Mother's Day 2009

This Mother's Day we had a nice day with Jerry's mother, Betty. This was different from most Mother's days that we spend with his family, because the guys always cook and clean on this day, but since Jerry was the only one there...he and the boys did as much as they could and we appreciated it. Jerry's Dad had graduation, Tony had to work, Elizabeth's kids were in MI for a funeral and Gma & Gpa weren't feeling well. Regardless of all that, we were able to have a nice Sunday dinner and gave his mother and gma their gifts. I received 2 large potted plants for outside, just like I asked for : ) I love flowers and plants to plant outside, so these were the perfect gifts for me, since I don't really need anything anyways. I also received from the kids (via Aunt Elizabeth) 3 different plants to plant outside, thanks Elizabether! --I did miss my Mom, but not quite like I thought I would. I guess I cried so much the day before, I must have gotten it out of my system : ( I don't know what my deal was, but I sure had a hard time on Saturday. I guess I was just kind of preparing myself for Sunday and then I didn't allow myself to stop and think about what was going on, so... Hope you all enjoyed your mothers day and hope you have many more to come.

Mommy & Talon
Mommy & Keegan
Mommy & Kallee

Kallee's 4th B-day Party

We usually don't have a birthday party for our kids every year, but since Kallee's is in the spring it is too nice outside to miss out on having friends and family over. This year she decided she wanted to have some of her friends for her party so... she selected; Isabelle, the Derscheid girls, Kailey & Adalyn and her cousins CJ & Maverick. Of course all their parents came, along with them and the rest that were here were; Mamaw & Papaw, Aunt Elizabeth & Uncle Tony and "Aunt" Kathryn and "Uncle " Scotty-Boy (as she calls him : ). We had hot dogs, meatballs, potato salad, chips and last but not least, cake and ice cream. We had a great time eating, opening gifts, roasting marshmellows and sitting around the fire. It is great to spend time with family and friends, thanks to everyone for coming!!!

Chowin' down with some of the girls

Gift time -- she really liked this part!

A little pony from her cousin CJ
She really liked this one too, it was a Hannah Montana bag filled with goodies; lip gloss, crayons, a scribble pad, note tablets, etc. She also received with this gift, an adorable "gardening set" (rake, shove, hoe, etc.). Thanks Scott & Kathryn

A Princess tea set from Mamaw & Papaw

This set was sooo cute, she loves them -- from Isabella
This gift was too cute; a pink ballglove, a baseball hat and some Big League gum : )
Tony said "I gonna make a tomboy out of her one way or another".

Her bubby got her a Snow White "Polly", some princess hair clips and a Cinderella nightlight

Play-doh from Keegan

Two pretty church dresses from Mommy & Daddy (thanks to good old Ebay : )

Daddy lighting her candle

Kallee blowing out her candle

Kallee & her cousin CJ roasting marshmellows

Kallee's Strawberry Shortcake Cake

Well here it is, it didn't turn out perfectly, but I'm not perfect, so there ya go! : o) From about the time Kallee was done with her 3rd birthday, she said her next birthday she wanted a Strawberry Shortcake cake/party. Since we had just finished her 3rd, I wasn't worried about planning her 4th, HA! Anyways, the closer it got to her birthday, she reminded me "I still want a Strawberry Shortcake birthday", so...since I only have one girl to spoil---she got her wish! I am not a fancy cake baker at all so I'm not very creative on my own, that's when I decided to jump online and see what I could find. There were a lot to choose from, but nothing I thought I was prepared to try and attempt. The one she selected (with a little encouraging from Mom : ) was Strawberry Shortcake's hat and it was actually pretty easy. All you pros could probably do it in 1/2 the time I did and really make is look cute, but since I'm not a pro... Anyways here are the results, she was happy with it, so that is all that matters.

