Happy times

Long time

2010-06-17T11:47:00.003-04:00

It has been a while since my last post. I find what free time I have is spent on facebook. I really need to cut it out of my life but it is so addictive plus I love playing the mindless games while watching TV.

What is new? Lots of things. The kids finished up the school year. Ethan will be going into third grade next year and his class and teacher decided to loop this year so no surprises for him next year. Addison will be going to preschool 4 days a week next year. Sydney will be going into sixth grade and she will also be in three advanced classes.

We began out summer with a awesome block party. After memorial day we began summer swim team practice in the morning. We usually go every morning. Sydney is from 8-9am and Ethan is 9-10am. It is a lot of work but it really is fun. We have enjoyed a couple of trips to Allatoona dam, spent many days at the pool, and a fun lake day with lots of friends.

I am going to really try to post more often.

Snow, snow and more snow..

2010-01-27T13:34:00.007-05:00

The kids got out of school early because the forecast was calling for snow in the afternoon. I picked the kids up from the bus and we went to lunch with Jay. Afterwards we did a little shopping before heading home. Once we got close to home the snow was really coming down. We could hardly wait to pull in the driveway, get our coats on and head outside. Once outside the neighbors appeared and we had a great afternoon.

The next day there was even more snow.

The kids were out of school so we decided to go sledding. We had such a blast sledding. Unfortunately by the afternoon the sun had melted the snow and ice on the street and we couldn't sled anymore.

New Years

2010-01-03T19:23:00.003-05:00

Unfortunately I don't have any pictures from our party but we had a great time. We welcomed the New Year with many friends.

I have chosen not to made resolutions this year that way I don't have to be disappointed when I don't achieve them. I am just going to enjoy the ride this year.

Christmas Break

2010-01-03T15:18:00.006-05:00

We have really enjoyed our Christmas break. We have enjoyed sleeping late, staying up late, and playing. Of course the kids had a wonderful Christmas. Santa brough lots of really cool toys and we had a wonderful day together as a family. We spend Christmas Eve going to church. This was also the first year the kids bought and exchanged gifts with one another. Not only did they enjoy opening the presents they received from each other but they enjoyed giving them especially since the used there own money to purchase the gifts. I think this is a traditon we will continue.

Christmas Day we spent the day playing with out new toys and watching movies. We had lunch/dinner catered from Bar-B-Cutie and it was so good. Turkey, Dressing, Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Pistachio Pudding, and Pecan Pie.
Yummy

Christmas Time

2009-12-21T15:01:00.008-05:00

The week before Christmas and all through the house there was action and excitement and little voices singing.

The time before Christmas is a busy time of the season. It was time to finish wrapping and purchasing Christmas presents and time to attend the childrens Christmas Parties at school. We started the week with Addison's Dance Christmas Party.

Next was Addison's Christmas Party at Preschool. The had a performance and then snack and crafts.

Addison saying the blessing before eating. It was so cute. After a few Addison days it was Ethan's turn to have his party. I was so busy helping out in the classroom that I forgot to take pictures. I did however video tape his concert which was really cute. For Sydney once you hit Intermediate school the parties are for the children only plus poor Sydney was sick Friday with her breathing issues She and I spent the morning in the doctors office before heading to Grandma and Grandpa's. We spent the weekend in Augusta with them and Hudson and had a blast.

We enjoyed some hiking and Ethan learned to shot a BB gun. O' what fun it is to be on lot of land to play.

Thanksgiving Break

2009-12-07T14:29:00.005-05:00

We had a nice Thanksgiving Break. The children get a whole week off of school so we get to catch up on rest. We spent on of our days off at Lenox. We rode the Pink Pig visited with Santa and had lunch.

We spent Thanksgiving day with Granny. Then Saturday the girls and I went down to Grandma and Grandpa's house for a visit. We had a great time playing in the woods and we built a big fire. The boys stayed home and had a football weekend.

Halloween

2009-11-11T08:15:00.003-05:00

Halloween was rough this year. It was raining and cold but the kids still had a great time trick or treating. Mom was wishing for a warm fire and a good movie.

Disney- 2009

2009-11-11T07:58:00.005-05:00

We spent our fall break in September at Disney world. We just love going and the kids have so much fun. This year we stayed at the Grand Floridian which was very nice. This was Addison's first trip were she really enjoyed the rides and seeing the characters. She loves princesses and her favorite ride was Peter Pan and a close second was Buzz LightYear. This year we decided to to the Not So Scary Halloween Party and it was a blast. Ethan did the Pirate dress up and the girls did the princess dress up.

The Halloween Party was a blast and I am trying to talk Jay into a Christmas Disney next. We also spent time with a couple of our friends that were at Disney also. The kids enjoyed seeing there friends and us parents enjoyed adult company. Now it is time to start planning next years vacation.

Long Long Time

2009-09-28T08:39:00.007-04:00

It has been such a long time since I posted I don't even know where to begin. Summer came and went and now we are heading into fall. Summer was a whirl wind and fall is getting busy also. Ethan is playing football and loves it. He practices three times a week and has games on Saturday. He is actually pretty good.

Sydney started intermediate school this year. (5th grade) She really loves it and is doing well. She is doing swim and practices three times a week. This Saturday is her first meet. Addison started preschool this year and has really been enjoying it. She also does dance on Mondays.

So with all the kids activities and events we are staying really busy. I am going to try to stay updated on the post this fall.

Six unimportant things

2009-06-25T12:36:00.002-04:00

I was tagged by a friend to list 6 unimportant things that make me happy.

1. clean house
2. time to read
3. going to the gym
4. the smell of candles in my house
5. happy children
6. being social

That is my list nothing to exciting.

Summer

2009-06-15T20:54:00.002-04:00

Summer is here and very busy. The kids have swim team every morning and love to swim afterwards. They have meets on Thursdays. Sydney is really loving it and it going to sign up for year round. Ethan on the other hand tolerates it and can't wait for football to start. Addison is doing great swimming in the pool with her floaties this year.

