thirty-five years.

thirty-five years ago they got married.

 

then had four girls.

 

and taught us a lot about life.

Happy 35th Anniversary to my mom and dad!

Flashback Friday- Halloween 1981

Here is one of my favorite pictures from the past.  Me, at age two, posing with my dad in October 1981.
Look how excited I am to be dressed up like a ballerina for Halloween!

*Probably because I knew that this would be the one and only day in my life that I could pretend that I was actually a decent dancer!  ;)

And just for fun, which of my girls do you think looks most like me at the same age? I love hearing what others think…

Here is a closer shot of silly me.

Mini Mia

Little Sophie (in the beginning phase of her stress induced hair loss!)

And Gracie Lou.

Who do you think is my clone?

Our Version of a Hoe Down Throw Down

Every once in awhile Steve and I get to sneak away from Haus of Girls to have a night out sans kids. More often than ever before due to the fact that we have found the best babysitter we could ever dream of, Carly.

Her family recently moved here from Wisconsin and we couldn’t be more thankful for their sweet daughter who often comes and hangs out with our girls for an evening. She is a such a blessing to us, as we have always found it difficult to ask others to care for our girls just so we could do out and do something. It always felt so selfish.
Maybe because I’ve always taken care of them and feel that it’s my number one job, or maybe because we’ve always had a baby. Three babies in under four years is non stop fun but it’s also non stop diapers, bottles, learning to crawl and walk, childproofing, potty training and more.
So much to just pawn off onto others. At least it was for us.

However, Steve and I have just entered a new chapter in our lives.
A chapter than has left the cribs, diapers, childproofing and bottles in the dust. We have three potty trained, big girl bed sleeping, rule following, funny girls.
So now, it is not as difficult to ask someone to watch our girls and get a night out. Especially when you have a girl like Carly to call. She always happily walks four houses over, with her huge tub of Barbie dolls, and the girls smile from ear to ear.

This is just what happened last Saturday night.
We ventured out, without the girls, to a yummy Mexican restaurant with my parents, their good friends of over 30 years Janet and Nelson, along with their hilarious son Kevin and his wife Mary.
After dinner we headed over to a local line-dancing phenomenon called Stovall’s Grove.
Best. Place. Ever. if you ask me.

Stovall’s Grove is a family owned bar that has been around for years. My mom actually went to high school with some of the Stovall’s.
We had so much fun that I’m pretty sure Stovall’s will be a once a month occurrence in the future. Here are some pictures from the night…. 

Kevin may or may not have brought his cowboy hat for the occasion.

My dad had to borrow it a few times.

Steve twirled me around the dance floor, literally.

Who took these with my camera? I had no idea until I uploaded them today.

My mom and dad sharing one of several pee-in-my-pants-style stories.
Seriously. The stories they, along with Janet and Nelson, were telling that night made Steve and I cry laugh.

Kevin and Mary working the dance floor.

My dad and Mary trying a fun step. I think it was called the eleven step, thanks to my sisters’ friend Ashly, whom they went to high school with, I now know how to do it. Holla!

Kevin and my mom dominating.

However, the best dancer of the evening was, by far, Janet.
She had mad skills. I am jealous.

But don’t worry, a flyer on that big post on the right said that they have lessons starting soon. Adie, Haley and Maggie, we must take lessons.

And finally, I conclude with a stellar photo of Kevin “the stud” Glock and Ashly. Love this. And love that Ashly is a self-proclaimed Haus of Girls stalker. What a doll. I’m so happy we ran into her and that she took the time to teach this horrid dancer some moves.

Happy Hoe Down Throw Down Tuesday to all!

Sledding in the Fall

 

What does my crazy family do to entertain six kids on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at my aunt’s house while re-roofing her house?

We get a huge box and put them in it then push them down a big hill. Don’t you?
I bet you will now the next time you are desperate to keep your little ones busy for six hours while the adults do this…..

 

With the nail gun in hand, my dad, along my cousin’s hubby Tony, tackle some shingles.

I contributed somewhat by picking up this throughout the day.

My sister Adie’s hubby Meade taking a break.

As the kids got more antsy, my dad came to the rescue with the fun idea of box sledding.

I seriously want to be a kid again.

Samantha was not quite sure as she headed down the slope.

Little Meade loved it.

And Gracie’s grin says it all.

Even Mia had fun sledding down the hill.

A quick break to swing….

then the body surfing began.

Mia even stood up and surfed a few times.
I knew that deep down she had a little Cali in her.

After Sophie hijacked my camera she snapped tons of cute shots including this one of Adie and baby boy #2 in her belly.
I’m taking a poll, should she go with another M name to go along with little Meade? Maybe Mason? Or Myles? I say yes to both! 

 

And I end with one of her famous self photos.
I love the breezy hair in the face look.

Have a great Wednesday and happy box sledding to you and your little ones!

Thirty-Three Years Ago

 

This professional baseball player….

married this adorable trampolinist…..

and began their life together.
They started a family,  had four daughters, and always put them first.

The end result.

The said four daughters with their husbands (one soon to be husband) have now all started their own journeys through life filling it with laughter, love, children and strong principles of family togetherness.

All thanks to these two.

Happy Anniversary to my Mom and Dad!

Happy Birthday to my Dad

Happy Birthday to the best dad ever.

A man who has accomplished so much in his life.

Someone I have always looked up to

and strived to make proud.

As he has always made me proud to be his daughter.

I wrote in a book that I gave him one Father's Day that the most important thing he ever taught me was that nothing is more important than family.

I wrote how thankful I was that he put his four girls first.

Before any job, career, or hobbies.

He sacrificed so much for his family and I am who I am today because of it.

I wrote how I remember him being at every single event

that I ever did for school, sports or church.

Whether it was my 4th grade Christmas program, an elementary track meet,

my high school softball game, my Confirmation or any kind of award ceremony along the way.

I always knew that I could look up in the stands or in the audience

and see my dad there.

For me.

Not very many kids can say that.

But I can.

So thank you dad for being there for Me, Adie, Haley & Maggie

throughout our lives!

Here are some fun pictures I wanted to share of my dad....

My dad in his high school uniform with his dad.

One of my favorite pictures.

In the big leagues- posing in his Montreal Expos Uniform.

When he was in the army.

My mom took this, along with several others, in a mini photo shoot back in 1975.

My mom and dad in the 70's

My dad holding me on Easter 1980

Halloween 1981

My dad and Daisy, our black lab, taking a turn at

"SLEDDING" down our hill in our backyard

at the house we grew up in.

Everything was a layer of ice, so my dad had the great idea of

flipping over our picnic table and SLEDDING!

What a fun dad!!

Lead singer?
Absolutely!
This was at our old house as well.
This was my mom's cousin band. He's the guitar player on the right.
A celebration for my great-grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary!



Me and dad fishing.

Some recent crazy pis of me, dad and my sister Haley!

I love my family!

Happy Birthday Dad!!