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Anything; whatever you want.

Pinki's pink birthday cake decorated by Gusley!

What can I say? My son LOVES cake! He knows how to mark his piece of the pie!

I'm baaaaack!

Wow wee...it has been forever and lots has been happening here in TN. We rang in the New Year in Louisiana with wonderful friends and started the new year off with family and cabbage (Jake ate our family's share of cabbage!) Thanks, babe!

We came home and started to plan Gus' 3rd birthday party.....Busytown Theme (I started a post for that, but it is still under construction, if you will!). Gi-Gi came to town for a visit, we found out we were having a girl, it snowed, it rained, rained some more and then the sun came out and we have nice weather for a few days, then the weekend came and it rained some more and on this particular weekend Jake had to work outside in the rain. Danny and Bridgette and their 3 children came for a visit during Spring Break and they stayed with us for a week, then Aunt Beth flew in and visited for 5 or so days.....during these visits LOTS of laughs were had by all and we all had a great time catching up and reminiscing!

Somewhere between those visits Jake and I had date night at Bonefish Grill and it was marvelous.....$5 Bang Bang Shrimp on Wednesday nights...I think I know where I will be!!

Celebrated Nanny's birthday at Loveless Cafe while Aunt Beth was in town. Enjoyed some Pinki time while she was on Spring Break! Made a crown of thorns for the St. Joseph's Alter at mom's church...ate lots of chocolate dipped pretzels while making said crown. Had a 2nd ultrasound of the baby. Attend Bunko and actually came home with a few bucks. Celebrated Pinki and Pop's 36 year anniversary on the 27th and finalized some of our moving plans. Went to Zumba last night and it felt great! Giving up on trying to get to the post office to mail March birthday presents to Louisiana...we will be there soon enough and we will hand deliver them! Well that is all that comes to mind right now, but rest assured that we will be using this weekend to catch our breath as it all cranks back up next weekend!!

In the midst of all the above, Gus has learned how to sing his ABC's and count to 40...both were accomplished in about a week!! Jake and I are so very proud of him!!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Gusley!!

This picture was taken on his actual birthday exactly an hour before the time he was born! My how these past three years have flown by! I think it is safe to say that Gus had a wonderful 3rd birthday! It started on Saturday with his party here at the house and continued until Monday night at Chuck E. Cheese (his very first time) where he and his little gal pal Endi celebrated with rides and games!!

And a last minute visit from GiGi to boot!

Happy 5th Birthday to Me!

The only candle mom had was a "5"! Here I am reliving my 5th birthday with my 2 1/2 year old son!! Thank you, Momma for such a yummy gumbo and delicious cake (especially on with whipped icing)!!

I truly have to say that birthdays do seem to get better with age! Thanks to all that made my birthday so special!

Red Velvet Yogurt = Delish!

This post needs not further explanation except that we finally wrapped our mouths around red velvet frozen yogurt! It was an early birthday treat for me, but we all enjoyed it!

Double Date Night

For my birthday this year, Jake had a grand plan that we would go to the drive in with out good friends and eat funnel cakes and burgers and fries and lots of soft drinks! Being that is was Halloween weekend they were showing Paranormal Activity 2 and Jackass 3 or Life As We Know It and The Town. We chose Life As We Know It and The Town....but only saw Life As We Know It because we were all freezing by the end of the first movie!! We had blankets, but it was chilly and since it was 4 of us we could not all sit in the car and watch the movie.

Once we decided to leave the drive -in we decided to go bowling! We had the best time and Jake and I hadn't been bowling since before we moved to TN....3 years! We were all over due for some bowling!

Here we are taking a shot to celebrate my birthday!! Cheers to twenty-GREAT!!

Amanda showing us her skills.....

Tyler......

Me.....

Jake....

Happy 4th Birthday, Siena!!

On September 3rd, Gus' gal pal Siena celebrated her 4th birthday and she invited us over for dinner and yummy cake! Gus had a great time playing with she and her sister and Endi! The 4 of them get along so well and they really had a great time playing together and sharing cake and ice cream!! Happy 4th Birthday, Siena! We hope you had a great day and can't wait to play Candyland with you!!

Homemade cake by her sweet momma!

Siena and her sister ready to blow out the candles!!

Sweet birthday girl with her presents from Gus.....

I will have you know that he chose them with minimal help from momma!

A little help from her friends!

Happy Birthday, Jake!

Happy Birthday, Jake!! We hope you have a wonderful day and just want you to know how special you are to us! You are my best friend and I feel so lucky to have you in my life! You are a great husband and such a hands-on father to Gusley. I just love to sit back and watch the two of you play together and share those special father/son moments! I have no doubt in my mind that Gus thinks you hung the moon, and you have! I love how he looks forward to bedtime stories with you and how he snuggles up to you while you read to him. He is very fortunate to have a daddy like you and I feel fortunate to have a husband as caring, thoughtful and doting as you. Thanks for everything you do for us each and every day! Today is your day, so relax and enjoy it! We love you to infinity and beyond!!

Happy Birthday, Sandy!

