Birthday and a Broken Ankle!

December 30, 2011

A Birthday For me and A Broken Ankle for Mimi!



Today was the day we were celebrating My 30th birthday with Mimi and Papa Rick! First let me start by saying how wonderful Mimi is to us! SHe has kept you the majority of Christmas break since your Daddy and I have had to work and your Preschool is not back in session until January 4th. She always comes to pick you up in the morning. Well today was no different...She got there and we were all outside on the front steps and as you all were leaving Mimi tripped or miss-stepped and you and her fell down the stairs. I watch this all happen I swear in Slow motion! It was terrifing for me, Mimi, and you! Thankfully you were you physically fine just seriously scared and upset! Poor Mimi was hurt pretty bad and her ankle looked frightening to say the least. Once she sort of recovered I got her in the house and we called Papa Rick who at that time was out Hurting. No long after we called him he was at the house and we got Mimi in the car and they headed for hospital. About an hour later Sarah Mimi very good friend showed up at our house to stay with you until Daddy could get home so that I could go to work. It was a very unfortunate and eventful morning! THen I got the call from Mom saying that the x-rays showed that her ankle was broken nad that she had an apointment with the Orthopedic surgon next week. Poor Mimi.....

Inspite of this terrible event Mimi and Papa still wanted to do my birthday. That evening we headed over for My Birthday Celebration! Papa Rick Grilled Steaks and Chicken and he did baked potatos and Salad! I must say he made one delicious Birthday Meal for me! My little Party wasn't what Mimi had wanted but I thought it was pretty great! Mimi always does the neatest things for me...SHe had a big basket filled with 30 little Gifts

for me to open!!!! Caroline and I loved that!

I think we opened presents like the entire time we were there! It was great! I love having a Birthday!

My 30 gifts minus one, The Cupcake picture holder!

xoxo,
Katie

30!

December 27, 2011


Well today was my 30th Birthday! I wanted this day to be spectacular…it certainly did not start off that way. I guess what everyone’s says is true….it is all down hill from here on, hahaa! For starters I had to work! No One should have to work on their Birthday especially a Big one like 3-0! OH well I had accepted that part! In addition to the having to work part I woke up late, had not cute hair, lost my badge to get inside the building at work….need I say more :/ Inspite of this I received a phone call that morning from Caroline and she sang Happy Birthday to me, “Mommaaaaa KATIE!” This certainly turned my not so great morning in to a Very Happy Morning! This was the Best Part of my Birthday! She Also Left me a Voice mail singing to me too! Her little voice just melts my heart 

After work I got home and Eric was all ready to take me to James AT The Mill for a Birthday Date! Yep it was a Great NIGHT! Eric certainly knows how I liked to be treated! We an amazing meal started off with Butternut Squash Soup and the An dui Corndog and ended with a Giant Plate of Four different desserts and our entire meal was created by Walt!!

Deserts By Walt! YUM-O!

Then Surprise I got an adorable Birthday Cake from Eric too!!! We were so stuffed we didn’t have any that night and it was really almost to pretty to cut! I had a wonderful 30th Birthday!

Beautiful Birthday Cake!

Xoxo,

Katie

CHRISTMAS!

December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas Caroline,

This Christmas Mimi and Papa Rick stayed the night with us which made this Christmas Extra special! I cannot begin to tell you how excited I was about this Christmas! This was the first year you have been excited about Santa!
OF Course I woke up Super early and couldn't sleep! Then Mimi and Papa got up and Daddy Eric..then I woke Uncle Walt up. We were all waiting on you to wale up! When you did you wake up you hopped out of bed and scurried into the livingroom and froze!I think you were overwhelmed just a bit and needed to take everything. Then you spotted it...The Orange Dinosaur and exclaimed, " It's My Orange Dinosuar!" You ran over picked it up and gave it a big squeeze!

This was just priceless for me to watch. You looked and all of the other things Santa Brought and then you noticed your ELf Breakfast and ran over to the table to check that all out! I must say it really did turn out pretty darn good, Santa and Prep N Landing the Elf did a great Job!

After you ate some delicious things you headed back over to check out the Art Table, play with the rubber ducks, taste the Small Cake, and sit in the Arm chair!

