Disney Day 1

Well, we are back from Disney and we had a BLAST! Honestly I can't wait to go back. Yes, I am very tired from all the going and doing but seeing my precious "babies" faces light up when they see characters, hear the excitement in their voice after we ride roller coasters for the first time, and the amount of fun they had in a place where dreams really do come true was worth every bit of tiredness in my body.

It is no surprise to anyone that I am OBSESSED with taken pictures of my children and our trip to Disney did nothing but fill my obsession even more... i am a little embarrassed to say but I took over 1000 pictures while we were there... i know ridiculous!!!! So it is going to take me quite a while to share all the fun we had while we were there. My plan is to feature each day of our vacation everyday this week. So keep checking in on the blog and see all the fun we had on our Disney Vacation!

So here we go with day one... we actually left thursday evening and drove about 6 hours and stayed the night in georgia. Then got up the next morning (friday) and drove the rest of the way to orlando. We chose to do this so we would be there rested and ready to go Saturday morning for our first day in the park. So this post is actually about Friday evening in Orlando!

We were not the only ones who decided to go to Disney during this time... this sweet family was also in Disney part of the time we were. Jay and Richard go way back to High School Days but actually this was the first time our families have ever gotten together and we live in the same city! We met them in Downtown Disney for dinner at TREX and had a great time.

The food was good and the dessert was amazing!!!

The kids had a great time playing in the "sand pit".

We even managed to get a cute group shot too.

Look how cute her boys are dressed

they have dinosaurs on their shirts...

we both share the love of dressing our children! :)

Jay, Leisha, and boys, it was great to see you... thanks for all the tips and most of all for telling us to bring our rain gear... you guys saved us!

After dinner with these guys we walked around Downtown Disney and saw Lego Land and the largest Disney Store in the World too!

The hardest thing about this night was that my kids were SOOOOO ready to get to Disney World and see characters and ride rides that Downtown Disney was a little disappointing to them at the time. It was pretty sad that Brylee wanted to get her picture made with "Cinderella" because she was that ready to get to Disney World. After dinner and shopping we went back to the hotel (which we were staying with my parents outside the park until we checked into our room Sat.) and went swimming. Then off to bed for a good night sleep so we could hit the park the next day!!!!!

So that concludes our adventures from day 1 come back tomorrow for adventures of Day 2 which is our first day in the park... and the most magical place on earth!

Jackson's Last Ball Game & Team Party

Tonight was the last ball game Jackson will play of the season. They have a game on Friday but we will be lovin on Mickey and Minnie! He has had a great season and done really well.

He also got the game ball at tonights game b/c he caught a pop fly. I wish I had a picture of his face when he caught it... he was very surprised to say the least. B/C catching pop flies is not something that happens all the time in 5 -6 year old baseball. We had his team party tonight too and he got a very nice trophy... he was so excited! He is sleeping with it as i type!

Daddy was one of the assistant coaches and he got a "trophy" too... my favorite boys and their trophies!

Brylee's End of the Year Party

Today brylee had her end of the year party. It was an icecream party catered by Brusters. The kids really enjoyed it. They sang some of their favorite songs and the teachers gave the parents a scrapbook of the whole year that was so sweet and a DVD of pictures too. It was really sweet; something i will keep for a long time. Brylee has had such a great year. All three of her teachers have been great and she has learned so much. It really makes me sad they want have ECLIPES next year she is really going to miss her friends and most of all Harper T... but hopefully they will be back together in kindergarten. I can't believe my baby girl with be in K4 next year!

L to R: Singing the Tooty Ta, Ice cream party, my two favroite people... it hurts my heart that they will not be together next year; they are truly the best of friends... i hope they always have this special bond, brylee and ms. laura; such a sweetheart and loved my baby girl so much! What an AWESOME year we had!

Packing 101

As long as it has taken me to pack to go to Disney I think I could teach a Packing 101 class. It is a good thing I started in March pre-packing for our trip or we might not be ready. I have decided that due to this picture...and this picture... and even this little one (which i am not sure why it is this little) I turned into an OCD about packing clothes that match or at least coordinate. I am still "bothered" by these pictures... i think it was after this trip and seeing how terrible the colors and these clothes together look in the pictures I have to have them at least coordinate with colors that don't clash! So here is what packing 101 looks like....

My dining room table became a clothing table as of Friday... with all the clothes laid out in piles according to day and event/park.

Then I used an idea i heard off *Jon and Kate Plus Eight*... I put both outfits for each day in a zip lock bag and then labeled the bag according to which day they are wearing it... i am actually impressed that about 20 outfits per child, 15 pairs of undees for each child, 2 pairs of PJs per child, 12 pairs of socks, 3 bathing suits per child and about 10 pairs of shoes all fit in this suitcase... the other good thing about the bags is you can fit a lot more clothes in a suit case. Everything the kids need fit in our "smallest" suitcase!