Happy Birthday, Sandy! Wishing you another year of happiness and good health! Hopefully next year y'all will be on the beach with us!!! Love, l*j*g

Happy Birthday, Danny!!

Happy birthday Danny! Hope you have a great day and a year full of good health and happiness!! Love ya, l*j*g

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Birthday POPS!!

Dad, Happy Birthday! Hope you have a wonderful day!

From the pictures above, you can see that Gus had a great time making your cake!! (and eating the sprinkles too!)

Happy 5th Birthday Lucas, love Cocoon Baby

Today is our sweet little nephew, Lucas' 5th birthday! We hope he has a great day and we wish we could be there to celebrate, but he is coming here in 2 1/2 days so we will celebrate then!! Since Gus was born we have said he looks a lot like Lucas. It could be the big brown eyes they both have, but their personalities are a lot alike as well! Lucas, we sure hope you enjoyed your bowling party!! Have a happy birthday and we love you and miss you so very much!!

Here is cocoon baby all snuggled and warm after a nice bath and no nap!!!

Happy Belated Birthday Nanny Helen!!

I had a total mommy brain moment and thought that I had created a draft so that I could come back and finish my post. Evidently, I did not. Nanny, sorry this is not posted on your actual birthday (24th), but do know that we thought about you yesterday! It was a beautiful day for a birthday! I hope you enjoyed your day and we will have to bake a cake to celebrate! Happy Belated Birthday on the blog!! We love you!!!

The picture below was taken last year when we went out to the farm to see Nanny and all the animals. We can't wait to get back out there, as Gus is going to have a blast!! Nanny is in the background on her horse, La Bamba and Jake and Gus are watching as she gallops around the arena! This was a very exciting day for Gus! He got to feed the horses carrots and play with dogs and cats!

Happy 5th Birthday Lily!

Happy 5th Birthday to our sweet little niece Lily!! We wish we could have made it to your "pig party"!! Lily was so excited about having her birthday party and kept telling us all about it while they were here visiting us. She loves the color pink, hence the pig party (because pigs are pink!). Last year she had a flamingo party because they are pink! Can't wait to see what she comes up with next year!! Happy 5th birthday Lily! We love you very much and can't wait to see pictures of your pig party!!! Hope you had a wonderful and special day!!

Happy 2nd Birthday Nash!!

Today is Gus' Louisiana pal, Nash's 2nd Birthday! He is having a Yo Gabba Gabba party and we sure wish we could be there to celebrate with him!! We can't wait to see him and spend some time with he and his mommy and daddy when we are down in May!

Happy 2nd Birthday Nashie Boy!! We love you and miss you!!!

Happy Birthday Amanda!!!

SURPRISE!!!!!

I had a plan that we would check in first, decorate the room then when Amanda and Tyler got there she would be totally surprised. When we did not get to check in before the concert, I was a little bummed that I would not get to pull off my surprise. With some wacky directions from their GPS, Amanda and Tyler did not get in until after we did so I was able to pull off the decorations!!!

Who knew it had to be 50 degrees out before they would run the roller coasters? Our second ride of the day...the swings!!

Group shot....before we knew what was to come on that train ride!!!

Happy Birthday Amanda!! We hope you had a wonderful birthday weekend!! I think birthdays are very special and love to celebrate them. It only comes once a year so why not!! We had a wonderful time with you guys and we should definitely do this again soon, very soon!

I am so glad our paths crossed when they did. It seems that our friendship was meant to be. You and I clicked instantly as did our children and husbands! You can't ask for much more than that. Not to mention we all want the same things out of life and we love chocolate!!! You are a true friend and I value our friendship. I have learned a lot from you and I admire you for being a mother, wife, student, teacher, friend, daughter (and I am sure I am forgetting a few hats that you wear) all at the same time. I know it is not easy, but your determination is phenomenal! Again, Happy Birthday and we love you!

Happy 81st Birthday Maw from the Little Casanova!!

Today is my grandmother's 81st birthday! She is one of my best friends. Growing up she called me her little shadow because when she remarried I cried and carried on and insisted I should go on their honeymoon!! Sorry Maw, I have always had a super strong love for you!! She also calls me Laura Lee and every time I see her she has to twirl the curls on my neck. She has ALWAYS loved my curls. This has to be one of the sweetest memories I have and I will always cherish those twirls! It is very fitting that we are so close because anyone that knows her and sees me says that I look just like her. When she was 20ish and when I was 20ish we looked almost identical. In her hay day, I picture her being a very vivacious, out-going, spontaneous little ball of energy.

I can talk to her about anything and she just listens and adds her thoughts on an as needed basis. She has always supported me in every thing I have ever done and has always been there for every single member of our family. I grew up in her back yard and the first place I lived when I moved out was next door to her in a garage apartment when Jake and I got married. We had a small compound going on as my Uncle lived next door to us. Growing up it was a very safe 'compound'. Every night I would call Maw to let her know I was on my way over to kiss her goodnight and she would wait at the back door for me. Often with a finger full of finger cookies for me (I recently introduced these to Gus and he LOVES them just as much as I do!). After we said our good nights and gave our kisses I would call my parents to let them know I was on my way back and she would watch me run home out of her back door and my mom or dad would wait for me at our back door. It seems like those moments were just yesterday.

