60th surprise party

Maelea's Grammie had her 60th birthday last weekend and a host of family and friends were gathered to surprise her.

On the lookout and they arrived.

Here's the backstory: Alex's mom thought we were coming up to attend the Razorback game in Arkansas. Actually we, Byron, Marla and the girls, and lots of other family and friends were all heading to Stuttgart to the surprise party. We couldn't come on Friday because Maelea was sick. She was still sick on Saturday and for several days after actually with what turned out to be a stomach virus, but we left anyways and headed up. When we got to his parent's house we worked up our plan. We told Anne that we were going to the razorback game and they were going to watch Maelea while we went. Cleveland told her they were going to go eat for her birthday and they needed to meet some friends at the college where we had the party. So when they walked in she was surprised alright.

But when she saw everyone that was actually there she was really shocked.

We had to pull off the whole Arkansas game thing, so we were dressed down a bit. And as you can see Maelea was in the cutest outfit that Alana got her for her birthday, but she felt terrible.

Byron hosted the program.

Before and Afters

$5 mirror at a garage sale. Cool vintage swirly style, plasticy gold frame. Before

Sun yellow spray paint and the after

This iron table was picked at the scrap yard. For just a few dollars (probably around $10 because I got a few different things). Before

Oh yeah, and remember these chairs from the scrap yard too?

One of my favorite blue colors of spray paint and a glossy white on the chairs and the after

I love finding things and spray painting them.

Fantasy Draft

A couple of weekends ago we went to Cedar Creek Lake so Alex could participate in his fantasy draft with his friends. Although the actual "drafting" took a long three hours, we had a great time. Maelea was the only little one there and she had a ton of fun. Jimmy's parents have this awesome lake house and we soaked up every minute. I didn't get alot of pictures because Maelea was everywhere. Including the pool.

The shallow part of this infinity edge pool was huge. I walked Maelea around it a ton of times. She could sit and splash and get out and get back in super easy and the best part was I didn't even have to get in my swim suit! Super yea! Alex was the last place guy in last years league so this is what he had to wear to honor that title. For the entire three hour draft.

Tom Landry even stopped by.

What a great time with friends. Friends that we haven't spent much time with since we've had Maelea and I miss them. I'm ready for a couple of them to have their own babies. :) Maelea has been sick since Friday but she's better now. Alex took off work today but she'll be back to regular schedule tomorrow.

updated

So proud of my country. I love America and I am so proud to be an American. I remember exactly where I was ten years ago, Mrs. Matlock's computer class and I saw the second plane hit the tower. I literally freaked out. Probably more than anyone at my school. I immediately thought that the army was going to draft all of my male friends and send them to war and I knew that the USA would retaliate big time, and we did, minus the draft. After school that day I drove my Suzuki Samari to the gas station and waited in a long line and found out later that the station ran out of gas because of the scared rush. Even though that war is sadly not over, I am still so proud of the freedom that I have here in America. Thank you to all of those that have and are currently serving our country to protect those freedoms. I appreciate you. Last week one of my students had a big surprise towards the end of the day. Her dad came home from over seas.

Quite an emotional moment. I'm so glad I got to witness this.

We got back this evening from a whirlwind trip to Arkansas for a surprise party for Alex's mom Anne. More on that later. But here is a picture of Maelea and Alex from the other day when she wasn't feeling too well. So sweet.

tid tinies

So glad it is Friday and that we have a three day weekend.



Also very glad that the Razorbacks play tomorrow!

Hillybilly teeth or animal cracker hanging on for dear life? You decide.


And I will leave you with a few thoughts that have fluttered through my head in the last few days. I know you love that.
* If you want it done right, do it yourself.
* There will be a moment when you realize that you can't get this back.
* The things you are stressing/worrying/complaining about....have you taken a moment to think about a time when someone was in your shoes, in the same place you were in? And did you do for them what someone is doing for you to help you stop stressing/worrying/complaining?
* When something is funny, laugh. Real hard. Your real laugh. Don't hold it in. Mine is super loud, but apparently some people enjoy it.
* I've thought about the people that have been important people in Maelea's life already. Of course family members, but other people that we are not related to by blood. I think about those people that came to the hospital when we were there for her birth. Charletta, Sheena, Kayley, our families, and Chase. That means so much. The other calls and texts during that time were so special as well. Then our friends and family that came to see her when we got home. Awesome.
* Being a teacher is amazing. Every single day I learn something. And some moments I don't want to teach the curriculum. So I don't. I talk and listen and laugh with my students. And I think their parents would think that's ok. I hope Maelea's teachers will talk, listen, and laugh with her too.

long gone

Well I've officially let the back to school business keep me from positing. And I apologize.
The pictures I have aren't even that recent, probably from a week ago and Maelea is really walking around all over the place now and it is hard to tell from these pictures.




And I'll go ahead and inform you of more car troubles. Ol Gal again. Long story short; a giant hole was blown in a tube and then smoke as we tried to get her home. Yikes and not fun. Hopefully its no bigs, but who knows. Alex will work on her this weekend. So basically we're back to one vehicle until she's running or well, I'm not sure if there is an or.

Back to Maelea.
She wore her dress to church on Sunday that her daddy got her while we had friends down for the all-star game and I was still pregnant. Derek got Ingrid the same one. So cute and precious of them to do. It fits her perfectly and she was proud to show it off.



School is going really well. Great little group of kids.