The Galyeans

Time to Say Good-Bye for Now!

2009-08-30T20:19:00.005-06:00

On Wednesday, we had to say good-bye to Aunt Sis, Jacy, & Britton. We were all sad to say good-bye. As always, we had such a great time together. I just treasure all the wonderful memories. Mallory cried when we left the airport and I cried too. She still is saying "I miss Jacy & Britton". But we will see eachother again soon! We love them so much & had so much fun! Before they left, the kiddos watched some tv while Sis & I got ready then we took some more fun pictures before they left!

Lazy Day!

2009-08-30T20:09:00.005-06:00

I promise, I'm almost done posting about my sister's visit. But I just have way to many pictures that I can't pass up sharing.
On Tuesday, we all very lazy. We all stayed in our pjs until around 4pm when we decided to run to Walmart for a few groceries. So that was our big outing. But it was nice to enjoy the cloudy weather and stay in to play with the kiddos. It was a great day!

Mary Kay & Chick-Fil-A!

2009-08-30T19:53:00.005-06:00

On Monday the 24th we had a Mary Kay party with all of my girlfriends. My sister had never met all of my wonderful girls so I found this the perfect opportunity to play make-up with Sis' stuff and for everyone to meet my awesome sister, niece, & nephew! We all brought out kiddos so it was a make-up/playdate! It was a blast.
Afterwards, we went to the mall for some more Chick-Fil-A and playtime for the kiddos!
Later that night, we made breakfast for dinner....yummy pancakes...the kiddos helped!

Time for Church & Shopping!

2009-08-30T14:20:00.002-06:00

On Sunday, we enjoyed a wonderful church service. The kiddos did great in the church nursery. After church we had a yummy lunch and then did a little "tax free" shopping! Good times as always!

Chuck E. Cheese's!

2009-08-30T09:55:00.006-06:00

Saturday morning was spent at Chuck E. Cheese's where we all had a great time then we enjoyed the rest of the day just hanging out around the house & playing outside.

Shopping & Play Day!

2009-08-29T19:20:00.004-06:00

On Friday the 21st the 5 of us headed to the mall. Sis & I did a little shopping and then we let the kiddos play at the indoor playground & ride the train. We ended with lunch at Chick Fil A! We love that place and my sister doesn't have one so we ate there twice while she was here.
The rest of the day included naps and hanging out around the house then dinner at Leo's!

The Zoo with Sis, Jacy, & Britton!

2009-08-28T21:06:00.007-06:00

On Thursday Sis & I took the kiddos to the El Paso Zoo. It was nice & hot but we had a great time anyway. Mallory, Jacy, & Britton had a blast looking at all the animals especially the sea lions, elephants, & the tiger. It was such a fun day!

Sis, Jacy, & Britton Come to Visit!

2009-08-28T20:55:00.003-06:00

Sis, Jacy, & Britton came to see on Wednesday, August 19th and were able to stay for a whole week. Mallory & I both were so excited to have them here. Mallory loves her cousins so much and of course she loves Aunt Sis!! She had so much fun with them. And of course, I loved having Sis here and my sweet niece & nephew. I enjoyed every minute with them.
We enjoyed lots of playtime & laughs, swimming, the zoo, shopping, Chuck E. Cheese's, church, a playdate & Mary Kay party with my girls.....it was a wonderful week!
Here are some pics from the first day they were here. We were all so glad to see eachother. I'll post more soon!

Playing Dress Up!

2009-08-18T15:29:00.002-06:00

Mallory loves to get into my shoes, my jewelry, and my headbands to play dress up. She usually does this while I'm trying to get ready. It is so darn cute!

Painting!

2009-08-18T15:20:00.002-06:00

Mallory really enjoys painting. We usually do water paints and finger paints but recently we have upgraded to regular paints but still washable. She has so much fun painting....though by the end she is usually ready to clean up. She always says "I'm messy"...she is definitely my daughter!

Our Visit to the El Paso Zoo!

2009-08-18T15:09:00.004-06:00

On Wednesday, August 12th, Lee, Alli, and I took our girls to the El Paso Zoo. As you have seen, we have been many times before but it is a nice, inexpensive outing. Mallory enjoys the elephants & the sea lions! I just love seeing her face when she looks at all the animals. It was nice and hot but we all enjoyed ourselves. Mallory always has fun when she is with Mommy & her friends.

Julia & Sandy Come to Visit!

2009-08-18T14:45:00.004-06:00

My best friends, Julia & Sandy came in to visit me on Friday, August 7th and stayed until Tuesday, August 11th. I met these 2 girls here in El Paso in 2007. They both are military so they have since moved which makes me so sad but we had a fun reunion weekend just us girls. We enjoyed just hanging out, talking, staying up way too late, playing with kiddos, & shopping. They both have 5 month old little boys, Mack & Tyce, so they brought them along. Julia also has Mattox but she stayed with her grandparents. Mallory really missed seeing her bff too but she had a blast with the babies. Our friend Marcy was able to spend some time with us throughout the weekend too. It was a such a fun weekend and we're hoping to get together again in October!

Princess Clock!

2009-08-18T14:17:00.003-06:00

I bought Mallory a Princess Clock from Target a couple of weeks ago. She helped pick it out and I was hoping this would help her with watching for the "7" in the mornings.....but that is still a work in progress but she LOVES her new clock!

Movie & Popcorn!

2009-08-17T15:22:00.005-06:00

Mallory & I enjoyed an afternoon one day of laziness in my bed. We popped some popcorn & watched "Sleeping Beauty"! Such sweet & precious memories with my sweet baby girl!

M&Ms

2009-08-17T15:13:00.003-06:00

On our way home from Target one day, Mallory said she had to go "tee tee" so I stopped in at the nearest Walgreens. We ran in and she did her business but then on the way out she saw the giant M&M! She asked me to take her picture of her & the M&M! So she started posing & I got some cute ones. She hugged, kissed, did her "guns up", and even asked for a wipe to clean him (yes she is truly my daughter). She just couldn't get enough and I'm sure everyone in Walgreens was wondering what the heck we were doing! It was so cute and precious! Ironically, she gets M&Ms for going potty so these pictures seemed appropriate since we were there to go potty!

