Birthdays, birthdays, and more birthdays!!

I'm a little behind in posting this, but March/April is a very busy birthday season for the Southwell family!  We have 4 birthdays in 3 weeks (but since three of the birthdayers are the next generation, the 4th birthday doesn't get as much attention anymore.

Miss Lily turned 2 on March 18.  I can't believe that she (and Ethan) are already 2 years old!! I was able to go home the weekend of her birthday and had a little fun with she and her brother the night before her birthday.  (We didn't have the party until the following weekend.)  I introduced them to Tangled and they loved it!  Jay was belly-laughing at a few of the scenes - it was hilarious!  I unfortunately didn't get any pictures that weekend.  I know, I'm a horrible Oba!

Ethan turned 2 on March 25.  That's right exactly one week after Lily, Ethan made his grand appearance!  We were able to celebrate his birthday this year on his actually birthday (pictures to follow).  He also had another grand adventure that weekend in that he moved to Wauchula to live with both of his parents!  Danielle found a job in Sebring and so she, Josh, and Ethan are able to live full-time under the same roof!  I miss them in Gainesville, but am so happy that they are together!

Joshua turned 27 on April 1 (I can't believe that we're that old either), but I'm not really sure how much celebrating went on.

Jay turned 4 on April 3!  My baby is growing up and will start Pre-K in August (although, apparently he thought he would start the day after he turned 4; Grammy had to correct him and explain it all).  I feel like it was just yesterday that he started the next generation of our family.  Four years has gone by so fast!

Tiffany decided that since the kids' birthdays are so close together, that they would have a joint party on Saturday, March 24 (smack in between their actual birth dates).  It took a little thinking to come up with a theme that Jay would agree to (he really wanted a Cars themed party, but we tried to come up with something that was a little more girly too) and she decided on an ice cream party!  What kid (or adult) doesn't like ice cream?!  The kids all had a wonderful time and so did the adults.  I will say that present opening was mayhem with two kids tearing into presents, but we loved it!

The next day on his actual birthday, we had a party for Ethan.  It was at a little park and the kids had a blast playing on the jungle gym and swings.  I was able to get all three of my yearly pictures with the kids and they turned out pretty well.

Here are some pictures of the festivities:

Toppings for Ice cream

Jay got some of Grammy's
homemade Vanilla!!

Lily decided she wanted a cupcake
with icing :)

Tiffany reading to the kids from
one of Jay's gifts

For some reason, the kids wanted to
play in the unused dog pen

Miss Lily loves the slide!

Jay scaring me that he might
jump :/

Ethan showing me his
mad climbing skills!

Me and my handsome 4 yr old big boy!

Me and my curly headed 2 yr old!

Me and my little2 yr old princess

It was a crazy, but fun weekend!  Up next?  Granddaddy Galloway (Grammy's dad) is celebrating his 90th birthday!!!  As many of the Galloway clan that can make it will be gathering in Charlotte, NC for the celebration May 11!  Can't wait to see the family and spend some time with some of my favorite, if not a little crazy, cousins and family!

A Little More Craftiness

A friend of mine's daughter celebrated her 9th birthday last week and for her birthday cake, she decided she wanted cupcakes that looked like owls.  My friend has collected owls for a long time (I believe it was something that her mom collected before she passed away) and now her daughter has taken a liking to them as well.  They found a cake book that had some owls in it and, of course, I had the book (same one that inspired the Gator last year).  We did a trial run the previous weekend and I decide that if they baked the cupcakes, I would be able to decorate them on Friday (the night of the party).

Here's how they turned out:

Who, Who!

I also have been playing again with paints and stamps!  I make maternity shirts and onesies (or any size kids' shirt) for Gator fans.  My best friend is pregnant and so I had to make her a shirt and since I already had the paints out, I decided to go ahead and make my "niece" some onesies.

Maternity shirt

Onesies for the littlest Gator fan!

If anyone needs either of the clothing items above, please feel free to contact me :)  I love making them!!!

