Going on a hunt

We spent some more time outside. Since we've all been sick, cooped up in the house, we really needed out. We started playing outside. Disclaimer- Beth fixed her own hair and wouldn't let me help.

Get off my slide!

Ok, we can play together

Then, we decided to go on a hunt, to see what we could find in the yard.

Who knew bugs could be so interesting?

Where else can we look?

I love my zoom lens!

Jacob found bugs on the tree too. He only wanted to look at bugs.

Then, we took a walk in the neighborhood to see what else we could find.

We found: leaves, bugs, a feather, flowers, a marble, rocks, priceless memories

**This is a pre-scheduled post to be posted during my no computer time**

Helping Daddy, sorda

Kevin got outside for the first round of yard work this spring. A long day of pulling weeds, bagging leaves and mowing. He did get a little help, too.

All that work deserves a drink break!

I'm so glad Kevin enjoys getting out and doing the yard work. I don't want to. I have a brown thumb anyway and would probably kill everything that's trying to turn green.

**By the way, I scheduled this to post to the blog during my day off from computers. I don't want you to think I didn't hold up to my plan.**

I love spring

Spring has arrived (well, then we got a cold front again yesterday). We have really enjoyed the outside time. I love taking pictures outside, especially with my zoom lens!

Beth just loves to play outside- jumping on the trampoline, finding flowers, annoying her brother. Jacob loves being outside to- learning how to drive Beth's Dora car, throwing everything, going to see the neighbor's dog.

It got here!

Remember me mentioning I'd won a contest? I got a $40 gift certificate from Studio M for her handpainted Sknobs or a canvas.

After chatting with Misti, we decided on a canvas for Beth's room. I emailed Misti the link for Beth's new bedding (a birthday gift, coming soon) as well as a picture of some pics I'd bought for the wall.

Then, I left the rest in Misti's artistic mind. She emailed me that it was on it's way. She blogged about it. Beth saw the post, recognized her name. She'd heard me tell Kevin that I'd won something for her. I got the biggest hug and lots of great thank yous when she saw the painting. We couldn't wait for it to arrive! UPS dropped it (and my new cel phone) off yesterday as I was cleaning up dinner. Woohoo!

Aren't you just dying to see it?! Here it is!

And here it is with the other pictures it will be hanging by. Isn't it just perfect!

We'll be painting Beth's room with light pink on the top half, dark pink on the bottom half and a green loopy ribbon all around the middle. These are just perfect!

Misti was so easy to work with and is super talented. I plan to order a painting for Jacob's room, when we get around to decorating his (probably when he's in a big boy bed).

Thanks so much, Misti!!!!!!

Beth's 2nd interview

I rounded up some more questions for Beth to answer. In less than 2 weeks, she'll be turning 5. It's fun to see her perspective on things. Plus, we've been sicko in this house and I haven't felt much like blogging anything. Enjoy!

Who is your favorite aunt? "Aunt Casey"
Why? "Because I love her"

What is your favorite thing to do at Popi and Yaya's house? "play with Popi and Yaya"

If you could choose absolutely anything you wanted for dinner, what would you have? "frozen dinner- pizza, maccaroni, spaghetti...."
More than something Mommy makes? "Well, I think that tonight I want a frozen dinner"

What is your very favorite movie? "Let me see, 101 Dalmatians"

What is your favorite song? "M-I-C-K-E-Y-M-O-U-S-E"

What is your favorite thing to wear? "dresses and skirts" (panting with excitement)

What do you like to play when Mommy tells you "Go play!"? "with my stuffed animals and my vanity"

What is your favorite board game? "Bingo"
What your secret to winning? "We have to get 4 in a row to win"
Have you ever lost? "Sometimes"

What do you want to be when you grow up? "I want to be a rock star, or maybe a dentist. Or, maybe when I grow up, I can be anything I want to."





About Daddy:
What makes Daddy happy? "When I say 'I love you' and when I mind him"


What makes Daddy sad? "When someone isn't playing with him"

What is your favorite thing to play with Daddy? "I like to play in my room with him"

What is his favorite thing to play with you? "blocks"
What about the monster game? "I don't like that"
But Daddy does. "Yea, but it's just pretend."

