Fun, fun, fun

The kids have been having such a FUN time playing with their new toys lately! Here is Isabella playing around with her new kitchen. She likes to open every door on her kitchen set and put things inside. She's so cute to watch because she gets really excited when she discovers something new she can do!

And here's Wilson on his new red tricycle! He is SO excited about this tricycle... and he tells everyone about it! He even got a red Cars helmet to match! He is stylin'. It's so fun to watch him trying to figure out the coordination. He's growing up way too fast!


And here's another boy clowning around on his bike, too!
And here's a few pics of the kiddos just being so darn adorable!


Wilson was so happy to have Memaw here for a long weekend for Isabella's birthday... but he wasn't so happy that she had to go home. Every time we see an airplane he asks if that is the airplane going to Memaw's house!

First Birthday Celebration

I'm a week late in posting these pictures, but we had a great birthday celebration for sweet Isabella's 1st birthday! We were joined by our awesome family (Memaw, Nonna & De-da, the Meguiars, the Vogels, Jenny, and the Chadwells). It was a chilly day outside, so I made a huge pot of "taco soup" and cornbread for us to enjoy. And then it was down to business... CAKE!

And this little girl enjoyed every single bite! She didn't make too big of a mess, since she's become a pro at feeding herself lately. And she didn't want any of the icing to go to waste!



Towards the end, she even mixed in a few goldfish with the cake & icing! Yummy!


Isabella's big present from mommy & daddy was a play kitchen (complete with pots & pans, silverware, food, microwave, etc!) She likes it, but Wilson likes it even more.
We are so proud of our big girl! And can't believe she's growing up so fast! She's definitely figured out how to play favorites to get what she wants. She is a "mommy's girl" for sure... but she's a "daddy's girl" too! She has already learned how to have the best of both worlds! Smart girl!

Happy Birthday, sweet Isabella!

I can hardly believe that my sweet baby girl is celebrating her first birthday today! The past year has flown by! She is absolutely the most precious baby girl ever (of course, not biased at all). Today we are celebrating our sweet "babydoll" by hanging out & having family time together. I love watching how much Wilson & Isabella are able to interact and play together now. Wilson was super-excited this morning when I told him it was Isabella's birthday! He loves his sister and seems so proud of her... quite protective, too! So cute!
Happy 1st Birthday, sweet Isabella! Hugs & kisses!

Gone Fishin'

Life's a beach!

August has been full of travels for the Mullen fam! First, we took off to Florida to visit "Memaw" and spend some time at the beach and pool. Wilson loved the ocean and building castles in the sand. But he really liked the pool even more! He has figured out the whole concept of water-wings and was able to jump in the pool and kick his legs and wiggle around... we'll call it "swimming". He is absolutely fearless in the water! And he loved playing with his cousins at the pool too! He and Colton loved to jump in... climb out... and do it all over again!



Isabella wasn't as fond of the beach as Wilson was. But she sure is a bathing beauty at the pool! I have a feeling she'll be as fearless as Wilson! She enjoys putting her entire face under water. And prefers to swim with mommy & daddy instead of floating around in her baby float. Here's a cute one of Isabella and Memaw at the pool.


Next, we headed to Arkansas to visit Micheal's family there and go to a wedding of one of Micheal's good friends. We had it all planned out. Uncle Steven was babysitting both kids while we went to the wedding and reception. Well, when Isabella heard about that, she decided to protest! For the entire hour before we left to go to the wedding, Isabella cried hysterically and would not calm down for anyone, except me... of course. SO, she got to tag along to the wedding with us. Not cool.


But she sure looks adorable here with daddy, huh? They're a good-looking pair!


Here's the Mullens: Grandpa Larry, Micheal & Wilson, Uncle Steven, and Grandma Marie


Then, we headed on over to Oklahoma to visit Micheal's other side of the family. We were able to make it to Sunday lunch at the Morris home. Here's the group shot:


And Wilson enjoyed playing with his Oklahoma cousins, too!

After ALL this driving from state to state, hours and hours in the car, and sleeping in beds other than our own for almost 2 weeks... it's so good to be HOME again! And the kids just fell right back into their regular routines, thank goodness! I was a little worried all the Grandmothers had spoiled them!

Just few pictures...

Because apparently someone wants to see these beautiful kids!

Isabella loves to stand up... ALL the time!

just swinging after hanging out in the kiddie pool

Wilson loves to play around with Daddy's tools

And Murphy's always right there with him

She does not look anything like Daddy, huh?

It's not easy being this cute!

Isabella at 7 1/2 months

Memorial Day

Memorial Day seems to be more about cookouts and ballgames and going to the lake... we get so excited about the extra day off and forget about why we celebrate Memorial Day in the first place. We must remember what it's about. I found this picture today that says it all...

We spent a nice Memorial Day together taking the kids on their first hike. We did a short hike (on the Natchez Trace Pkwy) that ended at a waterfall. The hike back up was a little harder. I had Isabella in the baby bjorn (an extra 20 lbs on my front) and Micheal had Wilson in the backpack (an extra 32 lbs on his back). Shew! At any rate, we were fortunate that the rain held off and we enjoyed the day outside. Oh, and we saw a snake peeking out of a hole in a tree. Ahhh, scary!

Wilson sporting his new RUN DMC t-shirt. Cool stuff, huh?

And it wouldn't be right if daddy didn't get his own RUN DMC shirt, too!

Daddy "packing" Wilson on his back. Micheal was messing with his new GPS in all these pictures. That's why he looks like he has no idea I'm snapping photos. Go figure! The GPS batteries died halfway through the hike.

Mommy & Isabella at the waterfall. Taking a little break!

We got all the way down to the waterfall and Wilson kept saying
"Get outta here, daddy! Let's go!"
Really? After ALL that effort? You want to GO?

Daddy of the YEAR!

And we ran into (well, not literally, we drove around him) a turtle in the middle of the road!

Good times!

After we returned home I knew Isabella felt pretty warm & I told Wilson "Mommy's going to take Isabella's temperature." To that he replied "Take my temperature, Mommy. I need medicine, Mommy." I told him that he was being silly & tickled him. Whoa... he really was hot! So, blah blah blah... I have 2 sick kids now. Boo. Two fevers. Tylenol isn't helping. Isabella is puking and won't drink anything. Ugh! Wilson did eat dinner, but as he was finishing up his hot dog I was just envisioning it being regurgitated in the middle of the night! Yuck!

Let's hope for the best.