Celebrating 40 Years With a Dear Friend...

Last week we got invited to a surprise party at Jen and Matt Brock's house for Matt's 40th birthday! Although someone at his work ruined the surprise, he was still very excited to see everyone! He cooked (yes on his own birthday, sorry) the best hamburgers I've ever tasted (his secret recipe he told me..and he doesn't tell anyone!) and low country boil. It was our first experience with low country boil even though we'd been wanting to try it for a while. Delicious is all I can say! Yummy!

The kids were excited because they have a son, Dylan, who had a playroom, and also had cousins and friends there to play with, too. They were in hog heaven. All of them got along REALLY well.

Jackson buddied up with a 8 year old little girl, Emily Elizabeth (yes, her sisters named her and they named her after the little character on Clifford the Big Red Dog!). He was all about her and flirty I tell you! They start early, huh?

Jenn and Matt are so good with the kids. They really spoil them. They let Jackson and Emily put the candles on Matt's cake.

If you aren't sure who Matt is, he and Paul used to work together at Cummins South. They really were the best of buddies. They still get together when life slows down enough to make it to a drag race a few times a year together. Every time we go around them though we ask ourselves why we don't make more time for each other. I adore his wife, Jenn, and their little boy is so cute! They do live in Villa Rica though so that makes it tougher. :(

Preston is enjoying the toys...

See how cute Dylan is?? AND, he loves the camera. I was ready to take him home!

Everyone singing...

Did I mention I love Jenn's family too? When I met them a few years ago at their wedding, I told Paul and I am positive I am adopted. I am also positive I am a transplanted Yankee. I have to be. I guess I just absorbed the dialect of the south way too easily. I think those people are my family, and I LOVE them! Seriously. I have told Paul I want to move out there to their subdivision. Seriously. They are loud, funny, and outgoing, and really they are... ME! I tell you I was switched at birth!

Silly old Matt...

Daddy and son...

Happy Birthday, Matt!!!!

Week 3 at Atlanta Beach...

Last Thursday we went with Gail, our beach buddy, to Atlanta Beach for the day. And, I do mean the day. We were exhausted when we were done! But, it was a great prelude to our upcoming beach trip later this week, we got some much needed sunshine on our arms and legs and backs, and we had a blast!

Jackson did the slide you see in the background, and he was hesitant at first but did a great job all by himself and loved it! He actually said later, "Mom! I cannot believe what a fun day this is!"

Preston has not been too keen on the water this year so far. But, once he realized the kiddie area is all shallow enough for him to walk..he was in heaven! he loved it! Except when we got over to the big pool he was heading right in all by himself with no arm floats! I think we messed him up and now he thinks all pools are that shallow. Oops!

They loved the squirters!

And, we always like mushrooms!

Ms. Gail showing off her new swimsuit! Isn't it cute?

And, of course, sand. Lots of sand. All kids love sand, don't they?

I was so proud of how Jackson thought to add windows to this one. By the way...how do you get the top of the sand castle to work right? I'm 30 and still cannot figure it out!

And, if you ever get bored, just make up your own game. They did. Apparently this is "Bury Preston." And, he was willingly standing on head to make this happen giggling all the while.

I love summer. Have I said that already? God is wonderful!

Week 3 Continued...

Just like a Jack(son)-in-the-box, the boys jumped and ran around this past week at The Kids Spot, our baby gym where Preston takes classes. While Preston is not doing classes this summer, we still plan to pop in and play some.

Last week our plan had been to do "open art" where they get to do crafts, but the teacher wasn't in for that. So, the owner was very nice and let the boys join in with the daycamp kids that were there and play for a while. They had a blast as usual!

I love encouraging them to run and get out that energy! They need exercise! Thanks, Kelley, for letting us play!

Vacation Here I Come...

My wonderful husband let me sneak away for a few hours on Sunday to go get my toes beach ready! Gail, Connie, and I enjoyed some great pedicures and conversation! We are all headed to go to Panama City later this week. All of us are very excited to say the least!

Gail also had her lips and eyebrows waxed (for the very first time!) I got pictures of this voluntary torture as well, but she made me promise not to post them here. Hmm..she better behave, huh? I think I hear blackmail. :) Guess I'll have a permanent margarita mixer in Florida at my service. :)

I just love those women! They are so good to me and my children!

Florida, hang on! We're coming your way! Hope you're ready for us!

A Man in Waiting...

