Happy 11th birthday, Cullen!

The day I found out I was pregnant with Cullen, my life changed almost instantly. The year was 1999 and I was days away from turning twenty one. Looking back, I was definitely at the worst stage of my entire life, though I didn't realize it then. I was wild, carefree, irresponsible, partying, and had no true path in front of me. I met a boy in a bar in New Orleans and within months, we were in love, expecting, and married. I almost got whiplash from how fast things changed. From that point on, I knew I wanted to be the best mommy I could be, even if it meant being a single mother to provide a better atmosphere and household for him. Cullen and I have been through so much together. When I look back at his eleven years, I not only see how much he has matured, but I see how much I have, too. From the day I met Jude, my life only got better. We were an official couple on Cullen's third birthday, got engaged on his fourth birthday, and married by his fifth birthday. Jude and I, together, with God as our leader, are raising him the way I envisioned life should and would be. Today, Cullen has four loving parents, four sets of families that adore him, and though life isn't the perfect cookie cutter scenario, I can't imagine it any better with all the love and support he has.
Cullen always throws me the curve balls. By the time you have a second child, you kind of know what to expect with each age and stage of that next child. By the fourth child (in our case, fourth boy) I feel very sure of myself. But Cullen, he is almost like my experimental child. I am going through life trying to raise him with no experience, without knowing what to expect next and questioning myself all along the way. When I look at him and see that sweet, loving, sensitive, smart, artistic, well mannered, handsome child, I am reassured we are ALL on the right path...together. I can't ask for much more in life.
His little brothers have some big shoes to fill!
Happy birthday to my baby!

Cullen, his friend Christian, and Aiden

Happy birthday to our one and only, Mimi!

My mom's birthday was this past Thursday so we went across the lake today to celebrate with her. It was a lovely day. The boys even played super well together. She had a yum yum chocolate cake

that Aiden and Roman were all over. It had butterflies, a dragon fly, and rocks (chocolate, that is). We laughed for hours and really enjoyed ourselves. I don't get to see them enough; I wish they lived closer.
Aiden eyeing up the cake!

Mimi laughing at her card from the boys

The boys eating "rocks"

Nanny, aka-Mimi's mom or my granny, whom does not willingly take pictures at the young age of eighty-three so I have to steal them:)

Happy 35th birthday, my dear Jude!

Jude turns thirty five tomorrow, so we went out to dinner tonight with his parents, Cullen, and Aiden. Roman was a little too young to dine where they cook your food right in front of you, so Amy was gracious enough to babysit him for us. Jude has been wanting to take the boys to eat here forever, as it is one of his most favorite restaurants and it is really entertaining. The problem is, it is a tad expensive($255 tonight, nothing fancy), so we usually only go on Jude's birthday. Well, the boys absolutely LOVED it! They were in awe. Aiden used chopsticks (he stabbed his meat, but hey) and he even tried to catch the food that was thrown at him with his mouth. Cullen, too. Had I known they would have been that happy and excited to dine there, we would have taken them there a lot sooner. They were both so well behaved and Jude's birthday dinner was a success.

Congrats to Jeff and Julie

Tonight Jude and I attended an engagement party for Jeff and Julie across the lake. Jude and Jeff were very good friends in college. Jeff was the best man at our wedding, and the godfather to our last two children, Aiden and Roman. As Jude works like a mad man, has been married for six years now, and has three kids going on four, we really don't see them much. (Jude doesn't see anyone much, besides us.) I honestly didn't think Jeff would ever settle down; but he has, and Julie seems like a great girl for him, so I am happy for them both. The ring is beautiful and the wedding is planned for January 2011. Here is the only pic I snapped from the evening.

Jeff's in the middle, Brad (was also in our wedding) is to the left of Jeff, and Jude is to the right

Our Sixth Anniversary Weekend

Jude was off Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so we made sure to spend some quality time together. After all, we were celebrating six wonderful years of marriage.

Friday:
We woke up and it was funky outside with rain (again). We got all three boys dressed and went to eat donuts. One of their favorite breakfasts...

Then, we headed over to the insectarium and the boys were in little boy heaven. To be honest, it truly grossed me out, but it was a very neat place to visit. All three really enjoyed it; it fit all their age groups apparently.





