Kindness Beats Blindness ~ does it ever!!

I had been on a "hunt" we'll say to find someone else with

a similar diagnosis as Annabelle since it is so rare. On

my journey I happen to hear about an older girl who had walked

the path we had hoped for Annabelle....She attended the

Florida School of the Blind after losing her vision at 12

to a retinal disease (damn you bad genes). I had the great

pleasure of meeting her mother and I'm so thankful because

I am actually more in the know than I thought 

(hahaha - y'all know that's atypical)

Fortunately, the blind community is very small and well

surrounded with love, support and fundraising!

Our local minor league team, The Charleston River Dogs, happens

to be one of those people...They do an annual fundraiser called

"Kindness Beats Blindness"

and all of the proceeds go to retinal research.

Someone from the team dropped off a donation letter and info.

yea, so I've lived here my ENTIRE life and

a) didn't know this fundraiser existed

b) had only been to 1 game before moving to Park Circle

(I've been to 2 this season)

well, what on earth? UM I'm definitely NOT missing out

on this as a parent, business and a girl who likes a party!

I put together this cute basket

and our super sweet friends who own

The Charleston Mattress donated this

YES - a queen size mattress, box spring and frame!

We get to the game and start looking at all the fun donations

ooohhhh...I like that...and that....and that

hahahahaha ~ what was I suppose to do?

It started raining so I had to keep myself busy!

WHAT?!?!?! it's an autographed home plate

and I got a cute boy who loves baseball

they gave us the 2 minute warning so I totally

hovered over it telling people i would outbid them

anyway and a lady came up - I said 

I'm getting this for my kid so back off

(I was half kidding)

she said her son plays on the team and

she was just looking at his signature..

ahhhh...so sweet and cute!

the rest were lucky breaks?

I got a Ralph Lauren shirt for $45??

it also happens to be Michael's size

I really bid on it for Mike 

gift certificate to DIG across the street from the store

frame gift certificate/ photo session 

fireball and swag ~ hair cut

HAHAHAHA ~ well, it's for the best cause!

I'd buy anything for this face!!

AND I ran into the mom and her gorgeous 22yo daughter

she was a joy and so very kind

AND I happened to run into their doctor and his wife

who they swear by and got his email

My phone died or I would have had more pictures

I didn't see one person swing a bat or catch a ball

BUT I did enjoy every second and every penny

of a great night for a great cause!!

#teampriss

the little things

I just got this text from my mom

" we were singing I can see clearly now the rain has gone and Annie sang

I can see all popsicles in my way"

soooo that's too cute for words!!

yes, we have had a birthday and I will blog about that with pictures but I didn't want to forget this because it's the little things that are so cute but you lose them in your day.

Double Digit Birthday!!

HOW is she TEN?!?!?!

this girl

who brings such joy 

and lights up our life

 I should have just bought a bounce castle

she LOVES bouncing and it's good exercise 

for my out of shapeness!

Braxton - she has loved him since she

could walk...he is so good with her!

 queens of selfies! say cheese!

 this lady was born to be a grannie!

I should have known she would be just like nannie!

God knew what he was doing because without

grannie I would be useless..

 and these two ~ 2 peas in a pod

laurel and hardy

frick and frack

my second baby...she has always stolen my heart

and that cutie - Reeser!

it's not a party without the Wright girls!!

the moment everyone sings 

"happy birthday to you"

and you realize how much your baby is loved!

melts.my.heart.

 let's not forget what it's all really about

the LOOT!!

she's such a superstar!

Nonnie's girl...

 we made it through the party....

Happy Birthday to the World's Cutest Priss Pot!
You bring joy to everyone who meets you!

you have such a loving heart
and I am blessed to be your mom!

our CRAZY, AMAZING, more than BLESSED year in pictures!!

I SWEAR this time I am going to start keeping up with this dang blog! I was reading again somewhere that there's a company that prints your blogs into books...is it cheating if I go back and post on the right dates so it will be in order?

we went to Scottsdale for Mike's meeting

Michael played fall ball

and the boys watched

we went to Mexico because I turned FORTY!

the middle one turned 12

Annabelle became a water baby

after she napped with Charlotte

had a super cute playdate

took more naps with Charlotte

was a princess for Halloween (and every other day)

she's too cute

we ate candy

Grannie had a birthday

I got engaged!!

the big one turned 14

we rented a cute little space

we were thankful

for her

and him

and him

and yes him too!

we opened a store

and it's filled with chevron

I think this sums it all up!!!

it maybe loud and crazy but it's ALL ours and we LOVE it!!

saying "I'm sorry"

I have noticed lately that Annie says "I'm sorry" a lot most of the time

for things she shouldn't be sorry for. If she wants milk in the morning

and then asks for sprite she'll say "sorry mommy for asking you again"

two things come to my mind

1) I pretty sure she wishes she could do these things herself

so it cracks my heart a little bit for her

2) Do I make her feel like she needs to apologize?