And for fun our traveling bow holder... i really can't believe that we really need this many bows but we do and we are actually wearing some of them more that once... brylee is already "all girl" she is "taking" about as many shoes as she is bows... seriously! So now you know how to pack!!!

Check off the items on your excel spreadsheet as you pack! LOL!

Sunday School Social!

We had a great time Saturday afternoon/evening at our Sunday School Social! We had a BIG shrimp boil aka Low Country Boil at one of our classmates house (which was actually down the street in our neighborhood). We had a great time with lots of good food and adult conversation. The kids also had a great time (if you can't tell from all their sweaty faces/heads) playing football, basketball, on the swing set, in the bounce house, with sidewalk chalk, and lots of riding toys too. Fun Times with Good Friends!

"The Cook Team" (and two straw bosses brooke and brylee)

Some of "The Crew"

And last but not least the Happiest Baby on the Planet... sweet baby C always SMILING!

Good Times, Good Food, Good Friends!

My baby is going to first grade...

It is sad but true and he is more than ready to move on to first grade but I don't know that I am ready to admit it. We have been so blessed this year with a phenomenal teacher. I wish we could just stay another year or two! Friday they had a luau for their end of the year party. It was really cute! They sang some songs, recited some poems, and did some readers theatres too. They also got Kindergarten Certificates and ate yummy party food! Congratulations Buddy! We are so proud of you!

Mother's Day!

What a great day and very relaxing I must say (but after yesterday anything is :)! We went to church, out for brunch (and the kids were so good even though we had to wait an hour to eat) then over to KK's to swim and relax by the pool, a little run to the cell phone store for a new phone, and then dinner at KK's... kids asleep early and TV time with the hubby! What a great day! The only "bad" thing I left my camera battery charging at home so I could not take pictures sad... so i leave you with pictures of my sweet hand made presents my sweet "babies" made me at school and were so excited to give to me. I love some sweet handmade gifts that they work so hard on! (I got "real presents too"... but these are my "prizes". Card and Vase from Jackson, Questionaire Card and Pot from Brylee... I don't know if you can ready the Questionaire... (click on pic. to enlarge) by Brylee's answers crack me up! (for the record... don't call DHI... I have NEVER locked my child in the playroom... which was her answer to "I know my mom is angry when she... "Locks me in the playroom"... really... maybe I should try that since i am being acused of it... just kidding GoGo). I hope each of you had a very special day.... what an honor to be called "Mommy" something I could not wait to be and although it is the hardest "job" i have ever had it is the most rewarding. To all the mommies out there, to my mom, and all the special women in my life... i love you all very much and count each of you a blessing! XOXO Here's to only 9 more days til summer! Have a great week!

I survived.....

a world win of a weekend! It all started out with this bright and early Sat. morning

Then we had a tball game... which by the way is like

watching paint dry (our poor team) and something

my little one absouletly HATES but is finishing

the good fight. She doesn't mind batting,

not a fan of running, and her favorite part

is time with son in law and the snacks

at the end. I think I can say we have marked

this off our list of things to be exposed too.

Only one more baby girl... you can do it!

Then home to regroup, quick house clean, last minute birthday and mother's day planning. Then off to Jackson's game... no pictures we already have 1 million... we lost and i hate to loose! Home to scarf pizza down, shower the stinky boys, and off to...

Jumpin Jax for Jackson's 6th birthday party with his buddy Cole and at least 25 sweaty yucky boys :). He has a great time and all the kids played so hard. Check out how hot and sweaty Jackson is. Both boys had super cute baseball cakes and all the kids had baseball cupcakes. We saved out presents and opened them at home which was much better... i only had 2 kids to keep out of the way as opposed to 25 plus.

Richard's family came over after to celebrate mother's day and let me just say I am WAY GLAD I am past the toddler stage... potty training (or lack there of) and child proofing a house is something i don't miss at all.... but we had yummy snacks and good times!

Oh what fun! We had a super busy Saturday full of good times, family, friends, memories and most of all celebrating (again) Jackson's birthday! We had a BLAST....

and we SURVIVED to tell about it! :)

Six Years Ago Today...

(i give up on my scanner... and I am tired of waiting on a post I wrote Sat... so here you go and us your imagination when needed) On May 2, 2003 God blessed us with the most beautiful baby boy I have ever seen. You were absolutely perfect and we were so excited to be your parents. I remember the day like it was yesterday and I will never forget the joy you brought into our family that very day! (Pretend you are seeing a hospital pic)

On May 2, 2004 we celebrated your first year of life with a circus themed birthday party. Lots of family and friends were there. You had the most precious circus cake and you loved every bit of it. You got tons of presents for your birthday and Giggles the clown came and made balloon characters for all the kids. It was a great day!

