Last Birthday Post...promise!

Brooke's 1st Birthday Extravaganza began with Strollerskating with Daddy & Mommy, lunch at Olive Garden, and a trip to Toys R Us. The celebration continued into the weekend in Mount Pleasant where a double first birthday party was scheduled for Brooke and her cousin KayeLeigh. Brooke ate up all the attention. I'll let the pictures do most of the talking. I think Brooke will start wondering where her cake is every day now.

The Birthday Girl

Happy Day!

Strollerskating with Daddy

Opening one of many presents in MP

Birthday Dress

Cautious with the cake...KayeLeigh knows what to do!

First attempt at corn on the cob. This was really funny to watch.

Hangin' with Nannie (Brooke's great-grandma)

Putting on a show

Where'd the cake go Dada?

Fun in Grandma's chair

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Funny Face

We decided to head to MP this past week since it was Spring Break. David enjoyed all the relaxation that comes with being at home with his mom and her great cooking. Diana and Richard treated us to dinner Wednesday night, which was really nice. One night after dinner Brooke decided to put on a little show...

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Nannie's 21st Birthday Bash

Ready to partay!

We made a special trip to MP for one special lady. David's grandmother Gertie (a.k.a. Nannie to the grandkids) celebrated her 88th--I mean 21st--birthday in style with the whole family at Two Senoritas. She really seemed to have a great time.

"My Nannie loves me!" 

With Aunt Gail & sweet cousin Larkin... Check out those gorgeous blue eyes! 

 Every baby loves Uncle Terry, and Brooke is no exception. He taught her how to jam with soup spoons for entertainment. 

Chillin' at Grandma's house the next day...Look how I can get around!

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Surprise!

Teachers and students at David's school decided to end for Thanksgiving break with a fun filled teachers vs. the 8th grade girls volleyball team game.  Brooke and I thought David was the star of the game. Here he is in mid-air. Check out that sweatband.  It turned out to be a very close game, and the teachers actually went home with the trophy. Go old people! At the end of the game everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to David.
We went straight from the game to start our trip to MP for Thanksgiving. All the while Brooke and I were keeping a big secret from David....a surprise birthday party from his family in MP! We did have to tell a few white lies to keep up the ruse. Brooke picked out this fun gift for Daddy. Here she is playing with it before we wrapped it. 

The party was a success. David did not suspect a thing. It's tradition that the family take David out to eat at El Chico for dinner on his birthday when he's in town. The difference this time was 36 relatives shouting "Surprise!" when he walked in. 

Those are cupcakes!

Thanksgiving dinner was delicious, and Brooke enjoyed all the attention she got as the only baby. Here are a few pics from her first Thanksgiving. 

Grabbing Uncle Dodo's Beard. She found it fascinating, along with his chest hair.

Waving in her new outfit from Aunt Diana

Just before the meal...

The last few moments before her new outfit became covered in sweet potatoes. 

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Labor Day in MP

We had a fun Labor Day weekend in MP. Most of David's family was there to see Brooke and her cousin KayeLeigh. We went to Nannie's (Brooke's great-grandma's) house a few times. Nannie cooked up a big meal for the family while in her wheelchair, and I could tell she very happy to have so many of her family members around.

Brooke slept most of the way there...

Nannie w/ KayeLeigh & Brooke (great-grandkids # 15 &16)

The girls kickin' back in the recliner.

Brooke w/ Aunt Diana & Uncle Dodo

David's cousin Jerid w/ the girls on Nannie's porch

Brooke with Cousin Mark

David's little cousin Larkin right before she got in trouble for drinking someone's soda.

We got to spend some fun time with Jerid, Amanda, & KayeLeigh since we stayed in the same house. Everyone is so amazed that both girls are so easy going and sweet. KayeLeigh is 5 weeks older than Brooke, so we hope they will be close growing up. KayeLeigh is already teething and almost sitting up, which gets David & me thinking about what Brooke's next milestone will be (hopefully not teething). We missed Jeanett since she was in Tunica, but she was nice enough to let us and the babies stay at her house. Monday after everyone else left, David & I watched 4 episodes of "24" before we headed home. We need to pace ourselves.

On the way back home, David & I went over our new budget, the one that includes only one paycheck (YIKES). I know it's going to be hard, and I was beginning to have doubts. When we got home we prayed about it, and we were reassured that we would be taken care of. We just have to be faithful. I'm sure we'll look back on these times fondly as some of the best of our lives.

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