Handsome As Can Be!

Owen is as HANDSOME AS CAN BE! He is such a doll! Sometimes I want to pinch myself to wake-up. I cannot believe that I'm the mother of these two beautiful children. I feel so young and yet I'm the one who cares for them and is bringing them up - what a responsibility! I'm proud as can be, but I'm thinking that pride in your children is acceptable! Can't wait to see how he grows up and the woman he'll marry!

LIVELY AMONG THE LILACS

You probably won't believe it, but this was our first year experiencing the Lilac Festival.

I think Mommy enjoyed it most, with the kids tied for 2nd and Daddy in dead last. We should have communicated beforehand about our hopes for the afternoon. Mommy wanted to stay among the blossoms and soak in the smell of the blossoms and Daddy would have enjoyed a nice family walk along the paved path.

Despite our differences we got some cute shots of the kiddos. It was crowded and hard to keep ahold of the two as they wanted to run all over and given that the bushes are on a hill we had some tumbling and rolling with laughter mixed in. "LIVELY AMONG THE LILACS" is how you could describe Lauren and Owen. I think their listening was impaired because their eyes and noses were overstimulated by the vision and fragrance of the lilacs.

Gorgeous Garden Girl!

This year we planted many veggies in our first ever garden. Lauren absolutely loved helping us and didn't mind getting dirty at all. She's our little GORGEOUS GARDEN GIRL and even liked the bugs. She picks up worms and all sorts of critters and get this...she calls them cute. It's a good thing she's willing to handle them because her momma isn't. Wearing boots like her Daddy and willing to "dig" right in, I hope she continues to be helpful all her years long!

Ripley's Acquarium - Myrtle Beach, SC

We enjoyed a wonderful family vacation in April to Myrtle Beach, SC. One of the days on our own we took the kids to Ripley's Acquarium. They both enjoyed it immensely.

SAVED BY THE PHONE

Alright....getting kids to eat their vegetables is a struggle! As an infant and toddler, she ate most all veggies and now as a pre-schooler I can't get her to eat but 1-6 pieces (not bites) total. I've tried a new tactic...you don't get up until you eat 3 (your age). This evening was green beans and it was rough! If you don't know it....Lauren is strong-willed and stubborn! Anyway, she was crying so bad that her dad came down from sleeping upstairs and gave her a talking to. It didn't work. She still had to sit there. Dad went back upstairs and still no progress. Just gagging, whining, you know how it goes. The phone rings....it's Andy's cell number....he asks to speak with Lauren. They talk for some time. I wish he had convinced her to eat her green beans - he didn't. She was SAVED BY THE PHONE and didn't eat the veggies, but she also went straight to bed.

BEAUTIFUL, ISN'T SHE?

Sweet when she wants to be...and BEAUTIFUL, ISN'T SHE??

Disclaimer: Other times-an attitude not so pretty and yet the same gorgeous face.

STUNTS!

Owen is just full of STUNTS!

Again....I'm convinced....boys just get into more and try more! I'm watching Owen's personality blossom and loving the opportunity to see the difference between boys and girls! Get a kick of the things he does. He's quite the climber. I should be more concerned with getting him down, but I have to get a picture. (You understand, right?) The one with the grate shows his ingenuity. He opens the vertical cupboard and grabs out whatever he can and walks around the house with it AND get this....he even puts it back - most times without asking. This picture was just to show you all how incredibly handsome he is!

DARE-DEVIL BIKER TRICKS

Boys sure are different! We got a kick this evening when Owen hopped on his 3-in-1 bike and started rocking. That wasn't all though. He went all out and showed us his DARE-DEVIL BIKER TRICKS by climbing up onto the seat and then by letting go with one and both hands. It's funny....the things you don't have to teach your kids. He's cool stuff and made his Dad proud!

Jerk Chicken Nachos & Asparagus

I really am enjoying my new job, if you can call it that. Being a Pampered Chef consultant has so many perks, not least of which (for me) is that it can help you learn to cook and have recipes galore. JERK CHICKEN NACHOS- Andrew didn't think this was dinner. So they are normally more of an appetizer, but if you want dinner tonight then you'll eat them - and ASPARAGUS. Owen didn't think so much of the asparagus (yes, he's spitting it out). It was actually the first time that I have ever prepared this veggie. It was yummy - we'll keep trying on Owen and Lauren. And well....Lauren enjoys being like Mommy and wanted to cut the lime with the kitchen shears. With supervision - there's no harm! Here's to hoping that my kids learn to eat healthy and don't turn out picky like me!

Get These Shoes Off Me!

Owen began walking on 12/24. He's quite the little motor man and is amazing at stairs. Up to this point we've just had him in those Robeez (slipper-like) shoes. Well, we thought it'd be better to have something a little warmer for his feet this winter. Daddy tried putting his shoes on him and he WAILED like I've never heard before. I laugh now thinking about it, but our little man wanted nothing to do with those sneakers. He kept screaming, "GET THESE SHOES OFF ME!"

Hiding in the Cupboard

Lauren started it you see. She must have recalled from younger days at the old house how she climbed into the cabinet and realized that our newly installed easy reach cabinet was going to be just as much fun (or more because two could fit) to play in. She opened and climbed in first and her brother was right behind her. I wonder if one day when they are playing hide-n-seek if I'll find them HIDING IN THE CUPBOARD??!!