago (yes, its taken me a while to post these) Calliope was playing solo in the floor... and I had noticed that she had gotten really quiet.  This is something she usually only does when she is doing something she isn't supposed to be doing, or chewing on something she isn't supposed to chew on. I slowly stand up expecting to catch her red handed, and much to my surprise the below photos are what I found:



She had played herself to sleep! This was a first in our home... so it had to be documented!  She slept like that on the floor for about 30 minutes.  She popped up like she had slept for hours and was back to playing and making messes right away :)

Our Little Poser

As I blogged about earlier this week, Calliope is crawling ALL over, and pulling up onto everything.  One of her favorite places is a storage ottoman we have in our living room.  She was standing there yesterday, and I couldn't resist snapping her picture, and she totally was hamming it up for me!  Proof below...

Her "Senior Picture Pose" 17 years early

Who could resist this face!?!?

Pretty in Purple





Big Brother, Littlest Sister

I asked Drew to hold Calliope earlier this week while I did a couple of things... these are moments I try to catch as often as possible!

A Night at the Ballet

Tonight, Peyton performed in her schools presentation of  Alice in Wonderland.  One of the teachers at her school devotes her time from the beginning of school until this time of year teaching the students the dances, as well as their is a choir.  She feels strongly about keeping the art of performance in the school, and gives her time and energy to make it happen.

This year they danced their interpretation of Alice in Wonderland.  Peyton was a rose. :) It was too cute to see the kiddos tonight, and loved seeing my princess on the stage.  I am looking forward to getting her into dance classes, and many more recitals in the years to come!

Here are a few photos from today/tonight:

Taken this morning before school

Isnt's she beautiful?!?! LOL - Her impression of the Queen of Hearts

Calliope was SOO excited to see her big sister perform!

This time with a smile :)

The set

Striking a pose

Getting her rose to put on the bush

Her at the end of their routine

As pretty as a rose

Posing on stage with her friend Steele

Giving me her favorite ballet pose

What a great night! She danced beautifully, looked gorgeous, and had a great time. To add a cherry onto the top of it, Calliope was perfect! She loved watching, and didn't fuss at all.









Calliope's 7 Month Update

So, I am a few days behind, but it has been crazy, and Calliope doesn't really give me much "down time" during the day anymore, so finding a few minutes to blog has been tough!

I can't believe she is already 7 months old! The things she is doing blow my mind, and I would really like to press the "slo-mo" button on her.  Having Drew (who will be 13 this year!!!) and Peyton (just turned 10) makes me realize that they grow up so stinkin fast, and I want to just soak it all in.

Here are a few fun facts about our little 7 month old:

* She crawls ALL over, and she is fast!

* She pulls up on everything that she can get a grip on, and if able, she will "walk" and travel all around the item she is using as her standing post. I have a hunch we are going to have a walking baby within just another month.

* She says "mama" ALOT, and I love it.  She will follow me from room to room, just chanting it the whole time.  She has also said "uh oh", and attempted to tell me "no" back. She also rambles on saying "bababababa", which sounds like bubba, and Drew is convinced that she is talking about him.  :) My mom and Ken both are now chanting "nana" and "dada" at her, in hopes that they are next!

* She is sleeping through the night (most nights) with the exception of when she wakes and can't find her binky to get her back to sleep.

* She LOVES to eat! She is a riot to watch when you get her in her highchair, because she will start saying "mmmmmmmmmmm, mmmmmmm, MMMMMM!!!" in anticipation of her food.  She eats a fruit for breakfast with her cereal, has a container of food for lunch, and dinner of a veggie and cereal. This along with 4 bottles throughout the day as well.

* She isn't a fan of diaper changes or getting dressed...  when she can run away, we will for sure have our workout ahead of us!

* She made it through her first round of baseball games this past weekend, and did AMAZING!  She really enjoyed watching the game... So here is to hoping that she continues to like it throughout the whole season.

* She smiles ALL the time.  Still can't get her to release her giggle, she will chuckle, but no full on belly laugh.  She is just a sort of serious little one.  She observes everything, and just takes it all in.  Her personality is just too sweet.

* She loves the tv show "Yo Gabba Gabba", I think she digs the colors and the music. She will stop dead in her tracks when she hears the music from it.  Chica from the Sprout channel also does this to her.

And now, a few new pics of her I took last week :)

She was trying to get into the camera bag to get at the webcam...

This is the face I get when I tell her "no"...

She LOVES to chew on EVERYTHING

The below photos are of her playing with her floor mat that we used with her when she was a newborn, up until she started rolling over.  I had it sitting beside the couch and she spotted it and tried to drag it out herself.  She was SOOOOO excited about this.  It has made its way back into the floor of toys that take over our living room every day.

So excited, and rediscovering all the toys

"Hey Mom, look at this one!"

Doesn't this grin just melt your heart!?!

Looks like she was trying to whistle

Wonder if it tastes food too?



Road to the Show - AR Dragons Opening Baseball Tourney

This past weekend the 12yr old AR Dragons played in their first baseball tourney of the season, it was a three day tourney with teams that came in from Nebraska and other states. (March 4-6). Despite the weather (storms and freezing cold) our boys did really well. We played good competition on Sat. and Sunday. Won Friday, lost the games on Saturday and Sunday, but only by one and two point spreads. I see GREAT things for this team in the future!

Drew hit his first homer of the season on Friday night. He hit and pitched well all weekend.  here are some pictures from this weekend:

Getting ready to steal...

Waiting for game to start Friday night...

Heading out to pitch

Getting a little coaching

At the plate

At plate again...

Preparing to pitch

Pitching...

I love this kid, the face of determination

the stare down

Preparing to hit

Calliope and Ken on Friday night, before the storm hit

Ken and I (mostly Ken) took A TON of photos, and it was hard just picking a few for this blog!

Next up, Bixby!  :)