XO
Libby
Smoothies!
They love their new sleeping bags from Gma!
Did some rearranging!
Love these sweet faces!!!! Gonna be so hard to leave them next week!
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Snow week photo dump!
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Day 3 of rainy cloudy stomach bug....
Silly goose cuddling after our Florida Georgia Line dance party...
We have got to get out tomorrow!
Friday, January 10, 2014
Sunny on a rainy day!
We adopted a kitten over Christmas! Emerson had been asking for a kitty and when my sister came - aka the queen of fostering - we visited some shelters and found one kitten in the whole area! We didn't take her home that day and when we went back she was gone... Neal was still unsure. I was so bummed.
So, my aunt, cousin and I went to Trader Joe's to get a few grocery items and we popped in PetCo and there were 5 kittens! 3 families were already filling out paperwork so I jumped in line and there was a foster holding a sweet tortie kitten in her arms. We literally locked eyes and well she was ours after that! She let me hold and cuddle her right away. She wasn't affected by noise or what was going on in the store at all. She just enjoyed being held. Her fosters did a wonderful job litter box training and bottle feeding the kittens. Her name was Toffee but Beckett called her Sunny and it just stuck! Her fosters were teary eyed when we said goodbye so I knew we were really adopting a special one!
So we brought her home on December 28th.
I was apprehensive about the kids allergies but so far they have been perfect!!! Sunny doesn't shed as much as Saber did so that is helpful! She is just as sweet as she can be. The kids carry her around and she lays with them. She loves to follow Neal wherever he goes and loves to cuddle with me in the bed which is especially nice on rainy afternoons like today! (And Neal is the most smitten with her!)
We are so blessed by the happiness this kitten has brought our family! We love you Sunny! Now we need to get back to our nap ... 
Happy-ish 2014!
Welcome to a New Year! Just turned 30 and just figured out that there's a blogger app ...
So I hadn't blogged all last summer because I turned my computer in to school and we were gone ... On 7 trips!
Now that I can blog from my phone I hope to be doing so more often!
My best friend Kim over at
http://abeagleandbaby.blogspot.com/?m=1
Is doing a photo everyday on her blog for 2014! I am not as ambitious as she is, however, I am going to blog at least once a week with a photo dump!
On a side note has anyone else had to use baby wipes because the toilet paper ran out? Just checking... The bathroom is usually my "safe place" in the house where I can get a few minutes of quiet time! Lookin like wet wipes today!
Happy New Year!!! Some of our highlights in 2014 already are ringing in the New Year (well very close to midnight) with the Wilsons, going to Nashville with my husband, sister and brother in law, turning 30, having a broken sink and broken toilet at the same time, freezing temps, 2 hour delays and getting the stomach virus! Woo hoo! Never a dull moment!
Cheers!
xo
Our new family member, Sunny!
The Parthenon
Taylor Swift's condo!
Grand Ole Opry!
Opryland
Do we have anything in our teeth?
Our hotel! Courtyard Marriott Downtown!
NYE and opening presents with my bff - yeah we got each other the same thing!!
Monday, May 6, 2013
Change, Challenge and Many Hats
I am taking on a challenge to represent Love in Action.
Yesterday morning at church there were bags of fortune cookies at the end of each row and out of thousands of cookies the ones we got definitely apply to us. I was actually just thinking about the little girl that I tutor when we opened our cookies - last week was my last tutoring session with her and she has come so far this year but I am also nervous for end of the year testing and how the students will perform etc. So God gave me the fortune to "Tutor someone for free." What a great idea!!! I spent a lot of time yesterday thinking about having an after school tutoring/study review session before the MP test and hopefully some kids will have transportation to stay after school as soon as I pick a date. Which time is running out since I only have 9.5 days left of 2nd grade (6th year teaching down)!!!!!
Neal's fortune was to relieve your spouse of home responsibilities for a night. (In my mind I gave God a high five when Neal opened it.) Neal turned to me and said OH you're gonna like this one!!! Not that Neal doesn't let me have girls night out but it definitely helps to have the push to make a plan get out and do it. We spent the rest of the service holding hands with Neal's arm wrapped around me, connected. I cherish that hour on Sundays.