For dinner, we all went to Chili's to eat. The boys LOVE molten chocolate lava cake and it was gone in two minutes.



Saturday:
Jude and I slept late and stayed in bed pretty much all afternoon, just relaxing. Then, it was time for the boys to go sleep at Nanny and Paw Paw's so Jude and I could have a nice adult dinner at Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse.
*Six years ago, Jude and I had our daytime wedding reception in the FQ and got a hotel room to stay in down there overnight, before we caught a flight in the morning to Hawaii. In all the madness, we left our bags at his parents house and only had our wedding clothes to wear till the next day. Silly, I know. It was raining and we were starving come night time, so we got dressed in our wedding attire and walked a few blocks to Dickies. The wait for a table was outrageous and we decided we would leave and try somewhere else. As we were walking out the restaurant door, a staff member grabbed us and asked if we had just gotten married. Of course, yes. We were seated immediately, the staff was great, and the food was oh so yummy. We try to go back there once a year and we are never disappointed. Great memories!*

After dinner, we came home to cuddle and watch a movie, left to get snoballs at 10:30 at night, and went to bed soon after.


Sunday:
Since we were still child free come morning time, we decided to sleep in late and go have a jazz brunch at a local favorite restaurant. It was wonderful! After, we picked up our two little monkeys and headed home for naps. Yes, we slept some more. Then it was off to Richelle's 30th birthday surprise party with tons of family. (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RICHELLE!!) It was an amazing, relaxing weekend and it couldn't have been better. Jude sure knows how to treat me, even after all these years. I am one lucky girl and there aren't many days that go by that I do not count my blessings. He is an answered prayer:)


Six years of marriage and we've added two (and a half) kids. I wonder what ten years will look like...

Happy 5th birthday, Isabel!

Aiden has been counting down the days till he could attend his friend's birthday party from school, Isabel. We had to wake him up early this morning for his last T-Ball game of the season. Then, he went and shopped for Isabel's gift with his daddy and came home to take a nap. After he got all of that out of the way, it was time to go. He was so excited coloring her wrapping paper on the way there. He did a fantastic job!

When we got to her house, there were way more girls there then there were boys and he got beat. It was a water party and they had lots of water fun. The girls were pulling his arms, beating him with floaties, pouring water on him, and so on. He loved every minute of it! He was in childhood heaven playing with his friends from school. I like to watch him interact with his peers because he is so much better behaved than when he plays with his brothers at home. He's a different child. I got to visit with some of the moms and sno balls were served, which were quite yummy. There was the biggest pinata I have ever seen, too.


It was a great party!

I hope these two get to play together some over the summer and we will definitely see them next year for Kindergarten Spanish Immersion. Just look at that smile on the way home...

Happy 3rd Birthday, Nathan!

Today we went to one of our fave bounce houses to celebrate cousin Nathan's birthday, who is just a few weeks younger than Roman. It was great to see Jude's family and our two little monkeys played like crazy. Every time Roman would lose Aiden, he would walk up and ask "Where's Aiden?" and vice versa. They were so cute chumming around together.
Here are a few photos:
The birthday boy, Nathan

The annual picnic

This morning we woke to a terrible storm happening outside. It was pouring down rain and church was in an hour. We also had Jude's annual work picnic to attend later on. I decided we were going to both, no matter what. We have missed the last few weeks of church and the cycle was going to stop today. We all dressed, put on our rain boots, and as the boys and I walked out the door, it stopped raining. Thank you, God. *wink, wink* After a nice Sunday service, we went to the WB to meet daddy and eat some yummy crawfish.
(Jude's pot is always the best.)

The boys had a blast, playing in mud puddles and helping Jude boil.
They made crafts,

ate a ton of sweets, and kept busy the entire time. I got to visit with Jessica, whom I see three times a year at the work events, which was nice. After eating way too much, the boys and I decided to leave before they did some pie throwing contest, where all the employees there were able to smash a pie in the face of a manager that they wanted to for $2. Now, with Jude being the boss, I totally think this is a terrible thing to do and to some point, a little disrespectful. There is always some idiot who will put a little too much force behind that pie. I personally didn't care to witness it and knew it would be happening soon, so the boys and I left. We're home now, the boys are napping, and I am right behind them. All in all, it turned out to be a great day.

