The Leonard Family

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Lots of Family time...and a graduation!

I thought a little bit about Jack's graduation from Pre-K. I knew we wanted him to graduate with all of his buddies from Woodchase in Smyrna. Even though we have been gone about 7 weeks, it was where he had been since he was 18 months old. It was after work on a Thursday night and we were making our way across town after a hectic day. I was excited for him and knew it would be sweet. My parents came to meet us and it was fun to see all of the teachers and their buddies. It started out with a cute show with songs and some speaking parts by the kids..... then the slideshow started. Well maybe it was more of the slow heartfelt songs they played with it about friends. Gracious...the tears started flowing. I think a sob even slipped out. I was not quite prepared for the overwhelming emotional response. There were the pictures of all the little ones in Jack's class over the years. All the memories and the reality that this stage of life is over for us with him. AND THEN.....here they come in their caps and gowns smiling and proud. I think my eyes were puffy the next morning.
We are so proud of Jack and his gentle nature. He is so very smart and always sincere in everything thing he does and says. He is a sweet child that makes our life a happier place every day. Exciting new things to come!

We spent our Friday night in just about the most perfect way possible...we met the Reilly's at Polo Outdoors (Basically a private park and playground INSIDE the neighborhood!) we were the only ones there and took a picnic dinner and the kids played hard! They are having the best time playing together and being neighbors. It is such a treat to get to have best friends down the street. It is really happy! Elizabeth and I sat on a blanket and talked while the guys played Bocce ball and the kids ran around. Are you serious? Is this our life?! Happy times!
Saturday we all headed to Decatur to see Anna's ballet recital. She did such a great job and we loved seeing all the grandkids together! We went to a neat restaurant afterwards and hung out on a big patio while the kids ran around. Steven and I got the night off and left there and went shopping (I got some MUCH needed new clothes!!!) and then went to a fun little restaurant. We got home and I was asleep on the couch in about 10 minutes. Yikes..not quite the romantic evening!
This morning we got up and headed to Gainesville to meet Poppa, Nunno and the kids to go to the Murphy Family Reunion (Granny's side of the family). It is always fun to see all my cousins...and the second cousins! There are SEVEN great grandchildren and they were all there! Granny was proud to have her crew there! We got home and let the kids watch Toy Story while I made some dinner and got ready for the week to start!
It was a really fun weekend with lots of good family time! We are living for this Memorial Day weekend! FOUR days at home with no big plans except for REALLY HOPING for warm weather so we can break in the POOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Steven and I have been doing a 35 day challenge with eating and drinking (and I am doing a competition at my gym too for body fat % loss) and it ends FRIDAY MORNING! I may be having cookie cake for breakfast. Yikes!!! I will be VERY ready for my vino on Friday..... I will try not to have it at breakfast.

Sweet BIG man graduating from Woodchase Academy

Jack and Andrew - Best buddies all grown up!

Poppa with his Jack!

Proud grandparents!

Jack cooperated for pictures for about a minute. We didn't get a great shot of the four of us, but we have the memories! Ha!

Jack was so proud of Anna!

The five grandkids! It's not always easy to get everyone to pay attention! Please look at sweet Lucy. She was ABSOLUTELY beside herself about the ballet! She loved watching it and thought the ballerinas were so great! She talked about them and their tutus, their pink and their ponytails!

Granny with her cake! The picture is actually one we have in our house too! Her parents!

Granny and her crew! All seven great grandchildren were in the picture too!

Nunno getting some really great hugs!!!

This may or may not be what a weekend and Poppa at Nunno's looks like! Ha!

Baby girl always ready for another bite!

This was a picture from Mother's Day (Jack made a beautiful picture with our names on it in the driveway!)

And just for fun! One of our many knock out rose bushes! We even have some ornamental roses along the side of the house! Too fun!

Monday, May 6, 2013

Disney and Bubbles!

