This little LOVE is about to be EIGHT years old tomorrow!  I’m so excited for her, because she is so totally pumped about it.  It’s so super cute!  We can’t wait to celebrate her big day!

She is hilarious, sweet, kind, a super hard worker, creative, independent, and all the other good things!  We LOVE you so, little Ali Ever!

As per tradition, here are her most hilarious quotes as a 7-year-old from this past year!  In these you’ll find she gives the best compliments, but don’t wear out her niceness — she has her limits!

1. March 24, 2019

“This is one of my least favorite meals, but you did a good job making it!” — Alice (trying to soften the blow.

2. April 14, 2019

Me: “But you’re friends with her, right?”
Alice: “Yeah, I mean, if she was the last person on Earth I’d play with her.”

3. May 3, 2019

*playing HedBanz*
Alice: “Am I round?”
Me: “Yes!”
Alice: “Mashed potatoes!”

4. June 23, 2019

Alice (walking in on me watching Forensic Files): “I bet he’s going to have to go to prom.”
Me: “Prom?”
Alice: “Isn’t that what it’s called?  The room where the judge has the hammer?”
Me: “I think you mean, ‘court.'”
Alice: “Yes, court!”

5. June 26, 2019

“This is the best day I’ve had since I was born!”

(We went to the skating rink and Target.)

6. July 14, 2019

Me: “Do you want some of this cake I made?”
Alice: “No, because it tastes horrible!” *laughs*
Rachel (laughing): “Well, would you like this salmon salad I made?”
Alice: “Oh my gosh, no! I’d rather eat cake!”

7. July 26, 2019

Alice: “Frozen water is soooo yummy!”
Me: “Ice?”
Alice: “Yeah.”

8. August 5, 2019

“Oh my gosh, you should get that shirt.  It looks good on you, and you look 36!” — Alice

9. August 12, 2019

Alice: “I love Tom because he’s getting old.  I feel bad because he’s gonna die.”
Me: “Oh my gosh, not anytime soon!”
Alice: “I bet before me, though.”

10. August 24, 2019

Me: “Do you want to play Uno?”
Alice: “As long as I win every game we play!”

11. October 1, 2019

Alice (assessing dinner):  “I give the meatballs an 8 out of 10, and the broccoli a 1 out of 10.”

12. November 11, 2019

Alice: “Can I do some chores when I get home from school?”
Me (surprised): “Umm, of course! Are you trying to earn money for something?”
Alice: “No, I just want to make sure I’m on Santa’s Nice List. I’m really worried!”

13. November 21, 2019

Me: “You should be nice to your brother.  I thought you were all worried about being on the ‘Nice List.'”
Alice: “I am nice. But I was being too nice, so I needed to take a break.”

14. February 8, 2020

“I want to pick a new favorite color, but I don’t know which one to like!” –Alice

Can you believe this dude is 10?!

Me neither!

He totally knew what he wanted for his party – JURASSIC PARK! (Not Jurassic World. “I don’t like made up dinosaurs, I like real ones!”)

A month ago, he made a Jurassic Park-themed centerpiece for his future party’s treat table, and he had all sorts of plans, and made dinosaur scenes out of cardboard boxes to put around the house. So cute!

He invited friends from school this year for the first time, and it was amazing. It was obvious his friends adore him, and it was so fun to see them all playing together.

It was the best party, and it was all Tom. LOVE this sweet little party planner!

Trampoline boxes put to good use + the troop’s Girl Scout cookies I had to pick up that morning = our grand entrance!

Tom’s centerpiece.

Alice helped me make the excavation kits.

Ice cream sundae bar!

We had a fun obstacle course that I got no pictures of, but it was a hit!

Best boy, best day!

This child is kind, thoughtful, creative, interesting, funny, happy, loving, and absolutely hilarious.

Tom will be TEN YEARS OLD tomorrow.  Guys, do you remember when I was regularly blogging?  And it was all about the baby/toddler/little kid years?  And that it doesn’t seem that very long ago?

