YIKES! I cannot believe that Emmalee is celebrating her 3rd birthday today!
Itty bitty peanut who wore preemie clothes forever is gone and has been replaced by a beautiful intelligent curly-haired little girl!
What says Happy Birthday better than surgery? Miss Emmalee will be having surgery tomorrow to remove her tonsils and adenoids 
Even though it’s “minor common” surgery, it is still scary and we are all anxiety ridden. Any thoughts and prayers sent her way would be greatly appreciated! Hopefully these surgeries will help her become a much happier and not sick child!
Happy Birthday, Emma!!
These Hoerner kids all have Christmassy birthdays! So yesterday we celebrated Paige’s 6th birthday and Quinten’s 2nd birthday. Those avid, Cori’s Big Mouth readers, probably already know that we already celebrated Quinten’s birthday, on the actual day of his birth, December 14th. That coincidentally was the same day Julia and I arrived in Texas! Come back in a few days, and you may see another rendezvous!
Sunday’s birthday party was supposed to be a small, easy, informal party. Wow, it was anything but small, I think there were about 40 people there! It was great to get to meet so many of Kim and her kids’ good friends and family! I met some very amazing people, which made me feel slightly guilty that Kim will *hopefully* soon be moving to Washington and leaving all her friends and family behind. Just slightly…I have to say I’m super excited to have her coming north!!
On to the party…
Birthday Girl, Paige!
Birthday Boy, Quinten!
Sweet Baby Reese, is FINALLY feeling better after an eye infection & pink eye!
Snuggling with Reese
Paige having a great time at her party! I LOVE the look on her face 
“Happy Birthday to Quinten & Paige!”
Auntie Julia’s turn to snuggle Reesie!
After the pizza party was over we returned to their home and opened some presents! Where the party continued…
Another beautiful day down in Texas today! Can’t wait to see what we’ll be doing! Hopefully that involves some quiet time after a crazy busy weekend!!
Happy Monday Everyone!
This is only my second trip ever to Texas my entire life. Well save for a few stopovers at the DFW airport, but that doesn’t really count … unless you buy the sweatshirt … then it does! Anyway.
Today one of Paige’s friends had a birthday party at Bass Pro Shop. Anyone else ever heard of it? I’m getting the impression that I’m the only one who’s never not experienced it. When I asked Kim, where the party was being held, she told me “matter of factly”, Bass Pro Shop to go fishing. Then she adds “trust me, it isn’t a store either one of us would frequent.” When we arrived I figured out why.
From Wall to Wall, Floor to Ceiling outdoor stuff. Guns (cuz everyone in Texas has one!), tents, abundance of camo wear, mounted heads on the wall, canoes, fishing gear, fishing boats. You name it, if it’s an outdoor activity, this place has it.
Strangely, they also do birthday parties (FREE), I might add, at least at the location we were at. The kids had about 30-minutes to fish in this pond right out front of the store. We’ll just say the fishies weren’t really biting. I think two got caught total?
My question is apparently these are catch and release …. but how can you release a fish who has been hooked with a hook? Sounds painful to just throw them back!
As you can tell, I’m definitely not an outdoorsy girl. I prefer my indoor malls with American Eagle, Nordstrom’s, Macy’s and Abercrombie & Fitch. Yes, I’m a clothes-aholic, what can I say? This store was way out of my comfort zone, but I have to say the birthday party was a lot of fun.
Here’s some photos from our adventure fishing today!
Another fun day in Texas!! Having a great time, can’t wait to see what we’ll be doing next!
(((((YOU ARE NOW GOING BACK IN TIME TO SEPTEMBER 11, 2011)))))
Ahhh, the sun is shining. The weather is warm. I’m wearing shorts, a tank top and my favorite flip flops.
We’re BBQing, jumping in the jumpy house, having water balloon fights and swinging on the swings!
Don’t you wish it was summer again? I do!
On September 11, we celebrated Aiden, Connor, Annika & Mackenzie’s birthday’s all together in typical Munro extravagant fashion! Do you remember the party from last year, when we had our own miniature circus? Well this years party was a close tie – if not surpassing the magnitude and amazingness for a child’s birthday party!
This year’s theme was PIRATES.
Julia, once again, went all out planning the worlds most amazing party E-V-E-R. She had every little detail planned and it all coordinated back to the Pirate theme – and I mean EVERYTHING! Julia is an amazing party planner, but I’m a big part of the actual logistical aspects of the party. Needless to say, I take partial credit for its fantabulousness! Julia’s ideas. My execution.
My awesome sign that told the Pirates where to park and how to enter the ship!
At the front door the kids had to dress-up like pirates! They needed a hook, eye patch, hat, bandana and of course a tattoo!
At the same time they picked up their treasure hunt list and Pirate Loot Bag!
Upon walking the gangplank, the Pirates entered the ship!
You could find me out on the gangplank passing out loot bags at the beginning of the party! 
Once inside, the party started!