5 years - A Rememberance of the Greatest Lady I Know

It hit me last week that on February 27, 2012 it was 5 years that my Granny has been gone.  At times it feels like she was just here and we were just sitting and enjoying each other's company.  And then again, so much has happened in that 5 years that it almost feels like a lifetime ago that she was here.

I remember the last day that I saw her and the emotions going through me.  In a way, I think I knew that the end was near and that I may never see her again.  I think it was God's way of preparing me so that I wouldn't feel that lack of closure.  It was Sunday,  Febraury 25, 2007.  I had come home for the weekend to celebrate my Mom's birthday.  As usual, we went down to Arcadia for church and then went back to the assisted living place where Granny was living to have lunch.  Uncle Bill joined us as he typically did on Sundays after church.  One of the most vivid things I remember (and one of the clues to me that her time was coming) was when Granny started talking about how her oven wasn't working properly (she didn't have one in her room) and was pointing at her T.V.  Dad tried to gloss over it and say that she was just joking, and that she shouldn't joke that way because she was starting to upset her granddaughter and daughter-in-law.  Granny gave him a confused look as if to say "I'm not joking, now fix my oven.".

For those of you who read this and don't know the story of my Granny, I'll have to share that with you some day.  But the main thing to know is that she had some major health issues and her passing was a blessing.  However, the selfish side of me was so not ready for her to go. There were things that were supposed to happen that she needed to be here for (my wedding, the birth of children, my graduation from UF - to name a few (and no not necessarily in that order).  I know that when those events happen, I will have a moment of emotional break down knowing that Granny is not physically there with me to celebrate.  BUT she will be watching me and celebrating with the angels in Heaven.  She was always there for me and my biggest role model for my Christian walk.  She inspired so many and I will do my best to let the next generation of Southwells know what an amazing person that Ada Ruth Reeve Southwell was and who their Granny is to me.

Wish I Was There

My mom has the wonderful opportunity to keep Jay and Lily a few days each week.  This past Tuesday, she sent me the picture below of the kids napping.  Last week, Ethan had joined the fun for a few days and Mom had to break out the kinder mats to nap them on (since she doesn't have enough beds or rooms).  I guess that Jay and Lily liked napping on the mats so much that they wanted to continue this trend even when Ethan wasn't there.

I love these kids so much and they are all so adorable! I wish that I had a picture of all three of them napping, but that will have to wait.

What's up with you?

So, I've been busy at work since my last post (yes, I know that it's been almost two months), but mainly I've been affected by allergies (at least that's what I think they are).  Since Thanksgiving I have been coughing, battling a sore throat, and stuffy.  Then to add insult to injury, I was diagnosed with the worst double-ear infection my nurse practioner has ever seen!

So I decided that maybe it was time to go to the doctor (I haven't been to a doctor/clinic this much in the last 12 years!) and figure out what is causing this mess.  Also to see if I can find a remedy that won't cost me $20 or more a month (now that allergy medicine is over-the-counter).

I've got to get feeling better because it is almost that time of year again - birthday season in the Southwell family.  The kids will all be celebrating their birthdays in the next month and a half.  I can't believe that Jay will be four and Lily and Ethan will be two!!! Where has the time gone?

I'm not sure what the birthday plans are yet, but I'm sure that I'll be able to capture some cute moments - not to mention our annual pictures.

And then in June, I will be adding another girl to "my" kids!  My best friend Christy is pregnant and due June 15 (really rather hoping that she doesn't decide to come that weekend as I will be celebrating Mom and Dad's 40th wedding anniversary, but. . . )!  I am super excited to have another niece (and this time I get to buy clothes for her)!

More posts and pictures to come soon.  Just keep your eyes open! :)

New Year's Eve 2011

For the second year, I was able to get tickets to Sea World to take Jay and Lily (thanks Christy!!).  Grammy and Mom decided to join us too (Mom had to come since they can't drive themselves, hehe:) ).  We had a blast!!!  The kids were wonderful, no whinning or complaining.




