The Best NickName E.V.E.R.

For those who really know Ben, you know he loves to call things by their colors.  "Red car, blue car, brown foo foo"  And the list goes on and on.  So, I guess it is safe to say the child loves a nickname.

Well today, the child, with all his creativity and preciousness, came up with (quite possibly) one of the best nicknames ever!

When Bubba was with him this morning, he noticed Ben was calling him by a new name.  After listening closely to this little 2 year old, he realized he was being call "Tatoe Head" .... after Mr. Potato!  (BAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!)  I mean are you giggling because I can't even type this without cracking up!! 

Not knowing all this had transpired, at the dinner table this evening, Bubba asked Ben what his name was and without any hesitation, the chid quickly responded "Tatoe Head"!

Tonight, just for the giggle, I have continued to ask Ben what Daddy's name is and every single time I get the best answer ever!  "Tatoe Head"!  

 

Oh this is a child full of every ounce of personality that could be found!  When he was created, I am sure the Good Lord was giggling because he already knew the hysterical things like "Tatoe Head" that would make us all smile and love this little boy more and more!  

 

Ben, you are one of a kind little love!  That is for sure!  

Our family would not be complete without you!  

Love you lots and lots! 

A Much Needed Smile

Who doesn't love a good unexpected surprise?  I love surprises.  While they aren't always good, it is the moments when you get a wonderful surprise that is unexpected that just makes your day!

Thanks to my little boys, I was given one of these unexpected surprises in one of the most unusual ways!  

As I prepared to leave school and head home, I gathered my belongings and headed towards the Bailey Bus.  While from far away all I noticed was how badly my car needed a bath, the closed I got, I began to notice something colored on the running boards of my car.  I continued towards the car wondering what in the world could this possibly be.   

In a matter of seconds, my face was wearing a grin from ear to ear and a giggle could be heard!  Making the journey from the neighborhood to the job site were two reminders of my little boys!  

Somehow, as I loaded my ten tons of teacher things into the bus that morning, I missed these little reminders!!  

Yes, "Yellow Mater" got a true tour of the streets!  While he saw the city upside down, we are very thankful he held on for the ride!!!!   

 

And Bless his Soul!  Alvin just wanted to find his 2 brothers I suppose!  He looks as though he realized scooting more towards the inside of the running board wouldn't be a bad idea!  

 

So there I stood.  In the parking lot, taking pictures of my car.  Giggling thinking about the two little boys who had been playing with these the day before!  

It was a little reminder for me of so many things:  Boys will be boys and can find a way to play with almost anything!   The afternoons where I am sitting in the garage watching them ride scooters or play cars is just what I am suppose to be doing when I get home.  And that clearly my driving was up to par that morning or our little friends might not have made it home that afternoon!  

So thankful for these little unexpected moments! 

A Few Catch Up TOTALLY Worth Mentioning....

Catch Up #1 :  The Adventures of Ben Ben 

If ever a child had some personality...  Goodness Gracious!!  Between this little loves expressions, creative language and sentences and "smiles"... this child keeps us on our toes!  There are moments this child can try ever ounce of my patience but then he makes some ridiculously adorable face and I melt!  

Take a normal Sunday afternoon where he was suppose to be sleeping peacefully enjoying his slumber!  For one skinny minute do you think this kid wanted to sleep?!  He knew I was going to be making cookies and he did not let me forget it!  So, I ended up with a kitchen helper and a batch of cookie that were unservable!!  

Catch Up #2:   Ballerinas are everywhere at the Bailey house!  Both girls have started their ballet classes!  While Wylie was originally ALL ABOUT this adventure, her tune has changed.  She reminds me weekly she really doesn't like her class but she has no choice!  Her class was auto drafted therefore she will enjoy for a bit longer!  

Bess on the other hand loves her class because Taylor is in there with her!  She is so excited each week to get dress up in her ballet gear and head to dance!  

After seeing these sweethearts in their ballet gear, I am pretty sure one of the sweetest things on the planet is a little ballerina!  It melts my heart each week!  

 

Catch Up #3:   College Football 2013 has started back!  Bubba could not have been more excited!!  To ring in the Gamecock Season we brought "The Brizzell's" with us!  While the boys somehow were able to work only a half day, us girls continued to shape and mold the minds of tomorrow in the classroom and worked a full day!  We rushed quickly from school to head to Columbia just in time to quickly tailgate and meet up with our boys!  

 

The crowd was hopping and the stadium was jumping with excitement as the Gamecocks prepared to play the first game of the 2013 season!  Couldn't resist this up the ramp shot!  Not the best but it was the moment that counted!  Plus... once this moment happened the boys dropped me and Lucy off and headed to their seats and us to our seats!  

While we enjoyed our time together, we couldn't help but giggle at how our boys are really like girls sometimes!  They are more BFF than we are on most days!! 