Addison

2009-05-04T21:35:00.003-04:00

Addison singing for her friends.

pizza night

2009-04-30T13:04:00.005-04:00

We had pizza night last night. I bought dough from publix and the kids and I rolled out individual pizza's. Then they got to pick there toppings and we baked the pizzas. They turned out really good and the kids had a great time making them. We might have to make it a monthly tradition.

Addison's pizza

Ethan's pizza

Sydney's pizza

Things are crazy

2009-04-29T15:05:00.005-04:00

I have been saying I am going to sit down and update the blog but I haven't taken the time to do so. So now I need to back track. I am going to post some pictures that I have taken over the last few weeks. We have been spending a lot of time outside enjoying the beautiful weather. I have outside kids.

Addison at Lulu's in Gulf Shores

Ethan and Sydney on the US Alabama in Mobile

Easter Morning going to Church

my pantry

2009-04-02T15:19:00.003-04:00

I painted the trim in the den the other day since we are getting new carpet. Then I noticed how bad the kitchen looked and painted the trim in there. Then I noticed how bad the trim in the pantry looked and how bad the walls looked. So in the end I took everything out and repainted the walls, threw away old packages, and put stuff in tupperware. Now it looks really nice. Now I am back to the trim in the other rooms of the house.

My little gardener

2009-03-24T15:04:00.002-04:00

Addison is already to go out an garden. Of course we don't have a garden so she just played in the mulch around the swing set.

Shopping again

2009-03-19T14:42:00.004-04:00

We love the new Target in Canton. The whole shopping center is wonderful. You can park in the center and go to Kohls, Target, and TJ Maxx with out having to move the car and buckle and unbuckle a toddler. They also have a Lowes and Dick's sporting goods store. There are several others that haven't opened yet. As you can tell from the picture Addison really likes the new carts target has. They are big enough for her to ride underneath and she thinks that is so cool.

It has been a while

2009-03-19T14:29:00.005-04:00

It has been a while since I have updated the blog. I sit down and mean to do it and then get side tracked with other things. Plus I have been spending too much time on facebook. I think it is an addiction and I guess I am addicted.

We have been having some really fun times around here. A couple of weeks ago we took the kids to the Bascomb family fun night. Theyhad a great time rock climbing, doing art, and playing on the jumpies. Addison really loved the train. Her and I have been spending a lot of time going to the gym. She loves the new gym because several of her friends go also.

Shopping

2009-02-28T15:21:00.004-05:00

I am such a shopper and I love to find a deal. The girls and I went to the outlets on Thursday and shopped all day. We had a blast and a car full of bags. Today I took the kids to the mall to get a birthday present for a friend of Sydney's. Areopostal was having a sale and we found flip flop slippers on sale. They are so cute. I bought a pair for Sydney also. We barely made it in the door and she was putting them on. They look really comfortable and I wish I would have bought myself a pair. Maybe next time.

Ironing

2009-02-24T14:17:00.005-05:00

If you know me at all you know I am always ironing. These days with three kids I can't seem to stay on top of it. Well it seems I have hit an all time low. I ironed my hand towels the other day. We just finished remodeling our masterbath and I purchased these great hand towels that have a design along the bottom. When they came out of the dryer they were wrinkled so I had to iron them so they look good in the bathroom.

All nice and pretty.

Winter Break

2009-02-22T15:56:00.008-05:00

This week was our winter break. We decided not to go anywhere and just hung around the house. We didn't really to do much we slept late, watched some movies, and ate out. Sydney and I watched the Devil Wears Prada. It was a good movie just two spots I had to fastforward and I had DVR'd it from tv. We all watched Madagascar 2 and Prince Caspian both were also good.

We enjoyed lunch at Moe's, Stevie B's, and Five Guys. At Stevie B's I let the kids pig out on dessert which is not the norm for us. They enjoyed the ice cream but their favorite was the Smore's pizza. I have to get the recipe.

Addison loves Parmesan cheese even on ice cream.

Friday was our big day out. We took the two older kids to see Kooza at Atlantic Station. They both really enjoyed it. Granny stayed and played with Addison which was a big help. Plus Addison had a blast with her.

Do what I say

2009-02-01T14:46:00.003-05:00

Sydney took this picture of Addison today and I thought it was so funny. She looks like a gangster. Which goes perfect with how much time I have been spending playing Mob Wars on Facebook.

What can I say

2009-01-28T20:29:00.004-05:00

Art

2009-01-22T14:01:00.004-05:00

My kids love doing art. I admit I am not a lover of it. It is messing and I don't like to have thing hangning on my refrigerator. At this moment I have three pictures Addison has colored and two of Sydney's. Everytime I walk by the refrigerator my hand comes up to take them off and then I realize that would break their hearts so I keep walking. Walking, walking, walking.....

Blog confession

2009-01-18T14:49:00.004-05:00

I love to read other peoples blogs. It is fascinating to me to see how other people raise there kids and spend their time. I also love to read what interesting things are happening in their lives. Some blogs are written so well that I go back and look at mine and think ugh!!! and some sound like mine. I have a friend who has a beautiful blog, it is written elegantly, has great topics, cute pictures, and captions. She also has a beautiful heart. I love reading her blog of course mine just don't compare. For some reason I was left with out rhythm and creativity and my poor oldest child is walking in my footsteps. Maybe I am putting to much thought into blogging and maybe I just have to much time on my hands. I really should be ironing.

Fun

2009-01-12T14:21:00.003-05:00

We enjoyed a fun Saturday with Grandma and Grandpa in Augusta. The kids always have a great time and Grandma always comes up with something fun to do. The following are pictures of the entertainment.

The kids came out all nice and clean.

New Years-2009

2009-01-05T10:59:00.006-05:00

What an exciting time. A new year and new adventures. We started the year off my celebrating with friends; what a great start. We all stayed awake until 1am to welcome the new year then it was off to bed. Boy were we tired the next day.
I didn't make any resolutions as they never seem to stick. I think I am going to just continue on the same path this year as last year. Things change constantly so my ideas and plans are always changing. I am learning to go with the flow and will continue this in the new year.
The kids are constantly growing and learning and I resolve to help them in the best way I know how so stay tuned for more of our adventures.

