Happy Birthday Vaughn!

Vaughn turned the big 30 this year!  That’s a BIG deal in my eyes, especially since we’ve known each other since we were FOURTEEN!  Since I had never thrown the birthday boy a birthday party I thought a big bash for his thirtieth would be perfect.  But not just any party, a surprise one!  I signed up to host supper club a couple days after his birthday so he wouldn’t be too suspicious about me getting the house ready and all the extra food in the house.  So on his actual birthday we went to OHOP (Original House of Pancakes) with some friends and family, very low key, and it would have bothered me had we not had the party already planned.  He got some tequila and cigars from me which were going to be perfect for his Mexican Fiesta that Friday! 

Taking a silly picture at OHOP on his 30th

So Friday came and there was NOTHING put together because I had no where to hide anything.  So thanks to a friend who came to help, it all slowly and surely all came together.

The plan was to stall him as long as possible to get home.  A few friends were in on the whole thing which helped a TON.  At exactly 7:00 Vaughn pulled into the driveway along with the Taco Truck.   SURPRISE!  He was very excited and I was relieved that the party could start and I didn’t have to worry any more about ruining the secret!  It was SO much fun to celebrate him with all of our friends and family.  I wish we didn’t it every year now! 

The Taco Truck idea came from my dad.  Juan is a customer of dad’s and serves authentic Mexican cuisine.  His food is amazing and there was always a line for more tacos and burritos!

Even  the littlest party goer got into the Mexican theme with his own little mustache! haha

me and the silly birthday boy!

We went well into the night by the fire.  Love these people!

Only regret I have is I didn’t take a single picture from my camera- dang!  I wish I had thought about that ahead of time for the fact I’d be running around playing host and not playing photographer.  Oh well, it was a blast and SO happy I got to surprise him once with a big party!  He makes turning 30 look fun!

Callie 4 Year, Chloe 2 Year Stats

We finally made it to the Dr.s office for the girls annual visit.  I realized at the last minute that I hadn’t set them up and then it took a month for us to get in at the same time, lesson learned!  The girls were both healthy and are growing fast.  They both got shots, poor Callie got three, and their fingers pricked.  By the way, and a heads up for you other moms, the four year visit is a tough one!  Three shots, fingers pricked, pee in a cup, vision and hearing test, and blood pressure taken- a lot for even a brave girl!  Callie doesn’t have to go back for another year, Chloe in six months- a nice change in pace from going all the time when they’re little :)

Chloe:  Height: 37” (99.3%)  Weight: 36lbs (99.3%)

Callie: Height: 43.8” (98.2%) Weight: 42lbs (87.9%)

Guardian Angel

Our guardian angel has had their hands full with us this week. You know when things happen to you, around you, and you say to yourself 'how lucky are we that it happened like xyz!?' This started Friday night. No details, but it did. Then Saturday I was pulling up to the Grangers house when my tire light came on. Got out of my car to hear and see my tire go flat. Had it happened just a mile away I'd have been stranded. Then yesterday the girls were headed upstairs after lunch to get ready for resting time. I had put the last dish in the dishwasher, and as I was turning the corner to walk up myself I heard it. Chloe falling down all 13 steps. Screaming between every bump as she tumbled down. I thought I saw her become disabled, brain dead, with a broken bone or even dead. There should have been no way she walked away unharmed but that's exactly what happened. I scooped her up and yelled to Callie to grab my phone feeling for sure I was calling 911. Chloe cried for a minute while I checked her over then was upset that her juice was at the top of the stairs and not in her hand. Thankfully my child is made of rubber. Then today after school I needed to go to the bank. I was taking the girls because they love to do the change counter machine and that's what I needed to do. At the last minute I chose to go the bank not near our house and so thankful I did. About the time we were at the bank, the other bank near our house was held up by gunpoint. I cannot imagine how horrifying that must be. Our angel has been so good to us, and they have put in some over time this week. Hope you're angel is treating you as good as ours!
This picture is of Chloe the afternoon after her fall, clearly her sweet silly self :)




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Our family has had their fair share of bumps in the road you could say. Some of these will take a while to overcome while others are easier. As a Christian I believe that God has a purpose for every bump, even if we can't see it at that moment. A few years ago Vaughn and I went through a tough time with a family member being an alcoholic. It was the hardest thing we ever went through to get them on the path of sobriety, but it paid off. This family member put in the hard work it took to get sober and has been ever since- so amazing! The knowledge we gained from that life moment has proven invaluable in this past week. Another one of our family members is now on their road to sobriety, and I couldn't be more relieved. It's been a long journey for this person and I'm praying that the time is right and that they are ready to accept the help they will receive over the next couple of weeks. Vaughn and I know the hard part is still to come, but they took the most important first step to start. As we go over this bump as a family I'm hopeful of the outcome. I linked below information on substance and alcohol abuse. If you think someone you know may be abusing, please don't wait to help them.

