Amy turned 2!!!

On Saturday, July 10 Amy turned 2! We celebrated by having a Minnie Mouse birthday party at our house. We had lots of friends and family to help us. It began at 11:30 and the kids played I got the meal ready to serve. We enjoyed pulled and sliced pork and baby back ribs with homemade BBQ, fresh bread and buns, buttered potatoes, and baked beans. It was delicious! After lunch Amy opened all of her wonderful presents. Then it was time for CAKE! I made Amy a personal Minnie Mouse cake and a pink with white polka dots party cake. Both were strawberry with white cake inside, so the cake itself was polka dot, too. Aunt Na-Na made some DELICIOUS cake pops that looked like Minnie. We learned a little about candy melt chocolate and food coloring...the don't mix!!! Then at about 1:30, it was time to say good-bye. Each kiddo got a Minnie or Mickie Mouse cup filled with goodies and a balloon. I'd have to say it was a great party!

Last week I also took her for her 2 year potraits at Sears. They turned out very cute.

Amy goes for her 2 year well child visit on Friday, so I'll have her size update then.

Georgia Vacation 2010

We left Thursday, July 30 around 3:00, drove about 6 hours and stopped at a hotel. Along the way Mary got car sick and Amy soaked through. Luckily we got to take care of both at a rest stop. Both had to change outfits. Friday night Uncle Steve and Aunt Jane came over for dinner at Betty's to help celebrate Amy's birthday a little bit early. They we went to Stone Mtn. to see the laser light show that evening. On Saturday we hiked Kennesaw Mtn, went to church (at a VERY non-kid friendly church) and then to dinner at Ted's Montana, where I got to eat a Buffalo ribeye (slightly different flavor, but very good!). Then Sunday morning we got up early to watch Aunt Jane and William run in the Peach Tree Road Race 10K. We got to see Jane run by, but some how missed William. Late that day, Betty had over friends and family for the 4th for burgers and dogs. Then on Monday we went to the Georgia Aquarium and dinner at Jane and Steve's. On Tuesday we got up at 4am and drove back in one day, 13 hours in the car! Overall we had a great trip.

Princess camp and swim lessons

Mary had a full week of fun last week. She attended Sparkling Princess camp from 9-2 everyday. At the end of the week she was exhausted. This is how I found her on Friday afternoon. I guess being a princess really is hard work.
She also had swim lessons each evening from 6-6:30. She did really good this time and I would say she is offically a swimmer! She will go in the deeper water at the pool and can swim under water, kicking her legs, but sometimes forgets to use her arms or keep kicking when coming up for air. She also jumped off the diving board...brave girl!
Amy also had some fun last week playing dress up. These were HER outfits of choice and design. Silly girl!!!


On Sunday, the girls got some books and sat down to read! So sweet!!!

On Thursday after we are driving to Jackson, Miss and then on to Acworth, GA on Friday. We will do a little mini vacation and William will run the PeachTree 10K Road Race with his Aunt Jane.

Another week on the farm

Last week we spent a week at my mom's. We had a lot of fun!!

Mary's 1st Good Morning Slaughter

One of our great traditions at Slaughter is Good Morning Slaughter (GMS). During the last GMS the 5th graders come on stage to be recognized before leaving for middle school. Then the 4th graders move over, to where the 5th graders sit, and each grade repeats. Then there is a large empty spot where the incoming Kinder students will sit. Mary came to school with me that morning and sat in her spot for next year. There were several others there, too. She was sooooo excited.

Mary's Pre-K Graduation

Tonight was Mary's Pre-K Graduation celebration. They sang 4 songs, including "Here we come, Kindergarten" We are so proud of her.

Dewberry pickin'

Since William was out of town, I drove down with the girls for a weekend with Granny.

birthdays and bluebonnets

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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