Christmas

2008-12-29T18:27:00.004-05:00

It was wonderful. We enjoyed a great Christmas Eve service at FBCW and then had dinner at Chick-Fil-A. Next year I need to make a mental note that nothing is open on Christmas Eve evening. After we got home the kids got to open one present from mom and dad. It was Christmas pajamas. I love the kids to have matching Pj's for Christmas morning.

christmas morning was exciting. Sydney was the most excited ever. She woke us up at 5:45am and we told her to go back to bed. She came back at 7:10 and we made her wait until 7:30 before waking her brother and sister up. What a joy to see those little faces light up.

Baking

2008-12-23T14:24:00.004-05:00

Today was baking day. The kids and I made Gingerbread cookies, fudge, blond brownies, peanutbutter bars, and peppermint patty brownies. It was fun and the kids did really well. I have baked at the holidays in years.

Tagged

2008-12-22T21:24:00.004-05:00

I was tagged. I was suppose to post the 4th picture from my fourth folder. Here it is. It is our neighbor, Ella. The guys had the older kids are the bmx track and I had Ella and Addison at the park playing. I think this is from last spring.

Now I am tagging Laura, Wendy, Heidi, and Melanie. You have to post the 4th picture from your 4th folder. Good luck.

The Biltmore

2008-12-22T21:17:00.003-05:00

The Biltmore was fun. Sydney enjoyed it the most, of course. Unfortunately Addison caught a cold and was a little grumpy on Saturday. She would only let me carry her so my arms were numb by the time we left the house. After the house we toured the gardens and winery and then we headed back to the hotel to let the kids swim. We ate dinner at a really cool restaurant downtown Asheville then back to the hotel for some more swimming. It was a nice weekend get away.

Finally Friday

2008-12-19T08:11:00.003-05:00

The last of the school parties is today and I am finished. The kids have enjoyed all the fun activities at school this week. Today Ethan is having PJ day and watching the Polar Express movie. Sydney is having her party. After school today we are headed for the Biltmore in NC. The kids are excited to stay in a hotel with an indoor pool and to see the largest home in America.

A combination post

2008-12-16T16:04:00.006-05:00

I have missed posting about several events that have happened lately. This have been busy since the holidays began. Last weekend Jay's company had a kids party which was fun. Sydney and Ethan have been attending it for years and this was the first year Sydney was bored. It was so sad to see that she had outgrown the little games and prizes they give. At least Ethan and Addison had a good time.

That evening we enjoyed an adults only dinner with 4 other couples at a restaurant called the Oceanaire. Every good. I highly recommend it to everyone.

Saturday the 13th Sydney and I went to see her friend Hannah in the Nutcracker. We had a really good time and enjoyed a nice dinner together.

This week we have been busy with parties. Addison had a playdate Monday with several of her friends. Her friend Alli wouldn't stay in the picture so it is just Addison and Ella.

Pancakes

2008-12-06T08:36:00.003-05:00

Usually every Saturday morning I make pancakes for breakfast. The kids love it. Today he hit an all time high he ate 10 pancakes. Let me say they are not huge pancakes but they are not silver dollar ones either. How am I going to be able to feed him when he is a teenager.

Black Friday

2008-11-29T14:52:00.003-05:00

I can not remember a time when I went shopping on Black Friday but this year my neighbor, Karen and I left the house at 5am. We started at Walmart and ended at the mall and we were even home by 8:30am. I think I might like this Black Friday thing.

Thanksgiving

2008-11-29T14:49:00.002-05:00

We enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving day with friends. We started the morning off by watching the Macy's Day Parade then we headed to Featherstones for lunch. It was so good. After lunch the kids played in the park until we went to Kelly's house for more social time. That evening we watched the lighting of the Macy's Christmas Tree. It was a nice day and I think we will continue this tradition next year.
I just love not having to cook or clean.

Pink Pig

2008-11-26T13:35:00.003-05:00

We(Wendy and I) took the kids Monday to ride the Pink Pig at Lenox and see Santa Claus. We had a blast. We ate lunch and then did a little showing. This is a new tradition of ours that the kids seem to really enjoy. If you get a chance take your kids this year they will love it.

Twilight Review

2008-11-22T09:08:00.004-05:00

The big review. I give it a 3 stars out of 5. If I hadn't seen it yet I would wait until it was out on video. Of course having read the books makes it harder because books are always so much better than the movie. Let me hear your reviews.

Twilight

2008-11-21T17:24:00.001-05:00

I am so addicted. I just finished the last book today so now I can clean my house again. Me and several friends are heading to the movie tonight and I am excited. I will give my personal review tomorrow.

A girl and her dog

2008-11-15T19:23:00.006-05:00

I thought this was a sweet moment. I guess Cody is definitely part of the family and here to stay.

Books

2008-11-14T07:56:00.003-05:00

I love to read. I have been reading a lot Terri Bloodstock's books lately. She is a wonderful christian author. But last week my friend turned me on to a new series by Stephanie Meyer. It is a vampire series so I thought ugh but was nice and tried the book away. I can't put it down. There are four books in the series and they are wonderful. The kind of book your mind gets lost in. So today I am heading to the outlets in Calhoun for some fresh air and mind and eye rest. I am sure I will continue with my reading tonight.

The first book in the series is called Twilight and they really are most read books.

October

2008-11-10T08:04:00.004-05:00

The weather changed to fall and he have been enjoying a lot of time outside. I think too much. Nothing has gotten done inside. Oh Well. I am sure the mess will still be there when the weather changes to cold again.

Halloween was the highlight of the month. The kids were so excited and Addison even did some trick or treating this year. She loved it and keeps asking to go again. I actually already purchased her costume the other day at Kroger. They were having a huge clearance and the price was unbeatable.

Now on to Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Where's fall

2008-10-29T08:21:00.001-04:00

I think we missed fall in Georgia. One day we were wearing Capri's and shorts and the next we are in sweaters and jackets. Something happened to the nice cool days of jeans and short sleeves. Come back fall.

