the littlest sister turns 5

All three girls squealed at the top of their lungs when they got in this car. I told their mom's that this was a glimpse into our future.

Lexi is Olivia's best friend. She's earning her keep by putting Olivia's slipper back on.

The A Team!!!

We love them!!!

Momma Deb loving on her Livi

Olivia had a wonderful birthday party at Larry's Pizza with all of our Benton family and friends.

She chose the location this year and the theme.

We had a really good time with everyone.

And then she had a Newhope party with our families.

Cake Pops made by Sanctified Cakes

Sleeping beauties playing possum before the party

I had to be creative with the candles because they wouldn't fit in a cake pop.

Memaw, Grammie Retta, and Big Granny

Olivia opened her new 3DS.

Abi's face says," She got what?!"

And then she says," I only have a regular DS. That is a 3DS, Olivia."

It was too funny.

She was a little miffed that the 5 year old got a more advanced toy that what she has.

In our defense, the 3DS was on sale for the same price as the regular ones.

Go big or go home, right?

They all had a good time checking out the new DS in the end.

                                              Happy Birthday to another 5 year old!!
                                                                We love you, Sissy.

Cause you gotta have friends...

Date night with lots of buddies!

We watched The Lorax with a great group of friends tonight. Dedee and her daughter Sydney, Tonya and Keegan, Lexi and her mom Lori all met us at the movies and we enjoyed some 3D fun.

We hit up IHop afterwards and had some green eggs and ham.

I really enjoyed hanging out with the moms and their kiddos. We have a great family of friends.

love hurts

....especially when you are a mommy.

I didn't really plan to have this blog about anything other than my emotional moments. But I decided to pop a few photos in later on.

I have been dreading the girls getting older for a long time obviously. The teen years will be expensive, tiring, and draining most likely. And I am starting to get glimpses of some of the things to come. I think about Makayla a lot. She has been getting in trouble at school due to little people that she thinks are her friends telling on her. She is a follower and does what her peers do or ask her to do. It breaks my heart to see her "friends" hurt her feelings and I just want to put her in a cave somewhere so she won't have to deal with it. I got a phone call today from the assistant principal at her school due to an incident and I asked her to put Makayla on the phone. She was so very upset because she was in the principals office. I had to tell her to take deep breaths several times so she could calm her nerves and talk to me. I remember getting that way as a kid and it is awful. I felt so bad for her that I asked her if she wanted me to come get her right then. And she said, "No, momma. I'll be alright." Reflecting on that now, she was showing me that she is tough and can handle it. I just held her and boo hooed when she got home and told her how much I love her. I just needed to talk it out on my lovely blog I guess to get some perspective.

So, here are some photos from the day devoted to love:

Alex always tells me that Valentine's Day is a 'racket'.

My lovies ready to party at school.

And my sweet man sent me some beautiful flowers.

Don't get down by my pitiful post. I know my girl will grow and be so strong due to things she has already and will continue to overcome.

Dallas-a beyond late post

Ok--I know this is getting a little ridiculous. Numerous Christmas posts in February?? But you don't know the half of it. I am about to post from our vacation to Dallas...from August 2011. I know. But the only pictures that I had were on my cell phone and I had to email all of them to myself (which I tried and they never all went through) and now I have switched phones. So I had to plug my phone into the USB and upload the pictures. I know, excuses, excuses. 
Here we go with the post from forever ago.

We took the girls to Dallas, Texas in August for vacation last year. We typically go to Memphis, Branson, or Alabama. We decided to take the trip the opposite direction and let girls experience the Texas culture. Abi adores her American Girl dolls and the closest store was in Dallas as well.
We did Six Flags and shopping at Grape Vine Mills. It was a fun trip.

Of course the fun could not begin immediately...for me anyway.
Our first stop was to a Texas Rangers game. Alex was in heaven....I was ready to leap from the stadium. I'm not a baseball fan really and it was hot. We were tired...hungry....and cranky (I speak for myself for the most part. Although the photo of Olivia is pretty convincing as well)

She does have a sweet smile on her little face.

We also ventured into Six Flags. Makayla talked a big game. Actually all of the girls did. Every time we drove by the park the girls would see the big roller coasters and talk about all of the ones they were going to ride. Then we get there and they freak out!

Olivia got a little freaked out.

I was cracking up at the girls watching the waves come at them and was laughing when I was attacked by a mountain of water as well. That's what I get for having my phone out on a water ride.

Take your little one to a hot day of Six Flags and she WILL take a nap.

They love hotel pools.

The hubs and I.

The American Girls store.

Abi took Felicity to get her hair done.

It was so cute!

And goodness, the poor doll needed it so bad.

Abi "fixes" her hair all the time.

They had "holders' in the bathrooms to hang your dolls on while you use the restroom.

We also got to see Laurie Berkner in concert!

I don't have any pictures of the LBB because I didn't know if we could bring cameras in.

We had a great time singing and dancing!

This photo was not cooperative in rotating.

And then it was time to go.

We had a great trip and are working on our next adventure!