Mom of Three And More

Christmas Pictures

2011-11-29T09:17:00.001-05:00

I totally stole this idea from Mom Tog Diaries. I thought it was adorable and needed a new idea for this year’s Christmas card. Cards are coming soon but here’s the pictures.

I made a Dress

2011-11-20T23:23:00.001-05:00

This is my friend Kim. She wanted a royal dress. So we picked a pattern and fabric. Many hours later- a dress. You look lovely Kim!

Peanut’s Photoshoot

2011-10-14T09:14:00.001-05:00

First Day of School

2011-07-18T10:25:00.001-05:00

Because the kids are in two different schools they all had a different first day. Joshua’s was first. Welcome to first grade.

Aria was second with her first day of kindergarten. She had a GREAT first day and couldn’t wait to go back this week. Joshua’s class is directly across the hall from her so he can walk her to class each morning.

Andrew was nervous about starting a new school but we went to the open house and met his teacher. He felt better after that. He’s going to be learning Spanish this year as well as taking choir. In 3rd grade they also start changing classes. He’ll have different teachers for all his core classes. It’s a huge step but we know he’ll do great. And yes, he does have to wear a uniform. He was most annoyed about having to keep his shirt tucked in but we told him he’d get used to it.

Aren’t they getting big?? Christopher and I will be finding things to stay busy…we’ve already got a bunch of things crossed off the list for today.

Bodie Island Lighthouse

2011-06-27T21:16:00.001-05:00

We spent one afternoon a the Bodie Island Lighthouse, which is currently under renovation. It’s so pretty, I can’t wait for it to be open for vistors.

Sarah and Logan.

Sarah and Julia.

The Cooley Family,

All the Little Webbs.

Us.

Jockey Ridge State Park

2011-06-25T13:27:00.003-05:00

in which there is lots and lots of sand.
and some kites.

Beach Trip

2011-06-13T07:51:00.009-05:00

It rained on Sunday so we spent most of the day inside. The kids played, watched movies, and played the wii. The adults played Mexican Train, a dominoes game. Baby Logan.Julia, Sarah's daughter.Nathan and Laura.Mike and Sarah.
In the afternoon we went to the beach.

Christopher loved the water!

So did Nathan.

3rd Shift

2011-02-11T06:27:00.001-05:00

The only nice thing about Nathan working 3rd shift is that I get the whole bed to myself for a week. Miracle on the other hand likes that Nathan is home sleeping during the day.

Sending Valentines

2011-02-10T06:55:00.000-05:00

I found a small package of blank Valentines at Michael's a few weeks ago and thought they would be good for a rainy day. Turns out they were good for a 'drive mommy crazy' day.

My Friend Gina

2011-02-03T06:40:00.001-05:00

Last month my friend Gina had a little boy. She had asked me to take family pictures back in November because she wanted pictures with her belly before the baby was born. Between their schedule and ours we didn't get around to pictures until two nights before she was induced.

The Farm

2011-02-02T06:33:00.000-05:00

It's always nice to go to the farm and spend some time with family that we don't get to see very often. We tried to leave the day after Christmas but the snow and ice threw a wrench (read telephone pole) in those plans so we left on the Monday after Christmas. It was a very long drive but seeing family is worth it. I was too busy visiting with family to take any more pictures than this. Someone should fire me.

Christmas

2011-02-01T06:00:00.006-05:00

The kids wanted to leave cookies out for Santa and since I had been busy baking for the neighbors he had a nice selection this year. We did our advent wreath, the first year we've actually done the whole thing at home. The candles burned down while I wrapped more presents than I ever have before. The tree looks like it's leaning but it wasn't.
Christmas morning the kids woke up early, big surprise. We had a nice quiet morning opening presents together with a break in the middle for french toast casserole. Daddy got an Irish whistle and is picking it up pretty quick when he has time to practice.
Mommy got a Flip. :)
Yes, AJ got a BB gun and Nathan got a couple of air soft rifles. Although, Nathan says they really aren't soft. hehe. Merry Christmas!

My Puppy

2011-01-31T06:25:00.001-05:00

Katie Bell is getting bigger. She's hilarious and very very playful. Our cat Miracle is less than thrilled about her presence. We got a black dog because Nathan said our pets have to match.
Snowflakes.
Trying to get a picture of her opening her Christmas present but she was to excited.

More Photos

2011-01-30T06:08:00.000-05:00

I took these one afternoon and then loaded them to Walmart to get printed. When I went to pick them up the lady behind the counter said there was a problem with my order. I thought that perhaps something had been cropped wrong. She said the pictures were professional and weren't allowed to be copied. I said, "Thank you." I informed her that I took them and she made me sign a piece of paper. I was flattered, partially.

Photos

2011-01-29T07:02:00.000-05:00

Their wings were only a $1. You can't beat that. Hours of fun. Grasshopper took a lot of delight in chasing his siblings around trying to sting them.

Washington, D.C.

2011-01-28T06:31:00.000-05:00

In October we took a trip to DC for a weekend conference. Two in strollers, one in a harness, and one holding our hands. Six trips back and forth on the subway. Quite an adventure.
Daddy holding Grasshopper in his stroller on the subway. Late night for JM. We spent 3 hours on Friday walking around DC. AJ at the White House. Confederate soldier. Northern soldier. Speed tour of the Natural History Museum. Even faster tour of the Air and Space Museum. After the Air and Space Museum we had a snack outside. This squirrel was not shy at all and would have eaten out of Nathan's hand had we let it. We love that we live close to D.C. We just haven't been able to spend as much time as we would like there.

Mornings

2010-10-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

Cause some mornings you just need to take slowly.

Crazy Hair Day

2010-10-04T08:33:00.003-05:00

Last week the boys had crazy hair day at school. They wanted their hair to be colored and Halloween is the only time of year you can find the colored hair spray in stores.

Play Time

2010-09-25T08:07:00.001-05:00

Our neighborhood recently put in a park about one street over. Since I can't see it from our house the kids have to wait until an adult can go with them. They are really enjoying having something to climb on. There's no shade so we have to wait til it's cool enough to be outside for awhile. Katie loves to go run around too.
The leaves are changing. I'm not sure if it is because it's fall or if it is because we haven't had rain in ages.

Puppy!

2010-09-24T08:06:00.000-05:00

We got a dog! Nathan wanted one who matched our all black cat Miracle. So I found a lab/boxer mix at the local shelter. She's just a baby still but she's learning to fit into our family. Her name is Katie.

A Fall Tag

2010-09-23T07:46:00.004-05:00

Katherine, over at Grass Stains, tagged me in a fall meme. I haven't been tagged in ages so I thought I'd play alone. Plus, I love FALL!

1. Do you like Starbucks? And are you a fan of their seasonal coffees?
I do like Starbucks but I'm more a fan of Crimson Cup coffee either from Sheri's Coffeehouse in OH or our local place Via Cappuccino. I usually don't like flavors other than caramel in my coffee.

2. How do you decorate and prepare for Fall?
I love fall decorations. I usually do the gourds and leaves around the house. I also make a wreath for the front door. I like regular changes so seasonal decorating is right up my alley. I think we're also going to get some hay bales and pumpkins for our front yard.