What a week

2008-10-25T16:53:00.005-04:00

It has been a busy week around here and with a new dog a new routine. The first couple of nights Cody was home were rough. He wasn't use to us or his new home and woke me up several times but once he settled in things calmed down. He is doing great now and even slept until 7:30am this morning. Thank goodness. The kids are loving him and sometimes he has to go to his home to escape. (I wish I could fit in his home-haha).

We had a nice visit this week with Jay's neice Rachel. She won Ethan's heart by playing football with him and his friends. He can't wait until she visits again.

Today we finally got our pumpkins. Ethan and Addison chose to put faces on there pumpkins.

Sydney wants to carve hers and of course she is over at a friends house and tonight all the girls are going to a Haunted House. It will be her first time going to one and I hope she doesn't get to scared.

What a weekend

2008-10-19T20:16:00.006-04:00

I think I need a break from my weekend. It was tiring. We started Friday off with a visit to the doctors. Sydney had a virus. She spent Friday night in my room while we had neighbors over for dinner. Luckily by Saturday she was feeling better and was able to attend her last cheerleading event. After cheerleading Jay dropped me and the girls off at Cici's pizza(Sydney's cheerleading party) while he took Ethan to his last football game. Once that was over we headed home for a quick rest before joining the Lazar's at Cagles Dairy farm for an adventure through the corn maize. The older kids (Evan, Sarah, Sydney, and Ethan) went through the maize by themselves. Ella and Addison stayed with us parents and did a great job of walking through the maize.

Sunday was church and then we went to the other side of town to add a new addition to our family. The kids were thrilled. Hopefully they stay that way.

It is a Bichon Frise puppy. He is 8 week old and right now his name is Cody.

Sunday

2008-10-12T20:24:00.003-04:00

We enjoyed a nice outing today after church. We headed to our favorite apple store in Ellijay to get some fresh picked apples. After taste testing all the different kinds we decided to go with a bag of Golden delicious and a bag of Fuji. We also snuck in some apple bread and apple cider. Yummy! This evening after dinner we used our carmel apple kit and made apples. Addison really enjoyed the sprinkles. She had them all over her and the kitchen floor.

Next weekend in we are going to the pumpkin patch.

Fall

2008-10-02T08:02:00.005-04:00

I just love fall. I love the leaves changing colors, the cooler temperatures, and Halloween. Our neighbors love to decorate for Halloween and go all out. They win the best house on the block award(from me ). They stared putting up some of their decorations yesterday and they are cool. My kids love watching there house come alive this time of year. I think we might have to hit walmart and see if we can find some cool decorations.

We have noticed today the cooler temperatures are finally getting to Georgia. The kids were all complaining on the way to the bus this morning about how cold they were. Trust me they were dressed for the weather. As soon as we got home I bundled Addison up under a warm blanket and she is chilling on the couch. I am going to get a cup of warm coffee and start my day.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

The Weekend

2008-09-29T08:49:00.003-04:00

We started Saturday off with football and cheerleading. Ethan got two touch downs this weekend. He is really enjoying football. Sydney did a great job cheering and Addison enjoyed playing in the dirt. She was so dirty I had to wash her with wet ones and change her clothes before she could get in the car. But she had fun. Granny and Papa Tom were able to come and watch the kids games. That was a treat.

Sunday we went to the North Georgia State Fair. It was fun but not as much fun as I remember as a child. It was really hot out Sunday and we were sweltering in the sun. Ethan has been asking me for a long time when he would get to ride a ferris wheel so he finally got to ride a ferris wheel. Addison really enjoyed riding some of the little rides and she also enjoyed seeing all the animals. Sydney thought the animals smelled horrible and couldn't wait to get away from them. She is so funny. Unfortunately I forgot the camera so I don't have pictures to share.

Saturday- Football Day

2008-09-21T20:23:00.008-04:00

Saturday at our house has turned into football day. Ethan is playing flag football and Sydney is cheering. They are both having a blast and doing a great job. This Saturday Ethan played a running back position and ran the ball the whole length of the field for a touchdown and then he scored an extra point for his team. GO Ethan. He is so athletic.

Ethan taking the hand off

Sydney Cheering

Addison and Ethan watching Sydney cheer

Fall Break

2008-09-21T19:27:00.005-04:00

Last week was the kids fall break from school. I just love our school systems calendar. It is so nice to have some breaks when most families are in school and the vacation spots are not as crowded.

We decided to vacation in Hilton Head, SC at a Disney property there. It was wonderful. The property was really pretty and Disney had some great activities for the kids. Hilton Head is a really nice island and very family oriented. They have bike paths all over the Island and we were able to ride our bikes places. The beach was nice but nothing like Destin. The water was mucky and the sand was brown. It did have the lowest tide I have ever seen which was really interesting. We also found some really great shells and sand dollars. I think we will definitely be visiting Hilton Head again.

New PJ'S

2008-09-10T19:08:00.002-04:00

Addison and I had some errands to run today and in the process we went to Babies R US. While there Addison found a Dora nightgown and matching slippers. I put her new nightgown on her after her bath this evening and she is loving it. Ethan noticed she had slippers on and he ran and got his. Kids are so cute.

Labor day weekend

2008-09-02T14:24:00.004-04:00

We started the weekend with a grill out with Granny and Papa Tom. We enjoyed Hamburgers and apple pie. Sunday we enjoyed a fire pit with all of our neighbors. The kids enjoyed roasting marshmallows while the adults enjoyed winding down. On Monday we spent the day together as a family and did some hiking. It has been a long time since we went hiking. Jay and I use to hike and mountain bike quite a bit before kids but haven't done much since they came along. We were hoping that maybe Addison would be old enough to enjoy it and actually hike some. She did an amazing job and walked almost the whole time. We did have to carry her out but she was tired and had missed her nap. After our hike we checked out the local lake and it was really nice. We had a great time together. I think we will start doing more hiking together.

