Sisters visit: Park

Umm...hello? I was shocked when I looked at the date of my last post...a month ago!! I do have an excuse, my sisters (all 4 of them) came in visit at the end of June and I basically spent a month getting ready for their visit (TONS of projects). Maybe I will post some pictures eventually. Our house still doesn't look amazing, but it looks better than it ever has (I know...not hard to do).


We were busy when my sisters came, we did at least one activity every day, usually more. There are a lot of awesome playgrounds now, like the kind where adults have at least as much as kids (probably more).

Camping!

Phoenix and Rylee were holding hands for a little bit and it was, ahem, very cute.

So...yes....we did try camping for the first time in 3 years! The weather had been hot as hades all week, but we got lucky because it was actually kinda pleasant over the weekend. We went with our good friends. They have a girl Audrey's age, and a girl Phoenix Willy's age, the hubsy surfs like Travis and both me and the wifey are super cool ;-). I finally got to use those monstrous marshmallows that you can now buy. It took me a good 5 minutes to work up the courage to bit into my ginormous smore. The middle didn't get melty (so THAT's why you don't stick the huge mallows in the fire right away!). Next time I will try some more (or should I say s'more?) patience. Phoenix was kinda (majorly) freaked out by the idea of sleeping in a tent (or was it sleeping next to Audrey?). I decided to take him home, but the gates were already locked. So Trav and Audrey spent the night in the tent (I wanted to make sure that she got a good camping experience) and me and Phoenix stayed in the car. We both slept for about 3 hours (he kept waking up, so I would drive him around, then eventually he'd fall asleep for like an hour then wake up again). I am really glad that we went because it brought back so many memories that I had with my family when my Dad would take us camping. Those are some of the best memories from my childhood. We decided Phoenix probably needs at least another year for us to try camping as a family again, but I am really looking forward to when we can.

Beach Trip!

A few weeks ago we hit the beach with our good friend, the Willifords. The weather was perfect, the water wasn't frigid, Phoenix was EVERYWHERE, and we ALL got burned. Like ALL of us. I would go into how much flaked off skin was all over our couches, beds, carpet, and clothes but I don't want to gross you out.

Phoenix ate a ton of sand. If only we could get him to eat food!!

Graduation

Audrey graduated preschool last week. I really wish she had one more year there, it was such a great experience for her and me. Her teachers were awesome, I loved making new friends with the other Mothers, and I am just not ready to release her into grade school.

Here are a few pictures from that day...

Oh, and Audrey's main squeeze, Andrew, broke up with her for another girl. Luckily Audrey still had the other boy involved in the love triangle waiting for her...Benjamin. Here is a picture of them together. They are planning to get married when they grow up.

Mothers Lunch

Audrey's preschool is awesome about doing fun activities that the parents can be involved in. In April they hosted a lunch with the Fathers, and in May it was the Mothers turn. I had a lot of fun, and of course Audrey had a blast. On a more embarrassing note, the kids all drew pictures of them doing their favorite things to do with their Mom's and they were hung up on a wall. Audrey's caption was "Me and my Mom are taking a bath", don't worry, she made sure the water in the pictured covered all of the unmentionables. My friend (one of the other Mom's) got a good laugh, and I must say I chuckled myself. I would have loved to have seen the reaction on her teachers faces when she told them what she drew. For the record, we haven't bathed together in YEARS, but as most of you know, KIDS NEVER FORGET!

A bad week...

Last week had all of the ingredients of a perfect storm: 1) Moody Mommy 2) Moody Mommy who was trying to work on some projects 3) super tired Phoenix who refused to take naps and cried for about 2 hours every night before he fell asleep (the whole so tired you can't sleep thing that babies get) 4) Ultra Moody Audrey, who was also tired, whiny, would-have-a-breakdown-at-the-drop-of-a-hat, insistent on wearing the UGLIEST clothes possible 5) Handsome hubs working 15 hours a day. Basically it was like a week from last summer (still don't know how I survived). By Friday morning I was basically a wreck (to be honest it was probably more like Tuesday morning...), luckily Trav sensed my distress and came to the rescue. He came home, took care of both kids, I slept for like 3 hours and I woke up so refreshed and happy to have a partner by my side. Trav really helped me out so much, Phoenix is sleeping again, I am happy and normal, and Audrey is still moody and grumpy, but I can deal with that. I am so lucky to have such a helpful, studly man by my side. I definitely would be lost (and crazy) without him.

