Here are some pictures from our weekend with Todd's family.
Uncle Jas & Allie:
Uncle Jas & Allie:
Riding bikes!
Me & my sweet loves:
Mimi & Allie-girl:
Aunt Meredith & Uncle Jas:
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Kiawah Island, SC
In honor of Todd's parents' 40th wedding anniversary (yes, WOW!!), we are spending the long weekend with everyone Eaker at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. We enjoyed a beautiful beach day today while Todd, his dad & brother played one of the most challenging golf courses in the country. It was a good day for all!
Here's Allie relaxing. I laughed out loud when I saw her doing this. I love my girl!
Here are the kids with one of the 4 dead horseshoe crabs they found:
Here's Allie relaxing. I laughed out loud when I saw her doing this. I love my girl!
Here are the kids with one of the 4 dead horseshoe crabs they found:
A lot of fun with the waves!
Because it was low tide, there were a lot of little pools on the edge where the kids found lots of little fish. They were contained because the waves weren't getting them anymore, so a lot of fun to chase.
They found a few of these really pretty shells (for Grammy!):
And we enjoyed a fun beach picnic lunch. There was a single feisty sea gull hovering over us trying to get the kids' sandwiches. Being the experienced beachers, both kids knew exactly what to do. I love my little beach bums.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Words with Allie
Allie has been a language superstar since she was little bitty. This girl can talk and talk and talk. And she thinks she's grown when she starts tellin' a story. I love listening to her voice and watching her facial expressions & gestures.
She does have a few words that aren't quite right and if she just used them all in one sentence, I'd be beside myself in delight!
For example, when she says the word "yours" it always starts with a "w" sound. Like, "wors." And the word "banana" has an "l" in it, so "blana." She also refers to tomatoes as "taytuhs" (almost like she's actually saying "tatoes" with a southern accent.)
So I guess the sentence I'm hoping she'll say is something like this:
"Mommy, I'm going to eat a blana with some taytuhs, and I'd like to have wors instead of mine."
She does have a few words that aren't quite right and if she just used them all in one sentence, I'd be beside myself in delight!
For example, when she says the word "yours" it always starts with a "w" sound. Like, "wors." And the word "banana" has an "l" in it, so "blana." She also refers to tomatoes as "taytuhs" (almost like she's actually saying "tatoes" with a southern accent.)
So I guess the sentence I'm hoping she'll say is something like this:
"Mommy, I'm going to eat a blana with some taytuhs, and I'd like to have wors instead of mine."
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Baseball 2011
Well, we've finished our second baseball season already. Zachary played in our church baseball league with Todd as the coach of his team. He really showed some significant improvement through out the season. It was fun to watch him figure things out and be able to think fast while fielding and running the bases. In this first picture, he's playing the pitcher position. The coaches pitch in this league, but a player will guard the mound and retrieve short hits, which Zachary did well. He made several outs throwing the ball to the first baseman.
Allie helped me in the dugout. It was tough for her because I was really busy trying to get all the kids ready each inning. She was so patient & such a good girl (most games!) and made a few new little friends. Including this sweet lady bug!
"Good game...good game...good game...."
Todd gave each kid a game ball throughout the season. This is Zachary's little face after he won the game ball. Love this kid!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Goofy Kids
There's something about the first mow of the season. Even if very little change has occurred in the lawn, the kids go crazy in the grass after it's mowed. The other night was no exception and I took some pictures of my crazy, goofy, fun kids!
(Allie has recently decided she wants the freedom to run around shirtless [don't we all?!] outside like Zach does. We usually don't allow this...but it had been challenging day and when we noticed she had taken it off, Todd & I chose to ignore it.)
(Allie has recently decided she wants the freedom to run around shirtless [don't we all?!] outside like Zach does. We usually don't allow this...but it had been challenging day and when we noticed she had taken it off, Todd & I chose to ignore it.)
When they noticed I had started taking pictures, they decided to do some hilarious posing. I was laughing out loud at their little ideas. So funny!
This is my girl. Chocolate milk stains down her chest/belly, boogies out her nose, a cut & bruise on her face and some wild hair. Love her to pieces!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Things you need to know
When I was in 11th grade, I showed up at a school sports banquet wearing regular school clothes. I walked into the banquet room and realized everyone was super dressed up. The girls were wearing nice dresses & skirts and the guys were wearing suits and slacks.
