Alabaster Cityfest

Last Saturday we met up with some daycare friends and went to Alabaster Cityfest. We had so much fun, and we plan on making it a tradition! Admission was free, and you only paid for food and drinks. The best part for us was Kidsfest. They had about 10 inflatables, 2 carnival type rides, arts and crafts, shows, and games. 

We all pulled into the parking lot around the same time, and Addison was super excited to. See Ava Greer and Paxton.

We hoped on the shuttle and rode for all of 2 minutes, but definitely long enough to snap a picture!

When we first got there we stood in lines in order to get a free booster seat and free bike helmets. Addison has a bike helmet, but I was standing in line for what I like to call "tornado helmets" - ha! Once we got our free goods, Richard took them to the car while we proceeded to the kids' area. Of course we got more free goodies upon entering - hula hoops!!!

After hanging out for a bit we decided to put the kids on the swing. I wasn't sure Tate was ready for the swings that go around fast, but he seemed determined to ride. He should've listened to me ...

That face! Ha! Addison, on the other hand, loved it, and she followed it up with a Frog Hopper ride. 

After this ride, the kids bounced in some bounce houses, went down the slides, stood in a horribly long line to get our faces painted (and got out of line once we realized it was going nowhere fast), and had ice cream. We had so much fun, and it definitely wore the kids out!!

Oh, and I should mention that on our way out we looked around and Addison wasn't by our side....we started looking around quickly (worried) but she had stopped right behind us at a "booth" so that she could pet a snake!!!!

She's a brave little girl!!!!

Friday Fun

Friday I kept Leighton and Bo while their mommy went on a girls' trip. I have to admit that I was super nervous. We all know I teach high school, and babysitting little ones seemed like a daunting task. Fortunately, Kimberly has good kids like I do, so the day was good! 

I set up pools and sprinklers in our backyard, and I planned on spending most of the day outside. The good news is - other than eating and sleeping, we did! 

Bo was a busy baby, and he only seemed interested in the water for a minute because he was interested in everything else! Tate loves the sand table, so he stayed busy with that most of the time. The girls, however, hit the water! 

Bo took a nap for around 3 hours and the girls slept for almost 2, so it was such an easy day!! Luckily, Kim and Colin also came over to play, and I had another adult for eyes and have adult conversation. 

After Nathan picked up the kids and I got ready, Morgan, a sweet student of mine, came to babysit the kids so we could go to dinner with friends. We met up with Susan, Lindsey, Amy, and their husbands at Cocina Superior. We had a wonderful time, and it was a great way to end a long, tiring day!

Summer Fun

It is week one of our summer break, and it has been pretty good. We've opted to stay at home since the weekend was so busy, but that hasn't kept us from doing some fun things in the backyard! Summer is my time to catch up on reading, and it is my time to do all those things I've pinned on Pinterest. With. The kids in mind, I have been checking the activities off the list.

Tuesday was super low-key with trips to the grocery store, Dollar Tree (for supplies), and simply playing at home.

Wednesday we kept our morning routine, and during play time the kids put on their swim suits and headed outside. Instead of water fun, we played in shaving cream! On Pinterest it said to use plastic table clothes, but I suggest you use a tarp or something heavier because the tablecloths were too light and would stick to the kids, blow away, and wad up. They still had fun though!

It took Tate a minute to get dirty, but Addison dove right in putting it on her belly and in her hair! After they got tired of it, I turned on the sprinkler and let them play (wash off!) for a bit. Once we finished outside we went straight to the bath.

Thursday we kept a morning routine and played inside. Our afternoon took us outside with more shaving cream fun. I mixed half a box of cornstarch with half a can on shaving cream in each bowl. I also added food coloring because it is more fun!!! 

I wish I had had the tablecloths from the day before to sit on, but we used a trash bag instead. The combo of the corn starch and shaving cream made a mixture that would crumble or form al,out like you would play dough. The colors didn't blend together, so it was fun to mix colors too.

Now I just hope I don't run out of ideas before summer ends! 

Summer 2013

I REALLY miss blogging, so my goal this summer is to get back into it. I'm not going to try to play catch up, so I will just start from here!

We had a busy Memorial Day weekend with family visiting from out of town. We ate, we swam, and we were tired people all weekend. 

Friday night we met at Superior Grill to celebrate David's birthday.

Saturday we went to Ross Bridge and played at the pool, and Sunday after meeting for lunch at CPK, we went back to the pool.

