:(

I know, I did not post last Wednesday.

I am a bad mom.

When it comes to Esme, I try so hard to find the right words...

It never happens.

Dat Dat told me this morning that there are no wrong words...

He also said it "sucks"... with this I wholeheartedly agree.

I want to honor our daughter with eloquence and beauty.

But sometimes all I want to do is scream and cry, cry, cry!

It isn't fair.

(Sounds tacky doesn't it... can you hear me stomping my feet, crossing my arms and pouting?)

Saturday there was a Father/Daughter Dance at Todd's School.

Yesterday someone asked me about an outfit for a Mother of the Bride for a Bridal Luncheon.

No bows and ribbons.

No pink.

Guess I am feeling a little sorry for myself today.

Tomorrow I will be better.

Cannot believe it has been 7 years.

Mallory Esme Harris

2/23/04 (9:48pm) - 2/28/04 (10:14pm)

We miss you and we love you!

Fun, Fun, Fun and More... Fun!

I know, it has been a while.

Sorry about that.

On Saturday, we had the most amazing day.

It started very early...  Todd Jr and I ran the 2011 Mardi Gras 5k in Historic St. Andrews.

Todd Jr. was amazing... at the start, he took off and I only saw him again when he passed me going the other way!

Yep, he beat me by more than 2 minutes!

Look at him go!!!!

So Proud!!!

There I am .. tossing beads...

well, it was a Mardi Gras run!

After the run we headed to a local restaurant that was doing a fund raiser for the March of Dimes.

Todd had been given some tickets at work so, we decided to go.

And while we were there, we ran into some friends we met through soccer and they invited us to a party.

So, after Todd and I got cleaned up....

oh, and Dat Dat ran his 4 miles!!!

We loaded up and headed out!

We had so much fun!

There was a bounce house for the kids.

Tons of food.

Crawfish, yum!

Grant had so much fun!

(This morning when I was getting him dressed he kept showing me how he jumped in the bounce house.)

Grady bounced too!

The young lady in the front is Ava.

We LOVE Ava and her family.

They are sooooo sweet.

Ava is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the out.

The other young lady, no idea who she is, kept harassing Dat Dat, calling him "old man" and stealing his hat!

Anyway, Ava, so sweet, she said "Coach Todd, I don't care if you are old."

She even said he was "Cool."

The bouncy!

So Handsome!

Ava and Grady...

I told Ava's mom about this photo and said we can show it at their wedding...

she was in complete agreement!

Finally, it was time for the parade... it passed right by the party!

I am afraid I didn't get many photos of this... I was too busy keeping Grant out of the street and trying to shield him from flying plastic beads ( I am afraid I did not do a very good job... with the beads that is.)



After the parade, we decided it was too pretty to go home....

So, when it is that pretty...

and you live in Panama City Beach....

Hmmmm, what ever should one do...

Go to the BEACH!!!!!!!!

Now, I am sure at this point, you are thinking, aren't the kids tired yet?

Um, yes.

One was....

See his poor face... darn beads!

So, while Grant took a nap in the car.

(No, he was not alone... Dat Dat slept too stayed with him.)

Grady, Todd Jr and I played on the playground and took a little walk.

First we went to the Turpentine Mill...

Sweet boys... they were so good!

Grady held my hand almost the entire time and told me not to be scared, he would keep me safe.

Grady found a tiny pine cone.

Oops, I just realized it may have just taken a trip through the wash.

Yikes.

Sorry Grady.

We even saw the pirate ship go by.

Finally it was time to head over to the Gulf side.

Spectacular.

The boys were VERY sandy!

Amazing!

Only better view might have been on the boat!

Good night Sun.

I was so happy to have such a fun filled day with my Boys!

Dancing Bean

For a blog about 3 little boys and their frazzled parents...

This post will be decidedly GIRLY!

Much of Todd's family live in Michigan and while we do not get to see them very often, we always enjoy our time together whenever there is an opportunity.

Todd's Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Nieces and Nephews are so much fun and live life to the fullest.

Recently, Todd's gorgeous, amazing and creative cousin, Monica, started a business.

They are ADORABLE!!!!