I didn't know.
I didn't know you're supposed to dress up for a sports banquet.
Immediately I ran out of the banquet room and waved down my dad, (who had dropped me off) just as he was about to drive out of the parking lot. I opened the passenger door, plopped down in the seat and slammed the door closed. I told my dad to take me home.
I just sat there staring at the dashboard. How did everyone else know to dress up? I saw the announcements. I saw the invitation. I never saw a single word that we should dress up. Why was I the only weirdo who didn't know?
As we drove home, my dad asked me what happened. I told him that everyone was dressed up and I didn't know we were supposed to dress up.
I don't think he knew what to say. We both just sat there quietly. After a few minutes, he apologized and explained that he & my mom didn't know either. I could tell he felt dumb too. Then he gave me a little pep talk about how being new often times makes it difficult to know what to expect. Since we had just moved there, this was my first school function at this particular school. Everyone else had probably already been to a few similar banquets and they knew what to expect.
But I didn't.
When I was a freshmen college, I had been working on a group project with several other class mates and we were the first group to present our work to the rest of the class. When I got to class that day, I was wearing my standard athletic gear (running shoes, hat & everything) as I had every day the whole semester. My fellow group members were dressed in their very best.
I didn't know.
I didn't know you're supposed to wear a business suit for a group presentation in college.
Unfortunately, my dad wasn't there waiting on me to reassure me that being new often times makes it difficult to know what to expect. This was my first college presentation and for some reason, everyone else knew what to expect.
But I didn't.
Today, my oldest kid apparently had an actual preschool graduation while at school. I was not there. Now, don't rush to judgment just yet. This was a regular day at school. There were no special caps & gowns. The only mention of anything related to the idea of a graduation was a little sentence in the weekly newsletter that said something like this, "The kids will get their diplomas on Wednesday during class."
Apparently that is code for: "On Wednesday, please come to Zachary's class at 11:30, along with all the other parents, to attend an official ceremonial time where we line up all the children and say some special words about every student and present each one with a diploma. If you're not there, your child will be the only one who doesn't have a parent in attendance and it will devastate him for life. Also, please be sure your child dresses up because all the other kids will be dressed up and your child will look ridiculous and feel just as bad. Also, if you don't show up, we will have someone come to your car during carpool line and hesitantly ask you if there's been some kind of misunderstanding. To which you'll give a confused look and your child will look up at you with his big beautiful brown eyes and say, 'Mommy, where were you?'"
I didn't know.
I didn't know this was an actual formal celebration of preschool success.
Don't feel bad for me. I'm a grown mother. Motherhood requires ESP, genius-level IQs and the ability to know the future. I should have been there. I should have asked. But I didn't. And I missed it. Because I didn't know.
When we got in the car, I asked him about it. He started to tell me a bunch of silly things that happened and what things his teacher said about everyone. He was super proud of what she said about him and smiled really big when he told me. I told him I'm sorry I wasn't there. He smiled and said, "It's ok mommy," and I think he really meant it.
In life, I've learned that sometimes there are things you need to know. And sometimes, you don't know the things you need to know. And sometimes, the only way you learn the things you need to know is by messing up because you didn't know. And from then on, you'll know the things you need to know.
I didn't know.
I didn't know you're supposed to dress up for a sports banquet.
Immediately I ran out of the banquet room and waved down my dad, (who had dropped me off) just as he was about to drive out of the parking lot. I opened the passenger door, plopped down in the seat and slammed the door closed. I told my dad to take me home.
I just sat there staring at the dashboard. How did everyone else know to dress up? I saw the announcements. I saw the invitation. I never saw a single word that we should dress up. Why was I the only weirdo who didn't know?
As we drove home, my dad asked me what happened. I told him that everyone was dressed up and I didn't know we were supposed to dress up.
I don't think he knew what to say. We both just sat there quietly. After a few minutes, he apologized and explained that he & my mom didn't know either. I could tell he felt dumb too. Then he gave me a little pep talk about how being new often times makes it difficult to know what to expect. Since we had just moved there, this was my first school function at this particular school. Everyone else had probably already been to a few similar banquets and they knew what to expect.
But I didn't.