Exciting morning

2008-08-28T10:38:00.002-04:00

This morning was an exciting morning. Sydney got an award at school called the shining star. It means she shows good citizenship ect.... The ceremony was in the cafeteria at school and afterwards they served a few snacks and drinks. It was nice. Way to go Sydney.

Ethan's birthday party

2008-08-25T17:44:00.004-04:00

Saturday we celebrated Ethan's birthday with his friends. We had his party at the bowling alley which was a blast. The kids all bowled really well and I was impressed. Tuesday is Ethan's actual birthday and he will be 6 years old. My baby boy is growing up fast.

Sunday Morning

2008-08-25T17:10:00.003-04:00

Sunday morning we had biscuits for breakfast which gave us the opportunity to try my preserves. The kids didn't like them at all but Jay and I did. I am not sure that they taste the same as my grandmothers but they were good.

Another Friday!

2008-08-22T13:32:00.004-04:00

We long for Friday all week and now it is finally here and it will be over before I can blink.
It is a beautiful day here and Addison had a few friends over to play this morning.
I am sure once school is out the kids will spend all afternoon outside playing expect for Sydney. She is home sick today. Two weeks into school and she is already catching things. Poor kid she spends so much time sick. I think I might hit the health food store next week and see if they have any remedies. I will listen to any suggestions anyone has.

Strawberry Fig Preserves

2008-08-18T13:24:00.002-04:00

What a title but that is what I am doing today is making homemade Strawberry fig preserves. My grandmother use to make them for me all the time and they were my favorite. Luckily I got her recipe before she passed away and I am trying my hand at it today. I have to say how much I admire ladies that can and make things homemade. It is a lot of work and if you know me well you know I am all about purchasing the item already made. This is really out of my boundaries. I sure hope they turn out good. I will let you know.

End of the week

2008-08-15T13:03:00.003-04:00

The kids had another good week at school.
Ethan had some exciting changes. Apparently they had too many 1st grade classes so they distributed his class into all the other classes. What that means is Ethan got a new teacher and new classmates. We went in Tuesday morning early to meet his new teacher and the new kids in his class. He has adjusted just fine and has already made several friends. Yesterday he had his first spelling test and got a 100. yeah Ethan!! He also was tested this week in reading and is in the 71% for all first graders. His reading level is 1.1 to 2.1. This is really good for my little man that has been behind on reading. We worked really hard over the summer and I was still worried when school started that he would be behind but he is right on target. I am so excited for him.
Sydney has meet several good friends in her class already and is going to a slumber party tonight. She has been doing well in class so far. She had a math test yesterday so I am waiting on that grade to come home. Math is her worst subject.
Addison is enjoying being at home alone. She has started fighting me on naps though. She still needs them but it is a struggle to get her down. Once she is asleep she will sleep for up to 2 hrs. I am hoping it is a phase and will pass.

Monday

2008-08-11T20:09:00.003-04:00

We had a good first week of school and we are moving on to week two. Addison and I are actually getting back into our old routine. We made it to the gym and to get a shake today. (yeah)

Sydney enjoyed her birthday weekend. I took her and two friends to American Girl Saturday for lunch. The food was actually good and the dolls even got to sit at the table with us. After lunch Sydney picked out her birthday gift from the American girl store. Once we got home we had ice cream cake and the girls played. They both slept over and stayed until lunch Sunday.

Thursday

2008-08-07T16:45:00.006-04:00

I have fallen off the posting charts. Once you get behind it is hard to catch up. It is like scrap booking which I finally gave up this year. With three kids I just couldn't keep up with all the pictures and entries.

I never use to understand how people with multiple kids couldn't get things done but now I do. Like is always busy but definitely worth it.

The kids last week of summer was spent at the pool, park, Chuck E Cheese, rock climbing, and the beach. We ended the week with a little block party. It was great.

The kids are enjoying school so far but we are still adjusting and trying to get back into a routine.

I think Addison has enjoyed some quite time this week. I took her to the pool today and we had fun. She is so brave just wanting to swim and jump it.

Busy Week

2008-08-02T08:48:00.004-04:00

We have had an extremely busy week this past week. I wanted to end the summer for the kids on a high note. I will have to catch up on my post and pictures next week when the older two are back in school.

Pirate kids

2008-07-24T10:13:00.002-04:00

Yesterday our neighbor took us to a really cool play center called Pirates Cove. It has several inflatables and a huge playground and sand box indoors. The kids had the most fun playing. We stayed all afternoon. Unfortunately I forgot my camera so I have no pictures to show. I am going to be putting the camera in my purse to make sure I have it with me at all times.

Addison's birthday

2008-07-24T10:05:00.004-04:00

I can't believe my baby is 2 years old already. Time goes by so fast the older we get. I remember I didn't think I would ever turn 16 and now it won't be long and my kids will be turning 16. Time is precious.

For Addison's actual birthday we took her to eat a Jim Bob's and then to Learning Express to pick a toy.(Doctors kit) She also received a really cute pink chair for her room but it is still in the den because she sits in it all the time. Sunday we are going to have the neighborhood kids over for cake and ice cream. Of course if you know Addison you know she is having a Dora cake. She is all about Dora.

Aquarium

2008-07-18T15:52:00.003-04:00

We enjoyed the day Tuesday at the Atlanta Aquarium. When we first arrived the aquarium was empty but by 11:00am it became very busy. Luckily we were finished seeing everything by 12:30 and headed to our favorite pizza place. (Felinis in Buckhead) We love to sit outside and watch the cars and people go by plus the pizza is really really good. After pizza Sydney went home with Granny to spend a couple of days.

Visiting

2008-07-12T17:32:00.004-04:00

The kids and I left here last Tuesday and went to visit Grandma and Grandpa. While we were there we were able to go to Steve and Barry's. I have been wanting to check out the Sara Jessica Parker line. The store was really big and filled with all kinds of clothes. I would not go out of my way to go there again but if it was convenient would stop in. The kids spent a lot of time swimming in the pool. After a couple of days it was time to head home; of course the kids didn't want to leave. We will have to go visit again soon.

