Monday pictures

There are turtles and an alligator in the wetland beside our condo. We have seen lots of turtles but no alligator. There is a bridge over it and it is fun to try to find the alligator. Everytime we cross the bridge and if we get ahead of Easton a little. He says, "Wait guys," I think he thinks that gator will eat him up.

Waving at the turtles. When you wave they will come. They think they will be fed I think.

Here they are. Thanks Makenlee but sorry turtles we don't have any food.

Hey, turtles come back. I want to see you again.

We played pretty much all day at the pool. We all had a blast. I am surprised we are not raisins or water logged. There are 2 really nice pools here. One has a graduated entry that is a kiddie pool then it goes into the regular pool. The other is normal with steps. I like the kiddie one better as the kids can touch and splash around.

After M's nap we went to an ice cream shop that had 92 flavors.

I love the look in her eyes here.

Having lots of fun

Acting like an elephant
Swimming w/ the Mama
This ball is HUGE. I had no idea how big it was when I bought the darn thing.

Easton loaded up with the floats and shoes

Hugs and cuddles

Before bed tonight we were all sitting on the couch reading books and when we were done Makenlee tackled Easton with hugs and kisses.

Always safe with my big brother around

Too sweet

This picture will be posted in the wedding slideshow at whoever gets married first. Ha! Or the elusive blackmail shot.

Sunday Pictures

We played at the beach. The kids loved the tide pools and digging in the sand. They made quick friends with the kids around. That is code for checking out each others toys and trying to steal "play" with them. But they had fun.

Sitting on the balcony before we left for the beach

Playing the sand


She would not wear her hat. She ripped it off and then I could not get it back on. Oh, well.

Easton loved laying in the water.

Vacation is here :)

We are on vacation this week in Hilton Head, SC. Jon and I have not had a "real" vacation since we found out we were pregnant w/ Easton in May of 2004. My definition of vacation is different then his. Jon thinks I had a vacation when I went to CA last year. I would call that a trip since I was on my own with the kids for 11 days. We have had many trips. But trips are different then vacations. Vacation to me is relaxation, respite and always involves beach. Ha! I love the beach. Also vacation is totally different when you add kids to the mix. So that is an adjustment and some attitude change too. But thus far it has been very fun and it is a blast to be all together since we rarely get to spend quality time together due to Jon's job hours. The weather has been sunny and beautiful. We are hoping the storms and warnings stay far far away from here so we can enjoy our VACATION and it does not end up just being a trip. By the way the beach is so different here on the East Coast too. I like it I think a little better.

The brainwashing is done

Easton is a full blown Packer fan now. He knows players and who is who. It is scary. Jon has completed his mission. Next mission, brainwash Makenlee!

My formatting got all screwed up.

1st pic- Our cute lil Packers! This was the picture for the schedule this yr.

2nd pic- Packer fan head to toe even down to the jibits on his crocs.

3rd pic- Proud flag bearer

Duck Duck Goose

I babysat 2 kids today. 3 yrs and 7 mo. Well, E wanted to play duck duck goose this afternoon. I think they play it at his school. It was so funny to see him to play it and him chase Tessa around and vice versa. They did not get the concept entirely as they would run after each other then both sit down and laugh. Easton asked my why Micah was not running I said, "Because he does not walk yet." E says, " He has to grow bigger." I said, "yep."

Snack and a light sabre

When it was snack time yesterday M would not let go of the light sabre she was playing with. I kept trying to take it away and she would cry. Oh, well.

Why mommy does not like the sandbox...

Before. They were clean at this point
After E dumped a bucket of sand on M's head
Now she is eating it. JOY!!! It was everywhere. Hair, clothes, diaper and obviously all over her. She had sand coming out the back end for 3 days. What a lovely rash that she had.

Catch up pitures

I am behind in blogging so I am catching up.

Facing fwd in my seat now.

While Grammie was here we went to the zoo.

Easton loves this jeep

Silly boy

Family pics

Grammie came to visit for a few days so we went to visit Asheville, NC on Saturday. Thanks Grammie for visiting. Mommy and Daddy were glad they got to go on 2 dates while you were here and we were so excited to play with you.

Love, E and M

In Asheville
After the family fun night. Easton's face was still red from the sno-cone.

Grammie and her squirmy monkeys

Family Fun Night at Church

Sunday there was a family fun night our church put on. It rocked. They had inflatables for the kids, food, a climbing wall. Tons of stuff. It was all free!

Enjoying her sno-cone. Which was only ice.

Before

After.

His mouth and shirt were dyed red.

Jon climbing

Melissa climbing.

We both made it to the top. I had not done that for like 4 years. It was Jon's first time. It is so fun.

1st day of preschool

E had his 1st day of school. He had lots of fun. He made the cutest little art project too. Our little boy is growing up so quick.

Sarah McLachlan: World on Fire

here

Rob Bell Nooma

Part 2

Nooma - RICH

We watched this at small group yesterday.

The most hideous thing

I saw this in a magazine. I have no idea who would buy this product. It is a helmet that you put on your child who is learning to walk. Here is info on this lovely product.

http://babysfirstheadgear.com/product.html

Trip to the zoo

My friend Emily and I took our kids to the zoo today. Her hubby had to work today too. It was so beautiful and not hot at all until we left at 1:30pm. We enjoyed it a lot. The kids had a lot of fun. But they got scared when we went to visit the new baby chimp who is 3 weeks old. The chimps mama was not liking the vistors so she came up and screamed and banged on the window of the exhibit. It really scared the kids. It scared me even. But the little chimp was so cute. So tiny...

