Miss Lily turns 1!!

Our precious little girl has turned one!!!  Can't believe that a year has gone by so fast.  She is adorable (and according to Grammy, very much like her Oba - hates to be told "no" and will start crying when she is).  She had fun at her birthday and did so well with all the people, cake, and presents.  Well, you don't want to read about it, you want to see the pictures. . . So here you go!

The decorations - well some of them:

The birthday girl and her cake:

Ready for my cake Mom

The cake Tiffany made

Jay had to show her how
it's done

Finally got into it

The girl and her chair both had cake!

Not too thrilled about the clean up
process

 And the presents:

The loot

The book that Grammy made

Ethan thought that he'd learn how it's
done so he'll be ready next week

Loving the dolphin from Aunt Jeannie
and Uncle Randy

The shirt Oba made "Papa's Princess"

 So this was our weekend.  Now to get ready for Ethan's birthday weekend coming up!

Mom's Birthday Weekend

Mom and Dad came up to G'ville for Mom's birthday.  We had such a good weekend!  Friday night we went to the Gator Baseball game (and we won!).  On Saturday we spent the day with Josh, Danielle, and Ethan.  We went to the Butterfly Rainforest and then had dinner and cake (made by moi).  Then on Sunday we went to another baseball game, but we didn't stay long.  It was very warm (but we weren't complaining) and Mom started to not feel so well.  So we headed back to the car and then Mom and Dad headed back to Wauchula.

These were Mom's favorite, tried to
get a shot of the blue wings

Butterfly landed on Dad

Danielle and Ethan looking at the
butterflies

Mom's cake before we ate on it

The inside of Mom's cake

We had such a good weekend.  One birthday down, four more to go in the next month and a few days.

A Weekend of kids!

I got to spend time with all 3 of my little ones (who aren't so little anymore) this weekend.  Their moms and I took them to the park for some fun and a picnic.  Ethan ate his first table food (thanks Lily for the peer pressure) and thoroughly enjoyed that banana (wish I had gotten some pictures of it, will have to see if I can get some from Danielle).  Then we put the two little ones in a swing and they LOVED it!  I have never heard Lily laugh so much!  Jay wouldn't get off the slide and I finally had to drag him off when it was time to go. 




One happy boy!



Sliding is fun!

Swinging Cousins!

Tiffany and I took Jay and Lily to the baseball game (all of those pictures are on Tiffany's camera - it's hard when you have 2 cameras you're trying to take pictures with), but I'll get them soon and then add them in.  Jay called for Albert to come see him several times.  He wasn't as in to the game as he is football (but let's face it, baseball is a lot slower than football).

It was an amazing weekend and I so needed some time with the family!  Mom and Dad are coming up this weekend for Mom's birthday, so I'm sure that I'll post more soon!

See you readers!!!

Preview of What's to Come

It hit me the other day that my little chik-a-dees are growing up too fast.  In the next month in a half all three of them will celebrate birthdays (along with my Mom and younger brother).  Keep your eyes out for pictures of Mom's birthday weekend (next weekend), then we'll have a break for a few weeks (so I'll probably post some BASEBALL photos!!! - Opening weekend is this weekend!) before the whirlwind of four birthdays in three weeks: Lily, Ethan, Joshua, and Jay.  The babies are turning 1 and my little man will be 3!!!  Where has the time gone?  It seems like just yesterday they all looked like this:



Jay, less than a day old



Lily, just after birth

Ethan, a little more than a day old
with Grammy & Papa

Happy Birthday kids!! Can't wait to celebrate with you!

Love,
Oba

A Day at the Races!!!

Saturday, January 12 @ 10:30 A.M - received a phone call asking me 1) if I wanted to go to the Bud Shootout and 2) did I have someone that could go with me!  I said yes and let me make a phone call.  I called my little brother (who isn't so little, but still) because he had never been treated to a race.  Dad's company use to sponsor a Busch series car and Dad took Steven and myself (at seperate times) to a race, but the company stopped sponsoring the car before he could take Josh.  So I thought I'd make it up to him and boy did I!!!

We got to sit in a skybox with just about all the food you could eat and definitely all the drinks (coke, beer, water) you could drink.  We got to go on a tour of the garage and pit areas (we didn't meet any of the drivers, but saw their cars).  And watched the ARCA (not sure what it really stands for, but Kathy our tour guide said it was for "Another Race Car Accident") and then the Shootout!  We had a blast!!!  It was a wonderful surprise and a good time with new friends and my brother.



Enough said!

Getting ready for our tour



Kathy and Chip - Our Tour Guides



Lounge of the Hauler





A look from the garage area

Pit area



Inspection



Mark Martin's Car



Josh with his favorite beer car

Budweiser Clydesdales








Budweiser Truck



The Dalmation







A View of the Infield from
our Skybox



The drivers racing for
$1 million!!!

A Place of My Very Own!

 I will be moving (again) in May, but hopefully for the last time while I'm in Gainesville.  I'm moving into a 1 Bed/1 Bath apt that is just a few minutes from my office.  As soon as I have pictures to post I will!!  I'm so excited to be living on my own and all by myself!  No more roommate problems - if things are messy or the electricity bill too high - it's my own fault!!

You can check the complex out at http://www.hiddenvillageapt.com/ if you so desire :)  Post more in a few months (it will be here before we know it!)

Christmas and New Years

So Christmas came and went rather quickly.  I hate how fast time flies by.  Fortunately I was able to cram a lot into a short period of time.  I went home and spent time with all the family (and all 3 kids).  We had fun!

On Christmas Eve, I convinced Tiffany to allow me to spend some time with Jay and we made a gingerbread house.  Well, we decorated one.  We got the house from a kit, but the decorating was all Jay:

Jay and his house

The finished product

The on Christmas day we (Mom, Dad, and I) went to Steven and Tiffany's house to celebrate Christmas with the kids in the A.M. and then celebrated with Josh, Danielle, and Ethan in the P.M. once they got to Wauchula.  In between we were able to all get together and have what has become our traditional Christmas dinner (pork, black beans, yellow rice, salad, and bread).

Jay and Lily got Finding Nemo to add to their DVD collection

Jay opening his gift from Oba: 2 new Gator shirts

Ethan loves his drums!!

Lily with her musical activity station and the new blanket from Grammy

Then on New Year's Eve, Steven, Tiffany, Jay, Lily and I went to Sea World! We had a fabulous time and Jay really enjoyed seeing the animals.  We'll definitely have to go back as he gets older so that he can fully enjoy it.  I've also promised Danielle that once Ethan gets older, he'll be going too!

Jay coming out of the slide.

Jay, Mom, & Dad looking at the Sea Lions.

Lily is all smiles

Mom & Jay riding a ride.

Mom & baby whale

Oba & Jay (best we could get)

Wow, what a splash!

Then on New Year's Day I was invited to go to the Outback bowl with my friend Susan.  We had an amazing time!  The game started off a bit rocky, but the Gators were able to pull out the win for Coach Meyer!  What a great way to start the new year!

Pride of the Sunshine Halftime Show

Me and Susan

Final Score!! Go Gators!