Happy Birthday, Grandad!

My dad celebrated another birthday on October 13th. We had a little family party for him at our house. If you know him, you know that music just runs through him, so we decided to do a music theme. We had pizza, presents, cake and ice cream, balloons - the works! We love our dad more than words can express! Happy Birthday, Dad!

Here's grandad dressed up in his garb with his grandkids - Parker, Caroline, and Mary-Evelyn.

They loved helping him open his presents!

Sweet Treats bakery did this guitar cake for him! Isn't it so cute!

Here's our dining room all decortated - can you see the CDs hanging from the light?

The kiddos decided to all pile in Mary-Evie's bed. They had so much fun jumping and tumbling on each other!

Sponge Rollers!!

For those of you that know me, these pictures will come as no surprise! Yes, Sunday morning before church, I put sponge rollers in Mary-Evelyn's hair. I just couldn't resist! Hair has always been a pretty important part of getting dressed to me, and I'm passing that along to ME! There's nothing better than just the right cut and color! It just makes me feel so good! I've had the same hair style practically all my life - just gotten a little blonder over the years with some help. My friends know that in high school, I drove to school with hot rollers in my hair every day and took them out in the parking lot just to get every minute that I could in those rollers. I still put hot rollers in my hair every waking day of my life. Most people iron theirs straight, but I love that body that rollers give! My grandfather asked my grandmother the other day if I streaked Mary-Evelyn's hair! My response was...I strongly believe in highlights, but not for a 19-month old! My mom didn't let me get highlights until the 11th grade (and that was pushing it and they were very subtle), so we at least have to wait until then!

Daddy thought it was ridiculous. He can't stand to think that she is just slightly uncomfortable, and he thought this looked like it was hurting. I told him to back off as he started taking them out - sometimes beauty takes a little bit of discomfort, right girls?!

She thought she looked beautiful and wasn't uncomfortable at all!

See, it just gave a little curl under and body!

She loved it!

A Few of My Favorite Things

WATER PLAY

Mary-Evelyn loves to stand in a chair and play in the water at the kitchen sink. It is such a great pastime. All I have to do is pull up a chair, put a few things in the sink for her to play with, turn on the water, and she is pacified for the longest.

SIDEWALK CHALK

All one-year-olds love to have something to scribble with. I have found that the best thing to do is take Mary-Evelyn outside with chalk and let her go to town with the scribbling! She loves it and we don't have to worry about what she's writing on.

BUBBLES

She has loved bubbles for a while but has just gotten to the point to where she wants to do it herself. She has so much fun until she gets it all over her and gets sticky. Then, she freaks out and we have to go take a bath!

CORN ON THE COB

Mary-Evelyn has always eaten vegetables really well. MiMi steams her fresh veggies everyday for lunch and we have them with supper, too. One of her favorites is corn on the cob. Not only does she love the taste, but it's fun to eat, too - especially with the little handles that MiMi puts on the ends!

August - The Birthday Month

Yes, that is my child!! Look at that face!! I was terrified, but she loved it and kept asking for more!!!
August is a month full of birthdays for the Wood/Maynard family! Those with birthdays include Evan and Emma (our niece and nephew), Caroline (our niece), Thomas (my cousin's little boy), Anna Claire (my cousin), Mary Beth (my cousin), Stephanie (my sis-in-law), and T (my uncle and boss). We've been busy celebrating, and, as you will see, enjoyed every minute of it!

THE FOLLOWING 10 PICTURES ARE FROM EVAN AND EMMA'S 6TH BIRTHDAY PARTY! RYAN AND STEPH RENTED THIS HUGE WATER-SLIDE FROM 10AM-7:30PM AND SET IT UP IN THEIR BACK YARD. WE WERE THERE LITERALLY ALL DAY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF LEAVING FOR A WEDDING. I CANNOT EXPRESS HOW MUCH FUN WE HAD! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND RENTING ONE OF THESE AT LEAST ONCE IN YOUR LIFE!

Your's truly!

Mary-Evelyn absolutey loved it! She was begging to get back in the water in this picture. Check out those buns! (she has her mama's legs and behind!)

Jon with Evan and Josephine. Jon stayed on the slide practically all day. All the kids would pile on top of him for him to take them down the slide.

Mary-Evie was soooo tired at the end of this day!

Courtney Gregory (and baby Clay) and me

Here's the birthday girl and boy!

Liza Kate, Emma, Evan, and Mia Katherine

THE NEXT 5 PICTURES WERE AT CAROLINE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY. SHE WANTED IT TO BE A HANNAH MONTANA PARTY SO BADLY, BUT SOMEHOW MY SISTER PERSUADED HER TO HAVE A STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE THEME!

Family picture

We color-coordinated that day. Jon doesn't know it, but I did that on purpose!

Caroline with her best friends, Kaylee and Elia

Sweet Georgia Caroline is 5 this year!! I can't believe it!

Caroline and her sweet friends.

THE NEXT 3 PICTURES WERE AT MARY BETH'S 20TH BIRTHDAY PARTY. THE PARTY GIRL HID FROM THE CAMERA ALL NIGHT!

My uncle Tommy (aka, Mi) and Jon gave Thomas and Mary-Evelyn a ride in the golf cart.

Mary-Evie and Thomas playing

Anna Claire and Thomas with Mary-Evie and me

THE NEXT 3 PICTURES ARE FROM SWEET THOMAS'S PARTY. HE WAS A YEAR OLD ON THE 14TH. HE AND MARY-EVELYN ARE 6 MONTHS TO THE DAY APART, SO THEY'LL BE CLOSE!

Mary-Evelyn held on to that ball the entire night!

Here's the birthday boy, Thomas!

Emma Carroll and Mary-Evelyn - sweet girls (little Nick and Jon)!

Sunday afternoon play-time!

Every Sunday after church, we go to my grandparents' house to eat lunch with my family. My grandmother cooks a huge spread, and we have a feast! We have done this all my life, and it's just so great to live back home again to pick the tradition back up now along with my little family! We eat and then play outside as long as Mary-Evelyn will last. Sunday school and church wear her out, but we try to hold her off from sleep so she can play with her cousins, Caroline and Parker. We either play ball, ride bikes, swing, go see the ducks in the lake across the street, or just sit outside and enjoy the time together. My grandparents are wonderful! They keep Mary-Evelyn 2 days a week (my mom keeps her the other 2 days that I work), and they call her their baby! They are absolutely head over heels for this child!

Mary-Evelyn and Caroline

Grandad, MiMi, and their babies



MiMi and Parker

In deep thought

Let's pile on Grandad!!

10-Year Reunion, Class of 1999

This past weekend, we went to my 10-year high school reunion! I really can't believe that it has been 10 years - it certainly doesn't feel like it. They say that time goes even faster the older you get! That makes me sad, because I don't want my baby to grow up!! Anyway, we had a lot of fun at the reunion and it was so good to see some folks that I haven't seen in a long while. It was like we all picked up right where we left off. Most people had not changed much - looked the same and acted the same - maybe a little more mature! Mary-Evelyn was ill at the picnic because it was during her naptime, so I spent most of my time battling with her. When we got home from that, she slept for like 3 1/2 hours, bless her heart! That night, Jon's sister and her family were gracious enough to take on another child so that we could go. My family was gone to the beach and Jon's parents are headed to Alaska (yes, driving in their motor home). We were out pretty late and I felt so bad, but Aunt Steph said that she went to sleep around 9:15. I was so thankful that ME didn't interfere with her kids getting their sleep. We danced the night away and had so much fun being with all my high-school buddies! Golly, it brought back so many memories! Those truly were the days! Hope you enjoy the pics!