Bike Ride Fun

Tuesday morning, I went up to the playroom, coffee in hand, and sat in the chair. Will looked at me and said "Don't start asking what are we doing today!'. Have I really been doing too much with them? I just can't stand staying home all day! So, I said, 'I was thinking about going to the greenway to ride bikes then to the park'. This did not go over well. I, eventually, got them to agree to take the bikes up to Freedom Park then we could play on the playground, too. Freedom Park in close to Will's school and is where the Nature Museum is. They have a great big pond and duck, geese and sometimes, Snakes! (didn't see snakes this time) So, we loaded up the van with the bikes, snacks and drinks. The bike ride was great. We followed the greenway that winds throught some of the Myers Park neighborhoods. We rode over bridges and past lots of neat sights. There are some HUGE boulders on the creekside that the boys just loved running and jumping on. The kept yelling 'jumping jengo!' Where do they get this stuff!! There are also two tree carvings on the ride. One is of a runner, a girl walking a dog, etc. The other is of animals. They are really neat and all three liked them alot. After our ride, we went over to the playground for a snack and some play time. On our way back to the car, we rode bikes around the pond and Kate kept saying 'duck, more!' The ducks will come to the side near you because they think you just may have a goodie for them! We had a great time and I had three tuckerd out kids!!

Sharks Teeth

Just wanted to share a picture of all the sharks teeth we found when we were in Jacksonville.

Sweet Siblings

Every so often, those sweet kids of ours do something to melt my heart. Monday, we took the day to stay home and just playy. The boys have been telling me latelty that 'we don't have to do something everyday!!'. So, they were playing with Kate in her room. I was sitting outside the door just listening to them. The boys were making a 'house' for her behind her chair in the dormer. I snuck down stairs and got the camera. They were so sweet, reading books to her and all tucked in 'taking naps'. It is so sweet when they play well and love on each other. Makes up for all the times they yell and fight!!

Littlest Lion

Kate has really gotten into dressing up in Ben's Lion costume! Ron had to take a picture the other day and it says it all. He asked her to roar like a lion and this is what he got:

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!!

Tonight we took the kids out to their first baseball game. The Charlotte Knights (minor league team) had a game at 5:15 so we knew we would be able to stay for most of it. We had a great time. The Knights were winning when we left after the sixth inning. The boys had such fun watching the players and eating LOTS of junk food! I think the got their sugar quota for the month out of the slush puppies. Kate had fun climbing all over the chairs- and looking for Homer- the mascot. When we were walking on the concourse, we ran into Homer and Kate was so excited. She kept say 'Hi, Hi, Hi' and waving. She was dancing around but as soon as Homer came closer to her she said 'no,no,no- hold!' She did not want that dragon getting closer to her! So cute! Can't wait for the next game!

Beach Trip

We took the kids out to the beach I went to as a little girl. We had a great time!! The boys rode the boogie boards, dug in the sand and ran around like crazy! Will riding the waves!

Ben and Kate in the sand- Apparently, it tasted good!

Kate Chasing Birds!



Digging in the sand with Aunt Kelly

Ben catching a wave

Happy Birthday to Me and My Mom!!

I am now another year older. We made a family trip down to Jacksonville to visit my parents and celebrate moms and my birthday. We celebrate our birthday on the same day and have not done so together in several years. We had a great time! The boys loved having the pool to swim in- they spent most of our time there underwater!! We had a nice party on Sunday night- my sister, oldest brother (Trey) and his wife Jenny came over for dinner and cake. Ron and the kids gave me a beautiful Pandora Bracelet. It is like a charm braclet but the charms are round and slide onto the bracelet. My parents gave me two additional charms. It is really cool. The boys each picked out charms for me- Will gave me a yellow flower and Ben picked out a silver turtle. We had a great visit- went to the beach on Sunday morning (I'll post pictures) and Ron and I even got a little time out by ourselves! What a great visit!!

Kate's Big Girl Bed

Here is the picture of Kate's big girl bed with the quilt my mom made. Her bedroom is so sweet- the bed frame is from my grandparents house and it matches the dresser that Ron's mom gave us (it had been her dresser when she was a girl). I just love having antiques from the family to make a sweet room for her! And, I just LOVE the quilt. When I was a little girl, I remember helping my mom pick out the fabrics for all the hearts. I am so glad that Kate has it to keep her warm at night!!

