Mom's Retirement Party

Mom's retiring this week, so we had her retirement lunch at Johnny Carinos today.  It was delicious! 

On top of getting to eat a wonderful lunch, it was so good to see everyone again.  There were so many people I haven't had a chance to visit with in such a long time. It is what I miss most about not working at State Farm anymore - all my SF friends. 

This is such a great opportunity for mom.  I am so excited for this next step in her life.  I know how much she use to want to stay at home with us kids when we were younger (and I now have a better appreciation for the sacrifice she made by going to work.)  It definitely wasn't us kids who were sacrificing while she worked.  Grandma & Grandpa did a wonderful job helping raise us and I couldn't have asked for more, just as I know my kids are doing just fine with their grandparents while I work.  The sacrifice is very much the mom's - it stinks leaving your kids every morning for 8+ hours to go to work and then try to get in "mom mode" afterwards.  I truly appreciate all my mom did for me and my sisters (and my dad too!!!)  They both worked (and still do) incredibly hard to make amazing memories for us girls and our families! 

On top of all fun things retiring brings, mom will gets to watch two of her grandkids (Kennedi & Paisley).  I know this is going to be some of the best times of mom's life and I'm so happy for her (and for the girls - as they don't know how much fun they are about to have.)

Congratulations mom on 37 years working at State Farm and even more so on your retirement!!!  Thank you for all you have done for us girls and our husbands and kids!  Love you!

Kylee's Turning 5

We have another week before Kylee actually turns five, but today couldn't have been a more perfect day for her party!  Kennedi stayed the night with us last night, so we woke up bright and early this morning to chocolate chip pancakes, egg whites and bacon.... according to Kylee, we only needed the chocolate chip pancakes.  The rest of the morning the kids got to relax and watch cartoons while I finished making our DisneyWorld Reservations (got both the dining reservations and Kylee's reservation at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique made)!  SSSSHHHHHH - The kids don't know. I'm too excited to wait until January to go - I can't imagine how excited the kids will be when we finally tell them. 

Anyways - We ran a few errands and then headed over to the park to get things set up for the party.  Kylee is four days younger than one of her best friends, Lili - so they got to celebrate together. The girls had so much fun playing on the playground, hanging out, getting their faces painted and eating some seriously good cake (thank you Mattie Balliet - by far my favorite cake so far!)  We finished the day up with Kylee spending some of her birthday money at Target and playing dress up in her new costumes.  As Kylee says - Today was an awesome day!

I can't say thank you enough to all of our friends and family who showed up to help us celebrate.  It is truly a blessing to have each of you in our lives. 

          Miss Kylee Rae

Here are the birthday girls!

Thanks to Aunt Jamie for helping with the gifts so I could take pictures.



The girl's fantastic birthday cake!