Shutterfly Christmas Cards!!!

Christmas Cards are one of my favorite parts of the Christmas season! I love looking at cute photos of families, couples, kiddos and seeing updates from old and new friends. I keep mine all displayed throughout the month so that I can enjoy them. Then, I put them in a photo album and keep them to look upon throughout the years.  I have already received a few and am loving it!  I can't wait to finish my families and mail them out. 

I've been looking at Shutterfly for a couple weeks now, and have fallen in love...

Each year I order seventy-five cards, and end up wishing I had ordered more.  I send them out to family and friends, from far and near, and have always had exceptional service and quality!

Check out this link to find your own special Christmas card:

 http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards

I've also used Shutterfly to capture the wonderful memories made on our family vacation to South Dakota.  Shutterfly's photobooks are wonderful keepsakes items, as well as presents.

Check out this link to make you own photo book to enjoy for years and year.

http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-books

For the past several years, my cousins and I go together to buy my mom's family the twelve-month wall calendars.  We use pictures of our five children (all my grandma's great-grandchildren)!  Everyone always comments on how lovely they are, and how much they use them on a daily basis. 

Check out this link to make your own custom calendar:

http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars  

As you can tell, I've used Shutterfly for many past photo projects. All their products are awesome and print with such great quality.  I'm wanting to use a great service this year to make our cards and know that they will be a memory to cherish! You can personalize and make your own card sparkle!

And as an added bonus, they are offering free cards for bloggers! They are already so affordable, run many promotions with free shipping and discounts, so what a deal! The photo upload site is also really nice because you can upload in a large amount instead of one at a time, and you can share albums with friends so that they too can order prints-how handy!  I can't wait to get my special offer code, and order away!

If you would like to join in on the Shutterfly Christmas Card giveaway, follow this link. http://bit.ly/sfly2010

Happy 8th Birthday Rylee Roo!

After a long day at the pool, we all went home and went straight to bed. Why? Rylee Roo was turning EIGHT years old the very next day! Every Fourth of July brings be back to the Fourth in 2002. I went in at midnight to be induced because I had already carried this precious baby ten days past my due date. I'll never forget the anxious feeling I had. I had no idea what the future would hold for myself, my baby or our family! Little did I know, she would become my world! I thank the good Lord everyday for this blessing, and I honestly have no idea where I'd be without Rylee today!
I love you Roo!

This is the special present that Cutter picked out especially for his Roo Roo! He helped wrap it, and then wrote her name on it!

Lots of birthday HUGS!

Ta Da...Cutter bought Rylee a Taylor Swift Barbie Doll.
He was so cute at Target. We walked up and down several isles looking for the perfect present. All of the sudden, "Momma, Momma, it's a Taylor Swift barbie for my Roo Roo!" How could I resist? He was being SO sweet and SO proud of his fabulous find!

Here's the birthday girl with all of her goodies! Rylee is really into fashion. She loves to draw her own clothes or design them online. So, this year Justin found an awesome screen printing kit so that she could make her own shirts! We bought extra ink in all different colors, even metallic ones!



Rylee, I hope you had a great birthday! You mean the world to me!

In honor of your EIGHTH birthday, here are EIGHT things I LOVE about YOU!

1. I love your loving heart!
You are always so thoughtful, kind and generous!

2. I love your sense of style!
You don't care what others think (for the most part), and aren't afraid to wear anything!

3. I love that you love the Lord!

4. I love that you pray for you Angels, like Oma and Big PawPaw!
It still melts my heart every time I hear you say it!

5. I love that you still give me a hug before I drop you off at school!

6. I love that you love your brother, and are a terrific big sister!

7. I love that you are learning to stick up for yourself,
and not let others push you around.
Sometimes you are too nice, but are learning to stand your ground!

8. I love YOU for being YOU!

Happy Birthday Sweet Baby! I love you all the way around the world!

July 4th Swimming!