Saying Good-Bye to Lindsay!

2009-08-17T15:07:00.002-06:00

As I have mentioned before my sweet friend Lindsay and her family moved at the end of July. We had a going away bbq for the family but we decided we all needed a girls' night out. Before she left about 10 of us went to dinner at the Rivira and then we went to see "The Ugly Truth". It was such a fun night and we should do many more girls' nights! We miss Lindsay & her sweet family!! We hope to see them again in the future!

Baseball & Backyardigans!

2009-07-26T10:26:00.006-06:00

Last night we went to another Diablos baseball game with some friends. The main reason why we went is because we heard that the Backyardigans were going to make an appearance. We knew Mallory would love it and she did. We got there right in time to see Pablo & Uniqua (the only 2 that came) go down on the field and throw the first pitch. She was so pumped. Around the 2nd inning, they had them set up so you could get your picture taken with them. Mallory, of course, would never touch or take a picture with them....she says "I'm shy, Mommy" and she would flip out. And I was glad because the line was forever long. So my friend, Shannon & I took the kiddos right up to where they were taking pictures and just let them look & wave. We were so close that Mal couldn't believe it. She waved and said hello. It was so cute. She had wanted to give them some fruit snacks but we had forgotten to bring them with us. So as were leaving, we asked one of the kids that was helping protect Pablo & Uniqua to please give the snacks to them. I thought sure he would take them and give them to them "later"...that's what we had told Mallory would happen.....but the sweet kid, walked right over, whispered in Uniqua's ear, pointed at Mallory, and gave her the snacks. Oh my gosh, she was elated. We're going to be hearing about that night for a long time. It was such a fun and exciting night....great night with family & friends!

Mallory's Big Girl Bed!

2009-07-24T14:13:00.005-06:00

After 2 years and 8 months in her crib (minus the time in her bassinet in our room when she was born), Mallory finally got a big girl bed! Yesterday morning, Kevin & I took down her crib & turned it into a full size bed...sniff sniff for Mommy! Mallory said "Bye bye crib, see you later!" Then at 2pm the Mattress Firm guys delivered her beautiful bed! We haven't switched her sooner because she did so well in her crib....slept 12 hours at night, took 2 hour naps, and never tried to climb out. We figured...why mess with what works. Well I started to feel quilty that she was still sleeping in her crib (all of her friends have big girl/boy beds & she was getting so long in there) so we went out a couple of weeks ago and found the perfect bed for her. I wasn't sure how she would do but oh my gosh, she LOVES it. Last night was her first night to sleep in it and she did great. And today is her first nap and so far so good!
We are hoping this continues! She has always done great an transitions! I have also put a digital clock in her room so in the mornings, she can't get out of bed until she sees a 7 in the first spot (I covered up the other 2 numbers).....it worked this morning...the only exception, of course, is if she needs to go potty or needs something. I got this idea from my Sis' friend Noell.
Again, we are so proud of our sweet Mallory.

Making Banana Bread!

2009-07-24T13:23:00.006-06:00

There are very few things that I make from scratch but I can make some pretty yummy homemade banana bread. On Tuesday I enlisted my little helper to assist me in making some banana bread muffins! We had a great time doing it & made more memories. Mallory smashed the bananas for me (while doing a few taste tests), poured some of the ingredients in the bowl, and then helped me mix it up before pouring in the mixer. She was a great little helper as always. We both took a few licks of the batter before pouring it into the muffin pan. Afterwards, we both enjoyed some yummy, warm banana bread muffins & milk! It was lots of fun...we'll do it again soon:)

Mallory's New Pool!

2009-07-20T21:30:00.005-06:00

I finally bought Mallory a new pool to play in outside. She has had the same little pool that Oma bought when she was 6 months old so I figured it was time to get a new one.
We set it up yesterday and she has played in it yesterday & today. She loves it and I love watching her have so much fun in the water....especially when it is so HOT outside.

Going Away BBQ!

2009-07-20T21:15:00.002-06:00

Our friends, Lindsay & Daniel will be moving at the end of July so we had a little going away BBQ for them at Lee & Andy's house on Saturday evening. (This is definitely one of the drawbacks of living in a military town....friends come & go so quickly!) We did have a nice time of relaxing, talking, eating, laughing, & watching the kids play in the backyard.
I only got some pics of the kiddos having picnic in the backyard. Sadly, I didn't get any of the adults that night!
Good Luck & God Bless to Lindsay, Daniel, Ethan, & Baby A! You will be missed!

Lee & Lindsay's Baby Shower!

2009-07-20T21:03:00.003-06:00

On Saturday morning, I helped host a baby shower for my sweet friends, Lee & Lindsay. We had such a great time. It was a small group of girls and it was just perfect. It was nice to have some girl talk, eat some yummy food, and enjoy time without children!
All the hubbies met up at the mall to let the kiddos play at the play area. I would have paid money to see them all there together!!

Our First 5K!

2009-07-16T20:27:00.002-06:00

On Saturday, July 11th, Kevin & I both ran in our first 5K (ok so he has done a triathlon) but this was his first 5k and mine too! Our friends, Shannon & Dave asked us to run it with them a few weeks ago and we decided to start training. We were so glad we did. We had such a great time Saturday night. We got to hang out with Shannon & Dave, and his lovely parents and enjoy a night out. We actually did enjoy our run. None of us kept the same pace so we all ran separately. Kevin ran it 22 min. 50 sec. & I ran it in 29 min. 21 sec. It was out at a winery in Anthony, NM so we were able to run on flat land which was a change from training on the hills.
After the run, we enjoyed eating a yummy dinner at the winery then the 6 of us went and enjoyed some very delicious ice cream! It was a great night and we look forward to doing it again!

