Happy Easter

Happy Easter to everyone! We had a nice, quiet day at home. This morning when we woke up, we came downstairs and found that we had a visit from the Easter Bunny during the night. The kids went through their baskets like wild animals! Later in the day, my friend, Shelly, and her 2 daughters (Grace and Addy) came over. We had an Easter Egg hunt for all of the children and then we ate lunch. Rick and Wanda headed back home late this afternoon. The kids really enjoyed seeing their Grandma and Papa. It was good to spend time with the family and catch up with everyone. We always have such a great time when the grandparents visit. It was a wonderful weekend!

Family Weekend

Grandma and Papa came up for a visit this weekend. We spent most of Saturday messing around at the house. It was such a beautiful day that we decided to go up to Birkdale. While we were there, we visited with the Easter Bunny, shopped at Barnes and Noble, and stopped by Cold Stone Creamery for a big scoop of ice cream!

Egg Hunt

This afternoon, James preschool class had their Easter Egg hunt. Todd, Lilly, and I met James at his school for the big event. Lilly was able to participate with the class. Each child was allowed to find 12 eggs, so the hunt lasted all of about 2 minutes! Lilly was a little slower than James to find them. The kids had a great time. After the egg hunt was over, Todd and I took them to the park where we had a picnic lunch and let them play on the playground for a while. It was a beautiful day and we couldn't have asked for a better afternoon!

Playdate with Jake

Lilly and Jake

Our friend, Jake, came over today for a playdate. We went on a walk around the neighborhood, went to the park, played in the back yard, and ate some lunch on the deck. We enjoyed Jake spending the day with us.

Lips On

When my children are quiet, I know something is going on. This morning, I realized that I hadn't seen or heard from Lilly in several minuites so I decided to go looking for her to see what she was up to. I walked into their bathroom and caught her in Nana's make-up case. She had the burgandy lipstick and she was just going to town on her lips (or face, I should say). When I asked her what she was doing, she answered (after getting over the surprise of getting caught) that she was "putting her lips on!" How can you argue with that? A girl just needs lipstick to complete her look!

Lilly's 1st Haircut

We finally made a trip to the salon to get Lilly's hair cut for the first time. It is getting pretty long but it's kinda scraggly looking and uneven. I decided to take her to get it trimmed up a little. I just asked the stylist to trim it and she cut very little off of the ends. Lilly absolutely loved getting her hair cut. She sat there nice and still while looking at herself in the mirror and watching the stylist cut. She was actually upset after the stylist was finished because she wanted her to cut it some more. She is such a girly girl! Already loves visiting the beauty salon!

Jake's Birthday Party

James and Lilly play on the playground

Lilly and Jake (the birthday boy) swing

We are just the partying bunch these past few weeks. Our friend, Jake, had his 3rd birthday party this afternoon at Holbrook Park. We played on the playground and swings and then we headed to the pavillion for cake and juice. The weather was beautiful and it was a perfect day!

Our Little Neighbors

I have noticed a bird flying in and out of our covered porch for the past few days. This afternoon, I decided to examine it a little further and it seems that our little friend has built his home in the wreath that is hanging on the front door. I couldn't see into the nest so I brought my step stool around to try to catch a glimpse of what was inside. Much to my surprise, I found 3 little, tiny eggs. I was very careful not to disturb the nest. I don't want to bother it so that the mother bird doesn't come back again. I am so excited! I can't wait to see the eggs hatch and watch as the little birdies grow into birds.

Nap outside in the Fort

As you all know, my children love the outdoors and being outside. Today was a beautiful day and when it was nap time, James just didn't want to come inside. I laid Lilly down and then I had to bribe James to take his nap. He said that he wanted to sleep outside "on the sticks" (those were his words). I told him that I would put a sleeping bag in his play fort and he could sleep there. He agreed and fell to sleep within 10 minutes. I figured that the outside noise, cars, school buses, etc would wake him up but it didn't. He slept over 2 hours until Trevor finally woke him up after he got home from school. James thought that was the coolest thing ever....taking his nap outside in his fort!

Lunch at Blythe Landing

After our trip to the gym this morning, we stopped by Chick-fil-a and grabbed some lunch and headed over to the lake for a picnic. It was a beautiful day and we wanted to spend some time outside. James and Lilly love going over to the lake. James had gotten some new rain boots and he was eager to try them out. They also enjoy feeding the ducks and watching people fish off of the docks. While Lilly was feeding the ducks and she would tell them to "sit" before she would throw the bread. We've been practicing teaching Shorty and Pup to sit before we give them a treat. I guess Lilly thought that should apply to the ducks, as well.

Claire and Alexa's Birthday

James and Lilly were invited to a birthday party at The Little Gym for 2 of their friends, Claire and Alexa. The kids ran around and played on the gym equipment, listened to music, jumped on the bouncer, and played with the parachute. After all of that, they ate pizza and cake. Needless to say, they had a terrific time and were quite tired by the end of the day!

He's Home

Todd finally made it back home late Saturday night around 10:30. The kids were so excited that they were all still awake and came running when their Daddy walked in the door! It's nice to have him back home.

Good News

California Poppies

Todd called with good news tonight! He has passed all 5 of his exams (early) and will be heading back home on Saturday instead of Monday (his original plan). We are so excited that he'll be back soon. It has been a long 2 weeks without him here. He is an integral part of our daily family life and our nightly dinner just isn't the same without him at the table!

WoodPecker

About 8 months ago, we noticied that we had a woodpecker that lived in our yard. He was a beautiful bird with bright red feathers on top of his head and he just pecked away at our trees throughout the day. James loved to watch this woodpecker and listen to him as he worked. He would sit on the couch in the family room and look out the window and see him. He would also sit on the deck or stop while he was playing to catch a glimpse of him pecking along.

We had a terrible storm here last night and much to our dismay, our wonderful friend was killed. This morning when we woke up, we found him lying on the deck. I think that the wind must have picked him up and thrown him around. James doesn't quite know what to think. He has asked me several times, "Mom, he will wake up soon?" It's hard to explain to a 3 year old the concept of life and death. As many different ways as I have tried to clarify to him that our friend is not going to wake up......he just doesn't understand.

It reminds me to be so kind and gentle with my children. They are so innocent and unknowing of all the anguish that the world has to offer. I wish that I could shelter them from suffering and grief for their entire lives. As a mother, it is antagonizing me to see my children hurting. What I wouldn't do to take that all away from them.

One Down and One to Go

We have one week down and one week to go before Todd makes it back home. Everyone is missing him so much.

Lilly heard the garage door open and ask me "You heard my Daddy?". She is use to hearing him open the garage every evening as he come in from work. Trevor has asked me no less than 10 times in the last two days, "When is Dad coming home?". And James says, "When Todd gonna be back?" We all love our Daddy and can't wait until we see him again!

Beautiful Day

James and Grace have a

"conversation" on the deck

Today was a beautiful day! The weather outside was perfect, friends were a plenty, and happiness was in the air.

We spent almost the entire day outside. It was about 67 degrees and bright and sunny. Not a cloud was in the sky. A typical Carolina spring day. James' friend, Grace, was over all day and the kids had a ball playing on the swing set, riding bikes around the block, and watching the koi in the waterfall pond.

After lunch, we headed to the baseball field for Trevor's "skill assessment" day. Each year before teams are chosen, all of the players participate in a skills assessment. This allows coaches to choose their team without having any one team stacked with better players. It kinda evens it out for everyone. While we were at the baseball park, the kids played on the playground and the climbing wall. It was just too nice to be inside!