You've probably heard of "a lady in waiting" but instead I have a little boy waiting. Preston. I messed up by letting him pick his new bedding a few weeks ago, and I really thought he loves his crib so much he wouldn't show as much interest. Boy, was I wrong. He picked this firetruck quilt over everything else...even though usually I can sway them, this was not an option for him this time. Then, that same night he went to bed and was like, "Where is it? Where is my fiwatwuck bed?" I explained having to order it, and then he asked if it would be here "in a few minutes." When I told him no, he told me HE was going to the store to get it. :)

I wasn't really going to do the whole big boy bed switch until closer to fall, but that whole plan changed. Plus, it ended up the quilt he HAD to have was difficult to find and of course only my child would pick the one that was discontinued. :) So, I was frantically searching ebay to find it. FINALLY, I found it and went ahead and ordered it. Still, I was hoping to put all the other stuff like buying a mattress off until at least after vacation, but...

Yesterday, the shams (yes, only the shams so far) came in the mail. I opened them just to show them to Paul and Preston. My words were the following: "Preston, listen to Mommy. Part of your new bed is here, and..."

That's all I got out of my mouth because the kid about fell over everything in the living room floor and took off making a beeline for his bedroom. My mouth dropped to the floor! I looked at Paul, and we both could not believe it. Poor kid! He thought his new bed was in his room. I felt horrible.

Finally, he realized the "part" that had arrived was in fact in my hands. I showed it to him, and he said "(Gasp) My fiwatwuck bed! I need my piwwow and bwanket!" So, I got him his pillow and blanket and he low and behold MADE this pillow sham into his new "fiwatwuck bed."

Jackson of course joined in...

So, this story is to be continued. The quilt should be here tomorrow. I rushed out tonight to get the sheets and pillows. And, the mattress and bed frame is being delivered Friday. I am going to have one happy boy very soon. Now...hopefully he'll stay in that new fiwatwuck bed. :)

Week 3 is Off to a Start...

More slip-n-sliding...

If you recall, our first slip-n-slide busted, so we went back to get the same one Maw Maw Brown has had so much success with. The kids tried it out today...and it was alot of fun I think. Preston seems to maybe, possibly finally be trying to figure it out. :)

But, as you can see mostly Preston just wants to be sprayed so he can gasp from the shock of the cold water. :) HAHA!

But, Jackson he's an overachiever like me and takes it quite seriously. :)

I have to admit I don't know what I ever saw in slip-n-slides. If you ask me it hurts! They fall down on that hard ground like it's nothing! Oh, well. As long as they're having fun, that's all that counts, right?

Celebrating our Anniversary Savannah Style...

If you know me, you know I am all about Disney World. I could eat, breathe, sleep Disney World. It is the one place I can go and feel so happy and relaxed. :) Strange for a 30-year old I know, but it's the truth. Well, for Paul his Disney is Savannah. Funny because his mom tried to get him to want to go there and appreciate the history when he was a teenager, but he would hear nothing of it. Now, he loves it. We went a few years ago to celebrate his birthday and again last year for our anniversary. Now, it has kind of become a tradition for us to try to go once a year. This year we went again on our wedding anniversary. We are so thankful Connie watched the boys for us...even if it was just for a little over 24 hours. :)

As usual, I was armed with camera in hand, but if you notice some weird expressions from Paul in some of these, just know he wasn't feeling camera happy. :) Sometimes I get on his nerves snapping all my pictures. :) Thanks for being a good sport, honey!

We had a great time! We stayed at the Hyatt Regency on Bay/River Street, ate dinner at our usual spot Vic's on the River, went on yet another Haunted Pub Crawl Tour, and enjoyed each other's company!

The person taking our picture above was moving out from behind the camera, so of course Paul was being nosey and watching them instead of the camera. :)


Aww..he LOVES the camera!

I have to admit (sadly) we did have a bit wee too much to drink. :( I'm too old for all that. Lesson really learned. (No, noone got sick...but still...too old.)

Dinner at Vic's...they were really sweet. They brought us out praline cheesecake for free to share to celebrate our anniversary and gave us our usual requested table by the riverside.

The tours are really neat because we get to meet people from all over. Typically, you know you wouldn't just speak to random strangers. But, this type of setting makes that easier and the interaction with other couples (often also parents on a getaway weekend) is neat.

On our way... One of my favorite parts about these trips is the time traveling on the road. Weird I know. But, if you have kids you know how special uniterrupted conversation with your spouse can be.

See the weird smile?

We came across a George W. Bush impersonator who really besides being a few inches shorter acted and looked just like him! I was giggling getting my picture made with him! :)

A cemetary we heard about on our tour...

This was the view of the lobby at the Hyatt. It was super nice. The balcony of our room overlooked the lobby.

This was the view from the lounge at the Hyatt. River Street was just right beside us. Connie, I know how much you want to go there. We have got to take you soon! :)

The trees in Savannah (and the old buildings) are Paul's favorite part. I love all the little squares like this one with all the park benches. I would love to just go and sit and read and watch the kids run in the grass.

Well, it's been a great 8 years! Really. Married life is not bad at all. I am still very much in love and actually feel more loved than I did on our wedding day. What more could I ask for? God has truly blessed us!