 

Catch Up #4:  In preparation for January 2014 and the upcoming wedding festivities, I headed to Edisto for KWL's bachelorette party!  What more fun than wearing a sequin hat on the beach to signify you are the bride! I loved it!!  The weather was great, the girls were precious and the bride was FABULOUS like always!    Can't wait to celebrate a fun wedding weekend with her and my brother in only about 100 days!!  

 

Sadly, I must admit, while these YOUNG girls partied like it was 1999, I decide I would be the "motherly" one of the bunch!  VERY VERY VERY willingly I offered to drive these very lovely and festive girls to the local brew ha ha for the night of fun ahead! And as happy as a clam, I  drove right on back to the house and proceeded to lay myself on a couch, turn on the TV where to my delight the movie 27 Dresses AND Christmas Vacation decided to come on!  This momma of 4 was in HEAVEN!  While I was a bit sad to miss out on the memory of the night, I was well rested at 8 the next morning when these little gals were still snoozing away!  No lie, I enjoyed it immensely!  

 

Catch Up #5:   Way back in April, sitting in Charleston, Bubba surprised me with tickets!  I had asked the Christmas before to be sent to Peru to see Maroon 5 seeing as how that was as close to the USA that I could get them while they had decided to hold an over seas tour!  To my surprise, and much to my delight, they decided to hold a states tour and the love of my life heard about this WAY before I did!!  YEAH!!  So, knowing I would be hinting around to that purchase, he bought 4 and surprised me!   After giving out the tickets, the day finally arrived!  

While my sister was not able to make this INCREDIBLE night, I feel I had enough fun for the both of us!  Mandi, Angie and I wasted no time in enjoying every minute of this event!  I am pretty sure I was not alone in my dance party!!  

I was a bit doubtful of how my Thursday would turn out seeing as this was a Wednesday night but thankfully, I was able to move throughout the day JUST fine!!  

It was a WONDERFUL night and I am so thankful I got to see them!  I think it is safe to say we would go back again to see them! 

 

Catch Up #6  Charlie's Game Day     If there is a kid who loves Gamecock Football... it is this one!!  Charlie was so anxious to go to his first game of this season he was able to keep it a secret from his sisters for an entire week!   To say it makes his daddy's heart burst with joy to see his little boy this into Gamecock football is a total understatement!   But it is honest!  Charlie loves the Gamecocks and he loves watching them!  TV or in live action, this kid loves it all!  He is a true fan and wants to be down at these tailgates with us each week!  Makes us proud!!!  GO cocks!!  

 

Catch Up #7:  What to Wear to School      Each night, we pick out school clothes for the next day.  The  easiest night for me is Thursday night because the kids know I will allow them to wear their Gamecock gear on this day!  I don't mind it regardless but we are so blessed with tons of hand me downs and such that I want to get good use of everything we have !  So Fridays are reserved for Gamecocks gear if they choose!  This past Friday, I got the sweetest emailed pic of the twins from their teacher!  I just love seeing them in their little Kindergarten world... even if it is through an email!   

This picture leads you to believe they are always this sweet to one another!  I know at home the answer is a big NO but I pray at school it is the opposite!!  

 

Catch Up #8:  Eat, Eat, Eat...  Bess is a girl after my own heart!  One of the things I love the most is eating out!  I love, love, love to try new things on a menu.  I will taste things I have never tried and rarely find things that I don't like!  While Bubba has definitely grown in his variety of foods, he isn't as open as I am !  However, his little girl is!!  Bessie Boo will eat it all!  She loves just about anything you give her!  

Recently at a Charlotte restaurant, I didn't purchase a kids meal for Bess and just let her eat off my plate.  The child ate crab cakes, zucchini, stuffed mushrooms, beef tenderloin, salmon and pasta.  Then she topped it off with cheesecake!  My kind of eater!!  

I must say though, she made her daddy very proud the other night when she asked for the hot sauce to add to her chicken and dumplings!!  I thought his heart would bust from excitement!  It is the little things folks!  

 

Catch up # 9  Happy Birthday Mom (or Rah Rah )   Per Mom's request, the entire crew loaded up and headed to  Maggiano's in Charlotte for a family dinner!  Although I was a tad bit nervous about how 6 kids would do at this fine establishment, I was pleasantly surprised!  The food was incredible and we could have fed a small army!  There was not a single person who walked away from that table thinking about food!  We were all stuffed to the gills!   It was a delicious meal and I am so thankful we could all join together to celebrate with Mom!  

 

So... now I feel a tad bit less guilty!  The major to do's have been highlighted.  I have my "gotta totally explain every bit of it" stories planned for this week and I feel back to myself with this blog!  

Forgive me blog, for I have been neglecting you!  

No Excuses... An Apology from a Guilty Mom

As much as I cherish this blog , or rather the memories it holds onto for me despite the flying of time, I have been terrible at taking time out to actually sit and jot down these precious memories and hysterical moments happening each and every day in front of me!

I feel guilty.  I feel like I am breaking some unspoken rule of blogging.  I feel like I am letting my kids down because it is their books I create... so really these unwritten memories are going to be forgotten unless I buckle down!  