Another Terrific 4th of July

2008-07-05T17:38:00.004-04:00

We started the day off at the Woodstock parade. This year is election year so the parade was longer and the kids got more candy. They were excited. After the parade Jay and a few of the neighbors took the older kids swimming. Once they got home it was time to prepare for the grill out. He had 6 families come over to grill out and then we did fireworks. Which the kids just love. We are a neighborhood that does fireworks several times a month so everyone expects our 4th fireworks to be really good. I have to say I think we lived up to the expectation last night.

Playing Baby

2008-07-05T09:48:00.003-04:00

Sydney likes to play baby with Addison. Sometimes Addison is really cooperative and sometimes she isn't. This was a cooperative day.

Whitewater

2008-07-01T08:57:00.004-04:00

Yesterday Jay took the day off of work and we took the kids to Whitewater. It was a lot of fun but something I definitely couldn't have done alone. Sydney and Ethan loved all the water slides. I had to beg Sydney to not go down the cliff hanger. She went on the one at Lake Lanier Islands last year and that was enough for me. For those of you who don't know what the the cliff hanger is it is a ninety foot drop on a water slide. It is a little scary to watch your little girl go down the slide and actually come off the slide for part of the ride. Not to mention I am scared of heights and that is way to high for me.
Ethan loved the water slides but he is much more cautious and stays on the easy rides.
Addison loved the kiddie area. Unfortunately I forgot the camera so there are no pictures to share.
I think next year we might get season passes with some of our neighbors.

Friday-Ethan comes home today

2008-06-27T11:03:00.003-04:00

We are so excited Ethan comes home today. He has a big surprise in the garage. Jay bought him a new bike yesterday. It is a 20" diamondback. I can't wait to see Ethan's face. He has been wanting a new bike for a while now.

Today is Sydney's last day of camp and she said she had some special treats coming home this afternoon. Can't wait to see them. Plus we are are going shopping after camp for her some clothes.

Addison is enjoying her last quiet day. we ran a few errands this morning now we are going to play. Addison loves Dora. I am inserting a picture of her watching Dora and wearing her Dora pjs.

Camp, Grannies, and Playtime

2008-06-26T10:34:00.005-04:00

Sydney has been attending camp this week at KSU. They have kids camps at the continuing education building during the summer. She is taking a creative confections class. She has really been enjoying it. They have made homemade icing and have been learning to decorate with it. Yesterday she made a gingerbread house.

Ethan left Tuesday and has been spending the week with his Granny and Papa Tom. He has had many adventures and we can't wait for him to come home.

Addison had enjoyed some quiet time a come, a play date and some pool time.

Pool time

2008-06-20T16:08:00.002-04:00

We have been spending a lot of time at the pool this summer. We usually go in the morning and then leave around 1pm. Most of our neighbors join us so the kids have a blast playing. Addison loves playing in the baby pool but after a while wants to join the big kids in the pool. Thank goodness Sydney is old enough this year to play with her in the big pool. Of course I am always close by.
Ethan has really improved on his swimming this year. He is taking lessons again but he can swim across the swallow end of the pool. His swim instructor is starting to teach him strokes.

Addison had to copy her big brother and lay her towel out just like his. Nothing like a 2 year old getting a tan.

An evening outside

2008-06-20T16:05:00.004-04:00

The weather has been so nice in the evening that after dinner I have been letting the kids go outside to play. Ella and Addison had a great time doing each others hair with bubbles. They took the bubble blower apart and used the left over bubbles to fix their hair. Needless to say they both need a bath that night.

A day at the lake

2008-06-17T21:12:00.002-04:00

We had a great morning at the beach lake with our friends. The kids loved playing in the water and the toddlers loved playing in the sand. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch and then headed home for nap time. All the kids were exhausted. Afterwards we enjoyed an evening of hamburgers and ice cream with several neighbors. It was a women and kids evening.

A weekend in the mountains

2008-06-15T20:34:00.002-04:00

We spent the weekend in the mountains and had a blast. We went tubing down the river. It was a slow ride sincce the river was really low. Ethan and Sydney had a blast. Addison was not so happy about it but you start there is no turning back. After the river we spend some time helping Granny pick Cherries off the Cherry trees in her yard. Sydney probably ate as many as she picked.

On Saturday Jay and Tom took Sydney and Ethan fishing on Warwoman while Julia and I headed into town. We enjoyed exploring some shops and then headed to the flea market. It was definately a flea market. After lunch we all went to Jay's aunts house and the kids did some fishing in her pond. Sydney and Ethan both caught several fish.
Later in the day we headed over the the Goats on the roof store. It was a interesting tourist trap. The kids enjoyed seeing the goats and they were able to feed them. On the way home Saturday evening we started planning out next trip and some of the things we would like to do.

Some cute and fun pictures

2008-06-08T18:15:00.003-04:00

Addison is so funny. She passed over the barbies and dolls to play with Ethan's pirate set. Her favorite piece is the sword.

Ethan loves to go to the BMX track. He loves the excitement of the hills. He decided last time that he is finally ready for a bigger bike. Jay and I have been trying to talk him into a bigger bike for months now so in the next couple of weeks we will be getting him a new bike. We might also sign him up to race BMX. We are still talking about that.

Unfortunately I don't have any recent good pictures of Sydney. She is always busy with friends or doing her thing. I will have to try to get some cute pictures of her soon.

Friday

2008-06-06T21:50:00.003-04:00

We survived our first week of summer together. The kids have done amazingly well playing together and helping out around the house. Sydney has been a big help with Addison. I told her today that she couldn't go back to school she had to stay home with me. She was more then happy to do that she said. Of course Ethan was in the back of the car wondering how she could do that and not go to school. He told her she had to go to school. That is good advice from a soon to be 1st grader.
We have lots of fun stuff planned for next week so I will keep you updated on our adventures.