(pretend this is pictures of his 1st b'day)

On May 7th, 2005 we celebrated your second birthday with a construction themed birthday party and Bob the Builder and Wendy came to help us celebrate (to this day you will still look at pictures of Bob and Wendy at your party and tell us who they are... you don't even recognize them as granny and pap pap's friends Scott and Shirley... i love that :)). You had a Bob the Builder cake that was too cute and all your guest got Home Depot aprons with there names on it. It was a cute party!

(pretend this is pictures from b'day #2)

On May 6, 2006 we celebrate your third birthday at Fun Factory. It was a Buzz Lightyear birthday party. You had so much fun jumping in the "jumpy things", dressing up in the costumes, and playing the games. This was your first "jumpy" birthday party and really the first time you had actual "friends" that can to your party instead of just family and "mommy daddy friends". What a fun age! You were so excited about everything this year, presents, cake and all!

On May 5, 2007 we celebrated your 4th birthday with an indoor swimming birthday party. We had it at the Holiday Inn Express and you had the cutest beach ball cake. I think that was my favorite cake you have had. Since it was Cinoc de Mayo we had quesadias and mexican dips for your party food. You and your friends had a great time swimming!

On May 3rd we celebrated your 5th! birthday with a Football Themed Birthday Party. We were suppose to have it at the high school stadium but it rained so we had it in the gym. Two of the high school football players came and did drills and games with all the "players". All your friends wore their jerseys or cheerleading outfits. It was a fun party even if we did have to do it inside. You had a chocolate football cake!

Saturday we will celebrate your 6th birthday at Jumpin Jax. You and your friend Cole are having your birthday party together. I think this is the first year that I really feel like you are growing up! We have come to the point were we have "family birthday parties" and "friend birthday parties". You are having a birthday party with pretty much all boys except for a few girls (an mainly those are family... and you really did not want them to come... but mommy made you). You and Cole are having a baseball themed party and I am sure you are going to have a great time!

Happy 6th Birthday to my little buddy. You are the best little boy a momma could ask for. You are 110% all boy and you don't sit still much. You are always on the go and playing hard. But you have the biggest heart and the sweetest spirit. I could not have ask for a more perfect "baby boy"! We are so blessed to have you!

Birthday Wishes!

Tonight we had Jackson's "family" birthday party at GoGo and Granddaddy's house. Everything turned out so cute! The "theme" was red, yellow, green, and blue polka dots. I LOVE me a birthday party and I LOVE to have a theme and go with it! My "inspiration piece" was his invitation that I found first (pictured on lower right corner). We (my mom and I) then went to adding the rest of the things to go with the theme. My new favorite find is a line called Block Party which make the cutest stuff and I found the stuff at Chelsea Lane. The chip and dip that the shrimp is in I am obsessed with... it is a chip and dip and then you flip it over and it is a cake plate...how cool is that love it so cute! I also bought a dip holder as well (lime and white polka dot in the picture) it is two parts the large part you put ice in it and then the bowl you put the dip in and it keeps it cold. How cool! So fun! It also came with a super cute polka dot spreader. I just love all this stuff and think we could us it a lot. My party hat balloon weights worked great with the balloons. My friend Ashleigh made the cake to match and it was absolutely de-lish as always! Jackson and Brylee also "dressed" for the theme as well... Jackson in his double disc shirt (best i could do for a polka dot for a boy) although I really wanted the b'day boy shirt from "Smitten & Co" i forgot to order it in time... so this had to work. Brylee also sporting her polka dots as well. We had a great time... granddaddy cooked some yummy hotdogs and hamburgers and we had lots of chips and dip, baked beans and appitizers. My mom and i had a great time decorating and creating the theme obviously Jackson is a "typical male" and could have cared less but we had fun!

jackson racked up in the gift dept as well. He got a new bike from GoGo and Granddaddy, Basketball and Basketball goal from Nonnie and Poppie, PJ's and a Savings Bond from Nannie and Mr. Mark, a movie and $10 from Mrs. Cathy and Mr. Randy, bike helment from KK and Star Wars DS game from us, and a game from Brylee. He was so excited about all his presents.

Thank you so much sweet family and friends for helping us celebrate Jackson's birthday. We love you very much!

(stay tuned from a more "muchy guchy post and pictures through the years tom. i am too tired tonight!)

Happy Birthday Buddy! We love you so much!

Field Day

Today was Field Day at school. The kids had a great time. The weather was perfect! Brylee actually runs faster than Jackson. Jackson's class won 3rd place overall! Brylee took clothes to change into after field day bacause and I quote "it was a boy shirt and I don't like to wear t-shirts and tennis shoes". She is a women after her GoGo's own heart! TGIF!!! Birthday weekend for us... family in town... lots of celebrating going on and baseball games to play! See you soon!