We lived too close to my elementary school for me to ride the bus so she would pick me up everyday from school and as soon as we got to her house I would have a bowl of Fruit Loops or Corn Flakes and watch The Flintstones and The Jetsons while waiting on mom or dad to get off of work. Those were the days!!

Leaving my comfort zone of 25 years was the most difficult decision I have ever had to make. I remember the day I talked to Maw about us moving. I cried and cried and cried, of course it did not help that I was pregnant with her first great-grandchild at the time, but she just held me as tight and as close as she could and let me cry my heart out. When I stopped to take a breath she told me, "Laura Lee, it will be hard, but do not stay here for me. You and Jake need to do what is best for y'all and your baby. You know what the best thing and the right thing to do is. Do it. I will be here. I am a phone call away and I will not stop loving you and Jake. I mean it, do not stay here because of me. I WILL BE OKAY." I know those words were so hard for her to say, but at the same time I knew she meant it and it was genuine. After plenty more tears, hugs and Kleenex I felt better about our decision to move. That is not to say that moving day was not one of the hardest days of my life. I could not look at her house with out crying, when I walked in to tell her goodbye it was horrible. I lost it and I just could not hug her tight enough. I wanted to reverse our decision, but I knew that is not what she would have wanted. (As I type this I have have a huge lump in my throat and my eyes are welling up.)

I made a promise to her that I would try to call everyday. I am disappointed that I have not done so. I do try to call at least once a week, but I have made a promise with myself that I will call her more. When she hears my voice on the other end she sounds so excited and I know it makes her day. I do send her pictures pretty often so she can see how much Gus is growing. As you can see, my grandmother is very special to me. She always has been and she always will be. I can only hope to be half the wife, mother, grandmother she has been to all of us. She is the rock in the family. She has been dealt alot and she has taken it all in stride and she doesn't judge.

I really wish we could have been there to celebrate her 81st Birthday, but we did call and sing to her so it was like we were there! The picture below is Maw on my birthday 2009. She got a kick out of my pink wig so we put it on her for giggles! She loved it. I think for a minute it took her back to her youth...a place she hadn't been in quite sometime!

At this point I am sure you are wondering why the post is from the Little Casanova. This evening Jake and I took Gus to a local park, but it was too cool to stay there more than 5 minutes so we went for a drive while the sun went down and Gus was able to watch the moon rise. We ended up in a little city 20 miles from home and decided to eat at Pizza Hut. They had a great special and it was super clean so we thought we would give it a try. When we got to our booth there was booth of 3 ladies behind us and they immediately melted over Gus. They had some of the Hershey's dessert sticks and Gus kept eyeing them. They had 2 left and offered them to him. He did not hesitate to take the basket from them and proceeded to gobble the sticks up. He kept flirting with them through the entire meal and they loved every minute of it. They all told him goodbye when they left and he got a little bashful but still managed to crack a smile at them. One lady came back to leave her tip and she stopped at our table and gave Gus a dollar bill! He was quick to take the dollar from her! Had we known it was that easy, we would have had him acting a long time ago! NOT! So his new nick name is Little Casanova. Maw got a kick out of this story and just loves his nickname!

Happy Birthday Maw May! We love you more than I could ever write on this blog. You are an inspiration to me and a very special friend to me. I love you and miss you so very much. I wish you could make the trip up here because I think you would just love it!

Brought to you by the No. 2 and the Letter G!

Today was Gusley's actual birthday party and what a beautiful day it turned out to be! Despite only having a 40 minute nap in the car while we were out and about, I think he was in a great mood! We played outside for a bit, then came in to sing Happy Birthday and have cake and ice cream and to open presents. Our friends stayed over and we all had pizza together for supper. (Gus did not make it to supper...he had had enough at this point and off to bed he went!) He got some really nice, cool and fun presents!

The theme of his party was Sesame Street and I made faces of all the main characters out of paper for him. Gus really likes them and points to each one of them and smiles really big! I think I will get them laminated and use them to decorate the toy room.

The stage is set...waiting for the party guests to arrive!

Yummy, yummy cake!!

Ernie and Bert

Big Bird and Cookie Monster




The word on the Street

My personal favorites...Oscar the Grouch and Count Von Count

Grover and Elmo

Here is Gus walking his new backhoe around the yard!

This is my favorite birthday picture of him! By the way, I made the shirt so if you are interested in a number or letter shirt for your little one or someone you know, please let me know and I will be happy to make one!

Gus and his bestie, Endi hanging out in the playhouse!

Pure cuteness!

Giggle, Giggle, Giggle

Endi, where are you??

Why Gus, here I am!!!

Two times the fun when these two are together!

Weeeeeee.....with his chip in his hand!

Preparing to sing Happy Birthday. He still got a little uneasy when everyone was singing, but was very eager to blow out his candles!

Present time!! Endi was so eager for Gus to open her present that she started it for him!! Sometimes we need a little help from our friends!!

Checking out his new Yo Gabba Gabba boom box!

and a really cool truck!