Addison and Tate enjoyed spending time with their cousins, and it was a lovely weekend catching up and relaxing with Jonathan's family.

Breakfast with Santa

This year we avoided the mall, and we went to a breakfast with Santa. It was wonderful too! We got quality time talking with Santa and a delicious breakfast. Addison is finally to the age where she just hops in Santa's lap and starts giving him her list. Tate, on the other hand, is not a fan. He will NOT get in the man's lap, and we don't make him.

Recap: Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was no different from the past. We went to Jonathan's parents' house the week before, and we traveled to Tennessee for Thanksgiving Day. The fun, new thing this year was that Addison got to ride a horse! Tate wanted nothing to do with the horse, but Add LOVED it! I also got me some sweet baby Reese snuggles!

New Year

This year I'm keeping most of my resolutions private. Not because I'm embarrassed to tell anyone but because I never keep them! I always tell and backslide, so this time I'm trying something new!

I will share ONE resolution though - blog again! I'm not promising a post every day, but you'll get SOMETHING from me more frequently than you have the last six months. As not to try to backtrack too much, I will give big updates. First - Halloween!

Addison was Dorothy, and Tate was SUPPOSED to be the cowardly lion. He was so cowardly he wouldn't wear the costume. Thank goodness we had a tux laying around. :-) I ended up with Dorothy and James Bond?

Trying!

Happy Fall, Y'all!! I'm trying to get back on the blog train because I've had a few comments recently about missing it. I actually miss it too, but it is so hard to find time. Here's hoping I can work it out and start documenting my sweet babies once again. 

  

Long Live Summer

Shutterfly and Tiny Prints are launching a Long Live Summer facebook campaign, and you can win a trip to the Bahamas! Like Shutterfly HERE!

Win a trip for four to The Bahamas and a professional photo shoot so you’ll remember your vacation forever. All you need to do is upload your favorite photo and caption based on the theme of the week. Get a gift from Shutterfly just for entering! You can enter at any point during the 5-week sweepstakes period.

PHOTO THEMES

• Week 1(7/9): Americana

• Week 2 (7/16): Great Outdoors

• Week 3 (7/23): Water Fun

• Week 4 (7/30): Sports & Activities

• Week 5 (8/6): Parties & Celebrations

PRIZES

• Instant win prizes just for submitting a photo!
• Weekly prizes (contestants can enter one time/week)
• Weekly featured photos: up to 5 weekly entries will be selected from the gallery and featured on the Facebook fan page and awarded a $500 gift card on Shutterfly and a copy of the new Lonely Planet travel photography book.
• Grand prize: trip for 4 to Bahamas, 4 nights, family photo shoot
• Shutterfly Sweepstakes - Official Rules

 

Miscellany Monday

{ONE::Mafiaoza's}
Last Thursday some of the girls from work all went to Mafiaoza's in Crestline to see Meredith's husband, Andy, play. Meredith ended up not being able to go, but the rest of us still gave Andy a crowd. The weather was perfect for sitting on the patio and listening to Andy strum the guitar. He's good, y'all. Really good. We had a wonderful time and sat chatting long after he finished playing!

{TWO::Rain, Rain, Go Away!}
It is a rainy Monday morning here in our area. I'm stuck inside with two kiddos, so we will definitely be finding new things to do inside today.

{THREE::Weekend}
This weekend we headed to Tennessee to visit with my mom and go to my cousin Meghan's, bridal shower. She is getting married in August, and from her talk so far, the wedding will be fabulous. I can't wait! We visited PaDeck, went on walks, played outside, ate fresh garden veggies, and just enjoyed being in the country.

Addison got ALL her clothes dirty, so while they washed, she wore my kindergarten shirt. She also wore Mom's old sunglasses. HELLO 80s girl!

We went for a walk around Pa Deck's pond and saw fish and a dead turtle.

Tate ran around eating biscuits. The kid ate about 3 biscuits Saturday morning.

{FOUR::Beach}
I'm still planning for the beach, and it can't get here fast enough! I'm so excited that Addison finally seems interested in the sand, and I'm excited that both kids will play so hard and sleep so well. I've got lots to do to prepare though, so hopefully I won't forget anything once we hit the road!

{FIVE::Birthed}
I can't let MM pass without giving a shout out to Mrs. Beth Miller at The Miller Highlife. Beth's birthday was yesterday!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BETH! She was enjoying her birthday down at the beach, so I hope to see and celebrate with her soon!