4:06 pm

One day

many years from now

when all my babies have left home

and I am sitting in my quiet house,

I will not look back and remember the pile of dirty dishes in the sink

or the piles of laundry waiting to be attended to

or the layer of dust on my bookshelves

I will look back and remember this:



and this:


and I will know that life is really good.

Caroline's Birthday

Our squirrel turned 4! Wow!

This child got some loot.

Kevin and I made her close her eyes for our big reveal.

We got her a princess bike she had been drooling over for awhile.

By the way, Caroline now lives in her princess tent that the Brunjes and the Garcias got her. Thanks guys.

New Pictures...

Well, look what we have here...

Baby Walker is doing fine. It's a GIRL!!! She will join us in January and Caroline is beside herself with excitement, as are her mom and dad.

An Anniversary...

So 4 years ago tonight I was sitting at the movie theater watching Talladega Nights with Kevin, Laura and Donny. I thought it was strange how bad my back hurt. I kept getting up and walking around. I never really got to see the movie even though it was pretty funny. The next morning at 5am I was laying in bed and my water broke. As I got up and got my things together Kevin goes into the kitchen and eats a bowl of cereal! I am having contractions more and more and he is downing cereal. I am sure that the pain of what was happening to me made me a little frustrated with him but I doubt it. The dude was eating while I felt like I was being ripped in two. Anyway, we get to the hospital and at 1:39pm ...

I became a Mama.

If I live to be 100 I will never forget the feelings and emotions that ran through me that day. I was elated, happy, tired, excited, thrilled, scared, EVERYTHING. Even when she was just seconds old, I felt as if she had been with us forever.

So you see, it isn't just Caroline's birthday.

It is the anniversary of the day my life changed.

Happy Birthday to my squirrel!

Enough...

Caroline has made a few discoveries in her short 3 2/3 years...

Like Barbies...
This is her posse. The funny thing is some of these are mine. When I found them in my sister's attic they were still wearing the outfit I left them in 25 years ago. The Bride Barbie has a Miss Havisham vibe about her.

She has also amassed a collection of horses. I don't think she needs anymore.

But I could be wrong...

You know it's a good video...

because I am posting it and I am not a BYU fan. (PS. My brother in law worked on this!)

When you're in Atlanta...

You go to Zoo Atlanta!

This was a walk in birdhouse. You could get a stick with birdseed on it to feed them. Caroline loved it.

You go to the Children's museum while Daddy is at his conference.

You go to a Braves game!

Look at that view!

You go to the Georgia Aquarium

You stand in line twice to see the 4 whale sharks because they are your daughter's favorite!
You laugh at the garden eels. They are too cute.
You find fun ways to cool off. Our favorite...The Olympic Rings at Centennial Park Downtown
When you are in Atlanta, you find any excuse to go back...as soon as humanly possible.

**Side note:
Other favorite stops on our trip:
Flying Biscuit Cafe!!!
Emory
Piedmont Park
Noodle
Little 5 points
Criminal Records