How old is Daddy? "32"

What does he let you do when Mommy's not around? "play by myself"
Does Daddy let you do something that Mommy doesn't? laughing, "no"

What does Daddy do for a job? "he works upstairs and pays the bills so we can buy stuff at the grocery store and so we can keep our house"

What is Daddy's favorite kind of food? "toast and eggs"
What about when we go out to eat? "I don't know"

How are you and Daddy the same? "we both have blue eyes, and our faces kinda look the same, and we like to play with each other"

How are you and Daddy different? "I have blond hair, and he has brown hair"

Ok, that's all. Was that fun? "yes ma'am"

Can you do it?

Can you do it? A whole 24 hours.

I am going to try. Here's my gameplan from 7am Friday 3/27 until 7am Saturday 3/28:

no computer for me

no tv for me or the kids

I can't ask Kevin to give up his computer/blackberry on a work day. TV, well, I'll try, but it's not likely!

How will I manage?

chores, lots of them as our Sunday School fellowship is at our house that night

maybe a trip to the zoo if the weather is right and enough chores are done

read instead of tv at night, maybe even finish that book I've been reading for a month

Will you join me? What will you unplug? I dare you!

Meeting baby Connor

My precious friend, Erica, and her family just welcomed Connor into their lives last month. I remember the early days of being a mom of 2 kids, needing to be at home to recover but needing the big one entertained. I volunteered to come over so the kids could play and we could visit, all while admiring the sweet new baby.

Beth was in love and didn't want her turn holding Connor to end. Jacob was curious but got over it fast. Poor Megan really wanted to play, not ooh and ahh over the baby. However, when it was time to change Connor's diaper and clothes, all the kids were curious.

The kids did get some play time. Never enough, for kids. But it wore me out, keeping Jacob from eating Barbie shoes and driving the mini-four-wheeler into the wall.

The kids did manage to enjoy snack time. Jacob and Megan shared goldfish. Then, Jeremy (Megan and Connor's dad, who was still at home helping), introduced my kids to oreos, or "Grandpa cookies" as Megan calls them, and milk. Thanks, Jeremy. Jacob was a mess. Beth declared it her favorite.

I did get a turn to hold that sweet baby. It was a good feeling, holding him, having no desire to have another baby. My family is perfectly complete with Beth and Jacob. I don't miss those early days of no sleep and constant neediness, all while recovering from birth and taking care of another kid too. I'm enjoying the more and more independence my kids gain every week. Connor was so precious, sleeping in the swing until Jacob "helped" swing it too hard. Connor only fussed when he was being changed. Such a good baby. Then again, if Jacob had been that good, maybe we'd consider another one. Um, nope! What am I thinking! I'm good. Seriously. I look forward to watching Erica on her journey to becoming that mom of two, handling it with the humor she does. Love ya girl!

I won!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't enter every contest I see online, but this was too cute. These are called Sknobs.

Misti, over at Studio M, makes them.

So, I won a $40 gift certificate towards Sknobs or a canvas. I can't wait to see what I can find!

Thank you Nester for telling me about this!

Guess who's sick?- updated

** Update 3/16- after a trip to the pediatrician, we find that Jacob has an ear infection and an eye infection. Poor guy! He still managed to be quite charming to the nurses and doctor and everyone at Target when we went to get his medicine. Hopefully, we'll start to see him feel better in a couple days.**

Isn't that the most pathetic, saddest little thing you've ever seen. His nose and eyes are constantly ooey goopey. Still, he's managing to have some fun. I know- he's wearing Christmas jommie shirt and no pants. He's sick, he has the right to it, even at 4:30 in the afternoon!

Cold rain go away

I want spring back to stay!

Recently we had GORGEOUS spring weather. Then, it turned nasty, rainy, dreary and cold. Late today, the sun was finally peeking out. Hooray! There's hope!

Here's some of our outside fun when it was warm (though super windy). The kids are both getting braver on the trampoline. We all really have a good time with it. Kevin, mostly terrorizing the kids by jumping super high, double bouncing, scaring them from under the trampoline (OMG, that was hilarious!)

