Abby"isms" continued

• When referring to death, Abby will ask, "How did it get dead?" or "When (insert pronoun) gets dead..." Last week, we came across an injured, yet still alive, butterfly. "Mama, be careful! We don't want it to get more dead." I guess there are also degrees of death.


• After admiring a photo on my camera, Abby said, "Maybe you can picture frame it."


• "Which is more betterer?"


• "There are no more dinosaurs. I read it in my Bible." "We are going swimming today. I read it in my Bible."

Baseball 2011

I know I say this every year, but what an amazing baseball season we had! I feel so honored to be part of such a program...from parents to players...they are the best! The year was full of successes and lots of wins, with us ultimately playing until the weekend before the state tournament and making the Regional Finals.

(pictured: Kyle T, Tyler L, Cody B, and Jakob C)

Abby continued to love the guys and they loved her...or at least they humored her...all of them. She knew the whole roster after the first game and could spot Kyle T a mile away on the field. River gained her friendship immediately by always shouting, "AAAABBBBBBBBBBBYYYYY!" when he saw her. Any of them would pick her up and carry her, not always right side up, but definitely above the ground. And Branson was always interested in her latest commentary and high five that went with it.

Thank you Hamlin Pied Piper Baseball!

New Addition

Meet Stripe (aka Stripey...aka Cat...aka Kitty). Abby has been wanting a cat for, let's see, since she was born. No, seriously, she has been really wanting a cat since about this time last year when we were in the process of moving and the neighbors in Amarillo got two new kitties that visited our yard on a regular basis. But Mama sometimes said no and Daddy always said no and Sassy said she would leave home. Then, it happened. Daddy was cornered in church one Sunday morning and told the perfect kitten was ready to come live with us. He caved, and within hours, we, the self proclaimed "not cat people," became "cat people." I am not sure who is more smitten, but I am sure who is less smitten...she posted an ad in the paper this morning for a new owner...only specification...one without a cat.

I Want a Doughnut for Breakfast

This morning Abby woke up wanting a doughnut for breakfast, but guess what...Hamlin does not have a doughnut shop...yet. Therefore, doughnuts for breakfast were out of the question. Doughnuts were not out of the question for Abby though. She hopped off the couch, announcing that she was having a doughnut and that she did not need help. So, while I took a catnap, she made herself a doughnut. I wish I had taken its picture but photography was not at the top of my list at 7:15 this morning. Anyway, her doughnut consisted of a hamburger bun smeared with strawberry cream cheese and topped with rainbow sprinkles. After one bite, she proudly proclaimed it was, "just as good as a red (cherry) doughnut."

In other Abby news, every playtime sentence right now begins with, "Let's pretend that..." It makes my job as a playmate pretty easy because I usually just have to follow the brief instruction that is given before my next "Let's pretend that..." instruction is given. Sure is easier than the days when her idea of playtime was watching me weave incredible tales with her Little People. Except that, sometimes, I like to say "Let's pretend that..." too.

Birthday and Baseball Boys

Abby had her 3rd annual birthday party with the baseball boys this year.

We could not possibly ask for a better group of guys to be part of her life! Not many little girls have so many big brothers.

The Cost of Love

I had the privilege of participating in our church's Easter musical, The Cost of Love. It was an amazing experience getting to work with such a talented bunch of people and spread the message of God's love at the same time.

Icecream Sundae Party

For Abby's 5th birthday party, we had an icecream sundae party, and I personally can't think of a better party theme for a little girl who would eat icecream for every meal of every day if given the opportunity.

We had vanilla icecream with every topping imaginable...oreos, strawberries, sprinkles, hot fudge, M&Ms, baby marshmallows, whipped cream, Reese's peanut butter cups...just to name few. I think, in total, there were 20-something toppings. Then, the kids got to build their sundae how exactly how they wanted it. Abby put a little of everything on her sundae.

We also had a pin the cherry on the sundae game with free icecream certificates from Dairy Queen for those who got the closest.

And what 5 year olds birthday party is complete without a jumpy castle?

Finally, here are a few other random shots from the big day...

Piper with hula hoop; Lucy enjoying sundae; opening presents; Mama cutting the cake; Dane's masterpiece; Jadeyn and Katie loved the drink choices; playing in the sandbox