Photo shoot for BE Cute Boutique

My friend Brenda is starting an on-line boutique called Be Cute Boutique. She makes custom adorable kids clothes for little boys and girls. Sunday afternoon we dressed her daughter and Caroline in her Halloween girls line for a photo shoot. I was very honored she asked me to take pictures for her. Here are several of my favorites and here is a link to her Facebook page and another to her blog.

Spootacular Tea Party

One day to two halfs

Like last year Caroline has not been napping this year at school. Yesterday during breakfast we went through our weekly ritual of reviewing how she is to behave at school: listen to your teacher, tell her when you need to potty, be nice to your friends. Our last behavioral review was on napping. "Caroline, when your teacher tells you it's nap time you need to lay on your mat, close your eyes and go nigh-nighty." Her response was, "NO! Books! Sit, read books!" Telling me she has no plan to nap! That morning I told her teacher I'm going to give it a couple weeks and see if she naps but if she doesn't we'll switch her to half days. She said not to worry about. They keep Caroline busy reading books during nap time and it was no biggie.

Later that afternoon when I came to pick her up the school director and both her teachers told me they thought it was a great idea to switch her to half days. Apparently Caroline had not only refused to nap and thrown a fit when they tired to bring her out of the classroom but she also keep her fellow classmates awake. Sooo, starting next week she'll be going to school two half days instead of one full day.

I'm finally around to posting pictures from Mike and Leah's wedding weekend. My last post was some of the pictures from the actually wedding but this post is the weekend events. It was great to have almost everyone in town. Most of my Mom's siblings flew in from Chicago with my sister Mary. Peter and Ceara flew in from Cleveland (we missed Ethan and Michelle though) and everyone else drove from Tulsa and Houston. Ceara and Peter stayed at our place and we LOVED having them. They flew in Thursday and we had a quite evening hanging out at our house with the Morris'. Amy, Andrew and Zach (it was their Dad's wedding) drove up late that night and stopped by. Friday morning everyone (besides Tim's family) had arrived in Dallas and met at our house. Caroline was so funny. She would boss around my brothers like they were her personal assistance. She had one getting her juice, one taking her potty, another getting her food, one drawing a bath for her and another was required to attend her tea party. She had them wrapped around her little fingers! We hung out, ate breakfast then broke up into one group going bowling and the other getting our nails done. Saturday everyone met at our neighborhood pool to hang out before getting ready for the wedding. We rented out the club house because it was miserably hot that weekend.

The two C's: Ceara and Caroline

Andrew Friday morning

Uncle Tom, Noreen, Mike and others hanging at my place

C with Uncle Peter

A Redmond get together isn't complete without a little jam! I've missed hearing my Aunt Kathy sing. Her voice brings back a lot of good memories and makes me feel peaceful.

Tea party. I love this picture of Sarah cracking up and Peter wearing the little toddler size strawberry hat!

Aunt Kathy and Valiree

Saturday at the pool. Sarah, Josh, Aunt Kathy and Sandy hanging out in the water

Aren't they beautiful cousins! Val, Andrea, Ceara and Katie

Aunt Kath, Rick and Val

Super cool studs: Will, Peter and Ben

Chilling in the clubhouse

Peter playing guitar and singing to Caroline

About to kiss her Uncle Daniel. She loves him along with all the other uncles. I think she knows they're family even though she doesn't see them often.

I was so happy Uncle Tom and Gail (and Aunt Kathy and Noreen) could make it down for the weekend.

Chris and my bro/cousin Phil (Aunt Noreen's son)

The two Cs eating breakfast the next morning!

Mike and Leah's Wedding - 08/20/2011

Last weekend was my brother Mike's wedding. Our brother Tim officiated the ceremony (he also did our wedding), Mike's daughter and sons, our brothers, Leah's son and her closest friends stood for them. She had her best friend/mentor walk her down the aisle which I thought was pretty cool. It was a beautiful, heartfelt ceremony and you could feel the love between them. The reception was a lot of fun too! The Redmond (and Harris) side of the family hit the dance floor as soon as the music started. Our Mom's favorite song, C&C Music Factory's Everybody Dance Now, was a favorite. The night ended with a group of us (including the bride and groom) meeting at Denny's in the ghetto at about 2:00 am. That makes for interesting people watching let me tell you!

The entire weekend was a lot of fun. It was much more peaceful compared to other times our big clan has gotten together. I guess we are all at better places in our lives and more comfortable in our own skin. More pictures will follow but right now I've got to get back to getting ready for C's first day of school tomorrow and packing & laundry.

The men walking down the "aisle"

Zach and Andrew (who wore his Marine uniform) and John

Brother Peter and our niece Amy (C calls her May-mee)

BTW, C named her ORU stuffed lion May-mee tonight

Tim, Andrew and Amy

First dance

Father/daughter dance with Andrew cutting in to dance with his sister. Zach isn't much for the spot light so he quietly watched his siblings.

Mother/son dance

Andrea telling Katie a story

My niece and nephews minus a few. Caroline is the youngest of 21 grandkids on my side!

We never get our picture taken together anymore. Thanks Amy!

Cake!

Family Tea Party

Caroline is really into having tea parties right now...I mean REALLY into tea parties. We have about a dozen everyday. She sets up her favorite stuffed animals, which currently are Buzz Lightyear, Tinker Bell and her Bitty Baby, gets everyone dressed up and pours the tea. This weekend I moved her kitchen, tea set and a few other toys into her room to give her a "big girl room" even though she is still in her crib. I put together a "dress-up" box full of hats, old necklaces, gloves and handbags. She is thrilled with her new set up. The first thing out of her mouth when she wakes is "tea, tea!" Here are a few pictures from a tea party we had with Reagan. Even Daddy joins in the fun!

Buzz needs a hat for the big event

Tinker Bell and Bitty Baby are patiently waiting for their tea

Daddy helping her put on her fancy gloves

Yea!!

Pouring Mommy some tea.