Alcohol Abuse Information
Drug Abuse Information



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Voting- with a 2 year old

Four years ago Callie was just a tiny little baby when I went and voted for who our next President would be.  It was a long wait with her, but thankfully she slept the entire time.  Fast forward four years to this Presidential election, Chloe was the lucky one to accompany me in this civic duty.  Chloe’s MMO was closed that day (very frustrating) so she didn’t have much of a choice in the matter.  We dropped Callie off at school earlier than usual and then headed to our local recreation center to vote.  We walked up to a line that way already out the door (and this place is a gym with lines wrapped all along the inside.) Great…

I brought the stroller with me so Chloe could hang out, eat snacks, read books, play on my phone, etc.  Thank goodness I did.  The first hour in she was in good spirits and hadn’t asked once to get out

The second hour ended with a very grumpy two year old and mom

at one point I let Chloe hold my phone, she took some pictures of our trip, good times

After a little over two hours, with several of the voting machines down/broken, I got to vote.  Very frustrated about the time it took to do so, and so is the rest of Columbia, SC, but that’s another day.  The fact is, I did it and I’m proud to show my girl it’s worth the wait to do something so many other women around this world don’t have the privilege to do.

Chloe was worn out by the whole process by the time we got Callie picked up and back home

I’m thankful for the break in political ads and that this election season is over.  Crazy to think I’ll have an eight and six year old the next time we vote for our president…

October from the phone

After all the apple picking we did, it was time to make some yummy treats.  Apple pies, apple sauce, and apple butter were a few of them!

We LOVES kids eat free on Tuesday at Moes!  They do such a great job with kiddos

a beautiful sunset

one of many debates, but this one in partricular Vaughn and I watched together.  When you are married to a clothier, you don’t just watch a debate, you critique their clothing choices…

visiting the neighborhood park

Chloe’s first time down the tunnel slide!

last night as a three year old

Uncle D and Aunt Kelsey gave Callie her first set of roller skates!

We met up with our friends for our first pumpkin patch picnic

she LOVES apple juice and doesn’t like to be told she can’t have any

Zoo fun with the Culps!

we got to meet the newest Dupree- Anna West!  Welcome to the October birthday club!

Callie heard ‘Going Back to Cali” by LL Cool J, the only time I’ll let her listen since she doesn’t understand all the words yet…

I taught Sunday School all by myself for the first time.  Thankful I got the 5k-1st graders

fair fun

last night as a 1 year old

We spent the morning of Chloe’s b-day at the Dr.s to make sure Callie didn’t have pink eye- thankfully we didn’t!

got this book for Chloe’s birthday, it’s now a favorite, and I’m now buying them a book for their birthdays each year- new traditions

another picnic!

Silly girl helping mommy set up their Barnyard Bash!

a fun girls night out!  Went to a wind and design class- and yes I have pants on, ha!

caught her playing with my iPad while she was supposed to be sleeping

“My Mommy Told Me…” their favorite song of the day with their daddy

Visiting our new Whole Foods!

crazy kid

she hates socks, and that includes soccer ones

finally got around to getting our pumpkin, there were only 20 left in the patch we went so late!

we keep picking up this cute boy in the grocery and bringing him to our house for a play date :)

We did a LOT of fun things in October, it’s on of my favorite months now thanks to the girls.  Hope your October was wonderful too!

Chloe’s First Haircut

Callie was due for a haircut and I thought while we were there Chloe might as well get one too!  When I called to set the appointment she happen to have an opening on Halloween, and since Callie had her first haircut on Halloween I had to set it then!  They were both dressed up from their Halloween parties earlier in the day, which made these pictures that much more fun

Before

Callie went first to show Chloe how a big girl gets her hair cut

Then it was Chloe’s turn!  She sat up there like a pro.  She wasn’t a huge fan of the water being sprayed on her hair though

snip

snip!

and for a job well done, she got her finger nails painted!

After! So thankful Chloe was such a big girl about getting her hair cut!