I’m actually having a bit of a hard time with him turning 10. I mean, I’m so, SO thankful he’s turning 10!  (I’ve kept him going for 10 years!  Woo!)  But, but…10 is double digits!  And HE’S GONNA LEAVE ME SOON!

(Kevin constantly points out college is still very far away, but when he was little I thought 10 was very far away, so what does he know?!)

Anyway!  What I’m saying is that my sweet, baby boy will be 10 years old tomorrow.  He’s been an amazing 9-year-old, and I cannot wait to see what 10-year-old Tom is like.  I’m assuming he’ll still be pretty funny.

Tom makes me laugh ALL the time, but sometimes I have time to document it — and that’s what we’ve got today! Without further ado, I give you…(booming announcer voice): TOM’S BEST 9-YEAR-OLD QUOTES!

1. March 24, 2019
Tom (to a new friend): “I used to live in Atlanta.”
Friend: “Seriously?!”
Tom (nonchalantly): “Yeah. On Douglas Drive.

2. April 19, 2019
Tom (yelling at Alice): “Droids don’t poo!! They don’t have poo holes!”

3. May 12, 2019
Me: “Oh, thank you! I love my presents! (Looks to Kevin) And thank you too, you know, in case you had anything to do with it.”
Tom: “He bought it!”
Me: “Oh yeah? I thought maybe y’all had bought it with your own money.”
Tom: “No way would we ever do that!” #mothersday

4. June 5, 2019
Me: “How was camp?”
Tom: “Oh it’s good, except for the kid who keeps trying to bite our arms, and Merlin, who is IMPATIENT!” #soundsgreat

5. June 8, 2019
“All Marathon gas stations smell like moldy cokes.” –Tom

6. June 18, 2019
Me: “I woke up and my calf muscle was hurting. So weird. I have no idea what caused it.”
Tom: “You’re just old, that’s what happened.” #9yotruthbomb

7. June 18, 2019 (again)
Me: “So, what did you think of dinner? Is it something I should make again?”
Tom: “Well…if I was starving to death I would eat it again.”

8. August 6, 2019
Me: “You have to take a bath tonight because you have school tomorrow.”
Tom: “A bath?!  But I took one a week ago!”

9. August 13, 2019
Alice: “I need to tell you something romance-related.”
Tom: “Ooookay…”
Alice: “Peyton told me today that his brother wants to make out on me.”
Tom: “Ew! I bet he draws pictures of you kissing at his house!”

10. October 21, 2019
Me (Monday morning): “Time to brush teeth!”
*Tom jumps up and runs to go brush.*
Me: “I love how excited you are!”
Tom: “I’m not excited. I’m just trying to get this whole day over with.”

11. November 11, 2019
*helping him study for a test*
Me: “Who said, ‘Give me liberty or give me death?'”
Tom: “Patrick Swayze!”

12. January 24, 2020
“The gag is like throw-up’s cousin.” –Tom

This little punky is going to be SEVEN YEARS OLD tomorrow!!  Can you believe that?!

She is full of joy, and laughter, and spunk and we just love her to pieces.  She is a teeney, little, hilarious, wannabe teenager!

And if you need someone to yell at Alexa for you, she’s your girl.

Without further ado, here are Alice’s best quotes from the past year!  I can’t wait to hear what she says as a 7-year-old.

1. March 21, 2018
“If Tom watches too much YouTube, he’ll turn into a potato couch.” –Alice

2. May 5, 2018
Alice: “Can you get the scorpion down?”
Me: “What?! Where?”
Alice: “Right there, on top of the cabinet. It makes music.”
Me: “You mean this accordion?”
Alice: “Yep!” #whew

3. May 25, 2018
Me: “Hey! How are you doing?”
Alice: “Ugh! Why are you always asking me that?!” #6yoteenager

4. June 28, 2018
Alice (to Tom): “You’re so typical!”
Tom: “What does that mean?”
Alice: “I don’t know. I heard it on TV.”

5. August 6, 2018
Me (hearing a lot of giggling): “What are y’all talking about?”
Alice: “Oh, we’re just talking about heads. And brains. And walnuts!”

