Kelly's Birthday

Today is Kelly's 33rd birthday! Yes that's right...I'm married to an old man :) Just kidding honey. Like you always say, "Age is just a frame of mind!" and I couldn't agree more with you. However after keeping up with a 9 year old sports schedule and chasing around an 11 month old who only has a speed of FAST I am feeling like I am 43.

Anyhoo, we had a really nice day. Started off we gave Dad his birthday gift.

Kelly has been wanting a Keurig for some time now and I have been scouting out the deals and finally came across one a couple months before his birthday so, score!!! I had a heck of a time not giving it to him early so I could use it :) But I stayed strong and waited until the big day! After a couple cups of coffee for each of us we all got our suits on and headed to Lake Thunderbird for the afternoon.

This was Presley's first trip to the lake and I was a little nervous on how she would be out there...and she was awesome. We stopped at Target on our way out there and I picked up a floaty for her that has a little canopy over the top of it to help block the sun and she loved floating in the lake in that thing. Kelly, Kali and I would pass her around in a circle and she would just lay back and laugh and kick her legs. However, the fun came to end about 15 mins after being in the water. Which was fine with me because swimming in the Lake makes me nervous. I can't see what I am stepping on and I have watched to many news reports where people stumble across some body parts and things swim up and touch your legs and feet...just not for me. Sitting here thinking about that is making my skin crawl....

On a happier note, Kelly and Kali loved it. They both were making fun of me because I was freaking out with every step I was taking in the water. Kali would say, "oh come on Molly, it's just sand." Yeah right kid! Kali of course made a friend within the first 30 mins of us being out there, so the girls would race towards Kelly.

And then she left poor old dad in the dust....

Love this little face...

While Kelly and Kali played in the water, Presley thought it was time for a snack so we busted out the puffs. Now that she is on regular adult food that has flavor, these puffs weren't really cutting it. I mean would you want to snack on rice cakes after eating fruit loops or a grilled cheese sandwich...I know I wouldn't. But she was a trooper and munched away.

After about a couple hours of playing around at the lake, Dad said he was hungry and wanted to load up and head to CiCi for pizza. Sounds good to me :)

I wish I could say that these are all Kelly's plates and mine were the only two sitting on the right hand side, but that would be lying! To be honest we all three did some damage. All in all it was a really nice family/birthday day for Kelly.

Here's to spending many many many more years of celebrating your birthday together babe!



Sprinkler Fun

Today was the first day we brought out the sprinkler in the front yard and enjoyed the sunshine...summer has officially started :)

I got this little sprinkler at walmart a couple weeks ago and it has 8 different water sprayers on it. So Kali wanted to see what exactly each one did. Of course Presley is never to far behind to throw her two cents in and help!

Poor baby...as soon as she made it over to her big sister, she had picked out which sprayer she wanted.

I love when I catch these two standing next to one another. They are just so sweet with one another.

Big sister had some alone time finally in the sprinkler....

and look who was over getting me all wet...full of grass and all :)

need to refuel and then she was good to go back and have more fun

Kali had the idea of holding Presley and then running through the sprinkler together....

I have no idea what she is doing here...but whatever it is, she looks pretty grossed out by it!

Class Favorite

Sara was voted Freshman Class Favorite! First off can I just say that I can't belive you are in High School. Last time you were here at the house we were talking about colleges and what your interest are and it is crazy to think that in no time at all...that's where you will be. Your Dad and I are so proud of you and the young lady you are becoming. Keep up the good work!

Last Day of School

 

Kali today is your LAST day as a 3rd grader, and that just blows my mind. To think that you were in Kindergarden when I first met you and now you are about in the 4th grade. You can stop growing up any time now ok!

You are becoming more and more independent...which just makes me so happy. Yes I always want you to know that your Dad and I are here for you and will help you in any way shape or form we can but only after you try your hardest. You are starting to become quite the little cook in the kitchen. You are an expert at Ramon Noodles and Mac and Cheese. You are still all about sports. You're absolute favorite is Soccer and then Basketball. You have already started talking about wanting to do Chorus next year in the 4th grade!

On your last day of school you had a raffle in your class and you won the bear! It stays in your room but everytime Presley goes in your room with you, she whales on that poor thing.

Playdate with the Little Ones

While we were home, My friend Erin came over to the house and brought her little girl Sophie over to play with Presley. Sophie is 2 months older than Presley.

Turn a little Mickey Mouse Clubhouse one and bust out the vanilla wafers and these two were in heaven.

Presley sometimes forgets the difference between a baby doll and a real doll. She usually will drag her baby dolls around the house by their hair, so when she is around other kids that is the first thing she goes for...sorry Soph :(

Trying to look innocent....

How cute are these two together. I love watching them grow up together. I hope they always remain friends and want to hang out..

Silly girl...

After a little playing at our house we went over to Ashely's parents house in Bentonville because they were babysitting their grandson (who is 3 weeks older than Presley) so that all the kids could have a little play date. It was a lot of fun. Presley kinda went in and took over toys but she played really well with the other two. Aiden isn't a full time walker yet but you can tell he wants to be so he was in his walker so he could try and get away from tornado Presley...although that didn't work out to well for him because Presley figured out to stand on the rim of the walker and she would go where ever he went. Poor kid couldn't get away from her.