We arrived at Sea World around 10:00 A.M. and our first stop was at the Dolphin Nursery.  One of the main reasons Jay wanted to go back to Sea World was to see the dolphins, so we took care of that right off the bat.  Then we ventured over to the Polar Express Experience where we got to see a Polar Bear, Beluga Whales, and a Walrus.  Lily loved the Polar Bear!!!



Baby dolphin



Fast Lily! You've got to be quick
with the camera!



Waiting for Polar Express to start!





Then we took the kids to Shamu's playland so that they could venture around outside of the stroller and ride a few rides.  Tiffany and Jay went on one of the rides and Lily decided that she needed to ride too, so Grammy joined them. Oba decided to stay on the sidelines to take pictures.



Lily wanted to ride too!

Then we ventured over to the train ride and although Lily said she wanted to ride, Goldfish were calling her name and thus she decided it was snack time rather than train time.  So that left Jay and Grammy to enjoy the train ride.  And enjoy they did!

Train time. Wave at the camera



Cheesy Goldfish smile!



After the kids had some time to play, we went to see the new Shamu show - One World.  It was wonderful (as always)!  Jay was so animated during it (he was also rather animated during the movie part of the Polar Express Experience, so cute!).  Then it was time for lunch!!!



Shamu!



During lunch, we asked Jay what his favorite part had been so far.  He asked: "my favorite part of the whole day?"  We said yes and his response: "having fun!"  Got to love that kid!!!

After lunch we continued around the park to the Shark Exhibit.  Jay was having a lot more fun at this point than Lily, due to it being after her nap time.  She was a trouper though and didn't fall asleep until the ride home.  Jay loved walking through the tank while the sharks swam around us.  Both kids enjoyed being able to see the sharks and sting rays in the pools outside of the exhibit.  Jay was pointing out different characters from Finding Nemo - I love how kids relate things. 

Sharks and Stingrays

Then we were on to the Sea Lions and Seals.  We even got to see a baby seal basking in the sun (until a bird came over and startled him/her so much that he/she fell into the water).  We had two more stops before leaving.  We went to the penguin exhibit and Jay found his animal of choice for the day.  He was asking so many questions about the different types of penguins.  Maybe it's time for him to watch Happy Feet. :)

Baby seal

Our last stop was in the gift shop.  I had told the kids that if they were good all day, that they would get a prize.  I bought each of them a stuffed animal.  Jay chose a penguin (whom he has named Charlie, according to his Mom) and Lily decided that she wanted a polar bear.

We had so much fun.  Jay did ask me as we were walking around when were we going to Busch Gardens.  I guess another trip will have to be planned soon :).  Man I love these kids!  Hopefully, Ethan will be able to join us soon (he doesn't do well in a stroller and not being able to run around).

Christmas 2011

I can't believe that Christmas has already come and gone!  What a whirlwind year it has been!  Christmas was pretty quiet this year and my time at home didn't last nearly long enough!

We did the Southwell Christmas on Christmas Eve.  We gathered all 10 of us at Grammy & Papa's house to eat, exchange gifts, and have some fun before going to Candlelight service at church.  The kids had a blast climbing on Uncle Steven:



Climb and then "throw"



Then we opened presents.  Unfortunately I didn't get that many shots with my camera because Grammy insisted that I take pictures with hers.  I'll see if I can't get some from her to add to the post.  I gave each of the kids a Gator piggybank with their names on it, a personalized ornament in the shape of a Gator, and each family got a movie.  Here's what one of the piggybanks looked like:

Miss Lily with her piggybank!

This is what I got for Christmas:

Isn't it gorgeous?!?!

A brand-new gas grill!  Thanks Mom and Dad (and Josh for putting it together for me and delivering it to my door). I can't wait to use it.  Although, that my have to wait until it warms up just a bit outside!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with your families.  May God bless us all throughout the new year!!