Looking at the moon (which Jacob is fascinated by- in every book we read)

Time to go in (and to prove I was there too)

Valentine's Day fun

Ok, so here it is, almost a month later, and I'm finally getting around to posting. Life with 2 kiddos is busy!

Our Valentine's Day was jam-packed with fun! First thing in the morning, we exchanged gifts. Kevin got a book he'd asked for. I know, nuts, right. If you know Kevin, you know reading isn't his first choice. So, if he asks for a book, by golly, I'll oblige. Kevin got me the Bath and Body lotions and stuff I asked for. Beth got her Fancy Nancy dress and M&Ms. Jacob got an Elmo movie and an Elmo book.

However, his bag of M&Ms was the biggest hit. He immediately said "nMs! Pees!".


Later, Beth's dance group performed at an independent living facility. Jacob danced and clapped to the other performances. He's so funny!

Beth and her friends (Payton in this picture) patiently waited their turns- they're almost always last. They performed in a small rotunda, so the picture and video taking were very limited. However, I'll show ya what we got!

A couple girls had stage fright and didn't perform. A couple girls didn't make it at all.

**video coming as soon as I can edit to to fit bloggers limit. What program do I use?**

We have never been ones to go out for dinner on Valentine's day- it's just so busy. With kids, we certainly weren't going somewhere with a long wait. So, we ordered in. I'm so sad I forgot to take a picture of it. We ordered pizza from Papa John's in the shape of a heart. Beth loved that! Jacob didn't care, since he just wanted to eat it. Then, despite a cold front having come in, we went to Marble Slab for ice cream. We came home and watched a movie with Beth (Jacob went to bed early). What a perfect family date!

There's no better way to spend Valentine's day than with the people you love. Hope yours was a good one too!

Beth's first blog

I interviewed Beth for this blog. She's 4 years 11months old.

1. What is something mom always says to you?
"yes"

2. What makes mom happy?
"when I do my chores and I be nice"

3. What makes mom sad?
"when I don't mind and when I throw fits"

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
"when she tickles me"

5. What was your mom like as a child?
"my mommy had blond hair and Popi looked different" (Popi had long blond hair)

6. How old is your mom?
"13"

7. How tall is your mom?
"taller than me"

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
"have fun with her friends"

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
"she calls me"

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
"I don't know"

11. What is your mom really good at?
"telling me 'I love you'"

12. What is your mom not very good at?
"I don't know"

13. What does your mom do for a job?
"cook at the house and take care of us"

14.What is your mom's favorite food?
"broccoli" NOOOO!!!!!

15.What makes you proud of your mom?
"when she makes bows for me"

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
"Belle"

17. What do you and your mom do together?
"play together"

18. How are you and your mom the same?
"we both have white shirts"

19. How are you and your mom different?
”You have brown hair and I have blonde hair.”

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
"she tells me"

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
"cuz he hugs her"

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
"Target"

23. Whats mom's favorite color?
"purple"

24. When did mom and dad get married?
"before they had me"

25. What color is Mommy's hair?
"brown"

If you have any questions you'd like me to ask for Beth's next post, let me know. She had a blast doing this one.

Have you seen me?

I've been trying to catch up on blogging. Have you seen these?
A most embarrassing award
T-R-O-U-B-L-E
I *heart* JBF
Treasured Time
There's no place like home

I still have more, but Jacob just woke up from his nap

There's no place like home

And by "home", I mean where Mom and Dad are. I am Southern, after all. Kevin had a longer than usual business trip, so we tagged along. While my folks went to work, they kindly left me a car to piddle around town. Then, in the evenings, we got to spend some time together. As they were anxiously preparing for getting back into their house (post-Ike), we hung out there a little too. It wasn't enough time with them, but it was still nice. ** Side note- as of this post, a good two weeks after that visit, they are now back in the house for good. Hooray!**

Jacob is quite entertaining- both to himself and us

Time at the house- Dad/Popi and I lined kitchen shelves. Beth cut "bugs" out of scraps. Jacob helped and kept Yaya busy.

Popi caught a mosquito hawk bug. Beth just looked. Jacob tried to pull its wings off.

All that playing and hard work deserves a juice break

Fun time with Popi- weird boy tricks and fun block towers (that Jacob liked to knock down, making Beth mad)