22 Days

Until I land in New Orleans!!!!!!!!! 

Momma is getting more and more excited every stinkin' day!!!

Berger's Bums 2012

And here we are in all our glory...

Not only did we place 3rd and 10th in chicken....but we placed 7th and 24th overall.  That's out of 142 teams people.  Damn good dontcha think?  Needless to say, we were a little stoked about this win.  Getting better all the time. ;)

Here are some more pics from this weekend...

My handsome brothers...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday afternoon, I took Bella over to do the Chicken Scramble.  That girl had more fun!  She was so excited.  She was leary about petting the chicken after she caught it but she did.  I soooo wanted her to hold it, but she wouldn't.  Maybe next year.  :)

 

Getting ready to run...

 

Her first catch...

 

 

And her second catch!

 

It was a good run this year...in all categories but I am glad its over.  Always excited for this week to arrive and equally excited to see it go.  Ya'll have a good one!

Fair Time

Sometimes unexpected snapshots turn out to be some of the best pictures.  Ms. Marilyn took this one of Bella and I yesterday when I picked my girl up from daycare.  One of her teachers got her the hat from the fair, she was so proud and excited to have it. 
I love this pic...

 

Saturday my sis, brother-in-law and I took the kids to the parade.  I think this was one of the best parades we've had in a long time.  Starting to get big again and I love that for our little town and our county. 

 

Waiting for the parade to start...

Makenna and Bella

 

Float for Greenhouse Learning Center, aka Bella's daycare.

They won 1st Place Kids Float

 

 

After the parade, we went home to relax for a while before heading out to the fair.  While Chris and his cousins hit the bigger rides, Miss Bella and I went to ride ponies, check out the Petting Zoo and then a few rides. This child is not afraid of any animal.  She loves them all. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a few rides and something to eat, we went out to the rodeo to watch my nephew Brady get it at Mutton Bustin'.  He only got it for 2 seconds. Poor kid.  He's decided he doesn't want to do that again.  Bella, on the otherhand says she's ready to ride that sheep!  Next year baby, next year. 

 

Stephanie and Bella heading out to the fair...

 

 

Stephanie and Makenna at the rodeo waiting for Mutton Bustin'....

 

Stephanie and I decided we would take before and after pictures that night, we are two nuts!  Have tons of fun together and laugh a lot.  Love this girl more than my luggage!

BEFORE

 

AFTER

 

 

And here I am with the kids that were still left at the end of the night....

 

More to come, the week is just getting started and we still have cook-off this weekend.  The pit is loaded and ready to roll! 

 

Y'all have a good one!

 

 

Dear Jace...

Happy Birthday son!  I can't believe you are 10 years old today, double digits my love.  Time has gone by so fast.  Seems like yesterday my sweet autumn baby was just arriving.  I remember the day so well.  You had a different cry from your brother, more of a whimpering, but when they brought you to me and I spoke to you, you quit.  You already knew your momma's voice and it calmed you.  As soon as they took you back to check you out, you started again.  I smiled...and cried.  I was so happy you were here, so happy to have a house full of boys.   

I know it seems repetitive to say I miss you every single day, but I do.  You are on my mind all the time son.  You never leave me.  When I look at your cousins Makenna and Brandon I see you through them...I would imagine the 3 of you as the Three Muskateers. The three of you were all born within months of each other.  You and Makenna had the pleasure of meeting and playing together.  I wish I had more pictures of the two of you together.  I can remember feeding you both while sitting in my lap in the rocking chair.  Its one of my favorite memories.  Brandon came in July...just a short 5 months after you left us.  I wish the two of you had met.  I think you would have been inseperable and probably up to no good! 

We had a little party for you yesterday.  Something your mommy has always wanted to do.  Your brother decided that if you were here your favorite meal would be your Uncle Tony's Our Favorite Steak so that's what we had.  We followed that up with cake and ice cream. I set up a table with pictures of you (wish I still had more). 

 

Mommy bought the mum because the day your were born, Marilee brought in the most beautiful autumn colored mum.  They always remind me of you.  Jana brought me the yellow flowers (she knows my love of flowers & sunflowers) and balloon, something cheerful.  Your sweet cousin Makenna gave me the bright flowers to the right (she too knows my love of flowers & burnt orange-it  was the closest she could get to it, ha!).  The Hilliers joined us as well and brought in the hugs! I loved having everyone there celebrating your special day.  I held it together the whole day, only crying once but your Aunt Jana and Aunt Deanna were right there to comfort me and hold me, just like they were the day you arrived. 

 

Your brother keeps this picture on his dresser of the two of you.  I borrowed it for the party yesterday.  He made me promise to give it back to him. Oh the love that kid has for you, sometimes I think its greater than mommy's love.  :)

 

 

Jace, I hope you know how much I miss you and how much I wish you were here. I try to understand God's plan but some days I just can't. Some days it just hurts too much. I know you are in a much better place and you are celebrating it up big time in Heaven today (and every day).

 

You are always in my heart, always on my mind and I will forever love you son.  

 

Love & Hugs sweet boy,

Mommy