#weltegram2014 Days 24-29

It's Thursday, and while some of you are winding down your week, mine is just getting started. I'm finally back at work today, after having the last five days off. Last Thursday, I stayed home with Megan to take her to the doctor, and Gretchen came home from school sick. Here's what the rest of our week looked like:

Day 24- Gretchen layed on the couch all day not feeling well, but by the evening she felt much better and we decided to go ahead and have her birthday party. That night, she got a bath and I curled her hair. She was so excited for her party!

Day 25- DJ and I had a date night since my mom came up for Gretchen's birthday. We went to eat at Fish Daddy's and then we drove around a few neighborhoods that we are thinking of buying a house in. We use to drive around all the time, but it's much more difficult with the girls. They get so bored!

Day 26- Birthday Doughnut! Gretchen turned 6! 

Day 27- I stayed home because I was sick, and around 3:00 pm, Gretchen was sent home from school with a 102 temperature.

Day 28- Addy was awfully fussy. I was praying that she wouldn't get sick like the rest of us, and I finally went to the doctor that afternoon.

Day 29- Cuddled with this girl all day. She and I took a nap together from 10-12:15! 

I think she is getting a little bit of the crud that we have all had. 

I'm determined that we will all feel better! And praying that we will not get sick anymore, because this mama is going to be out of sick days! 

Join me on Instagram for more pictures & your daily dose of #weltegram2014

By: Unknown On 05.20

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Bows, Bags, & Wine Night Out

 My friend Sarah and I got together a few weeks ago and hosted a girls night out! This night was so needed and i'm so thankful for such great friends here in Tulsa! (I think making, having, and keeping friends, is one of the hard parts about DJ's job. But, God never fails and always provides me with a few great friends for where we currently are in life.) 

Anyway, Sarah is a thirty-one gifts sales rep, and we thought it was be fun to get our businesses together so our friends could not only enjoy a night out, but also enjoy appetizers, enjoy wine tasting (or devouring), and do a little shopping! 

Sarah was just the best host! She took all of these pictures and I had her send them to me, because I took none! She had plenty of food, and most of us all brought an appetizer or a bottle of wine as well. 

I loved that Sarah was also pulling out some of her nice serving pieces, and she even poured her bag of chips into a big serving bowl, because I do that too when I host parties! It just cracked me up when I realized how much alike we are!

We all had a great time visiting and meeting new friends at the party.

Two of the first friends I met in Tulsa came too! I was excited because I haven't been able to see them in a while! Both of their daughters at one time went to school with Gretchen, and we keep in touch through Facebook, but lives always get busy.

This is my neighbor Carmen with Sarah. The entire party was actually Carmen's idea! When we were all together on New Years Eve she suggested us having another girls night!

I ended up getting this lunch tote for work. I have told myself for years that I've wanted one of their lunch totes and I finally bought one! 

I also bought this Hang Up Activity Organizer for Gretchen to use in the car. The pocket up top is big enough for an iPad, and she always has a stack of DVD's, little toys and trinkets that she collects in the back seat, so I thought this would be perfect for her to hold them in! I ended up getting the Coral Mini Gingham print, but I wish it would have come in a few more color choices. 

I purchased their Room for Two Utility Tote to help organize our wrapping paper and gift wrapping stuff. Right now, it's just shoved under our stairs and I hate even pulling it out to wrap a gift! I'm hoping that this will inspire me to keep it all organized, and I purchased their Flip Top Organizing Bin to hold extra gift bags or tissue paper! 

I'm secretly excited about this organizing project thanks to the product and fun print!

Does anyone love thirty-one products as much as Sarah and I do?!

You can go HERE and just click on "shop now" on any of the party links to make a thirty-one gifts purchase! 

I think we need to have a monthly girls night out! I wonder if I can convince DJ- ha! What are some of the things y'all do for girls night? I always feel at a loss coming up with fun ideas that people will want to come to!

By: Unknown On 05.20

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Gretchen's Super Royal Bounce Party

Saturday was Gretchen's birthday party at Bounce U… a local bounce house party place. Gretchen and I had originally decided she would have a princess tea party birthday with just the girls, but then Gretchen met this boy, and that led to changing the entire party theme. You see, she couldn't not invite her best little boy-friend. He would be sad if he couldn't come to her girls only party. I tried to explain that he wouldn't want to come to her princess party, and she insisted on inviting him and all of the boys in her class as well. She just could not hurt his feelings. So, we decided to change the theme of her party to a Super-Royal Bounce Party.

We knew that she would be wearing her Princess Sofia dress that she wore on Halloween. In fact, I have kept it in my closet since Halloween, so she wouldn't play in it and mess it up before her birthday. But, I had to come up with a way to get the boys involved. So, we settled on a super-hero princess party.