3. Will you participate in your college's homecoming activities?
which college? and no. Nathan always gets info from his college about gatherings but he's not that kind of 'joiner'.

4. What is your favorite Fall clothing item or accessory?
I love my hoodies and sweaters. I love when it's chilly enough to wear sweaters. They're my favorite!

5. What was your favorite Halloween costume as a kid?
We never celebrated Halloween as a kid but I've started doing it with my children. They LOVE to dress up! They play dress up most days. And yes, I do mean all four of them. Last year was my favorite year though. Our church has an all out fall party on Halloween and each life group has to do a booth with a theme and our group chose the Princess Bride. I made my own wench costume and Nathan went as the Dread Pirate Roberts. We had a blast! I have a few ideas about this year so stay tuned!

6. Do you like Halloween/Horror movies? Do you have a favorite?
I don't do scary movies. period. yuck.

7. What is your favorite Fall activity?
I love soccer games and bonfires. I'm also looking forward being able to walk out my front door without being covered in sweat.

8. What is your favorite Fall recipe?
The fall after my husband and I got married my grandmother in law brought us about 5 bags of fresh pumpkin puree. I had NO IDEA what to do with it. I found a recipe online for pumpkin bread and it has become one of our fall favorites. In fact, I think it's about time to break that recipe out. We also love a good pot of chili.

And then she added eight more quickie questions, and here they are:

1. What movie coming out soon are you looking forward to seeing?
Voyage of the Dawn Treader!

2. What will you miss most about Summer?
Trips to the beach.

3. When do you start your holiday shopping?
I don't have a specific date, in fact.....if certain people, you know who you are, would get around to drawing names for our family I could start thinking about it. :)

4. Favorite exercise/activity?
Nathan and Little Peanut have started joining AJ and I at dance lessons. We're really enjoying doing it as a family. JM and Grasshopper would rather sit and watch.

5. Best book you've read lately?
I recently read all the Anne of Green Gables books again. I love them.

6. Do you make your bed every day?
Yes, until we got a dog. Now her crate takes up a lot of space and makes it difficult to get around the bed. Maybe I should go do that now.

7. If you could choose a personal chef over a personal shopper, which would you choose?
I think I would go with shopper, because contrary to popular belief I do like cooking.

8. Which TV show are you most excited for this Fall?
SURVIVOR! And of course Big Bang Theory comes back on tonight.

Thanks Katherine for the tag. And if anyone else wants to play along leave me a note in the comments so I can come see your answers.

Back to School

2010-09-23T07:39:00.004-05:00

AJ and JM started back to school at the end of August. JM was so excited to finally be going with AJ everyday. I was so excited to have a little quiet. Yeah, that didn't happen. It's like someone flipped a switch on Grasshopper and he's making up for JM being gone all day. Hopefully, we'll be able to settle into a routine soon.
Here they are on JM's first day which happened to be AJ's 3rd day. It was also yellow day at school so they wore yellow shirts. JM has been doing GREAT at school. He's getting good reviews from his teachers and they said he's like a little sponge just soaking everything up.

The Sea

2010-07-30T09:40:00.001-05:00

again!
Currituck Lighthouse. Top of the heap. It's a family tree. Coolness.1,2,3,4....wait....one's missing!Love the view!Up we go!Looking out the window to see how far we've climbed already. PukPuk was really nervous climbing up but he kept right on trucking and made it to the top!Laura getting in the cooler! I see you Laura. Jennifer. The dunes.From the top looking down. PukPuk coming down the lighthouse. These goats charged mom when she got a bag of chips out of the back of the van. We kept trying to chase them off but they would not be persuaded. Sunset on the way home!

Children's Museum

2010-07-29T09:11:00.005-05:00

Last month PukPuk came home from our cousin's wedding with us. While he was here we ventured into Raleigh to Marbles Children's Museum. It was a huge hit. And the pictures are in backwards order. :)
Catch the wave JM!Nana and Papa!Roar!!!!!Who's going to win the big race??? Nana or Grasshopper?Surfer PukPuk!AJ on the rock wall. AJ playing 'ice' hockey.Happiness is wearing 3 tutus at once. Grasshopper's little house. Building a house with giant legos. PukPuk and Grasshopper on a pirate ship.PukPuk ready for an undersea adventure. Little Peanut in a British phonebooth.

Faces Need

2010-05-13T07:43:00.000-05:00

...paint. Grasshopper happily watched and didn't mind at all that he wasn't offered a chance to get painted on as well. I didn't figure he would hold still long enough anyway.

Cheating is Fun

2010-05-12T13:38:00.004-05:00

Last month we went to a Renaissance Faire in Wake Forest. We took the children and some friends from church. The kids enjoyed seeing the jousting and the acrobats on horses. I of course had a blast because I love ren faires.
AJ decided he wanted to battle Nathan. It was $2 to fight for 3 rounds. And for $1 the knights would cheat on your behalf.
So, I cheated for AJ. I didn't get a picture of Nathan getting thrown off from behind because I was laughing to hard. This picture was taken right before the guy on the left knocked Nathan off of his little wobble board. Needless to say AJ won.

Bonfire

2010-05-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

The night before Dad's birthday party we had a bonfire at my sister's house. Our family loves bonfires, some of us more than others. Woody was showing off on the tire swing right before he fell off.

I Spend To Much Time Driving

2010-05-02T07:00:00.001-05:00

My dad turned 70 years old at the end of March. My mom planned a big birthday party for him Easter weekend. Since it was the beginning of spring break we decided to leave on Friday and be gone for 7 days.
My mom requested that everyone write a favorite memory of dad or papa, as the case may be. Some of us did 'extra credit' work- they shall remain nameless. Even the children colored pictures of their memories with Papa.After dinner we all took turns reading our letters to dad. Lots of tears were shed. It was really special to have Uncle Jim, Aunt Marlys, and Granny there as well.

JM Has Parts Removed

2010-05-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

JM has always been a heavy breather from the moment he was born. I would be nursing him in public and people would ask if he was okay because it sounded like he was drowning. He seems to always have a snotty nose as well. When we took him in for his well child check up after his birthday I asked the dr. about his adenoids. The dr. referred us to a ENT.
The ENT confirmed what we were pretty sure needed to happen- adenoid surgery. Since he's never had a sore throat they decided to not mess with his tonsils and just take out the adenoids. The surgery was set for a week away. We stocked up on popsicles.
I took him to the hospital early on that Friday and during our time there read a whole C.S. Lewis novel. He was a trooper and had the nurses all wrapped around his finger. Amy Chicken was there through the whole thing. She also had her adenoids removed and I didn't even know chickens have adenoids.
Off to surgery in a wagon....I want someone to pull me around in a wagon.Back from surgery still loopy on drugs...makes Sesame Street that much more entertaining. All ready to go home.

More Old Friends

2010-04-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

In March one of my best friends, Sarah, and her daughter Julia came for a visit and they brought Nathan's brother Peter with them. Nathan and Peter spent most of their time building a potato cannon and playing with that and I have no pictures of their vegetable abuse.
However, Sarah and I got matching Easter dresses for the girls and had fun dressing them up. Grasshopper was mad that he didn't get in on the action and Julia tried to console him. Not very successfully I might add.