I know it.  I won't make excuses but I will (for the sake of my kids one day really knowing why there are quite some days missing...) explain the lack of writing -  L.I.F.E.  Life is crazy busy but beautiful at the same time.  There is soccer practice, art classes, ballet, hair cuts, bike rides, grocery store runs, homework, cooking , laundry and snuggles on the couch.  While this doesn't even begin to tap into the activities of this house, it does skim the tip of the iceberg!  

I realize everyone around me is crazy.  I am no different and have no crazier of a schedule than others.  But, I can't use that as an excuse!  One of these days, I will be so thankful for the details of these days that are recorded!  Knowing that I can recount little daily memories will be priceless and I know this!  What am I saying... I already know this!  Looking back through the blog books I do have, I can't believe the laughs, smiles, craziness and happiness my household has seen!  

I already run on no sleep.  Thankfully, I am a person that can do this.  But, I will not, hear me now, will not allow this to happen for the 3rd time!  

So...moving on to the many stories I have been holding on to "find time to sit down and write"... here goes!   

Adventures in Laking

Thankfully, all my little loves enjoy water!  Beach water or pool water, it has not seemed to matter to them!  But they had never done lake water until recently!!

Thanks to dear friends, The Bailey Bunch made their way to Lake Wateree for a weekend of Labor Day Fun!  6 kids, 4 adults and a closed in porch, college football and sunshine... what is not to enjoy!!  

This was the best I could get of all the older kids as they awaited the boat's departure from the dock!!  There were lots of questions about sharks being in the water!  Bless their bones!  They just didn't know about lake water!  Horrible mom!! 

Charlie thought it was the coolest thing ever to drive fast with James through the water!  Not long after his turn at the wheel, he asked his daddy when we were going to get a fast boat like James'!  Yeah Daddy?  When is that happening?

I absolutely could not handle the amount of cuteness this little one offered up!  How adorable is that life jacket and poor thing- she took it like a champ!!   The wind in her hair and the most secure life jacket in the world on!!  She was set!  If only she had given in to the desire to nap!  But nope- she was in for every bit of fun that the rest of us were!

Bessie Boo had a bit of a scaredy bug come over her as the boat began to go fast!  She suddenly had a tummy ache and needed some TLC from her momma!  Thankfully, I am always up for a good hug and this was no exception!  After a bit though, that "bug" went away and she was "all better!"  

Like an old pro, Addie sat in the back of the boat, hair blowing and her tongue out!  Every now and then she would ask her daddy to "Go Fasturh Daddy!!!"  CAN.NOT. HANDLE. THE. TONGUE!  Cracks me up!!  

I mean I could just eat this sweet one up!  Notice the hand holding!  This is how she insisted she be held while her "stomach bug" was around!! 

 

But after a fun afternoon of lake fun, the mommies and daddies were beginning to grow tired and needed that closed in porch for some relaxation and child control!!  So off to the house we headed!  

While in the water earlier that day, Bess was taught the art of upside down life jacket wearing as a stand in for a floaty!  She thought this was the best trick ever!  I was just tickled pink because I can so remember summers doing this, especially floating in Garden City inlets with the fam!  

She loved this "trick" so much, she wore it all the way home on the boat, refusing to take it off!  

Feeling one with the water (or maybe just brave from some liquid courage)... Daddy decided to brave the slalom ski! Just like back in the day!  Except the last time I remember him skiing, there were not 4 little loves watching his every move!  Where I normally would have been sitting at the back of the boat watching him, I was now sitting at the back of the boat reassuring little loves their daddy would in fact return to the boat and would be okay!  

Thankfully, just like an ol pro, Bubs got up and was ready for the water action!  Bless the pitiful orange life jacket we had to use for this unexpected skiing adventure though!  Makes for a funny pic! 

Once Bubs had decided enough was enough on the ski, he fell down and guess who fell completely apart!!!  

Not understanding this at all.... this little love was in pieces over her daddy being in the water and us on a boat and to top it off the boat was moving and daddy wasn't on that boat!!  DRAMA!!!  

After the tears were dried up and Daddy was safely back on the boat, we headed (really this time) to the house!  Ben was awake for all of 2.2 seconds and then- CRASH- he was done!  How precious was his little self just laying there life jacket and just completely OUT!  I could eat him up too! 

All weekend long, Ben was quite the ladies man!  Age was clearly not a factor in his desires because there were times he was looking to the younger ladies ... 

and times he was smooching up to the older ladies!!  Either way, he has 2 great gals to pick from! 

But leave it to the boys to find entertainment like no other on the best lake porch ever!  What good are baby toys if you can't make a game out of them!  So like any good daddies would do, these 2 lined up their contestants and started their engines!  Thanks to plastic tug boats and pushy cars, this serious race was pure entertainment!  Not sure who enjoyed it more though- kids or daddies!  (Or moms for that matter because we just sat back and watched the chaos but didn't have to control it!!!)  Thanks boys! 

 

 

Labor Day with great friends!  Fun times, Late nights, Many laughs and Lots of kids!  

Thanks J and J for a super FAB weekend!