Audrey's Birthday (part 2)

I am a planner. I love making lists, making menus, searching the web for ideas...and parties are a perfect outlet for that. Audrey likes to plan to (I think I got it from my Dad, and Audrey got it from me). So together me and Audrey have been planning her party for a long time. You would think that with all the prep time I put in I wouldn't have been rushing so much on her party day...but I was recently diagnosed with ithinkicandowaymorethanihavetimefor-itis, so hopefully I will get control over things in the future. My awesome, beautiful, amazing, super-talented, I-would-hate-her-if-I-didn't-love-her-so-much friend came over and brought her favorite accessory (camera). Lucky for you because for you can look at the beautiful pictures below. The theme was A Little Ladies Tea Party.

I kept the party small this year because last year was a little crazy for me (I like to keep things controlled and semi-predictable). Travis entertained the girls in the backyard while I made some hats for them out of ribbon and flowers of their choosing. I love being married to a big kid.

I probably made 300% too many treats, but I honestly couldn't help it.

Easiest "fancy" cake ever!

These girls had so much fun! Aren't they all beautiful?!?

I must say, the hats turned out way better than I had originally thought and they really did bring "tea time" to the next level.

Audrey wanted Phoenix to be the server and to wear his Sunday suit. I told her he was too young. I have NO idea why he is crying here, as if wearing a girly hat every killed anyone!

We served cheese balls, sandwiches, and Mac n cheese (Audrey's request). Amaryllis (cutie in blue) had never had cheese balls before, and she could NOT get enough of them. :-)

A huge thanks to my friend, Emily (aka super photog) who helped out so much and somehow still managed to take these enchanting pictures. I am so happy to have these pictures! Audrey had a great time at the party, and I have learned a few things in my quest to become a party planner (for family occasions). Now on to Phoenix's Birthday (which will be much more low-key)...

Audrey's 5th Birthday (part 1)

So...you may or may not have noticed the total lack of postings for the last umm...hmm... like 2 months (my bad!). I have been tres busy (Trav's bday, Easter, Audrey's bday, life...) but hopefully I will get back to a semi normal routine soon.

Audrey turned 5! I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. Ever since Phoenix was born I have considered Audrey to be my big kid, but I would remind myself that she was still young and little. But now she is 5, and she really is beginning the next stage of her life, full-day Kindergarten, most of her days spent without her Mommy, having a life outside us...OK I better stop before the tears start flowing...(more).

On Audrey's birthday she had a field day at school. I was the first one to sign up as a parent volunteer (who wouldn't want their Mom hanging out at school with them on their Birthday?). I was really glad that I could see Audrey have so much fun. Audrey requested that we go to the Raleigh Science Museum. Marbles is the kids museum here and I love it, Phoenix loves it, but Audrey still prefers the science museum (only interesting about once a year). We had dinner at Olive Garden (she loves to get a plate full of grated parm. cheese), and we came home to celebrate.

at school...
being "eaten" by the shark

bread stick smile

Victorious after successfully blowing out the candles (don't worry, she did get an actual cake).

She had a great day from start to finish, it made me think I should let her have a few more days like this in the year.

Easter 2011

For the past 3 years we have celebrated Easter with family, Janae + Jared to be specific (they have the only other kids on either side of our families) and we have an annual Easter Egg hunt for the kids. It started when Audrey and Brighton were still 1 (they were almost 2)! This was not going to be the year that we broke a tradition like that, especially with Addie and Phoenix in the mix. I told Audrey at the beginning of the week that on Friday she was going to get a surprise and that we were going somewhere. We had Audrey cover her eyes and I carried her to the door and when Brighton answered the door she was totally surprised. It was so cute to see them together again. As you may have guessed, we had an great time...

