Mission: Twinkle Toes

If you don't have a young daughter (or another young girl in your life), you probably have no clue what I'm talking about...but those of you who do can completely identify with the title of this post.

Twinkle Toes.

Yes...that's really the name.

Shoes..."the ugliest shoes I've ever seen" in the words of a certain daddy who will remain nameless.

Better known as "police shoes" now that we she owns a pair.

Friday night we headed to eat at Fuji with Uncle Brent and Aunt Jana (you know, the last hoorah before baby arrives:). Emma has outgrown all of her tennis shoes and other closed toed shoes so we were on a mission to find one good pair of Nikes (or something of the sort).

In the past, our shoe shopping experiences have gone something like this...we go into a store, I choose a pair or two, or three of shoes I like, I try them on the girl, I make the purchase, and we leave. (*Note all the "Is" in this scenario.)

Not this trip...apparently, now that the girl is 4 she thinks SHE should do all of the above (except make the purchase, of course).

And wouldn't you know that all of her friends have Twinkle Toes...including, but not limited to, Sarah and Faith.

I'm sure you can see where this is headed.

The problem is Emma's feet aren't the size of a typical four-year-old.

However, I'm proud to announce that two days and six stores later the girl is the proud owner of Twinkle Toes...

And it looks like this Mama better get used to not being large and in charge anymore...at least where fashion is concerned.

*Note: We did come home with a pair of Nikes too...I'm not giving up all control just yet. ;)

Mama {and many more random thoughts}

• A pretty big milestone occurred in the McCollum household on Sunday...the boy said Mama. Okay, so it was only the one time, but I'll take it! At least I know he has it in him:)
• Babies, Babies, Babies...Russ and April welcomed sweet baby Aubrie into the world last Wednesday (which is causing Emma to have come-aparts each morning as we pass Uncle Russ's chicken houses..."Mama, I want to go see Hudson's sister!" This morning she even told me that "Aunt April is out of the hospital now if that's what you're worried about." Ha! The girl is a mess...and I hope sweet Aubrie brings as much love, joy, and hard-headedness independence to her family as Emma does to ours;)! Last Friday Matt and Cara (and two precious big brothers) welcomed baby Stella Harper. Yesterday big brother Collin (and his sweet Mama and Daddy) welcomed baby Noah Joseph. This morning Ashley is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her newest nephew, Carson, who should be here any time! BFF Jana is headed to a doctor's appointment this morning to see if she is ready to have baby Blair. In case you've lost count that is 5 babies in less than two weeks! That's not even counting the babies who are set to arrive in the next few months...and I can count six without even thinking hard!
• Wow! If you're thinking, "I bet she's got baby fever," you would be correct! If only I could talk the husband into it... :)
• I don't miss being pregnant, because the good Lord knows I'm a terrible pregnant person (although Luke was much kinder to his mama than his sister). As strange as it sounds (and please don't have me committed for this...my babies need a mama:), the part I love the most about having babies is HAVING babies. I love the labor and delivery part (I know you just shook your head and called me something along the lines of a crazy nut;). It's just an amazing experience...and I really don't think twice in a lifetime is enough (for me, anyway:).
• Justin's grandmother had a hip replacement several weeks ago. She is home and doing well, but she's still not able to get around like she used to (which is expected). Anyway, we have carried her a few meals this week...and while I don't know if the food has been any good, she has definitely gotten a lot of free entertainment. In addition to putting on a dance/tumbling routine and singing every song she knows (at the top of her lungs), she has enjoyed taking MawMaw's walker for a spin (or two twenty). Not to be outdone by big sis, Luke has made an obstacle course of the walker, crawling in and out of each bar. He loves to pull up on MawMaw's chair and check things out...but his favorite thing is standing at the storm door and watching the dog. Which reminds me...the next time I go I should probably take a bottle of Windex and some paper towels...
• I have no idea how this happens...because Justin and I are about average height for a man and woman...but my babies are tall. In every picture I have of Emma and her BFFs she's at least a head taller than them. She looks like a giant in comparison. Most people think she's in kindergarten or first grade...when I tell them she's just 4, they gasp. She put on a pair of skinny jeans this morning (because skinny, she is)...I had to buy a 5T for length, but they were falling off her waist. I tightened the adjustable waist (thank you to whoever is living the big life after having that novel idea patented) as far as I could, and they were still big! Now that Luke is standing upright (not walking, but standing) it has become so obvious. Luke and Reese were standing up this morning trying to snatch the toys off of Addison's jumparoo playing with Addison, and I noticed that he is a full head taller than her! I hope they continue to be tall...something I always wished I was!
• If you've made it to the end of all the chaos that's been going on in my head, bravo! You definitely deserve a prize... :)

