Thank God I Don't Feel Like This Today!

TODAY I TURN. . . 40. . . OH HOW NASTY!

This card says that 40 should be downright rotten.  Well, having to SAY I'm 40 feels pretty rotten.  However, nothing has seemingly changed overnight and I still feel like I did yesterday at good ol' 39.  Hopefully tomorrow will be pretty good too.  It helps that many people have told me today that they "would never guess you are 40!"  I wonder how many of them my husband paid off.  Knowing him he might pay them to go the other way with their statements though.  Ha!  ;)

I'm in the middle of my birthday day and so far have been spoiled rotten.  I haven't changed a diaper all day!  The kids have been wonderful and loving, I've been taken out to breakfast by all three of my boys and have been treated to a romantic lunch with my sexy husband.  Tonight I hear I'm going to get spoiled more!  As of now, I can't complain too much about 40.

AND, even my brothers have been pretty easy on me. . . so far.  The day is not over.  I will report back tomorrow.

Thank you all for your kind birthday wishes and for all who are coming out to celebrate with me tonight.  I am very very blessed no matter what age I am!!

Love you all.

Traveling Boredom Alleviated. . .

What to do when you are on a long drive home from vacation and your kids are snoring and your husband needs entertainment to stay awake???  Photobooth time!  Well, actually, iPhone and rearview mirror time.

I'm sure other people driving beside us this past Saturday had just has much fun watching me as I did making these.  Hey, at least it alleviated boredom for a short time.

The trip was nice. . . lots of work with two boys but we enjoyed ourselves.  Pictures should be posted sometime soon.  I do recommend Legoland to anyone with small children.  It's definitely kid friendly and fun!

And, now, the best one of all. . . 

Five Years Going On Fifteen. . .

I literally about started bawling my eyes out when I sat down to edit these pictures yesterday.  I could not believe my eyes.  Zachary just looks so grown up now.  To me he looks older than five in these pictures.  Wow.  I say it all the time but time really does fly.

I called my mom Sunday night to see if she would be wiling to go with us to Oven Park to snap Zach's five year pics.  I needed her to entertain Chase Parker while I played photographer.  I was hoping it would only take a very few minutes to get some good pics but you just never know.  It's sometimes very trying photographing your own children.

It is not cold by any means here in Tally now but I wanted Zach to be in a sweater to somewhat match Chase Parker's 18 month old pictures since I am going to hang them together.  Mom, of course said yes she would help, and off we went yesterday morning.  It was actually pretty cool so at least Zach wasn't deathly hot.  And, thankfully, my boy performed magically.  It literally took me about 10 minutes and we were loaded up in the car and on our way again.  Zach was perfect.  Such a sweetheart.  Thank you for being so good for mommy Zach!

Love my big man so very much and I'm so thankful that I will have all these pictures to look back on forever.

Here they are. . . I am very proud of them.  WHO does he look like now?  Paul?  Me?  I want to know what you think!

Don't You Need An Update???

It's been busy around here. . . I just don't have the time to blog as much as I want to.  Of course I like updating all of you guys but my real reason for blogging is to document our family life for my children.  I love the idea of them having tons of these blogger books to read when they are old and grey.  So, we need to catch them and you up on what's been going on around here!

First of all, it was Cowboy Day at school recently.  I have one very handsome cowboy if I do say so myself.  Take a look. . .

He was excited that his Daddy gave him his old Blackberry to have so he was "texting" away in true modern cowboy style.

The kids had a blast at school celebrating.  They had a real cowboy lunch of hot dogs, baked beans, veggies, and baked chips.  Yummy delish.  They all were so cute in their getups.  Here is a class picture I took while I was there. . .

Now, onto other news. . . Zach was on Sprout TV!!  I completely forgot that I had submitted a picture online to Sprout TV for his birthday.  Sometimes he watches the Goodnight Show so I was hoping they would pick his picture to include in their daily birthday wishes or at least choose his name to send across the screen.  I submitted this a few days before his birthday but then forgot to check the DVR to see if he had been chosen until several days after his birthday.  To our surprise he made it!  Check it out. . . 

and here is the short video clip:

Zachary thought that was super duper cool!!

And now T Ball. . . Zachary is loving it!  But, even more so, Papa is loving it.  I was driving a few days ago on my way to take Zach to school one morning.  The phone rang and it was Papa.  Not unusual since he usually calls an average of at least three times per day.  When I answered he told me that he was hoping to get the phone number of Zach's T Ball coach.  I know my father and knew that there was no way I was letting him call the Coach.  I didn't even want to know why. . . I just said NO!  He then went on to plead his case and told me that he wanted to find out the EXACT equipment they were using at practices so he could purchase this for Zachary and him to practice with.  I again, said no.  If I would have given him the phone number I can just imagine that coach getting an average of three calls a day!!!  Later on that afternoon I was driving yet again, on my way to pick up Zach from school. Another call came in. . . it was Papa.  Surprised?  Not I.  He let me know that there is more than one way to skin a cat.  He told me that he called Tallahassee Parks & Rec and got the information he needed.  He then proceeded to tell me that all the equipment needed (exact tee, exact bat, exact ball) was at Sports Authority.  He was wondering if Zachary could go with him that afternoon to pick everything up.  I JUST about had a fit.  Then I stopped myself.  My father is retired.  He does not have kids at home.  His joy comes through things like this.  So, I did not have a fit for very long before I decided to give my father my blessing.  So. . . now they practice almost every day and Zachary AND Papa love it.  I am planning to take photos and videos of their practices soon.  I'm glad they have this to share with each other and, admittedly, I have seen significant improvement in Zach's ability.  So, I humbly thank my father (even though he can drive me nuts!).  (Love you Daddy.)

Here are a few pics from T Ball practices so far. . . I can't wait for the games to begin!!!