THen it was time for Stockings!!!! I love Stockings and always have! You got tons of "lips" and Jewelry and little fun toys in your stocking! Then you helped Daddy and I open ours! Times for gift opening! We all opened gifts and got wonderful things.

I thing my favorite things were the Purse from Daddy and the Cupcake Carrier from Mimi and Papa! We got Daddy a Blue Cardinals Jersey and jeans. We got Mimi a giant ruffled bag and We got Papa some comfy house shoes! After the present open it was time to begin work on the Christmas meal! Rick smoked a Ham which was delicious! Mom made all of the other Christmas trimmings!

We all Sat down and enjoyed the wonderful food and being together for ALL of Chrsimtas Morning!

Then we got ready to head over to Gigi and Pops for more Christmas fun! When we arrived we went and you yelled " Merry Christmas!" Everyone was taking naps!You had to get them up some how! THen we all other gather in the livingroom and you open you giant gift! You got a super awesome Art desk that was just filled to the brimmed with every kind of art Supply imaginable!

You went right to work do some artsy thing! This christmas was special too because we had a good long time to spend with just us together the immediate family(Gigi, Pops, Eliz, Walt, Eric, Caroline,and Myself) before the rest of the family joined us for the annual Christmas Get together. I do beleive we will be doing this from now on! Then the all opened our gift and of course received amazing things! EE got you a real digital camera which was about the coolest thing! You totally had that thing figured out and were taking pictures like crazy! I am looking forward to downloading all of your pictures to the computer! I bet there are some pretty funny ones!
The best gift this year had the be the fake mustaches that Caroline got in her stocking! We had a blast playing with those this year and I expect there to be some in my stocking nect year!

After several hours it everyone else showed up and for the annual get together which I always look forward too! It is always so nice to have everyone together and enjoy the good company and delicious. Casey Always brings the most tasty things! This year was no exception. We had gourmet Snadwiches and Gurmet Soups, Tomato Basil and Pablano Cheddar and of course a ton of other stuff too! After we all ate a it was time for the name drawing Gift exchange! Daddy got Nonny name and we got her a beautiful wall hanging with their name on it. I got Poppy's name and he got some comfy houseshoes. EE got my name and I got some amazing perfume, Flowerbomb! PErfume was certainly the gift of the year! I got some, I also gave some to Eliz and to Gigi! SO we should be smellin really nice! Annie got Eric's name and he got a really neat drnck stand filled with tons of party foods nad beverage! Annie gifts are always the best! It was a wonderful Christmas afternoon/Evening!

We are certainly very fortunate, blessed, lucky, and the list could go on and on to be a part of this Whole Wonderful Family! Caroline, you are so very loved by all of these people! THe Bunzel's had a day full of Christmas blessing!



Merry Christmas Sweet Caroline!

I love you,
Momma Katie

IT'S Christmas Eve

December 24, 2011

Happy Christmas Eve Caroline!

I love Christmas Eve! Since we moved back to Van Buren we have had the Big Christmas Eve get together with Papa’s Rick’s Family at our house! This year I made sure to have everything ready ahead of time so that we could spend the day together do Christmassy things! We baked cookie for Santa Claus and watched Christmas movies and spent some time enjoying Prep N Landing the Elf ! I picked up some of the Break N Bake Chocolate chip cookies with red and green chips. These are a favorite! I came across some sugar cookies with Christmas colored images on them! These Cookies are So Neat! We got all set up at the Kitchen table and you went to work on your cookies for Santa! You did all of the sugar cookies all by yourself! You punched them out and then trimmed all of the extra dough of f of each cookie! I was so impressed!!!

This took quite while to do too! We both worked on the Break N Bake Cookies! Then we popped them into the oven for baking! I must say they all turned out DELISH!

That evening we got ready for the Big Christmas Eve Family Party! The Dodson’s came over early and you got to play with Drake, Ella, and Isaac for a while before everyone else arrived. You all sat on the couch and exchanges little Christmas gifts! It is amazing how much all of you have grown in a year!

Becky and I started getting food ready and put out on the table and it wasn’t two seconds before you, Ella, and Drake were at the table trying everything!