Pirate food with Pirate-y names!
And of course the FUN & GAMES!
Water balloon fight!
Two Piñatas!
A bouncy house!
Happy 7th Birthday, Connor!
Happy 4th Birthday, Mackenzie & Annika! 
Happy 7th Birthday, Aiden!
We of course, cannot forget the pirate cupcake cake! 
Plus singing Happy Birthday to all four!
Ahhh….it was a beautiful day and an awesome party!
*SIGH*
((((Returning to the cold, windy, rainy December evening…))))
This post is also part of Wordless Wednesday on the following blogs:
Parenting For Dummies & Seven Clown Circus
And Then, She {Snapped}
Live and Love…Out Loud
Crazy About My Baybah!
Project Alicia
I’m lucky enough to have five best friends … well I guess technically four plus one “acquaintance” (haha). Today is one of their birthday’s …
Hope you have a wonderful birthday!!!
Dear MacKenzie,
Four years ago a sweet blessing was sent to a heartbroken and depressed family. Just when we thought nothing could bring happiness again, this little girl saved us all.
I remember the day your parents found out that you were here and ready for them. I remember the giddy excitement in your mommy’s voice as she packed for an unexpected trip to pick you up.
While she packed and packed, I was stuck in school, wishing I could make the journey with them. During that day I did a lot of thinking …
I remember just days early your mom telling me “I just wish I could get a phone call, to come to the hospital and pick up a baby,” and me thinking, that would be great, but it won’t happen. (oh me of little faith). Guess what?! That wish came true. You were ready to be picked up from the hospital and join a family in deep need of joy.
I remember the drive to Spokane. I may not have been physically present in the car, but I think I spent the entire drive on the phone with your parents talking, laughing and pinching ourselves to make sure this was true. Since you were ready to join us so quickly, you were nameless; a good part of the drive was us trying to pick (and agree) on a name for you! All three of us (YES, I had some say in your name too!) had different names we wanted to name you. I don’t remember who came up with MacKenzie but when it was mentioned we all knew that’s the perfect name for you. That was your name.
I remember the last time I talked to mommy, before she entered the hospital to meet you. At that point your family went silent.
I spent a long time waiting, texting, calling and waiting some more for an update. A picture. ANYTHING! Several hours later I finally got the call from your daddy, who said you were a perfectly beautiful little girl! I couldn’t wait to meet you!
I couldn’t meet you fast enough. You guys came home the next day and I MADE you guys detour through Duvall so I could meet you. I finally got to meet you, hug you and love on you.
MacKenzie, I believe …
… you helped us smile.
… you helped us be able to “get over” a large painful event.
… you helped us find joy.
MacKenzie … you saved us.
MacKenzie, You are an amazingly special little girl who I love very much!!
What I love about MacKenzie …
A few weeks ago for my birthday, MacKenzie sent me this video of herself singing me Happy Birthday! She’s so sweet!!
Well today we’re celebrating MACKENZIE’S BIRTHDAY!!
Happy 4th Birthday, MacKenzie!
I Love You!
Up until the last couple of weeks, we could count the number of nice days on one hand!
Sad isn’t it?
Amazingly enough we had gorgeous weather on MY BIRTHDAY! It was a miracle!
I worked the day of my birthday and in the afternoon Amy, Jordyn & Camryn and Alex with her kids she watches came over to surprise me and have an impromptu birthday party! After the brownies and celebrating we took all the kids outside to play in the sprinkler.
In the past this “snake sprinkler” scared the kids TO DEATH. I mean bloody murder screaming, all try to climb me and get the heck away from the spraying monster! This year I was excited to learn they had grown up and it wasn’t nearly as scary for the kids! They LOVED IT!
What a great day! I miss summer already!
Connor & Aiden
How are these little boys no longer babies?
How are they beginning 1st grade on Thursday?
How are they turning 7 years old today?
Time is flying and as I turn one year old, so do they! It’s mind boggling that those extremely acid-reflexy and colicky babies I once nannied for, are now turning into boys? Seems like just yesterday, I was charting their daily feedings, diaper changes and feedings. Instead, I watch them get ready to enter full time school in the first grade. Time flies.
Instead of going on and on about how awesome these boys are, I thought it would be fun to share a story of each twin that include a Cori – Twin Fail.
**We now ALL laugh about these … time heals all! Well, for most of us 
**
1.) Connor’s Black Eye
When the twins were just about a year old, I was babysitting for them. After a busy day, we were playing with a beach ball in the family room. Can you see where this is going? In typical Cori flair, I decide to see if I could score a basket by chucking the ball in the toy box. Unfortunately my aim was slightly off. Instead of making a basket in the toy box, I had a direct shot to a framed photo sitting on the edge of the mantle…right above Connor.
Ball met frame.
Frame met Connor.
Connor got his first black eye.
