Busy day!!

Rachel and her friend, Rylee Ann at the Frog & Toad play

Nick's new truck...ain't she a beaut?!!

We had been at home for the past two days, so yesterday we had a "day out" planned. First, Rachel and I went to a play at the Classic Center. It was "The Frog and Toad". Very cute, but a little old for Rachel and her friend, Rylee Ann's age. However, Rachel was totally into it...clapping and giggling and trying to follow along with the characters. The only negative part was the sitting and waiting for the play to start...for 30 minutes. So, when the play lasted an additional hour, of course the girls got very tired of sitting for so long. But, they behaved well and enjoyed their first taste of live drama! After that, I took Rachel to Gege's house to play with Gege, papa and Bradley. (Bradley was already there all morning, since he wouldn't have enjoyed the play. )

Next, Nick and I went to Roswell to pick up his new truck. He decided to buy a truck so that he can have a work truck as well as a personal truck. So, he'll return his work truck to Aldridge and his new truck will be dual-purpose. Anyway, the truck is a beautiful medium blue color and has 4 doors so that it will be easy to transport the kids around. Nick was very excited to be getting a new truck of his own. The trip to Roswell on a Friday afternoon was LONG and even longer on the return home. We literally crawled for about 30 minutes on I-285. Thank goodness we don't have to do that very often.

We ended the evening at Gautreau's Cajun Cafe' in Watkinsville for dinner. It was very crowded, but the food and service were excellent. It was my birthday dinner and it was really good and something different. Nick and I ended up at Blockbuster and rented a couple of movies. When we got home, the kids were asleep...thanks to gege and papa...and we were able to rest after a long, but fun day!!

Pigtails, crewcuts & merry go rounds

We had a really fun day today! We took Gege to Rachel's hair salon, called "Pigtails & Crewcuts" so Rachel could get a trim. We took an inch off the back and trimmed her bangs. The kids had fun playing with the wooden train table. Then, we went to the mall, played in the designated kid's area, rode on the merry go round, ate lunch and went to the Disney store! Whew!!! What fun we had! Bradley AND Bay rode on a horse while Rachel spun in the spinning seat. Gege bought the kids a toy at the Disney Store that they have loved playing with all afternoon.

It was a very nice, relaxing, FUN day! I'm so glad we did something fun and low-key!

Birthdays for me...who cares??!!??

I had many thoughtful acknowledgements of my birthday this past weekend up till today. Whether it was a card, phone call, present or meal, they were each so sweet and appreciated. I have found that I just don't care about my birthday much anymore. I don't mind turning a year older or anything...I never feel any differently and I'm not afraid of getting older. I just don't really care about my birthday. I'd rather celebrate or plan parties for someone else. After planning my kid's parties, nothing compares to the joy that brings me, my kids and everyone else. So, I was officially 31 today, at 3:48 am. And, I'm thankful that I was born and have been SO blessed with the most caring, loving, thoughtful, handsome hubby EVER! I've also been SO blessed with healthy, precious, sweet, loving children who brighten my day! I don't feel very celebratory or anything, but I'm looking forward to an awesome present from Nick...he has promised a really long back rub/scratch while watching Jon & Kate + 8. I couldn't ask for a better gift!!

Wonderful, Joyous Distractions!

Aside from the fact that I love being a wife and mom and caring for my family, there are always perks along with the tough things. My kids are such wonderful little distractions!! They want my attention, love, companionship and time constantly. At times, it feels smothering and can be very exhausting, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I realize what a privilege it is to have kids when so many others cannot. I also realize what a privilege it is to be able to stay home with my kids when so many moms want to, but can't. So, if times are tough or there seems to be too much to handle, it sure is nice when the kids make it nearly impossible to focus on those things. Rather, I'm forced to focus on them and their needs and making them happy and well cared for.

