....this time next week!

We are sooooo excited about our fun Disney trip coming up! Our long countdown is getting shorter and shorter! The weeks have flown by and it feels like it is sneaking up on us! We have stayed pretty busy this month with birthday parties, Tee-ball starting and some projects around the house!

Jack and Lucy are doing so great! Today when we picked them up from school...Jack's teachers told us that he was Star Student today! He was the flag holder and he called out to his teacher that she used one of their sight words (but)! He got a special treat for recognizing it! Jack is up to about 40 sight words and LOVES going over them. He talks about them and points them out in books and on signs. He will say them and then spell them to you! His teachers have told us that is really excited about learning them and he likes telling us about it too! It's so fun watching him learn so many new things! Lucy continues to keep us laughing! Her teachers told us today that she did a lot of dancing and smiled all day! She gives us the craziest looks and is pure entertainment (I am sure that this might not be quite so cute when she is older)! She is trying to talk more ... EVERYTHING is "Uh-oh" to her! It's cute but we are trying to teach her that if you do something on purpose, then it's not an "uh-oh"! She tries to Moo like a cow but only gets the "Mmmmm" part! She makes the funniest face when she does that! She and Jack and playing so well together. Jack really helps her with things and begs her to play with him. She takes all of our singing Easter bunnies (yes, we have several..thank you Grandbubba!) to Jack to turn on for her! I just love that she wants him to help her! We really are having so much fun with them right now!

Here are some new pictures!

Lucy heading up the stairs in her slip and bow!

Jack and Lucy playing on the stairs (Lucy LOVES to sit there and play!)

Happy girl!

Jack's first T-ball practice!

Swing!!!

Jack getting help from Coach Eric!

COUNTDOWN! Jack has enjoyed his ring countdown!

Look! Another day gone!

Big brother giving a push!

Hamburger night!

I love hamburgers!

Jack and Lucy playing outside! I love seeing them play together! They were gathering crepe myrtle berries and putting them in the hole in the table!

Pulling off more rings with Daddy's help!

Celebrating LOVE!

Jack came home yesterday from school (with a ridiculous amount of treats and cards in his Valentine decorated box from his party) telling us that Valentine's Day is about celebrating love! It is also apparently about lots of Valentine cards and treats! I recently read a very funny blog about "over" doing holidays.  I am guilty of this (not quite as over the top as some... but we do enjoy traditions!) Valentine's took a lot of preparations this year. Both school parties required Valentine's for all classmates, a small gift, a decorated box and treats for the actual party.  Jack addressed all of his Valentine's for his friends and signed his name on each one! I am so proud of him and LOVED that he did this! However, I am not sure he "enjoyed" this little tradition as much as I did. Well.... to be honest I dont think either of us enjoyed it.  It took three different sessions and lots of bargaining to get him to do it all. There were LOTS of them and it was a lot of work! He was very proud of himself when he was done and loved showing Daddy all the hard work he did! We also have a tradition of having a "festive" breakfast for dinner on Valentine's day. Jack has been talking about his pink milk and grits since January! I could not disappoint! So.....after a long day at work, I ran in the door, finished getting one dinner ready and running it over to a friend that just had a baby, then I was rushing to finish our "perfect" and "festive" meal! Lucy was screaming at her high chair (She is INTENSE about eating!) and I was promising that it would just be "one more minute!!!" We finally sat down and it was worth it! We all ate every bit of our dinner and even had seconds! It was so yummy! We took the kids up to get ready for bed and were ready to settle into a nice little night just the two of us.  A bottle of wine and searching for a fun movie! Doesnt it sound nice?! Steven poured the wine and ran to take a quick shower. Did he find his wife smiling and patiently waiting for him to start a movie and drink our wine? NOPE! He found me half asleep and already apologizing for not being able to stay awake. I was asleep before 9pm and passed off my glass of wine to Steven (If you know me...I dont usually leave wine in a glass!) Romantic, huh? Real?? Yes!

It takes a lot of work to raise two kids, maintain a healthy marriage, exercise, cook dinner, go to work and get it "ALL" done in between.  It takes a LOT of work to fit in a few extra things too...decorations, traditions, sewing, photos, etc. And there are times that it all seems a little much.  Does it really matter if it's not all perfect and not always all done? It doesnt....as long as the most important thing remains the four of us and our time together..... WITH THAT SAID...... Jack ran into school this morning and started yelling at Lucy's teacher, "You know what?! You know what we had for dinner last night??!! PINK MILK AND PINK GRITS AND HEART SHAPED PANCAKES!!!!! THAT IS SO GREAT!!!"
And so..... it was all worth it! And I guess it is time to start the Easter decorations!

There is a LOT of love in this house and we had a good time celebrating it! The real, the great and the ugly!

Here are a few pictures of our fun times!

Sweet Lucy! Mommy made my Valentine's dress! (you know...the extras!)

Lucy opening a Valentine card!

Jack opening a Valentine card

Mommy and Jack making Valentine's cookies!

Excited about his fun dinner!

Valentine's Breakfast for Dinner!

Typical Lucy face

What? Do I have something on my face?

Sweet babies!!

Brotherly love?!

Mimi and her babies before church!

Love those babies!

A Day at the Zoo!

We are trying to take advantage of the fabulous February weather! We went to the zoo yesterday with Mimi and some good friends! Jack is always so excited to be at the zoo! He was yelling, "We're at the zoo!!!" as we pulled into the parking lot and told us that "all the animals are my favorite!" It was lots of fun and we packed a lunch too! Lucy really enjoyed seeing everything and had lots of fun at the playground! Thankful for fun days like this!

Happy Birthday Mommy!

I had a really special birthday (it was great turning 25 again! Hahahah!) Steven and Jack brought me a balloon and a really special birthday card yesterday morning! I had a great day at work and even got a balloon there too! Poppa and Nunno came down last night (after battling some bad Atlanta traffic!) to bring dinner and eat cake with us! It was a really nice night! My sweet babies gave me lots of big hugs (yes, I mean Steven too!) and made me feel really special!

My sweet card from Jack and Lucy

 

Mommy loves cookie cake!

My little man (patiently waiting for cake!)

Can I just have one taste?!

Sweet picture of Miss Lucy after church last week! Mommy wore that dress and sweater too!

And here are a few pics of our Valentine's Day decor that Mommy and Jack made! Jack has a big Happy Valentine's Day banner in his room! And we have a table runner, placemats and heart cups (not made by me! Hahaha!)! We like decorating around here!