Field Trip to Durham

We had such a great time Sunday in Durham.  Lunch at Maggiano's is the perfect way to start the day at The Streets at Southpoint.  Well, not if you want to go shopping and try on clothes later but that is never going to stop this girl from enjoying delicious scratch-made Italian goodness.  I mean really.  

We went into the store Free People for the first time.  Stopped in Anthropology(spent 1 hour) and purchased two dish towels that I later turned into a splendid pillow cover.  

 

 I have to give my Mom credit for this because she suggested I get them to "make something."  Jonathan was able entertain  the kids by going to the water fountain and Kid Zone there while my parents and I did some more shopping.  By the way, Cinnabon isn't there anymore and that's a shame! 

Headed back to Greenville late afternoon and some of my cousins came over to my parents house that night.  We had so much fun together!  Turned out to be a great Labor Day weekend.

Uh Ohhhh

This is one thing I didn't see coming.  The transition from crib to bed went so smoothly a few months ago.  Weston was having his "nap time" and whining for me.  Then it seemed like the whining turned into more of a scream so I decided to go in there and check on him.  Once I saw him in this position I had to get Jonathan and couldn't help but laugh a little.  Oh, and grab the camera.  Honestly I tried to get him out and thought, "Oh my gosh I can't! Get Jonathan quick!"  

Poor guy won't be sliding off the bed at the foot of it anymore.  I guess that's what he was doing when he got in this pickle?

Nashville

I am leaving my husband and kids this weekend to drive to Nashville for my cousins wedding. Every time I go anywhere without them I come back saying, "Jonathan, don't let me ever do that again!" Wishing I had gone with my family or just skipped the trip altogether.

Nashville, TN sounds like an awesome place and this will be my first visit. My cousin getting married is my age and lived within an hour of me most of my life, so we have grown up together. I can't imagine missing her wedding so I'm going to go against my word and leave my family again! :) Just hoping the days are very busy and fly by so I don't have time to miss them or wonder what they are doing while mommy is away.

One funny/scary thing is that no matter how organized I am about laying out their outfits for when I am gone, Jonathan feels the need to do his own thing. It never works out for him. Once he put a shirt and tights on EG thinking it was a dress and sent her to church like that. Not that their clothes are what's important, but come on babe, this is why I take the time to plan their outfits.

As I think about leaving for the trip, I'm trying to remember how fun it will be to see my cousins and visit a new city. I just keep telling myself that.

Now, onto the to-do list so that I can actually leave.

Eyes of a Child

I was always the one in the group that didn't find putt putt, animated movies, the aquarium or museums all that exciting. Now that I have children I see everything through their eyes and all the things that used to bore me are so much fun to experience with them. I find myself using every cliche when telling stories about my kids. They all make so much sense to me now!

Watching their face light up when they see something for the first time...I swear my heart smiles. Isn't it the best? The difficulties of parenthood are far outweighed by the rewards.

Oh, Weston!

Every night before we hit the hay, we go peek at the kids. Most of the time we re-situate them and cover them up. I can't resist kissing them and even pick Elliott up out of the crib to get a good one some nights. It makes Jonathan mad and he tells me to leave them alone but I really can't help it. It's just such a sweet time to get a sniff of that baby smell (yes, they are babies!).

We've been letting Weston take a toy to bed because he will play with it in the morning when he wakes up and let us all sleep a little longer. He wakes up an entire hour and a half before EG every morning. The other night Jonathan came and told me to go look at Weston as he grabbed the camera. He had fallen asleep with his hand still in his Lego box and with toys surrounding his head. Oh, Weston!

One, Two, Three, Five...

I'll be the first one to admit I don't work with my kids on their number's and abc's like I should. You probably would guess that I wouldn't based on my grammar in every blog post. Thankfully Weston's three hours a week in preschool last year and Nick Jr. being like "preschool on TV" he knows a few things. :) Ok, I'm going to work on being better at it. He was interested in counting today and it was cute to his momma!

Check this video out.

Beach Time!

We got the kids down to the beach for the first time since last summer! Elli was unsure about all the sand at first but by the end of the day she was loving it. Weston loved it from the start and didn't stop saying, "I like water." The way he says "beach" is pretty entertaining as well.

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We learned Weston stays busy at the beach like his dad. Works hard with the tongue out usually.

The love birds John & Grey

Uncle Justin and Weston

Carter & Alex

Elli Grey & dada

Weston loved to jump the waves

Haven't you heard of the Ikea bag pool?

Dad & Jonathan

Mama & Elli

Grey & Dad

Mom & Dad

They were so funny

Resting in the shade