2011..and we FINALLY like SANTA!!

Another parenting first here....both boys willingly sat on Santa's lap this year.  While neither one spoke up real loud they did sit on his lap on their own.  They are getting so big..so big.

I shoot, Papa

We recently took the boys on their first, of likely many, shooting adventures.  Some friends of our have an awesome piece of land not far from us that is totally decked out for shooting.  We all had a blast and the boys keep asking to do that again.  We did learn that play-doh and ammo do not mix, another life lesson we would have missed out on if it weren't for our little guys!

Checking it out

Target

K-Safe and Sound

They we SO READY to get started.

Such seriousness from my mini-me.

22 rounds - prior to the play dough addition.

Muddy Night Out

We recently had our first night away since becoming parents 4 years ago.  It was weird but nice, we really needed a little break though I am not sure running a muddy-obstacle laden 5K was exactly a break..but at least there were no kidlets waking us up at 3 AM.  We drove up to Manchester, TN with some friends and participated in our first Warrior Dash.  It was a blast....nothing like bonding with mud!  Post race we camped out and just relaxed which was VERY nice.  A shout out to Jeff and Tedi for watching our little monkeys during our getaway!!

 Warrior Carnage

A reprieve

So...last weekend I was given a much needed break from my motherly~wifely duties and embarked on my first girls weekend since NYC 2005 and my first time away since becoming a mom...4 short-long years ago.  It had been WAY TOO LONG.  I struggled with the title of this post but finally decided that reprieve was the most accurate adjective I could come up with.  I do love my kiddos and of course the hubs but this parenting thing is a 24-hour a day 7 day a week gig with VERY few breaks.  I am still undecided as to what my favorite part of my break was.  I did a lot of sitting on the beach, a lot of applying sunscreen (just on me), some much needed girl time, a stroller/dog free run but I think the thing that takes the cake.....a FULL NIGHT OF SLEEP....THREE NIGHTS IN A ROW.   This girl has missed her sleep.


It was great to get away, and I totally needed it but man was it awesome to come home.  I do think Willie put the boys in some kind of time machine while I was gone.  I swear they aged at least 6 months in those few days.

More than just a finisher...

I started running "for fun" in 2003 and though it has taken some time and a few breaks here and there I finally feel like I am more than just a finisher.  See I used to sign up for races (5K's, half marathons and even several full marathons) with the thought that I just wanted to finish...and lord willing not be last.  I am finally getting more confident~motivated~competitive with my running and am looking at beating previous times.  I doubt I will ever be competitive in the winning my age group sense but would love to get an under 30 minute 5K under my belt as well as an under 2 hour half marathon.  We shall see, we shall see.

10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...never mind

We recently traveled to Cocoa Beach, Florida via Cumming, GA in an effort to see the final launch of Space Shuttle Discovery.  

Due to launch delays we ended up spending a few days relaxing with good friends.  We played in the Chattahoochee river, watched a great soccer game, ate some yummy food, trick-or-treated and even got a few naps in. 

 




 Finally on Monday morning we were off. 


We have yet to travel more than a few hours since becoming a family of 4 and were a wee bit apprehensive as to how the trip might unfold.  Truth be told, it wasn't as bad as it could have been but it was not a piece of cake either.  9 years of pre-kid travel does little to prepare you for traveling with litte ones.  Gone are the days of only stopping for fuel, reading a book, dozing, friendly conversation, NAPS.  Welcome to pit stops every 50 miles it seems, the passenger riding backwards 70% of the time, diaper changes, cup refills, Matthew telling us he is "all done" 469 times an hour, adjusting blankets, sun shades, rotating books, fuel stops taking no less than half an hour followed by a crying fit by the little guy becasue he does NOT want to get back into his seat (not that I blame him).  

We finally made it and had a great time...despite the fact the shuttle never actually went off.  Our 4-day vacation turned into a 7-day adventure.  Matthew keeps telling us that he wants to do that again. 

Pretty sure there are not many things cuter than wet sand between chubby baby fingers.

 I think Kimber was pretty impressed with his first beach experience, and he didn't even eat that much sand!

The one overcast day we went out to Jetty Park and got to see turtles, porpoises, birds, "a big bridge", tugboats and even a couple of submarines leaving.  I was reduced to tears watching our soldiers headed out to sea.

During a rainy spell Kimber decided climbing on the dash was a good idea.

Matthew THOROUGHLY enjoying his first Drumstick.

 Saying bye-bye to the beach on the morning we left.

Back.....

Back on in the wagon tent.


After a nearly 4 year camping hiatus we did it, we went camping with our little men, we survived, we had a good time, we ate like kings (thanks Falkners), we got dirty, we peed outside, well, everyone but me peed outside and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. 

The first "fun" activity, digging in the cold ash.

 The whole fam on our hike to the waterfall.

 Pretty awesome waterfall.

I think my favorite part was being away from home....and the never ending laundry, to do list, and getting to watch my two little boys sleeping snuggled up next to each other.

Willie enjoyed cooking, hiking and spending some much needed time with all of us.

Matthew and Kimber enjoyed getting dirty, playing in the dirt/sand/cold ash, eating marshmallows, hiking, and just getting to be outside.  Matthew was pretty impressed with the tent and the fact that he could drop his drawers anytime and just pee.

Happy 1st Birthday Grey-Bear

You are ONE year old today my little man.  You came along and filled a hole in our family we didn't even know existed. You made our perfect little family seem complete.  Your smile never ceases to illicit a smile from myself or complete strangers.  You are most certainly our eater. You are walking more and more each day and I am counting down the days that my toddling little baby morphs into a running little man.  You adore your brother and he loves making you laugh.  You have been trying to do a somersault for a while now but you can't get past the downward dog yoga position.  You hate to sleep...which seems so appropriate in your quest to be like the rest of the boys around here.  You can say "hat", "Mups", "Mama", "Da"(Papa), "Brud" (brother) and "Bye-Bye".  You are quite adept at signing "more"....as in more food.

A very proud mama and papa....

We had a low key celebration for your birthday and it was perfect.  After devouring your dinner and making a mess with your cupcakes, your brother taught you how to open your presents.  You made out like a bandit...as usual.  Your very own train set, which resulted in timeout for your brother (which is a whole other blog post), some new clothes, a guitar, your very own hammering toy and a bike seat and helmet.  You have already perfected the art of pointing at your helmet as a way of "telling" me you would like to go for a ride.

Such serious cake consumption....

 Whoa, this stuff is GOOD.

 See, you pull here.

 As always, the box won BEST GIFT award.

 On your first bike ride!

 

Your one year photo shoot:
(In your new overalls from The Nairns)

 

We love you little bear and that love grows exponentially with each passing hour.  Thank you for teaching us once again that is does not matter how nice our cars nor how big our house, it matters that we are filled with love for each other and that we recognize how greatly we are blessed.