What Lies Within {my phone & SD card}

I was "cleaning up" the media section of my phone and came across these pics that I'm pretty sure I never posted. I came across a few on my SD card too...and let's face it, they are are too cute not to share with the world (or the grandparents and 3 or 4 other random readers I have;)!

Happy Hump Day!

What kid doesn't like a ride in the laundry basket?

The girl fell fast asleep on the way home from Clay Bowl.

Attempts at pics for the birthday thank yous...

Birthday Eve supper...turnip greens, mac & cheese, pintos,

cornbread, and a BIG mess! The boy LOVES turnip greens!

After the party we went to Nana's...

Then we headed home to watch the UA/UF game...

we STOMPED them 38-10:). Just a little comparison...

the picture to the left is the kids ready to watch the UA/UF

game last year (the day we brought Luke home from the hospital).

Luke loves his Legos...and the lid!

What I love is this picture...what could possibly be

sweeter than a Daddy with his shirt unbuttoned, a girl

wearing an Alabama jersey underneath a princess dress and

a truck in her hand, and a boy with a sippy cup in his mouth...

Check out that shirt and those Wranglers.

Mamas - keep your babies away from my little cowboy! ;)

Speaking of babies...I got to hold a sweet little

princess last week. Miss Aubrie Elizabeth Foster...

We had a mini-Fall Break last weekend, so Justin and I headed to T-Town.

The Tide got off to a slow start, but they perked up and shutout Vandy 34-0.

Speaking of T-Town...while we were there we rode around near Justin's old apartment. So sad...it looks like somebody took a chainsaw to the treetops... houses still covered in tarps...some so badly destroyed and fallen in that no tarps were even used. Seeing the devastation that is still so evident five months later was heartbreaking. I'm so thankful that we were not affected by the tornadoes of April 27, but those who were are still in need of our prayers!

Monday I took the kids for their shots, and I'm proud to announce that I survived this first! I've taken them both to the doctor by myself many times, but this was the first time both kids received shots. Emma decided Luke should go first, so as I held and consoled him with one arm I held her down and consoled her with the other. Luckily she took the flu mist this year (or "had one shot in her nose" as she tells it), so that was one less prick.

 

Here they are playing when we got home...I love this sight!

 

Luke Turns 1! {The Party}

Yesterday we celebrated Luke's first year with family and friends. After much debate over party themes, I went with what seemed natural...a farm party! Although Emma's party was much easier this year, it was still a challenge to plan two parties in two weeks. I decided not to get too elaborate.

Since we happen to own a barn, it seemed only fitting that we have the party there. We (and when I say we, I mean I...because if it were up to "the husband" we would have had a cake at the house and called it a day) decided to have brunswick stew. I was worried the weather would be too warm, but it turned out to be a perfect fall day! Along with the stew we had Mexican cornbread, crackers, pigs in a blanket, sausage balls, haystacks, and cake! The party favors were animal crackers, sugar cookies (with cow print and red number ones), and picture cards.

A closer look at the picture cards and cookies...

We took a family pic before the fun began...

I had to include this one, because it sums up our days over the past year...

and I wouldn't trade a single second of any of the past 365 wild days! :)

Mommy/Son pic...

Bryce let us borrow his barn, and it was

a hit with ALL the kids...big and small!

(check out that hair:)

The most important part of the first birthday is, of course,

the smash cake. Most of the pictures speak for themselves. :)

*He removed the bib before the fun began.

Sissy decided to give him a little help.

Of course, the birthday boy was showered with presents...

He lost interest in the actual opening of presents

fairly quickly, but he did enjoy playing with all his loot!

After the party we decided to send all the leftover balloons

to Heaven, so some special people could share in our joy. :)