We took the kiddos to Disney on Ice Sunday afternoon at Gwinnett Arena! It was so much fun! We hoped that they would enjoy the show and be excited about the characters. We could not have imagined they would be SO excited! The show was almost 2.5 hours long and both kids sat the whole time just mesmerized by it! Jack was the most excited about all of the Cars characters and Lucy just squealed and clapped her hands when Tinkerbell came out! It was so much fun to watch their excitement! Definitely an event that exceeded expectations! We headed to an early dinner and came home to play a little before starting our week!
Let me back up quickly to our Saturday at the house. It rained ALL DAY LONG. We had the best time just playing inside, staying in pjs and watching movies! It was a great day just the four of us!

Today was Jack's 5 year well visit with Dr. G. He was such a big boy and excited about telling Dr. G about his tongue and how big he is now! Jack's physical exam was perfect! 44 pounds and 44 inches! 75% in both height and weight. Everything looked great and he is well ahead developmentally for a 5 year old! He also got to tee-tee in a cup. He thought this was HILARIOUS! Dr. G said his tongue was healing just great! He enjoyed seeing the picture from early last week! Geez! If you have not heard... last Sunday night Jack and Lucy were playing and Jack fell into her and bit his tongue...very bad. We went right to Children's Healthcare Urgent care. 3 days of antibiotics, salt water rinse every 2 hours and soft food diet for 3 days! Yikes! It was quite the experience and as with most things, Jack was such a big boy. He was very brave and handled it great! I would not have been so calm if my tongue was kind of just hanging on!!!!

Tonight we let the kids get in our big bath tub with the jets! It was so fun and they had a blast! Gotta find some good indoor fun on these rainy days!

Someone explain to her that this is not lady like...princess dress up clothes or not!

Rainy Day fun!

Movies and snacks!

Super excited kiddos about Disney on Ice!

WHOA!

Lucy put on a show for all the people around us. Quite the dancer!

Happy girl!

Who doesn't love popcorn!

Leonards at Disney on Ice

Look! Look!!! There is Tinkerbell!

Happy kids in the BIG tub!

Bubbles!!!

Is there something on my head?

Let me help you a little...

Bubbles are fun!

Jack has a beard!

Just another day.. Cinderella, gloves, a dress...

Date with Mommy at Subway after the doctor (dont worry..he also got Dunkin Donuts for being so great through a finger prick and a shot!)

WARNING... Dont look if you dont want to... Jack's tongue.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Spring time!

The weather has been really great and we have been doing a lot of yard work recently! Jack helped set up a garden in the backyard. He got to pick out some things he wanted to plant and helped pull out the old garden and set up the new one! He also helped us weed some of the beds and searched for rocks and worms in the dirt!
We have a couple of trees in the backyard that Jack is loving to climb too! I know we keep talking about the backyard but it really is so much fun and we just love being back there and playing and relaxing!

We took the kids to a Gwinnett Braves game about a week ago after work one night. It was such a fun experience! The facility is really nice, all the seats are great and there is not a ton of walking! Jack and Lucy were very interested in snacking and eating...a little more than watching baseball! Poppa and Nunno came to meet us too and that was fun! It was also Medieval Times night and both kids were intrigued by the knights walking around! Both kids were VERY tired by the time we left. (This is where real life comes crashing in...) Jack was riding on Poppa's shoulders heading to the car and said, "I wish we hadn't come to the baseball game. I am really tired." Steven just smiled and said, "Well buddy that makes it all worth it!"
Gracious! Gotta love the honesty of kiddos. Steven and I worked all day, Steven went to the field to get tickets and bought the kids tomahawks to take to the game earlier in the day, we drove an hour in traffic, bought tons of snacks and food ....and not too many thank yous! Jack redeemed himself on the way home by catching a second wind and telling us he had fun and wanted to learn "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"! Jack and Lucy sang it over and over on the way home!

This past week I had to travel to Savannah for work and took the kids with me to visit with family. We had a nice visit and got some good time with family and friends! We even fit in a trip to the outdoor Children's Museum at the Roundhouse. We got back on Friday afternoon and the kids went to Poppa and Nunno's so Steven and I could go out on Friday night with friends for a birthday celebration and then a wedding last night! It was really fun to have some time just us to go out with adults! The wedding last night was so fun and we got to see lots of friends from high school and college!

We also have been doing some potty training with Miss Lucy. She is doing alright ... she is very interested but it is not clicking quite yet! We will keep working! Hopefully Mommy and Daddy will stay very patient!