We always do the White Elephant Game and this year you picked out everyone’s gift and took it to them to open! You were a very good “Santa!”

I the end of the night I ended up with an Adair Ya Candle! It smells amazing! I honestly cannot remember what Your Daddy ended up with! Next year Becky and I think that we should have name drawing for all of the children! I expect that will be what we do!

It was certainly a wonderful evening! After the White Elephant all of the kiddos got into their pajamas! You and Ella had some snacks from the table and then everyone headed home to get in bed for Santa’s Arrival! Thank goodness I put three of the cookie you made for Santa back because every single one of them was gone by the end of the evening! You and I got Santa’s Cookies and Milk ready to put out. You had to taste the milk and the cookies just to make sure they were PERFECT for Santa!

Then you took them over and sent them by your little Christmas tree and Off to bed you went!

Merry Christmas Eve Caroline!
I LOVE YOU!
♥Momma Katie

Happy 2 1/2 Years!

December 23, 2011

Happy 2 ½ Years Caroline!!!

How can it be that you are already 2 ½? Growing everyday! You currently weight 26 pounds and 8 ounces. You are 35 1/2 inches Tall.

At 2 ½ years:
You wear diapers and pullups
You refuse to use your potty. You think it is “Yucky”
You wear a size 6 shoe, we just moved from a 5 up to the 6!
You are wearing 2T

You are all about Christmas this year!
A lot of the new things you have learned have to do with Christmas!

You have become obsessed with “Lips” ( Lip gloss or Chap stick) You like to have lips on at all times!!!

This was your first year to Elf on the Shelf come to your home! Your Elf can’t come until you are old enough! Well this was your year! Your Elf show up on Nov. 20! You named her “ Prep N Landing” and she goes all over the house and you are always looking for her! I am pretty sure it is 50/50 split between how good and bad you have been this holiday!  You love Prep N Landing the Elf!!
You are constantly asking, “ Where is Elf? Where is Prep N Landing?” Everytime we find her you scream with excitement!
Another thing you are saying,
Caroline:“ I want to touch Elf.”
Me: “ Why Can’t we touch Elf?”
Caroline: “ Because her Magic will go.”

This year is the first year that you have asked Santa for anything! I love that you love Santa Clause! You ran right up to him and gave him a big hug!!!
You asked Santa to bring you
A Yellow Rubber Ducky
An Orange Dinosaur
A Small Cake
I Smile everytime I think about this!

You know all about Mary, Joseph ( Joefus as you call him) , and Baby Jesus

You spent the Night with your Gigi and Pops last night December 22, 2011 and Gigi asked you where you wanted to sleep. You said, “The little bed like Baby Jesus.” You were referring to the pack N play that has been put up since back in the Summer!

You have learned lots of Christmas Songs and you sing them all of the time!
“Away in a Manger”
“Jingle Bells”
“Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”
“We wish you a Merry Christmas”
“ Up On the Housetop”
“ Mr. Grinch”
These are the ones you sing constantly! You know every word!!!! It just amazes me!

Another thing I have noticed that is amazes me is, several times this month there have been different teachers and kids that I haven’t seen before and I will ask you who they are and you always tell me their names!
Me, “ Caroline what is that ladies name?” Caroline, “ Momma that is so and so.”

Here is a review of the New Words / phrases you have added to your Vocabulary!
“Feliz Navidad!”
“That’s Kind of Weird”
“ I already told you….”
“ Pops Bank” You talk about Pops’ Bank a lot especially since we went to see Santa their earlier this month!

These are just a few that stand out in my mind

New Food
Dressing or stuffing! You love Dressing! You had it for the first time this Thanksgiving and loved it!!!
Candy Canes!

Caroline Elizabeth,
You are pure happiness and joy!
I LOVE YOU
♥Momma Katie

Happy Holidays!