Step #1
(2 - 9" round strawberry cakes)
Step #2
(First layer frosted with yummy, homemade strawberry frosting)
Step #3
(the top layer wasn't as big as I would have liked, but it did the trick)

Step #4 (kind of lopsided, but it worked)

Step #5
(I didn't have any thin ribbon (and I was too cheap to buy a roll for this: ) so I took the wide ribbon I had and folded it in half)

Step #6

(I did splurge on these deorations and got them for like $5 on ebay)

Step #7

(I couldn't find the green and pink striped ribbon I wanted,
so this green and pink polka-dot ribbon had to do)

Ta-da!
She helped me put on the decorations and strawberry gummies,
she enjoyed helping so much!The finished products!

I got to thinking about it and the platter that I used for the smaller cake and the red ribbon on her "hat cake", were my Mom's so it kind of made it special to use something that was hers. This was the first birthday Mom wasn't here to call and wish Sissy a Happy Birthday and with it being Mother's Day weekend and all.

Happy 4th Birthday to our Little Princess ~ Kallee

I can't hardly believe four years ago right now, we were enjoying our new baby girl! Where does the time go? It was a Sunday when I had her, so not much company was able to come due to church and all. We were glad for all of those that did come see us, we were happy to share her with you : ) I still can't believe that I had her baby shower on Saturday night and the next morning, at 3:00a.m., I headed to the hospital. She was my longest labor by far, she was finally born at 11:40a.m. The little stinker didn't want to come out, HA! Anyways, she has brought much joy to our lives and I'm looking forward to the next 4 years, and the next 4 years and so on! Since Daddy had surgery this morning, we chose not to have her party until next week, so hopefully he will be feeling and ready to party : ) Happy Birthday baby girl, we love you!

She is so proud of this new princess outfit Mamaw gave her for her b-day!

She loves to get her pictures taken and she loves making funny faces too!

Awww, what a cute princess!

Mary Turns the BIG 40!!!

On April 16th, my sis -- Mary-- celebrated her 40th! Yep, that's right, the BIG 40 : ) I can rub it in a little, cause I'm 6 years behind her, HA! HA! Since we were all at IHC during that time, my BIL, John decided to have a party for her in OH. After the final service, we all headed to Smoky Bones and enjoyed a nice birthday party! We hope you had a great one Mary and hope you will remember it for years to come! I love you sis and want you to know; I'm glad your my sis and want to thank you for EVERYTHING you have done for me over the years!

John is such a great hubby and father!!! He is a GREAT provider and helps her out SO much,
she is very blessed!
Everyone singing "Happy Birthday to you..."

Happy 40th Mary!

Her yummy ice-cream cakes from DQ!

Little man Maverick, taking after his Daddy and drinking and drinking and drinking! I don't think that kid will ever get enough water!

The gang of birthday guests, I think there were around 25 of us there

Kallee's Debut @ IHC

Kallee was asked by "Ba-ba" (A.K.A. Sis. Barbara Baker) to sing at I.H.C. this year. Some of you may or may not know this, but my niece CJ, is Sis. Baker's granddaughter. When Sis. Baker asked if "the girls" could sing for the children's program at I.H.C. I was a little hesitate to say Kallee would, because I didn't know if she would actually do it : ) Much to my surprise, her and her cousin CJ got up in front of 3000+ people and sang VERY well on Thursday, in the Children's Choir! What an experience this was for them and for me and my sister, we were really proud of them!!! Thanks so much Sis. Baker for asking our little gals to sing, we won't ever forget this: ) If you would like to see them sing, go to: www.ihconvention.com (left hand side under "Archived Video", select the "Building for Keeps" on 4/16).

CJ & Kallee practicing in the children's auditorium

They had their own "celebrity chairs" with their names on them : )

CJ with her cousin Kristen, Kristen showed her where her Mommy was sitting and CJ had just located her -- Hi Mom!

Kallee waiting on stage ready to perform

Sis. Baker beginning the program

The girls getting situated and ready to sing

Aren't they adorable?!?!?!
"Ba-ba" bought them their dresses, thanks Ba-ba!

All finished!

Heading back to their seats

There were close to 400 kids in this Children's Choir

I thought it was kind of neat that a group of kids from our church were all together; Keegan center, Ethan Wilhelm turned around and Kayla Fry in the middle of the flowers

The Heath Brothers from FL, they did such a good job!