All that glitters is NOT gold...

...it can also be an assortment of sequined tanks and belts.

This week I've had to clean out my closet and make room for M to the Izz-A's clothes. He's been using the spare bedroom's closet as his own since we've been married, but now that Hamp is on the way and the spare room is no longer a 'spare', his clothes will now be joining mine in the master bedroom's closet. I'm sure he will get great use out of the 1 ft shelving area I cleared for him. Kidding.

It's obvious that the cleaning out of my closet was way past due as evidenced in the pic above. Apparently I had a brief, yet heartfelt, love affair with all things sequined in the early years of our marriage. And with this I've laid to rest the theory that sequins die with your high school prom dress - because no, no they do not. They continue living in your stretchy belts and tank tops. Or at least they did in mine.

I only have three questions for myself:

1: Why?

2: Why?

3: Why?

After several hours of pulling out old clothes and shaking my head in shame, I freed up quite a few clothes hangers and filled up four garbage bags.

One bag had already made it to the trunk of my car at this point.



But after talking to Kerri, I've decided to go through them and take some to a local resale shop in an attempt to earn a lil' extra cash. But don't you go worryin' yourself, I'm not attempting to resale my lovely sequins. Those precious flecks of sunshine will be put to rest and left at the bottom of those Hefty, Hefty Cinch Saks.


Somethings really don't deserve a second chance now do they?

Shiny grill

Kate had her very first dentist appointment last week. While her pediatrician recommended we take her in when she turned two, I decided to hold off a few more months, so that she's closer to three. My 'decision' wasn't really based on solid reasoning, but more out of fear. I have been so nervous about taking her to her first dentist visit, for no other reason than that I used to be so scared of my dentist and dreaded every visit. This may be because it seemed like I was getting a filling everytime I turned around. I'm not one of those people who can say that they've never had a cavity. M to the Izz-A, on the other hand, is. He has never had a cavity and never had to have braces. I definitely have had my share of dental procedures. I think if you added up all of the dental/orthodontic treatments from my two sisters and me, I'm pretty sure we paid for our doc's mountain house, beach house, and that hairpiece.


So in preparation for her big visit, I talked with her in length about what she could expect, trying my best to make it sound fun and exciting. At one point I was even referring to the dental hygienist as the tooth fairy's sister. I considered bring a crown and asking her to wear it but figured she'd look at me like I'm crazy and slip me a business card for the nearest psychologist on my way out.


When we arrived, we sat in the waiting room while M to the Izz-A and Kate read all of their Highlights magazines- a staple for any medical office, if you ask me. When it was time to go back, she jumped up with excitement and ran back, not even waiting on me. She was excited! (Thank goodness.) Meanwhile I tried to hide my own nervousness.


Her dental hygienist, Jessica (a childhood friend), helped her into the "special chair" and proceeded to show her all the buttons that made it move up and down.

She even had special names for all of the dental instruments. Here's a pic of Kate with Mr. Thirsty.

Letting her give it a try all by herself...

Checking out the finished product. Nice and shiny!!

She was so proud! But not as proud as I was of her.

Of course the treasure box awaited her as she went out the door. She got a sticker, a necklace and one of those plastic hand slappers that sounds like someone clapping when you shake it up and down.

On the way home we stopped and picked up the toothpaste they recommended, Sensodyne Pronamel for Children, and she got an electric Hello Kitty toothbrush.


I thought she was going to run the battery out, because she brushed her teeth all the way home...and her carseat....and the window......and her arm.


I'm so proud of you, Kate. You make it easy to be your Mommy.

Easter Festivities

We colored our eggs on Saturday:



My mom always reminds me that she never let her kids sit on the kitchen counters. Apparently I do.

Such a cute little egg, but I still can't figure out why they put snow hats in an Easter egg decorating kit. It's spring, not winter, no?





And those were the only two eggs that got the full sticker face and hat treatment. We soon realized that this step in the egg decorating process was becoming more tedious than it was fun and decided to skip it.

Kate was pretty pumped about the Easter bunny paying her a visit and pranced around with her Easter basket for the next two hours.

And on Sunday the sun was shining bright - too bright for her to look at the camera.

Easter morning went pretty smooth considering that most Sunday mornings are like mad house 'round here. We managed to make it on time, but not before one minor mishap. Because Colonel M to the Izz-A hates to be late, I took it upon myself to apply my mascara in the car on the ride there. Unfortunately for my dress and white tank underneath (and because I do everything a lil' bit spastic), I dropped the wand. It didn't show up on the dress as much as it did that bright white tank, which is why you can kind of notice how I've got the right side of my sweater pulled over my chest. But I was not about to turn around, be late, and let that blame mascara wand get the best of my Easter Sunday. And by the way, those little Tide on the Go sticks do not work - at least not on mascara. I tried it and it failed. Miserably.

So now I've still got the stain. Anyone have any suggestions for removing mascara?

Would you just look at that angel face?

Cousin Isaac was workin' the camera and had no problem with Mr. Sun.



I took a few moments to look back at last year's Easter post and I can't believe how much Kate has grown. I think it's the haircut.

On a mission...

This picture reminds me of my myself, when I was a kid, hunting for eggs. I think I've mentioned before, I was all business.

It was a great weekend. I'm still chowing down on all the Easter candy, digging through all the treat bags in search of anything chocolate....heck, I'll even take the 'chocolate-flavored' treats, which may be kind of questionable, but I really don't discriminate at this point.

Church shower

Our Sunday school class threw us a baby shower at church last Tuesday night. Somehow I managed to pull M to the Izz-A along for the ride. Somehow meaning, I told him that if he wanted supper he better get his hungry self to the church or he'd be settling for a PB & J. Or maybe even just a J cause I was pretty sure we were out of PB.

Check out that face. I'm pretty sure he was enjoying himself.

My friend, Amy, made the cake. She did an amazing job and definitely nailed the "all boy" theme!

Ya'll know the Gator hat was my favorite part, right?

Kate got her own special cupcake!

This is my dear friend, Mrs. Peggy. She orchestrated this beautiful shower and I am forever grateful. She and her husband teach our Sunday school class. M to the Izz-A and I both think the world of them.



Kate had a blast with her friends. For some reason she had it in high gear that night and never slowed down. I really shouldn't be surprised, she is her father's daughter.

She hammed it up!

I was off work today and went to the beach with Kate and my mom. It was around 85 degrees out and felt amazing. The water was still pretty chilly, but matched with the sun and the sand it was the perfect day.

I'm on Spring Break next week, which is a good thing for many reasons - one being that I am behind on some of my blogging. I was supposed to post my 8 month belly pic this week but I haven't even gotten around to taking the photo. Hopefully I'll get to it this week!

So stick around....here's a few posts yet to come:

-8 month belly pic

-Kate's first trip to the dentist (She did great!)

-and of course, Easter!

Now it's off to boil some eggs so that we can color them tomorrow. Last minute? Ain't no thang. I work better under pressure.

Here's to hoping I don't eat them all before they get dipped into their pretty little Easter colors, cause you know I love a good boiled egg with lots of salt and pepper on it.