Our 11th Anniversary

Wow! Eleven years ago today, my feet were killing me, my hair was plastered with hairspray (probably bullet proof), I was freezing my butt off, but... I got to be sealed to the man I love forever! Paul still teases me because I was so nervous that day and when I said "yes" I had a frog in my throat. I sounded just like the albino in "the pit of despair" (The Princess Bride) when I spoke. I guess it didn't matter though, it worked! And here we are 11 years later, and he is still the one I want to be with (good thing). I'd rather hang out with Paul than with anyone else. There could NEVER be a more perfect fit for me. No one else would have the patience. I'm not going to lie...I am emotionally HIGH MAINTENANCE! If I could graph my emotions it would probably look something like the "Wicked" roller coaster. Paul is so patient and understanding. Now I'm not going to go on, and on, and on about how he's the bomb, and how awesome he is at EVERYTHING, and how talented he is on so many different levels, or how smart he is and is such a hard worker, and what an excellent father he is to my little girls, no, no, no, I won't do that! I'm just going to say how happy I am to be married to such a wonderful person who makes me want to be a better person. And, if I had it all to do over again, I would definitely say
"YhhES" all over again.

Nat + Paul = Love 4 ever

a few things I don't want to forget...

Daddy: Averie, I love you.

Averie: Daddy, I love gowd fishies.

Daddy: Do you love your daddy?

Averie: Yep, I do.

Daddy: How much?

Averie: Um, yike a basebaw game.

Don't know how much that is exactly, but it must mean a lot. It made me laugh.


How do you know you live in the sticks?

When on your way to church your 7 year old daughter bursts out laughing and pointing. "That is the funniest thing I've ever seen! That cow was trying to give that other cow a piggy back ride!"
Good times:)

Ellie is trying out some new "cool" words and gestures lately. She'll say, "OH SNAP!" I can't find my shoes, or whatever else seems to be a big deal to her. And now when she gets done with a sentence she'll point to her eyes and then to mine (like Doug Focker on Meet the Parents). I'm not sure if she's trying to be funny or if she is really going to be watching me at all times. She's pretty serious about it though. I just shake my head yes, like I understand completely.
AHH, things to remember:)

Totally Retro Day for May

I have to admit that I had a little too much fun getting her ready today. I almost ratted my bangs!

My Man has SKILLZ!

Paul carved this pumpkin for the McBride family pumpkin carving contest. Oh, this is Paul's dad for those of you who don't know him. Paul won the contest, but it was a close one! Those McBride's are some talented people!...Nope! I don't fit in.

Halloween Fun

Halloween was so fun this year. It started off with the McBride Monster Bash at Chris and Jewelia's house. They throw an awesome party! Paul and I went to a costume party that a friend of mine had. It was adults only, and we laughed a lot that night. And then on Halloween night, we went Trunker Treating, and Trick-or-Treating in the neighborhood. Averie was so funny. Any time we would walk past others she would yell to them, "Hi duys! Happy Hadoween! I'm weawing my pwitty dwess! I dot my twick o tweat bag!" EVERY TIME! I was laughing all night. When someone would ask her, "what do you say?" expecting trick-or-treat to be the answer, she would instead say, "I'm weawing my pwitty dwess!" She's pretty entertaining.

Some Random Fun

The kids beg Paul every night to do "sack-a-potatoes" to put them in bed. He gives in more often than not.
This is how we find May most of the time now. She loves the A-Z mystery books. For a while she was busting through one a day and taking her AR test on it the next day. That lasted about 2 weeks, and now she just reads them at a normal pace. She's a great reader!
This is my funny, funny girl. I sure get a kick out of this kid. She makes me laugh everyday!
I forgot to post a picture of Averies Dora cake. In case you're wondering, she had to go over Muddy Mountain, down the River, and through the Gooey Geyser to get to her Birthday Party.

It seems like a moment ago...

Averie at 2 weeks old

Although it seems impossible, she's 2!

