Pool Time and Pancakes

So, we have been taking advantage of some fun things going on this week.

Monday I took the kids for a swim at Ray's Splash Planet. We get to go every so often when they offer their "toddler day". It is so cheap to go and swim and we always have such a GREAT time! Jake loves going down the slides, floating in the lazy river, and twisting around in the "Vortex"!

Sissy has fun too. She enjoys playing in the fountains that shoot up water.

She like to jump in and go under the water too! So much fun!

Yesterday I was listening to the radio and heard that it was "National Pancake Day". So I came home and looked it up to see if IH0P was giving away free pancakes and sure enough they were!

Matt was going to be gone showing houses, so I thought I would take the kids and go.

A night without cooking or cleaning AND free pancakes sounded like a great plan to me!

My mom met me there to help and we had so much fun!

We had to wait a little bit to get a seat, but the kids did great!

The waiting made us all that more hungry!
In the end all our plates were cleaned and little hands were sticky!
What a yummy treat for dinner!

Movies, Sales, and Cookies:)

Saturday morning was an early morning around our house. Matt and I woke the kids up early and took them to see the new movie "The Lorax".

My sister Kelly received some free tickets to see the movie that will come out this weekend. We got to see the sneak preview of the film and we thought it was great!

It was in 3D which was really cool. I wasn't sure how the kids would do, but I packed lots of snacks and drinks just in case! I was holding Brooklyn and she did not move a bit for probably the first 45 minutes. She did great and Jake did too! He looked so cute in his 3D glasses holding his popcorn and fun dip! Ha!

Saturday afternoon there was a HUGE consignment sale going on in our area. I was really wanting to go to see what they had. I have been to this particular one in the past and enjoy looking around at all the stuff. My kids need some summer clothes and I LOVE getting a good deal!

Brooklyn REALLY needed some new shoes. Bless her heart, I was stuffing her little foot in her last pair! I found 2 pairs and paid 3 dollars total for them! Woot! Woot!

I also found this little shirt for Parker...

Because Saturday was their 50% off day, most items were picked over, so I didn't find too much. I am planning on going to another big sale this coming Saturday! I can't wait!

We ordered some Girl Sc0ut cookies a couple of weeks ago from a little neighbor girl. They came in this past week and there is a certain little someone who LOVES her some Thin Mints...
She even has a little Girl Scout shirt that someone passed down to her. She wore it yesterday which was perfect after all the cookies she ate:)

Spring Training

Baseball Spring training has officially begun in our house!

Matt came home yesterday with a few baseball surprises for Jake.

New cleats, some t-balls, and a shiny new baseball bat!

We were going to sign him up this year to play on a team in our little town, but decided to wait one more year. We missed the deadline for sign-ups which came with a price increase, and we thought that he is still little and that waiting one more year wouldn't hurt. The season was a commitment until June and with Parker coming in May and several other commitments that we have, we decided to wait.
Matt said he would practice with him for now and teach him a few things about the game!

Yesterday was their first "practice"!

It was a gorgeous day...so off to the park they went!

Sissy and I went too and watched him catch a few balls and swing his new bat!
It wasn't long before she wanted to play too:)

Jake had the best time with his daddy!

Matt has waited a long time to finally "coach" his own little boy, so yesterday was a little special for him I'm sure.

Jake did great and was getting the hang of it!

As the weather gets warmer over the next few weeks, I am sure many evenings will be spent together at the ball fields!

Here's to a great "season"!

Hold Me

Hold Me

by: Jamie Grace

I've had a long day I just wanna relax
Don't have time for my friends, no time to chit-chat
Problems at my job, wonderin' what to do
I know I should be working but I'm thinking of You and
Just when I feel this crazy world is gonna bring me down
That's when Your smile comes around

Oo, I love the way You hold me, by my side You'll always be
You take each and everyday, make it special in some way
I love the way you hold me, in Your arms I'll always be
You take each and everyday, make it special in some way
I love You more than the words in my brain can express
I can't imagine even loving You less
Lord, I love the way You hold me
Whoa whoa
Oh whoa, I love the way You hold me
Whoa whoa

Well Ya, took my day and You flipped it around
Calmed the title wave and put my feet on the ground
Forever in my heart, always on my mind
It's crazy how I think about You all of the time
And just when I think I'm bout to figure You out
You make me wanna sing and shout

Oo, I love the way You hold me, by my side You'll always be
You take each and everyday, make it special in some way
I love the way You hold me, in Your arms i'll always be
You take each and everyday, make it special in some way
I love You more than the words in my brain can express
I can't imagine even loving You less
Lord, I love the way You hold me
Whoa whoa
Oh whoa, I love the way You hold me
Whoa whoa

I'm so grateful and thankful for all You've done
Wish I could tell You in a short story or poem
But, all I have is my voice and this guitar
And You have my heart

Oo, I love the way You hold me, by my side You'll always be
You take each and everyday, make it special in some way
Oh, I love the way You hold me, in Your arms i'll always be
You take each and everyday...

