Happy First Birthday, Tessa Kate!

Happy FIRST Birthday to Tessa Kate!  (On Saturday, the 24th, of course)  Until I get around to uploading pics and video from the party, let's reminisce about this day one year ago.  Tessa's Birth Story

She has been our Turkey, Sis/Sissy, Diva, Miss Priss, Stinky, Garbage Disposal, Ornery, Princess, Rotten, and Smiley.  But she is a really good girl who loves to give hugs.  Just don't cross her when she's hungry.

A Blanket Full of Blessings

Last Friday, the kiddos (Jalen, Tessa, & Mace) and I had our first picnic.  It was a beautiful day; still warm, but nice and cool in the shade, with a nice breeze blowing.  One of those days where you forget all your problems, just relax, breathe deep, soak up the sunshine, and thank God for your many, many blessings.

I don't remember if I've ever had a picnic.  I probably have, but we'll just say this is our first since it was for the kids.  I have a lovely and very practical picnic basket, given to us by our friends Rachel & Eric, but since this was a spontaneous moment and the picnic basket was in the basement, I went for the closest food-hauling contraption I could find.

As you can see from the pictures, Mace RSVP'd for the event, but he was very well behaved.  He is a pretty good pup even if he is stinky.  Miss Priss did ok as well, my #2 concern after the dog, although if she ran out of goldfish (fishies) on her plate, she was up wandering over to the basket to see what she could dump out.  And her "plate" full of fishies didn't last long; the entire blanket was pretty much her plate.  Jalen also did very well, staying to finish his PB&J before dismissing himself from the table/blanket.  It probably helps that it was nearly 2:00 by this time, so I'd guess everyone was pretty hungry!