Spring Break 2016

We originally had very different plans for Spring Break. The plan was for James to stay here and get some remodeling done in the house while the kids and I visited family in Louisiana. Well, the week we were leaving David was very sick with the flu and Louisiana was having historical flooding.

So we made a plan B. James didn't get any remodeling done, lets face it, its really hard to do with 4 kids at home. James actually ended up traveling for work and the kids and I had a nice relaxing break.

We went to the zoo!

 David must have had a blast at the zoo because I found him sound asleep in his bed while we were making lunch.

 The kids played video games

 and did some shopping. Over Spring Break David learned to say cheese and make cheese faces!

 Christopher spent a day out with his friend Nicholas.

 We enjoyed St. Patrick's Day with shakes!

 David learned to climb on the table.

 On Friday, Christopher and Makayla went on a "mystery trip" with the youth group at church. James Henry stayed with his GG and Papa John and David and I headed to Oklahoma City to meet my mom and her best friend.
But first we had McDonald's for lunch. This was a big deal for my kids for two reasons 1) we rarely eat out and 2) its never fast food or McDonald's!

 The older kids were so excited David was eating his very first happy meal! James Henry actually told me it was the best day of his life :)

 The "mystery trip" turned out to be to an indoor water park in Clinton, OK. They had a blast!!!

 David was a great trip buddy!!

 We had a great time in OKC. We did some shopping, went to the Memorial, ate at Toby Keith's, and walked around Bricktown.

 My mom fed Davy chocolate cake at 10pm on the hotel's white sheets...the Nonna effect!!

 We really enjoyed our visit!

James got home early Saturday and while him and James Henry waited on everyone else to get home later in the day they enjoyed some time together at Chuck E Cheese and did some of their own shopping.

It may not have been the Spring Break we planned but it was a great week none the less!!

Valentine's weekend 2016

We had a great time loving on each other this Valentine's Day. we celebrated all weekend long. James had some work to do in Albuquerque overnight Friday and asked if I would join him. We always jump at the chance to getaway alone. 

The grandparents stepped in for us, big time. Stephanie went to James Henry's party at school and Roland and Dawn did school pick up as well as take James Henry to gymnastics. 

 Stephanie stayed at the house overnight with the kids and sent me this sweet picture of David playing Saturday morning.

 As for James and I, we ate great food, saw the Deadpool movie and played at Dave and Buster's.

 While he worked on Saturday I relaxed, had some Starbucks and did some damage at the mall.

On Sunday we made homemade pizzas with the kids after church and cupid floats.

 That night we went to the banquet at church. The youth served as the wait staff and Makayla was our waitress. She has just grown up right before our eyes. Her outfit came from my closet!

 Everything was beautifully done that night.

 Here we are drinking our sparkling cider.

 Pepperoni bread made to look like roses.

 We had a guest speaker and the youth put on a skit for us. Makayla was the evil queen in their version of Snow White.

 The guest speaker asked the husbands to pray over their wives and when James and I were done, I snapped this picture of the amazing couples we call our friends and James praying with one of the precious older women in our church.

 Then there was the newlywed game.... we almost had to play but a couple was married one more year than us!

 So proud of our youth, they did a great job!

 James and I with our table pals, our associate pastor Greg and his wife Joy.

It was a great weekend. We don't normally do big things on Valentines. Although, I did get James a Fit Bit. Ha!
The kids did get little gifts from us but it is just a day to love on each other and that is what we did.

David~ 18 months

 On the 13th David reached his 18 month birthday. He had his check up the Thursday before. Now that he is mobile, it is much harder to keep him entertained while we wait. Notice where he was storing his tongue depressor!
He weighs 22 pounds and is 32 inches long. He is 31 percentile for weight and 36th for height. He is tiny but asymmetrical and healthy!! He only needed one booster shot that day.

He loves his siblings and he is busy all the time!!!

 He loves rice cakes!

 He sleeps like a maniac!

 He can climb anything! His favorite toys are trucks and cars. He will sit and play with his hot wheels all day long. Some of his new words are cup, bye-bye, "ta-da", and right before he karate chops you he will say "hi-yah".

This week Christopher and I had the fun privilege of taking him to see Sesame Street Live. Christopher is one of David's favorite people.

 Holding our tickets, ready to go....

 He sat completely still just memorized for over an hour. It was so cute to see!

It was a fun afternoon. 18 months has flown by and I find myself cherising  every little moment I can.