4th of July!

2009-07-11T14:44:00.006-06:00

We had a nice, relaxing 4th of July. We enjoyed some family time around the house in the morning then we headed to the Archer's house after Mallory's nap. We grilled out with a few of our friends and let all the kiddos play in their little pool. It was a great day of relaxing and enjoying our time together. It was fun to just to hang out with friends & eat some yummy food!

**If you know Mallory at all then you know that it was a big step for her to pet their big dog, Bruno! He is the sweetest dog & Mallory has really come to like him.

Wet & Wild!

2009-07-11T13:29:00.003-06:00

Last Friday night, July 3rd, we met our friends Daniel, Lindsay, & Ethan at Wet & Wild (our local waterpark) to listen to Daniel's church band play. Kevin, Mallory, & I got there a bit late and the rain was about to come so the kiddos didn't get to swim (but the rain didn't last long at all). So we ended up having a great time just hanging out, eating a picnic dinner, & listening to all the local church bands play. Mallory & Ethan had a blast just being free to run, play, & dance while the adults sat & chatted. It was another fun night for our family!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

2009-07-10T09:40:00.002-06:00

On Wednesday, July 1st, Kevin & I took Mallory to an El Paso Diablos baseball game. Our friends, the Archers & DeForests met us there too. She went when she was 6 months old so this was the first game she was able to really enjoy. She really had a lot of fun and wants to go back. She enjoyed being outside, watching the big chicken walk around, watching the game occassionally, and playing with her friends Charlotte & Ethan (luckily it is never very crowded so they have room to play). And of course, the 3 of us enjoyed basball hot dogs & a snow cone! It was a fun family night!

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-04T14:44:00.003-06:00

We just want to wish everyone a very Happy 4th of July! Thank you to all the brave men & women who have served & are serving our wonderful country! God Bless the USA!

Above are a couple of pictures from Mallory's first two 4th of Julys!

Oma Returns!

2009-07-02T13:53:00.006-06:00

We were so glad that Oma got to come back to visit us. It was a nice treat to see her again. Mallory was so excited that Oma was back. She could barely stand it while we waited for to get off the escalator at the airport. She just ran and jumped in her arms....so precious!
Even though we were gone 3 days while she was here, we still got to spend some quality time together because she was here for a week. Mallory loved having her here & so did I. We had a great time and great memories. Mallory & Oma both have special memories from there time together too. I love it!

Thanks again, Oma!!!

Las Vegas - Day Three!

2009-07-01T21:59:00.003-06:00

Saturday was our last day in Las Vegas. We slept until almost 10...wow...who knows when we both got to do that. Then we had to be checked out of the hotel by 11am. So we got ready, checked out, and left our bags with valets. We headed out for more walking around, eating lunch, & our last chance at gambling...we won more money!!
We flew out around 5:30 to Denver and then our flight from Denver to El Paso was delayed. We finally made it in around midnight but then waited on luggage until almost 1am. It was a crazy night. We had a blast but it was so nice to get home. It was so great to see Mallory and my Mom! Sunday we spent the day together, just hanging out. Mallory had so much fun with Oma and told us all about it but was really happy to have us home! She really missed us, but I think we missed her more.
Mom & Mallory both got some Las Vegas souvenirs....as you can see Mallory got a Las Vegas Dora t-shirt...and a fun pencil & pad set that she hasn't stopped using yet.

Thanks again, Mom for taking such good care of Mallory! We love you, Oma!!

Las Vegas - Day Two!

2009-07-01T14:41:00.005-06:00

Our second day in Las Vegas was nice & relaxing. After a yummy breakfast, we headed to the pool. We layed out and enjoy a few dips in the pool for almost 3 hours. It was sooooo relaxing. After being outside so long we went, relaxed in the room, then got ready. We went out to sight see more & to pick up our show tickets for that night. We walked around for a few hours, had lunch, & Kevin got to play BlackJack in the Belagio Casino. It was hilarious, we were sitting there, Kevin has just layed down his $200 (which made my heart sink) but then these 2 men walked up and put down $5,000!!! I didn't feel so bad anymore. After gambling & making some money, we were able to see the water fountain show in front of the Belagio which was really cool!
That evening we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the Capital Grill then we caught a little bit of the Pirate Show at Treasure Island. We then headed to our Cirque du Soleil show, "LOVE" at the Mirage. Oh my gosh, it was the coolest show ever....the tricks, dancing, music, stunts, etc....left me in awe! And the theme for "LOVE" is the Beatles....so it is all about the Beatles along with their music. (Lisa, you would love it!!!). We ended our night again in the Palazzo Casino.
Again, I called home a few times throughout the day. Mallory was having a blast with Oma so that made the day even more enjoyable!

Las Vegas - Day One!

2009-07-01T14:00:00.004-06:00

Kevin & I took our first mini-vacation by ourselves without Mallory. It was a little last minute but it worked out perfectly. My Mom was still in the states visiting family so when we talked one day & she offered to fly back to El Paso to watch Mallory....my Mom rocks by the way!! (Thank you, Mom!!) Kevin & I decided to take her up on it and the plans began. We left on Thursday, June 25th and returned Saturday, June 27th.
We had such a great time. We got there around 1pm on Thursday. After checking into the Palazzo which is the new tower of the Venetian, we headed out to sight see & do some shopping. We got back to the hotel, showered, and got ready to go out. We ate at Sushi Samba the first night. It was a restaurant in the Palazzo. These hotels abolutely amaze me! So beautiful and you could never leave the hotel the whole time and have everything you need at your fingertips. Back to dinner, we enjoyed dinner....I don't like sushi so Kevin indulged and I ate a nice Filet Mignon! That night, though neither of us are big gamblers, we enjoyed some fun in the casino. Kevin enjoys Blackjack & then we both got into playing Roulette while we were there.
Day 1 was perfect! And, Mallory did great for Oma!!

