Go Big Red!

I love Medieval Times! We've been many times, and it rained so much when I was in Georgia, and my dad's siblings were visiting, so we needed an indoor activity. Lucky for us they had half off tickets so we were able to go to dinner and a show at a reasonable price. Eden and Hunter loved it, and I thought it was great seeing their faces through the whole thing. We got to cheer for the red knight and we almost won! We lost by a hair, but it was fun and Eden loved seeing the princess.

The best soup ever!

Motherhood Is...{28}

This week I am blessed by great friends!

When we were in Georgia we left our house in the hands of our friends Angie, James, Tracey, and Jesse - and their kids! They couldn't have taken better care of our house and our dogs while we were gone. My house hasn't been this clean since we moved in. Tracey deep cleaned the house for us, James pressure washed the back patio, Angie folded my laundry and they all tag teamed taking care of our dogs.

Because my house was so clean and so well kept that I was inspired. I unpacked our suitcases within being home for less than 24 hours. I've pruned the palm trees in the back yard. Eden was inspired too! She looked into her toy room - which looked like a tornado went through it - and she said, "oh! This is a mess! I should clean it up!" And she did. She put away all the toys on her own and she's been making sure to pick up all of her toys each day. I've also started asking her to wipe off the table after clearing her dishes from the dinner table and she's doing it with a smile!

Hunter is just going with the flow these days. His communication is becoming much better. Even if most of it is listening with not much talking. He's doing his part helping out around the house too. He gets his cup for dinner so I can fill it with milk or water. He's also putting things in the trash for me - I just have to make sure to keep a handle on what goes into the trash.

Ahhhhh, a clean house and cooperative kids, I couldn't ask for more!

Georgia On My Mind

Throughout our trip to Georgia we did a lot of random fun things. I tried to make sure to capture most of it as we went along, but before long my tired, mommy brain took over! Here are most of the moments that I captured.

Leavin' on a jet plane!

We landed and had a delicious dinner at the Varsity!

We missed the family trip to the beach, but Barney was at Aunt Nanna and Uncle Papa's house, so we borrowed it for a few rides around the neighborhood.

Lunch at Summit Chase after Hunter's first haircut.

3am...this was after being awake for 2 hours.

Eden with the goodies from the Peachtree expo

The fountains at Centennial Olympic Park after the expo.

Cousin sleepover. Noah was on the couch our of view of the camera and made sure I couldn't snap a picture of him. Eden only lasted through the movie. After the movie was over, Alyssa marched Eden - at her request - back up to our room to sleep in her spot.

Eden in her pretty dress for the wedding in October

I can't go to Georgia without a trip to Gigi's Cupcakes.

I told Eden she could play in the rain...and then it stopped. I made up for it by giving them a bucket of soapy water.

Eden, Pop, Hunter, Mimi, Aunt Bettye, Uncle Tom, Uncle Richard, and Aunt Audrey cheering on the Red Knight!

My life these days. Wouldn't trade it for anything...except maybe to have Lane around too!

Jason, Eden, Hunter, and Lexi. 

Hunter at the trampoline park.

Eden wouldn't stand still long enough for a picture.

Caroline, Owen, Samantha, Hunter, me, and Eden at the trampoline park.

Leah came over with her parents.

Hunter was tired.

One of his refusals for sleep.

Getting ready to get on our plane to head home. Only a 3 hour delay and a maintenance issue before getting off the ground!

Good friends helping to make sure we came home to a clean house - inside and out - and feeding us for breakfast!

Goin' to the Chapel

Our trip to Georgia was full of connecting with family and friends from near and far. More exciting, though, was being able to start really celebrating Parker and Sara. We got to go to their engagement party that a friend of theirs hosted. It was a great, laid back, BBQ type of party. We celebrated their engagement to each other and their upcoming wedding.

The next weekend we got to celebrate Parker and Sara by having their first wedding shower. I found some great cupcake toppers on clearance at Target that were too good to pass up. They were anchors, and since Parker is in the Navy it was a perfect fit. Then I went to Michaels to get things to make the banner and some other decorations and I found some awesome red ribbon with anchors on it. It was fate, it had to be. I used the ribbon on the chip baskets and the cupcake tower and then Pat used the left over ribbon to make bows for some corsages that she made for Sara and her mom. 

Party details: Food table, "Parker and Sara" banner on the mantel where the gifts were opened, red roses and a picture of the couple as the center piece, "please come in" banner on the front door, and the cupcakes and the cupcake tower.

We didn't do any games, just chit chat, eating, and gifts. It was a perfect shower if I do say so myself!

The company that we had at the shower couldn't have been better. Sara had her bridal party and we invited the cousins and our side of the family too.

Independence

The only thing I wanted for sure for the 4th of July was fireworks. I didn't care how or where, I just wanted to have something for the kids to get excited about. {Of course, any type of fourth food is fabulous, so there were no complaints coming from me about any of that!} Dad and I found some fireworks at Sams Club when we were grocery shopping when I first got in town and I was excited that it meant we wouldn't have to sit in traffic or crowds to see any of the fireworks displays around town.

The food was amazing. Pop made ribs and corn on the cob. With Mimi around we weren't going to get away without having watermelon. Grandma made sure to bring the desserts and we were set!

Most of the fireworks we had were just the kind that stay close to the ground and shower, but the kids absolutely loved that, so that was all we needed!

Grandpa had some old Roman Candles and some loud "boom" fireworks that he brought over, so we did get to look to the sky for a few of our fireworks. He and my Dad even timed a few of the loud ones to go off at the same time, so that was a real treat.

My time was spent lighting the sparklers. We got them at Sams, so we ended up with 480 of them. We hardly put a dent in the stash that we have. I think we'll get to play with sparklers every time we come to visit Mimi and Pop until my kids are grown and going to college. Eden absolutely loved these, but Hunter only liked them from afar. 

 We had a great time with lots of family for the 4th! Both sets of grandparents were here with my kids and all of my dad's siblings were here with their spouses. We couldn't have asked for a better evening to celebrate the US of A - except if we could have spent it with Daddy!!

Haircut

Hunter got his first haircut. I can't believe he had to have it so soon {compared to Eden}! She was over 2, and he really should have had his closer to his birthday, but I waited. His mullet was getting out of control! I wish had had a good before picture from the day of, but I don't.

Once we got to the salon, Eden got her hair cut first.

After Eden's turn, Hunter jumped right up. We had given him a sucker to help him sit still. I only wish that sucker had helped! Before everything was said and done, he was over it. Linda had to bend over backwards to get his hair even.

 Daddy was able to join us on FaceTime. You can see Grandpa holding the phone in the left side of the picture. In the picture below that you can see Lane on the phone. Yes, that's a nasty mustache! Linda said she'd cut it off for him if he wanted her to.

 When it was all done he no longer looked like a baby. He looked like a little boy and it kind of broke my heart a little bit! It's amazing how a haircut can age a little boy.