347.life

Well, 13 years and we stayed on the 13th floor of the Omni on our wedding night. ;o) Special number for us ;o).

What was even a more special for both of us was to hear our little Katie up and about the morning of our Anniversary … whistling, tip-toeing, and secretly opening and closing doors/refrigerators … the works. I couldn’t quite figure out what was going on as Andy and I still lay there in bed. Well … Katie “woke” us up to a “Happy Anniversary, to you … Happy Anniversary, to you!” song and holding in each hand was a plate with a peeled banana, a yogurt cup and a piece of bread that had been buttered. No sweeter gift did we receive that morning!

My sweet husband and I are truly blessed! My dear husband … thank you for sharing this wonderful life with me!

I love you! HB

So Katie (6) and Jackie (3.75) had a Dentist appointment a few days ago and it’s interestingly cute how it all turned out.

Katie was mortified at even the idea of going … she had tons of tartar on the bottom two teeth because they were new and the two teeth next to the two new teeth were wiggly so we’d not been very successful in getting a toothbrush in there either. Well, the dental hygienist was incredible. She was able to hold her ground and convince Katie to let her in and get to work. Those teeth came out beautifully clean (much cleaner than even I expected) and Katie couldn’t stop (and didn’t stop) smiling until we reached the house so she could show Daddy her bright shinning smile!

Jackie on the other hand, was clueless and excited about going. Well after Mr. Thirsty was turned on a couple of times after the Water Pik … well, Jackie was “ALL DOOOOOOOONEEE.” She shot up and there was no convincing her … the poor hygienist had to try to get as much of the fluoride toothpaste out by hand. Jackie was none too happy with her hygienist! ;o) As we were leaving she said she wanted nothing to do with them again. ;o)

When we got home and my Mom was getting them ready for bed, Katie had her little chart of her teeth and the areas that needed improvement in brushing and flossing. She studied it carefully and asked my Mom to help her get to those areas (carefully!). Well, Jackie … not wanting to be left behind … left the bathroom and came back a little while later. She had drawn up her own chart of her own sweet teeth and put it down on the counter and instructed G-ma where SHE needed help in brushing! ;o)

Sweet memory I wanted to commit to “paper.”

Love you girls so much! You bring so much joy to this little heart of mine!

Love, Mommy

an 18 month old who likes to hold out her little leg straight out and say “Heeeeeya!” over and over again! And if that wasn’t enough, learning that she too can use the word “Wait” and motion of the hand out to stop her Mommy and have an effect … she’s getting really good at that ;o)! I’ll be singing a song and she’ll motion and say “Wait” and giggle when I stop in mid-phrase! :oD And a beautiful little head tilt up with tons of feeling in her little face while she is pretend singing! ;o) You’re really cute little Ms. Riley! Love, Mommy

There are moments in our hectic daily lives that are just like Kodak moments. I want to burn the image in my mind and preserve it forever. And not only with what I see, what I hear and what I sense and feel! My girls have brought me such joy these last couple of days by interacting with each other in such a loving way. I’m going to make note of these moments just so that I don’t forget them and can recount these beautiful moments to them as the years pass!

1. Walking the trail at Champion Park (Dinasour Dig Park) on our way to the lake (what an adventure that was!). My big girl Katie and big girl wannabe Jackie running ahead, rather skipping ahead and “racing” each other and hearing them shriek with delight. I see both their smiles from a side view as they turn to each other and gauge where the other is. Their hair bouncing side to side as they skip. The background is a beautiful brown and green … full of trees, brush and a dirt trail.

2. Riley loves books. She chases me down a hallway with a book hollering at me to read to her in her unusually low, loud 18 month old voice. Yesterday I was busy and hurried with getting my little Jackie down for the night and in the process didn’t have time to read at that very moment to Riley. Riley is upset … she calls/yells to “Tatie!, Tatie!” and once Katie answers her … she says … “Mommy, nananaa, mamama bbuauaua!!!!!!” pointing her sweet little finger at me and tattle telling that I won’t read her her book right at this very moment and have hurt her feelings! Katie plainly feels her pain and decides to finish getting dressed and asks Riley to come and sit down next to her at the bottom of the bunk bed stair case. She reads her her book. All is well again with Riley!

3. Getting ready for Church. I change Riley’s diaper as usual on the changing table and because she is so mobile now and doesn’t sit still (she is a mover and a shaker!) I dress her while she stands. I put on a dress on her and to my surprise I see her sway back and forth and I hear her say … “Pincess” … sway, sway “Pincess, Mommy!”

You bring tears of joy to Mommy’s heart as you rekindle my own good childhood memories!

I love you dearly and sincerely, Mommy Meadows

Katie is showering all by herself and tying bows left and right … can’t leave two loose strings behind … or we’ll have a bow! She’s also begun a side-business with Tia drawing Angels for good causes … she’s quite the business girl! ;o)

Jackie is just a little pretending queen who just LOVES tea parties with her favorite super heroes … Diego, Dora, Stephanie and Sportacus! AND she’s learned how to unbutton buttons … boy, she is quite proud!

AND Riley doesn’t know that she’s only 18 mos and I don’t have the heart to break it to her either ;o)! She had some pretty cute super dance moves today while dancing to the Harley Davidson book Papaw got us many moons ago when Katie was born! She had the girls in stitches!

Love, Mommy

Chochate, Perket, I love you and you’re my BEST friend! Jackie is all heart! She may not speak as loudly or as often BUT when she does speak it’s with all of her heart and soul … Love You, Mommy

Riley is saying “Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeee” and blowing kisses! She just yesterday picked up on “Jackie” and is calling EVERYONE “Jackie” ;o) … her vocabulary is just exploding! She’s communicating as well as the other girls (maybe not with all words but plainly enough there is no need for interpretation!).

Love, Mommy

1 cup of water 1 tsp baking soda 1 cup of sugar 1 tsp salt 1 cup of brown sugar 4 large eggs 1 cup nuts 2 cups of dried fruit 1 bottle Jose Cuervo Tequila Sample the Cuervo to check quality. Take a large bowl, check the Cuervo again, to be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink. Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one peastoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point it’s best to make sure the Cuervo is still ok, try another cup just in case. Turn off the mixerer thingy. Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Pick the frigging fruit off the floor. Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaters just pry it loose with a drewscriver. Sample the Cuervo to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of salt, or something. Who geeves a sheet. Check the Jose Cuervo. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find. Greash the oven.. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over. Don’t forget to beat off the turner. Finally, throw the bowl through the window, finish the Cose Juervo and make sure to put the stove in the wishdasher. Cherry Mistmas !

I have always loved this photo.