Biggs Water Park

2009-06-30T14:55:00.004-06:00

On Saturday, June 20th the 3 of us went with Lee, Andy, & Charlotte to the Biggs Water Park on base. We had a great day of fun in the sun. The girls had fun splashing around and so did the adults. We also enjoyed a nice picnic together.
It was a great day. Later that evening, the 3 of us enjoyed a family night around the house which included ice cream cones from DQ.

Father's Day!

2009-06-28T20:14:00.005-06:00

The 3 of us enjoyed a nice, quiet Father's Day together. Kevin began his day with breakfast burritos in bed and then after getting dressed for church, Kevin got to open his present & cards. The rest of the day included church (Mallory made Daddy at tie in the nursery) and a relaxing day around the house while watching the US Open!
Mallory loves her Daddy & so do I! It was a great family day! (The first pics are of Kevin & Mallory reading books & doing push ups the night before).

Gracie's 2nd Birthday Party

2009-06-24T13:48:00.004-06:00

On June 13th, we were able to attend Gracie's 2nd Birthday party. Gracie is the daughter of our sweet friends, Dave & Megan. Mallory adores Gracie & loved being at her party. Gracie is so sweet and I can't believe she is already 2!
The party was great....filled with cake, cupcakes, treats, & playing. Mallory even got to hit her first pinata. That was alot of fun to watch. We all enjoyed ourselves & enjoyed being around friends!

Happy Father's Day, Kevin!

2009-06-21T14:10:00.005-06:00

Happy Father's Day, Kevin! Thanks for being the best dad to Mallory! She appreciates all the love, playtime, reading time, kisses, & hugs that you give her! We love you very much!!
(This picture was taken on Father's Day 2008...I haven't put today's pics on the computer yet!)

Our 7th Anniversary!

2009-06-21T13:43:00.007-06:00

On Monday, June 15th, Kevin & I celebrated our 7th Anniversary. I can't believe it has been 7 years. We were able to celebrate on Friday, June 12th with dinner out at the Italian Kitchen and an evening at Bob-O's Adventure Zone. We played mini golf, road go carts, and did the batting cages. We had so much fun and it was a change from our usual dinner & a movie. Thank you to Erika...one of our awesome babysitters for taking such great care of Mallory so we could enjoy an evening out!
Thank you to Kevin for a wonderful 7 years and my beautiful roses!

Our Trip to Wichita Falls!

2009-06-06T14:21:00.006-06:00

Here are some more pictures of our trip. We enjoyed our time together so much. I miss them terribly. We got to hang out, watch the kiddos play & play for hours, celebrated Jacy's birthday, went swimming at the Country Club, enjoyed playing outside on the swing set, riding bikes & using sidewalk chalk. We went for walks, we shopped, and just watched tv & movies. It was awesome. I just treasure every moment with them!

Papa Comes to Visit!

2009-06-06T13:48:00.007-06:00

As I mentioned before Mallory & I enjoyed a week long trip to see my sisters, her family, and my Mom & Dad. Dad was there for about 4 days out of the trip and my mom is still finishing up her visit with my sister. We don't get to see Dad as much so we definitely savor every moment because we know it will be Christmas before we see him again!
It was fun just hanging out and spending time together! Grandpa/Papa enjoyed watching them play & seeing all the new things they can do since Christmas! Here are a few pictures from when my Dad was with us.

Jacy's 4th Birthday!

2009-06-05T14:14:00.008-06:00

On May 27th, my sweet niece, Jacy turned 4 years old. It was extra special because Mom, Mallory, & I flew to Wichita Falls on her birthday to visit. Originally, my mom was going to fly to visit my sister like she usually does after visiting me but a few weeks prior we found out that my Dad was going to be able to come in for Jacy's birthday party & to spend time with us. So plans changed & Mal and I flew with Mom to visit Sis and the family for a week! We had such a great time together. We hung out, the cousins played, and we enjoyed celebrating Jacy's birthday. Kevin wasn't able to go due to work so we missed having him with us!
It was treasured time for all of us and we made so many more special memories!

First, here are some pictures from Jacy's birthday on May 27th & from Jacy's birthday party on May 30th at Chuck E Cheese's! I can't believe my Sugar Biscuit is 4 years old! She is so sweet & smart. We love you, Jacy Christine!

I have many more pics of the trip that I will post soon!

Mallory at 2 1/2 Years Old!

2009-06-05T14:07:00.002-06:00

Here are some pictures of Mallory at 2 1/2 years old. I took these when she actually turned 2 1/2 on May 21st but I'm just now getting them up!
Here is our big girl playing outside!

Oma Comes to Visit!

2009-06-05T13:43:00.006-06:00

My Mom aka Oma, came in for a visit on May 17th. We had such a great time while she was here. Mallory adores her and enjoyed her time with her sweet Oma. And I, of course, enjoyed my time with my Mom. We just have a greatest time just hanging out. Kevin was traveling so we got alot of girl time.
We shared lots of laughs, talks, walks, shopping, dancing, playing...and a fun trip to Chuck E Cheese's! And Mallory got showered with goodies when Oma arrived and of course got all kinds of clothes & goodies while she was here!!
Here are a few pictures from her trip to El Paso!

Mallory is 2 1/2 Years Old!

2009-05-21T14:51:00.005-06:00

Today our little baby girl is 2 1/2 years old! I can't believe she'll be 3 in six months....so crazy! We had her check-up today with Dr. Guggedahl. He is so sweet & so is his staff but Mallory is scared to death of the doctor's office. So she screamed or just cried almost the whole time we were there. She settled down enough so I could have a decent conversation with the doctor. Oma got to join us because she is in town visiting so that was nice but Kevin is out of town on business so he couldn't make it. Afterwards the 3 girls enjoyed 2 1/2 hours of fun at Chuck E Cheese!

Here are her stats:
Weight: 27lbs. 9oz.
Height: 36in.
Head: 48 1/2cm.
~These may not be a 100% accurate b/c she was fighting the nurse & I the whole time!

