birthdays and bluebonnets

Click here to view these pictures larger

Mary turns 5 years old!!

I can't believe that 5 years ago we were enjoying time with our precious little newborn, Mary Lynn. It's amazing how much your life can change in just 5 years. She is extremely bright, very inquistive, full of energy, and kind. And she will have her moments of stubborness, being hardheaded, getting frustrated, and anger, but she always ends those with a tearful "I'm sorry, I love you!"
On Friday after work we left for Bellville. Saturday morning we got up and did some yard work, baked Mary's birthday cake, and decorated Brady's tractor cake. That afternoon we went out to the Svinky Ranch to celebrate Brady's 1st birthday! That evening Kathryn came home with us to have a sleepover. Mary was EXTREMELY excited Sunday morning when she finally turned 5!! We enjoyed donuts for breakfast and then took all of the great grandkids to the BEAUTIFUL bluebonnet patch near the Svinky's. I've never in my life seen that many bluebonnets. Pics to come soon of that, I wasn't able to go. I was at home prepping everything for the party. We had an Italian feast! Lasgna, spaghetti, chicken parmasan, garlic bread, and salad. Mary wanted a Belle cake, so she picked out a lemon cake. I made her a personal rosette cake and then decorated the party cake. We were excited most of the family could come and celebrate. We had Grandma, Granny, Uncle Fred, Aunt Sherry, Greg, Jill, Tommy, Jackson, Kathryn, Aunt Na-Na, Uncle Mike, Brady, Aunt Cynthia, Uncle James, and Adam. After the party we packed up the car and headed back to McKinney.

Mary over the years

Easter in Florida

On Thursday after work we flew out to Tampa, FL and then drove to Bruce's house. We arrived late and were hungry. So we headed down to the club for a late night snack. We returned to the house and bathed and went to bed. We slept in and then started working on all the stuff we had to do around the house and around town. That evening we had planned to go out for dinner. We loaded up all the girls in one car and William was going to meet us there after he met with a guy at the house. Right as we pulled into the parking lot, Mary got SICK!! We quickly got her out of the car, cleaned up, and then back in the car (with a bag, which she used!). So we went back home and ordered in. After dinner we continued cleaning the garage. Saturday morning we slept in just a bit, got dressed, ate breakfast, and headed to Orlando to go to DISNEY WORLD: Magic Kingdom. It was amazing!! Just the right temp, wonderful weather, not super crowded (I couldn't imagine that place in the summer!!). Mary and Amy had a BLAST. Mary truly believed she was meeting the REAL characters from the movies. She LOVED it. Amy knew many of there names and fell in love with Minnie Mouse.
On our way to Florida and at Saddlebrook

DISNEY WORLD---MAGIC KINGDOM