John and I were picking on each other. I told him, "You should thank me for that." John said, "I thank you every day," and then let out a big burp. Cressey pipes up, "That was NOT very thankful!"
Cressey was humming and singing a tune in bed one night, and it took me a minute to place it- Lizzo's "Good as h@&&." She loves the "I do my hair toss, check my nails" part especially.
Cress and I were in the potty at the barn. I was giving her some advice, and she looked at me and said, "What? Are you the booty expert?! You tell me a lot of things to do and not do!"
Cressey at bedtime one night- "Thank you, mama, for keeping me safe."
As we drove to school one day, Cressey said, "Can those cars see me? I'm smiling at everybody we pass so I can give them joy in their heart!"
HG's headboard finally arrived, and she was a LITTLE excited!
First night of jazz class
Trying on her new ballet outfit
Sissy getting her all ready to DANCE
Happy little ballerinas!
When you have an 11 year old sister, you learn TikTok dances
Lunch with Spiffer on her birthday
She earned a slinky from the treasure box!
Blue was a fan too
Teasing Blue who is on the other side of the door
In the morning, Cressey heard Blue outside her door and let him in her room. I saw this little visit happening over the monitor.
LOVE LOVE LOVE these moments
Figuring out a nutcracker with Grandma
Fun in the pool with Uncle Charlie
Each colored block represents someone in her family- mom, dad, sister, her, and two pets.
And her family crest! HG helped me pick out the pics to use and cut them to fit; Cressey helped tape them on and then covered them with stickers. Group effort!
Barely enough room on my pillow for ME
BID DAY for GRACE ANN- it's DEE GEEEEE
Aside from my excitement over Grace Ann and DG, I was so excited and relieved and filled with peace and hope after getting to see my FAMILY after so many months apart. Reunited!
Family dinner at Spiffer's house to celebrate Spiffer and GD's birthdays
HG managed doing a handprint craft for both of them, which was quite a task with Cressey and paint involved!
The night of bid day, I look over and notice which shirt HG is wearing to bed! :)
My dreams of spending my 40th birthday either on a Caribbean beach or in the middle of a huge dance floor with all my closest friends were squashed with COVID. But John Toohig didn't let it die there. He managed to pull off a huge surprise of a small group dinner on the Tuesday before my birthday. I couldn't believe how many dear dear friends were able to make it! SUCH a gift!
REBA CAME FROM JACKSON!!!!
AND ANNIE CAME OUT TO A RESTAURANT! And all my friends from different parts of life got to mingle! I'm still so happy about it!
Red, white, and blue day at school for 9/11
Look at that huge grasshopper that landed on her dress! Between the red and blue of her skirt right at her waistband. She's a creature whisperer like her sister
Sweet girl
Dinner at Coastal Fish Company with Brandy
Stuck somewhere between being a big girl with her soccer bag on her back and a baby girl snuggling her Bunny Monkey
First day of school soccer practice- loved the accessories but hated playing Sharks and Minnows because people chased her
First French braid
Acting like she's asleep so we'd carry her to bed
Blue Blue snuggles are rare and special
Thanks to a LOT of help from EVERYONE, I was able to take a long weekend trip to the beach to celebrate Ginna's birthday. GD sent this pic to me one morning before school.
We pulled into town on the tail end of Hurricane Sally, so the beach was really wet and marbled.
And HG lost a tooth while I was gone!
And C went to a really sweet 'un slumber' party and was THRILLED to dress up in her Elsa outfit
And party #2 for Cress while I was gone...
John made sure to send this pic to me too...
AND MAMA'S HOME! A little dinner picnic on the patio to celebrate, and she's chasing a bird or squirrel. So pleased with herself for sneaking up on them that she's giving me thumbs up
Whimsy date with Norah and Remi
Taking turns fixing hair
So proud of earning that star on her 5!
They loved decorating for Halloween this year, and C put plastic spiders on all the drawer handles in the kitchen...
Kitty cat bunk beds
Team day for the ECC! Make sure you call Cress a 'teenager,' NOT a 'cheerleader'
This is the love I get from HG
Star of the week perks...taking her teachers with her on adventures all week long
"Mama, take a pic of me and this baby"
Trying out a saddle at the tack store
And all is right with the world...
Some birthday artwork from HG
Stay away from Mama's wine, girl!
Always chasing the neighbhorhood animals...Cressey calls this cat 'Hotel Kitty' which is some deviation of 'Hello Kitty'
Our latest Halloween addition
Same, girl. Same.
No personal space
