Aria & Gigi Date

Part of my 2025 Mission Statement is:

Creation - Build Family Relationships

I decided that I am going to do a date with each grandbaby once a month - in age order.

January is for Aria Jane.

We were supposed to go on a date on Saturday, but Gigi had an unfortunate mishap.

When they came up Sunday, we put our hair in pony tails and off we went!

First, we went to pick out an outfit and ONE toy.

This girl is seven years old, going on approximately MUCH older than seven!

She knows exactly what she wants!!!

No pants, Gigi.

No sweaters, Gigi.

She wanted a dress!

She picked out a "Valentine's Day" dress.

I thought we got a size 7, turns out we got a size 6 and Aria is "definitely NOT a size 6 anymore!"

We had to go exchange it for a 10!!

She's so tall.

She also picked out a Polly Pockets airplane/car/lots of outfit changes set.

And cotton candy bubble bath.

And her very own lip gloss!

Then, she wanted McDonalds!

This Mama does not go to McDonalds.

But when my grandbabies want McDonalds, we go to McDonalds!!!!!

Aria wanted:

Chicken Nuggets

Double Fries (no apples!)

Hi-C

Apple Pie

She had the playplace to herself and just ate it up!!!

She said the sweetest things:

I love when it's just me and you, Gigi.

I love our time alone.

I can't wait til our next date in July.

As we were driving to and from, she had a very specific playlist requested:

"We Need Christmas," by Matthew West

"Hippoptamus for Christmas"

"Forget Me Too," MGK

"I am Not Okay," Jelly Roll

"Please Please Please," Sabrina Carpenter

I love my Aria Jane.

She is beautiful.

She LOVES to sing.

She is the sweetest big sister.

She loves to be with her friends and she loves her teacher.

She doesn't like being out of routine.

She doesn't love dancing in front of an audience, but she'll sing like a boss!

She is SO loved.

She loves her mom and dad and brother; her nana and Jer; her Papa; her uncles; her Suzanne!

 

Not So Unfortunate

Just before Halloween, someone asked Burke what plans he and I had for Halloween...

He said, "Nothing."

Facts.

I mean, we planned to hand out candy.

We planned to watch football.

Mostly, we planned to be home with each other and all of our kids and grandkids who would be coming in and out of the house.

Porter and Cooper would be hanging out with their friends, then coming home with said friends.

Ryker would be trick-or-treating with his friends, then coming home.

But, no "big"plans.

The person who asked the question responded to his answer with, "That's unfortunate."

He came home and told me about the short conversation.

He and I don't see it as being "unfortunate."

We are in a season where we have grown, adult kids who live with their little families

We also have four at home - three of whom are still "children" and in school, doing sports, etc.

Our lives consist of working and being with our family.

It is pretty rare that we go on dates, just the two of us.

It is once-a-year that we have a get-away, just the two of us (a work trip).

What we do, we do with and for our kids and grandkids.

I think that's not so unfortunate.

 

Black-Eyed Peas & Cabbage

Huds came over for a few hours on New Years Eve.

He is so busy learning all about his world and how things work.

I LOVE taking time to watch my grandbabies discover their surroundings.

I feel so blessed!

I was baking for a party Cooper was going to.

I looked down and Hudson was sitting in a tupperware container.

I missed the picture of his putting the lid on his head... you know to complete the look!

Huds is a BIG fan of Uncle Ryker's new room!

He walked in and was, "Whoooooooooa-ing" for days!

Yesterday morning, after going to the gym, Burke and I got ready for a New Year's lunch at Mrs. K's.

It's a tradition on New Year's day.

We don't get much time just the two of us, so I was pretty excited!

I got some work done, got some reels made, then we headed out.

The meal consists of:

Black-eyed peas for LUCK.

Cabbage for CASH. (I ate more than my share of cabbage, just in case!)

Irish corn bread to soak up the black-eyed peas liquid.

And, ham to "was it all down."

There was also some incredible bread pudding.

Mrs. K toasted the new year and we all "cheersed" to that!