I don't have a picture of her invitation. I know that I should, but we've all been so sick over the last several days that I just don't have it in me. Bounce U provided us with invitations, and then I printed off paper invites that explained her party.

The wording went something like this:

"You're Invited to Gretchen's Super-Royal Bounce Party. Please wear your favorite princes for super hero costume. Please leave swords, jewels, and tiara's at home. Don't forget to wear your royal slippers (socks). A royal feast of pizza and cupcakes will be served." 

The invites also had a Sofia and Clover picture and a Spiderman picture. Gretchen chose spider man because he is her friends favorite.

Those invites were stapled to the Bounce U invites and I sent them to school with her to pass out to everyone in her class. 

Gretchen before her party. I'm not sure why she poses like this every time I try to get a picture. I'm sure she thinks she's super cute and precious, and it is, but it's a bit silly too. 

We finally convinced her to just stand still. 

Gretchen and a few of her friends playing foos-ball before the party. 

The kids had to watch a safety video. 

Then it was on to the bounce rooms. 

These girls are our neighbors and I love their sweet friendship.

We have a gazillion dress up clothes, but none of them are in pristine condition because the girls play in them so often, so I decided that Megan would wear a spiderman shirt. I found this one on clearance at Old Navy for $3.00 in the little boys section.

My mom came up for the party and cuddled with Adalyn. 

The ginormous slide was everyone's favorite!

The boy that inspired the super hero theme. Seriously y'all, she talks about him every single day. They sit at the same table, the play together at recess. They're best friends who have already planned to get married. 

Megan climbed to the top of the slide and then she just cried and cried and refused to slide down. DJ finally had to climb up and get her to slide down with him!

Miss Addy

Meggie wanted to play on this inflatable, but she was too tiny to run and jump up on the incline. She stood there and cried until DJ climbed in and threw her up several times. 

All of the kids in the party room for their royal feast!

Gretchen also likes to "pose" with food in her mouth. I went over to take her picture, and she seriously posed by taking a bite and pausing.

We had chocolate or vanilla cupcakes with purple and red icing and then purple or red sprinkles. We went with purple and red for Sofia and Spiderman. 

We found the candle set at the Dollar Tree- it was perfect!

Time to sing Happy Birthday!

She loved the frosting!

Meggie eating her cupcake. 

Time to open her presents!

Poor thing had been sick the day before her party, and even though she wasn't running a temperature, exhaustion was setting in. 

After her party was over, Gretchen handed out her party favors. Bounce U offers a party package where favors are included, but they're little bags of candy and small trinkets, and they honestly drive me insane, so we decided to bring our own party favors. 

The girls received a Princess Sofia coloring book and sticker book that I found at Target's Dollar Section.

The boys took home a small spiderman toy and sheets of Spiderman stickers that I found at the Dollar Tree. 

Her party was so much fun! I usually go all out by making the invitations, making or ordering her outfit, making her hair bow, theme & color-coordinating everything, but this year, I had the least stressful time planning her party! And she said it was the "best birthday ever!" so that makes it totally worthwhile. 

By: Unknown On 08.18

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This Girl is SIX!

I'm pretty sure, i'm going to start bawling at some point while writing this post and curl up in the fetal position. My oldest honey pie is SIX.  I had a hard time last year with her turning five, and honestly, this year, our past week has been so crazy and I've scaled down our party planning and I haven't had much time to think about her turning another year older. Until now. So, i'm pretty sure the reality of it all is going to hit right now. 

Gretchen Rose, I am so thankful that God gave us you. I still remember every detail of my pregnancy and your arrival, except the 15 or so minutes that I was hallucinating from the pain. I'm not kidding, go ask your father. I'm pretty sure I instantly fell back asleep as soon as the nurse gave me pain medicine. I remember freaking out when you coughed and appeared to be choking for the first time. Those first few days with you were the best memories I've made. 

I loved that first year. I kept telling my mom that every moment, every month was my favorite. I thought i'd love the little baby stage best, and then you'd grow into the next stage, and it instantly became my favorite, and then the next. 

You were the friendliest little girl at one year old. You would wave to everyone and get really sad when people wouldn't wave back. I knew you were going to be a people person. You never met a stranger. I pray that God will allow that gift to grow and that you'll be able to touch people every where life takes you.

I think you were the smartest two year old I had ever met. You started learning letters at age 2, all on your own. You were counting and your vocabulary was growing leaps and bounds. 