Rachel is obsessed with her new books from Valentine's day! We've already read them so many times, that I'm beginning to get tired of them! But, it's so cute that she enjoys them so much. And, she likes to make the same comments and ask some of the same questions each time we read the same books. She's also obsessed with our new porch swing. My in-laws got us a new porch swing for my birthday and it's absolutely adorable AND very comfortable!!! I love it, but not nearly as much as Rachel does. She wants to go on the front porch all the time and will hardly let us sit on it because she has to "practice her swinging lessons." She'll usually let Bradley on for the ride, but Nick and I are banished to the rockers. Bradley is currently obsessed with bar soap. That's not something we keep at the kid's sink or in their tub. Bar soap isn't kid friendly since it can burn their eyes and stuff. But one day, Bradley came across a bar in one of the bathroom drawers, and he's obsessed with it. Of course, we only let him have it at bathtime, but he holds it like it's a precious jewel. He'll hold it up to his chest and smell it and then drops it and whines until we find it in the bottom of the tub. He can't keep a good grip on the slippery stuff. But, he's so cute because he thinks it's so special. My kids are truly little blessings that bring me so much joy, love and fulfillment! I'm so thankful that they remind me of how little things are fun and interesting and that they keep my focus from being too bogged down by the trials of life.

Valentine's Day

Rachel loved her new books!
Bradley is trying out a new "ham" face...but it comes across a little smirky.

Today was a busy but fun day. Me and the kids got up and went to Loganville chick-fil-a to see Nana. She didn't have very long to talk since it was an early release school day and she had to get back to her bus. But, at least we got to see her and give her a cupcake. Then, we went to see Gramma at Parkwood and that was great. You could tell that she was thrilled to see the kids. Her face lit up and she really wanted to hug them and talk to them. It was wonderful to see her reacting like that since she's been so depressed and has had such a hard time getting motivated to do her rehabilition exercises. Today was the first day in about 2 weeks that she's had on clothes instead of pajamas. She was also sitting in a rehabilitation chair instead of laying on her back. She also wheeled herself into her room after physical therapy instead of being pushed. Aunt Linda and dad were there too, so we all got to chat for a little while. It was a nice morning.

Of course the kids were very tired and slept a little on the way home, but Bradley was super grumpy this afternoon. We gave the kids their Valentine's presents...books...after supper. Rachel loved hers and wanted us to read them all right then. Bradley looked at one of his and then didn't care about reading them at bedtime. I think he was just too tired to care tonight. So now, the kids are in bed and hopefully Nick and I are going to have a full night's sleep to make a perfect end to a nice day!

An early start to a great day!

We had a really early appt. for Bradley at the ENT to re-check his ears. This is his first visit since he had tubes put in. Thankfully, his ears look great!! He won't need to come back for another 4 months. While we were there, I decided to be "gutsy" and ask Dr. Dempsey if he would look at Rachel's ears. He said they were infected and one had fluid in it, so I had to call the pediatrician and ask for a referral to see the ENT the right way. Silly insurance and all the crazy rules! But, at least we don't have to go see the pediatrician AND the ENT. Anyway, I know the kids are as sick of going to the dr. as I am, and since Rachel has been begging to go to Chuck E. Cheese for a couple of weeks now, we ended up there today. We got there at 10 and just stayed for an hour, but it was a much needed change of pace than doctor's visits and grocery stores. We didn't even have to buy any coins since the last time we went, Gege bought $20 worth. Papa met us there and we had the whole place to ourselves. Guess everyone's at school on Wednesday mornings! It was so much fun!



For the past two days we have been home while a tile repairman was fixing our shower. We didn't do too much except laundry and play, but it was nice to be home. But, today we were really ready to get up and go somewhere.

Also, Nick and I got to celebrate Valentine's Day one day early by going to eat On the Border tonight. It was delicious even though I gorged myself on chips and salsa! I just don't have any control when I eat mexican food! We were also able to finally pick out the kids' Valentine's presents without them being with us. I decided books were the way to go this year, so we went to Barnes & Noble and picked out a few. They really love reading books and we love reading to them, but Nick and I get tired of the same old ones! So, the new books really benefit us both.

The Perfect day for a picnic

Rachel has such adorable ideas! For the past week or so, she has wanted to have a picnic lunch at her picnic table in her playground. I had put it off, but today decided "what the heck!" So, we made peanut butter sandwiches, packed up some cookies and chips and headed out to the backyard. Rachel was thrilled that we were finally having a "picnic". She and Bradley enjoyed having their special lunch outside and shared some of it with Dixie. It was a beautiful day...the weather was perfect, and as it turned out, we didn't end up needing the jackets that we had on. It was so sunny that we were plenty warm.

Anyway, here are some pictures from today.