ANOTHER YEAR OLDER!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SISTER, KATIE!!

28 years ago today, July 31st, Katie was welcomed into the family. So to honor her on her day, I thought I would post 10 favorite memories or things I love about her! So here it goes..

1. She is a peacemaker. She has one of the kindest hearts of anyone I know.

2. When I moved to College Station and didn't know anyone, she let me tag along with her everywhere. When I was too poor to buy groceries, she would let me come over and eat her food. I also didn't have a local checking account and she would act as my bank:) What a pain I was! I am forever grateful!

3. One of my favorite stories, memories is when we were driving home from College Station and she had Ruby ( a piece of junk for a car) and was getting gas and she didn't want to turn off the car to fill up but I INSISTED that she HAD to turn the car off or she would BLOW up the whole gas station. Well, her car wouldn't start after she filled up. I know, my fault! We had to push her car UP hill to park it and NOT one person helped-- as they watched two girls push a "Model-T" car. I was following her in the Mighty-Max truck, luckily, so we drove on home. When I drove back to CS later, dad came with me. He was so SURE he could get that car to start, of course, it wouldn't. So I ended up driving him back into Bastrop where he hung out at the Wal-Mart in town until my mom came to pick him up!

4. Another memory I love also had to do with Katie's car, Ruby, when she thought it would be a good idea to go through the car wash on the way home to K-town from CS. The force of the car wash took the front window all the way down so all the car wash, bubbles and water, came rushing into the car. So what does she do, jumps into the back seat until the car wash is over. She said when she got out of the car wash, soaking wet, bubbles in hair, makeup running down her face, that people were staring at her. Oh, and she was wearing her Texas A&M t-shirt! She was so embarrassed! I loved it, but she tells the story ALOT better.

5. She is beautiful. She always is put together, makeup and hair just right.

6. She is the best mommy of two little boys that I know.

7. She is a perfectionist, borderline OCD, in a good way! She still has a hard time sleeping by herself if Bob goes out of town.

8. She had a cyst growing inside her bottom lip that she would always chew on and I always teased her that one night in her sleep she would bite down on it and thousands of baby spiders would crawl out of the cyst. She HATES spiders!! I know, a little mean, but remember, I am her sister!

9. She is a great example. She has worked hard to lose all of her baby weight and then some. We know how hard that has been, she loves food, what else can I say, she is a Hopkins:) She is a the epitome of a HOT mamma! lol.

10. Last but not least, she is my best friend. I am grateful to be her sister and appreciate her advice and wisdom. She always knows what to say.

I hope you have a great day! Happy Birthday, I love you Katie!

INTRODUCING!

SOPHIE LAYNE

July 26th

8 lbs 3 oz 19 1/2 inches long

Congrats, Scott and Morgan and brother Brent! We can't wait to meet you. I hate being so far away from my sisters, especially during times like this. We have another beautiful niece, how lucky are we!

Ave had to make some phone calls while she was eating her dinner.

D after her first taste of Rice Cereal! Not too thrilled with the whole thing, but we will keep trying.

My sister, Katie once told me that she thought the nursery at church was a breeding ground for illness. I have to agree, A came down with a cold. Have you ever seen them wipe the toys down or spray them with Lysol or anything? I would be curious to hear comments of what others see or do in the nursery at their ward. There is 3 different wards that meet in our building, so that would be 3 different classes that come in contact with the toys. I was just praying that D wouldn't catch it, but unfortunately she did! This morning she sounded horrible, really horse. It sounds like she is coming down with Croup. Hopefully it will stay just a mild case, I hate seeing my girls not feel well. Brian's birthday was yesterday, on Pioneer's Day. How exciting is that, parades and fireworks on your birthday, one big party. It is crazy that there are a lot of places that are closed and recognize Pioneer Day as a holiday, unfortunately he didn't get the day off. Happy Belated Birthday Brian!

A little late, but with lots of love, we are happy to annouce our new niece

AMELIA ROSE

born July 10th 5lbs 9oz 18 1/2 inches long! We can't wait to meet you.

Great Grandpa and Great Grandma J and their dog Lucy, meeting Delaney for the first time.
A and her Grandpa J.
Great Grandpa L and Grandma H with Delaney. Grandpa was making D laugh, it was a cute sight. My mom's sister and my Aunt, Melanie, with A.
My little love bug!

D had her 4 month check up on Friday and A had her 2 year old check up as well. Each time I go to the doctor, I leave embarrassed by A's actions and swear to myself I will never take both girls, by myself, again! UGH! Luckily the doctor told me about two books to read about toddlers, after he witnessed her hitting me! Like I said, it was embarrassing. On to the good news, D is 13 lbs and 12 oz and 25 1/2 inches long. She is healthy and such a joy. A is 35 inches long and 27 lbs 8 oz! Other than her bad attitude:) , she is doing well. We are blessed!