I love this one... totally ROCKER!!!!!

So Sweet and feminine...

I love the purple bow and how poofy it is...

This one is the most beautiful by far...

(and the tutu is cute too!)

This is Frankie, Monica's little one!

I will be honest, we have not had the opportunity to meet her,  but everything I hear about her is that she is just as special as she looks in this photo... and personifies the red hair too!

Monica even makes tutus for dolls as well.

The prices start around $20 and she can make them in a variety of colors.

And while I won't be dressing the boys in any tutus,

I could not help but pass on the beautiful items.

If you are interested in having one made, you can find her on facebook.

Search for Dancing Beans, Custom Tutus

or leave me a message in the comments, and I will gladly pass it on.

 A BIG THANK YOU to Monica and her beautiful family for letting me post about them.

Aren't they gorgeous... wonder where they are in this photo?

OMG.... you need to make a Disney TUTU!!!!

HMMMMMM.... maybe I do need a costume for next year's marathon.

On a side note... Sonny, Monica's oldest, was the scoundrel who gave Todd Jr. his first Popsicle.

I will have to find the photos and scan them in.

Wanna talk about an 8 month old in a sugar induced heaven.... yikes!

Yeah, right!

I just checked my license...

and our power bill.

They both indicate Florida as our state of residence.

Wondering about the accuracy.

Every road that crosses in to the state has a sign that claims we are "The Sunshine State."

So, where the h-e-double hockey sticks is it... the sun, that is.

Just took the above photo... it is not here and by the way, I know the rest of the continental US is covered in ice and snow...

but it is cold here too...

I had to turn on the heat.

(And yes, to our family in Michigan... I love you all and can hear your laughter from here:)

I tried to take a photo of Grant, but he ran and hid.

So I took a photo of what he was doing...

Watching a movie on this cold and rainy day.

Can you name that movie?

I know you can!



Blah... It's February.

Usually, Monday nights at work are painfully slow - truly mind numbing.

However, this past Monday night was filled with chatters.

One woman was ove the top... a whirlwind. 

She was pulling items off shelves, hangers and rounders, even insisting I order items from the warehouse... to ultimately completely changing her mind when she got to the register to check out... EXHAUSTING.

I think I spent another 30 minutes hanging clothes she left on the dressing room floor!

... the ugliness of retail!

Later, a woman came in pushing a cart she had commandeered from Sears.

She begain talking to me about her children and grandchildren and asked me if I had any little ones.

The DREADED QUESTION!

"I have three little boys at home," I answered.

"No little girls to dress up?" She wondered.

"No." - Cringe

"Every woman should have a daughter," she stated.

Uncomfortable smile... crack in my heart burns a little.

"You and your husband should try for a daughter."

At this point wishing she would leave.

Finally, after another 20 minutes, she left.

You may ask, why didn't I say anything?

Sometimes I do.

Sometimes I don't.

Cannot really explain it.

Just the way it is.

My manager gave me a box of things she had for her children's group at church - just a few random things... crayons.. paper... etc.

There were also several little girls barrettes and ponytail holders... I am sending them to our niece, Madison... wish we needed them.

February has arrived.

Not an easy time of year.

Naps, Fortresses, and Field Trips, oh my!

Around here, naps are still an necessity... on a daily basis.

Both for the health of the boys and the sanity of the Mommy:)

Most days, either Grady sleeps in our bed for nap time or Grant does.

Look what I found in my bed a few days ago.

So sweet.

He was like that for a good hour.

I guess his cheeks were cold.

Todd said it reminded him of this...

Too funny... just glad Grant wasn't screaming.

Playtime around here is also pretty entertaining.

(BTW it can often have an impact on Mommy's sanity as well.)

Here are the little men in the fortress they erected.

They can play like this for hours.

Last Friday, Grady had a field trip to the Jr museum here in PC.

The kids all had a great time and Dat Dat played chaperon.

(Grant and I went along as well... even though there were no siblings allowed... we just went as regular patrons... and played on our own!)

Grady and his friends on the nature trail! 

Dr. Grady! 

Fun was had by all and this summer I will definitely take all the boys back for a day of fun!