Coming out of the fog

Wow... last post was in April and it was super dooper outdated.  All I can say is SORRY!  There is really no way I can even begin to catch up from where I left off, so I guess I will just have to give you the short list and attempt to not slack off anymore.

Life is crazy busy... that is fact, not an excuse. 

If I am not going 90 to nothing, then I feel like something is wrong.

Where are we now....
 
Todd-

• Still the associate principal of a school full of middle schoolers. 
• Still an avid hunter with no time to hunt and a deer lease that tends to be more of a place to go work your butt off for the weekend rather than hunt. 
• Gone garden crazy... we have lots of different veggies and herbs planted.  Sometimes I think the multiple gardens are just a way to take over the space that I keep claiming as the spot the pool will be built.
• Still running on occasions.

Kaelin-

• started 1st grade and is LOVING it.  She feels like she is such a big girl because she is at "big school"
• still doing jazz
• still doing gymnastics
• still playing softball
• has become such a great helper with Macie
• she LOVES her little sister

Macie-

• will be 2 in about 1 month
• the "terrific" 2's started quite a while ago
• total tornado (best way to describe her)
• she talks non-stop and has a vocabulary far beyond her age (sassy attitude far beyond her age too)
• she absolutely idolizes Kaelin (when she grows up, I really think she wants to be Kaelin)

Me-

• still running when I get a chance
• still working as the district coordinator for student assessments
• should seriously trade my car in for a taxi because I am constantly shuttling someone from one place to another
• had an unexpected trip to the hospital at the end of August (worthy of its own post later)

That about sums up the Hicks' and the whirl wind we call life. 

Cake Time

Last birthday blog... I promise.  This is by far my favorite part of Macie's birthday. 

Bring it on!!!  Macie was ready and patiently (for about 30 seconds) waiting for the cake!

Fire scares me a little... don't you remember when I grabbed the candle off of my cupcake a few months ago.

Ummmm... this stuff is pretty good.

Ummm... this stuff is REALLY good.

Dig in...

I think I will give my birthday cake a little massage.

Birthday cake... where????

All that cake make a girl thirsty.

Drink time is over... back to the cake.

Can you see all the cake in my mouth?

I might need a bath after this.  (In fact, Macie got hosed down with the water hose before being allowed in the house).

LOVE THESE 3 Kids!

Party Time

Such a fun day with some really great friends that came out for Macie's 1st birthday party.

Kids coloring their Rock Star posters... who knew kids would be able to sit still and enjoy something like that. The posters turned out great.

Stephanye and Kinley Jo... such sweet friends

Heather and Brandi... love these crazy girls. I am blessed to have such great friends.

Macie was thinking about coloring (or maybe just eating a marker)

Macie was just trying to help Kaelin (who has pink hair and a truck load of pony tails in her hair)

The look on Macie's face is screaming "I desperately need a nap".

Introducing The Rock Star

Hello Rock Star....

Yes... she has a Mohawk....

and I sprayed it pink....

after all... it is a Rock Star party and she had to look the part. Her dress says "Being 1 Rocks" which was half of the inspiration for the Rock Star theme, the other half was Macie's wild personality. It only seemed fitting to have a party that reflected her personality. Zebras, mohawks, guitars, and a rock star stage are all things that scream Macie.

The Rock Star birthday cakes

Continuing on my procrastination journey... I am still updating from Macie's birthday party. But rest assured, I will get off of the birthday party and move to Thanksgiving and Christmas and then sometime over the next year, I might even make it to some topics that are currently going on. Wow... staying current and up-to-date is a daunting task. Don't think I am just running behind on blogging... this is a direct reflection of everything I do right now.

Macie's big birthday cake- fit for a rockstar

Macie's smash cake- wow... wait until you see the "smashing" she did.

Macie's 1 year breakfast

Poor Macie... She looks so sad. She was ready for a nap. She got the breakfast birthday pancakes with a candle in them. (I have done this for Kaelin for the last 5 years, so it is time for the tradition to be carried over to Macie as well).

Enjoying the birthday pancake

Yummy... now I need a nap before my party

Party fit for a Rock Star

Macie's first birthday (remember... this was back in October but my busy life and procrastination got in the way of getting this posted)

Macie's 1st birthday party was fit for a Rock Star.

I was inspired to do a Rock Star theme because of my Rockin' Wild Child. Rock Star just fit her personality. Then I found a super cute dress that just sealed the deal on the party theme. (pictures of the dress and the Rock Star to come in a future post)

The Rock Star Candy Bar- tons of goodies

Rock Star inspired chocolate covered oreos

Rockin' Chocolate Covered Marshmallows

Cake Balls... Yummy

Chocolate covered pretzels

More candy... sorry parents... I am not footing the dental bill

"Girls Rock" blinged out sign

Rock Star Stage

Inflatable guitars for all of the little rock stars

Fun things... the kids made Rock Star posters, colored Rock Star coloring books, and made guitar ornaments.

The VIP table... each little Rock Star got to pick up a back stage pass, some cool 80's inspired glasses, and get their hair sprayed a funky color

The backstage pass

The Rockin' 80's glasses and the Rock Star tatoos. (each of the tables had pictures of Macie throughout the last year- that was probably my favorite part. I just loved seeing where we were and where we are now.- WOW)

The drink table- we had "It rocks being 1" juice and water

This was a super fun party. The theme was very Macie. Although Kaelin left the party saying she wants her next birthday to be Rock Star themed.