Friday Favorites!

Hi there!  Today I am linking up with Erika, Andrea and Narci for Friday Favorites!  It has been a long week and I am glad that it is finally Friday.  We have a busy morning tomorrow and friends coming over tomorrow night, so I am looking forward to an easy evening of pizza and a movie with my hubbs once the kids are asleep.

One.

I finally! got new headphones.  I accepted the fact that my old ones bit the dust when we were in Georgia.  I went for my walk/jog and I thought my I-pod was broken because the music was "skipping" and really messed up.  Nope, not the I-pod, the headphones.  I have used these new Sony ones only once but I like them.  The ear bands are adjustable and that is going to take me a while to get used to.  But hey, now I can walk/jog and hear my music.

Two.

 I am lactose intolerant and I am so happy Lactaid makes ice cream! 

Breyers makes a very good lactose free vanilla, but Lactaid makes other flavors 

(like chocolate and cookies & cream).

I also picked up these waffles bowls.  I am so looking forward to an ice cream sundae!

Nothing says summer like a bowl of ice cream.  :)

Three.

 Elizabeth is in love with her "purple hippo thing" and asks me every 3 minutes when she gets to go swimming again.  I am so glad that we decided to send her to swim lessons in the fall and spring because now she loves the pool, she is comfortable in the pool, and cannot wait to swim.

Four.

 Our summer 2015 bucket list is off to a good start.

We have already crossed off:
1. Go to Georgia

2. Go swimming

3. Go out for ice cream

Elizabeth is really enjoying check the list and deciding what we are going to do each week.

Five.

 I cannot say enough positive or great things about this straw cup.

I got it at Michael's for $3 last summer.

I was breaking them all the time, but this one has lasted a whole year!

Next time you are in Michael's, go search for this- IT IS THE BEST!

Happy Friday!

Hey there!

So... after our looong drive back on Monday, the girls and I took the day off on Tuesday from our regular schedule to hang around the house and enjoy being at home.  We spent the entire day playing around the house and not getting in the car to go anywhere.  :)  We also spent a lot of time in our jammies.

 Caroline has gotten very into Elizabeth's toys

 We pulled this table down out of Elizabeth's closet and Caroline loves it!

I love watching them play together

Tuesday afternoon I went for a walk around the neighborhood once Ben was done working and then I took my big girl to the pool.  She is swimming so well this summer and is much more comfortable in the water.  I am so glad she took swim classes in the fall and spring.

After swimming Tuesday night.

 Wednesday morning, I went to pick up our mail and found this box of freebies in our mailbox!

Who doesn't love free stuff!?!

 2 shampoos, 1 body wash, 2 sunblocks, 1 chapstick.

 Wednesday morning play time.

 Again, love watching them play together.

 When Caroline went down for her morning nap, Elizabeth and I pulled out a gift from GaGa.

 Mickey Mouse stickers!

 Elizabeth played with this for an hour.

Have you ever tried to get a 3-year-old to do anything for an hour?

This was AMAZING!

 Wednesday after lunch we headed to Lee District to play at their covered playground.

Well... as you can see, the cover has been removed.

I saw the park manager walking around and he said it was damaged and will be off all summer.

Total bummer.

 Caroline and I sitting in the shade while Elizabeth played at a different playground.

 This morning, Elizabeth was working on her favorite letter with her favorite color.

We have been working on writing and Elizabeth loves to use purple. 

After Caroline's morning nap, we headed out to grab lunch.  We ran into Liz with Charlie and Jack and they joined us for lunch.  I have to say Charlie and Jack were so great eating lunch and Elizabeth acted like she had never sat in a chair before.  Hopefully next time, I can get her to sit too.  :)

And... that's what we have been up to this week.

Happy Thursday y'all!

Memorial Day Weekend

On Friday we headed to Atlanta to visit my brother, sister-in-law, and new niece.  It was a long 11 hour drive down because Caroline did a lot of crying, screaming, and whining during the first half of the trip.  I drove the first half and we switched drivers after lunch and Ben drove the rest of the way.

Ben took this selfie while we were stopped on the highway due to construction

 Elizabeth watched Mickey Mouse on her portable DVD player

Caroline getting some love at one of our stops

Got a picture at my favorite state!

Friday night, we had dinner at Andy and Lolly's house.  We got to their house around 6:45 and we were hanging out when my mom walked in the front door.  She had flown from Texas as a surprise to see all of us while we were together.  

*Sidenote- by "us", I do mean her 3 granddaughters and not Andy, Lolly, Ben, or I.  :)

Once grandchildren are born, the children are brushed to the side.  haha. :)

Andy grilled hamburgers and hotdogs with tater tots and we enjoyed chips, salsa, and guacamole appetizer.   Lolly surprised us with brownies for dessert- they were fabulous!  We were having so much fun visiting that I forgot to take pictures Friday night at their house.

I did take this picture Friday night.  We were at our hotel and the girls were finally asleep in their rooms and Ben and I sat down to enjoy some wine, popcorn, and a little HGTV.

On Saturday, I was up bright and early (for some unknown reason) so I went for a 3-mile walk/jog around North Point Mall.  When I got back to the hotel, my whole family was still sleeping, so I showered and dressed and then everyone got up.  We had breakfast, got our stuff together, and headed to Andy and Lolly's house for a day of fun.

