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!

Closing Out Week 2...

Wednesday we were going to go to our baby gym to do open art, but I realized the kids were overtired, so we slept in. :) Then, we had a million errands to run. By the end of the afternoon, I felt we all three were wanting to do something more "fun" than running errands. It was late in the day, and I knew we were approaching naptime which equals grumpy time, but I took my chances. The kids and I packed up and headed down to the public beach area at Lloyd Shoals Park on Jackson Lake. It is only $3 to park and the rest is free. The bathrooms are clean, too. :) You know how I am about that. I will admit the beach isn't always superclean. I do see cigarette butts, but oh well. You can't have it all. We went down there last year a few times and it is perfect for the kids to play in the sand. I will admit we don't go out far in the lake. You see minnows and brim pass you by and that's far enough for me! :) Note: I do NOT point out the fish to the boys. I am sure it would all be over with after that. :)

When we did get in the water, I noticed Preston seems afraid of it this year all of a sudden. :( He did the same in the pool at High Falls. Both times it was chilly though, so I am hoping that was it. Jackson starts swimming lessons in a few weeks, and the teacher is hoping to "secretly" slide Preston into taking them too without him realizing she is teaching him by just making it fun for him. We'll see. I'll have to update you on how that goes.

I make a point to take them to places like this alot before we go to the beach in Florida to try to start getting their skin a little tan so maybe they won't burn so bad in Florida (well, Jackson mostly.) We'll also see how that works, too.

Preston is not too sure yet about the lake water...


Jackson made a sand pie!

Working on the river around the castle... that of course Preston kept messing up much to Jackson's dislike...grumpy time was fast approaching

Grumpy time and all though, the boys had a blast. More than I did I am sure because I did have some sassiness from Preston and then not too much later Jackson had a complete meltdown. :( He apologized, and I know he was just tired. But, still. It kind of blurred my memory. :) We'll have to try this again earlier in the day.

On another note though, you can see they didn't care if it was grumpy time or not...

This is my favorite! I love seeing them working and playing together like this! I hope they are always best buddies!

That's pretty much a wrap for week 2! It will end with the boys having a sleepover at Maw Maw's while we go to Savannah for a quick trip for our anniversary! I am so ready for that! And, I can bet the boys are, too! I think Jackson enjoyed "getting away" when he went to school himself! I bet if you asked them going to Maw Maw's tops all the week's activities! There's just something about grandparents. :)


Addendum: One more thing...I forgot to say that the boys are now firmly convinced they want a sea-doo. If you know me and sea-doos, you know if they ever ride one it will be with their dad not me! When I fall off those things, it takes years for me to get back on! Paul said they have to be older...way older! But, I was shocked that they weren't afraid!