Again, praise God for a happy, healthy, growing toddler!

David's 4th Birthday & Bowling!

2009-05-21T14:30:00.007-06:00

Last Saturday, we were able to go to David's 4th birthday party at the bowling alley. David is the son of our good friends, Bill & Wendy. Mallory adores David and can't wait to see him every Sunday at church or any other time we get together. So this was a fun day for all of us & it was Mallory's first time to go bowling! She wasn't sure of it at first but got the hang of it pretty quickly. She loved pushing the ball down the little slide & seeing the pins get knocked down. We also enjoyed the game room, watching David open his cool presents, & lots of good food & cookie cake!
David celebrated his real birthday yesterday on the 20th so Happy 4th Birthday, David! We love you!

Hot, Hot, Hot!!

2009-05-15T14:23:00.006-06:00

It has been really HOT here in El Paso which of course we expect. And we'll be seeing even hotter days very soon. Mallory has been enjoying lots of outside time in her little pool with lots of sunscreen! It amazes me how she can play forever with a few toys, a small pool, and a water hose. I love sitting out there playing & watching while also getting some sun.
The other day I picked up some water guns or water blasters as they call them now at Toys R Us. Kevin, Mallory, & I enjoyed some fun outside with our, I mean Mallory's new toys! Mallory got the hang of it right away & also enjoy taking some drinks! I love when a simple purchase makes for lots of fun in the sun!
You'll have to excuse her "after nap" hair! My goodnes, it was crazy that day!

Mother's Day!

2009-05-14T21:09:00.008-06:00

I had a wonderful Mother's Day on Sunday! Kevin got in really late from a business trip on Saturday night so Mallory & I got up & had some Mommy & Mallory time on Mother's Day morning before church so Kevin could sleep in. We enjoyed breakfast together & she gave me her Cookie Monster Mother's Day card that she picked when we were in the card aisle at the store. She was so cute...she had colored it and had been waiting all week to give it to me.
Kevin didn't have to lead worship at church so for the first time in years, the 3 of got ready together & drove to church together which was super nice. Before we left for church, Kevin & Mallory gave me the rest of the my gifts which was another sweet card & a pedi/medi gift card to the spa! I'm so pumped.
We enjoyed a wonderful church service and I even got to bring Mallory up for the Children's moments...so that was fun. We also kept her with us through the whole service & she did a great job. I usually take her to the nursery after the music is over but I decided I wanted her with me on my special day!
We enjoyed a nice brunch together along with Lee & Charlotte...Andy is in Iraq so she was able to celebrate with us which was so nice & Mal of course loved having Charlotte there.
The rest of the day was nice & relaxing! I had a great day & enjoyed my day with my family! I
I love being a Mommy! It is a the best!

Mallory & Mommy!

2009-05-08T23:43:00.005-06:00

Before Kindermusik on Thursday, Mallory & I had some fun taking pictures together. She was being cute & cuddly...I loved it and took advantage of the moment. I got some cutes of the 2 of us and some precious ones of her...and those are right below our pictures.

Miss Mallory!

2009-05-08T23:33:00.004-06:00

Before Kindermusik on Thursday, I got some cute pictures of Mallory! She was all smiles and in the "picture taking mood" so I got some sweet pictures! Oh, how I love this little girl...words can't even express!

Last Day of Kindermusik!

2009-05-08T23:13:00.008-06:00

Thursday was our last day of Kindermusik. We have enjoyed 2 sememsters of it and we were sad to see it end. We may do it again but we are going to take the summer off. Mallory absolutely loved this class and so did I. I enjoyed watching her participate in all the fun things like singing, dancing, & playing instruments, etc. Such great memories! After class, we enjoyed lunch with Lee & her BFF, Charlotte!
Here are some pictures of her participating in class! So adorable!
(For some reason the pics got a little out of order!)

Date Night!

2009-05-08T23:02:00.006-06:00

Last Saturday night, Kevin & I went on out on a double date with our friends Dave & Shannon. We had an awesome dinner at Cattle Baron and then went to see "Obsessed"....I do not recommend it....it was a Lifetime movie gone bad! But we had a great night full of adult conversation and lots of laughter. Mallory did great for our sweet babysitter, Maddie & we enjoyed ourselves so much.
We took a few pics before our night out!

Cute Pics!

2009-05-01T20:40:00.002-06:00

Just wanted to share some cute pics of Mallory that I captured this week! Who can resist this smile & face??...I can't so yes, I take ALOT of pictures:)
(We hit the 90s this week so Mallory & I got to enjoy some fun in the sun & I'm sure we'll be doing it alot more)

Monica & Little Ricky

2009-04-29T14:56:00.003-06:00

A couple of weeks ago my sweet friend Monica & her little boy, Ricky came into town for a visit....(her hubby didn't get to come). They moved from El Paso about a year ago and we all miss them terribly. We were able to get together at Lee & Charlotte's house a couple of times throughout the week for some fun playdates. The kiddos had a blast playing together & of course us girls had fun chatting!! It was great to see them & hopefully we'll see them again soon!

Potty Trained & Paci Free!

2009-04-28T14:47:00.003-06:00

Yes, I'm proud to say that Mallory is now potty trained after a long weekend of hard work & has now been paci free for almost a month! We are so proud of our little girl....she is getting so big!

Easter Sunday

2009-04-15T19:34:00.006-06:00

We hope everyone had a wonderful Easter! We enjoyed a wonderful Easter as a family. We had been invited to a couple of lunches on Sunday but decided to make it a family day and enjoy the day together. So Sunday morning we enjoyed a great Easter service at church and got to praise Jesus for what the true meaning of Easter. Mallory knew we celebrated Jesus on this special day because we had been talking to her about it all week. Anytime time we would ask her who we were celebrating, her sweet answer was "Jesus"! But of course, we also had to enjoy treats from the Easter Bunny. So when we got home from church, we took some family pictures then Mallory got to go hunt for her 2 Easter baskets (my parents always hid our Easter baskets & I loved it so I'm carrying on the tradition), then we braved the wind & had our own Easter Egg Hunt over & over. The rest of the day, we enjoyed just hanging out & Mallory enjoyed playing with her new goodies & eating lots of sugar but somehow still took a great nap.
It was great day and we had a lot of fun celebrating & spending time together.
Sorry for posting so many pics but I couldn't decide!

