Jordan Lake with the boys

Yesterday around mid-morning we went to Jordan Lake with our friends/neighbors Miss Kelly and her boys James and Noah. After some swimming the boys moved on to playing in the sand.




The biggest boy of the big boys: handsome Noah.


BabyCakes did well but was ready for a nap after a couple hours.


BigBoy is 6 mos older than cutie James so the boys are all around the same age. They were nice to share their floatation devices with him at the lake. I thought for sure he wouldn't want to swim but I guess seeing his buddies do it gave him courage. :)



This is how BOYS do BEACH.


We had a nice time. Unfortunately a sudden headache turned even more suddenly into a migraine while we were eating our picnic lunch. We had to leave before BigBoy could enjoy the playground and I ended up getting sick at a park on the way home. :(
J came home early and I was feeling better within a few hours, though. He's such a good husband and father. He's a very private person, though, so I intentionally do not mention him much on this blog, but I don't want that omission to be taken for a lack of participation on his part or appreciation on mine.
Today I'm especially grateful for him and our love because today is our 9th wedding anniversary! Happy Anniversary, Honey! I love you!!!

BabyCakes Chair

You might remember this yard sale find of mine from over a month ago. I thought this project would be completed quickly but other things with higher priority got in the way.


Here is the final result! I'm pretty pleased with how it came out, especially since it was the first project of its kind I'd ever done. I used heirloom white spray paint because the furniture is not quite white-- it's creamier than that. I was a little nervous about trying to match it exactly but I didn't think I had much choice other than to try because there was already a lot of color going on. The color ended up being perfect!


The desk area is going to have to stay looking like this for a while, though.


I thought this cupcake fabric was super-cute and went really well with the feel of her room. The vintage paper dolls and her yellow gingham bedding really tie in well with it.
(Okay, maybe I just like cupcakes)

Yesterday we went to the zoo for BigBoy's birthday. We've been several times but each visit is brand-new to BigBoy.



The alligators were his favorite of the day-- we had to see them twice.



BabyCakes was content in her stroller for the hour and a half we were there. It's a good thing because I think she's getting a little big for the front carrier. :)



The sea lions and seals are a family favorite.




BigBoy discussing the fact that he's turning 4 with Daddy.






BigBoy loved his mini cupcakes and he got to put the sprinkles on. Unfortunately when he shook the sprinkles container they came out with a GUSH! If you walk through my kitchen right now your feet will become embedded with stray sprinkles. :)
All in all I think he had a good birthday.
I love you, BigBoy!

Happy 4th Birthday, BigBoy!

6-6-06



6-6-07



6-6-08



6-6-09



6-6-10

The Sweet Potato Massacre

The year was 2010. It was a cloudy day in early June in a small town in North Carolina. At least one great sweet potato gave it's life on that fateful day. Yes, it was the day that BabyCakes had her first real meal.

She'd toyed around with cereal, oatmeal, even apples a bit.
But these were her first vegetables, and they never. saw. it. coming.








J was taking some video and pictures while I fed her so of course BigBoy wanted in on the action.
He's jumping up and down saying "Take my picture!" in these pics.





Notice the lego man holding 2 light sabers. (I'm shaking my head here.)

I took the kids to the mall this morning, mostly so I could see the look on BigBoy's face when we got to the Lego store. (We also had a little Father's Day shopping to do.) He loooooves all the displays and asked for star wars legos about, oh, a gajillion times. I'm not stupid, I knew if we went there I would end up buying something. We ended up getting a 3-pack of star wars lego men that fit on lego magnets. Here he is with a shadow storm trooper.



BabyCakes was content in her stroller for the most part-- no small miracle in my family. At lunch in the food court it was a little tricky feeding her and myself while sharing a plate of chinese food with BigBoy, but no one went hungry.

Whenever the blindingly bright flash on my phone goes off, BabyCakes' eyes get HUGE:


I was going to cram the 3 of us in a photo booth but the one I stopped at was broken. :( These camera-phone pics will have to do.
It was a nice outing. Before we left our house, during the drive, and on the way in to the mall, I warned BigBoy about 300 times that YES we were going to see star wars legos, but we were only getting something small today -- IF he behaved.
It worked. We had a great morning and I got to hear "Wow!" several times. I just hated that J couldn't be there with us.

I love my job. :)

Good Morning! Yes, it's back to work after the long weekend. I woke up first to a child and teddy bear being crammed in my face, and then a rain storm. I didn't really mind either one. :) If BigBoy hadn't climbed into bed with us it would have just been that much harder to pull my head off my perfectly sculpted pillow and away from the soothing rain sounds. BabyCakes was up, though, and she'd just slept over 12 hours straight so the last thing I was going to do was complain.



Later this morning we are venturing out in the rain for a second speech evaluation for BigBoy. He had one last Friday and it went soooo well. I can't even describe how well. In fact, they want to see him again to make sure they have a clear picture of his abilities. I knew he had come a long way. A year ago the closest thing to a sentence he said was "More juice please?" That was the longest phrase he had. "thank you" was still "tee-tee."



You know, even when BigBoy had very few words/sounds, we rarely had trouble knowing what he wanted. He's always had very clear likes and dislike, wants and desires. As a baby if he was not happy he definitely let us know! He could also be super-playful and affectionate.

If only we all had the freedom to express ourselves like a child. To hug a loved one or friend a little longer, or hug them at all; not to back down from something we REALLY REALLY want in life (even if it gets you in trouble with mommy and daddy); to say out loud what scares us and have the sense to stay away; or to enjoy a cookie so much that it makes you happier to give your last one away than eat it, because you know how much that person will love it.

An easy place to start is just by not holding sweet words and thought in. BigBoy never does and I try hard not to, too. If you think your friend looks pretty today, tell her. If your food is good, say so. Too simple but I think we often take for granted that other people know these things already. I was in line at the grocery store the other day and the cashier had an especially "I hate my job and I am miserable now just give me your damn bags"-kind of look on her face. As I was thinking this I also thought I liked her earrings. Usually I wouldn't notice because I'm caught up with the kids or unloading groceries from the cart, but I noticed on that day for some reason. She hadn't said Hi or anything -- she was just scanning the food, so I blurted out "I like your earrings." It completely caught her off guard. She looked up and said "what?" and I repeated "I like your earrings." Her face transformed into the biggest smile and from then on it was all "Oh, what pretty children you have! etc.,"

I'm not saying I'm perfect and all I do is go around spreadin the joy. :)
I just know that sometimes acting more like a child can help you be a more gracious adult.