Old Friends

2010-04-28T12:12:00.003-05:00

I'm woefully behind.
In January we got to visit some friends of mine from high school days. My music teacher Mr. L and his wife Amanda were good friends my senior year in Nigeria. We connected last year on facebook and discovered that they only lived 3 hours away. We spent New Year's weekend with them and had a BLAST! Three of their children are very similar in age to ours.
In February they came for the weekend. We were so busy having fun I only took a couple of pictures.Grasshopper and Little Hannah hit it off. Can ya tell?

It Is What It Is

2010-04-27T12:03:00.001-05:00

Last Week...

2010-03-29T15:52:00.005-05:00

...we had company from Ohio. Nathan's brother Peter came down with one of my best friends Sarah and her daughter Julia. On Sunday we went on what has become known as the 'Day Trip from Hades'.Grasshopper and Peanut woke up with some allergy breathing struggles and had to be taken to Urgent Care. Then we had to wait for the W*l-M*rt pharmacy to open to get the happy happy steriods that allow my children to breath easily. Finally we were able to leave for the beach.I drove the girls,(Laura, Sarah, Julia, and myself) in her car. Nathan and Peter drove our four children. We got seperated, mainly because my husband is a poky driver when I'm not with him. And something about having make 5 stops for our children to go to the bathroom. They get that from their dad. I never stop to go to the bathroom. Thanks Dad for teaching me that! Sarah's GPS lead us on every back country road from here to Currituck.We finally made it to Peanut's lighthouse only to find out that it opens next week. Seriously, why would it be closed? How silly is that? And to top it all, the bathrooms were closed too.
The guys finally arrived with the food. Next time the coolers go in my car! We had a picnic at a nice little playground. Grasshopper had soaked his pants in the car. Apparently with 5 pit stops no one thought to change his diaper. It didn't seem to bother him at all. Of course it clouded up and got cold and windy after being sunny the whole day.We finally made it the beach and the ocean. The water was like painful icy needles but the kids had fun digging in the sand. I love the beach. I could sit and listen to and watch the waves All. Day. Long. I want to spend a month on the beach just watching the ocean.We left for home after about an hour and a half. I was afraid the children were going to turn into popsicles.
We made it home and started washing all the sand off the children. Nathan said that they did not sleep at all on the way home which would explain why they all fell asleep quickly after their baths.

A Bit Chilly!

2010-03-22T07:43:00.002-05:00

and totally his own fault.

Kinghts Who Say 'Nee!'

2010-03-13T09:39:00.004-05:00

AJ and JM have a couple of swords and shields from our Fall Festival at church. Last weekend we decided to see how well they would do facing off in the yard. This was just before the sadness occurred.
JM was very aggressive in his attacks and AJ played it safe, relying on his shield to do most of the work.

And in the end, JM chased AJ around the yard. Not much of a surprise.

Sunday Fun

2010-03-10T07:26:00.000-05:00

Sunday we decided that it was time for a break. So we headed to one of my favorite places...Sonic! Cherry Limeade anyone? It was warm and sunny and the children had a blast playing in the sand.

Sadness

2010-03-09T19:03:00.002-05:00

My Week In Review

2010-03-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

Peanut was sick, along with Grasshopper and AJ.It started to snow.
15 min. later. No joke.
Watching a movie with Daddy.

Snow

2010-03-05T08:10:00.000-05:00

February brought us snow. Note the sarcasm in my voice. I do not like snow. I will admit that it can be very pretty and that fun can had playing in the snow but I don't like it. It's cold, wet, gets dirty really quickly. It lays piled on the side of the road, it flies up on your windshield from the car in front of you. I just really don't like it.
However, melting snow gave me a chance to take this.
So I'll say, "Thanks snow. Now will you please go away?"

Lovely Weather

2010-03-04T08:10:00.000-05:00

We had some beautiful days in January and we took advantage of them. The children were so happy to get out of the house and so was the cat.
Daddy home from work.
Miracle loves to be outside rolling in the dirt. She thinks she's a dog.
Grasshopper is busy with his truck.
Little Peanut playing on the slide.
I have two hams who love to pose for the camera, can ya tell?
And one who really doesn't like my camera.

Off To Maryland

2010-03-03T10:50:00.005-05:00

I realize I haven't posted in awhile. My sister inspired me to get busy because I know there are family members that check to see pictures of the children. I am going through my January pictures and getting some posts ready for this week. Be sure to check back.
In January my brother was ordained as a minister. Nathan and I and the children drove up to Maryland to be there. We stayed in a brand new hotel and it was so nice. Sadly I did not take pictures of us taking the children to the lobby for breakfast in their pajamas.
The service was really nice and everyone had an opportunity to pray over my brother. Auntie Linda, or Grandmother as some call her, made a delicious cake for the reception afterward.
We ended up leaving late and getting home even later. But Nathan had arranged for a co-worker to take his early shift so he got a chance to sleep in.

Praying over my brother.

Auntie Linda and Maggie- family friend. Mom and Dad. Grasshopper says, "What?" Family Picture.

Puddle Jumper

2010-02-11T14:36:00.003-05:00

So I Was Wrong

2010-02-04T21:25:00.003-05:00

This was Saturday. We had 3 snow days for two inches of snow. Life in the South.

Yeah Right

2010-01-29T10:49:00.001-05:00

We're supposed to get a 'heap' of snow tonight. Let me just say for the record. I'm not going to the store today. I will believe it when I see it actually stick to the ground.

Outdoor Fun

2010-01-17T08:07:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was a beautiful day outside. There was no wind and a lovely 60 degrees. It was partly cloudy and perfect for playing outside. We spent most of it outside running around and playing. I'm loving the new telephoto lens Nathan got me for Christmas.

Advice Gone Awry

2010-01-15T13:24:00.005-05:00

This past summer I went to my 10 year high school reunion. It was awesome to catch up with people that I hadn't seen since graduation. Among the most amusing things to announce was that I had four children. I can't tell you how fun it was to watch peoples' faces when I told them that.
During one of my conversations I mentioned all the trouble we'd had with crayons in our house and that I was seriously considering getting rid of them. Ken, a graphic designer, pleaded the crayons case and said that maybe my kids would grow up to be designers and I shouldn't stifle their creativity.
I decided to give the crayons a second chance. It was okay for awhile, paper and coloring books have always been in large supply here. But, alas, Ken's advice has gone awry. I now have a beautiful mural in my living room. Three purple stick figures who owe their very existence to Ken and to one handy little man named JM and the fact that JM gets up at 5:30am to do his wall art.
Thanks Ken. I owe ya one. :) And no, I haven't gotten rid of the crayons.

