The story of a blog stalker turned friend

Everyone who reads blogs has done it before. Blog stalking. I've done it and actually made a great friend out of the whole deal! I've been teased along the way, but I think it was a God thing...not a weird, creepy cyber stalker thing:)

Where to begin? Here's a long story made (somewhat) short. Introductions would be helpful. Here's Kelli, Kelly, Karen and me, in Target, December 2010. Three years ago, none of us were "real" friends.

My sister is Kelly (with a "y"). She and Kelli (with an "i", Karen's sister-in-law) became blog friends about four years ago. I noticed several comments from this Kelli girl (and had heard how much they had in common, through ACU and blogs). So, I naturally clicked on her name and started reading her blog. You know you've done that!!

I remember reading a post and seeing a comment by a "Karen". I think I noticed they were related, so I clicked on Karen's blog. Side note. We had just moved from Abilene and I had a newborn. I had a lot of time on my hands, and not very many people I knew (okay, that sounds kind of weird, but go with me). I started reading Karen's blog and found out that we had a LOT in common! In fact, our first girls are just a week apart in age and we both lived in Abilene at the same time only blocks from each other AND had the same OB. How weird is that? We probably saw each other at the office!

So, I started reading all about Karen's life. My Kelly knew about this and we would always laugh about how much we had in common and needed to meet. Well, sometime after I started reading Karen's blog, she made it private. Somehow I found out that she moved from Abilene and actually lived in the same town that I live in.

Here's where the long story gets shorter. I saw Karen twice around town, once actually speaking to her (and acting like I had no idea of all the things we had in common) because of a comment about Abilene in a maternity store. By the third time, I knew I needed to say something. So, in the Walmart parking lot one night in July 2008, I confessed. And, lucky for me, Karen didn't walk away slowly saying, "Weirdo." She actually invited me to read her private blog and then invited my family over for dinner!

And the rest is history. We have raised our kids together, potty trained together, homeschooled together, celebrated birthdays together and had lots of dinners together. Aside from the semi-creepy way that we met, I think it was a total God thing!

And, if I can just put the title "blog stalker" on the correct person, it would be my sister. She stalked Kelli with an "i" first. There, I said it. She's guilty, not me:)

Christmas....in April

I'm hoping to get my blog caught up before Max is born...which should be in 11 days!! I seriously can't believe how fast this pregnancy has flown by. But, actually, after you read this post from our December, you might understand why it's gone by so fast...we've been BUSY!!! December is always a crazy month for us. It seemed busy before kids, but adding two more birthdays in the month makes it a little nutty:)

First up, my sweet mother-in-law's surprise 60th birthday! I was really shocked, but I think we actually surprised her! We celebrated Sharon with some of her oldest and closest friends, a slideshow of her life and of course, with her family:

It's helpful that my in-laws and my own family live within a couple of hours of each other off (pretty much) the same highway. We usually get to see both sides while we're making the trip north.

After Sharon's par-tay, we headed down to Kelly and Wade's house. We got to celebrate Tate's 4th birthday with him. He had a super fun birthday surprise from his parents, a tour of the new Cowboys stadium! His day was complete with a Cowboys cake and a remote control monster truck:)

I was super excited to start a tradition of the Nutcracker with Mallory this year! We had a date, just the two of us, to McAlister's for dinner and then the show. Another fun surprise was her BFF, Bella, sitting right next to us at the show! We were on the second row, so the girls were loving it. The sweetest part was when we got in the car and immediately Mallory said, "Mommy, next year can Morgan go with us?" Already looking forward to a night with my girls this year at the Nutcracker!

Another fun tradition is Brad's faculty/staff Christmas dinner at UMHB. It's a family dinner and Santa comes out at the end. The day of the dinner, you drop off a gift for your child and Santa calls out their names and hands them the gift. Morgan would have nothing to do with Santa, so she almost didn't get her gift:) After seeing how much Mallory loved being a cheerleader at Halloween, we, I mean Santa, thought they would love UMHB outfits. They were/are a hit! They couldn't wait to try them on when we got home. Don't you love Morgan's post pigtail hair?!

The week before Christmas, our church had "Kid's Choir". This was Mallory's first year to sing. I was really shocked with how well she did. She knew all of the words and actually sang during both services! She looked mad the entire time, but at least she sang:) I could not get that girl to smile at me for anything! There was a comical moment with her tights. On the front row. Pulling her dress up and adjusting her tights from the ankle. All the way up the thigh. Oh yes, she did that:)

We were lucky to spend Christmas with both sides of the family this year. We headed up to Brad's parents a couple of days before Christmas. It's always a lot of fun when everyone is home together.

These four are complete goofballs when they are together. Who are the siblings in the picture? Julia and Mallory? Morgan and Johnathan?

Some quality time with the sisters-in-law, Jenn and LaShay:

The grandkids got to have a sleepover in Bmom and Pop's room. They ate popcorn and watched the Polar Express...and their parents got to sleep in until 8...best Christmas present ever!!

The whole gang! We were so grateful to have both sets of grandparents there this year.