I've been super conscience about being upbeat and positive

when she asks for things she needs...

Of course there are things she's going to need help with and I

try to stay as positive as possible (I do get tired)

BUT then there are times she does things like fighting me

to take her medicine ~ not listening and she says

"I'm sorry mommy"

but I don't think that she is because if you were truly sorry

you would stop fighting and adding frustrations to daily routines...

And then I had that "AHA" moment

it was around 4 o'clock in the afternoon and Annie and I were

resting which means I try to take a few minutes of silence

between the 4 loads of laundry, loading the dishwasher, starting dinner, refilling her script, making her take her medicines, playing and keeping up with Annie...

and then "IT" happened she wanted a snack, the dog was sitting on my head,

 Priss was talking NONSTOP and I finally said

"can I just get FIVE minutes of quiet please?"

I have just spent the last 6 hours doing crap I don't even like to do

so can I please please please just have a minute...

UGH - I of course immediately apologized and told her how much I love

her and mommy was just exhausted (i had been sick last night)

that I shouldn't be upset and some days it's just hard to do everything..

Yea - I'm pretty sure I've had THAT conversation with her a few times

in the last weeks...I tell her how sorry I am and I will be damned if 

I don't do it AGAIN... So I'm going to take her's as sincere as mine

and love her little heart and try to smile through it!

Just because you say sorry - it doesn't mean you aren't going to

do it again but it does mean that you realize you've done it

and that folks is sometimes more than enough for the day!!

So Annie - I am sorry - I try to be perfect but there are no perfect people

so I'm gonna forgive you every time you say sorry and hope you can do the same!!

I love you - my favorite person in the world!!!

 

Bouncing Birthday Fun!!!

Annie had been talking about how much
she loves birthday parties with her friends

we used to have huge parties but
haven't had the space for a party until now..

 

 

I already had the perfect invitation at home

because really what's better than a

bouncy castle and polka dots??

 

 

 

Thankfully the bounce castle people wanted

to set it up Friday and not pick it up until Sunday!

 That's a whole lotta bouncing!

I don't know why the production is so much fun
for me - I think I am a party addict and have
been in some serious withdrawls...

 

Did I mention the bouncy castle happened

to be a birthday cake??

 

OMG - LOVE

I totally wanted to keep it forever!!

 

 

Nothing like a little preparty fun..

 

 

look at that sweet happy face..

I don't think we'll ever miss a party again

safe and sound inside
mommy tried to help her in and we BOTH
bounced right off and onto the ground
thank goodness I padded her fall.

.....LOVE....

 

Charlotte needed to check it out

just to make sure it was safe for sissy

 

please please please can I get in too??

 

boing - boing - boing

 

 

there's nothing to say about this

 

Olivia...

 

cotton candy in the bounce castle...

of course - it's a party!

 

if only I had a dollar for everytime I heard

"take my picture" those are some camera hams

 

 

 

awww...Annie and Christian

his mom, Susan and I are convinced

they're gonna get married

they are just. too. precious

 

what goes better with a jump castle than

cotton candy and popcorn??

 

Cole wins quote of the day...

he walked in - looked at the table and said

"it's just like the fair but FREE"

hahahahahahahaha

 

 

seriously he asked for another picture

and who am I to say no to a cute face??

 

Nana and Grannie

 

 

 

PIZZA - PIZZA

(I think they were already full of junk)

 

4 dozen mini cupcakes delivered to the front door

 

by Cupcake Aunt KK's shop!

 

 

the girls together again...

I have missed their faces!

the birthday girl...

 

the best way to eat a cupcake - frosting first!

 

 

 

 

Annie and Olivia decided they needed a rest

lol - that didn't last very long!

 

 All bounced out and ready for presents

 

PUPPY - I love PUPPIES!!

 

seriously, cabbage patch fairy doll from Christian

he picked it out all by himself

(well of course his mom drove him)

 

Abby - my gorgeous little comedian

 

 

me and the birthday girl

 

My 9 year old priss pot

 

I can't even begin to tell you how much I love you

you are my favorite person in the world!!

 

the party was wonderful - all the giggles and chatting

the bouncing smiley faces - eating cotton candy

it's my favorite sound in the world

Annie was so excited to have all of her priends there

it was a day filled with our favorite people evah!

 

our cup runneth over - we are blessed beyond measure!

 

Happy 9th Birthday Annabelle Louise!!