Sesame Street Live:Elmo's Green Thumb!

2009-04-14T15:10:00.005-06:00

On Saturday Kevin & I took Mallory to Sesame Street Live. It was awesome & Mallory absolutely loved it! She was waving her hands in the air & dancing as if we were at a rock star concert. The 3 of us had a wonderful time! They didn't allow cameras in theater or in the lobby which if you know me at all, that was a bit of a bummer. But we got to enjoy the show & we took pics at home before & after. Mallory was decked out in her Elmo attire. If you know my child at all, you know she is obsessed with Sesame Street so this was a dream come true.
That morning Kevin ran upstairs & called Mallory from his cell phone pretending to be Cookie Monster. She was in awe! He told her to bring him some cookies so after she got off the phone she was so excited to get together some cookies for "Nummy" aka Cookie Monster. Kevin & Mallory even wrote Nummy a note. Kevin pretended to go back stage during intermission and bring them to him. I had bought a book & pencils to give Mallory after the show instead of wasting money at the show....the prices were crazy...example: a $10 balloon. Well Kevin gave her the pencils from "Nummy". She was thrilled!
It was an all around wonderful experience! She did bust her lip open after intermission. She was dancing and hit her chin on the railing in front of us. She cried for a minute & was back to watching. She has a slight cut now on her lip to remind her of her wonderful day! (As you can tell, Mallory wasn't in the mood to smile for pictures before we left the house but you take what you can get....of course she was all smiles at the show!)

Beautiful Mallory!

2009-04-10T16:06:00.001-06:00

Just a sweet picture of my beautiful Mallory!

Our Weekend with the Gibbs!

2009-04-02T13:40:00.008-06:00

Last Friday Kevin, Mallory, & I made a trip to Sierra Vista, Arizona to visit the Gibbs family. If you are a follower of our blog then you know that these are our really good friends that we met here over 2 years ago. They moved to Arizona in August & luckily we have been able to see them a few times since they moved. Well they will be moving again to Kileen, Texas in just a couple of weeks (that's Army life) and we weren't sure when we would see them again so we went to visit them for the weekend. Another big reason for our visit was to meet their new son, Mack. He was born on March 2nd and we had to meet that little guy before they moved.
We had such a great time. It was so bitter sweet because we knew the whole time that it was the last time we would all be together for a while. Jeremy will be deployed to Afghanistan in June & Julia will be moving back to Alabama so we'll be spread apart.
We enjoyed a nice, relaxing weekend. Mallory & Mattox had a blast together like they always do. They play so well together and have so much fun. We always enjoy watching those two play & listen to their laughs & giggles. We of course, had fun talking & laughing with Julia & Jeremy while holding & loving on sweet baby Mack.
On Friday night, they treated us to dinner at Texas Roadhouse which was so yummy & then we watched the new James Bond movie after the kiddos were in bed. Saturday, we started the day at the Aquatic Center. It is inside & perfect for the little ones. Mack even got to get in the water. He slept the whole time but you could tell he was enjoying the warm water. The girls had a blast splashing & going down the slide. The adults had fun watching the kiddos, talking, & enjoying the hot tub (it was perfect....not too hot). The rest of Saturday included a yummy lunch, hanging out, and a bbq with some their friends. Sunday morning was nice & relaxing and then we headed to brunch around 11. We enjoyed some delicious food & then it was time to say our good-byes which made us all sad.
We are going to miss them terribly but we will definitely be seeing eachother again! We see reunions in our future!

I Help Mommy!

2009-03-26T22:37:00.004-06:00

It doesn't matter what I'm doing...cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, etc.,Mallory always says "I help Mommy". So I always give her something to do so she can help me. It is so sweet. I love having a little helper! Yesterday, I got out the Swiffer WetJet to clean the bathroom floor & Mallory wanted to help. So here are some pictures of her helping me. She has done this a few times before so she is pro!

Sweet Mallory!

2009-03-26T20:37:00.003-06:00

Here are few pictures that I took the other day of Mallory. She just looks so cute & so sweet....just like any other day. I just love this precious girl so much!
(and no, I'm not making her eat on the floor...that's just where she chose to squat down to eat her crackers...silly girl!)

Kite Flying!

2009-03-22T13:40:00.004-06:00

On Saturday, our church met up at park to hang out & fly kites. The weather was perfect & the wind was just right for flying kites. I never did make it to the store to buy our own kite but luckily others brought extras so we were able to fly one. Mallory was able to fly her first kite & she really liked it. She was amused at first but she eventually lost interest. I think she got bored once it was in the sky & all we did was stare up in the sky at the kite. The rest of the time, we enjoyed hanging out with friends and being together as a family. Mallory also enjoyed the playground & seeing the puppies that people brought out. It was a great day. Afterwards we enjoyed lunch with our good friends Bill, Wendy, & David. Mallory was exhausted & took a long, 3 hour nap when we got home. It was a fun filled family day. I love those days!

Our Trip to Lubbock!