We headed back to our house on Christmas Eve. I love this picture of the girls before church, just wish it wasn't blurry!

Mallory took this picture of me and Brad (and baby Max!). Bummer that it's blurry, too, but I still love it!

The girls left cookies and milk out for Santa (we're still not totally sure what we're going to do about Santa, but the traditions are too fun!). Once they got in bed, their presents and stockings were layed out. We did the three gifts again this year (like what the wisemen brought Jesus) and took the "before" picture:

We started another tradition with the girls this year, sister gifts! We took them each separately to pick out a $10 gift for each other. Hilarious. Mallory and Brad were done in five minutes. She picked a Hello Kitty stuffed animal out for Morgan. It took me and Morgan 45 minutes in Walmart. Forty five minutes! She could not decide on anything! She finally picked a headband game and purple bouncy ball. They were too cute giving their gifts to each other.

This is probably the last year for footie jammies for the girls. So cute, but so not practical (they are both hot natured at night)!

The day after Christmas, my family came to us! Mimi and Grandpa surprised the girls with new bikes! That was a pretty fun surprise for them!

Mallory looks so big on her new bike!

Grandpa getting Morgan's Barbie situated just right on the handle bars:)

My sister and her family arrived a little later. This little guy just smiled away in the bouncy chair watching the other crazy cousins running around:) Will is one of the happiest babies I know...hope those genes are in Max, too!

The crazies in their jammies before their sleepover. Cropped out of the picture is the Belle Barbie doll that Tate fell in love with. He is ALL boy, but for some reason has a fascination and crush on Belle:)

And, that will do it for December! It was a super month of FUN!!

Morgan turns "Freeeee!"

I saw a "birthday interview" on another blog and thought it'd be fun to do with this cutie:

Morgan turned three the week before Christmas. That is still weird to say (or type). I can't believe how fast the last three years have gone! We can't imagine our little family without this girl. She brings serious JOY to our lives! She is a lefty, naturally hilarious, such a cuddler, loves her sister (and baby "May-yax"-she has a serious twang when she says his name), could go by the name "Linus" (equally loves both of her thumbs and purple blanket), loves to color and loves to bust a move dancing. Someone told us we needed a "little Brad" when we found out we were pregnant. I told them we already had one:) We love our Morgie!

She celebrated with 15 of her little buddies at a donut party! We had her favorite donuts and everyone came in their jammies. It was a FUN party!

Here's Morgan, at 3 years old:

What's your name?

"M-O-R-G-A-um, um, um-N!!"

Where do you live?

"Temple"

Who is in your family?

"Baby May-yax, Mommy, Daddy and Madory"

What is your favorite color?

"Pink AND purple!"

What is your favorite drink?

"Water"

Your favorite thing to eat?

"Uuuummmmmm, pizza....at Mazzio's!"

What do you like to play with?

"Baby dolls and play friend with Madory"

Who is your best friend?

"Maddie!"

Who is your favorite princess?

"Madory!"

What color is your hair?

"Yellow"

What is your favorite song to sing?

"I may never march" (Lord's Army)
What are you going to do now that you are three?

"Stop sucking my thumb and chew gum!"

We love you Morgie Porgie! You (and your hair!) have grown so much in the last year! We can't wait to watch you grow even more and become a BIG sister this year!

I'm back!

Well, sort of.

I want to keep this blog updated. I really do. Someday, when my kids ask to look through their baby book, they are going to need something that documented their lives!

Let's see...I've got Thanksgiving, homeschooling, my mother-in-law's surprise 60th birthday par-tay, Morgan's 3rd birthday, Mallory singing in the kid's choir at church, Chirstmas #1, Christmas #2 and the "Christmas that almost wasn't" to blog about. Plus, a bunch of fun stuff and house projects in between. Whew!

I have been in a nesting mode the last few weeks. Guess it traveled to my blog as well! I was ready for a change. I've had the previous design for over 2 years (and loved it Shauna!). I don't really want to pay for a new design right now (since Max will be added soon), so this will do.

So, I'll be back. With lots of words and lots of pictures.

Until then, here's one reason why I've been slacking at updating my blog....

25 weeks

(next time I'll have someone, other than the timer, take the picture!):

This little guy has me pretty much exhausted as soon as his sisters go to bed! But, I wouldn't trade the exhaustion, heartburn, lovely varicose veins on my legs, HUGE belly (I feel so much bigger than I did with the girlies at this stage) or crazy kicks for anything!

Oh, and he officially has a name since last I blogged....Max Edward. The girls are crazy about "baby Max" and cannot wait for him to come out and play!

Oh boy!

It was a big day in the Bankhead house today! For 3 months now, we've been anticipating the BIG ultrasound to find out what this baby is! I was totally expecting girl (since that is what we're good at making around here!), but we were shocked/surprised to find out....

It's a BOY!!!

Here's a profile picture of our little guy with his hand by his mouth:

Things will be quite different around here in April! The girls are completely excited about having a baby brother. Of course Brad is pumped! He's already laying the ground rules about how he can be dressed, what the nursery will look like and what in the world I'm supposed to do with a BOY! It's going to be a fun five months preparing for this little guy to join our family.