Phoenix helped himself to Addie's candy (he forgot to take the wrapper off though).

Janae had the kids help make these adorable nests (pretzels + melted white chocolate for the nest). The kids loved making them...and eating them (so did the big kids ;-) )

We finally got to try out Monkey Joes (Audrey has been wanting to for about a year now), the kids were in heaven...

Here is a flashback starting with 2008...

2009

2010

I know the pictures aren't the best (dang camera takes about 1 in 10 semi clear pictures) but you get the idea...

We had a weekend filled with delish food, great company, seafarers of Catan (like Settlers...on acid), a little bit of Modern Family and a whole lot of fun. Thanks Janae!

Trav's 30th Birthday!!

I have been really busy lately... you may have noticed the serious lack in postings (part of that is that I was without the internet for an entire week. I told Trav, cable is optional, the internet it NOT!). This week Trav turned 30!!! That is a pretty big deal as far as I am concerned, so I started planning his surprise party about a year ago. I almost spilled the beans about 10 times per day, that right, I said DAY. It was hard. Trav had no idea, and thanks to his good friends Allen and Jake, he was occupied all day Saturday so that I could get things ready. By some miracle (aka friends helping me finish the last minute details) everything came together. It was LOST themed because that is our favorite show (a moment of silence to honor it please............thank you), and Trav LOVES Hawaii.

It was a costume party and these two definately brought it. I present to you Claire and Hurley! (I dressed up as Rousseau, no pictures to document it, Trav said I didn't look like her and I think he meant that in a nice way).

In case you are wondering how to recreate Hurley's sweat spots, the secret is PAM (or so I hear).

It took Travis about 10 minutes into the party to realize what is was. Yeah, pretty sure he had NO idea what I had planned for him. We had a great time with close friends. Special shout out to the Willifords for helping me out so much! Happy 30th babe!!

Clifford

Clifford is that name that I gave our big red van that my Mom drove around when I was in my youth (get it? Clifford the big red dog...?). I could not think of a more embarrassing vehicle to be dropped off in than a huge van. A woody rusty minivan would have been a welcome change. My Mom was (and still is) an aggressive driver, and she would always pull the van up to the very front, most obvious spot for the maximum amount of people to see me exiting the dreaded van. (In my parents defence there are 8 kids in my family so the van really is the only option for that many people). So to wrap it up, a good portion of my childhood was spent in total and utter embarrassment due to Clifford.

Fast forward 8 years.

The last time we visited NY Audrey got to ride in Clifford, and she thought it was the coolest thing that ever happened to her (like cooler than Chuck E Cheese).

Earlier this week me and Trav were talking about how he needs to get another truck for the business. Audrey got very upset and she said "NO Trav! You already have enough trucks!" So I asked her what kind of car she would want and she said "A van". I asked her if she'd want a big van or a small van. "A big van, that is red, with grey seats. That would be AWESOME!!" was her reply. It cracks me up just to type it. Who would have thought that my own daughter would think that the most embarrassing thing from my youth would be "awesome"?

just to keep it messy

I am a TV show kinda girl, I have a daily schedule of "relaxation" (umm....whose excited for the new DWTS?). Wednesday nights is The Middle, and Modern Family. Modern Family is funny, but I can relate to The Middle on so many levels. Last week the husby from The Middle was complaining about how between him and his wife they work 4 jobs, all just to stay poor. I don't work (in the world's sense) but I feel like I am constantly cleaning my house, and it is NEVER clean, it just basically stays the same (except for if I don't clean it gets bad....very bad). All this cleaning just to keep my house at its current level of messiness. Gahhh! I try not to get too frustrated though because I know there will be a time when I miss all of the pee spots on the carpet from Phoenix running around in the nude, and all of Audrey's animals scattered on the ground, and all of the smushed food spots on our kitchen floor. I just have to remind myself of that...a lot.