Auntie Moosie and Payton's Graduation Party

Presley and I made the trek back to Arkansas for a long weekend because it was Payton's Graduation from the U of A annnnddd, Auntie Moosie and Gram were in town!!! The last time I saw Auntie Moosie was at our wedding...2 years ago. This was Presley's first time meeting her GREAT Auntie Moosie :) She loved it!

See, I told you! I should find a baby pic of Auntie Moosie holding me like this when I was Presley's age and see how much we look a like. I always like comparing :)

Of course a certain someone remembered the steps from her last visit! She made a bee line for them right when we got there...

Are you comfy Pres?

Because Bubka kept most of our baby toys, Presley was able to play on the same rocky thing I used to play on...pretty cool. I remember having that little thing in my bedroom in the house on Hill Drive. Aww...memories.

And I'm pretty sure there is this exact picture with my mom squatted down next to me when I was this age just like she is here with Presley. Next trip home, I am going to have to raid the photo albums and do a fun post with old pics!

Auntie La La had to get some hugs in before the little tornado was off getting into something else...

Our first night home and my awesome Dad is making his famous BBQ pork steaks. My mouth is watering just looking at this pic.

Auntie Moosie and Mom getting ready to shuck some corn! I have to admit, it is nice when I get to use the excuse that I have to chase my kid around and I can't shuck corn anymore...

They are pros...

Ok, so I guess I can't use that excuse when Bubka is holding my child...

Thanks Presley...now I had to actually do some work.

Hanging out on the patio watching Uncle Ben, Auntie Annye and Auntie La La play out in the yard. Wanting to go play with them but just isn't quite sure enough just yet....

So the next best thing is having your favorite Uncle bring things to you! Uncle Ben was practicing his putting so he would let Presley play with his plastic golf balls...

She loved it..."look Uncle Ben, I have your balls!" lol

They both look like they have the same expression on their face...silly kids.

typical DeGrand BBQ...a little football

a little golf...

Ben was trying to explain to Annye she had to "cock" her arm...

and Annye gettin her game on!

and of course the girls were tossing grapes in the air and they were trying to catch them in their mouths...

not quite girls, but good college try!

Saturday was Payton's and Spencer's graduation from the U of A. Spencer walked because he was getting some special awards but Payton decided he didn't want to. I can't blame him. I would of done the same thing. So instead of sitting in an auditorium waiting to hear Payton's name called we stayed home and of course, had a party! Spencer's parents came over from Mauemelle and hung out at the house with us, and John (Payton's other roommate) came over. It was so much fun to just lay back and do nothing but eat!

The guys played a couple games of Bags...

I think it was parent and kid vs parent and kid...

sat around and had some good laughs

and Presley left me to hang out with Dalton! Presley was having her first talk about Botchy Ball...We take that game very seriously in our family, and Dalton was not going to let Presley slack at all!

You can tell how impressed she is...

"Hey Dolphin, how bout we skip this whole Botchy Ball thing and go straight for the football?"

They guys had their "man patio" and smoked their cigars...

Uncle Tom and Auntie Jill ordered some yummy BBQ from a local restaurant and it was soooo good. It was time to dig in...I definitely ate way to much

After we all shoved our faces full of yummy BBQ, Crab dip, fruit, and Potato Salad it was time to let it all settle before we dug into the cake!

The good lookin graduate, himself! So proud of you Payt! Now onto the next chapter of your life...it will be a blast, I'm sure :)

Mom wasn't impressed with the cake as far as the decoration, but it was sure tasty so that made up for it looking like a 5 year old designed it!

Payton and his roomies...John (guy in the middle) has another semester left at the U of A, and Spencer (guy on the right) is headed to Boston to attend M.I.T. A bunch of smarty pants.

On Sunday, it was Uncle Tom's birthday. So before all the Carlson's headed out of town we HAD to have cheesecake with fresh strawberries on top!

Group pic with his boys...we were missing one :( Jacob stayed home to study (he is going to do my plastic surgery one day for me:)) but he was there in spirit!

Now every time all four of us kids are home at one time, my Dad always wants a group pic taken of us. And usually it never fails that we don't do the pic until Sunday right after my brother announces he wants to leave. So then all of us girls are trying to look presentable for a picture while my brother is yelling at us to hurry so he can get on the road and mom is searching the house for her camera...talk about an ordeal...

P.s. This will probably be my parents Christmas card for this Christmas, lol.

One with the parents. Now of course I told them not to get from my waste down because I was wearing sweatpants. But oh well. And I notice Mom in her slippers...man we are classy!

 Back in the day, before digital cameras it was horrible. Mom would take us all to a park or find a place in the house and we would have to stand for about a roll and a half of film. It took forever! I remember when we bought mom her first digital camera, we all thought it would make our picture taking time so much easier...not really! Cause now us girls look at the pictures after their taken and critique them. lol.