I feel like I need to keep saying and writing it to help it sink in...we're having a boy, we're having a boy....we're having a BOY!!!!

Pumpkins and Halloween

Beware. This post is picture overload. There was just too much cuteness (and festivities) not to include them all! So, grab a snack, sit back and enjoy! Oh, and they are all out of order, so just roll with it....

This is what the girls' costumes were supposed to be. Mallory denied every costume idea I gave her (Fern and Wilbur? Come on, how cute would that have been?). I gave in and let them both be Little Mermaid. A friend let us borrow the dresses and another came through for this gem:

Is that not the most hilarious costume ever? Maybe just because it's on a 4 year old. I was so excited and giggling so hard...maybe a little too hard. Mallory loved it at home. She kept running to the mirror to look at her "crazy hair". Once we pulled up to playgroup, she got stagefright. Poor thing. She got a serious look on her face and said, "Mommy, I don't want everyone to laugh at me or look at me". Ugh. One of the traits I wish I hadn't passed down! She wore the wig in the door and immediately asked to take it off. I let her and she had a great time at the party.

The next week, she could wear her costume for gymnastics. Ariel isn't quite the easiest costume to do cartwheels in, so last minute, I said, "Hey, why don't you wear your CAL cheerleader outfit?" She was sold...and Ariel was history:)

What a long night of trick or treating (and maybe some candy thrown in) will do to little girls:

The most creative costume, Mr. Solomon came dressed as the army guy from Toy Story (the whole family dressed as characters, but I didn't get a family shot). Way impressed!

Group shot of the adorableness that is kids in costume:

Our little family:

Morgan and her buddy, Asa...I think he's more interested in getting to the next house for candy!

Some of the cutest babies around...wish you could see that lion's leg rolls in real life!

Morgan and her other buddy, Pierson:

We made it to one pumpkin patch this year. Not sure it's really a "patch". More like a church that puts a lot of pumpkins out each year and all the city folk come to take pictures. Either way, it has everything a kid could want...pumpkins everywhere and lots of room to run around.

I heard Mallory yelling, "Mommy, look at me!" and about had a heart attack thinking she had climbed this tree all by herself...and then I saw my frined Anna....who hoisted her up there! Mallory was way proud of herself!

Best attempt at a sister picture:

Best attempt at a playgroup picture:

Fall Festival fun was had by all!

With our buddies, Gunnar and Bella:

Our other buddy, Maddie:

Morgan showing off her facepaint...this is the face that makes it hard to discipline sometimes:)

Heading off for some Festival fun! I did not prompt their posing at all...seriously. I think Mallory was born a cheerleader...and Morgan was born cute:)

Sister love:

Adorable!

Can't believe Thanksgiving is coming up! We'll find out what this baby is a week from Tuesday!

Oh, and check out Jelby's to start your holiday shopping early! I'm hosting a giveaway for holiday shirts...I'd love to "see" you there!

Remembering Grandpa

A few weeks ago, my grandfather passed away. He lived a long and full 86 years. It really wasn't until the beginning of August that he started going downhill. I was sad to hear of him passing, but thankful he wasn't suffering anymore. It's such a weird emotion to have.

I am so thankful that the girls and I got to go out to Roseville last September. We helped him celebrate his big 85th birthday! Mallory got to know her great grandfather and make some fun memories with him!

My sister and I flew out together and met the rest of the family.

At the post-funeral lunch, there was a lot of memorabilia from my grandpa's life. I can't describe how much he loved Cal Berkeley. He was a die hard. I loved seeing all of his high school and college stuff.

His beanie from his freshman year at Cal:

He started writing his life story in journals about 2 years ago. My mom went through them all and typed them up for all of us to have. I'm so thankful for the sharp memory (that we always teased about) he had. It really was amazing...and totally skipped a generation:)

I didn't realize, until I started reading the memoir, that he retired as a Colonel in the Army! I blame it on being a girl and not being interested in those stories growing up:) I'm sure I wasn't just begging him to tell me all about World War 2 and what the Army was like. It's interesting now though!!

Because of his achievements in the military, he was buried with full honors at the Sacramento National Cemetery. Wow. The ceremony was amazing. "Taps" on a bugle, "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes and the folding of the flag. All of it was so moving and honoring. I loved that my grandpa was honored in that way.





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The siblings: Aunt Barbara, Dad and Uncle Mike

After the memorial service, we went back to Grandpa's house with some family. We all told stories about him, looked through photo albums and watched a taped interview from a couple years back (about his days in the Army). It was a great ending to a special day.

It was also my Uncle Mike's birthday! So, later that night, we all went to dinner to celebrate with him:

Also, while were in California, my cousin went into pre-term labor! Amy wasn't due until the end of October. Luckily (for us!), she delivered (a healthy) baby girl, Audrey Ella, early the next morning. We were able to drive into San Francisco and meet my second cousin!

What a perfect trip, with lots of celebrations! I'm thankful for my Grandpa and to celebrate the life he lived. He and that smile will be missed!