Coach Papa looks on. . . 

A short video. . .

And finally, I couldn't resist. . . a "professional" picture of Zach's first pair of cleats.
So. Freakin. Cute.

Ok, we are  nearing the end of news. . . a few more things:

1)  Chase Parker is cutting teeth galore.  BLESS. MY. HEART.  Pray that the teeth HURRY UP!

2)  We are getting ready to head to Lego Land and SeaWorld this week.  Hopefully Chase Parker's teeth will be in and he will feel better and our trip will go smoothly.  I am excited to go even though I know Paul and I will be dead tired.  This will be the first time Bella will be without us.  Sad.  My nephew will be doggie and kitty sitting for us thankfully though.  

3)  I had a terrific photoshoot today with my sweet Zachary.  I took his five year pictures and they turned out pretty good.  More on that tomorrow!!

4)  I leave you with a few random photos to enjoy. . . . 

Spring has sprung at the Birdwell Abode!!  The yard is looking so pretty.

(admittedly I did do a teeny weeny bit of photoshopping on the azaleas where they were bare!)

OK. . . a SNEAK PREVIEW. . . is this not one handsome dude????  Love. Him.
All photos will be posted tomorrow for sure.

It's Always Fun To Learn New Things. . .

You really can teach an old dog (me) new tricks.  I found that out this weekend.  More on that later in the blog.

Zachary and I invited his best friend Drew and his mom Erin for a beach getaway weekend.  After school last Friday we drove to Destin to start our fun.  Erin spoiled us and brought along homemade spaghetti and meatballs with all the trimmings (including brownies, YUM.) for our first night's dinner.  When we arrived at the condo, we got groceries at a nearby Publix, heated up dinner and put our luggage away while the boys played.  They had a bedroom all to themselves and, after a fun bath,  it was so cute to see them snuggled up together.   They loved it.

The next morning we took a tour of the grounds and both of us had our cameras in tow.  Erin has recently gotten into photography big time.  I thought this weekend might be good practice for both of us and a good time for me to get her shooting in Manual mode.  We were hoping the boys would be good models for us. . . once in a while it worked out while other times we could tell we shouldn't even try.  The walk was cold and very breezy.  As the boys were playing near the pond suddenly I saw a look of big time concern on Erin's face.  I looked over and saw that she was looking at Drew's shoe floating in the water.  (see video clip below!) That boy is hilarious!  Yes, his shoe floated away while I laughed hysterically.  We grabbed a pool net but had no luck reaching it.  After laughing, we continued on our walk, he with his wet sock and all.  However, a few minutes later, when we were down a ways at the other end of the pond, the shoe was spotted again!  This time near the shoreline!  I raced to get the pool net again and this time success.  Definitely a memorable moment.

While Erin was learning more about her photography hobby little did I know I would learn more in the kitchen.  Here's a secret about me. . . I'm a pretty picky eater.  I don't branch out into the unknown very often.  However, I completely trust Erin.  She and I are definitely cut from the same cloth.  So, when she told me I should try some hummus that she bought at the grocery store I, albeit reluctantly, said yes.     Shazammm!!!  That stuff was good.  She prepared it on a tasty parmesan garlic pretzel with smoked gouda cheese.  The hummus had red peppers in it and the entire bite was just delish!  I loved it and ate it all weekend.  (when I got home I promptly went to the store and filled our fridge with several flavors.  Hubby loves it now too!)  She also somehow got my picky eater child eating apples and bananas with peanut butter on them.

Saturday afternoon, even though it was still windy and cool, we headed to the beach.  The boys had been asking and asking to go so we finally made it.  It was alot warmer than it had been that morning so it was definitely fun.  We took a gazillion pictures and had fun talking shop.  It was fun but we were all pooped afterwards.  The beach just does that to you.  Regardless of the pouty faces when we asked for pictures we did come away with some really cute ones.

Sunday we woke up and headed to Baytown Wharf.  We toured all the little shopping areas and tried and tried to get some good pics of our children.  They were so over the photography stuff though.  Who could blame them.  We are worse than the paparazzi.

Each night, after the boys went to sleep, we had fun talking girl stuff.  I think we have shared all our secrets and, thankfully, she still loves me.  We had such a relaxing time.

Now, for pictures. . . drum roll please. . . enjoy!

I'm starting off with my absolute favorite from the trip.  I knew it the second I snapped the picture.  Not perfect photography, not perfect exposure, or perfect clarity, but I simply love it for the fact that it's a precious picture of two best buds starting their day off together.  This is REALLY what photography is all about.  Making lifelong memories.  These little guys will be friends for life.

Always beautiful. . . from our living room window 14 floors up.

Legos and Battleship were popular morning activities.

The new photographer working her magic.  She's only been learning a few short weeks and I am astonished by all she knows and accomplishes.  She is a natural.

the infamous shoe. . .

Let's take a moment to watch the short shoe video. . . ha!

The photos of me by Miss Hotness Photographer E. Cuzzort:







finally retrieved!!







beach fun. . .

Wow.  THAT is a hot mama with a sexy lens!

That lens just makes you smile big!

I could look at pictures of my lens all day long. . . that thing just ROCKS if I do say so myself!

Just adorable.

This is definitely one of my favorites.  For sure. 

LOVE THIS!!!  The dude is just ultra cool.  What more can I say?
(Can you find me in the picture?)

A real smile.  I just never get these anymore.  What a treasure it is to get one again!
Love my sweet man so much.

I purposely did not edit his bruised, scratched up legs.  See, he actually does get banged up!

The remote controlled boats were a big hit with the boys, not the moms!  What a scam.  $3 for about 3 minutes worth.  Not nice people!

Instagram time. . .

my new yummy eats!!!

Battleship wars. . .