My Day with Caroline

Eating her muffin with her "star drink" at Starbucks.

Last week, Sarah and Jason had an early doctor's appointment (since they are preggo!!) and so I ended up keeping Caroline for the day so they wouldn't have to worry about having to take her or get her to daycare.  I took my kiddos to school and then the two of us hung out for the morning.  I do believe it's the very first time I have ever kept her by herself since usually Jack and/or Anna are there, too.  We went and got a "star drink" at Starbucks.  Then she helped me take Anna's class to lunch at the big school.  Then we picked Jack up and ate lunch at Old McDonald's.  She is so sassy and hilarious.  I wish I had kept a running list of the funny things she said that day.  I had so much fun with "Terline"!!

Someone thought they were hot stuff
at the big kid school!

Smile Jack, it's Old McDonald's!

Our Weekend in Wilmington

We lucked out and got TWO school days off along with MLK weekend this year.  We had not been home to Wilmington since my mom's birthday in July (almost 6 months!!!).  I was really feeling a little homesick, but knew a whirlwind trip would not have been fun for the kids, especially Anna and the down time she needs to be ready for school.  When I realized it would be a four day weekend, I was so excited that we had our chance to head east.  I was sad that Will had to stay behind for some church obligations, but knew the kids and I had to take this opportunity.  I ended up taking Anna out of school early so we could get through Raleigh traffic before rush hour and am so glad I did.  Here we come, Wilmington!!

Here's Anna about 30 minutes into the trip.
Bless her heart!

We all went to eat dinner at Krazy's that Friday night after we got there (of course).  Mimi and Papa were talking about wanting to do something fun with the kids on Saturday.  Jeffro and Nellie talked about how they love to go to Chuck E. Cheese.  When Mimi and Papa found out that Anna and Jack had never been, they knew what the plan had to be!  We got there when it opened Saturday morning and had an absolute blast.  I'm not sure who had more fun, Mimi and Papa or the kids!  Anna was beyond thrilled when she counted up her 217 tickets to cash in for prizes!!

Jack on the Barney train

Mimi playing a dance game with Anna.
Get your groove on, Mimi!!

The kids loved just standing and watching the "robots".

Once lunch time drew near, lots of people started showing up for birthday parties and we got out of there quick!  We went back to get ready for Jack's early birthday dinner (since Mimi and Papa and Jeffro and Nellie wouldn't be able to make it up for his party in a couple of weeks).

Jeffro and Nellie got Jack a construction worker costume.
I hate the picture is blurry, but his face is priceless!!

Blowing out his three candles

Mimi made him a "J" cake!!

We were loving the fun time with Mimi and Papa!

Jack playing hide and seek under the table.
Silly boy!

Of course we just HAD to make it to the beach one day!
My heart is full and my soul is at peace!

He Won't Take His Helmet Off

Jack, these days, is loving his bicycle helmet, so much so that he doesn't like to take it off.  One day, he wouldn't take it off to come eat lunch, so I just left it on him.  Go ahead with your daredevil stunts now! You're much safer with it on, anyway!

Annual Neighborhood Christmas Tree Burning

We continued the tradition of the annual neighborhood tree burning the first Saturday of the new year.  We had a couple extra families to join us this year!  It was FREEZING outside but the fire kept it bearable.  We had a blast roasting hot dogs and making s'mores over the buying Christmas trees.  Farewell Christmas 2013!

Jack is ready to start the fire
(and loves the sliced oranges, too, apparently).

Burn, trees, burn!

It was absolutely freezing this day and the kids
got to break up chunks of ice from the pond.

Hot fire and cold ice!
We lost Emily and Jack to the icy waters
(only up to knees, thank goodness)!

"Girls Only!" Morning

Due to the fact that the preschool pools from a couple of different counties, it ended up starting back before our public schools did.  That meant that the Friday after New Year's, Jack went to preschool and Anna didn't have to go back yet.  Girls morning!!  Anna was so excited and knew exactly where she wanted to go after we dropped Jack off: to the nail place.  We went to Panera for breakfast first and then to get our toes "did".  Anna looked like a lady sitting there reading her Little House book!  At one point, I looked down and realized that the lady had painted flowers on Anna's big toes.  When I pointed them out to her, Anna gasped and then said, "She asked me something but I didn't understand her, so I just said yes."  Hilarious!  I had so much fun with my sweet girl!

New Year's Eve 2013

Will and I are really fortunate in that his best group of guy friends are married to my best group of girlfriends and we have an absolute blast when we all get together.  When we couldn't get our schedules to match up for our annual December Christmas dinner, we decided to celebrate New Year's Eve together instead.  We got all dolled up and had a delicious dinner at the Young's home.  Although we didn't make it out on the town like we had initially planned, I think we were all better off sitting around enjoying each other's company in our PJs waiting for the ball to drop.  And it was definitely a lot cheaper!!

2013 was not my favorite year.  Although we had much to be thankful for, we did have our share of heartache and pain to go along with it.  Here's to a healthy and happy and dream-filled 2014!!

After Christmas Purchase--The Rainbow Loom!!

 Anna got a little bit of Christmas money and once the holiday excitement was over, she knew exactly what she wanted to go and spend it on…a rainbow loom.  Even though she has come home with numerous bracelets that friends have given her and was enamored with Emma and Ellie's looms at Thanksgiving, I just wasn't sure that we wanted to enter that world.  I knew that it would mean that I would have to learn how to make bracelets because Anna can be a little needy when learning a new skill.  Plus, I just envisioned all of the bands all over the place.  Plus, I really hesitate jumping onto these fad bandwagons.  Now, though, Anna wasn't leaving me much choice.  With some hesitancy, I gave in, but have since gained a whole new perspective.  

Anna quickly learned how to use YouTube to find tutorials on the different types of bracelets.  There is a whole rainbow loom world out there and it's crazy!!!  She really has grown and learned and enjoyed (most of the time) her new hobby.  The true benefits are that she has gained the following: perseverance (sticking with something that's hard at first until it gets easier), dealing with disappointment (when you've spent an hour looping a bracelet and then watch it fall apart when you take it off the loom), independence (she started off not being able to do anything unless I was sitting there with her--now she just calls me when she needs help), pride (in actually making a finished product), and confidence (from gaining a new skill).  I'd say all that was well worth Anna's $15!!  There were a lot of life skills packed inside that little box!

Plus, you really can make some cool things on it--bracelets, rings, charms, ornaments, you name it!  I have become quite a fan. ;0)

So excited about doing her first bracelet!

The seasoned pro making a Carolina blue bracelet for Daddy.

A sampling of her masterpieces