If the black eye wasn’t bad enough. The collision happened about 30 seconds before his parents walked through the door. They walked up the driveway to hear Connor and his world-renowned scream screaming bloody murder. I felt awful. On top of that, they were getting pictures taken soon as well … that was the last time I tried my hand at basketball. I now stick to just ROLLING balls IN THE HOUSE!
2.) Aiden & Salsa
Both Aiden and Connor were total binky babies. They constantly had their binkies in their mouth. Those binkies were life savers when the boys were really young and very colicky! When they were probably a year old, Julia, the twins and I went to a local Mexican Restaurant, Ixtapa, for lunch. Ixtapa has THE BEST SALSA in the entire world. I don’t know what urged me to do it, but I’m sure it had something to do with:
Cori to Julia: “Dare me to dip Aiden’s binky in salsa?”
Julia to Cori: “Sure, go for it” – her thinking NO ONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD ACTUALLY DIP A BABY’S BINKY IN HOT SALSA! Well I’m not “no one” I’m Cori and tend to have an evil, curious side to me
Cori dips binky.
Binky meets Aiden
Aiden sucks Binky
Aiden Squeals
Binky Goes Flying
*SHOCKINGLY* Aiden wasn’t a big fan of the salsa that day!! However, 7-years later, he is a HUGE FAN! We attribute his love for it from that early introduction he got courtesy of me!
They have come a long way from those days. As they turn 7, I wish them the happiest birthday and an amazing year ahead of them!!
Love You AIDEN & CONNOR!
Sunday afternoon we had a joint birthday for my dad & myself, even though today is my official 26th birthday! It was a small family party and never in my wildest dreams did I think a simple silly present from my little sister would make me cry!
The present opening started out normal enough, I got money, candy and a pair of capris from Lucy. Awesome gifts, but nothing exciting (or tear worthy). Until I got to Alex’s gift … I open her card and bag …
to find a Neti Pot …
As you can see, I wasn’t overly bummed by the Neti Pot. It has become a bit of a family joke after I realized that many members of my family had never heard of one. I went as far as finding You-Tube videos for them to watch about it, because they didn’t believe something like this existed! [FYI Wiki’s definition of a Neti Pot: “Are used to flush out the nasal cavities by using gravity to draw the flow of saline”.
My whole family was laughing when I opened the present because of how much giggles it had given us over the last year or so! Little did I know this was a “filler” gift, because the real gift she got me couldn’t fit in the cute little birthday bag.
See that note taped to the bottom of the box? That little note was worth over $1,100! YES, my 18 year old sister spent $1,100 on a BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR ME!
The notecard taped to the box held another folded up sheet of paper. As I opened the paper the tears began to flow …
What did that sheet of paper contain? What had Alex spent $1,100 on? The one thing I will tell you is it was related to my car. Before I reveal the gift, we need to travel back in time to explain the history behind the gift. In May, I wrote about My First Car in a Writer’s Workshop prompt. In the post I shared photos of my first and current car, plus the story behind all its DAMAGE AND DENTS!
Excerpt from My First Car blog post
Originally Posted May 12, 2011For starters, my middle sister Kelly, CANNOT back up to save her life. At my parents house our driveway is on a hill at an odd sharp angle. Whichever one of us got home first would park at the top of the driveway, the other would park behind. Every. Single. Time. Kelly would park up top and have to back up around me she would hit my car. Kelly backs up like she’s driving a bumper car vehicle! Very annoying!! Luckily, she only would give it "love taps" and not anything major. You can see some of the scratches on the front of my car. Oh and the “H” logo is pushed in on the hood! Thanks Kel!
When my youngest sister turned 16, she didn’t buy a car right away because my family had a plethora of cars and I was working across the street so most of the time I didn’t need a car. So I graciously allowed Alex to drive my car for about 6 months day and night. I’m a nice sister! It was during Alex’s tenure with my car that the major damage occurred. The biggest issue was when she got side swiped on the passenger side by a semi truck on the freeway. That left a MAJOR indent in the side of my car. It wasn’t her fault it happened, it just happened on her watch! She feels bad, and promises she will get it fixed. (Hopefully she doesn’t read this because she’ll be mortified and embarrassed! Oh well!)
Well, I’m sure now you’ve figured out what Alex got me for my birthday … SHE FIXED MY CAR! She spent almost ALL the money she had earned this summer babysitting to get my car fixed. How amazing is that??
The funniest part … okay well there are three funny parts…
Kelly should thank Alex, because Alex paid for the damage SHE caused to my car too!
ALEX THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!
Sadly, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repair her. Okay really I’m sad because I no longer have something to hold over her head. Darn her!
Here’s a few more photos from my family birthday party!
Happy Birthday to ME!!
[Yes, I’m that vain!]
This post is part of Wordless Wordful Wednesday on the following blogs:
Parenting For Dummies & Seven Clown Circus
The Life of Riley….and Bryce Too!
Angelica’s Awesome Adventures
Live and Love…Out Loud
Crazy About My Baybah!
Project Alicia
Shibley Smiles