December 20, 2011

Dear Caroline,

This Holiday Season has been wonderful! Caroline has been very excited about everything that is Christmas! She has helped decorate the Christmas trees this year; she helped to make the cranberry bread this year. She has learned several Christmas songs and has been singing them all season long! I love every minute of it! She knows Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Away in a Manger, Jingle Bells, We wish you a Merry Christmas, and Feliz Navidod! She made her very first ornament this year at school. A Little Star made out of Applesauce and cinnamon. It is very special and is proudly hanging on our tree! She has learned what the true meaning of Christmas is. She is know all about Baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph ( aka Jofus as she calls him).

Yesterday and Today Caroline are Christmas Party days at School! Tonight we are heading over to Mrs. Jo’s Christmas Party! Oh What Fun the Holiday season is! Being able to to share it with Eric and Caroline makes it even more special!

We are truly Blessed.
Mommy

Christmas in Beebe!

December 17 – 18, 2011

Christmas with Grandmother and Granddaddy,

This year was a special Christmas in Beebe! We Celebrated the Season and several birthdays! Chris, Grandaddy, and Mine We all have birthdays in Nov. and December! I love my Grandparents and I love when they get to spend time with Caroline. We truly just celebrated being together and it was wonderful! My cousin Chris and his wife and their Baby Ava were in from Japan. This was our first time to meet Ava! Caroline was so good with little Ava!

She shared her Green Bouncing Ball with her and loved on her for most of our trip! This was also the Very First time that my grandparent were able to spend time with Both of their Great Grandchildren! I know these times won’t happen very often so it makes it that much more important and special. Caroline Sang and Played on the Piano and the Organ while we were their!

Music is in her blood!

Seeing Family we don’t see often made this Holiday brighter for me!

"That's My Cousin Ava!"

What Precious Cousins they are!


Love,

Momma Katie!

A Visit with Santa....

December 12,2011

Caroline,

Tonight was the annual Santa Claus party that Pops' Bank has every year! I look so forward to this because you really get to visit with Santa!

He gives out gifts and you get to have amazing Christmas cookies and Punch with him too! This year I was especially excited because this has been the first year that you have been very excited and interested in Santa Claus! You were so ready to go see him and you had your list all ready to go!!! When Santa called your name you ran up to him and gave him a big hug and immediately started telling him what you wanted for Christmas: "A Yellow Rubber Ducky, An Orange Dinosaur, and A Small Cake!"

Hugs for Santa Claus!

Santa I would Like....

A Gift from Santa!


You were also thrilled with the special gift that Santa gave you, a Purple Talking pony named Sunny Daze!

Showing Pops how Sunny Daze works!

EE joined in on the Santa Party too!


We stayed and watch the other children see Santa and had lots of cookies and punch. Then you and Pops went to have your annual Photo taken with Santa! You were very worried that Santa was going to leave his Christmas teddy Bear. YOu made sure to let him know about this bear and to not forget him! It was priceless to watch you grab Santa Claus by the hand and walk him over to wear this Bear was and proceed to make sure he didn't forget him.

Such a fun night for all of us and I am already looking for to next years Santa Party!

Hugs & Kisses,
Momma Katie

It's a Hefner Family Thanksgiving/Christmas!

December 11, 2011

The Hefner Family Christmas

Today Dad, Caroline, and I traveled to Cabot for the annual Hefner Family Chirstmas! As always it was a good time with Good Food!! Caroline loved spending time with Loni and Leslie! They gave her tons of attention! She also did her little Cheer for them that Eric taught her: “STOP! Wait A Minute, Let me put some Booty in it!” It has moves too! She ate a ton of chips and dip! OH MY! We Love the Hefner Bunch!

Merry Christmas Time!
Momma Katie!

Christmas Photos!

December 3, 2011

Christmas Photo’s with Wendy!

Today we visited Wendy White’s new studio for a Holiday Photo Session! I know I am obsessed with Capturing Caroline in photographs as much as I can!!! She is my whole world and I love to have her beautiful Face all around the house! Wendy is so wonderful and creative! Her Studio is amazing! Caroline had so much fun while we were their she got to play with Ornaments ( only shattered one! ), Christmas Lights, and blocks! Wendy’s little boys stopped by to pay Caroline a visit too! We had a fun morning and Wendy captured some amazing moments of Caroline. These Photographs warm my heart! Pieces of time captured which we can’t get back! I treasure them so….

Happy Holidays!
Momma Katie!