You Make Me Feel So Young

Coming out from under my rock...

I have always had a "people pleasing problem", where I really want everyone to like me, but unfortunately everyone just doesn't. It used to literally crush me and I'd try to fix it at any cost, but I'm learning (FINALLY!), in my 30's (YIKES), that I really don't have to please anyone. I just need to live my life, loving my family and striving to be a Godly example to others. So, with that said, we are not "going private" on our blog, we are just going to share with the people that love us and hope that people that don't care for us will leave us alone.

I LOVE sharing my fun family memories with you all and hope to be a better blogger now that I'm out from under my rock! HA! New fun posts coming soon, along with a great new video of Anna Claire singing! In the mean time here's an awesome picture from our recent photo shoot with Kelly Blankenship! He did a phenomenal job!

I just love my little family!

One more from Christmas...

Can you tell I finally down loaded all of my FLIP videos? Sheesh!

Soccer is over...But wasn't she cute???

Anna Claire is STILL singing...

Temporary Home

Anna Claire or Taylor Swift?

I should be blogging but...

But, we've been a little busy loving on our "Baby Cole"!

I just can't stand it!

Doesn't she look SO big to you? I just can't believe she will be FIVE in less than two months! I'm fighting off the tears...kindergarten is around the corner! BUT, that does mean new FUN, FUN times ahead for Anna Claire and our family! I just love this girl to pieces!

Catching my breath...

I had NO IDEA how simple and wide open my agenda was before Brad and I married in November! I mean I am LOVING every minute of it, but WOW! Not only was I single before, with this one small child...

But I didn't realize just how much slack my parents picked up for me! My Mom did most of the cooking, cleaning, etc. and my evenings consisted of grading papers, reading, catching up on TV shows, etc. I was able to do pretty much whatever I wanted! I was spoiled I tell you...SPOILED!

Well real life has set in and I am now in the full swing of being Wife, Mommy, step-mom, teacher, cook, cleaning lady, etc. I am trying to do my very best at each one. It is great...just BUSY! Don't get me wrong, Brad is SO helpful! Seriously...he cleans the kitchen EVERY NIGHT for me and does anything he can to help me! :) I am blessed!

Anyway, we are in the midst of soccer season for BOTH girls! Anna Claire is on a co-ed team called The Little Monkeys. She is loving it and scored her first goal last weekend. Shelby plays for a team called the Dolls. She is really good! Brad is trying his best to refrain from coaching from the side lines. It is REALLY hard for him to be quiet! :) HA!

Over Valentines weekend we hosted a family get together with some of Brad's family! As you can see we had a lot of fun!

On Valentines Day the girls and I met my cousin Holly and her sweet girls for a lunch at Snuffers and then manicures for all! You know, being a Mommy gives the "day of love" a whole new meaning!
Sutton getting her nails painted

Shelby chose the color red!

Anna Claire LOVES anything girly!

Saylor and A.C. drying their nails!

Anna Claire got fifths disease a couple of weeks ago and missed her last Children's Day Out "Drive in Movie Day". Poor girl! We made the best of it and she ate her breakfast, lunch and snack in her "car". She said it made her feel better!

Also, in BIG news at our house...ANNA CLAIRE'S HAIR IS LONG ENOUGH FOR PIG TAILS!!! She couldn't be happier. :)

We also have recently taken a trip to the farm to see my Pappy, played in the snow, and I helped host a baby shower for my sister-in-law and friend.

Due to picture overload...those will be in my next post!

Happy SPRING ya'll!

TWIN-SY Weekend...

This weekend was jam-packed with celebrating people I love! First we went to the CUTEST Elmo party I have ever seen! My friend Becca has the sweetest twin boys and they turned ONE on Sunday! We went to their party on Saturday and had a great time! I cannot believe they are already one! They have so much personality and we just love them to pieces!

Happy birthday Jordan and Nathan! We love you!

And then last night before we watched (gabbed through) the Super Bowl, my sweet friend Ashley and her husband Robert announced what gender their twins were going to be! They had these cute little cakes and let Ashley's parents each cut one to reveal what their new grand-babies will be!

Ashley found out on Friday and was VERY nervous they wouldn't be able to tell...but they were! And the babies will be....

Do you see the PINK and the BLUE??? I can't wait to meet her sweet babies this summer! Congratulations Ashley, Robert and Caroline! WE love you guys!

Let's Just Say...

Anna Claire's Valentines might have

something to do with this...

On another note for those of you who haven't checked Facebook today ...here was our latest conversation...

Anna Claire: Mommy, let's live in an apartment after we live here. I've always wanted to live in an apartment.

Me: No thank you. :) But you can when you move out to go to college and live by yourself.

***SHE BREAKS OUT INTO A FULL SOB***

Me: Oh my goodness! What's the matter?

Anna Claire: I do not ever want to live by myself! You will be my roomate! We will watch movies, stay up late, read Junie B. Jones books, and snuggle.

Yeah, okay Anna Claire...I'll run that by you when you're 18!

Oh how I love her. :)

Happy Birthday Dad!

I didn't realize how lucky I was to have such a great Dad, until I grew up! So now his "corny" jokes are actually funny, his fashion sense isn't really that bad and it turns out he actually does know more than me. I think I had to become a parent myself and have a child (that is giving me a run for my money) to fully appreciate all he has done for me and my sister! He has not only blessed my life with wisdom, humor and support, but he is the BEST Pop in the world to Anna Claire. She just adores him! Thank you Dad for tolerating all these years of girly-ness! I hope this year is full of God's richest blessings. You deserve it!

We LOVE you!

There are no words...

...except for PERFECTION...

My Heart is full...

Hello Again!

I am finally posting my first real post of the Duff Dialogue. I am going to start with my most recent events and go backwards and hopefully catch up real soon. I don't feel too bad not posting wedding pictures yet, because some are in the header. Right....RIGHT? :)

I just got back this week from Atlanta visiting these wonderful people...

My heart is full. They say emotion overcomes you when you hold your own children for the first time, but I think the same goes for your sister's children. I also felt this way when I held these children for the first time. When I held my nephew I just wanted to cry because he was absolutely perfect.

Coleman James Burton was born on January 5, 2010 and he is perfect. Lindsey did so well! I am so glad my Mom was able to be there with her and her husband Matt is such a great support. I enjoyed being at there house for 3 days and getting to remember what it's like to take care of a newborn again! Whew! I think I will wait a while before I begin that adventure again. :) I never imagined I would be this far away from Lindsey when we grew up. It has been hard. We don't talk about it much because it is a downer to talk about. I am so proud of Matt and his fantastic job at Chick-fil-a, but I miss her. I know if they were here I would get to see them so much more. Even so, we plan to visit a lot and now have Skype so that we can keep in touch even better! I love you sweet Burton family!

SO this is my second blog to try and I hope to be even better this time around! We are doing well adjusting to our new life as the Duff family. Married life with Brad is just wonderful. He is truly my best friend! I look forward to updating you with all of our new adventures. But don't worry JUST US GIRLS will stay up for my memory's sake in case you want to revisit sweet Anna Claire's antics!

And one more thing...thanks to Megan, my new blog is beautiful! Thank you Megan you are wonderful. She even did this when she was days away from giving birth. Isn't she talented?

Until next time...