IT WAS A GREAT BIRTHDAY PARTY DAY!

This was Natalie's typical expression opening her gifts. And this was her typical statement: "That's just what I've always wanted!"

These gifts are two books from me, Poppa and Aunt Cari. The bottom book is titled "God's Little Princess Devotional Bible" and the top one is a Fancy Nancy book. I am excited about her receiving both books. The first book for obvious reasons: My heart's desire is that she becomes a Godly child/young lady. The 2nd book: Fancy Nancy is series of books that I have discovered last Christmas/Holiday season while shopping. If you have a little girl in your life, you should consider starting your own Fancy Nancy collection. Nancy is an interesting little girl who is OH SO GIRLY and loves to use fancy words like: extraordinary, gorgeous, fabulous and many more that my tired Mimi mind can think of at this moment! She loves to dress up too and she is such a darling drama queen, a girl after my own little sweetheart's HEART! Besides being just fun entertaining books, I love that Natalie will expand her vocabulary with the fun adjectives that Nancy uses to describe things. HERE A LINK TO AMAZON FOR A FANCY SEARCH.

We only own a few of those because I am collecting the hardback books and of course, they don't give them away.
We have these three:
Fancy Nancy: Explorer Extraordinare (the one she opened today)
Fancy Nancy: Bonjour Butterfly (our first book)
Fancy Nancy's Favorite Fancy Words: From Accessories to Zany

Okay, this was supposed to a quick sneak peak of Natalie's Great Birthday Party Day and I turned it into an ad. But I have enjoyed sharing Fancy Nancy with Natalie and I think anyone who has a child this age needs to discover her too!

It was a great day.

Natalie was such a sweet little birthday girl! Her sweetness and enthusiam made the day all the more special!

~~Natalie's Mimi~~

FLASHBACK FRIDAY...

Since I am in the midst of still posting Easter pics, I thought this would be appropriate for FLASHBACK FRIDAY since I am in the midst of finish Natalie's Easter photos for this year (her 4th Easter).

Natalie's First Easter...

Don't you just love that expression?

~~Natalie's Mimi~~

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

FROM NATALIE!

This photos are in reverse order, but that's okay because I wanted the last one to be first since the first one isn't so sharp! I can't seem to always get a sharp image when dealing with "my family". I had this package fixed and meant to mail to Natalie before the end of the week, but I had forgot. Friday I realized that St. Patrick's Day was Tuesday... after asking Randy to mail it for me when he went to town, I changed my mind. So he wanted to tell her we just mailed it here! I know.. it doesn't really make since. But she loves her packages. And as you can see in this photo [above], she loves to pose too!

After Valentine's I saw these green M&M's on sale...so yes, St. Patrick's Day came to my mind. So I also bought a St. Patrick's Day card the same day (a month before the holiday...so not like me...though waiting to the last minute to send...so much me!).

So I had a package full of green in mind for the St. Patrick's Day surprize: green M&M's, green cash, a cutsie card, and a green dress that I wanted her to wear today. It was probably too cool to wear. I will find out later if she wore it!

Look at the expression on her face! She has seen this dress and wore it once, but you would think it is an article of clothing that she has really been wanting. I love her exuberance!

The not so sharp image: Poppa helping Natalie open her package!

HAVE A GREAT ST. PATRICK'S DAY! I HOPE YOU WORE YOU'RE GREEN!

~~Natalie's Mimi~~

HAPPY FACE

WHAT A GREAT EXPRESSION!

YES, THIS IS NATALIE'S HAPPPY FACE

I AM SURE I DID SOMETHING OR SAID SOMETHING TO MAKE HER LAUGH.

It seems like the weekend went forever since Natalie stayed here until Tuesday (not here--here the whole time) because her parents had school, but she didn't. I have two sets of images to post from the weekend before it is weekend again. I think I will wait until tomorrow since it is almost 10:30 and I have been at this computer almost all day with the exception of bathroom breaks, washing the dishes and going to town from supper (the dishes were from the last few days...obviously I didn't have supper dishes. LOL). But since it has been a few days since I have posted a new image of Natalie I leave you with this bright image of her trying on her new sweater. I bought her a few more new fall clothes and had her try the new ones on and some from last fall/winter that were still a little big and only worn once, maybe twice, late winter/early spring.

Yes, that is a studio image and with no retouching (that bruise on her forehead really shows up). I wanted to do some photographs of her each of the outfits and the different combo of how they mix and match. Needless to say after two mix and match sets she was "fit to be tied", whatever that phrase really means...but you know what I mean. I did make her try on a few more barely worn holiday clothes to see if she could still wear them and few new ones to see if they would fit (or be too big). She has grown a lot though she is still little. I didn't take photos of last year's holiday clothes...I have some with them and I am sure I will get plenty of the new holiday clothes as the season is quickly approaching us.