Christmas Update

2010-01-04T09:50:00.003-05:00

We had decided earlier in the month that we weren't going to travel for Christmas because Nathan only got 4 days off. Wednesday morning we decided to drive to Ohio when Nathan got off work. We left home about 4:30 pm and got to Ohio at 4 am Christmas Eve. My sister knew we were coming but that was about it. It was a lot of fun surprising people who thought we weren't going to come.
We stayed at my sister's house and her kids were really excited to wake up on Christmas Eve and find their cousins there. We stayed until Sunday morning and then drove all day to get home. We got home about 11 pm. We spent about 3 hours in traffic on the way down a couple mountains.
It's a Cousin Party!
Papa and Grasshopper.
Christmas morning. Peanut had a fever and didn't feel good.
Grasshopper, Thaddeus, and Sarah.
Sarah, Doodle Bug, Peanut, and Abby.

Uncle Peter's Visit

2009-12-17T07:09:00.000-05:00

A visit from an uncle is a great excuse to set out on an adventure. And if mom just happens to follow along behind with her new toy, well, that's fine too. We enjoyed some nice weather while Peter was here (70's one day) Don't hate us...just move south y'all!

JM's Birthday Party

2009-12-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

Last week JM turned 5!!! Can you believe it?? I sure can't. He's getting so big. Next year he'll be in kindergarten! Goodness.
We celebrated his birthday at a local restaurant that he likes after church last Sunday. Uncle Peter was in town from Ohio and made it that much more special. He asked for a Batman cake and batman toys. Target had a great Black Friday sale on the Batcave so he was really happy.Happy Birthday Little Man! We love you very much!

Cause we can Always Use more Sugar

2009-12-15T08:47:00.004-05:00

On Friday at the grocery store I saw a really cute gingerbread kit. JM and Little Peanut thought it would be a good idea for us to make it and I agreed.
Saturday morning we put it together with AJ. Grasshopper was asleep on the couch during all this fun. I think they did a good job. Here are a few pictures.

What a Memory

2009-11-14T15:22:00.004-05:00

Two years ago we went to KY to visit family for Thanksgiving. Grasshopper was three months old at the time, this was before he ever got sick. While we were there my brother shot a turkey on the farm. AJ had just turned 5 at this point. That's my brother and his son is holding the turkey.
Today we were in the store and I was picking out a roasting pan for our turkey. AJ asked what it was for and I said that I was going to roast a turkey in it on Thanksgiving.
His face light up and he gasped, "Is Uncle Michael going to shoot a turkey for us?"
I laughed and told him no.
"Then where are we going to get one?" he asked.
"I'll buy it at the store, it will already be dead."
His face fell, "Oh, I wanted to watch Uncle Michael shoot it."
I cracked up.

Happy Birthday AJ!

2009-11-08T16:10:00.004-05:00

This past Wednesday was AJ's 7th birthday. I can't believe he's 7. It seems like yesterday that he was just a baby. sniff sniff. We didn't throw a big party this year. We usually have a big family shindig but being so far from all of them we just had cake and he opened his present from Mom and Dad.

Fall Festival

2009-11-01T16:24:00.005-05:00

Each year our church has a Fall Festival on Halloween. Each life group is responsible for a booth. You can plan a game, food item, etc. You have to have a theme and do decorations, the whole nine yards. Our life group is fairly new and I was more than a little overwhelmed by the task seeing as we had never even been the Fall Festival. Thankfully, Jessica and Aryeh teamed up with us. I didn't even have an idea for a theme. Jessica suggested the Princess Bride and I ran with it. Part of the assignment was that our life group was supposed to be dressed up as well. Thanks to our life group for their load and loads of help and hard work. We couldn't have done it without them.
Princess Buttercup.
Hector and Aryeh getting our booth ready.
What a pretty princess.
Little Peanut helped Jessica hand out candy to everyone who came to our booth.
Knights in training.
Look who came home from the war! It's Reggie with Princess Buttercup.
Aryeh the Giant with Dread Pirate Roberts (DPR). And yes, the DPR has his glasses on over his mask.
The DPR with his knights in training.
The DPR with some little wench.
Me and Candice.
Nathan had a little to much fun with my camera. And yes, I did make my costume. And no, I didn't get a full length picture of it. Sorry.

Saturday Soccer

2009-10-31T11:17:00.004-05:00

Today was the last game of the season and thank goodness that both of their games were at the same time.
Yes, Grasshopper has a scratch on his nose. He met the pavement nose first the other day. I have a sneaking suspicion that an older brother was involved in this meeting.

The End of An Era

2009-10-22T07:57:00.006-05:00

Seven years ago this month I set up my first crib. AJ's due date was right around the corner and I couldn't wait for him to come. By this time I was off work because of pre-term labor and we filled our days with getting ready and putting a birthday hat on my belly. Auntie kept telling him to come out so she could kiss his face off. That's why I think he was late. He was worried about Auntie.
Since that time I have had a crib up in out house. When AJ outgrew his it was time to get it ready for JM. JM demolished that crib by knocking it over frequently. We bought a new one for Little Peanut and before she was out of it Grasshopper had arrived and had his own.
Last night we took Grasshopper's crib apart. Yesterday he wanted his blanket so he climbed into his crib and back out again. That's the sign, no more crib, it's time for a big boy bed. It was the end of an era here. Very sad. My babies are getting so big.
Here's a few pictures from the years. I searched and searched but couldn't find the picture of Little Peanut in her crib. So here are the boys. AJ almost seven years ago. JM. Grasshopper. Happy to be in his big boy bed. He did a good job staying in it too! It makes me a little sad to not have a baby in a crib. Now, when we don't have any more diapers I'll throw a PARTY!!!

Playing

2009-10-13T21:01:00.004-05:00

Here's a photo of AJ. I messed around with it some on photoshop and cropped it. I'm still figuring out how to do some things.
Here's one of both of the boys.

My New Baby!

2009-10-03T18:13:00.004-05:00

Today I got my new baby. I'm in love. Now I can't wait to edit my photos. Someone promised to teach me how to use photoshop, you know who you are!!! I'm going to hold you to it. Looking forward to our next trip! It's a nikon D40 . I think camera products are going to be on my Christmas list now. Bring on the photo ops. :)

Soccer

2009-09-26T20:05:00.003-05:00

This year JM is finally old enough to play soccer, much to his delight. He plays with lots of enthusiasm. Both of the boys are on navy teams but they are in different age groups. Thankfully this morning they both had a game at the same time.
Here are the highlights.
We need to work on what it means to be a goalie. His team dominated today so those who played goalie really didn't have a lot to do.
Here's Mr. Enthusiastic!

Fall Is Here

2009-09-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

I love to decorate for fall. The colors are beautiful, oranges, yellows, greens. "Bouquets of sharpened pencils..." School supplies.
Having seasonal decorations make me happy. I like to be able to change up a room to match what's going on outside. Since I can't paint here and there is no room for switching up furniture this is a great way to keep things fresh.
Here are a couple of pictures from around the house.
The acorn is my newest decoration. Isn't it cute? Thanks Michael's. The painting is from my roommate in college, Hope. I love her work. A friend here in NC wants a print of it. The little scarecrow girl is from Pat Catan's.
The hurricane is from Southern Living. Hubby wasn't super thrilled about it but he's seen it used all over the house so I don't think he minds anymore.
The bowl is what's left of my Pampered Chef trifle bowl after JM broke the base. I usually use it for my prize bucket at my shows. My other whole bowl is safely stored in it's box.
The ducks are from my mother in law. She was putting them in my yard sale and I snatched them right up. They only come out in the fall.
Thanks for taking a look around. You think this is bad....wait for the Christmas decorations to come out.