When we picked Beckett up from his 3 year old class he also got a fortune cookie and his said to donate 5 toys! We have been working on that today and boy his might be the most challenging! Every toy I have held up he has a story about it, who gave it to him and he wants to play with it like it's the first time he's ever used it. His pile has 1 toy so far - ha. 4 more to go! Maybe after nap he will feel more in the giving, purging mood :)
The last 3 weeks of April flew by as they always do. The kids were sick for a good 2 weeks and it was miserable. We had birthday parties & bachelorette/bachelor parties in DC since I last blogged so we have been busy! Beckett has been a challenge to get him to eat anything recently also. I have to call fish "chicken" and tomato sauce on pasta is "ketchup". Emerson is seriously catching up to him in height and weight even though she is starting to gag food up lately (must be a texture thing). I am hoping they are just going through a phase and that is passes quickly!!
Yesterday's sermon really had me reflecting on kindness and loving others. I want to start giving more, doing more, sharing more! I feel so blessed to have some people in my life who are truly one in a million. I am very thankful for one of my friends for bringing us dinner while the kids were sick - it was such a huge help and her grace is amazing. I am also very thankful for a friend who gets me out of the house and trying new things and restaurants (Balliceaux and Sticky Rice)! With her I am not "just a mom" which is a nice feeling to have! I am so grateful for my 2 sister-in-laws who showed Emerson and I great time in DC with their generosity! Very excited for the upcoming bridal shower and wedding! My sister-in-law's parents babysat Emerson and my mother-in-law babysat Beckett and my mom watched Gracie all so Neal and I could have some fun! We are also very lucky to have the sweetest babysitter who likes to have fun with our kids when she's at our home! I have started leaving her my van on some days and she loves to take them to Kangaroo Jac's and the park! It takes a village....Thank you all.
I have also had a really great experience so far with Beckett's speech evaluation process. The SPED team in Henrico has been amazing and so helpful to work with. I know he will be getting great services soon and be totally ready for Kindergarten in two years time. If you are having any doubts about your child's speech and language don't wait to have it checked!
There will be a lot of change happening in our family's future and it can be scary but I am ready to embrace it and try to stay positive and represent love!
Yesterday morning at church there were bags of fortune cookies at the end of each row and out of thousands of cookies the ones we got definitely apply to us. I was actually just thinking about the little girl that I tutor when we opened our cookies - last week was my last tutoring session with her and she has come so far this year but I am also nervous for end of the year testing and how the students will perform etc. So God gave me the fortune to "Tutor someone for free." What a great idea!!! I spent a lot of time yesterday thinking about having an after school tutoring/study review session before the MP test and hopefully some kids will have transportation to stay after school as soon as I pick a date. Which time is running out since I only have 9.5 days left of 2nd grade (6th year teaching down)!!!!!
Neal's fortune was to relieve your spouse of home responsibilities for a night. (In my mind I gave God a high five when Neal opened it.) Neal turned to me and said OH you're gonna like this one!!! Not that Neal doesn't let me have girls night out but it definitely helps to have the push to make a plan get out and do it. We spent the rest of the service holding hands with Neal's arm wrapped around me, connected. I cherish that hour on Sundays.
When we picked Beckett up from his 3 year old class he also got a fortune cookie and his said to donate 5 toys! We have been working on that today and boy his might be the most challenging! Every toy I have held up he has a story about it, who gave it to him and he wants to play with it like it's the first time he's ever used it. His pile has 1 toy so far - ha. 4 more to go! Maybe after nap he will feel more in the giving, purging mood :)
The last 3 weeks of April flew by as they always do. The kids were sick for a good 2 weeks and it was miserable. We had birthday parties & bachelorette/bachelor parties in DC since I last blogged so we have been busy! Beckett has been a challenge to get him to eat anything recently also. I have to call fish "chicken" and tomato sauce on pasta is "ketchup". Emerson is seriously catching up to him in height and weight even though she is starting to gag food up lately (must be a texture thing). I am hoping they are just going through a phase and that is passes quickly!!
Yesterday's sermon really had me reflecting on kindness and loving others. I want to start giving more, doing more, sharing more! I feel so blessed to have some people in my life who are truly one in a million. I am very thankful for one of my friends for bringing us dinner while the kids were sick - it was such a huge help and her grace is amazing. I am also very thankful for a friend who gets me out of the house and trying new things and restaurants (Balliceaux and Sticky Rice)! With her I am not "just a mom" which is a nice feeling to have! I am so grateful for my 2 sister-in-laws who showed Emerson and I great time in DC with their generosity! Very excited for the upcoming bridal shower and wedding! My sister-in-law's parents babysat Emerson and my mother-in-law babysat Beckett and my mom watched Gracie all so Neal and I could have some fun! We are also very lucky to have the sweetest babysitter who likes to have fun with our kids when she's at our home! I have started leaving her my van on some days and she loves to take them to Kangaroo Jac's and the park! It takes a village....Thank you all.