We went to the circus for Averie's Birthday! She thought it was pretty cool for at least 15 minutes or so, then she just wanted to run around in the halls. The next day we had cake and ice cream at her Grandma and Grandpa McBride's house. She had her favorite... a Dora cake made by her daddy. The girl has an OCD with Dora. Everyday I hear first thing in the morning and the last thing before bed "Nat I watch Dowa dee espoda (Dora the Explorer), pees Nat." I can't get her to call me mommy yet. She's so much fun and we love this child more than I could have ever imagined. I don't know how I ever lived without her in my life. She's my girl.


A row of cousins, Aly, Ellie, Katelyn, Boone, Maddy, Maycie, Ben (or Brady), Averie, Brady (or Ben) I can't tell them apart from behind!
What a sport! Poor Nikki was about ready to pop, and she did! About a week later.
"Yook Nat at da Edefants!"

Boone, Ellie, and Jayce

Curious

Who are you voting for, and why do you feel strongly about that candidate?

How can she be 5?

Once a princess, always a princess!

Happy Birthday Ellie!

Happy Birthday to my Princess Ellie! We had the funnest Princess Bash ever! It was complete with handsome princes, the Fairy Godmother, and great friends and cousins. How cool is my sister? Well, she borrowed an old prom dress from the early 80's from her sister-in-law, she let me borrow her tiara from high school, and she led the princess dancing outside (see video). I'm thinking about hiring her out. She's pretty cool! Ellie loved her party, and we love our Ellie. Happy Birthday sweet girl! I can't believe you're 5!

Our Royal Family

Princess Party Highlights (for you Grandma!)

Ya gotta love the 80's

This was actually way too much fun for grown women! We were trying to channel our inner Disneyland Princess. Paul was loving it! O-kay.... so I made him wear it! But deep down I think he really wanted to put on an old suit from his mission that was entirely too tight around the waste, and a couple of inches too short. Who wouldn't right?

The Cake

It is tradition that Paul decorates the birthday cakes in our family. It all started with Mayice's first B-day cake. I made such a mess of it, Paul had to save the day, and he did! It should come to no surprise to anyone who knows us that he is better at it. He can do EVERYTHING better than me, (except I always beat him at Boggle, woo-hoo!) Anyway, this year Ellie requested a princess cake that was white, pink and purple. Paul decided that he wanted to try fondant frosting for the first time ever. He even made it from scratch! The cake turned out to be very pretty and Ellie loved helping her dad make it. BTW, I did have to tie the bow with the fondant and it only took me about 45 minutes, so I guess I'm good for something.


The Finished Product

So She Thinks She Can Dance!

This was at the Eastern Idaho State Fair. A band started playing next to where we (and a million other people) were eating and Averie COULD NOT contain herself! After a while she had as many spectators as the band did. If you notice behind Averie, Ellie had a hard time controlling herself as well. We got a kick out of it.

Finally! Preschool Started

For the last 47-52 days I've been asked, "do I have school after this bed night?" That is Ellie's way of saying "tomorrow" and I can't bring myself to correct her because it sounds too cute. Maybe when she's 15 or so I'll let her in on the rest of the world's interpretation. She was so excited for school, she couldn't go to sleep that night and was the first one up in the morning. Hooray for Ellie!!!!!

First day of 2nd grade

Maycie is so excited to be in 2nd grade at her 3rd Elementary school! What are we doing to this kid? It doesn't seem to phase her though. If any of my kids adjust well to change it is definitely her. After she got off the bus the first day I asked her how it went and she said "Mom, it was FANTASTIC!" All of my fears for her vanished. She had the names of all her new "best friends" and who she ate lunch with, what she did at recess, and in true Maycie style went on and on and on and on and on......you get the idea. My sister had a pep talk with her boys (who attend the same school) that they need to be sure and talk to Maycie at recess since she wouldn't know anybody. Konnor came home and told his mom that Maycie was playing and talking to everyone at recess and had tons of friends. He said "she was tearin it up mom!" That made me laugh and also relieved me. I love this girl and I am so happy with how well she adjusts!

Happy 85th Grams!

Grams still looks so amazing and still walks with a little skip in her step. Oh how we love our Grandma Faye! She was telling us that she is still so tough at 85. I believe her! Don't mess with my granny!