I buy lots of clothes for her. I would much rather buy for her than me. Now that she is living in Baton Rouge I won't get to see her wear her new seasonal clothes. So I thought it called for a Mini Portrait Session in the studio. She was patient for a bit...hence this nice image. This sweater is so bright and cheerful just like her. She has such a great sence of humor. She tickled me this weekend laughing at "her" shows. I would be doing something (who knows what now) and I would hear her laugh out loud while watching TV. WHAT A GREAT MEMORY!

~~jami~~

Natalie Watching Hot Air Balloons

Natalie waiting to see some "air Balloons" as she called them. Doesn't she look cute wearing her hot air balloon dress that I bought at the flea market last year?

So while were waiting Natalie and Cari had a conversation about nail polish.

Natalie and her Aunt Cari posing for a close-up.

I though it would be cute in black and white too...so I included both!

"It's a bird, it's a plane...it's not a hot air balloon...it's a hang glider". This is what we saw before we actually saw any hot air balloons. Natalie didn't make it for the morning hot air balloon flight. So we are doing it again (check out Worth Remembering for the morning flight) with her.

We are watching for them on the levee at the Vidalia Riverfront. Finally after watching the hang glider, we see some balloons getting ready to go up.

They're begging to go up. We can see on the other side of the levee.

She's pointing at them. (I think I asked her too...so yes, it doesn't look really that natural, but you get the point. She's looking at the balloons up in the sky.)

One going over the hotel on the river...

What an expression!

some serious watching...

She pointing on her own this time I think...check out little ring her mommy bought her earlier at the flea market. She was so proud of it.

The one I posted earlier. My favorite image of her from the day!

I don't know what this means, but I just like it.

still watching...

The Advocate Balloon

Do see the little spot above this balloon? I am pretty sure it is the hang glider again.

Natalie being plain silly...

I gave Cari that camera to get a few of me and Natalie. We are watching the balloons. She is sitting in my lap. Moment like this will always be some of my most cherished moment in life!

I really hate this image of me, but I lov it of her. So it's a keeper and at least I have this to remember our special time together watching the balloons.

We certainly seem serious about the balloon watching in this image.

I love the images of them floating above the bridge.

We saw many more balloons earlier in the day, but we still saw plenty...enough that Natalie had a fun time watching the balloons float above her.

So next to the carnival! Cari is giving a "piggy" back ride to the car.

I enjoyed sharing these afternoon with these girls and I am so glad that I have images so that we remember what a special day it was. Anytime together is special, but even more special to share a new experience with Natalie.

~~Natalie's Mimi~~

McDONALD'S IN ST. FRANCISVILLE

I took Natalie home...well almost home Monday afternoon (10.06.08). I met her Mommy and Daddy in St. Francisville. So it was almost home, but I didn't have to drive into Baton Rouge...that was nice for me.

Before we went into McDonald's Brittany gave Natalie her mail (her "happies" from Mimi). Natalie has a confused look. This was something that I ordered from someone I found through ebay. It is hair holder that looks like a ballet tutu. I had them seller send it to her rather than me first (to save shipping...rather then me pay again to mail it from here).

A better expression...
This completed the series of 6 Disney Princess books that I sent her over several days. She loves her books.

Now time to play...

Brittany took most of these while I ate. She posed for her in this one!

Natalie's Daddy, Natalie and Natalie's Mommy

Another priceless expression...
Natalie and Mimi

We had a great visit. I am tired and still have much to do, but I wanted to post these before Natalie next trip (this weekend). I have rushed through this post. So if I have left out something that I really wanted to included, I will just add it later.

PART 1: IMAGES OF NATALIE'S LAST DAY...

...while still living here for tomorrow (the day after this day) she moves to Baton Rouge with her mommy and daddy.

After church, we left for lunch at El Ranchero.

We don't usually get dessert, but today was a special day. Cari wanted the refried ice cream. So I ordered with 3 spoons, of course.

Isn't that expression priceless! This is the server bringing it to us.

I didn't think she would want the cherry. I offered to take it of her hands, but I was wrong. She does like cherries. Oh...darn! I really like them too!

Doesn't it look delicious, but not as yummy w/o the cherry on top!

How do you like those long "tea" spoons? I guess they don't have regular spoons for ice cream.

They almost have the same look concentration on there face.
I am not sure what this expression is, but it almost seems to be the same again. Funny, huh?

Okay, now they are just plain posing for the camera. Are they beautiful? They almost look like sisters instead of Aunt and Niece. I always loved the way Natalie just looked like she belonged in our family. Her mommy is very pretty, but if Natalie would have looked just like her (they do favor a lot in spite of Natalie light hair and eyes), people would have wondered where she came from!

Being just plain silly...

Natalie had not seen her parents in a few days because them working and getting packed for the move. On the way home she wanted her mommy. So what's the next best thing...yes, a serious phone call.

Then she needed to call her daddy too.

I don't think she has ever talked on the phone this long. It was too cute!

~~Natalie's Mimi~~