2009-03-20T20:20:00.008-06:00

Last Sunday, Kevin, Mallory, & I headed to Lubbock. It was Kevin's usual business trip (he usually leaves every other Monday for Lubbock) so we tagged along. His schedule was a little different this time which worked out great for my sister. My sister, Jacy, & Britton were able to meet us there for a couple of days. We got there Sunday night and left Tuesday afternoon so it was a quick trip. It was short but so sweet. The cousins had a blast together and Sis & I of course enjoyed being together & watching our kiddos play.
We packed in a whole lot of fun while we were there. On Monday morning we took the kids to Legacy Play Village. I remember when it was built and thinking I would love to take my children there so that was fun to take them & let them play. They had a blast. We also enjoyed time at the mall and after naps we ended the day with visiting the Science Spectrum. They had a mini petting zoo outside so we let took Mallory, Jacy, & Britton to enjoy the animals including elephants. The rest of the time we enjoyed just hanging out at the hotel. Tuesday morning was filled with swimming at the hotel pool & a little shopping. We ended our trip with lunch & then we all set out our separate ways. It was hard to say good-bye. I wish that we lived so much closer. But God is good and we are blessed to get to see each other as much as we do.
Here are so cute pics from the trip!

Date Night!

2009-03-18T13:51:00.004-06:00

Kevin & I enjoyed a "date night" a couple of weekends ago. We got one of our wonderful babysitters to come over to watch Mallory & we went out on a date. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner & adult conversation at "Forti's" (a home-owned Mexican food restaurant~yummy) and then we went to see "Slumdog Millionaire". It was very intense but a good movie. It was such a nice night out and I enjoyed time with my awesome hubby.

Here are some pics in the car before dinner!

Daddy's Home!

2009-03-07T13:27:00.004-07:00

Mallory loves her Daddy! She is so cute when he gets home from work or a business trip. She runs to him for hugs & kisses and always wants to show him something.
I took these this week after Kevin had been gone for a few days for business.
She missed her Daddy so much & was so glad he was home!
We also took a picture of them with the picture we made of Daddy for the letter "D". She was so proud to show him!

C is for Cookie!

2009-03-06T14:50:00.004-07:00

I've always worked with Mallory with her colors, number, letters, etc. but recently I decided to start focusing on a letter a week so she could really understand and make connections.
Last week, we worked all week on the letter "C". We read our letter book (Thanks so Aunt Sis, we have this cool box of books that have a book for each letter), we make some kind of craft...usually pictures that begin with the letter, and etc. On Friday we made a plate of pretend cookies before making the real ones. And then last Sunday we ended the week by making cookies and decorating them with the letter "C". She had a great time and so did I. She knows the song from Sesame Street..."C is for Cookie" but I think this really helped her make the connection.
This week we have been working on the letter "D" so we made a fun picture of Daddy and tomorrow we're going with Daddy to get Donuts!
I love to watch her learn & grow! It is so fun! And I get to put my degree in Elementary Education to good use!!

Sunny Days & Sweet Smiles!

2009-02-27T21:19:00.003-07:00

This week we have had 80 degree weather so we were able to enjoy some time at the park. I took this picture of Mallory at the park one day. I just love her sweet smile. It makes my heart melt!

There She Is!

2009-02-22T20:05:00.002-07:00

Playing Hide & Seek with Mommy!!

Valentine's Day!

2009-02-17T13:15:00.002-07:00

On Valentine's Day, the 3 of us enjoyed a family day together. It started with Mallory & I making muffins. As you know, she is my little helper and they were yummy. We later opened cards & presents. Mallory loved all of her Valentines. She got some fun goodies from us, both set of grandparents, & Aunt Sis.
We got out of the house for a little while to enjoy some shopping & Mallory enjoyed some play time at the mall which also included riding the train. After nap time, the 3 of us decorated & baked some yummy sugar cookies. It was such a fun day together.
After Mallory had her dinner & we put her to bed, Kevin grilled out some wonderful steaks & treated to me to a delicious candlelit dinner! Oh how I love my 2 Valentines! The day was perfect!

Britton's 2nd Birthday

2009-02-09T09:26:00.002-07:00

Today is my nephew, Britton's 2nd Birthday. I can't believe he is already 2. He is so big & so smart. He is such a sweet boy and we miss him so much.
Happy Birthday, Britton! Aunt Mere, Uncle Kevy, & Mal love you very much!

Baby Shower!

2009-01-28T20:04:00.007-07:00

Last weekend, my friend Lee & I hosted a couple's baby shower for our sweet friends Megan & Dave. They have a little boy on the way & we wanted to shower them with many blue things because they already have tons of pink for their precious little girl, Gracie.
It was a fun evening filled with friends, food, presents, & fun. The kiddos had a blast playing outside & eating cupcakes.
Congratulations Dave, Megan, & Gracie! We can't wait to meet Adam!!

Getting So Big!

2009-01-27T20:19:00.005-07:00

Mallory is getting so big, I can hardly believe it. Here are some sweet pictures of her over the last couple of weeks. She's growing like a weed & she is so smart too. She can say her ABCs, she can recognize most of her letters, she can count to 10, and she knows all of her basic colors. Her vocabulary continues to explode & she is making complete sentences. We are so proud of our little girl! She continues to love to read, sing, color, do art project, watch Sesame Street, & dance. She has a kind heart, she's beautiful, she's polite, loves to help, her smile & laugh can light up a room, and is the sweetest little girl I know! To hear her sing "Jesus Loves Me", say "I uv you, Mama", say "I uv you, Dada" are just a few things she does that makes my heart melt.
I just had to take some time to brag on my little Angel Pie! I'm so blessed to be able to stay at home with her and share such precious moments with her!

Best Friends

2009-01-27T14:22:00.003-07:00

Here are some pictures of Mallory, Charlotte, & Mattox that I took a couple of weekends ago. I've mentioned these girls before b/c they along with their families are very close friends of ours. Mallory adores both Charlotte & Mattox. I took some pics of Mallory & Charlotte one day while I was babysitting Charlotte. They have so much fun together. Then Julia, Jeremy, & Mattox came to visit us one weekend. Mallory & Mattox picked up right where they left off & of course I got some pics of them too. The 3 of them got to get together over the weekend and enjoyed being together. Mallory has known these girls since she was 2 months old. They have literally grown up together. We of course enjoyed hanging out with our sweet friends. It was a great weekend. And I only got pics of the kiddos...non of the adults!