Aiden turns 5!

Today, Mr. Aiden Bo Jaiden woke up a five year old. When I told him happy birthday this morning and congratulated him on turning five, he informed me he was not five yet. According to him, people have to sing to you and give you cake before your age changes. Oh, if that were the case, wouldn't life be perfect?! I'd still be twenty.
He had a (snack) party at school involving Spiderman cupcakes, singing, and he brought home a very handsome birthday crown that he wore today. Once he got home, Roman and I baked him a cake.

The family went to McD's for dinner (Aiden's favorite place to dine out) and we all came home to eat cake, ice cream, and open presents.

The past five years have aged me ten, but I wouldn't change them for the world. Aiden, whose name means fiery, has probably given me the most stories to tell out of all three children in their toddler years. As a second child, he has forced me to grow as a mother and has given me totally different challenges than his older brother ever did. He whines and makes me want to stick sharp pencils in my ears, but then he cuddles and makes me forget all about it. He argues with me about almost everything, but then he goes to school and gets perfect conduct, which makes up for it. He screams the loudest screams imaginable at home, and in public, but then he says, and does, some of the sweetest things in the world and I melt. It is a very give and take relationship with him, but he is mommy's pride and joy and I can't wait to see what he has in store for me over the many years ahead.
He's just perfect! Beautiful!
One of his Lego presents he put together tonight

Happy baby shower, Joann

Joann's baby shower was today and Amy and I went together. There's nothing like a baby shower to get you pumped for your own upcoming bundle of joy. Joann received so many cute things that I was in awe. I sat there thinking, "Oooh, I want that...and that too...and that's interesting...". Such adorable little itty bitty baby items. The girls did an amazing job putting it all together. The food was yummy and the cake (from Zoe's) was to die for. Her baby boy, David Allen, is due this month and it will be her and her husband's first. I think she is going to be such an awesome mom. I can't wait to see this fun loving school teacher with a baby of her own. I just love babies!

(photo by:Andrea Savoie)

Happy birthday Granny, you 83 year old, you!

Today we celebrated Granny's (aka Nanny) 83rd birthday and it was lovely. I am so thankful to still have my grandma in my life, and my Mom. Those are two of the most amazing, important women to me and I consider myself blessed to still have them both around. They live an hour away, which at times seems just way too far to me, but in reality, they live close. Granny is healthy (definitely for her age) and still ventures out in her car at times, though it's a thought I don't like to think about. She is feisty, funny, and is very caring and giving. I look forward to the many many more years to come with mom and grandma as role models in my life, and my children's!

Happy 10th birthday, Culleeno!

Today, my baby boy made ten! He is growing so old, so fast. I wish time would just stop. I love the ages we are at over here: ten, four and two. Friday, Cullen and I went to the mall so he could pick out the design for his birthday cookie cake and we did a little shopping together. In true male fashion, he didn't really enjoy himself; though he did pick out some really cute shoes and a warm sweater. Then yesterday, Saturday, Jude was off work so we woke up, took the boys to eat beignets and went to see "Planet 51". It was a really cute movie and all the boys behaved to the best of their ability. It was the official kickoff to Cullen's tenth birthday weekend. Then today, we went to church together, hung out at the house, and went to eat at our favorite local Mexican restaurant. The mariachi band was there playing and we got Cullen to wear the huge sombrero

while they sang to the tune of Happy Birthday in Spanish. Again, the boys were very well behaved and it was a wonderful little lunch. When we got home, we enjoyed cookie cake and gave Cullen his birthday gifts. Just what he asked for, gift cards to Toys R' Us. He ended up with $200 in TRU gift cards and fifteen dollars cash. Eager to spend it all, we headed to TRU, just the two of us. He picked out some great gifts and was so thankful and appreciative of all of it! It was nice to see that. My baby boy is growing up!
Ro didn't want to give the hat back

Ro dancing to the sweet Spanish tunes

Aiden being good to the best of his ability

Ro presenting me with flowers he stole from the table
...Sooo "Roman"tic