Birthday Fun for John

I have figured out the best way to throw a party with John Stone in the house - don't tell him about it! For his 32nd Birthday, I just let him come home from work to a birthday party with some close friends. He was amply freaked out for the first thirty minutes but a couple margaritas later, all was well and he went on to have a good time! The real fun began when the sombreros came out!

The weird rash, an explanation

I realized that I didn't explain about the weird rash in the title of my last blog. Several opinions (including two doctor's) later, we think it's poison ivy, which is odd because I use to be very allergic to poison ivy and then I got it really bad in high school and since I haven't had it... but it's back... or is it. Not really sure what it is, but I've bought out the anti-itch section at Walgreens.

On a different note - a day of joy. My good friend Tori (best friend from high school and college roomate) had her little girl today! Anna Katherine Long was born this morning at 34 weeks. She weighs 5 lbs 7 ozs and is doing SO GREAT! Welcome precious one - we've prayed for you so!

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.

1 Samuel 1:27

Dance Recitals, Swim Lessons and Weird Rashes

The dance recital happened last Friday. It was a hoot! We were good parents in that we took the camcorder so that we can have it for all posterity. If only I could figure out how to now transfer it to DVD... but never fear - I will... probably in a few years! Ellabee was definately star of the show and did very well. She is a prima ballerina and is SO into it.

The dancing queen with her flowers. She was a flower fairy!

Ellabee and our friend Grayson. He brought all the little girls in her class a daisy.

Miss Ashley is our teacher.

Maw Maw and Anne Bailey came to watch.

We start swim lessons tomorrow morning. It's in the pool outside and it's been in the 60s in the mornings here. I'm afraid she's going to freeze, but here it is anyway. We'll be there with swim suits on and ready to jump in!

We had the huge Cinco de Mayo engagement party here Saturday night. The house hasn't looked better! I've added some pictures from that too. enjoy!

Feliz Cinco de Mayo, Amigos!

This kid's darn cute

So, I know you aren't supposed to say outloud that your kids are cute. I do have to say though that this kid, Anne Bailey, is pretty darn cute. Ellabee is one of those too... but Anne Bailey - wow.

The famed dance recital is tonight. John just called to say he has picked up some flowers for the dancing queen. I have the camcorder powered up and will have the camera ready for some candid shots. We had the practice this morning and there are stuffed flowers involved... waving them wildly over their heads... can't wait. I'll have to post some shots after the fact. Here are a couple from Anne Bailey. She and Fennigan had a moment on the floor earlier and then she showed off her latest trick - she takes the skirt of her dress and stuffs it all in her face. How funny

A Week of Firsts

This was an exciting week at Stone Villa! Anne Bailey started solid foods and rolled over for the first time! I had the camera ready for both times - way to go Mommy! You know, my sister has a sign in her kitchen that says, "Raising Children is like being pecked to death by chickens". I always thought it was funny, but I never truly understood it until I had two "chickens" one of which is a very strong-willed 3 year old. Anyway, we're surviving the 5 - 10 discipline sessions a day AND Anne Bailey hasn't been seriously injured .... yet.

Ellabee's been loving dance class and has her recital (yes, they have recitals for 3 year olds) on Friday night. The teacher promises that it will only last 15 minutes with a reception following. She's a flower fairy. We start swim lessons next week. I signed on for 10, telling the teacher that we may need more - she's a pistol.

Our favorite movie right now is Cars. It is now Tivoed on every TV in the house. And then, a messenger from God - no, the post office, delivered the latest Disney Movie Club movie of the month (I'm one of those suckers that forgets to tell them I don't want the movie of the month - so we get one every month... I have a stack of five that have to go back - anyone want Herbie: Fully Loaded?). Low and behold, it's CARS! Praise the lord we can have it in the car now too!

Here are some photos for you to enjoy!

Hello Elvis!

Eating my first solid food!

Art Walk in Linn Park in downtown Birmingham. Mommy wouldn't let Ellabee play in the water. Mommy knows that the moms of these children don't work downtown and see all the homeless men bathing in this fountain every work day!

Getting ready for dance class.

and the moment you all were waiting for... "how did I get on my tummy? I must have rolled over!"

And then the Fun Began

On December 12th we added a precious little girl to the Stone family. Anne Bailey Stone was born Tuesday, December 12th at 7:26 in the morning. She weighed 7 lbs 12 ozs and had a full head of hair! John wasn't able to be at the hospital because of a TERRIBLE case of the flu so my sister stepped in and went through the c-section with me. Life hasn't been the same since. Between the girls and work, we're really just trying to keep our heads above water, but it's getting better. She's definately on more of a schedule now and her big sister just adores her - sometimes a little too much.

Here are some pictures from the first 4 months... just to get you up to date.

Our first picture together. Look at that curly hair!

Never fear - it's just the flu.

Best Friends! Audrey and Aunt Laurie came over to play.

So Glad to have a sister!

January was spent pretty much at home and then a trip to the Bay for Garrison's Birthday. Anne Bailey loved the Bay house.

The Big Three year old - we turned 3 this year!

Growing like a weed! Three months old.

Yo Homie! The Stone girls ready to head out to the Zoo... Ellabee decided we needed to all be in hats.

Gone but not Forgotten

So, it's been a while - about a full year since the last post. We've added to the family, added to the house, switched jobs and been a little busy, but we're back and will be trying to post again. Here are some pics from the past year... More to come!

Molly turns 30! John threw me a HUGE birthday party to benefit the school we've worked to start, Red Mountain Community School. We raised over $2000 for the school and had a great time with our friends.

We landscaped the front yard too! It looks great from the street and Ellabee gets to help water the plants. And then there was the 1000 square foot addition to the back of the house. WOW! They did it in 2 months and it still is amazing to me that we didn't have that back room / area or really the backyard prior!

Then there came Halloween adn our little mushroom. We spent some time with Audrey and Braxton and then went back to our house for some trick or treatin'.

And then there was Thanksgiving and we hung out (for one of the last times) at Maw Maw and Paw Paw's house. LIttle did we know that it would be sold by the end of the year.

And then the real fun begins - Anne Bailey arrived on 12-12-06!