If Home Is Where Your Heart Is. . . .

Yes, we even did formal invitations for all of the "princesses." What a great morning!  Princess Margaret (Maggie) and Lady Jamie Jo hosted a Royal Wedding sleepover and party!  Last night five of Maggie's friends and their moms came over (some in formals) to spend the night.  This morning the moms woke up to finish cooking and setting up and to watch some of the royal procession.  Then we woke up the girls (and a couple of the brothers) in time to see Kate ride to the ceremony. The breakfast was beautiful and surprisingly tasty!  We had scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, strawberries and cream muffins, egg and bacon muffins and much much more. I had out my white wedding china with all of the little tea cups.  It was so cute.  We drank sparkling orange juice and hot tea. It was fun to hear the girls laughing and talking throughout the wedding.  They were so excited to be up and I am so glad that they will have a fun memory ...

This is my pile of laundry today...my pile minus the one load in the washer, the one load in the dryer and the two loads clean and waiting to be folded.... Between company this weekend, being out of town for two days on a get-away with Andy and a six year old throwing up and missing the bucket repeatedly, my pile is amazingly large! Also to do today is clean my house (for the same reasons listed above), go to the grocery store, cook for my Royal Wedding Party I am throwing tonight/tomorrow morning in the wee hours and to WORK! Oh my! I guess I better stop blogging and get working! Happy day!

Well, I am being featured today on one of my favorite blogs:  Durango Mom .  The author of the blog, Ivey, is one of my friends and I absolutely love reading her blog!  If you click on "Durango Mom" above, it will take you straight to the story featuring me.  Below are three of my favorite posts from Durango Mom (a couple are from her old website from before Durango Mom days, but the same lady).  I hope you take the time to enjoy them as much as I do! Thanks, Ivey, for being a friend who laughs WITH me! Back To School (my favorite one) Former Patton House For Sale Sharon and Karen

I braided Gabby's hair again. . .this time it took nearly 30 hours.  I started on Wednesday and put in about 7 hours and then about five hours a day since then.  Yikes.  However, it looks MUCH better this time and I am very proud of her new do! Also, we had a birthday party for Gabs the other day.  The Brawners were here and the McKinnis crew came over, too.  We had ice cream sundaes and Gabby opened our gifts.  It was a fun party!  I'm not a huge over the top birthday party mom, so it was nice and laid back and we loved it. Abby, Gabby, Maggie, Hays, Kate, Tiki, Dax, Jackson, MJ & Smith Today we braided all morning and then headed to watch Disney's "African Cats."  It was good.  Jordin Sparks sang in the movie and she did a super job!  Then we headed for a late lunch/early dinner (linner) at our favorite Durango Mexican spot.  Now we're at home thawing out (it has been sleeting/snowing/raining all day) before we brav...

Gabby last month. Today Gabby is FOUR!  Happy Birthday, Gabs!  I definitely was not there when you came in to this world, but I love you like I was.  This year you have turned into a fun friend and little girl.  I have loved spending nearly every minute of every day with you!  You are hysterical!  I love the way you have become so loving.  You are dear and precious.  I think my favorite thing, though, is the way you love out loud!  When Daddy walks in the door you drop everything and run to him with all of the excitement there is!  You love your brothers and your sister with a smile that brightens a room.  And you love me in such a dear way.  Gabby, I love you so much!  You are a joy in my life and I am so very thankful for you!  I'm blessed that God gave you to me. . .we are all blessed!  Your Rwandan name says so much:  IRIBAGIZA, "we praise the Lord because you are a blessing." This is Gabby in Afr...

Our friends, the Brawners, came to visit this weekend and we have been having a blast!!! Today we were going to go hiking, but a winter storm advisory up in the mountains changed our plans to the local "egg scramble" and then donuts at Bakers Bridge. This weekend has been so much fun! We have laughed and laughed and I am so thankful that they drove out here to visit us! Molly Jane & Gabby The McKinnis Family J & Al Smith (aka "Stan") and Al Jackson & Jason

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