birthday cooking!

I felt a little like Betty Crocker last night! I made the cutest cupcakes last night for Tripp to take to school today for his birthday. I saw these months ago online on a blog and wanted to try them out. I was pretty impressed with the way they turned out!

Cute little monkey faces!!

Just take a whole nilla wafer and cut the top off and then take the mini nilla wafer and cut in half for the ears. Use black and red icing for the eyes, nose and mouth. Easy and cute and fun!! I also made another cake to have tonight. Nothing too fancy...

Tripp loves cake and I hope he'll enjoy this one! My mom always made cakes for us when we were little and I really enjoyed making these last night for Tripp. I can't wait for him to blow out his candles!! He will be loaded with sugar after his cupcake at school and then cake tonight, but that's okay because it's his birthday! :)

out mommy...

Yesterday after I pick Tripp up from school, we were talking and I was asking him about his day. He then tells me "out mommy out mommy" and I look back (only for a quick second) and see this....

Apparently he wanted out. He pushed the little chest bar down and successfully wiggled his arms out. I am hoping this is a one time thing, but just in case, I tightened him up a bit more so he doesn't become a little houdini. I pulled over and got him back in (after a few pictures).

Over the weekend we enjoyed some ice cream from Marble Slab. I had a buy one get one, so Tripp and I shared. Needless to say he really enjoyed it. He definitely has a sweet tooth like mommy and daddy!

MMM MMM Good!!!!

This cutie patootie turns two in just 2 days..... He (we) can't wait for all the birthday action coming later this week.

birthday fun

If you look to the right of this blog, you'll see in just 7 days my baby turns two! Whoa... We started the celebration a little early. Both of my grandparents also have June birthdays and so this past weekend we had a celebration for all three. An 88 year old, an 80 year old and a 2 year old! They were so excited to share their birthday with Tripp and we had a great time hanging out with family! Here are a few pictures below.

Happy Birthday Tripp, PawPaw and MawMaw!

Blowing out the candles....

Eating his first ribs..... He loved them!

He loved opening presents, next week should be lots of fun!

Tripp also attended several of his friends birthday parties in the last several weeks. He loves singing happy birthday and he loves cake! Can't wait for him to enjoy his next week!

Eating cake with the birthday girl, Ella Jane!

All the guys and "babies" at Gates' Birthday

Riding a horse for the first time at Mason's birthday party! He loved it!

happy three years!

Three years ago today I married my sweet husband. Our wedding day was a special day and I love looking through pictures! Sometimes it seems like just yesterday, and other times it seems like we've been married for years. It does get a little crazy at times, but I can't imagine sharing life with anyone else!

splash!

We've spent the last two weekends in and around the water. Tripp does take a little while to warm up, but once he's in, he loves it. I am hoping he'll get over that soon!

On his "boat" at my parents' house...

Swimming with Daddy!

At the lake with Aunt Leesie, he loved kicking and splashing!

We also visited my grandparents last weekend. They LOVE seeing Tripp and think he's pretty much the coolest ever. Whenever my parents go up to visit they try and take him, but last weekend Alisa and I just ran up there to spend the morning with them.

Giving MaMaw kisses!

Look at this sweet face! I love this picture!

Other news, it hasn't been a lot of fun around our house the last few days. It all started Thursday when Tripp's teacher called me and said he had some blisters in his mouth. We went to the doctor and he had the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). Totally common in toddlers, especially those at schools (daycares). It went around last year at church and his school and he never got it. Well he had it good this year. On top of that, I swear his two year molars are about to break through. We've had some rough nights (waking up about 4-5 times throughout the night) and I don't think it's all from the blisters. He isn't really eating very much and when he does, it's like macaroni or soft things. I looked up two year molars, and it pretty much describes what "we" are going through. I sure hope it is the molars too, because if it's not, then we'll have round two of this pretty soon. I also read that both molars and HFMD only last a few days, so maybe we will return to normal in the next day or two. I pray that it happens soon....

memorial day weekend

We had a fantasic Memorial Day weekend!! We were very lucky to start our weekend on Thursday night and headed on down to the beach house in Panama City. Lee spent a lot of time here when he was younger and I think it's great that Tripp gets to enjoy it now too!

