Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Welcome to the world, baby girl!

Proud Daddy

Emma Scott is here! She was born via c-section at 6:47 pm. She weighs 8 pounds, 9 ounces and is 20.5 inches. In Scott's words, "Laura is doing awesome." I am so excited for them and so thankful for a healthy baby and mommy. I can't wait to see more pictures AND to hold her! Just a few more days...


Emma Scott and her aunt Erin

Scott, Erin, my parents, and Emma Scott

Emma Scott is on the way!

My brother Scott just called me and my sister-in-law Laura is in labor! Her water broke this morning (one week early) and they are all settled in at the hospital. We are anxiously awaiting updates from them and praying for a smooth, safe delivery and healthy baby and mommy! Looks like I will be getting to hold my new little niece in just a few days :)

Monday, August 29, 2011

Happy Happy









Happy Happy 37th Birthday, Steve! We love you more than you know! Love, Kristen, AC, O, and your baby boy who still doesn't have a name and it's getting ridiculous and stressing me out and I think for your birthday I will go ahead and name this baby to take some of the stress off of me, I mean you. You're welcome.Seriously, Happy Day to you!







Sunday, August 28, 2011

She's Married!!

Mr. and Mrs. Nick Holmes

G.G. and Nick were married this weekend! They have been dating for a few years and we were not surprised a bit when she called us a few months ago and told us a wedding was coming. We could not be happier! Nick is a wonderful man and they are absolutely perfect for each other. Nothing makes us happier than to see her happy. Those of you that know me know what kind of relationship I have with my mother-in-law...a GREAT one! I adore her and am so thrilled that she has found someone to spend the rest of her life with. Here are some pictures from a fabulous weekend...

Anna Clare, LeighEllen (our neice), and Owen...the flower girls


The girls and Walker (our nephew).  Walker walked G.G. down the aisle.  So sweet.



Add caption

Nick's daughter Kate, her husband, Micah, and their daughter Caroline.  They are a precious family and we feel like we've known them for years.  I think AC and Owen are Caroline's biggest fans :)

G.G.'s brother Jeff and his wife Melinda and her brother Greg and his wife Keisha

Anna Clare and sweet Caroline
G.G. and her brothers

The whole family :)  Hate I didn't we didn't get an individual picture of Clara and Eric.  Clara is Nick's younger daughter.  They live in New York and we loved getting to spend time with them too!


The wedding was at 10 and Nick's father, Papa Nick and Mrs. Ann hosted a brunch afterwards at their home. Then we all got naps and went back to Nick and G.G.'s around 4 for another gathering of friends and family. We said our goodbyes at breakfast this morning and all headed our separate ways. It was a wonderful wedding weekend!

The Happy Couple












Friday, August 26, 2011

Because setting myself up for failure is so much fun

The original rockets with the elusive chocolate wafer cookie


G.G. gave Anna Clare the cutest cookbook last year. Each time G.G. comes they choose a recipe for their baking project. They made Steve the cutest Father's Day cake in June in the shape of a necktie when she was here.

AC was flipping through the book this week and spotted these rocket cakes in a cone. Since her class is studying space she asked if I would make them for the class. After checking out the recipe and deciding instantly it was fool proof, I told her "Yes, of course!"

Houston, we have a problem.

The recipe called for chocolate wafer cookies to slide into the bottom of the cone. I went to 3 groceries stores (Walmart, Winn Dixie, and Publix TWICE) in search of these babies. Cookie aisles, ice cream toppings sections, etc...these cookies could not be found. So I bought ginger thins instead. Remember in Pretty Woman when Julia Roberts walks back into the snobby boutique and says, "Big Mistake. Big. Huge."? That kept playing in my head. The ginger thins broke very easily AND they softened over night so that most of the rockets were snoozing when I got up this morning.


Then when I tried to fix them, the sweetarts and gummies starting falling off. Frustration did not begin to describe me at 6:30 this morning. But, you know what made it all worthwhile?

This girl is so proud of her rockets

This big, ole smile :) She loved them! Falling down and all, she could not have been happier. And that kind of happiness trumps mommy failure any day of the week.

Friday, August 19, 2011

A great start to school!

1st day of 4P

I am happy to report that both girls have had a wonderful start to the school year. (Thanks for the sweet comments about my last post. I have been so encouraged and our week has been so much better). Anna Clare loves her teacher. She's British and I love to hear her talk. Steve loves to walk around the house imitating a British accent. It's been cracking us up. So far, 3rd grade has been pretty great!

Owen started 4 year old preschool on Wednesday. I convinced her to wear the same dress AC wore on her 1st day of 4P. This was no easy task. It's the cutest little Dick and Jane vintage school print and I love it! Owen decided last minute it just wasn't for her, but I didn't give up quite so easily. With a little sweet talking I pulled it off. However she started bawling when I picked her up in carline when she realized I didn't have a change of clothes in the car for her. Oh my.

She has the same teachers Anna Clare had for 4P and we adore them. We are excited about this year and she loves school. She asked me yesterday why she couldn't go on Saturdays and Sundays! I picked her up today and she proudly informed me that she had earned 5 tickets in 3 days which granted her a prize from the treasure box. I am so proud of her. It could've gone either way :)

Yellow day!

1st day of ballet!


She loves it!

Happy Weekend!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Life

Anna Clare started 3rd grade this week. Hard to believe. It's always exciting to begin a new school year, but it's been a rough couple of weeks over here. While we've truly had a wonderful summer and enjoyed every minute of it (although I do believe it's been the fastest yet), we've dealt with some tough issues. Disappointment - she tried out for the local theater production of Willy Wonka and was not cast. It was such a heart breaking experience to see her eyes light up as she read down the online posting and was excited for friends who got parts and then to see the tears fall when she got to the bottom of the list and her name wasn't on it. My sister was here at the time and we were both hiding tears for her. It's a good life lesson but it hurts to see them hurt all the same. Fear and Anxiety - especially at bedtime. I won't go into details for the sake of her privacy, but it's bad. And sadly, she inherited so much of it from me. I have dealt with fear and anxiety for many years and have come SUCH a long way thanks to God's faithfulness but seeing her battle it is like taking a look into my own heart. Heartbreaking. And Attitude - When did 8 become the new 13? I am struggling to find the right balance of discipline and grace.

I have shed many tears over the past 2 weeks (and being hormonal and pregnant is not helping :) but I know God works ALL things together for good. I am clinging to that promise as I realize that parenting is not for the faint of heart. I love my children with all my heart. Being a mom is rewarding, exciting, and full of joy...of the one of the greatest joys I have ever experienced. But easy? I think not.