Cinderella

Last weekend we attended our beautiful cousin Kennedy's 3rd birthday party. Cinderella threw a wonderful party. A lot has gone on, but I am the worst blogger ever. I am not a good story teller, but I will try. You know I told you Olivia has been potty training. She has done so well, and had few accidents, but I think I got a little relaxed these past two weeks. We were at Angie's and she peed on their nice throw pillows. That was maybe her 3rd accident. I promise. Then we were in the backyard, eating Popsicles and she squatted down and started to pee. I shouted, "Olivia what are you doing?" She replies, "I peeing like Elwood". Then we went to Kendra's and she peed in Cassidee's castle. So I have learned my lesson on not being too relaxed. I think when we are not at home, she is so excited about being somewhere else and she forgets to tell me. Here is hoping that Olivia doesn't pee on your stuff!

Below is a picture of Kennedy's cake. It was simply darling.

This is the birthday girl!

From left: Jordan, Olivia, Riley, Camile, and Jeff. These are the Paynes, minus Kristi. Jordan actually is finishing up Welcome week at ACU! I am so excited because Brandon is building some condos there again so we will get to see him.

Brandon turned 30 and the Princess and the Potty.

July was another hot, busy month. On July 18th, Brandon Matthew Blake turned 30 years old! He might finally gain some respect in the business world:) We had a lunch birthday party for him at a pizza joint. The girls got him a Bat Man birthday cake. It had eleven Bat Man rings on it. The girls couldn't wait for him to let them have the rings. Pam and Skip watched the girls that night while we headed to Dallas.

So we went to stay at the Crescent for the night. We had stayed there once before and were afraid to use the robes. We thought that if we used them we would be charged. The last time we stayed there, there were water bottles that said if you took them, you would be charged $5. We didn't drink them. So it was funny when we arrived at the Crescent on July 18th, the lady asked if we were celebrating anything and I told her, "Yes my husband's birthday and our 5 year anniversary", so she upgrades us to a two room/two bathroom suite. (Our fifth anniversary was July 19th). As we are waiting for our room key, another lady has a folder in her hand with the name JERRY SEINFELD and a room number. I nudged Brandon and said, "Look at that folder!" The lady quickly turned the folder over and smiled. When we got to our room, we were so overwhelmed! It had 5 balconies! Plus there were 6 FREE water bottles:) There was a list of events going on in Dallas for the weekend, and sure enough, the Jerry Seinfeld was playing that night. So we definitely used the robes this time along with the slippers, drank the free waters, used the spa products in the bathroom, enjoyed the chocolate molten cakes with Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary written on them, and ate the huge breakfast delivered by room service for free! And we paid the cheapest room rate! We felt like Kings! The next morning at check out, we saw Jessica Seinfeld!

The whole reason we chose the Crescent Hotel was because my dad had given us a gift card to The Capital Grille. It was delicious!

Camille in her dress that my mom bartered for at Hobby Lobby. It was one of the display dresses in the fabric section.

Olivia.

Lauren came to stay with us for the week for VBS. Here we are eating at Kincaids with some friends.

Presley and Camille in their VBS shirts. Olivia REFUSED to wear it cause it was "brown".

Olivia and our beautiful cousin Kennedy.

After VBS was over, we met my mother in Abilene to give Lauren back:( and they convinced us to let Camille go home with them for a few days. So we had Olivia for the first time by herself. We missed Camille, but knew that she was having fun. So Cassidee came over for a "playdate" with just Olivia. They had so much fun playing tea party and doll house. The picture above is Olivia holding Cassidee in her princess dress that she wears everyday.

After church Wednesday, we turned around in the car to see that Olivia had taken off her carseat straps and pulled her shirt up over her head. Pretty funny.

The beginning of July sparked an interest in Olivia with the potty. She watches Camille use it, so why not her? I personally wasn't ready to do this, but I didn't want to hold her back. She has done very well and is wearing panties all day, even at school. She dosn't like to wear panties that don't have princesses on them, and when she toots, she says she is making "bubbles". Sorry! So that is the end of diapers for the Blakes. It was a fun run Pampers, but I am glad not to buy you any more! Ever!