Oo, I love the way You hold me, by my side You'll always be
You make each and everyday, oh so special

Oh, I love the way You hold me, in Your arms I'll always be
You take each and everyday, make it special in some way
I love You more than the words in my brain can express
I can't imagine even loving You less
Lord, I love the way You hold me

Whoa whoa
Oh whoa, I love the way You hold me
Whoa whoa
Oh, I love

Just Doing Life...

We had such a nice weekend around here.

Friday, however did start out with a trip to the doctor for Brooklyn.

We have all been fighting colds around here for the past few weeks. Brooklyn's really started last Sunday. A little runny nose turned into some yucky coughing. I was trying to just wait it out, hoping she would get better. We got out the nebulizer to see if that would help, but it just continued to linger. I finally made an appointment for her just to get her cough checked out. Her coughing always makes me nervous considering all that we have been through with her.

The doctor took a good listen and didn't hear any wheezing, which was GREAT, but did find she had an ear infection. Thankfully I haven't had to deal much with ear infections!

She is now on an antibiotic and doing much, much better! She has stopped coughing and is just as perky as can be:)

I love that she LOVES her baby dolls. She pushes them in her stroller and today she was feeding them!

Girls are just sooooo sweet:)

The rest of Friday and our Saturday were spent playing outside! We had gorgeous spring like weather those days and then by Sunday, it was COLD! Some people in our area even saw a few snowflakes! Crazy!

Yesterday was a BIG day for Matt and his basketball team. They found out that they made States, which is a BIG deal! They worked hard all year and found out they placed 13th in the state. This was better than they did last year. They will travel to Georgia tomorrow to play in the next round. They are hoping for a big win!

Today I was going to clean my house, but decided to hold off and make it an errand running day. We had to stop by my school to drop off some copies and then I wanted to stop by a little preschool right down the road to get some information about sending Jake there in the fall. They were closed due to to holiday though! Oops. Didn't think about that:)

I think he would really enjoy going the two mornings that I am teaching. The school where I work at is offering free child care next year for teachers kids, so I am planning on taking Brooklyn and Parker there with me, but enrolling Jake in preschool. I am not sure if I can find a preschool for his age just two days a week, but we'll see!

I have to admit that I have been really getting excited about all that's coming up on our calendar. I am trying not to wish time away, but we have so many fun things coming up that I can't wait to get here!

I was ready for January to end because that was just a hard month for our family. Then February got here and I know the end of February means the end of basketball (Yay! We get to see Daddy a whole, whole lot more!) March is coming fast which is filled with Easter fun and TONS of great consignment sales and garage sales. Then April means the END OF SCHOOL! Yay! We get out April 26th! And then of course May means Baby Parker will be here! That's what I am most excited about! I can't wait!

Happy Monday!

Baby, Love Notes, and Donuts:)

I can't believe Baby Boy will be here in just a few months! I am feeling good and sooo very anxious for him to be here! I think about him everyday and get so excited about his arrival! Matt and I haven't done a thing to get ready for him though. We are planning on switching Jake to a new room and putting the Baby in his room. We have some cleaning up to do before that happens. I suppose I could go through some clothes that I had from Jake to see what's going to work. They will be opposite seasons, so I am not sure really what I have. We have an extra crib, but need to buy a dresser so there is no where to really put the clothes anyway. Matt is so busy through the week and he has picked up a little job refereeing on Saturday mornings so right now it is hard to get anything done!

Today I am 28 weeks!

And as you can see, I think we have settled on his first name...Parker. We are still deciding on a middle name.

