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THERE IS A BIRTHDAY GIRL IN MY HOUSE!

Has it really been NINE years? I can't believe my sweet Calli Grace is nine years old today. Calli is an angel! She's always kind to her friends, encouraging to them, smiling, laughing and making others smile and laugh. She always wants to do her best and her best is usually really good....she excels at many things. When she came into our lives 9 years ago today it was life changing. Those moments seem hazy as I try to recall those first few months. It seems like the memory that sticks out the most is the memory that this would last forever....those sleepless nights, those tantrums on the floor, those sleepless nights, those tantrums on the floor...and did I mention the sleepless nights and tantrums? But they don't last forever! Time flies! I have tried to capture and treasure the good, the bad, the great and not so great. God has been good! And he has blessed us with one AMAZING daughter! Age 1

Age 2

Age 3

Age 4-My scanner quit working....non digital is so frustrating!!

Age 5

Age 6 (with Wes)

Age 7

Age 8 (with my brother in law, Scott)

Yesterday at school

SPRING BREAK

Wow! This week flew by as every week seems to. I decided to spend Spring Break at home...you know we can never go on vacations during Spring Break because of the time of year it is for Wes. I won't get into where he went for a couple of days this week though.....

I let the kids have friends come over on 2 of the days, 2 of the days I worked and then on Wednesday Colson spent the day at the zoo with a friend and Calli & I went to see the Jonas Brothers 3D. We had the entire theatre to ourselves which i thought was odd. Calli kept whispering to me and I'd hollar out, "you don't need to whisper, we're the only ones in here". I felt like we should have been up on our feet screaming like we were at the concert but instead I was dozing off in my very comfy seat :)

We spent a lot of time outside as God provided some AMAZING weather!!! The kids rode their four liters, as they like to say, jumped on the trampoline, we went down to Market Street one afternoon and just enjoyed the sunshine and cool breeze. Oh and my in laws called yesterday telling the kids to come over and see the 6 ducks they bought....yes ducks! Colson had called me at work on Thursday when he was with them and asked if we had a cage to put ducks in. My co workers were giving me a hard time because I made it very clear that the ducks weren't coming to our house. Every question or comment that Colson made I would respond followed by "We are not bringing the ducks to our house". I must have said it 10 times within a 30 second conversation. So, we now have pet ducks that WILL STAY at their grandparents house for us to visit.

Oh my goodness I forgot to mention that I went to the rodeo twice and feel guilty because neither time I took my kids. Monday night Wes and I went with another couple to see Darrius Rucker. The day before we were talking about it and Calli mentioned us going on a date. Colson chimed in saying "hey, I thought y'all were allready married." This is not the first time he brings up marriage when we talk about going on a date. Then on Thursday night I went with a few girls to see Pat Green. That one was last minute but it's always fun to have fun evenings like those.

So, it's back to the routine tomorrow. No more sleeping in. I'll be planning for Calli's big birthday party on Sunday. I can't believe she's turning 9. We're having an American Idol party so I need my creativity personality to show up this week along with my 'get things done' physical body.

TEAM IGNITE

A few weeks ago, we ended our first cheer year at a banquet honoring the girls and their hard work. What a crazy first year it has been but I will say that Calli has loved every minute and if they had asked her to do more minutes, she would have loved those too. They gave each of the girls an individual award and Calli was awarded.....BEST JUMPER! She has definately come a long way because I remember when she first started thinking "they've got to work on her with her jumps". And now, they are quite good! Even landing her a spot in the front on her team during "jump time".

The gym saga hopefully is over. The same week of the banquet we found out that the gym had sold and the girls were thrilled that it wouldn't be a machine shop but instead it would remain a cheer gym :) YEA!!! So, we have discontinued our search for a new gym and will stick it out with the new owners and hope we have a less chaotic year. Tryouts for the new year are the first weekend in April so we're enjoying our short break....or mom is :) The coaches are staying so that is a HUGE plus! Speaking of coaches here they are....Lindsay and Joe

NIGHT NIGHT NEW SHOES

OFTEN, I get onto Colson for taking his shoes off when we aren't finished with our shoes for the day. The minute he gets in the car...shoes off. Seriously Colson, don't we ALWAYS drive 1/2 mile to the Speedy Stop to get you a snack after school nearly EVERY DAY? Don't you need shoes to go in the Speedy Stop? So he takes them off in the car FREQUENTLY and he takes them off as soon as he gets home even when he knows we are about to pile right back in the car for another destination. JUST TODAY, I gave a frustrated lecture asking him to please not take his shoes off in the car. That's why this picture tonight brings a smile to my face. AAAHHH the joy of new shoes!

I NEED TO PLANT A TREE

One of the boys in Colson's class taught all of the kids how to make paper airplanes and so for the last week or so, my boy is always wanting to make airplanes and fly them. When I walk into his classroom, they buzz by my face in a spiral crash landing way thrown by all of the little boys and I notice there are no girls involved in this sort of behavior.

Last night his joy of creating such entertainment turned into an obsession. As I entered his room to turn off lights, tuck in better, etc, I found a mountain of paper airplanes.

I feel as though I should go plant a tree for all of the paper that was wasted. And as I entered his classroom today as he had run in ahead of me, he and his buddy were already making more. Cheap entertainment I will say though.

HUDSON UPDATE

Life will soon change at the Spinella house as my nephew is borderline mobile. I would say he is mobile but he's just not full blown....all you mothers catch my drift don't you? One thing is for sure though.....HE IS CUTE!

Here is Hudson's face when he looks at me.

Here is Hudson's face when he looks at Calli...

And here is the three of us caught doing monkey tricks to try and make him laugh.