Welcome Summer

2008-06-02T14:03:00.002-04:00

Today was officially our first day of summer. We began the morning by playing at the pool. The kids had a blast. Addison loves the pool. She grew tired of the baby pool and wanted to swim with Sydney in the big pool. It was really cute to watch them play. Ethan has taken to swimming. He was swimming across the shallow end of course he was very close to the wall and stopped to take breaks along the way. He will begin swim lessons next Monday with one of the teenagers that helps with our neighborhood swim team. Hopefully by the end of summer he will be swimming across the pool unassisted.
Addison came home and went straight down for a nap she was so tired. Once she wakes up we are going to run a few errands before dinner. One day down many more to go.

Thursday- Sydney's party

2008-05-29T21:35:00.002-04:00

Today was Sydney's class party. The kids had a kickball game and then ice cream sundaes. It was a lot of fun. Afterwards her teacher invited the parents to the classroom when she handed out the award pins. Sydney earned 5 this year: sunshine math, A-B student, recycling, music makers, and completing her reading goal. I was pretty proud of her. I can't believe tomorrow is the kids last day of school. What is more shocking is that I am going to have a 1st and 4th grader. Man am I getting old.

Memorial Day

2008-05-27T08:10:00.000-04:00

We enjoyed a wonderful cookout at the Lazar's house with all the neighbors today. It was a nice way to end the weekend. Now the kids are back to school for four days until summer break.

What a great weekend

2008-05-25T14:18:00.000-04:00

We started our long weekend off with having Ethan's class party Friday at school. It was a load of fun and the kids enjoyed it. I can't believe my little boy is going to be in 1st grade next year. The kids are just growing up so fast. That evening we enjoyed pizza with our neighbors while the kids collected bugs and played chase around the yard.

Saturday I got a little a lone time and sent a couple of hours helping my friend Kelly find a new dress. I also picked up some new flip-flops and a cover up for myself. In the afternoon Sydney and I made home made blonde brownies and jam filled muffins. Then we had a really good dinner of steaks and corn on the cob. (dad you missed it).

Today is pool and firework day. We will be heading to the pool for the afternoon and then doing fireworks with our neighbors this evening. We are the firework block. The kids love to do them.

Picnic day- Thursday

2008-05-22T15:29:00.001-04:00

We enjoyed a wonderful lunch at the park in downtown Woodstock today. We meet Wendy, Kelly and her daughter Alli, and of course Laura and Ella. The weather was wonderful and the girls had a great time running around and playing. The girls just love being together. After lunch we did a bit of shopping and then came home for a nap. Once the older kids were home we enjoyed the rest of the day outside.Ella and Addison are sharing the hand sanitizer to clean their hands.

Mother's Day

2008-05-11T19:21:00.000-04:00

The girls built a fort to play in. Addison is really starting to like to play with Sydney. She will call for her to come and play. It is super cute and sweet. I had a nice mother's day. We started the day at church and then headed to Buckhead for pizza a Filline's. It is so nice to eat there the food is good but we sit on the patio which is about 5 feet off of Peachtree Street and watch the cars and people go by. Ethan loved watching for all the convertibles today. Addison was watching for the dogs. After we ate we went to Crate and Barrel so I could get my gift. I replaced a couple of pieces of our dinnerware that have broken over time. The day ended with all three kids playing nicely together and laughing.

Friday- Sydney's field day

2008-05-11T19:18:00.001-04:00

Sydney had a good time at her field day. It was a hot and sunny day. We were outside from 12:30 until 3pm and the kids were exhausted by the time it was over. We came home to rest for a while before Friday night dinner with out neighbors.

Kindergarten Field Day

2008-05-08T18:53:00.000-04:00

Today was Ethan's field day. He had a blast. There were many games and snowcones. I was also pleased at how his teacher bragged about him. She said he does a great job in class, is a good listener and his determined to do his best and learn. It is nice to hear someone else thinks your kids is as great as you think they are. Ethan is really flourishing this year.

The Weekend

2008-05-04T19:39:00.001-04:00

Today was a really nice day especially since we started the weekend on a sour note. We found out first thing Friday morning that Addison had strep throat. After her second dose of Penicillin she broke out in hives so I guess she is allergic to it. We switched her antibiotic and now she is feeling better. Since she was feeling bad and it was raining Saturday we opted out of Ethan's soccer game. He wasn't to happy about not playing but he managed to get over it.

Luckily today was a nice day. Everyone woke up in good spirits and we made it to church.

After church we had a picnic outside and then spent the rest of the day playing. Ella came over to play with Addison and they had a great time painting and doing bubbles. We learned that Addison does not like riding on the bike with daddy.

Ella really enjoyed her ride with Jay. After all the excitement we had a wonderful dinner of shrimp and corn on the patio.

Saturday

2008-04-26T14:51:00.000-04:00

Today was another over the top soccer day. Ethan's team was phenomenal. Ethan himself made 6 goals. He is such a good soccer player. I think it is so neat that he has already found his thing.
I hope Sydney can find hers soon. She has tried several things and hasn't found anything that she just loves to do. I think next school year she is going to try dance again. Unfortunately for her she has inherited her mother and grandfathers rhythm and coordination.
It will be interesting to see what Addison likes as she gets older. She already loves music, dancing, and can kick a soccer ball. She tries her hardest to stay up with the older kids. She doesn't realize she is just a baby.

Long Week

2008-04-25T07:33:00.000-04:00

This has been a long week for the kids. Sydney has had CRCT testing all week and Ethan has had P.E. everyday. Luckily it is Friday and we can rest and relax some this weekend.

Grand Cayman

2008-04-13T17:35:00.001-04:00

We just spent a wonderful week in Grand Cayman. We left Atlanta last Sunday with fears of flying with three kids but they all did wonderfully. Addison had a couple of crying spells on the way home but we managed. We were just excited that she didn't get motion sickness. Once we arrived in Cayman we had lunch which Uncle Rick cooked and headed out on the boat. At first Ethan was scared of the boat but after a while he lighted up and began to enjoy it. Addison loved the boat and still ask about it now. The kids had the opportunity to swim and play with sting rays and do some snorkeling. Sydney really enjoyed the snorkeling until the day she ran into two 5 foot eels. That sort of scared her and she spent her time on the boat after that. Luckily it was the last day on the boat so she didn't miss much. Grand Cayman is a wonderful island and we were fortunate enough to experience it from a residences point of view instead of a tourist view. (Thank you Rick). The weather and water were really nice and we all had a great trip. See pictures below. We are now planning our next vacation. Hopefully to it will be to Destin with the Lazars.
Sydney swimming with the Sting Rays.