Lolly and I did some grocery shopping and picked up food for lunch and dinner for the week.  When we got back to their house we were happy to see our cousins Sharon, John, Liz, and Ansley visiting for a little bit.  We had lunch with them and enjoyed watching the big girls play and the little girls eat.

In the afternoon we took some pictures.

Lolly with Annalise, GaGa with Elizabeth, and me with Caroline

 Cousins in their matching shirts

Caroline (almost 8 months), Annalise (3 weeks), Elizabeth (3 years)

 Elizabeth kept giving Annalise kisses and trying to hold her hand

Caroline is really good at posing :)

Saturday afternoon we went to the pool and did a lot of swimming.  Well... Ben, Andy, and Elizabeth did a lot of swimming.  GaGa, Lolly, and I watched and Caroline got in after her bottle.  It was Caroline's first time in the pool and she really enjoyed floating around.

Saturday night, Ben made chicken fried rice for dinner and I made cocktails for everyone.  It was a nice, relaxing way to end a busy day.

Sunday morning, my mom flew back to Texas and we enjoyed hanging out at the house with Lolly and Annalise.  After lunch we took Elizabeth to Bruster's to get ice cream.

 She ate every last drop of her chocolate with sprinkles

Caroline and Annalise enjoyed watching all of us eat ice cream

 After ice cream and more swimming, we came home and relaxed.

I held this sweet baby and watched my baby crawl around and "talk" to the dog.

Caroline was so fascinated by the dog.

I don't know if she has ever seen a dog before and she was mesmerized.

Sunday night, Ben grilled us a shrimp appetizer and then made ranch pork chops.  We also had roasted garlic potatoes and salad.  It was nice to sit together and enjoy dinner while the babies slept and Elizabeth ate dinner watched TV.  We said bye to Andy, Lolly, and Annalise and headed back to the hotel after dinner.

Monday morning we were up early, grabbed breakfast, and headed back to DC.  Before leaving town, we stopped by my old house.  My mom and sister moved to Texas almost 4 years ago (I was pregnant with Elizabeth) and I haven't seen the house in about 5 years.

 Me in front of the house I grew up in

It looks almost exactly the same.

I think the left side of the wall has been replaced and a few trees have been cut down.

 Some pictures of our drive back.  It was going really well until we got north of Richmond.

It took us about 2 hours to go 40 miles.  It was awful!

 This is me going a little stir-crazy

But trying to keep a smile on my face for my girls

And... that was our Memorial Day Weekend trip.

Happy Wednesday!

Eight Months Old

Dear Caroline,

This month has flown by because we have been extra busy since the weather is nice.  I cannot believe you are eight months old already!  You my sweet baby are full of smiles all day long.

You are eight months old!

You have been all over the place this month, literally.  You are crawling everywhere and have started to pull yourself up.  I am so not ready for this.  I have seen you pull yourself up on the first stair, in your pack n play, and even in your crib once.  Please slow down on this growing my sweet baby.

Since you are moving, you do not do a lot of sitting.  Your dad and I are convinced you can actually sit, but that you would much rather be following Elizabeth around the living room.  You have grown to love baby food this month and you get it at lunch and dinner time.  Your favorite foods are bananas and squash.

You still take (4) 6-ounces bottles and (1) 4-ounce bottle every day.  You have started to get a sippy cup with water after you eat your baby food at lunch.  You sit in your high chair at the table while Elizabeth and I eat lunch and I think you feel like such a big girl.

You take two naps a day.  One in the morning from about 9:30am-11am and then in the afternoon you and your sister nap from 1:30-3:30 or 2-4. 

You are in 12-18 month clothes and wear a size 3 diaper.  I tried to measure you today and you are about 29 inches long and you weigh 20 pounds.

You just got back from your first long road trip, we went to Atlanta for Memorial Day Weekend where you got to meet your cousin Annalise.  You have also had babysitters this month so I could go to a wedding and again so Mommy and Daddy could celebrate their wedding anniversary.  You slept through the Cinco De Mayo party at our house, but you did help me celebrate Mother's Day.  It was so wonderful celebrating with both my girls!  You got to see Fiamma get baptized and even helped me babysit your other cousin while Jessica worked.  Your Nana and Pap Pap came to visit and the next week you got to see your GaGa and Aunt Lolly, Uncle Andy, and Annalise in Georgia.  You have been on many walks this month, many trips to the playground, and watched many bubbles get blown and many popsicles consumed by your sister.  This month you also went swimming for the first time and you loved it!  

I cannot wait to see what summer has in store for you my sweet baby.  We love you so much and are so happy you are part of our family.  Here are some pictures of your adventures this month:

 You love bananas!

 And carrots

Helping mom after her workout

 Taking pictures on Mother's Day

You are my sweet baby

 A visit from Nana and Pap Pap

 Getting some lunch from Dad

You love your sippy cup

 Playing in the living room

 Pulling up on the stairs

 Enjoying outside

Entering South Carolina!

 In Georgia for Memorial Day Weekend.
Visiting with Aunt Lolly, Annalise, and GaGa.

 Eight months old!

 So cute!

 Big sister wanted to get in on the pictures!

 Cuddles.

Smiles for the camera

Love,

Mom and Dad