Vacation part 1

We went back and forth about vacation this year. Chattanooga? PCB?? In the end, we decided on a staycation in the ATL.. Too hard to put 3 kids in a hotel room and there was a tropical storm in PCB. Good decision!

So yesterday, we loaded up and headed to Stone Mountain. We got family passes, worth every penny.  We rode the ducks, played in the creek, rode the train, did the sky hike, played on the lawn, toured the plantation house and old school and hung out with some animals in the farmhouse!

 

 Hahaha, my favorite!

 

 

Today, we are headed to the grandparents house for some pool time!

 

 Life, spent living...

 

Life is a lot more fun without facebook. I mean, I love it, but I might be a bit addicted. I feel this crazy need to check it. All.The.Time... So, after my husband challenged me with a "you can't go a week without it" I took the app off my phone.  And I made it!   I had a great "God intended" conversation with my best friend Jen a week or so ago, about idols, and things we waste our time on.  The internet, facebook etc were both HUGE for me. I want to take that time back and give it to my Jesus and my family. I want to be in the moment with my boys and my husband. And this week was so much better. I realize how much more my kids listen when I am fully engaged and paying attention, whether at home or the playground or backyard. Its been a good week. And I am not putting the app back on my phone :)

 

 

Just some pictures from the last week! I am spending my last Friday at home with the boys.  For the last three years, I have been blessed to only have to work 3-4 days a week. Starting next week, I am back to five days a week.  It really will be a good thing, but I will miss my Fridays!

 

These make me happy! We had some pictures made for Christmas, and I am working on getting them in frames.  We have officially been a family of 5 since October..so far, so good. The boys are loving each other, and the little guys think Aidan hung the moon. Derek is adjusting to living with toddlers again, and I am working on my step-mom skills. Thankfully I have amazing step parents to learn from. I love seeing my parents LOVE Aidan and Derek's parents LOVE the tanks. Especially when I landed in the hospital last week, Derek's parents came to watch the boys, then mine. Then my parents took the boys home, then Derek's mom picked me up from the hospital... It's just a really cool picture of how a family should work, and how God works in the midst of family.

 We have been working, working, working on the house! Trying to make it OURS, and after two and a half  years of being a single mom, some things were neglected. Lots of fixing and changing. New countertops, lots of paint, new bathroom stuff... I promise to post some befores and afters SOON!

Finally, trying to update the look of the blog. It is still a work in progress for sure!

The boys had their Christmas program today at Bascomb UMC preschool.  Such a sweet performance. The boys had the biggest crowd there, Me and Derek, Dee Dee, Daddy Ran, Alissa and Orry, Kathi and Katey, Haley and Matthew!  They did amazing! I have to confess, I was so afraid they would see us and come running, and at one moment, Noah looked at me and got up, ready to run, but his teachers got him settled and he sang his heart out! Nathan seemed to have a little stage fright, but he was super sweet.

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Monster Bash

The boys turned 3 on Sunday, and we celebrated with my family at Dee Dee and Daddy Ran's House! We had a fun little monster theme, complete with a dancing frankenstein and monster shirts!

The boys had a blast playing with cousins in the yard, and didn't want to sit down to eat or open presents! 

Happy Birthday Buddies!

3 years

I have been thinking alot about the boys and I just cannot believe they are 3!  Here are some of my thoughts for them, hopefully one day they will read this.

Dear Nathan,

You were first, by just a minute. For a preemie, you were a chunker! I thought you looked like me right away. I brought you home after four long weeks in the NICU, and you and I had 6 weeks together before Noah came home. You were a sweet, snuggly easy baby. You used to sit in the Boppy and just take everything in. You crawled first, walked first and talked first. You haven't stop any of the above. You have the most sensitive spirit, you are very perceptive of everything around you. You love to snuggle, especially in the morning. You are a good, GOOD sleeper, and you always have been. You love attention, and "ham it up" You are also very protective of Noah, even if you seem bossy sometimes! Right now, you LOVE Mickey Mouse, Chuggington and Fireman Sam. I love you Nater Tater! Happy Birthday!

Dear Noah,

You were such a little buddy. You looked like your Papa Earl, and you still have his stubborness. Even though you were so sick, Mommy got to hold you first. Sweetest Moment. You are the most determined little scrapper. You were in the hospital for a long 13 weeks, and bounced back and forth until your big surgery. I will never never forget all of the people (hundreds) that prayed for you.  By the worlds' standards you are "behind" but by God's hand you are right on time! You have come along way with walking and talking and learning, we are proud of you. You love your choo choos so much and are learning to put the tracks together and all the names and places. You love books and stickers, and we love you, TT. Happy Birthday!

Love you,

Mommy