I have also had a really great experience so far with Beckett's speech evaluation process. The SPED team in Henrico has been amazing and so helpful to work with. I know he will be getting great services soon and be totally ready for Kindergarten in two years time. If you are having any doubts about your child's speech and language don't wait to have it checked!
There will be a lot of change happening in our family's future and it can be scary but I am ready to embrace it and try to stay positive and represent love!
Nothing like a little pit stop on 95 to clean up some baby puke!
Uncle Jason and Emerson!
She's not a fan of sleeping away from home!
Sista!
Beckett enjoying the beach in April!
Teacher twins!
She was fascinated with my shadow at the dr.'s office.
Playing at Short Pump!
First time going putt putt! The course was about 9 holes too long :)
Silly faces mommy!
Cinco de Mayo!
Swinging at Cole's party!
We had a great time!
Who needs a fork?
It's easier to lift weights with this as my view at the gym ;)
After our yard sale Beckett got to buy this toy he had been eyeing! And he gave it a big kiss!
Pointing to balloons flying up in the sky!
Thursday, April 11, 2013
I have kids....
No seriously. I have kids. I typed that sentence today. Actually I typed, "The kids fight over me constantly and it's horrible." I typed those words to my sister.
And they do! Believe it or not from 4 pm to 6 pm everyday my kids FIGHT over me! They cry and scream and flail their arms to sit on my lap or hug me or be on me and I don't know what to do.
I don't know what to do.
I feel my heart strings being pulled when I can't give them their individual attention that I know they want and deserve. However, they also need to learn how to SHARE! (Another reason Neal and I think they need to go to preschool next year.)
But when did I get kids? Last I checked I had a baby and a baby. Not KIDS!?!?! When did this happen?! Time is just going by too fast and I wish it could slow down for a hot minute.
I adore them so much. We had a a wonderful 13 days of Spring Break and I enjoyed every minute except for about 45 of them when they were crying in public.
Emerson is growing up so much! I switched out her winter wardrobe for spring/summer stuff and she is wearing 3T clothes now!!!!!!! 3T! As in a 3 year old toddler. She is 18 months old. I can't handle the growing. She is a little parrot and repeats every single sound, word, sentence, syllable and paragraph that we say. Examples: I am so happy! I did it! Don't touch it! The doggie bite you! No No no eat. No no no sleep. I don't like it. I don't share. My toys. My turn. You get the picture ;)
She is also turning into a sasssssy pants. She pushed and pinched another girl at the zoo on Monday and I was mortified!!!! She has never been pinched in her life! Where did she learn this from? Home girl needs a reality check. She's been living it pretty easy for the last year and a half! She does love to hug Beckett (one of her favorite words) but she also loves to haul off and slap him in the head.
Sibling <3
My big boy is just that - so big! In 5T clothes for the spring and I just put 2 bags together to give away of his 4T stuff (tear, tear). He is SO into mommy right now (which I love.) I want to be with him all the time and he reciprocates that feeling! He loves to tell me stories and we draw together and sing together, walk together, talk together. It's so fun seeing their personalities unfold. He is finally getting "jokes". I love it. We passed a guy riding a lawnmower last week in the car and he busted out laughing for a good 5 minutes because it was the "funniest thing he's ever seen." Gotta love 3 year olds. :) I am having a really hard time at the thought of sending him to preschool next year because *selfishly* I want him with me all the time! He has his speech evaluation on Monday...Pray for my strength!
I am very thankful that both kids are sleeping now so I can start my lesson plans and even more thankful that Neal brought home a 6 pack so I could relax and unwind and try to wrap my brain around the fact that I have 2 kids.....
Cute kids ;)
Night all!
And they do! Believe it or not from 4 pm to 6 pm everyday my kids FIGHT over me! They cry and scream and flail their arms to sit on my lap or hug me or be on me and I don't know what to do.
I don't know what to do.
