Let's get caught up!

*WARNING* This post is probably going to be ALL OVER the place and will include A LOT of pictures. It's necessary to get you caught up on our lives. Where did I leave you last? Oh, we had just found out that my brother in law and sister in law (Hubs' sister and her husband) are having a BABY BOY!!! They have decided that his name is going to be SUTTON KYLE. My SIL has always loved the name Sutton and Kyle is after a friend of my brother in laws that was killed in a car accident while they were in college. I love the name and can't wait to meet him. If you remember from the last post they were coming down to visit and we did LOTS of shopping. I think Sutton went home with at least 15 new outfits. It was so much fun. While they were here we had planned a special birthday surprise for our oldest, Madeline, who turned 6 on the 24th. Madeline LOVES (is really an understatement) High School Musical. I saw back in October that the play was coming to the Civic theatre in Ft. Worth. I knew she would LOVE it. It just so happened that the play was in March, right around her birthday, so I decided to get tickets for Madeline, Hubs, and I to go. We'd make it a surprise day for just her. I took her to get her hair all cute and put up, then Hubs and I treated her to lunch, and then on to the surprise. She had NO IDEA what we were doing until we got there. She was beyond thrilled to the point her stomach was hurting because she was so nervous. She loved the show and sang to EVERY song and danced around in her seat. It was a FABULOUS day! Here's how the day went:

Just getting started with her hair.

A little twist here, a little tuck here.

Almost done. Just a few more bobby pins to hold it in place.

The finished product. (It looked a lot cuter in person) On the way, she still has no idea where we are going. At lunch with Daddy. And Mommy.. On the marble steps inside the building. Reading the program, waiting for the play to begin. The backdrop. Now that was fun...Before leaving the theatre. I think she's ready to see it again....SOON!! I have to say, I'm very proud of Hubs because as you can imagine going to the theatre isn't a man's favorite place to go much less watching HSM. He was a great sport and we had a great time spending the day together, just us and Madeline. Macy got to hang out with her Aunt and Uncle while we were gone. I think she gave them a GOOD TASTE of parenthood, as only Macy could. She's my spitfire. Speaking of spitfire, a few days before our company was coming to spend the weekend with us Macy was coloring a picture with markers when she decided to color her forehead with BLUE marker(sorry no pictures). I had to give her the speech about how we only color on paper, yada, yada, yada. So imagine my surprise we she comes into me THE DAY our company is to arrive while I am vacuuming to tell me that she colored on the couch. Inside I'm thinking yea right. I walk into the living room and this is what I see...........

Yes, that is BROWN marker all over the cushions.

I immediately start FUMING. You know like on the cartoons when the steam comes out of their ears and their head boils over. Yes, that was me at this point. I took a VERY DEEP BREATH and went looking for the child who was already in her bedroom, in her bed because she knew SHE WAS IN BIG TROUBLE She got a spanking and had to stay in her room for a while. Thankfully our cushions zip off so I was able to throw it in the washing machine and it did all come off. Lucky for her, huh? See why she's my spitfire? Moving on, after my SIL and BIL left we headed to Oklahoma for Spring Break. We spent the first part of the week at my parents. My dad was gone fishing with his buddies so it was my mom, the girls, and I. We got to spend lots of time outside playing. While we were there my mom purchased Madeline a new BIGGER GIRL bike for her birthday. This one had NO training wheels and she had never rode without them. I was ready to spend an ENTIRE day trying to teach her how to ride this new bike. I was ready for the challenge. CHALLENGE...NO!! The girl took off on her FIRST attempt. I couldn't believe it. She did great as long as she didn't have to turn. HA!! However, she quickly got the hang of it and before we knew it she was riding circles around us, stopping and starting on her own, and having a blast.

Madeline with her new bike. Helmet and knee pads are a MUST!! Right Aunt Katie? Crash!!! (My parents dog, Willie, making sure she was alright. Can you see Macy in the background doing what she does best.) I got a video of her learning. Look how good she is doing.

Here's what little sister was doing while Madeline was learning to ride her bike. Playing in the dirt.

While we were in Oklahoma I got to see me precious niece and nephew Garrett. Look how chubby she's getting.

Madeline and Garrett smothering her.

She's definitely a lap baby. She loves to be held and loved on. Which we have no problem doing.

We spent the latter part of the week with my in laws and got to see LOTS of my handsome nephew, SIL, and BIL (Hubs' brother and wife). I can't get over how much my nephew changes and grows each time we see him. He is starting to talk more and more and is turning into a little man. He's not a baby anymore. The girls LOVE him so much and love playing with him. Madeline is kinda like his little mother and Macy, well, she's just his boss. See for yourself.....

Dragging him where SHE wants him to go.

Now over here, Austen.

Don't you want to play over here, Austen?

The three Stooges...

Just Austen (20 months)

Fishing in Gramme and Granddad's backyard pond. They can spend HOURS doing this.

She looks so cute and innocent here. Wonder what she's going to be up to next?


While we were there we celebrated Madeline's birthday with a little cake. Madeline helped her Gramme make it not knowing that it was her own birthday cake she was making.
Here she is blowing out the candles.

I have so much more to say and show you but my hands and neck are tired. I think I'll continue this tomorrow with all of Madeline's 6th birthday celebrations. Now you know what we've been up to.