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Make sure you click on March in the right hand column to see all of our latest blog entries. I'll try to add some more tomorrow, or possibly tonight. I am trying to play catch up right now, so it will most likely take a few days.

Enjoy!!!

Last Day In Houston...Spent in Brenham

For our last day in Houston, Ben, Jovi, Oma, and I drove to Brenham to meet with Oma's bestfriend, Barbara. Barbara lives in Austin, and her son, Chris, and her granddaughter, Athena, were in from Hawaii.

So we went to lunch with our friends, and then went to the Bluebell Creamery.

Jovi and Oma waiting for Ms Barbara, Chris, and Athena to arrive.

Oma is so much fun.

Eating lunch with Athena & Oma. Jovi and Athena got along great.

It was nice hanging out with a girl after an all boys birthday party.

Athena is such a cutie pie. She cracked us up.

The whole gang at the Bluebell Creamery.

Oma, me, Ben, Jovi, Chris, Athena, and Barbara.

Barbara and Chris.

The boys with their girls.

Chris and Ben were friends when they were kids, but they had not seen each other in about 8 years. Its hard to get together with your pal when he lives all the way out in Hawaii.

Although, I wouldn't complain if we went for a visit. HA HA!

Oma with the girls.

Athena is such a ham. HA!

The grandmas with their granddaughters.

Take 2

Think Jovi's getting sleepy?

What a cutie.

Eating ice cream...aka: the best part of the tour.

Jovi representing her Bluebell Ice Cream.

You just can't take the Bluebell out of a Texas girl.

It's one of the things I miss the most. **sob sob**

Birthday Party #2

The day after Jovi's birthday party at Oma's house, PawPaw Joe & Grandma Jeanie came into town from Arkansas, so Great Aunt Karen threw Jovi a second birthday party at her house.

Jovi's not a bit spoiled...or loved. :)PawPaw Joe came to my parent's house first while we waited for Aunt Karen, Uncle Clyde, and Stevie to get home from church. He gave Jovi lots of cuddles.

Jovi loved her birthday card from her PawPaw Joe and Great Grandma Jeanie.

Beautiful little one year old face. I wish I could preserve that innocence forever.

Aunt Karen even got Jovi an adorable puppy birthday cake.

Rehydrating with PawPaw Joe.

He loves her so much. I'm so glad Jovi has gotten to meet her PawPaw Joe.

We usually only see him every other summer, but Jovi has gotten to meet him twice in one year.

She's super lucky.

And she loves PawPaw Joe very, very much.

Playing piano with Great Grandma Jeanie.

They played Claire DeLune by Debussy.

Jovi loves music.

This made Great Grandma Jeanie a hit with Jovi.

Jovi even played a little bit herself.

Move over Elton John!

Jovi & Great Aunt Karen played with marshmallows for a little while.

As if Jovi hadn't had enough junk food this weekend.

They also talked to Penny, Pumpkin, and Peanut through the window.

Jovi got a little upset until Mono (Jovi's other great grandma) picked her up and soothed her.

That made her feel much better.

Jovi conducting the "YEA" crew.

Umm...yep, I'd say she has them right where she wants them. HA!

This is priceless.

After her party, we went back to Oma's house for the night, and Oma fed her what was probably the only healthy meal she had the entire weekend.

But hey, that's what birthday weekends are about, right?

Jovi's 1st Birthday Party!!!

Okay, so this is a HUGE HUGE entry...but Jovi had such an awesome 1st birthday party at Oma's house in Houston! We had to include all the wonderful fun we had.

The day started with Mommy making pretty cupcakes for our cupcake themed party.

Our little party bags for our guest.
Here's Jovi in her birthday outfit...not her birthday suit, ha ha. Jovi with Daddy, Mommy, Uncle David, and Auntie Grace.

Jovi loves Uncle David and Auntie Grace.

The Big Birthday Girl!

Playing with Uncle David & Auntie Grace, so that Mommy could mingle with our guests.

Jovi with PawPaw.Talking to Ms Christi.

Getting a cold drink with Grandma Froggie.

Getting a snack with Uncle David, Mommy, and Auntie Grace.

Jovi and Auntie Grace.

