A few more party pics...

Wendy and Emmy

Birthday boy

Family pic...the best we could do!

Party setup

Hayride

Cowboy Up!

On the Saturday before Cade turned three, the Thornes were nice enough to let us have Cade's cowboy birthday party out on their farm. It turned out to be a gorgeous day! Everything was perfect- we had all the food, tables and party favors set up in the barn, hay bales outside for people to sit on and Cade's favorite thing: A hayride with Pap's John Deere:)

Food table

Cade wanted sprinkled cupcakes

toppers I found on Etsy

Taking "Cousin Maddie" on a gator ride (we had these hats and bandanas for party favors)

Blew out THREE candles (sniff)

Lyla really enjoyed her cupcake!

Opening presents with Rachel and Ellen

Ellen on the tire horse swing


This next picture makes me laugh because of what is happening. Brad and "Wen Wen" gave Cade an awesome kite. Cade, of course, wanted to fly it immediately. Unfortunately, the wind had died down a little so it was hard to get up. The kids here are chasing Brad and cheering him on while he is trying to run at full speed in cowboy boots to get the kite going. Hilarious! Thanks for being such a good sport, Brad!!! And, the kite did eventually make it up for a few minutes:)

Happy Birthday Cade!

It is hard to believe that my sweet boy is already three. For some reason, I have been a little sad...three sounds so big! Cade is our sweet, funny little guy. He says things everyday that make me laugh. He loves to sing, especially with his microphone (which has also turned into a love of American Idol). He hardly ever meets a stranger, and almost always has a smile on his face. He always tells me that he loves me and gives lots of hugs and kisses (I try to savor all of these moments, as I know one day that won't be "cool":) Cade loves to go places, especially school, church and his grandparents' houses. He loves to eat, but can be really picky. He would do almost anything for a piece of chewing gum. He is (finally) potty trained, and I swear getting bigger by the day. He is a great big brother, and makes Emmy laugh all the time. He truly is the light of our lives! Happy Birthday Sweet Boy! We love you!

2007

2008

2009

2010

March 22

March 22 is a somewhat significant date to me. Five years ago on March 22, 2005, Heath and I bought our first home. We were about to get married and Heath had just sold his "bachelor pad." I was living in an apartment in Nashville, but we had decided to buy this beautiful house in Lebanon. I was scared to death at the time, as this was my first "big girl" purchase (well, besides for my car). And both of our names were on the mortgage, which made our impending marriage seem so much more real. I have never signed so many papers at once in my life. I was certain that somewhere in there, I had just signed away my firstborn (luckily, we still have him:). We loved our house from the moment we moved in, but I love it even more now, as the two empty "guest rooms" now look like this:

and this:

Three years ago on March 22, 2007, I probably had the most anxious day of my life. Anxious because I was 38 weeks pregnant, and due to my high BP, my doctor had me scheduled to be induced the next day at 5 a.m. I had no idea what was going to happen (well, I knew, but I think it is hard to comprehend until you actually go through it). I just knew that we were going to leave as a couple and come home as a family of three. Here I am on 3/22/07...scared to death:

On March 22, 2008, my best friend in the entire world, Casey Mac, got married in Charleston, SC. I am so glad that I go to go be a part of her big day. It was gorgeous and so much fun! She now lives in Connecticut, but I swear we can always pick up right where we left off no matter how long it has been since we have seen each other! Happy 2nd Anniversary Casey and Jason!

This is Casey (seriously, isn't she a beautiful bride???) and her two brothers, Drew and Billy

Cade had fun at her wedding, too!

Tonight will be another March 22 milestone...Cade starts his first "big boy" swim lessons! The kind where they like for the parents to leave. Updates on that later!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Again with the tongue...

Please note Cade's boots...he got them as an early birthday present from Pap and Paji for his cowboy birthday party. He wears them everywhere. At home, church, with his pj's. You name it, he has them on. The first day he got them, he even wanted to sleep in them. The good news? He can put them on himself, which saves me one extra step:) It cracks me up how he always has them on over his pants- ha! Maybe he learned that from mommy?