A Little Too Much Nature

Okay, so I like being outside. I even like camping. However, what I do not like is snakes. Closely followed by nurturing wild animals. I don't even like nuturing my domesticated ones! So, yesterday afternoon, I had about had it with nature! We were out front when a friend stopped by with her daughter and baby girl twins. She, unlike me, is quite taken with reptiles. She told me that they had found a dead snake across the street and wanted to see if the boys wanted to take a look. Of course, they were so very excited! Pricillia took them across the street and then, she picked up the dead snake (not more than 8 inches long- a baby) and brought it back to our yard. Kate was so excited! All the children, minus the babies, were in awe of the snake. We ended up placing it in a tree so Ron could see it when he got home. We later decided to go on a bike ride when the boys stopped up near the sidewalk (in our yard) where they spotted a bird sitting on the grass right by them. It did not move. So, here I thought I was going to have to figure out what to do with and injured or dead bird when Ben yells, 'Mom, there is a baby bird, too!' I mean seriously- now I have to take care of a baby bird that is out of its nest?!?! I decided that we should wait and see what the mommy did. You know, give her a chance to get her baby back in the nest. Like that would really happen. So, while I am trying to figure out what to do, Will yells 'Mom, there is another baby thats gotten dead (his words) and the ants are eating it'. Okay, REALLY!! So, after some asking around, someone suggests calling the Raptor Center. The doctor on staff tells me what I need to do in order to SAVE the baby. He totally guilted me into recreating the nest, climbing up in the darn tree and replacing the nest so the mom could go back up. So, here I am with all three kids, rebuilding a nest ( I am not so good), picking up the baby bird- they do have claws and on a side note- the mom birds do not smell human on them and neglect them that is a total wives tale!-, climbing a ladder and trying to place a nest in a spot where it will not fall out. Good news, the mom, or some mom for that matter, came back and the little bird seems to be just fine. I, however, have had it with nature!!

My nest- I said I wasn't very good a nest building!!

Visit From Gran

Ron had to go to Chicago last week for 3 days for a training seminar. I was getting mentally prepared to take on all three children for three days straight with no help. I was actually pretty confident and wasn't too worried. Of course, who was I kidding- those little monkeys would have had me beat by the end of the second day!! However, I was really luck, so were the kiddos, because Donna called and offered to come stay with me and help out. I jumped at the chance and boy was glad I did!! Those three little monkeys I call children can be a handful- and exhausting!! We had a great visit. I was able to go get a lot of errands done by myself and the kids had a great time visiting and playing! Thanks, Gran!!

Happy Fourth of July!!

We had our neighborhoods annual 4th of July parade this weekend. The boys decorated their bikes and Kate even got in on the fun. We had such fun riding our bikes behind the fire engine.

Funny thing I am reminded of every 4th during the parade. The day we made an offer on our first house was on the 4th. I remember driving in following the parade and thinking that I really wanted to live in a neighborhood like that!

That afternoon, we went to our friends, the Moore's, house for a cookout. We had delicious food and the dads lit fireworks for the kids. Will and Ben just loved the fire works and kept yelling 'More Fire!'. Hope we don't end up with pyromaniacs!!

Hope you had a great 4th of July!!

Bye, Bye Crib!!

That's right! You read it correctly. Kate is no longer in a crib. She had started climbing out over the last month or so. Climbing out during naps, at night and playing in her room- or just wandering around. So, we woke up on Saturday (the 27th of June) and decided that it was time. Ron went to work getting the crib taken apart while I stood there and got all misty. I just can't believe we no longer have a crib set up!

Kate and Ben sat back and watch all that was going on. It sure was exciting to them all!

We headed out and picked out Kates new mattress. I will assure you that you can pick a mattress out pretty quick when you have three helpers! I don't think we were in the store more than 20 minutes! We had her bed set up by nap time. No girly sheets- had to use some of the boys extra sheets. But, not to worry, I went out shopping during her nap and she is fixed up now! Also, I was able to use the quilt that my mom had made for me when I was a little girl. I will take a picture of the bed and get it posted so you can see how cute it is!!

Kate's first night sleeping in her big girl bed! She was so excited!! See, she isn't alone. She has her babies with her! Also, take a look at the girl sheets! She has aclimated pretty well. I still have to help her fall asleep for naps and check several times at night. But, it is fun and there is nothing better than snuggling in your babies in their beds!!

Fun at Discovery Place

Last week, I took the kids to Discovery Place. We had a great time!! The boys lifted the 4 wheeler, and the 100 lb weights! We, also, had the opportunity to see how these neat birds worked! You just hold them on you fingertip and they balance. The boys had a great time with those. See how hard Ben is concentrating- and how proud Will is! I also got a couple of cute pictures of them all together.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

We had such a fun Father's Day! We went to the pool, ate out at the kid's favorite restaurant and ate YUMMY homemade icecream!! What a fun day- celebrating our daddy!!

The kids enjoying ice cream sundaes!!

Ben's gift for daddy- a little football game!

Will's gift- a dart board for the basement (don't worry it has magnet darts!)

I also made Ron a dvd of pictures from the last six years- starting out with Will's ultrasound pictures. It was really fun to watch and see how our little family has grown and,of course, how the kids have each grown!! Hope you had a great Father's Day, too!!