My Little Helper!

2009-01-26T13:08:00.003-07:00

Mallory loves to hang out with me while I'm cooking in the kitchen. She always asks "ah doing, Mama?" everytime I make a move or do something different. I have to tell her every little thing I'm doing...it is quite cute! Lately, I have been putting her to work which she just loves. I get something started and then she'll finish the mixing for me. She thinks she is so big and loves to help out. Here are some pics of my little helper. She is getting so big, I just can't believe it.

Meredith's 30th Birthday

2009-01-15T13:27:00.009-07:00

Yes, on January 11th, I turned 30! I can't believe I'm 30. It is so crazy how the years have flown by! It was a great day. We enjoyed church then lunch with all of our friends. I was showered with love, cards, & presents. After we got home & Mallory had her nap, I got to open all my presents from my family! I was showered again with calls from family & friends, gift cards, money, Mary Kay, & the big surprise from Kevin & Mallory was a day at the spa. I get 5 hours of pampering! What mother doesn't need that! So I'm pumped about that! We finished the day off with some wonderful cookie cake & my 2 favorite people singing to me. Mallory was able to sing the whole "Happy Birthday" song with Kevin. It was the best present ever! She usually sings it "Happy You You" but this time, she sang it correctly. So adorable. I'm blessed beyond belief!

Date Night for My Birthday

2009-01-15T13:07:00.004-07:00

On Saturday, January 10th, Kevin & I went out for a pre-birthday date night. Our friend, Maggie came over & watched Mallory for us while we enjoyed dinner at The Greenery & a movie. (Bride Wars-yes, I picked the chick flick) Before we left, we took some cute pictures of the 3 of us. I do love pictures so these made me happy!
It was great night out with my hubby and Mallory & Maggie had a great time together! Thank you, Maggie!! And thanks to my sweet hubby for taking me out!

Enjoying the Park!

2009-01-14T21:07:00.002-07:00

The weather has been great lately so we have been taking full advantage of it! As I have mentioned before, Mallory really enjoys the park. So we have been spending some time there over the last few weeks. We have enjoyed a picnic with just the 3 of us, Mallory & I have gone a few times after the gym, and we have met up with our friends. It is so nice to get out and get some fresh air. Mallory enjoys the slides, climbing on the bars (with Mommy's help), playing in the sand, and of course just running around free! Here are some pics from the last few weeks.

Driving the Car!

2009-01-14T19:59:00.003-07:00

Mallory has always enjoyed to "pretend" drive our cars but lately she has been obsessed. So whenever we get home from somewhere we allow her just a couple of minutes to "pretend" drive out car. So before we leave the house she says "drive Mama's car, ro ro", "Mama's keys, I have it" and "no crynin"...which translates to "I want to drive Mama's car when we get home, vroom vroom", "I get to have Mama's keys," and "I won't cry when it is time to get out". She is so precious. And she does so great. At first, she would cry when it was time to get out but we told her we wouldn't let her do it anymore so now she always tell me before "no crynin, Mama". She especially likes driving Dada's new Toyota Highlander but she'll take either one! And now we've added the sunglasses sometimes too!

Bailey's 1st Birthday

2009-01-14T19:35:00.003-07:00

Our sweet friends, Alli & Chad's little girl, Bailey turned one on January 4th. We were able to go to help her celebrate at ther birthday party on the 3rd. Kevin was sick so Mallory & I went and really enjoyed ourselves. She loves Bailey and was so excited to go to her birthday party. She had fun eating all the good food, playing with her friends, petting the puppy, and seeing all of Bailey's new toys being opened! I enjoyed being with my good friends too and watching all of our kiddos have a blast together! Here are some pics beginning at our house before with Mallory taking the present to the car, her cool sunglasses, & fun times at the party!
It was a great afternoon!

New Year's Eve!

2009-01-05T13:49:00.005-07:00

We spent New Year's Eve with a group of our close friends and their children. The parents had a blast just sitting around talking while the kids ran around playing. It was great time for all. Thank you to Dave & Megan for being such great hosts & preparing such a great food!

We took these pictures after the other 2 couples had left so they didn't get to join in the picture fun. So the Archers & the Meyers (& Lee's hubby, Andy was out of town) are missing in our fun New Year's Eve pic!

We were home by 10, watched the ball drop in New York, and in bed by 11 because Kevin was sick & I was tired!....Woohoo!

The 3 of us enjoyed a nice, relaxing New Year's Day together!

Bye Bye New York!

2009-01-04T20:15:00.005-07:00

We left New York on December 28th & Mom & Dad left on the 27th. So we had a nice family dinner on Friday night before they left then we all hung out with Pop all day on Saturday. Sis & I enjoyed our yearly breakfast out with Pop. We set aside one morning where the 3 of us go out to breakfast together. It is a special time with our sweet grandfather. We've done this since I was little!

It was sad to say good-bye to everyone but it was nice to get home to our own house & our own beds. We definitely made some great memories & enjoyed our time together!

Christmas Day!

2009-01-04T19:44:00.005-07:00

After all the present opening, we all got dressed in our Christmas outfits to head to church. We go to church every Christmas morning. It is a nice way to remember why we celebrate Christmas.
The rest of the afternoon was filled with family, food, & fun!

Christmas Morning

2009-01-04T15:48:00.006-07:00

Christmas morning was so fun! The adults got up first to try to get through all of our presents. In our house, we get up super early to start opening presents. But we let the kiddos wake up on their own. They all 3 woke up at the same time so once they were up, we read our letters from Santa that he left next to the cookies then went to town on opening presents! We were all very, very spoiled! I got a new camera so I'm pumped about that along with many other goodies! Mallory of course was showered with a tons of presents! And even had more when we got home that I didn't want to pack! Mallory enjoyed opening them all & we enjoyed watching her. She loves its & we love watching her smile & say "presents".
So here are some hightlights from our morning!