Expect Greatness: February 2012

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Valentine's Day/My Birthday

We celebrated Valentine's Day a little early. Bill was so excited about having all 3 nieces and Leighton and our moms at our house at once that he surprised all of his Valentines with special gifts.

The girls got these super cute bears that talk when you hug them and a little cash (obviously they were very excited with the cash).

Leighton was actually more impressed with the bear, but the general consensus was that this would be a cute picture

Mom, Vicki and I got these beautiful plaques and a large Yankee candle. I was then surprised with an additional gift, these really great sunglasses I had been eyeing (no picture of those, they weren't in yet). It was a really big surprise because we had already talked about our new phones being our Valentines gifts to each other. He's so sneaky (in a good way!)

Leighton also got this great boutique baby lotion from Maw Maw and Paw Paw (my parents) and I bear holding a picture of her, Lexi and Braylee with her Paw Paw (Bill's dad) from Meme (Bill's mom). We all miss Paw Paw Clyde very much.

This is Leighton on Valentine's Day

The night before Valentine's we had Jacque, Matt and AnnMarie over for my birthday. We ate lasagna from my favorite Italian place and leftover cupcakes from Leighton's party.

My "big" present is a trip to Napa that was supposed to be taking place right now. Poor Bill came home from a business trip with the flu:( We have rescheduled it, so hopefully I will have lots of pictures to post from that. And hopefully it won't take a month for me to do it;)

But I must brag on my husband just a little. He went through a lot of trouble to get me a gift he was sure I would really want so I would have something to open, for Valentine's Day as well as my birthday. He called the people that know me best (Mom and Courtney) and found the sunglasses and shoes I was completely wanting but in no way would ever buy for myself. It is just so sweet when he goes through trouble like that. He works hard everyday to make sure we have everything we want and need. Generosity is mst definitely the love language he speaks and I am so thankful for him.

Leighton's Second First Birthday Party

We of course had a party at our home. This theme was "brunch in bed". I decorated the dining room table like a bed (thank you for the idea Tara from Jimmy Choos and Tennis Shoes) and served brunch foods buffet-style. We invited everyone to come in their pj's, which was so right up my alley (and Leighton's, too).

We had the same tent and crawl tunnel for the kids to play in, but a bigger ball pit to accomadate a larger number of "little" kids.

It was the first time in the history of ever that we have had all 3 of our nieces under one roof. It was divine!

all the cousins:)

Leighton's pink and blue soda

sweet treats table

Photo timeline

the "bed" prebrunch

too much party time

Do I HAVE to blow out this candle??

Oh, my, this cake is good!

Leighton's First First Birthday Party

Yes, we had 2 parties.

Don't even get me started! I have a lot of family in Louisiana, plus our friends and a few relatives in the Houston area, plus Bill's immediate family is in the Dallas area. So, we had 2 parties. It just isn't fair to expect everyone to travel, and my house can only accomodate so many.

This one was a very girly, Princess theme. I "repurposed" (I hate that word) decorations I'd bought for a friend's baby shower and had also previously used for one of Mackenzie's parties. Then I added some paper decorations and such. Daddy and Uncle Josh grilled burgers while Paw Paw and Maw Maw hosted the adults in the shop and the kids playing outside. Gifts and cake were inside before everyone said goodbye! It was a lot of fun!