6. September 1, 2018
Tom: “Mom! Why did you buy her that? You know what happens when you buy her clothes!”
Me: “She doesn’t ever like it?”
Alice: “Sometimes I do. But it’s veeeeery rare.”

7. September 29, 2018
Alice: “You can’t pass until you say the code!”
Tom (glumly): “Alice is the best.”
Alice: “No. It’s 0-0-0-1.”

8. November 22, 2018
“I know what happens, but don’t worry, I won’t tell you and spoil the beans.” -Alice

9. November 26, 2018
“Could ‘Gurglebutt’ be someone’s last name?” -Alice

10. February 23, 2019
Me: “You didn’t like the sandwich I made you?”
Alice: “No. (pause, then nonchalantly…) I’d rather eat dirt.”

11. March 6, 2019
Alice: “ALEXA, STOP!!!”
Kevin: “Maybe don’t scream at Alexa. Just talk normally.”
Alice: “But I hate her. She’s the worst.” #sorryalexa

When I sat down to gather all of Tom’s 8-year-old quotes, I thought, “I hope I have some…maybe as kids get older they don’t say as many funny things?”  And I have a terrible (TERRIBLE) memory, so I couldn’t even remember if I’d managed to write down enough throughout this year.  And then I checked…

Oh my gosh, y’all!  As kids get older, are they not as funny?  NOPE!  Still hilarious!  At least, that’s what me and my battle-ready legs think!

So here’s Tom, in all of his 8-year-old glory.  Today is the LAST DAY HE WILL BE EIGHT!  Can you believe that?!  Me neither.  Happy last 8-year-old day, Tom!  Hope you don’t mind everyone now knows you watched an episode of My Little Pony once. xo

1. February 17, 2018

Tom (just coming into the room): “Hey, Mom?”
Me: “Yeah?”
Tom: “I have to go potty, but I do love you, so when I’m done I’m gonna give you a hug.”

2. February 26, 2018

“When I grow up, I’m probably going to have a lot of arguments with girls because they might say they love me, but I’m not a huge fan of them. I just want to say ‘Hi.'” –Tom

3. March 3, 2018

Tom: “I just got hit in the nose!”
Me: “Are you ok?”
Tom: “Yeah, but will you tell me if it starts bleeding all over my face?” #willdo

4. March 14, 2018

Alice: “Do you want to watch My Little Pony after this?”
Tom: “Yes, but don’t tell ANYONE.”

5. March 15, 2018

“Mom, guess what? I just peed outside and then Finn drank it! Isn’t that funny?!” –Tom

6. March 30, 2018

Alice: “When I die, I want to be buried at my favorite place.”
Tom: “CatchAir?!” #buriedatthebouncyhouseplace

7. May 5, 2018

Me (after Tom has asked a thousand questions): “Oh my goodness, it’s hard being your mom today!”
Tom: “Well, life is hard sometimes, Mom.” #lifelessons

8. May 12, 2018

Alice: “Thomas, do you want a kiss?”
Tom: “No, thanks.” *keeps swimming* #politerejection

9. June 6, 2018

“Mom, you are really, really good at making Kool-aid! The best!” —Tom

10. August 6, 2018

Tom: “I’m cleaning the living room, bc Dad promised us a toy.”
Me: “Oh. I hoped you were doing it out of the kindness of your heart.”
Tom: “I am! Well, it’s half for the toy, and half for the heart thing.”

11. September 3, 2018

Me (after reading a sweet note from Alice): “Awww…thank you! I will keep this forever!” Tom: “You should put it on your grave.”

12. November 9, 2018

“I’m gonna ask Emmy out on a date. But I think I’ll wait until high school to do it, because that’s more reasonable. I mean, by then I’ll be more growner-upper.” —Tom

13. November 12, 2018

“Is there a breath mint for dogs? Because Finn’s breath smells like…horrible dead flies.” -Tom

14. December 8, 2018

Tom (seriously): “Mom, the hair on your legs is so spiky. It would be great to use during a battle.”

15. January 13, 2019

Me: “So you yelled at her?”
Tom: “No. I tried to talk to her in a calm voice, but then it accidentally got high-pitched.” #futureattorney