SNOW!

Wow- I almost got stuck at work Thursday- it snowed about 8 inches in Decatur, I finally got to leave work at 2- and it took me an hour an a half to get home!!! Horrible- I needed a glass of wine when I got there, I was so stressed. When I got home Mark and the kids had built 2 snowmen, had hot chocolate, played with the neighbors, had their picture taken- and they were all just so happy and cute!! Mark is so sweet- he really enjoys doing kid-stuff- and I LOVE that about him!!! (Thank you honey)... Today we're getting ready for Madison's b-day party- my baby is 13!!! YIKES! We made the coolest invitations- guitars that we decorated all differently, then we laminated them- and she passed out 11!!! We are going to have 3 teams of 4 kids each- myself, Mark, and Mamu are going to drive them around in our cars that I'm letting the kids decorate w/ shoe polish and balloons- for a scavenger hunt through town- lots of crazy tings to do- each car w/ a camera to catch all the kookiness!! Then pizza and banana splits, and later- Mad wants to play hide-n-seek in the dark- in the woods behind the house- sounds like I'll be up late!!! Sofie's getting to stay the night w/ her best friend, and Victoria is going to stay w/ Gigee. Can't wait to post the pics from this night!!!

Our Brazilian Beauty!!

Our new baby: JiJi Bird!!!

Our new Valentine tradition!

We have started a new tradition in our home- since we have 7 kiddos to buy Cristmas presents for, Mark & I decided to wait until Valentine's Day to give gifts to each other. I have been so excited- it was so much fun having the little girls pass our presents to each other, then they sat & watched us- I think they had just as much fun- they helped wrap our presents and took our pics as we opened them. I got Victoria's Secret items-(YAY!) I gave Mark a hard-case for his lovely Peaches, (his Strat guitar), a stand for it, some shoes, jeans; things I had been buying as he said he wanted them- and then hiding all over the house. He was very surprised because he truly wanted what I gave him. We also bought a new baby for the family, and her name is JiJi. She is a Jenday Conure; a small breed of Parrot, and I am in LOVE with her. She has become quite bonded with me and only wants me to hold her. She lets the girls hold her for short periods- then she flies to my shoulder. And the cutest thing ever- when I sing, she starts to dance, bouncing her head up and down to the beat, squaking loudly along. And she does it EVERY time I sing to her!! She is a hoot!! I never knew these birds had such personality- and she loves to cuddle- getting under my hair and rubbing her head on my neck- and licking my face and chin. The only negative- she has attacked Mark on more than a few occasions- she makes a spitting sound if he gets too close to me- and she brings blood when she bites him on the finger! His feelings are hurt because he wants to love her too. Hopefully she will learn to love him... we shall see!!

What a weekend!!!!

Victoria turned 6 on Friday! She wanted a tea-party, so I got the bright idea to do it myself! Yikes! I thought I would remodel the dining room and make it a magical tea-room for Saturday! Huge mistake! Paige, Charles (Tyler's best friend, and my new adopted son) helped me paint Saturday morning. Paige and I painted Thursday and Friday night. Then I had to get up at 6 am Saturday and start cooking. Mamu, Grandma Brenda, Gigee, Aunt Terry and Nanny all came over early to help (Thank You all so much!) As I was serving the little girls their tea, Victoria said "Mom, you are so cool"- and the other girls said "you are cool" and THAT made it all worth it!!! And the pictures tell the whole story! They are not in order- but Paige put nails on the girls- then I did make-up- they decorated their own cupcakes, and I got each girl their own frame to put their individual picture in- and they decorated them as well! It was great fun- I let 2 little girls stay the night for a sleepover- and I crashed and burned at 10:30 after they FINALLY feell asleep I have to do it all again in April for Sofie's! I will not be remodeling anything until after her party!! Thanks to everyone for the gifts, love, friendship, and help!!! I love you!
Amy

Tea Party!

Victoria's Tea Party!