Craft time: the little kids got to make scarves, but apparently, Uncle David and Grace decided they wanted to join in on the fun.

Mommy and Jovi

The Garrison Family: Christi, Christopher, and Justin.

Jovi and Mr. Henny...she loves balloons.

Jovi getting sugars from Mr. Blair.

Jovi and Ms. Amber "Whoa, Mr. Branson is tall, Mommy"**gulp**

Playing on the floor amidst the crazy party house.

My adorable nephews, Hudson & Jackson.

Jovi playing with Ashton.

Ashton and Jovi were born on the same day. So we celebrated both 1st birthdays!

Ashton and his daddy making a scarf.
We let the kids decorate cupcakes in the garage. I made some samples, but they got to put whatever decorations they wanted. What can I say? I encourage creativity. :)

Tsk, tsk, tsk....Ms. Christi stealing a cupcake, JAH JAH JAH!

Ms. Christi, Christopher, Ms. Kim, Ehren, Anderson, Jackson, Aunt Stacy, and Huddy.

Ms. Christi helping Christopher make a cupcake, and Jackson concentrating hard on his creation. Check out that face.

Great Aunt MaryAnna making a cupcake with Cousin Joseph, and Cousins Jackson and Huddy, too.

Oma helping out. We love our Oma. She made Jovi's bday so special, and we are so lucky to have a great mother/mother-in-law that would allow us to have all of our crazy friends in her home. Thanks Oma! You're the awesomest!

Jovi's 1st Birthday Cake. It was so yummy. We even put a cupcake on it, so she could tear into it.

Look how nicely the cake matches our plates and napkins.

"It's All About You Cupcake!"

Delicious!

Everyone gathered around to sing Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Song

Preparing to dig into the cake. Jovi wasn't quite sure about everyone singing to her, or the papparazzi like camera flashes. HA HA!

We let Jovi have her cupcake first, so she wouldn't contaminate the cake.

Messy hands.

Pink icing is awesome.

Mommy had to do a taste test....of course. What kind of mother would I be if I didn't make sure the cake was good enough for my daughter on her special day?

Jovi gave Uncle David a high five, so then we all had to clean our hands.

Then Mommy fed Jovi some of her bday cake.

She opened her mouth really big for that....too bad she doesn't do that for veggies!

Operation Birthday Party is a SUCCESS!!!

Jovi needed some water after all that cake. She's my little gerbil.

Uh-oh...and the boys are already trying to steal her sugars...but that's okay cause Anderson is a sweetheart, and it was just birthday kisses.

More cake.

"Can you say SASSY!?"

"Yea Birthday Parties!"

Jovi fell out of her booster seat, but it didn't spoil her birthday fun for very long...

...cause then we moved onto PRESENTS!!!

Jovi playing with her Little People Carnival while wearing her new Doctor Zhivago hat from Uncle David & Auntie Grace.Among her toys.Grandma Froggie, Ms. Amber, and Ms. Tina watching her open her gifts.
Everyone watching Jovi open gifts, and Uncle Nate being the photographer. Great Uncle Darryll & Great Aunt MaryAnna came to Jovi's party, too.
Mr. Ryan gave Jovi an awesome froggy to play with.
And it was a big hit with everyone...especially Huddy. Opening gifts.Mr. Branson gave Jovi an I-Pood Shirt, ha ha. So funny!
The Motley Crue. Talk about the wrong stuff. Branson, Ryan, Frank, Ben, and Adam. Mr. Ryan trying get a hold of Jovi, but she wouldn't leave Ms. Tina. Jovi and Ms. Tina. Ms. Dee (Mimi), Mommy, Jovi, and Ms. Amber.
Mommy-Daughter Photo.Happily roaming Oma's house after all of our guest had left. She had a great day, and so did Mommy and Daddy. We're so lucky to have such great friends and family that care about us & our little love bug so much. Thanks for celebrating with us everyone! We love yall.Jovi sitting with Huelo and Chloe. Time to relax.Giving Oma thank you's for her awesome party. Oma is super cool!

Whooopf! I'm pooped now. That was probably the longest blog entry ever. Hope you enjoyed, and for those of you that couldn't make it - we missed ya. Hope this made you feel like you were there.