I had my glucose test this past Friday and we had our 3D ultrasound yesterday. I was hoping to post lots of fun pics, but Parker was NOT cooperating AT ALL! We got one quick little peek and then he rolled completely over and WOULD NOT roll back. We didn't get one picture! The nurse even tried just a regular ultrasound to see if we could at least get some pictures, but NOPE! He was NOT having it! At least I saw him and he is growing strong and doing just fine:)

Today I came home to a SWEET little surprise...

I actually made this for Matt for Valentines Day. Every once in a while we leave each other a little note in a surprise spot. This is a frame that we can write on and pass it back and forth.

I found it after teaching this morning, coming home to pick up the house, getting the kids down for a nap, and folding a few mountains of laundry.

I have to say it made me smile and totally made my day!

Love him:)

Matt has been gone ALL DAY and is still not back. After supper tonight I wanted to take the kids out for a bit, so what better place to go than Krispy Kreme?!?!?

We ordered a few of our favorite kinds and enjoyed every bite of sugary goodness!

Jake is a boy after my own heart...

Chocolate glazed was his choice:)

And I don't think you can get much sweeter than this...

What little girl doesn't like sprinkles:)

The perfect sweet treat with my LOVES!!!

Love Ya! Mean It!

This past Friday I was lucky enough to have a date with the cutest little man ever

(blue teeth from a Fun Dip and all)...

My MOM's group was hosting a Valentine's Day party for us to enjoy. The kids got together for a Valentine story, crafts, music, and snacks!

Matt worked from home that afternoon so I was able to leave Brooklyn with him while she napped, so it was just my Jake and me!

Then Monday came and we were invited to my sisters house for more Valentine fun.

We painted Valentine butterflies...

and made heart wreaths...

We had lunch together, which Sissy enjoyed every bite of:)

I love when the little cousins can get together for a fun play date!

Matt and I don't usually do anything big for Valentines Day. We don't usually go out. I enjoy just cooking at home and having a family dinner together. I must admit that it is still hard for me to leave my kids, so I am content just being at home together. This year however, Matt surprised me with a nice lunch at my all time favorite place...the Olive Garden. Matt's mom was keeping the kids this morning anyway while I was at school, so she stayed just a bit longer so we could have lunch! I so enjoyed my time with just Matt and I. It was much needed for sure. It is nice to be able to go out to eat every once in a while and not have someone climbing in your lap or spilling your drink:)

I love him more than ever and am thankful he is all mine:)

This evening we wrapped up all our Valentine fun with a dinner at my mom's. Matt had a basketball game so it was just me and the kids. I was still stuffed from lunch, but we had fun hanging out with them for a while tonight!

Happy Valentine's Day 2012

My Carolina Cutie:)

There is a little magazine around our area called "Little Ones". It basically features articles about being a mom to young children. It often lists things going on in our area as well as articles on family issues. It's just a fun little magazine that you can pick up at pretty much any doctors office or kid place. Well, they have a page in there called "Carolina Cuties". You can submit photos of your kids and try to get them published.

Well, a few months back my good friend Angela from Angela Tucker Photography snapped some fall pics of my family. She got one of Brooklyn that I just LOVE so I thought I would send it in!

Last week a friend of mine called me to let me know that it had made the magazine!

Of course she sent several copies for me to have! It is just kind of a neat thing and something I will have to show her when she gets older!

I love my cutie:)

ImaginOn

Monday afternoon I received a call from my school letting me know that it would be closed on Tuesday due to some sewer work going on. They would have no water and therefore could not open!

Yay! An unexpected day off for me!

I knew Matt was going to be gone ALL DAY, so I wanted to find something fun for the kids and I to do. A few weeks ago I saw some fun (free) things going on at ImaginOn so I thought that it would be the perfect thing to do.
They have family story time just about every day, so that's what our plan was going to be!

When we got there Jake turned into a stinker (to put it nicely...ugh). He didn't want to listen to the stories or sing the songs, but of course he ran right to the computers!


Brooklyn listened pretty good and had fun playing with the scarfs the lady gave out during the songs!


After the story time was over we enjoyed the play area they have which is filled with books, toys, and games.





It was then time for us to wrap up our morning, but not without a quick stop downstairs where there are even more fun things to see and do.

Jake thought this was pretty cool...

You can stand in front of this backdrop and then see yourself on a t.v. screen!
(He loves to wave at himself anytime we walk into a store with one of these too, ha!)

They had a pretend trolley to ride in, a puppet theater to play in, and much, much more!

We had a fun morning of play! We can't wait to go back for more again soon!