Friday we were joined by great friends and we all had a lot of fun. Worried about the predicted rainy forecase, we actually managed to have some great mornings and afternoons with sunshine and no rain!! We had a house full of toddlers (5 to be exact) and there was never a dull moment for sure!

A little overcast Friday afternoon, but at least it wasn't raining....

Playing with Price in the sand

Tripp and Ella Jane playing around...

Tripp and Gates on the beach in the rain Saturday morning...

We moved under the house for a little while...

Then on to the baby pool!

Gates, Tripp and Ella Jane

The boys watching a movie... Gates, Price and Tripp

Saturday afternoon it cleared up and we had a great time down on the beach!!

Playing the sand... Big helpers helping their daddies.

Tripp and Lila

Tripp and Ella Jane searching for sea shells.

More fun in the baby pool.... Gates, Ella Jane, Price and Tripp
This was a great way to wash off the sand!

Sunday morning was pretty too!!

Lila, Tripp, Ella Jane, Price and Gates
Pretty hard to get all of them still, and looking at the camera.

Taking a break from the big pool. Sunday afternoon we ventured over to the pool at Sterling Beach next door.

We had a wonderful time! It was such a great break, maybe not relaxing, but it was a nice getaway. Speaking of relaxing, we are already planning the next beach trip - couples only!!

it's been a while...

It's been too long since I last posted. We've been going here and there. I have a few things to post, including a mega post from Memorial Day.

The last weekend in April, my sisters, me and our husbands went to the race in Talladega. It's kinda become a tradition ever since we got into it. I never thought I would like watching it, but once we went to Bristol a few years ago, we were hooked. It's a lot of fun and the people watching is just as interesting!! We had a great time and can't wait to go back!



I took several pictures of the Montgomery flood a few weeks back, but I have yet to load them on my computer. It was pretty wild, I never have seen anything like that. Tripp loves playing in any kind of water, and he was outside with my dad and there were tons of puddles. My dad showed him how to stomp in them and he just thought it was hilarious. We got a little video... I just love his laugh!

Two weeks ago I was out of town for work and Tripp and Mrs. Whatley went to see Bob the Builder downtown at the Performing Arts Center. She said he had a great time watching all the tractors move around! He didn't want his picture taken, but here is a picture from the show.

May and June are always fun because Tripp has lots of birthday parties (several cute pictures coming soon when I can find my battery charger for my camera), including his own. He turned 23 months on Monday, and I can't believe he is just one month away from turning TWO! He is turning more and more into a little boy every day. He is talking nonstop. He points and yells at every big truck, tractor, bus, airplane, etc. that he sees. He loves playing outside. He loves milk, and wakes up asking for it. For several months now, his pa-pa (paci) stays in the bed. He knows when I come get him out of bed, to leave it on his pillow. He usually doesn't ever ask for it during the day, but as soon as he's going down, he always wants it. I was planning on doing away with it at 2, but he sleeps so well with it, and as long as it stays in the bed, maybe he'll get to keep it a little longer. Tripp's favorite song is Wheels on the Bus. I think they sing it at school a lot! He knows the motions and loves going beep beep beep! He also has been throwing some fits if he doesn't get what he wants. I usually just walk away, and he gets right back up. Apparently he has learned the art of "no," whenever he bumps into something or something bumps into him, he'll cry for like a sec and then say (in a stern voice of course) "No ___" and call out whatever he hit or whatever has upset him. It's hard not to laugh because he's so cute! I just can't believe how fast he's learning and changing.

Hopefully I can post from our exciting Memorial Day weekend tomorrow!