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Showing posts from 2013

Christmas Eve Elf Shenanigans

I thought we would give you a glimpse of some of the silly things Mr. Elfis (our Elf) did Christmas Eve before returning to Santa Claus.  We went to Dallas on Monday and luckily our elf (who Gabby named Snowball, then Snowball Snow Flake, but whose name is really Mr. Elfis) hopped in a car seat so he could make the journey safely to Grandma and Grandpa's and meet Ralphie, Emma and Brody's Elf. Here are the shenanigans they got into while waiting for Santa to arrive and while we were all asleep: Proof that the elves took these photos all by themselves.  If you look closely between the first two photos you can see Mr. Elfis' hand move pushing the button.   Snacking on the kid's gingerbread houses. Drinking Gabby's milk hanging upside down. What were they thinking?! Soaring with the eagles (Gabby's favorite bird). Ralphie riding a horse. Ralphie sneaking in a stocking. Mr. Elfis sliding down the banister

Christmas Eve at the McIlroy's

Christmas Eve was a day filled with fun, giggling, and excitement.  We woke up extra early so I could watch Brody while Aunt Sharon and Grandma went to work.  Gabby and Emma played upstairs all morning occasionally allowing Brody to join in the fun.  Then, we helped them make gingerbread houses, which they all made with very little help and all turned out great.  After they finished their gingerbread houses, we bundled up, and headed to Chick-Fil-A.  The kids played for over an hour while Michael, Grandpa, and I visited and watched the kids play.  Brody's on the left and Gabby's on the right Emma's gingerbread house Once we arrived home Grandma and Aunt Sharon were home from work and there was more playing (of course).  Then  it was time to get dressed for church.  The service was wonderful, Gabby and Emma loved it! They got to sit up front for a part of the service and watch children do a play and sing songs.  The service celebrating Jesus’ birth ended

Christmas Came Early

Since we were going to Dallas to celebrate Christmas with Michael’s family, we had an early Christmas with Grandma, Papa, Nanny, Uncle Patrick, Great Aunt Ellen, and Aunt Kasey stopped by.  It was a quiet celebration but very fun.   Grandma, Papa, and Aunt Ellen arrived early and soaked up a little time watching Gabby excitedly run around impatiently waiting to open gifts.  They ate gumbo while we waited for Nanny and Uncle Patrick to arrive.  Nanny and Uncle Patrick drove from Shreveport and directly to our house that day to have Christmas.  As soon as everyone arrived, we unloaded all of the gifts flooding the living room and then, without giving Nanny and Uncle Patrick a moment to breathe, began opening Christmas gifts.  We laughed and opened gifts for about an hour….well Gabby opened gifts that long, we all enjoyed watching.  Gabby racked up getting money for her college fund, a personalized Doc McIlroy doctor’s lab coat, doc McStuffin’s toys, a really cool ball you throw a

Thanksgiving 2013

Thanksgiving Day we all with to Grandma and Papa’s house to enjoy a traditional Cajun dinner and it was delicious.  Gigi, Blakeleigh, Brandy, Nanny, Uncle Patrick, Grandma, Papa, Aunt Lisa, Aunt Christine, and Keith were all there to celebrate with us.  Gabby enjoyed the day immensely playing with Blakeleigh the entire day and even trying to snuggle with her during her nap time.  Gabby made everyone sing "Happy Birthday" to Mommy and she blew out the candles Then Brandy and Blakeleigh spent two nights with us.  We had lots of fun going to Mud Pie to make handprint Christmas cookie plates and hanging out at Grandma’s house.  Gabby enjoyed very much singing Happy Birthday to Mommy with the family and blowing out my candle.  The night of my birthday Gabby spend the night with Grandma and Papa and Nanny, Uncle Patrick, Mommy and Daddy went to the movies together for the first time ever.  It was a very fun weekend.   Thanking Gigi for the new pretty dr

Nerdy 30!

Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Sharon, Emma, and Brody all came to visit the weekend before Thanksgiving.  We had a wonderful time visiting (even though I didn’t get to be there as much as I would like because I had to go to a baby shower). Gabby and Emma were, as usual, inseparable and constantly giggling about one thing or another. All of the kids went with Aunt Sharon to visit her friends and they had a blast playing with other kids.  Then, once all arrived back to the house we went out to dinner at Zio’s one of our favorite Italian restaurants.  After dinner Aunt Sharon took the kids back to the house while we stopped at the store on the way home to get a drink for me.  Once we arrived at the house and opened the door I was greeting loudly with “Surprise!” by Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Sharon, Brody, Emma and all of my friends! The first thing I saw and heard when I walked through the door was sweet little Gabby front and center, holding her giant black framed nerd glasses on her

We're Debt Free!

Officially as of October 29 th  our family is DEBT FREE! After many years of sacrifice and hard work we have paid off all our debt including my monster of student loans.    It was a tedious roller coaster of emotions trying to pay off student loans which seemed impossible.    Gabby my dear, our sweet little family is debt free and very excited to teach you how to live this lifestyle.    We do not intend to ever go back and we expect you to go to college with no debt and to pay cash for all things you want in life including cars.    Our lives being debt free will be free of a lot of stress and worry that other families endure due to over extending themselves.    Since we no longer have those emotions filling up our lives we can instead fill those voids with more love and laughter that you give us every day.    Hopefully making your life fun and memorable and helping you to achieve your own goals and dreams as you grow up.    We did all of this for you baby girl!    We love you and hope

A Month in Heaven

Gabby, Today, it has been one month since your Gigi McIlroy went to heaven.  You can learn a multitude about her life by reading her favorite Bible scripture.  She lived her life by these words.  Hopefully, one day when you are old enough to understand it, you will see that your Daddy and I also try to live by these words, and I know you will live life like her favorite scripture suggests. I Peter 4:7-11 "But the end of all things at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.  And above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins.' Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.  As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.  If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the

Ballerina Tea Party

Today was the day Gabby has been talking about since Papa surprised us with tickets to a ballerina tea party! Gabby and I went and had lunch and Grandma and Papa's with Daddy, got all dolled up, and headed to the tea party! Practicing her dance moves before arriving at the tea party Trying to be like Mommy As soon as we arrived at the party, Gabby was shown into the Sugar Plum Salon, where young ballerinas (not in costume) put on make up and did her hair.  Then it was off to get her nails painted and take a photo with the Sugarplum Fairy from the Nutcracker.  Finally, after being pampered, we entered the tea party, which was filled with finger foods and decadent desserts.  Gabby was in heaven! She filled her plate with cheese, crackers, sandwiches, cookies, cupcakes, and other sweet treats.  After setting our plates on the table we went to choose which raffles Gabby wanted to sign up for. After looking at all of the choices she put most of her tickets in an Ameri