Olivia is TWO!

Olivia Catherine turned 2 June 23, 2008. She had a fabulous birthday party that her and Camille shared, she had a little party at my aunts', and then a little party at home with some buddies. She is so much fun! We took her to the doctor and he told us she wouldn't be any taller than 5'3". ( He said Camille would be between 5'6"/5'7"). She has always been my little baby! Her favorite things are dressing up, playing barbies, swimming, and acting like a dog. She is talking up a storm and says things like, "Mom, I promise", or " I told you Mom, I want to wear my princess dress". She loves "Camo" more than life its self! They play so well together. I love looking up from my work and seeing them pretending. She is attempting to potty train, but we haven't been home long enough to get much consistency. Here are a bunch of pictures. It is a pretty long blog!

Olivia wears this almost everyday.

Best Buddies.

New shoes.

Playin purses.

Having a cake at Aunt Kristi's!

Swimming!

Waking up two!

Happy 1st Birthday !
Crawling around!

First time to have cake!

My favorite picture of her.

June 23, 2007

At Camille's Birthday, almost 1.

Just had to throw this one in there.

Going Home.

Our first family picture.

At Baylor Grapevine, they give all the kids a little crochet hat, they gave Olivia one that matched Brandon's shirt.

Little two year old Camille got to push "Vaviva" to the nursery.

Camille's first time to hold to Olivia.

My first time to hold her. I thought she was perfect.

Olivia Catherine Blake.

SUMMER!

These pictures are in reverse order. We have been blowing and going this summer. We have been lucky to get to spend more time with my family. We started out this blog (from the bottom) at my cousin Jordan's graduation from Idalou High. He is going to ACU in the fall. Watch out ladies, he is quite a catch. We flew home with my sister, and went camping with the Oranges. It was Camille and Olivia's first time in a tent. We went out on Brandon's dad's boat in Lake Grapevine. The next weekend was the girl's Circus birthday party. We had so much fun, but it went by way too fast. The next Wednesday was Camille's first dance recital. I was the "stage mom", which meant I looked after the class backstage. When I walked them onstage, I had a small urge to run out on the stage and do a dance of my own. Who would have thought that I would miss old Barbra Craig's School of Dance? We went to eat with Brandon's family and the Smith's afterward. That next weekend we loaded up to spend Father's Day in Galveston with some friends. We had an amazing time. The next weekend, we flew to Lubbock to celebrate my grandparents, Ron and Loretta Farquhar's 50th wedding anniversary. It was at my aunt's home. My mother and aunt threw quite a party and we had a blast. Today is Olivia's birthday and I will post a montage to her soon. I love being busy and getting to see so many loved ones. This weekend we will be home, back at our church. Brandon just told Camille "leave mom alone, she is blogging. She is bragging about her family on the computer when she could be spending more quality time with them." Guess I better go!

The lovely Loretta Farquhar, aka Nanny Bird.
The lovely couple. Ron Farquhar, aka Pappy Boy.

Happy Father's Day Brandon.

Check out Angie Orange's arms.

Do they look alike?

The nine children in Galveston.

Mrs. Kimberly Holmes and under the hat is Carter.

The Noes, minus Hayden.

The Smith's. Where are their clothes? Bad Shara!

Memaw and Camille after the recital.

Olivia and Kylea.

The Smiths. Nice Rick.

Prince Maddox is eating some menus.

Do they look alike?

Stage MOM. Look OUT.

Camille the Comedian.

Camille the Sweet.

Olivia and the CIRCUS Birthday!

Camille bossing Ms. Cassidee.

Lauren the Magnificent and Camille the Great.

Nathan, Noah, Camille and Lauren on the lake.

Brandon and Olivia. Olivia likes to drive.

Me, Riley, Olivia, Jordan, Carson, Lauren, and Camille at Jordan's graduation dinner.

Jordan and Olivia.