Ethan Snorkeling with Jay.

We spent a couple of hours in George Town.Addison enjoying the boat.

Cute pictures

2008-04-04T15:00:00.000-04:00

Some cute pictures of Addison I wanted to share. This is her and Ella swinging at the park. They are so cute together.

The next picture is of Addison and Ethan chillin on my bed together.

Musicals

2008-04-04T14:53:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was a day of musicals. Ethan had a musical in the morning at school. It was really cute. He had to sing and dance. He did a pretty good job. You could tell he was a little embarrassed. Then in the evening Sydney had her Spring musical. It was really good. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get any really good shots of her. Addison enjoyed both performances. She ate a whole bag of popcorn at Sydney's. She really loves popcorn.

What a busy day.

2008-03-26T14:30:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was an extremely busy day. We headed out in the morning with friends for some shopping which included DSW. After lunch Addison and I came home so she could nap she was so tired. Once the older two were home it was time to take Sydney to tutoring while Ethan, Addison, and I made a mad dash for the grocery store. After we picked Sydney up we headed to the high school for the girls soccer game. Sydney's teacher is the coach and invited some of the kids to be ball catchers. I really thought Ethan would love watching the intensity of the high school kids play but he was bored. Sydney had a blast catching balls and Addison loved playing on the bleachers. Of course I watched her very closely so she was safe. After all the running it was time for baths and bed. (Thank goodness). We even over slept this morning.

Happy Easter

2008-03-25T21:13:00.000-04:00

I am a little behind and will be trying to catch up on my post in the next couple of days. We had a nice Easter. The kids really enjoyed their baskets. After our egg hunt we attended church.

End of the week

2008-03-20T19:57:00.000-04:00

The kids had a busy day today. They each participated in the fun run at school. It was a blast. They played all kids of great 80's music while the kids ran and had bubbles for them to run through.

Ethan ran 28 laps and Sydney ran 33. They both did a great job.

Addison had a cute moment yesterday. Of course when you are 19mos old you have lots of those. She decided at lunch she wanted to feed herself. She was eating Spaghetti O's and those are hard to get on the spoon. Overall she did a great job but every time she spilled some she would say yuck and use the sponge to clean it up before eating more.

Monday and Tuesday morning

2008-03-18T07:51:00.000-04:00

What a crazy day. Jay left at 5:30am for the airport. He should be back Thursday night. Then Kelly and I ran some errands in the morning. While Addison was napping I tried to catch up on ironing. Still working on it from being gone last week. Once the big kids came home we played outside since it was warm. After dinner I took the kids to the school art show. This was our first year attending and it was fun. They enjoyed looking at all the art plus I purchased their art pieces. Ethan was so funny while standing in line to pay he asked me why do you have to pay for my art. I explained it was a school fun raiser. Kids say the funniest things.

Jay called last night and today in Dallas they are getting storms and he is suppose to leave TX and head to MN but MN is getting 3-6" of snow. Hopefully he makes it.

I gave the garbage man a good laugh this morning. They were heading down the street above us when I took the kids to the bus stop so I ran home and was pulling the can out when he stopped at our house. He was cracking up at me running home. The things we do.

Sunday

2008-03-18T07:47:00.000-04:00

We had a semi-relaxing day Sunday. The kids really enjoyed playing outside. There was a group of boys down at Trey's house riding scooters and a group of girls playing in the woods. Then there was Ella and Addison playing in our yard. They have so much fun together. I am so glad Ella is on our block.

Friday

2008-03-14T21:24:00.000-04:00

Thank goodness it is the weekend. I think we are all tired and ready for a break. Today was a rainy and cool day so we just hung around the house after school. Sydney decided she wanted me to paint her finger nails. While I was painting her nails Addison put her hands out to have her painted so I did. (Of course I didn't paint her thumb nails since she sucks them) She even helped me blow on them until they were dry. At our Friday night dinner with the neighbors she made sure everyone saw her nails. She is really growing and changing. Her speech is just expanding over night and her personality is really coming out. She is so cute.

Mayakota

2008-03-14T21:12:00.000-04:00

Jay and I spent then first half of the week in Mexico. We stayed at the Mayakoba Rosewood. The resort was fabulous. For Jay the trip was business and he did have to spend several hours a day in meetings while I lounged at the pool.

We did miss the kids and they seemed to have missed us. Of course Sydney and Ethan both enjoyed being able to play after dinner and have dessert every night. ( Granny you won the kids over)

Spring Luau- March 8th

2008-03-14T16:37:00.000-04:00

Today the kids had their spring celebration at school. It is always the highlight of the spring for them. Each class puts together a basket and then all the people attending can purchase raffle tickets and have the chance to win one. Of course we didn't win. As a matter of fact we have never won a basket. The kids did enjoy playing on the inflatables, eating popcorn, and painting. We ended the afternoon with a nice cold train ride. Then temp only got to 36 that day.

Crazy Kid

2008-03-06T14:04:00.001-05:00

Addison loves these glasses. They really make her laugh.

Tuesday

2008-03-04T19:55:00.000-05:00

What a busy week so far and it is only the beginning. Ethan and Sydney have both been busy with school work while Addison is enjoying her free time. Ethan had his first book report to do. He has really fantastic handwriting and drawing skills. I am so amazed at him sometimes.
Sydney is just buzzing through third grade. I can't believe next year will be her last year in elementary school. Man I am getting old.
Addison began her week playing with all her friends. Us mommies had a great breakfast at our house Monday morning. Then today she played with Cooper at the gym and we shared a shake together afterwards. Tomorrow is story time at the library.