4th of July

2009-09-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

(*I found this in my posts and apparently it was never published....here ya go)
Yeah, I know, July is almost over but...it's still July.
The 4th is my favorite holiday. I love celebrating the birth of our country. The power of the what those great men sacrificed for us, the future generations, is overwhelming to me. But my views on that are for another post.
This was the first year in 7 years that I have been apart from my family on the 4th. I was shocked at how home sick I was. We always go to the parade, have a picnic together, and then go back and watch the fireworks. The fireworks are always the best part for me. To top the day off we found out that my wallet had been stolen the day before including my drivers license and debit card. Much drama ensued for a couple of hours.
Once we got everything sort out the day seemed a lost cause. We called a couple of friends and organized a cookout and then ventured to a small nearby town for fireworks. We ended up having a blast. (pun intended)
Here's Laura reading to the kids before dinner.
Jessica and Aryeh.
Me, my honey, my baby.
JM and Little Peanut with a new friend. Me, Candice, and Laura.
Pooped out on the way home.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-09-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to ME!

2009-09-08T09:24:00.006-05:00

(* come back the rest of the week....my posts are done and are auto posting for the rest of the week)
Friday was my birthday and I spent the day cleaning the house. The past week or so has been very rough and emotional for us here. I got all my fall decorations out and put away all of my red, white, and blue things for summer.
Nathan took me out to Chili's for dinner. You can't go to Chili's with me without having chips and salsa with a side of ranch. Always red to white! :)
After dinner we came home and had cake and ice cream with friends. A teeny weeny cake. Mark and Connie were nice enough to watch the children and then Candice and Laura came over. We played Apples and Apples and opened a couple of presents.
Mark and Connie.
Candice.
Laura.
It was a nice birthday but I'm glad to be past it and into fall. I guess I shouldn't be surprised but lots of activities are piling up for our family. I thought it might be a quiet month but we sat down and figured out we're not going to have a free weekend until October. Thanks to Tropical Storm Danny we didn't get to go to the Outer Banks last weekend.

Play Group

2009-09-05T12:02:00.003-05:00

Not long after we moved her a fellow mom at church told me about a group of moms here in town called Crayola Moms. They have a website and organize activities for themselves and their kids. The moms come from all different backgrounds and all different ages but all have their kids in common. I've enjoyed getting to know these women very much.
Earlier this year we did a secret sister thing for 7 weeks and then all went out to dinner for the reveal. We had a blast. We're getting ready to start it again for the month of October. On Tuesday we had a fall kickoff get together at one of the moms house. My kids had fun getting out of our house and playing outside with other kids.
The water was frigid but she insisted. I found it hilarious that she was the only girl in a pool full of boys.

Field Trip

2009-09-04T09:36:00.008-05:00

Since we are homeschooling AJ this year we decided that it was important to us to join the local homeschool association. So far we're very pleased with it. They have more activities a year than you can shake a stick at, from preschool outings/playgroups music classes, p.e. classes to high school science fairs/historian clubs and even a graduation ceremony complete with yearbooks. AJ is in the first grade this year and we had our first field trip yesterday. He's gone on field trips before but with so many others at home I haven't had an opportunity to go with him.
Yesterday we went to a local fire station. Since it's all homeschoolers I got to take JM as well. Little Peanut and Grasshopper went to a sitter. The weather was beautiful, sunny skies and a cool breeze. We got a tour of the fire station and a tour of all the tools on the fire truck.
The sun was just a little bright.
One of the fire fighters demonstrated how they put on all their gear and what they sound like when they are breathing with their air masks on. They do sound just like Darth Vader. After putting everything on slowly and talking about each piece he gave a us a speed demonstration. These firefighters are required to be completely dressed in under 60 seconds. They wouldn't put their air tanks and helmets on until they get to the scene but he did for us. And I videoed it. hehe. (stupid computer...I can't turn my video right side up. please don't get a crick in you neck!)
Afterwards the kids all got firehats and books. What a fun first field trip. I'm looking forward to more.

Tailgating

2009-09-01T11:32:00.007-05:00

Sunday evening our church had their annual tailgate party as a fall kickoff. All the life groups came with their grills and yummy yummy food. There was an outdoor baptism as well. Two of our lifegroup members got baptized and I felt like a proud mother hen.
Gratuitous picnic kissing shot. :)
AJ couldn't be dragged away from the fun and games.
JM wasn't feeling himself so he was napping in the van for a bit.
Grasshopper just chillin'.
Hector getting baptized.
Christina getting baptized.
Me and Nathan.
Little Peanut found a willing victim.
Me and Laura-self portrait.

Wright Brothers Memorial

2009-08-17T08:19:00.007-05:00

Last week Nathan's brother Peter stayed with us. Both Nathan and Peter are interested in airplanes so while we took our regular trip to the beach we stopped at the Wright Brother's Memorial. Here are a few pictures.
We also went to the beach at Kill Devil Hills. I can now say that I like the Currituck Beach better. We did have a good time though. Our friend Laura came with us and Laura's sister and nephew, Stephanie and Mason.
Hanging out on the monument!
At the top of the hill.
Nathan and Peter.
Mason and Andrew.
How typical!

I Finally Broke

2009-08-08T19:40:00.003-05:00

It's been a long time coming but it had to be done. Here are the before and after pictures.
My baby isn't a baby anymore. He's a big boy.

Trampoline And other things

2009-07-25T13:31:00.006-05:00

We're staying at my sister ShaggaBear's taking care of the dogs while they are in WV. One of the allures about Aunt Shagga's yard is the trampoline. AJ has been having a blast. You'll want to turn the volume down on the video, the neighbor is mowing the yard.

The other children have been enjoying the swing set. Grasshopper decided to linger over his lunch.

Awesome Find Continued

2009-07-13T13:33:00.004-05:00

Yea for blog parties. This is going up at Nesting Place for the blog party Price My Space.
Awhile back I posted about a cabinet that Nathan and I happened upon at a yard sale. We weren't even looking for a cabinet that day but when I saw it I knew it would be perfect. It was a unfinished and a little rough around the edges. The hardware on it was hideous but oh the potential that it oozed. We have a very large wall at home that goes from the living room into the eating area. I needed something large to ground the living room arrangement.
We paid $40 for and hauled it home. On closer inspection we realized that it was handmade. There were pencil markings for measurements. Nathan of course was please that it was so sturdy and seemed like it would hold up well.
I asked my readers to guess what color I would paint it. There were some good guesses. Several people said blue, they know me well. My mom guessed red, white, and blue. Someone else guessed white. But the winner was Mandy's 'Pookie Bear' with black.
This isn't the best picture of the finished product but we absolutely love it. I bought new knobs at Wal-Mart and Nathan spray painted the hinges.
Here's Before.
And after primer.
And finished product.Next task, make a great tablescape for the top. Something with a beachy theme.

