Absence makes the heart grow fonder

I have to admit it - I'm not very good at the inner workings of my computer. Although I feel computer literate, there are things that just make me want to PULL MY HAIR OUT. This blog layout has been one such thing. I have been frustrated in trying to get it to look good AND have something clever to say.

Well, since it's been months since I've posted, I've actually realized that it doesn't matter that the blog is imperfect. And there really is no pressure to say things just right. It's just important that I document what's going on. I love looking back and seeing how we grow and change from month to month.

Even now I just went back to a posting from last year and can't believe how one child in particular has changed. Sydney will be 13 tomorrow (insert tears here!) and I can't believe how much she has turned into such a beautiful person. Not only is she beautiful on the outside, she is also a very sweet and beautiful person on the inside. Makes a momma proud!

So being the cool mom that I am (ahem!) I am not making her go to school tomorrow. Major brownie points!! We are having a spa day and going out to eat. Then we'll come home and make her favorite dinner and open presents. I'm looking forward to it just as much as she is!

Wordless Wednesday

Nothing like family

Sometimes you just miss people so much that you can't believe it. Then they come visit and it's over so quickly you wonder how it happened But we definitely seized every moment we could while they were here.

Aren't they the cutest? We've got Sydney (12) Alex (11) Bailey (9) Garrett (8) Chase (7) Luke (6) and Julia (4). All seven of the Nichols' grandkids. Just missing MaMa & Papa!

Our backyard came to life with 7 kiddos playing. (Better outside than in, let me tell you!)

So on the day Kim and Andy left, we met Beth and Alan for lunch at Jason's Deli. (Yum, by the way!) It's hard to predict the next time we all will be together, so it makes our time together even sweeter.

New Eyewear

Recently it was time for everyone but Chase to go to the eye doctor. Guess what? Bailey needs glasses! And Sydney begged and begged for contact lenses and we gave in. Randy also needs reading glasses. So we kept the doctor busy for a few weeks with all the exams and fittings. So here are my beautiful girls...

Oh, and by the way...

While we were having Sydney's bowling party, Trisha took Simone and Bailey to the mall. They both ended up buying a Build a Bear. They were sooooo cute!

Better late than never!

Can it be that I really didn't post pictures from Sydney's birthday? Really??? I'm such a horrible mom! LOL I guess it really is better late than never. We had a nice celebration at home with the family on her actual birthday.

It was on a Thursday this year. Sydney kept saying that it was unfair to have to go to school on her birthday. Well, the weather man had predicted snow, so I told her she should pray that it would snow enough so she wouldn't have to go to school. NO LUCK! We woke up Thursday morning and she went on to school. But guess what? The snow came a few hours later and they called school off early! Yay! She got to come home around noon. I knew we might be stuck at home for the next day or so, so I stopped by the store and got stuff for dinner and maybe a cake for Sydney. She requested me to fix Parmesan chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans. Then she picked out cheesecake for dessert. YUM! It all turned out so well. Then we opened gifts. It was a fun time!

On Friday, the weather and roads had cleared, so we took her out to eat. She chose Smokey Bones this year and ordered ribs! That girl knows good food!

Then on Saturday, we had a small party with her 2 cousins, Kristen and Emily, and her friend Kate. We had a brownie bar (instead of a cake), we opened gifts, and then we went bowling. We had the best time! Kristen and Emily were silly, as usual and we had lots of laughs!

We made a star with our shoes! :)

The best part of Sydney's birthday was that we surprised her with a cell phone. She kept asking for one and we just kept telling her that we just didn't feel like she needed one yet. Up until the day before her birthday, we just couldn't decide if it was time or not. Finally we decided that it probably was time. Most kids her age did have their own phone. And so we decided to go ahead and order it. The phone didn't make it here in time for her birthday, so we printed a picture of the phone, cut it out and wrapped it up. Here's a video of her opening the gift....

Don't you just love Chase's reaction? He couldn't figure out what it was and thought it was a computer! Ha ha!

Chase

At this point in life, Chase clearly knows how to make people laugh. He even knows that he's the "funny one." It just happened so naturally. He truly is a funny kid. So it's worth it to me to keep track of his little sayings because all I need to do on a dreary day is sit down and read through them and just immediately cheer up!

So today I get home from work and see Bailey. I said, "Come here my little 'sugar lump'!" Chase came flying around the corner and yells, "Mommy, call me 'sugar bump'!"

And last night Randy was teasing Chase and told him he better read his homework or Mrs. Carmody will be mad at him. He said, "Oh, she doesn't get mad. She just looks at me with 'SERIOUS EYES'." I can't wait to tell Mrs. Carmody - she's sure to hoot with laughter!

Gotta love that boy!