This year marked the 2nd Annual 4th of July party at Chad and Brittney's! We used to go to Nanny's sister's house, but since Wanda and Mike have both passed, we have moved the party location. There's never a dull moment when everyone is there!

My little fish!

Miriam and Rylee
Miriam is Brittney's cousin, that currently lives in Costa Rica. She and Rylee get along so well together, and always have a blast!

Here is Mr. Payton and his Great-Grandma (on Brittney's side). He was such a handsome little man in his Fourth of July outfit!

Little Miss Karsen

It started pouring just as everything got under way. However, no lightening meant the kids could still swim! They had a blast dancing and swimming in the rain!

Catching rain drops in their mouths.

Striking a pose.

Uncle Cody and Cutter
Crazy boys!

Originally Cody was giving each kid piggy back rides, one at a time. Then, someone got the brilliant idea to let them all ride at once.

With the help of Uncle Chad, all three kids managed to get on his back at once!

Thanks to Chad, Brittney and Payton for hosting a great party! Can't wait until next year!

July 3rd Fireworks!

The City of Abilene no longer has a Fireworks show inside the city limits, so we went to the City of Tye, population 700, to watch theirs! Luckily, Buster's work was in perfect viewing range. We avoided the traffic, had somewhere safe for the kids to play around, and had a bathroom facility! This was all very convenient since we got on location at 8:00, and the show didn't start until nearly 10:00 pm. So, a BIG thank you to Buster and Karen for letting us tag along!

Here's Karen and the kids playing chase while we waited in the daylight!

Rylee, Karen, Cutter and Nanny

Then it started to sprinkle. So, Nanny got back in the truck with Buster...

...but Karen kept on a playin'!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, ELEVENTEEN, 18, 19, 20

Ready or not, here I come!

Goofy kids!

Finally, the fireworks started! The show was amazing, and definitely worth the wait!
Thanks again for letting us join you! We love you!

Memorial Weekend at Lake Brownwood

I think we've started a new tradition, going to Pop's lake house for Memorial Weekend! We always have SO much fun and create SO many memories here!

`Cutter, Rylee and Karsen taking turns driving!

Cutter and I tubing! He is FEARLESS!

Rylee and Kori took their turns on the jet Seadoo! Rylee was very courageous, which made her mommy proud!

Justin came down on Saturday and took his turn holding sweet Payton!

Brittney, Kori and Chad



One proud Mommy!
Brittney and Karsen

I loved holding Payton! He is such a great baby!

Ashley, Jason and Pops

Tyler, Justin and Karsen

Chad and Payton

The newly extended Keesee Family!
Brittney, Chad and Payton

Silly Boys!
Cutter and Tyler

Sweet Karsen

This was our attempt at getting all the cousins together!
Cutter, Rylee, Payton and Karsen

3am Wake Up Call

June 25th, 2010 Rylee had her 8th Birthday Sleepover! This is the third year she has done it, and has absolutely loved it each year!




The early birds...
Madison, Rylee, Shaylee and Shayne

For a mom that burns most everything I cook/bake, I was surprised when Rylee requested these peanut butter cookies "I make" instead of a cake!

All the crazy girls that I got the pleasure of entertaining!
Shayne, Dez, Ali, Rylee, Madison, Shaylee and Dee Dee

This was the girls at about 10:30pm. They were calmly unwinding while watching a movie.

After the movie was over, and the girls 'seemed' to be asleep, I ventured to bed (about 11:15). However, at 3AM I heard a wrestling sound. I woke up (kind of grumpy) and walked into the living room to find all but one of the girls UP, sitting in a circle, talking and tossing a water bottle around!!! I couldn't believe it! Did I really believe that I could have seven young girls over, and have them to bed at a decent hour...NOT? After a few 'kind' words I went back to my bed and listened very carefully. Thirty minutes later, they were out...thank goodness! The next morning they were all very sleepy because I had mommy's and daddy's come pick them all up by nine because Cutter had a T-Ball game at 10am! Needless to say, our bed time came early Saturday night!