I Would Never Leave

2009-06-29T07:58:00.009-05:00

I love the beach. Not the crowded noisy beach but the quiet peaceful beach like Currituck. This is the second time Nathan and I have taken the kids there for the day. I love driving the 20 miles from the causeway up through the small towns to the lighthouse. I could look at beach houses everyday. They are so tall and graceful. This time we took my mom and dad with us and met Maggie, a family friend, there. We had a beautiful day.
We started with a picnic lunch and then climbed the lighthouse. I love the view from the top. We also visited a nature/history center about the area. When we were just about to set out for the beach we heard thunder and felt some sprinkles. We spent about 30 minutes waiting for the weather to blow over in this gazebo out over the water.
We spent the rest of the day at the beach playing in the waves with JM and AJ. Grasshopper and Little Peanut are not so fond of the waves but in the dumping sand down your pants categories they are the top two contendors. Actually, they are the only contendors.
Every time we leave it gets harder and harder to leave. We're planning next summer to go and stay for a week. Anyone want to come with us?

Cause My Husband is Scared of Turtle Claws

2009-06-25T15:11:00.004-05:00

Last night I was going to run out to W*l-M*rt to get a roller to finish this project which has been hanging over my head. As I was getting ready to turn off of our street I saw a nice sized turtle in the middle of the road. Nathan was in the yard so I parked the car right there at the stop sign and jumped out. I called Nathan and the kids over to see the turtle.
We took a couple of pictures and then I suggested Nathan take it back down by the creek that is a ways behind our house. He laughed at the idea of picking it up. I told him to just grab it and carry it. Nathan was intimidated by the large claws on all four legs. Here is his solution.
That turtle, we discovered, could move quite fast when it felt threatened. I was laughing really hard at him trying to pick it up with softball gloves.
We carried it back into the field near a ravine with water so hopefully he will be okay.

Fun with Friends

2009-06-24T18:08:00.004-05:00

Our good friend Laura is in Alaska this week sightseeing after running a half marathon last weekend. Before she left we had her over for dinner and games. She decided that I should take her picture since she apparently wants to be on the blog. So Laura, this is for you. She thought it was a big deal that I actually let her help in the kitchen. That's the Pampered Chef rotary grater if anyone is interested...
We had tacos for dinner and then some of our other friends came over and we played Apples to Apples. Sorry, Aryeh, the picture Nathan took of you didn't come out...but we did not forget you were there.
Our somewhat spastic cat insists on laying on anything she can find, this night it was the Apples to Apples box.
I served some very yummy, very pretty strawberry shortcake and forgot to take a picture. It had white chocolate mousse on top.

More Hair Fell

2009-06-11T17:45:00.005-05:00

Yesterday was AJ's last day of school for the summer. Yea! Of course, that meant that everything in his cubby and desk came home, including his pencil box. In his pencil box were crayons, pencils, and his nice little scissors. Someone found those nice little scissor and decided to do a little styling of her own. I wonder who taught her that?
She was in the bathtub when we found the hair on the floor. We didn't see how bad it was until it dried. This morning I call my hairstylist and she was able to work us in at 3:30.
Now, typically, Little Peanut will not be sweet around strangers. She gives the dirtiest looks you've ever seen and won't smile or do what you ask her to do. I knew it was going to be important for her hold still and do what the hairstylist asked so I started talking up our little outing. I told her what a big girl she was to get to go to the salon, how fun it would be to sit in the big chair, she needed to smile pretty cause mom was going to take pictures. And the icing on the cake, a green apple slushie from Sonic if she was good and held still. It worked.
She was a little princess. She marched right it with her little sunglasses. She smiled and was sweet. She also blammed her hair mess on her older brother. She talked and chattered and everyone fell in love with her.
We got to Sonic just in time to catch the end of Happy Hour, half priced drinks, less than a dollar and a half. What was that? A small slushie doesn't cost a dollar and half???? That's because I got a large cherry limeade of course.
See, it was hot....I needed something to cool off.
And in other news, JM did this to Grasshopper this morning.

Arrows in the hands of a Warrior

2009-05-20T13:06:00.005-05:00

This past year for our extended family has been excruciating and painful to say the least. Gut wrenching and searing pain might be more accurate. On September 3, the evening before my 27th birthday, my 18 year old nephew died. And while that might seem tragic to people who didn't know him, to those of us who knew him, saw the power of God in him, it is devastating. At the moment I received the call telling me, I fell to my knees sobbing and the only thing running through my head, "When there's pain in the offering, blessed be Your name."
At his funeral my 17 year old niece, Daniel's sister Belle, spoke. She shared this passage from Psalms 127.

³ Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

⁴ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.

⁵ Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

She shared that Daniel had not just been an arrow but he had been an arrow on fire, igniting all those around him in the quiver. And while it might seem that he didn't hit the mark, he did hit it. And he plowed the way for those coming behind him.

And soon, Belle will be launched, out of the quiver, on fire. And she is the most amazing person I know. Instead of allowing this past year to rob her of her strength and purpose, she is passing through this 'valley' and becoming a truly mighty woman of God. She just finished running a full marathon, 26.2 miles. She wore Daniel's initials on her arm band and dedicated the race to him. For the last two miles of the race she wore life tape, a piece of red duct tape with the word 'life' written on it symbolizing that abortion takes away the voice of unborn babies, over her mouth. Daniel's dedication to the cause of life knew no bounds. And neither does Belle's.

Our society today tells young people, you don't have to be responsible for your actions, you can do whatever feels good. She stands for truth and righteousness. There are those who have said, 'just give her a few years of college and she'll change her tune'. I do not believe that will be the case. She is strong and grounded in her faith in God. Storms will come, some already have, but she will be victorious through God.

Belle, I am so proud to be your aunt. I pray that I will be able to lead Little Peanut just as your mother lead you. And Mama Lily, I love you so much. I can't thank you enough for your friendship.

The Difference Between a Good Hair Cut and A Bad Hair Cut is...

2009-05-20T05:53:00.004-05:00

not two weeks. More like 3 years in this case. He did this to her. He was disciplined like this. Sigh. He cut 3 inches off of one side of her hair. She's never had a hair cut before. That was three years of very hard hair growth. I'm not happy. Poor girl. She's going to be in a wedding this summer. Besides the fact that she's bald on one side of her head. He's also not allowed out of my sight today.

Leftovers

2009-05-19T12:10:00.003-05:00

These are a few pictures that got left out of all of our Spring break posts. Enjoy!

Awesome Find

2009-05-16T18:09:00.003-05:00

See what Nathan and I found today? I'm so excited. 'I've been wanting an entertainment cabinet for awhile but we don't want to pay store prices.
This one is from Pottery Barn and costs $1200. I don't think so.
This one is from Target and cost $450. I still don't think so.
We found this at an 'accidental' yard sale. It's been homemade and is very sturdy. No where near as awesome as Belle would have made it but still pretty nice. And it was only $40. It has two more shelves for the side and one big shelf for the large t.v. side. I'll post more pictures later.
Here's the before.
Here it is primed.
Any guesses as to what color I'm going to paint it?

New Best Friend *updated

2009-05-09T07:34:00.001-05:00

"you got a friend in me. you got a friend in me." ~name that movie. Grasshopper got a mosquito bite that he kept scratching and it got infected. Nathan and I cleaned it out but he wouldn't leave the band aid on it so we had to use drastic measures.

Dress Up

2009-05-08T19:16:00.002-05:00

...takes on a whole new meaning.
This was all her own doing, by the way.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

2009-04-30T20:06:00.005-05:00

A certain family member was insistent that AJ play t- ball because he would be so good it. When the flier came home from school that our town was hosting a t-ball league we signed him up at the whooping price of $15. By the way mom, you owe me $15 for putting AJ in t-ball.
We had no idea who was sponsoring the teams but we figured he would have fun. Go figure last week he came home from practice with his new uniform. We couldn't have done better if we had been able to choose his team. That's right- it says Dr. Pepper on his shirt. We were more excited than he was.
Here's a video from his game tonight. More will be posted at future games.

Saturday

2009-04-28T09:57:00.005-05:00

Since our first trip to the beach Little Peanut has talked about lighthouses. She kept wanting to know when we were going to see her lighthouse and climb to the top. This past weekend was predicted to be warm so Nathan and I decided we would go on Saturday.
We got the kids ready and packed up the van. Planning for contingencies can leave you with lots of stuff in the van. We set out a little later than we planned but enjoyed the drive.
We picked Currituck Beach Lighthouse because it was slightly closer than Hatteras and it was also the one that Jon and Kate Plus 8 visited last summer and the kids wanted to see it. We got to the lighthouse about 1 pm. After a much necessary detour we headed over to the lighthouse. There is a charge for adults but kids climb free. We made it to the first platform, just 12 -15 up and AJ was pulling a Daniel, using his hands on the steps because he was scared. We stopped to read some of the information before going up to the next level. AJ's fear spread to JM and neither one was going to budge any further. At this point Nathan had been carrying Grasshopper and I was holding Peanut's hand. Nathan and I switched and I took the 3 boys back down and outside.
A couple of minutes later JM and AJ saw Daddy up at the top with Peanut. We smiled and waved. At this point JM decided there was no way he was going to miss out seeing what was up there. After Nathan and Peanut came down JM and I started up. I told him that I couldn't carrying him but I would hold his hand. He did great. I was so proud of him. He was very nervous but walked around on the platform and looked out to see. I was very nervous too.
We came down and I thought that was harder than going up.
Next on the agenda was lunch and the beach. We ate in the van and drove across the road to the public beach acess. After being slightly stuck in the sand we parked the van. Once again, Peanut was on a mission, headed for the beach. There weren't many people on the beach so we spread out. Peanut got her feet wet once and that was it. She played in the sand the rest of the day. Yes, they were all well coated with sunscreen. Grasshopper loved the sand as well. The waves, not so much. He screamed at them and was upset anytime one of us went in the water.
It was really cold but the sun and sand were so hot that it felt good. AJ loved being in the waves. JM liked getting his feet wet but not much more than that. Nathan spent a large part of his time helping people get unstuck from the sand.
We got home about 9 pm that night at which point Nathan thought, yeah, it might be nice to get a house at the beach for a vacation. Sounds like a great plan to me, anyone want to go with us???

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-14T19:08:00.002-05:00

We love Uncle Michael's house.

Birthday Girl

2009-04-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

Peanut's birthday is later this month but since both my family and Nathan's family live around each other in Ohio we decided it would be better to have it here where everyone is. She was so excited to be a princess. The dress and crown were a gift from mommy and daddy. Even her cousin came dressed up for the princess party. It was Aunt Tabitha's birthday so she got to wear a crown too. There have been so many boy parties for so long that it was fun to have such a girlie party.
Grasshopper had so much fun too. He caught some serious hang time.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

On the Road Again

2009-04-07T18:34:00.005-05:00

Day two of driving was. umm. insane. We made pretty good time though. I felt like I was driving from spring into winter. We went from green leaves and cherry blossoms to bare trees and old brown leaves blowing in the wind.
This was the view for most of the day.
Here's my trusty GPS. I knew where I was going but it's nice to have satellite confirmation.
Yeah, we made it. Ooo. Look. Nice rearview mirror and look, there's Nana waiting.
JM flung himself out of the van into Nana's arms. I was just glad to be out of the van.
Coming soon to a post near you, the Birthday Girl.

Halfway House

2009-04-04T06:55:00.005-05:00

Yesterday my plan was to leave home at 10 am. Thanks to very slow pokey people at the supercenter lube place it was more like 12:30. The kids did great though. They feel asleep and we didn't make any stops. My GPS kept saying arrival time 4:30. I thought, "Man, I rock!" Until it was 3:30 and I realized that the GPS hadn't figured out the time change. Darn it! We did good even with traffic though and made it about 5:30.
There were so many motor homes on the road yesterday. License plates from Quebec, Ontario, New Jersey, New York. It was like an exodus north. I get giddy when I see signs for Washington. I know there is something important about that. Nathan and I are loving the adventure that we are discovering in front of us.
And something that makes me so goosebumpy is the Bay Bridge. I do really well driving over it in daylight but the last time we drove over it was at night in fog. Here is was today.
Finally, we made it Uncle Michael and Aunt Melissa's. PLAY TIME!

Yesterday Morning

2009-03-27T09:59:00.003-05:00

Here's how yesterday morning went.

6:45-get up, make AJ's lunch, go back to bed, note to self MOPS today

7:20-Nathan wakes me up to say goodbye, doorbell rings, me-in jammies, Nathan tells me Grasshopper is in need of a change

7:21-neighbor missed the bus and needs a ride to school.

7:22-throw on clothes and ask what time she has to be there, thinking I'll throw clothes on the kids and take them with us and get ready for MOPS when we get back, reminder from Nathan about poopy diaper on Grasshopper

7:23- neighbor informs me she has to be there at 7:35, I realize there is NO way we'll make it in time, mind scrambles, I hand her the keys to the van and say, "Have your mom bring the baby over, and I'll watch him while she runs you to school."

7:24- start changing diaper, poop was an understatement, massive overflow disaster would have been more accurate, move Grasshopper to the bathroom

7:25-neighbor baby (boy 18 months, almost size of JM) shows up, crying cause he's never been over here, I turn Clifford on for him, run between mess in bathroom and hysterical baby in living room

7:26 start rinsing Grasshopper off, wash his hair, remember today is Mops mom's birthday and I was supposed to make warm nutty caramel brownies, remember that we have no rollos, no chocolate chips, and no brownie mix. Mild panic

7:28 dry and dress Grasshopper, dress Peanut, make JM get dressed, hope and pray neighbor will watch kids while I run to the store

7:40 neighbor returns, girls to school on time (YAY!) agrees to watch kids while I run to wal-mart

7:50 arrive at Walmart, grab 3 items, get in checkout lane behind person with birthday party supplies.....t a k e s f o r e v e r.

8:15 arrive home, grab kids from next door, note to self fix hair before leaving house again, throw brownies together and double and triple check recipe to be sure I'm not forgetting something, continue feeling like I forgot something.

8:20 put brownies in oven

8:25 fix hair, check brownies, pack diaper bag, do makeup, grab necklace and watch, throw cute scarf on

8:40 take out brownies, put rollos in, realize I forgot to put the nuts and brown sugar on top before baking, top with chocolate, herd kids to the van

8:50 buckle seat belts, prep front seat for hot stoneware

8:55 check with neighbor about going, she's waiting for a phone call and can't go

9:10 pull out of driveway with everything

9:30 arrive at MOPS and ask other moms who forgot to remind me about making snack.....

can I have a nap now?

Wordless Wednesday

2009-03-25T07:50:00.002-05:00

Because mommy said you may not get up at 6 am.

Toile Tuesday

2009-03-24T04:00:00.000-05:00

Pretty Organizer over at Pretty Organized Palace is hosting the TOILE PARTY!!!! Yea!!! As I posted earlier this month I was pretty ambitious with my projects. I will say that my procrastination has been in full swing. Peanut's curtain has been done for over a week now but I loved my other fabric so much I was quite nervous to cut into it. Here are my first tentative cuts. It's just so pretty.Here are my curtains waiting to get hung.
However, after working hard all day today here are some pictures of my living room. I think it's progressing nicely. To the left of the loveseat is our front door. Here's a lovely little addition to the loveseat. Hi Miracle.Here is Peanut's curtain. It didn't turn out quite like I wanted but she loves it.
Now on to some pretty pictures I found on the internet. I love these curtains and bedset from Pottery Barn. But the prettiest, sweetest bit of toile I found was this gorgeous bassinet. What baby wouldn't sleep peacefully all night long in this sweetness. I'm in. love. sigh. Want to know the catch? This lovely little bed is $800. Can you believe it?

Friday Night Fun

2009-03-23T07:38:00.004-05:00

Friday evening Nathan met us in town to do some serious grocery shopping. We haven't done major shopping for awhile now. Since we were getting a late start we met at the one. the only. Triple A. Actually it was Chick-fil-A, AJ is teaching them to say it correctly and that makes me a little sad.
I was surprised that it wasn't really busy so I relented and let them play in the play place for awhile. I figured it would wear them out and they would be more patient with our shopping. It worked for the most part. Here are a few pictures that I took with my cell phone.AJ was to busy for me to get a picture of him. They had fun, which was the point.

Hard at Work

2009-03-19T11:26:00.003-05:00

We are loving the sunshine and warm breezes today. A trip to the beach is once again creeping into my thoughts. Sadly it will be awhile before we can go. This weekend we have friend commitments, next Pampered Chef commitments, the week after that Ohio commitments (including birthday fun). After that is Easter. Hopefully by the weekend after Easter we will be once again on our way to the beach.
Here's how the kids have been enjoying today.
My pretty feet.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-03-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here's my front door. I think it turned out great. What do you think??

Stylin

2009-03-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

I took a quiz the other day at Sproost.com. It was a little decorating style quiz. You rate 16 rooms at one of 5 choices from "love it" to "hate it" with "just ok" being in the middle. At the end it will tell you what decorating style you like.
Here is what style I am according to the quiz. I'd say it's right on for me. 60% Nantucket Style. And 40% Cottage Chic Style.
Here's an example of the Nantucket Style.
This is how that style is described. Oh how you love the beach! Who doesn't, right? And so your dream home is either perched in your favorite beach town, or you've brought that favorite beach town into your house.

And since your true inspiration is the sea, the colors and textures in your home are the same that you would find at your favorite beach: white, light beiges and grays of the sand and driftwood, a variety of blues for the ocean and sky, and greens and vibrant blues of the sea glass� but the key is white! Your space should feel light and airy and give off the mood one has when at the beach: laid back!

Your furniture is comfortable and the layout is cozy. The more it reminds you of actually sitting on the warm sand, the better! And what do you do at the beach? Hang out with family and friends - and your home is just an extension of this play place. And though the space is filled with large white furniture, it somehow manages to feel both durable and casual.

Here is an example of Cottage Chic Style.

And here is how it is described. Who says that cottages can't be modern and chic? Who says that they have to be floral and cheesy? Not you!

You love the carefree spirit that the cottage interior inspires, but you are also serious about your appreciation for modern art and hip treasures. You love old and new alike, and love to highlight them all to expose the uniqueness of each. What better way to show off these treasures than with a light background?

Go take the quiz and tell me how you rated. :) And thanks in advance for sharing.

Fun With Camera

2009-03-14T09:19:00.000-05:00

We got a new digital camera at Christmas and I've been playing with some of the settings. Here are some fun'ness'.

This is Awesome

2009-03-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

Isn't insurance great?? This is Grasshopper's prescription that we got yesterday after a little trip to the ER. Thank God for Nathan's awesome insurance.

Lunch

2009-03-12T20:34:00.003-05:00

A couple of Sundays ago we went out to lunch with our new friends Jessica and Aryeh. They were interested in trying a little burger joint that they had heard good things about. Jessica is a teacher and her students love the food so off we went to Andy's.
We got a booth for all 8 of us. No small trick. Jessica and Grasshopper shared the end of the table. I wrangled Little Peanut and JM. AJ sat between Nathan and Aryeh.
It really was good food. We had fun talking and playing with the kids toys that came in their meals. Here are a few pictures from out little outing.

Which is It Really?

2009-03-11T12:27:00.005-05:00

*UPDATED!! You have to watch the video at the end.

Something that I missed about being in the South was the absence of one of my favorite fast food places. My children had never tasted its goodness. My husband had never even been to one. When we moved to NC I was so excited to find one in our town, right down the street from Target. (that's a whole other post)
On the first available day we had JM, Little Peanut, and Grasshopper made their first trek with Mommy to this great establishment. There was some discussion over whether or not they were going to have cheeseburgers and they couldn't understand why that wasn't an option. :)
After their first bite they were sold. Now everytime we drive by it they ask if that's where we're going.
It was several weeks before AJ and Nathan could go with us. Nathan of course was skeptical. I mean really, how good can it be? Boy was he impressed. And that's saying something. He let me know that we would definitely be going back as a family.
According to my children, AAA (pronounced by them Triple A) is their favorite place to eat. Some how I think they mean this.

The First Post

2009-03-10T20:52:00.003-05:00

from my new laptop. Pictures, details, and more posts to follow. :)

Ears, Hats, and Jammies

2009-03-05T19:50:00.003-05:00

This week AJ's school is featuring one of his favorite authors. The one. The only. Dr Suess. AJ's favorite book by him is Horton Hears A Who. Yea for AJ it was one of the books featured this week. We do like the movie but we were reading the book awhile before the movie came out.
Here are a few pictures of AJ this week as he came home from school.
This Dr. Suess hat is awesome. Here are his Horton ears.
Jammies was the last day this week. Tomorrow is yet another Teacher Work Day....hokey pete.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-03-04T07:58:00.002-05:00

Yesterday in the car after Little Peanut fell asleep Grasshopper was holding her hand. If she was awake she wouldn't let him do this.