South Dakota

A few weeks ago we got in the car and drove to South Dakota. Craig's grandparents and most of his family all live there, and we wanted a chance to take Callie:)

This is Day 1 in the car. She had her animals, and she had Yo Gabba Gabba. It is a good thing that I have an Ipod becuase we were subjected to DJ Lance Rock for about 90% of our 35 hour car trip. "So break it down..."

This is Day 2:(

Watch out...student driver (haha...at a gas station!)

Thursday night, we got to stay with Josh and Danielle. Callie finally got to meet her sweet cousin, Maliya:) We think they had a good time!

Golf at the Milbank Country Club...

...with the cutest caddy you have ever seen! Yes, Callie is in a hoddie and jeans...the weather was AMAZING!

Aunt Kylee gave her golf cart driving lessons

Just a smidge windy

Only my child could fall asleep in a moving golf cart with 90 mile an hour winds:) She makes her momma very proud!

On Saturday, we drove over to Minnesota for a family reunion with Grandma Hay's side of the family. It was a beautiful day with gorgeous scenery. We had a lot of fun meeting new people, catching up with family, and playing bean bags.

Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Hay

Callie was smelling these flowers...precious!

Unlike her mother, Callie thinks horses are great. She neighed about 100 times at this one. She also got to see some cows. She got so excited and MOOed so much that she scared them all away:)
Callie and her favorite guy on Father's Day!

Callie had so much fun while staying with her Great Grandma Mikk!!!

hamming it up at dinner at Shady Beach

Big Stone Lake

Callie loving on her daddy on our trip home!

Despite driving and driving and driving so more, we had an excellent vacation! It is so wonderful to spend time with family you don't see very often!

EIGHTEEN MONTHS!

Here is my 18 MONTH OLD too busy playing with potholders to pose for a picture! We are not buying her any more toys...she is perfectly content to play with potholders, tags, pieces of paper, and diaper boxes:)
These next few crack me up...

Up so close, the flash was really bright:)

It is sometimes hard to believe this little munchkin has been with us for a year and a half:) Her personality is really coming out, and she is pretty hilarious. She is learning more and more words by the day and loves to share them with us repeatedly. We are also discovering that she is very strong-willed...coming from two first borns, we are pretty sure where this quality came from. (I know that my mom is secretly laughing behind my back!) Her absolute favorite word is "NO!"

She said her first sentence last week..."I got you!" After she says it, she runs off so you can chase and "get" her:) She is also getting pretty good at "I love you!" It will melt your heart:)

Her teachers told me last week that she is the class clown! Is that a good thing or a bad thing?! Haha:)

So far, this summer has been pretty lazy. Grandma Hay took Callie for her first dip in the pool.

We took our first trip to the Heritage Festival Ball...fun times:)

Other than that, we have been pretty lazy. My mom has been here, and she made these FABULOUS curtains for my dining room!!! I am totally and completely in love with them:) Thanks again Mom!

Callie's First Pony

We decided Callie needed a riding toy and what better than a pony?! Every time she sees it, she neighs:)

These next two pictures are our last two Sundays before church. When I say, "Callie, let's take a picture!" this is what she does. She is quite a ham:) I think it is because I always squat down to take the picture on her level.

We have had another busy month, but the most exciting news is that SCHOOL IS OVER! We have a busy June planned too:) My goals for the summer: organizing, cooking, working out, and blogging.

Jewels Weekend

My cousin Paula came up with the most wonderful idea for all of the women in our family to get together every spring for a girls getaway:) The Jewels began in Fredericksburg in 2004, and every year it seems to get better! This year, Tonya welcomed us all to their farm in Livingston...thank you again!!!

We range in age from 24-92:) Some of us are related by blood and some of us by marriage, but to be with us, you would never know which is which. (That is my favorite part!)

We all bring little gifts to exchange Saturday evening...some are sweet, some are sentimental, some are inspiring, and mine are usually random:)

(Kristin - You may hate me for this, but I couldn't resist.)

My brother's wife, Kristin, came with us for the first time this year, and I had SO much fun getting to hang out with her. This is a picture of me laughing (and crying) SO hard because of...well, who knows what:) She made the funniest face during a picture, and I had had some margaritas...

Kristin, my Nannie, my mom, and me:)

Callie Grace is named after my Nannie Grace. In fact, there are a lot of little Graces running around in our family!

I had so much fun with you both:) (I LOVE the next 2 pics!)

I had SO much fun hanging out, shopping at the Livingston Trade Days, playing Left-Right-Center, eating, and laughing with my family! I can't wait until next year!!!

The Reason for My Mother's Day

...is this little stinker!
I got a few very sweet things that Callie made, and I also got the pretty necklace I am wearing in the picture and a few more additions to my Pandora bracelet.

Our formerly perfect and mild-mannered child has blossomed into this...

Tantrums and all, our lives wouldn't be the same without our little girl. She is a blessing everyday, and we are learning right along with her. She is growing and changing so much:) She is talking SO much...most of which can be understood! She constantly amazes us with her newest "trick". My newest mission is trying to get some of her singing on video...so cute. Her rendition of "Hold Still...wiggle...wiggle...wiggle" from Yo Gabba Gabba is priceless!

We are looking into newer forms of baby proofing...for our sanity.

I know it has been a looong time since I updated, and I have had many complaints! I am sorry...April has been insane.

~We had a very wonderful Easter!

~We have celebrated 3 Hay Birthdays.

~I went on my annual Jewels Family Weekend. (post to come!)

~After numerous ear infections and failed antibiotics, Callie got tubes in her ears and had her adenoids removed which has been SUCH a blessing!

~I went to Abilene for a tennis reunion...ridiculous fun. (post to come!)

~I got 110 6th graders ready for TAKS...fingers and toes crossed!!!

It wouldn't be Mother's Day without me saying how much I love MY mom:) She is a blessing on top of a blessing!!! Love you:)