When I was a freshmen college, I had been working on a group project with several other class mates and we were the first group to present our work to the rest of the class. When I got to class that day, I was wearing my standard athletic gear (running shoes, hat & everything) as I had every day the whole semester. My fellow group members were dressed in their very best.
I didn't know.
I didn't know you're supposed to wear a business suit for a group presentation in college.
Unfortunately, my dad wasn't there waiting on me to reassure me that being new often times makes it difficult to know what to expect. This was my first college presentation and for some reason, everyone else knew what to expect.
But I didn't.
Today, my oldest kid apparently had an actual preschool graduation while at school. I was not there. Now, don't rush to judgment just yet. This was a regular day at school. There were no special caps & gowns. The only mention of anything related to the idea of a graduation was a little sentence in the weekly newsletter that said something like this, "The kids will get their diplomas on Wednesday during class."
Apparently that is code for: "On Wednesday, please come to Zachary's class at 11:30, along with all the other parents, to attend an official ceremonial time where we line up all the children and say some special words about every student and present each one with a diploma. If you're not there, your child will be the only one who doesn't have a parent in attendance and it will devastate him for life. Also, please be sure your child dresses up because all the other kids will be dressed up and your child will look ridiculous and feel just as bad. Also, if you don't show up, we will have someone come to your car during carpool line and hesitantly ask you if there's been some kind of misunderstanding. To which you'll give a confused look and your child will look up at you with his big beautiful brown eyes and say, 'Mommy, where were you?'"
I didn't know.
I didn't know this was an actual formal celebration of preschool success.
Don't feel bad for me. I'm a grown mother. Motherhood requires ESP, genius-level IQs and the ability to know the future. I should have been there. I should have asked. But I didn't. And I missed it. Because I didn't know.
When we got in the car, I asked him about it. He started to tell me a bunch of silly things that happened and what things his teacher said about everyone. He was super proud of what she said about him and smiled really big when he told me. I told him I'm sorry I wasn't there. He smiled and said, "It's ok mommy," and I think he really meant it.
In life, I've learned that sometimes there are things you need to know. And sometimes, you don't know the things you need to know. And sometimes, the only way you learn the things you need to know is by messing up because you didn't know. And from then on, you'll know the things you need to know.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Bloomers!
Zachary & I planted 4 packs of bulbs in late winter this year. The total added up to be about 108 bulbs. We've seen probably half of the bulbs sprout something green, which is super exciting! I wasn't expecting them to bloom this year, but many of them have! Every day, we go out front and see more "bloomers!" (that's how you say new blooms, in Zacharese).
Zachary informed me that these Iris have no smell. Also, you see the lonely little orange marigold? The kids planted 100 of those a year ago and only 1 made it. I love it! There's a row of green growth in front of the iris, which appears to be anemones (?) and they have several little blooms about to open on them, so more pictures soon!!Sunday, May 15, 2011
Spring Art Show 2011
Along with their Spring Musical, the kids had an Art show. Their teachers decorated their classrooms in a creative way to display all of their best artwork. It was so cute, watching the kids show us their pieces. I so enjoyed seeing them take pride in their work.
This is Allie's favorite (FAVORITE) friend at school, Ella. She LOVES Ella. She tells me about Ella's clothes, her voice, her lunch, etc....all the time. (They saw each other once at the grocery store and were both so happy to see one another. They hugged and held hands for quite awhile.) Ella's mother & I were just laughing about how much they love each other. I love this picture because they are posing like they're grown lady friends. So cute!
They enjoyed a cake-and-punch reception afterwards. Everyone had to find their own little spot on the grass/curb to enjoy their cake.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Spring Musical 2011 - Zachary
The kids had their Spring Musical & Art show at school earlier this week. Here's a clip from Zachary's group singing, "Jesus is the Rock, and he rolls my blues away..." Such a cutie!
Allie's will be up in a bit. Blogger is being a little weird today...
Allie's will be up in a bit. Blogger is being a little weird today...
Saturday, May 07, 2011
Strawberries
We had a fun Thursday in Atlanta. After picking up Grammy from the airport, we stopped and had a fabulous breakfast downtown and then headed to the country for some strawberry picking. I love living near both a huge city and some beautiful country.
I forgot my camera, so here are some phone pictures of our strawberry fun:
I forgot my camera, so here are some phone pictures of our strawberry fun:
