A June Picture

There are no "babies" in this picture.

Growing Up.

She's a Cool Girl

So not many times does someone say something to me that really sticks with me.  Makes me think about it for many days and reflect on it.

One of the first times was when Olivia was a newborn and I was in the grocery store alone with her.  This little old lady with short gray hair comes up to Olivia and I and says...  "Well, isn't the world getting better every day, {she paused} welcome to the world sweet child."

Powerful!  And it's stayed with me.  A stranger not trying to play tickle toes or touch my baby, just welcoming her to the world.

Another example was just the other day.  Sitting with friends, having a couple of drinks and just enjoying each others' company.  He says, "Now Olivia, she's a cool girl.  Like a really cool kid."  And he goes on to add a couple of things, but that line, has stayed with me.  

Thank You.

Foto Friday

Gettin' my hair did

Wonderwild

Havin' a blast at Wonderwild!

Wendy's

Mentioned the awesome storytime at Wendy's multiple times before...but just love that it's "free" (as long as we buy a meal) and that the kids have a great time getting face or arm paintings, listening to a story, doing a short activity, and getting a balloon.

jackpot!

Back in Action

 Tim worked miracles with this computer.  And since we had Carbonite we weren't worried about all our documents or pictures, they were remotely stored...but not having the computer was definitely an inconvenience.   THANK YOU Tim for spending hours working on it! 

hhuumm....

can't seem to figure out what store we're in

Relaxin'

Just watching some cartoons with Jerr-Bear

Tim Things

It's a Saturday afternoon, Tim is attempting to fix our very broken desktop and we are both getting annoyed by the process.  

DING

Tim receives and email and it's from a boat dealership guy that he has kept in touch

 with for awhile now, asking us if we wanted to go out on a boat to see the newest model just released.

Ha - if you know Tim, things like this happen pretty frequently and we do these random, yet always fun, "Tim Things".

Have to admit that I was a little hesitant at first, but it ended up being awesome.  

And no, unfortunately we are not new boat owners...but we were tempted!

Foto Friday

Goodbye Summer

Dinner To-Go

Our plans for the evening included dinner and a walk...but the afternoon got away from us and we realized that it we probably wouldn't be able to fit both into the night.

BUT WAIT - what about both?

two grilled cheese with grapes to-go please 

My Week -

so...we got back from a wonderful week at the beach, and i know you are all waiting on pins-and-needles for the rest of the posts.

and i'm having one of those weeks when i thought on monday, that it was wednesday!?!? you know it's a long week when you actually skip a whole day...

the problem is tim is in germany all week.  like left on sunday morning doesn't get back until friday evening. boo :(

but normally that wouldn't be a "not able to blog problem".  

however, the desktop computer WITH ALL MY PICTURES is not working.  it's doing some "system restore" scariness. 

really really hoping to get this issue fixed and be back to my overloading picture blogging very soon.

the good news???  it's finally wednesday.

School

Since school has started, Mason is in tears during drop off.  It's never easy to leave my screaming little man, but the teacher assure me that he always stops and that I shouldn't linger...it just makes it even harder.  Thankfully, Jude drops off her little girl a few minutes after us and is always able to update me that Mason is no longer crying and playing trains :)  

But today was different.  

I'm holding his hand and we are walking down the hall.  I say, "Hope you have a wonderful day at school Mason.  I love you lots."  We reach the door, he looks at me, waves...says, "Bye Ma-Ma...look choo-choo" and walks into the classroom, never even looking back.

cue: glossy eyes.

Stroller

My "double" stroller has come in use a lot recently.

(We've been working with Olivia regarding sucking her thumb - had a hard time saying something during this moment)

Football Sunday

No, they aren't watching football...I think the Lorax??  

Notice Olivia and the blanket.  The movie was a little scary and although she told me "Aubrey was protecting her", the blanket acts as an eye-shield when necessary :o

The adults were upstairs, in a posh media room.  

Viewing a Texan victory on a 106 inch screen :)

Then and Now

25 years ago we were at Myrtle Beach.  

REALLY looking forward to next year :)  

Day 7

Last full day on the beach :(  Some more of my favorite pictures.

 I have to say this trip was a huuuuuge success!!  The house was right on the beach in North Myrtle.  We could leave the kids in the house for naps and the adults could sun on the beach.  perfectly perfect.  It was so nice being with our whole family and thankfully the house was big enough for us all to have our own space and yet common areas that we all got to spend together.  We all rotated taking turns cooking meals and going grocery shopping.  It was easy.  The kids all did a great job - Olivia and Mason slept very well in the same room together.  Of course, there were multiple visits to remind them that it was nap time...but all things considering, a victory. Thank you everyone for a great week!

Myrtle 2012

Day 6

Tonight all the "kids" went out for another "family friendly" competition.  

MINI GOLF

At the one and only....

We were lucky enough that this place was within walking distance...

The pros!

 Tim came in individual first and we as a couple, came in first as a team :)

Day 5

Okay folks, we are kind-of a really FUN family.

Tonight was minute-to-win-it night!  

Just a little family competition.

And while the yellow team came in second, we did have a blast!

Day 4

Today we celebrated my parents 25th!  We surprised them with a photo session with a photographer (amazing pictures to come)...here is a little preview

That night we toasted my parents with champagne and had a lovely meal together.

one of my favorite pictures...EVER!!

decorations, chocolate covered strawberries, cake, fireworks, crabs, cards, champagne!

PERFECTION!

Happy 25th Anniversary Mom and Tom!

Day 3

Of course we did lots of fun activities throughout our week at the beach.  Two big highlights were body boarding and kite flying.

Obviously, this was a blast.

As Uncle Kevin so eloquently put it,
"There is kite flying and then there is FLYING KITES." 

Day 2!

of course we spent a good portion of the day on the beach.  yes, those are my "babies" out riding the waves.  incredible!

today was also grandparents day....so we celebrated them :)

 then while my lil bro and his girl made us a delicious meal, we took a couple of photos

The First 12 Hours

of our week long myrtle vacay may have looked a little like this...

Foto Friday

yup - this is us and our "beach gear".  

look out myrtle, here we come!

Floaters

Jerry

footprints

Olivia: Mom, can I go footprints outside just like Mason?

footprints = barefoot

Let's Go....

HOKIES!

My little girl and I are pretty excited about the start of the season!

The dress...is from Debbie...remember this post?  

It's absolutely adorable.  Thank you again :)

Potty Trained!

In seriously a week.  It wasn't us ... it was all him.  He was ready, he wanted to.  He had almost no bribes or rewards and very few accidents.  

And, yes, we did use a potty....however, this is definitely a nice "boy" perk ;)

FEVERS

I'm over it.  Completely over it.  Since coming home from CT my kids have had fevers three of the four past weekends.  DONE.

Don't know whats going on.  First it was Mason with a fever virus? Then we had our one healthy weekend.  Last weekend it was Olivia with fever and double ear infection.  This weekend it's Mason...fever, cough, congestion, nasty nose.

Come on.