You were also proving to us how stubborn you would be. We started potty training you a few weeks before your 2nd birthday, and it took us the entire year to convince you to stop having accidents! I know that you come by your stubbornness honestly. I pray that you will continue your stubbornness as you grow older. Which, I may later kick myself for saying that, but I know that something great will come out of it! You stick to your guns once you've made up your mind, and I think that stubbornness will be an amazing gift when you're a teenager and you'll likely be pressured into trying things. I pray that you'll stay strong and say no.

I think you're 3rd year, may be my favorite so far. That year was full of change for our family and you handled it beautifully. Your daddy moved 12 hours away just a few weeks after you turned three. In fact, he almost missed your birthday. You and I became best buddies those first few months. I loved having that one on one time with just you. 

Your little sister joined us that year and then we moved to Tulsa. You had to leave behind the only life you knew, your friends, your church, your school. You learned to be a great big sister. Even though you did suggest that we vacuum your little sister up with the vacuum cleaner. I pray that you'll continue to love your little sisters and that you'll learn how to be a friend. I've been telling you lately, that your sisters will be your bridesmaids, and I know you probably don't understand right now, but I can't wait to see the three of you standing up in your weddings one day. 

Your love for football really grew during your fourth year. You started to understand the game and ask questions and you started to cheer. I know that makes your daddy proud.

You and daddy had a few date nights. I remember when he took you to the movie and you were so excited to go. I pray that daddy will always be the man in your life that you look up to. In fact, you told us the other night that you wanted to marry him. I know that you also want to marry Conner, a little boy in your class, and I know that it's a long time away, but I pray that you'll marry a man just like your daddy. A man that is a Christian, and that is kind and supportive, and the he'll love you even when you're all sorts of crazy. I pray that your husband will support your adventures no matter how crazy they may seem. 

Beyond that, I pray that you'll know God and that your daddy will be the best example of how our heavenly father loves us so much. Our God is so patient, and so full of grace, and I pray that you'll come to know God's grace. 

Your creativeness grew during  your 5th year. You showed us how much you loved to draw and color. Your knowledge grew and grew. I loved seeing what you learned at preschool. You had a best friend for the very first time, and I pray that you'll continue to have beautiful friendships throughout your life. 

You started kindergarten, and even though you were scared, you were so excited! I hope you'll carry that with you through life. 

I cannot wait to see what year 6 brings us! I know that at times I am so hard on you. Already, we argue like you are a teenager. Part of me dreads those years. I dread the arguments and the hurtful words that may spew out of your mouth. I know you won't mean them. I pray that we can teach you now how important it'll be to be a kind person, so that we can prevent any drama during those teenage years. 

You have a little boy that you have a major crush on right now. It breaks your daddy's heart. He may be the first boy, but he won't be your last. I pray that we'll find the positive as relationships end. 

Most of all, I pray that you'll love God. I know that He's given you all this personality so you can do something big for him. I pray you'll listen to him.

You are such a strong beautiful girl. 

I love every piece of you.

Happy Birthday!

By: Unknown On 05.20

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#weltegram2014 Week 3

You're about to see a running theme with this weeks pictures! I about died laughing when I saw them all uploaded together! It's quiet comical how our week has been spinning out of control, and now I'm thinking this is God's way of once again reminding me to 'SLOW DOWN.' 

Day 17: I came home from my Bows, Bags, & Wine party to find this little girl still awake at almost midnight! Her school called earlier in the day to let us know she was running a temperature. DJ stayed home with her that evening, and we learned that tylenol makes this girl wired. 

Day 18: We had a lazy day at home and made yonana (banana ice cream) for an afternoon snack.

Day 19: I spent the day with my almost 6 year old! We picked up birthday party things, did some shopping, had lunch, and went to Target. She kept remind me to, 'let me be myself!" Which, is a hard thing to hear.

Day 20: DJ and I watched the Bachelor together on Monday night after the girls went to bed. This may is my rock. 

Speaking of El Bachelorano (isn't that how they say it in Spanish?) Head over to PTMT and check out Sheaffer's hilarious recap! 

Day 21: Someone missed their daddy today!

Find her "Hi" hoodie here and help support adoption! 

Day 22:  Her ear hurts, or maybe she just wants snuggles……  regardless, she was up until about 11 pm. 

Day 23: Turns out Megan did have an ear infection. As I was pulling out of the drive to take her to the doctor, G's school called and she got sent home with a temperature. I didn't realize I'd be taking two little girls to the doctor, but our doctor squeezed Gretchen in. Turns out Meggie needed an inhaler along with her antibiotics for her ear, while Gretchen ended up with a 102.9 fever and was diagnosed with a viral infection. I'm just glad it's not the flu!

Phew! Don't you love our running theme of sickness this week! 

Hope your week has been fantastic and healthy! 

By: Unknown On 05.20

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