1,2,3,4....FIVE!

Through the years we have watched you turn from this chunky monkey of a baby boy to a slim and trim young boy. I honestly cannot believe you are turning FIVE! Where did the time go and how do we get it back? You are everything Mommy and Daddy wanted in a boy Mr. Dalton. Outdoors all day is where you belong! You love monster trucks, race cars, football and you are as ornery and quick witted as the rest of us. You would also eat and drink all day long if we let you. I can only imagine what it will be like when you are 16. :) You are good at spoiling your mama with attention and comments like "I love you" and "your so pretty Mommy". You love giving your Dad a run for his money as well as helping in the garage with your own tools! Five---FIVE is a big deal to Mommy thats for sure!! I am honestly not sure I am quite ready for you to be FIVE years old just yet! Ready or Not...Happy Birthday Dalton Lee! We love you to the Moon, Mars and above all the Stars.

Newborn 2006

ONE 2007

TWO 2008

THREE 2009

FOUR 2010

FIVE 2011

Lady Antebellum - Heart of the World (lyrics)

I rush home nightly after work to get home to fix dinner. Tonight it was raining and my wipers are horrible! So it was even more frustrating as I rode behind two semis most the way on the highway. I pull in the garage and am greeted by the dog, the son and the husband. Its total chaos, Dalton is immediately hungry, Russ is putting a paper bag under my car because it drips oil on the garage floor. I'm in the kitchen, my purse still on my shoulder attempting to make Dalton's dinner ...OMG PAUSE! I just got home. So I am cursing. I am beyond frustrated but I shake it off, go to my room, change out of my work clothes, head back to the kitchen and start making dinner.
Is this night typical? Sort of! Its times like these I wish I didn't have to work. Dalton wants my attention the very second I walk in that door and the worst part of it all I haven't even kissed him or the hubby hello.
The number one reason I don't even think about quitting this family is because of the amount of L<3VE that we have for one another under one little 800sq roof.
during my drive home tonight this song came on my Lady A cd and I feel it sums up driving home every night after work for me :)
I know there are struggles and that life can throw curve balls but I believe that if you truly can be happy and content in your heart then those curve balls and moments of frustration only last minutes.
I should go kiss the hubby hello now ;)

A Little Clean Up

Inside that pile is Dalton....this game went on for awhile. No leaves were actually bagged in this process it was strictly for fun. LOL
Dalton lives outside, he is constantly full of dirt and grass. I wouldn't have it any other way but I am not sure at this point how well winter is going to go over and our house!

Trick Or Treat (2nd Annual Event)

2nd Dearing Halloween event was a total success :)
Candie made the inside of the house smell sooo festive with taco soup while Kurt spooked up the outside of the house with decor. All for my little family, the Krueger's, Candie's little family plus her Mom and Papa. It really was a great time.
We played pin the nose on the pumpkin(Totally FUN) and drank fizzing kool aid from a cauldron. Then headed out for some treats.
The kids loaded their buckets plenty after just making one lap around the neighborhood. We were set in the sweets department and tired.
Before heading home we swung by to see Austin trick or treating for just a few minutes ....then we were... finally home where we were greeted by our neighbors with treat bags for Austin and Dalton so sweet of them to do such a thing.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Until next year---by the way next year Dalton can be something "scary" he wanted to be something "scary" this year and I just wasn't ready for it.... yet :(
He was a super ninja this year...of course I didn't get pictures of that. LOL

"Moving" On---------

I can remember Friday nights at Grandma and Grandpa Underwood's house like it was yesterday. Pizza/Beer on the patio was where our family met every Friday growing up. Grandpa had an old fridge he turned into a kegerator and this is where my siblings and I learned to "refill" the perfect pitcher of beer from a tap :)
Sometimes Grandpa played waltz type music in the garage and would dance with us kids. Grandma used to be an avid square dancer so we learned those moves as well. There were never family arguments that I recall it was always a very happy, warm inviting place. When Grandma and Grandpa decided the Ozarks was the next adventure Uncle Kevin and Aunt Jill took over the family home. Almost 19 years later they too have bigger dreams. It only took this amazingly characterized home a few months to sell and become some other families memory box. We went by last week and took pictures and said farewell to another one of files chapters.

Goodbye to ONE of the HOMES that BUILT ME :)

Country Bumpkin (Pumpkin)

THANK YOU CANDIE for the free family pass to visit Carolyn's Cousin Patch in Liberty, MO

We all had a great time.
From play equipment, to train rides---from pig races to hayrides---from apple cider slushies to nap time it was an all out great fall adventure.

"Falling" into Traditions

"I am really not a bad parent but I despise Halloween. I just can't stand the thought of being scared, startled."

It was brought to my attention that I really didn't start many traditions with Dalton. We decorate for Christmas and Birthdays ;) but thats about it. So I started wondering why? Was it because I grew up in the home of Martha Stewart's twin, who decorated for every holiday, and it was always a production at the Underwood's OR was it because I had never owned a home until this year? Most likely a combo of each. So this year we aim to make the best of it. I gotta admit we bought 3 little pumpkins but after the first pumpkin took over an hour to carve we said to hell with it. LOL Dalton had a great time and that's all we as parents really wanted. Heres to making memories Bubba.

The Dirty Thirty

So I turned 30 on October 9th and NO those are not real boobies above, however this was a moment I will never forget during 30th birthday week. Some guy wanted to see my friend Julisa's boobs so we drew on her knees. IT WAS HILARIOUS!
BACK to Birthday week (clearing throat) IT WAS FABULOUS thanks to my friendly team of supporters--cough Candie---cough Julisa! :) Candie came to my work on Monday before and painted the car all 30ish and girly. I freakin loved it! Never had my car wrote on before so why not when I am 30?! Then everyday she posted a video/song about birthdays on my Facebook page! Thhhheeeen-on my actual birthday she and my hubby hosted a steak dinner with a cupcake cake--- it was the PERFECT end of being 29 years old!
Julisa totally SURPRISED me by showing up to my house on Sunday with balloons, a mini cake and wait for it....a Charming Charlies gift card. I haven't spent it yet, I think we should dress up in jeans and heels before we go shop there! Eeeekkkkk!
My most favorite part to Birthday week was the gift from my hubby the night before my birthday! He made me feel like a teenager in love all over again with a little piece of jewelry! I love him to pieces! He also got me Starbucks the morning of :)
Below are some random pictures to Birthday week---PS: I also cut 6inches off of my hair, not sure I should have done that but it grows like crazy!
Thank you to everyone that text, personally called, came by or posted on my FB page! I have said this many so why not share it on here--It was by far the BEST Birthday I have ever had!
PSS: My brothers girlfriend Christine ALSO took my family pictures in the west bottoms for my 30th bday gift and for that I am 100% grateful! I MUST go over and pick out faves so I can get them up in my house :)