Text from the Teacher

Just got a text from Miss Paula:

"mae is walkin around with a chicken leg on a plate singin happy birthday to u"

I confirmed that it was plastic toy fried chicken leg from the play kitchen. I guess with all the grandparent birthdays this month, she has birthdays on her mind.

Happy Birthday, Poppa J!

Today is my father-in-law's birthday.

So...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, POPPA J!

WE LOVE YOU!!!!

For those of you that are observant... Yes, all three grandparents were born in May. Between Mother's Day and grandparent birthdays, we bought stock in Hallmark this month.

The grandmother's might get on to me for these pictures since they did not get pics posted on their birthdays, but I loved these shots of MAE and Poppa J in action... If there ever were two perfect play partners, it is surely these two! She loves to play "Ride a little horsey..."

Memorial Day Weekend

Our house turned into the Evans' Inn Bed & Breakfast over the weekend. Aunt Sissy, Uncle Joe Joe, Bella and Uncle "Annie" (Andy) all came for a visit. Maison was loving the attention. It always makes me smile to see her with the members of our family that she does not get to see as frequently as others. It amazes me how she realizes how important they all are in her life and how much she loves them and is excited to see them. I always had a fear that living 4 hours from some of the most important members of our family would not allow her to be as close to them as I would like, but that is not the case.

Sissy and Joe Joe... formerly pronounced Pissy and Doe Doe... and I think they are the only ones that do not miss Maison's pronunciation... Anyway, Sissy and Joe Joe brought along their Yorkie, Porter. Saturday morning, Maison and I were awake before everyone else and as I was cooking breakfast, she drug Porter's doggie crate out of the mudroom and into the kitchen. Then she climbed in it and happily played there for quite a while. I tried to get her out because it reminded me of one of those horrible stories you hear about a foster parent caging kids and collecting the benefit money. I have been told that on Monday when I went to work, she climbed back in... with Porter this time... and that Sissy took pictures. I have not seen these pics and will not be posting them here once I do... I may share with those of you that I know will not report me to child welfare... but that is still to be determined as are my feelings about my sister taking photographs of my child in a cage! ;-)

Sissy caught a bass in the pond next to our house. I think it was her second cast and she hooked the fish we lovingly named Big Bass Bertha. She caught it Friday afternoon about an hour after they arrived. Joe Joe got up the next morning at the crack of dawn and spent HOURS at the pond trying to catch a Big Bass of his own... It did not quite work out. Saturday afternoon, Sissy went back with him and caught Bertha's honey, Big Bass Buford. Score: Sissy 2, Joe Joe 0.

Overall, it was an awesome weekend. Nothing beats a good time with your family.

Happy Birthday, BeBe!

Today is my mother-in-law's birthday.

So...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEBE!!!!

We Love you!

Happy Mother's Day!

Today is my 3rd Mother's Day... 4th if you count the one when Miss Maison was still the bun in my oven... It is hard for me to believe I have been a mommy this long. Time has truly flown by. Who ever knew it was possible to fall more in love each day?!?!? Maison has brought a joy to my life unlike any other and I feel truly blessed to have been chosen as the mother to such a sweet, loving, intelligent and beautiful child. Being her mom is the most important "job" I will ever have. Each day when I look at her sweet face, I realize what my mom meant all those times she told me I would not understand her love for me until I had a child of my own. I get it now, Mom. Thanks for being such an awesome mom to me for the past 32 years. My hope is that I can be at least half the mother to Maison that you have been to me and Michelle.

Mother's Day holds a new meaning for me now. Because being a mom is not just about being a mom. As we get older and things in life change, being a mom is also being a daughter... I have watched my mom and especially Trey's mom lately go into a role reversal of sorts with their own mother's. I have always thought of my mom as my nurturer, my caregiver and as I grew older, my friend. Every day, I watch my mother-in-law nurture and care for her mother and I realize that her role as a daughter has changed tremendously over the last few months. I have such a tremendous amount of respect for the patient and loving manner in which she tends to Maw Maw each day. I have learned a lot about being a daughter from her...

To all my mom friends out there... Thank you! Each of you teach me something or challenge me in some way to not just be a better mom, but a better friend, daughter and wife... I wish you a happy day today and send out lots of love.

And the biggest thanks goes to my sweet angel... Thank you my little doodlebug for those sloppy wet kisses, making me take time out to chase the butterflies and sharing your sweet bedtime prayers... each and every day you show me what life is all about. I love you forever!

Happy Birthday, Bella!

Today is my mom's birthday. So...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BELLA!!!!
We love you!

'Do by Daddy

Last night after I went jogging, I got a shower and overheard this conversation going on in the bathroom:
Maison: Daddy, I want a ponytail.
Trey: OK. I can do that.
A couple of very quiet minutes pass.
Maison: Daddy, I so pretty!
Trey: I should quit my job and be a hairdresser.
This is what I saw when I got out of the shower...

Daily giggle...

Just got a text message from Maison's teacher, Paula.

"Ms janae asked what that smell was in the class and mae smiled real big and giggled then said ms anae i got gas"

I swear she is her father's child!