I feel my heart strings being pulled when I can't give them their individual attention that I know they want and deserve. However, they also need to learn how to SHARE! (Another reason Neal and I think they need to go to preschool next year.)
But when did I get kids? Last I checked I had a baby and a baby. Not KIDS!?!?! When did this happen?! Time is just going by too fast and I wish it could slow down for a hot minute.
I adore them so much. We had a a wonderful 13 days of Spring Break and I enjoyed every minute except for about 45 of them when they were crying in public.
Emerson is growing up so much! I switched out her winter wardrobe for spring/summer stuff and she is wearing 3T clothes now!!!!!!! 3T! As in a 3 year old toddler. She is 18 months old. I can't handle the growing. She is a little parrot and repeats every single sound, word, sentence, syllable and paragraph that we say. Examples: I am so happy! I did it! Don't touch it! The doggie bite you! No No no eat. No no no sleep. I don't like it. I don't share. My toys. My turn. You get the picture ;)
She is also turning into a sasssssy pants. She pushed and pinched another girl at the zoo on Monday and I was mortified!!!! She has never been pinched in her life! Where did she learn this from? Home girl needs a reality check. She's been living it pretty easy for the last year and a half! She does love to hug Beckett (one of her favorite words) but she also loves to haul off and slap him in the head.
Sibling <3
My big boy is just that - so big! In 5T clothes for the spring and I just put 2 bags together to give away of his 4T stuff (tear, tear). He is SO into mommy right now (which I love.) I want to be with him all the time and he reciprocates that feeling! He loves to tell me stories and we draw together and sing together, walk together, talk together. It's so fun seeing their personalities unfold. He is finally getting "jokes". I love it. We passed a guy riding a lawnmower last week in the car and he busted out laughing for a good 5 minutes because it was the "funniest thing he's ever seen." Gotta love 3 year olds. :) I am having a really hard time at the thought of sending him to preschool next year because *selfishly* I want him with me all the time! He has his speech evaluation on Monday...Pray for my strength!
I am very thankful that both kids are sleeping now so I can start my lesson plans and even more thankful that Neal brought home a 6 pack so I could relax and unwind and try to wrap my brain around the fact that I have 2 kids.....
Cute kids ;)
Night all!
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Sunshiny Afternoon!
I was SO bummed when I woke up to rain this morning - that meant I could not get my vacuuming done because Gracie would try to shred the vacuum cleaner to bits. If I put her in another room she barks like crazy. Sigh. So we did laundry and got dinner in the crock pot because ain't nobody got time to cook. Emerson took an early nap because she is teething and cranky. Beckett did not nap today - the joys of three.
But, I was SO excited when the rain stopped, and the clouds disappeared and the SUN came out!!! Wow was it gorgeous today - it was - dare I say - HOT! Ok maybe I was sweating because I had to roll the trash to the curb. I put the kids in their rain boots and let them play outside and they had a ball. Best of all a FIRETRUCK drove down our street and all the firefighters smiled and waved at Beckett. He then wanted to turn the water hose on and spray everything like a firefighter - my cue to come in.
Now the kids are relaxing, dinner's ready and I did get to vacuum .... we're just missing Nealy :)
I have been going back and forth so much about working next year it is eating me alive. I will continue to pray about it and hopefully some clarity will come very soon!
Love this Dolly Parton quote and my 2 reasons for smiling so much each day! xo
But, I was SO excited when the rain stopped, and the clouds disappeared and the SUN came out!!! Wow was it gorgeous today - it was - dare I say - HOT! Ok maybe I was sweating because I had to roll the trash to the curb. I put the kids in their rain boots and let them play outside and they had a ball. Best of all a FIRETRUCK drove down our street and all the firefighters smiled and waved at Beckett. He then wanted to turn the water hose on and spray everything like a firefighter - my cue to come in.
Now the kids are relaxing, dinner's ready and I did get to vacuum .... we're just missing Nealy :)
I have been going back and forth so much about working next year it is eating me alive. I will continue to pray about it and hopefully some clarity will come very soon!
Love this Dolly Parton quote and my 2 reasons for smiling so much each day! xo
Two peas in a pod
They can get away with running around naked now...
Splash!
She could have done this all day!
<3
Chicken sausage from Costco with onions, peppers, crushed red pepper flakes, garlic & evoo (lil flour to thicken) 4 hours on low :)
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