I don't have a tattoo, but I might as well get one that says sucker or deal catcher. I generally don't like to shop, but when I do watch out. I am either in a buying mood or not. I happened to be in a buying mood when I hit toys-r-us. Phey on them for having mark downs. I had some deal bucks to spend and did I spend them. It really is a brilliant marketing ploy on their part. Spend money in our store and we will send you coupons so you can buy more. I had $40 to spend and I went in with the intentions to find something that was $40. Not spend an additional $40. They marked down this Barbie car to $90. I couldn't resist it so I got it for Ellery's big 4. When she turns 16 and asks for a car we can tell her we already bought one for her! She did have a really short list for Christmas, she wanted a Barbie car and a Barbie doll house. Now she has both! It did also give us a glimpse of what it will look like with Ellery driving Bryson around. He was a compliant passenger and happy as can be to be a part of her driving life. She was happy toting him around, we might have to show them their compliance in a few years! Mason was also super excited to drive and run after everyone!
List of Ellery's likes:
Oh, the joys of summer birthdays. At school you are encouraged to bring treats for summer birthdays on their half birthday rather than at the end of the school year. I have to say it is a brilliant plan. Nothing too big was taken to school. I secretly wanted to make a cute little craft or token to hand out instead of food, but my 5.5 year old denied me. I like that you can't bring homemade food items to school, but it does take the fun out of baking with your kids! I should have baked something with him anyways, but I didn't make the time, nor did he mind. Fruit snacks were the treat of choice! 
Grandma Ellen is moving to Omaha, but first she is going to live on the beach for a month! Since she will be in Charleston for her actual birthday we decided to celebrate early! No objections by anyone in this house, and excuse to eat cake is always welcome!!!!
Ellery loved licking the ice cream and frosting off her plate, and adapted to treating cup cakes like ice cream cones. Lick the ice cream off first and then maybe or maybe not eat the cake aka cone part! Mason just devoured his cake as fast as possible so he could continue on in the celebration! 
Our little man is 1! It is so sad, I technically can't call him my baby anymore. I know my kids will always be my babies, but I officially don't have a baby anymore. He is one happy toddler! Mason played with his cake, Ellery wouldn't touch it, and Bryson couldn't get enough of it! He would have ate the whole tiny cake if we would have let him. We kept it low key. Mason's friend Sam was here for the party or should I say cake. We ate cake, opened presents, and then Bryson actually played with the toy we got him. I had searched high and low for this whack a ball when Mason was little, looked a little for it while Ellery was small, and finally found it when Bryson was in the womb. I bought it and have been saving it for this big day! I am happy to report Bryson loves playing with it. He doesn't usually use the hammer to whack the ball, he prefers his hand. It was a great celebration and I think him growing up is just going to be a bitter sweet thing for me!
Oh, I am just starting to plan Mason's party and we have decided upon a LEGO theme! I am excited and a bit obsessed and out of control! I consider this my first party planning experience for my kids. All our other parties have been destination parties and we did have a Cars cake and Toy Story cakes in the past with coinciding goodie bags, but nothing like this. This year it is an all out LEGO theme and could be a start to new traditions! We are making decorations, games, goodie bags, soap, crayons, pinata, etc. I did the math on destination parties and it is about $7-$15 a kid depending upon what kind of destination party you choose. It doesn't include the cake, cups, napkins, drinks, goodie bags, or decorations. We were going to let Mason have 10 kids at a destination party and then I said wait a minute, I could throw a great party for that kind of cash and have fun in the process. I love using my creative mind, and love having a project to do!
The inspirational home made card. It has inspired me to do an art project that I hope to get started in the next few weeks! 
I am not sure if I did something smart or foolish. I told Mason my real age. He has been repeating it to random and not so random people. I hope it is just a phase. We celebrated low key. The highlight of my day was a sweet card made my Mason. We have a game we play on saying I love you 110 and the next person says I love you 111. We also play I love to a specific destination and the next will say that specific destination and then another destination and possibly back. I need to take a picture of the card, very very sweet. Rob and I plan going out for my birthday later this week to celebrate adult style!
Oh my, they grow and change so much in a year! Where do I start with this one. She is my head strong girl. I can bend and mold Mason, but I already have to chisel Ellery. She knows what she wants, when she wants it, and exactly how. Rob says she is a mini me, charming as ever, but don't cross her path when she doesn't want it crossed. He says it is a compliment, and most times he is correct, but sometimes it is a curse being particular! I know I am better than what I used to be, so we can have hope for little Ellery.
It might be that we went out for Rob's birthday to see the newest Harry Potter, but the birthday hats were supposed to be birthday hats, but they somehow all look like little wizards. When I would ask Mason what we should get Rob for his birthday he would suggest a new phone or computer. He is his father's son, he is trying to tug at Rob's heart strings, electronics. I think we are all going to be his favorites for awhile. We got Rob a new Sony Blu-ray player with google tv built in it. I do have to admit it is pretty cool and the features are amazing! He has been enjoying it himself. We celebrated first thing in the morning. Rob even had his birthday cake for breakfast, I am finally rubbing of on him. We did skip church and in our defense it was the cantata. A lovely service, but we weren't in the festive singing mood this am. After a nice relaxing day we headed out for a birthday date to see Harry Potter. I sure enjoyed his day and I hope Rob enjoyed his day as well! I'll never get tired of celebrating this day!!
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