Can't keep my eyes off you!

This title has more than one meaning! The other night I was talking with my grandma when I heard what sounded like an animal digging around in the trash. I walked around to the kitchen and found that the animal, was my daughter!! She had managed to reach up into the pantry and found the left-over chocolate pudding from her birthday cake, opened it up and realized---wet fingers equals yummy devils food pudding! I could only go get Brian to show him what HIS (she becomes only his when she makes mess or is throwing a fit, I take no ownership in that behavior:) child had done. I ended my conversation and we ended A's finger painting session and got her in the bath tub...it was a mud bath when it was all done. At midnight, I was scrubbing pudding out of my tub! I should of known she was into something..she was way too quiet. That always means trouble at my house!

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Now for the other meaning of the title..I can't keep my eyes off of this little cutie. I love her giggle and dimples, I just can't get enough. She rolled over on the 4th of July! Such a big girl. I am so sad, they grow up just too dang fast!

More Pics from Birthday Party!

Ave with her cute dress Grandpa and Grandma got her for her birthday! She sure is loved!

Eating her birthday cake....

one M&M at a time! She didn't touch the cake, she ate all the M&M's and then she was done.

In her new fish pj's that Grandpa and Grandma J got for her! They are absolutely adorable.


On Saturday, we had a party for Miss A's birthday. She had fun swimming in her pool and running around the yard.

Time to Party!

Fish Cake I made for Ave's birthday party! It turned out so cute, I was proud of myself:) She loves FISH!

Grandpa and A on the four wheeler, she loves riding around with Grandpa!

Blowing out the candle on her cake.

The Big TWO!

First pic of A
pic for birth announcement, two weeks old
First birthday, eating birthday cake!

Two years ago today at 3:08pm, our number 1 daughter, Avery was born! I can't believe our little girl is two years old. Her attitude is that of the typical terrible two year old, but I still want her to be my baby! She is daddy's little girl and mommy's world! The past two years we have learned a lot about our little monkey. A few things we have learned:

- She was born with an attitude! She came out screaming and hasn't stopped since!
- She loves fish, doggies and babies.
- She is a girly girl, loves shoes, purses, make-up, and her sunglasses.
- She didn't get hair until just recently, I was so jealous of other moms who got to do their babies hair!
- She didn't get her first tooth until after she started walking. I love her big toothy smile.
- Luckily, she loves fruits and veggies and will eat just about anything!
- Is a great sleeper, I have no plans on moving her out of her crib until she is 18.
- She has go-go gadget arms---can get into EVERYTHING! The other day she got the dreft off of the dryer and continued to spray herself down with it! UGH!
- She loves music. I could sing "Popcorn popping", " 5 Little Speckled Frogs" or "I am a Child of God" all day long and she would still be wanting more.
- She loves water and you will find her playing in it no matter where it is...doggie bowls, puddles, toilets...eek.
- She loves her daddy and her baby! She is a great big sister and tells me "No, Mommy! Mine!!" and removes my hand from D and starts to hold her hand and smother her with kisses. D is her Nanney! It is such a sweet site!

We are blessed to have her as our daughter, terrible two's and all. Happy Birthday Avery! We love you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

On July 7 1983, my little sister Morgan Ann was born and completed the Hopkins family. So, I thought I would celebrate her birthday by posting 10 things that I love or my favorite memories about my baby sister.

1. She is a great listener and awesome advice giver.
2. She is the best sister, one of my best friends!
3. She is a great mommy to Brent and soon-to-be to Sophie.
4. She is my hero, she gave birth to a 10 lb 8 oz baby and NOT by c-section! Hopefully Sophie is MUCH smaller. She is so brave to even get pregnant again, I would of said--Not a chance in heck would I do this again!!!
5. She is the only sibling that I have that can say she has been to jail, and no-- not on a field trip, in an actual cell.
6. She can put away some Little Debbies like no one's business. She doesn't mess around when it comes to Oatmeal Cream Pies! YUMMY!!
7. She makes me laugh. She is a great story teller, so full of life.
8. She is a great example to me. She loves the Lord and has great faith.
9. She has had more cars in her short life time than anyone else I can think of!
10. She is just so much fun to be around. People gravitate to Morgan. She is a great and loyal friend.


Those are just a few of the MANY! I hope you have a great birthday, I wish I was there to help celebrate. I am lucky to have such a beautiful and caring sister. I love you Moggie!

Fun in the Sun!

Mom and I took Ty and Holly's girls and my two to a splash pad on Wed. It was a great idea and the girls loved it--- for about an hour until it got too crowded. Here are a couple pics of the little sun goddesses!

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Ha! Ha, Morgan! I got you beat:)