Macie is FOUR

.....For some reason pictures won't upload now which is so frustrating!  Birthday pictures will come as soon as the blog works.

Four years ago, I held the most beautiful baby girl in my arms.  The love I felt for Macie as soon as the doctor handed her to me was indescribable.  Before she was born I had already began to hope and dream for her.  I had so many plans for myself on the kind of mom I wanted to be for her.  I remember rocking Macie in her room and just feeling a complete LOVE that I always try to describe to friends that find out they are pregnant.  Then I blink and my sweet baby is now four.  Four years of fun conversations, a wild imagination, strong-willed, do-it-myself determination, love and kisses is more than I ever imagined being a mother to this precious girl could be.  Of course, I have the days I want to pull my hair out because of the strong-willed mind and the arguments she and Weston seem to have already and I have to work on doing my job better.  But at the end of the day when Zack and I are in bed and I am telling him stories of what Macie and Weston said and did, the hard parts are forgotten and the feeling of being so BLESSED is renewed. 

Things Macie has said or done that make this past year so much fun:
     At school Macie's teachers were spelling the name Olivia.  When they got to the L, Macie said, "L is for Love."

     "When I grow up and get married, I am going to have six kids.  I am going to have a house with stairs and a very big car.  We might even sleep in the car.  My kids will have bunk beds."

     "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good."  She know about 6 Bible verses and it just makes me happy to know that she is already learning important scripture that will carry her through life.

     "Oh, Weston, you are so cute."  Macie and Weston seemed to be a normal brother and sister.  They love each other to pieces but have a hard time sharing."

     "I love you so much.  Way way more than you will ever know."  We have read a book since she was born and this is how the book starts and finishes.  When I ask Macie how much I love her she always anwers this way."

     "I am going on an adventure."  "I am looking for mysteries."  "I am a bear and I am hibernating."  "I am parched."  "This meal is scrumptious."  She says the funniest things and of course, I haven't written enough down.

She has made a bad habit of getting up once after being put to bed.  We told her the only reason she can get up is to potty.  So of course, she comes in our room and says she needs to go.  "It is coming.  Just wait a minute.  I know I have to potty.  I am telling the truth."  A drip comes out and she is so relieved.

The never-ending list of things that I love about her could go on like any parents' list could.  I know I am so thankful to just hold her hand, sing her songs, read stories with her, do crafts together, and be her mother.  She and Weston are why being a mother is exactly what I want to be.  Nothing could be better. 





    
     

Burleson Christmas

We celebrated Christmas this past weekend with the Burleson side of the family.  We were thrilled that my grandma, Memaw, could come stay for the weekend.  She loved seeing seven of her great grandchildren. It was a busy house with seven little ones but full of fun and noise.  We had a wonderful time celebrating this Christmas. I always say I love family time and I do.  It is great when the whole group of us can get together!

The big kids were playing the "Wrap up like a burrioto" game they play.  Usually they take turns wrapping up but since they all layed down at once we took the opportunity to pile on the babies knowing it was probably our one chance to get them all together!

Joshua gave my parents a lottery ticket for Christmas!  Mom and Dad went over to scratch the ticket, started looking very serious, and really LOOKING at the ticket.   THEY WON $5000 big ones! ....And then they realized that it was a fake ticket.  It was so funny!  It was one of my favorite moments.  No worries because they will get Josh back when he is least expecting it.

                                                           PRESENT TIME.....

Both Macie and Blair got the new Little People Princess Castle.  All the cousins liked playing with them.

This is the look Zack gets quite often from my mom because he is always saying something he shouldn't! ALWAYS

SUMMER TIME..

Macie seemed to think so.  She begged to wear her swimsuit outside but I made her put her dress back over it.  It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon so after nap time, all the kids played with the boys' presents.  It was a sporting event in the backyard.  The kids played basketball, golf, and baseball.

After bathtime Macie put her pjs on and climbed up in Nonnie's lap and then I noticed they had matching pjs.  How fun is that!

Weston liked cuddling with his Pappy!  Weston's favorite things seem to be balls and toothbrushes/toothpaste.  So we are either going to have a favorite sports player or a dentist when he grows up....or just really clean teeth.  Weston will take my hand, lead me to the bathroom, and sit on the step stool so I can brush his teeth.  It is so funny.  He has sort of chewed or sunks on toothbrushes for a while because I think it feels good on his gums.

Pappy and Nonnie (and Memaw) were extra sweet because they watched the kids while we went to a Randy Rodgers' concert.  The babies were down for the night and the big kids slept on a pallet in Nonnie and Pappy's room.  They had a slumber party.  We all had a great time going to Billy Bobs.  We had some good laughs and enjoyed spending time together.  We haven't all gotten to do that in a long time (we think the last time was when Reagan was pregnant with Jackson??).

Memaw has promised the kids since they were about 2 that she would take them back to "CHUNKY" E Cheeses when she came back for a visit.  She loved taking Macie and Blake when they were little.  So we gathered up all the kids and went to the MAD HOUSE!  The kids loved every minute.

Macie had a birthday celebration with her cousins before everyone had to head home.  She loves these boys!  Blake calls this set, "His Favorite Cousins" and when he said the pray each time he included them.  Hopefully the younger three, Weston, Brandt, and Blair, will love playing together like these 4.

                                                      My BIG GIRL IS 4!!!! 

                                                     CUPCAKES are always a hit.