Abby, E and Caleb

Go fly a kite

Daddy and E's attempt to flying a kite. It was not windy enough. E was watching Jon so closely. I think he thought Jon was going to lose it in the sky or something.

Brush brush brush

Easton's trip to get his teeth cleaned

For the record

Paco is not real. I made him up on the fly. I was talking to my Mom today and she thought E had a friend named Paco. So I guess this makes the story even funnier.

Shopping w/ Easton

E and I were at Target on a Mommy/son date today. I was looking at clearance in the toy dept. Well, I found a Diego toy that was like $39.99 for $9.98. This thing was huge over 50 pieces in it. I was like I have to get it for E but how am I going to do that if he is w/ me. So I found a Little Einstein toy to distract him and put the huge box under the cart. It was more wedged under the cart. So he did not even know. I was like sweet. But then as I was walking to check out I was thinking how am I going to buy it w/o him knowing. HMM!! So I get to the check stand and tell the cashier I have something under the cart but I don't want to pull it out. He understood and came around and scanned it. Well, at the same time E was like I want out of the cart. Well, he saw it. His eyes grew so big, " MOMMY, it is Diego." He yells...I said, "Yeah. It is for another little boy." "Who?" He said, "AAHH, Paco." I said. He says, " I want to go to Paco's house and play with this toy." All the way home he talks about going to Paco's. Then we get home and he precedes to tell Jon, " Daddy, Mommy bought Paco this toy. I am going to go play at his house." We went to the park later and on the way home he says,." Daddy look I think that is Paco's house." Jon and I looked at each other just laughed.

Kids are Quick

TEACHER: Maria, go to the map and find North America .
MARIA: Here it is.
TEACHER: Correct. Now class, who discovered America?
CLASS: Maria.
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TEACHER: John, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor?
JOHN: You told me to do it without using tables.
__________________________________________

TEACHER: Glenn, how do you spell 'crocodile?
GLENN: K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L'
TEACHER: No, that's wrong
GLENN: But teacher, you asked me how I spell it.
____________________________________________

TEACHER: Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?
DONALD: H I J K L M N O.
TEACHER: What are you talking about?
DONALD: Yesterday you said it's H to O.
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TEACHER: Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn't have ten years ago.
WINNIE: Me!
__________________________________________

TEACHER: Glen, why do you always get so dirty?
GLEN: Well, I'm a lot closer to the ground than you are.
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TEACHER: Millie, give me a sentence starting with 'I'.
MILLIE: I is..
TEACHER: No, Millie..... Always say, 'I am.
MILLIE: All right... 'I am the ninth letter of the alphabet.'
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TEACHER: George Washington not only chopped down his father's cherry tree, but also admitted it. Now, Louie, do you know why his father didn't punish him?
LOUIS: Because George still had the axe in his hand? ______________________________________

TEACHER: Now, Simon, tell me frankly, do you say prayers before eating?SIMON: No sir, I don't have to, my Mom is a good cook.
______________________________
TEACHER: Clyde, your composition on 'My Dog' is practically the same as your brother's. Did you copy his?
CLYDE : No, sir. It's the same dog.

Vent on TN weather

We have lived here nearly 2 years. I have come to the conclusion I am a CA girl through and through. I don't like the cold of winter and the heat and humidity of the summer. Jon tells me it could be worse as he is a MN boy. So he knows how those two seasons can be gnarly. I feel stuck up in my house for 2 seasons. YUCK!!! I do like spring and fall. They are nice and pretty. So this is my vent. I feel all sweaty and gross today and I was only outside for less then an hour. I really took CA weather for granted. I miss it.....I miss 70 degrees and clear skies....This also occurred to me. For the past 5 years I have always lived where there was a pool. Since moving to our house last year we no longer have a pool so it makes this summer hotter. I have friend's with pools but not the same to drive to it vs. opening the door and walking to it....

Makenlee's room

I had finished M's room awhile ago. But I found these cool lanterns at the dollar store recently that matched perfect. Plus I realized I never took a picture of her life verse that Jenny did for Makenlee. For those that have never been in her room. It is VERY pink. Way to pink for all of us but that is what you get when buy $5 oops paint at Lowe's HA!! Oh, well. It is very girly!!!

I have an addiction...

Isn't the first step admitting your addiction? Well, I am addicted to consignment sale shopping. Well, to all my readers that do not live here in TN. This is what they are. Churches and some organizations have these GIANT sales once a year and some do it twice a year, Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. Well, this stuff is not raggidy cheap stuff. This stuff is good, name brand things. Well, some people still put crap in the sales but all in all you still find good stuff. Well, I pretty much know of every sale in the west Knoxville area and I have them all on my calendar. I do try to go to pretty much all of them. I also know which ones are more kid friendly and which are not. I prefer to not take the kids period but since Jon works every Saturday and that is when they are. I sometimes have to take them unless I find a sitter. Which I do. I will not rant on my pet peeves of people w/ their kids at the sales. GRR!! I am trying to be positive. :)

I always find something. I have started calling them treasure hunts to Easton if I have to take him. Because we always find a few treasures. Since being here I am going on my 3rd season of sales. So I am learning the ropes of what you can get for what price. Like for example these sales have a 1/2 off sale. Now the consignors can decide if they want an item to go 1/2 off or not but most people do say it is fine so they can get stuff out of their house.

You also learn what is a deal and what is not. What will sell at full price and what will be there at 1/2 off.

I love them. I find deals. I have always bought stuff on clearance for the kids so I used to deals. I have friends that buy their kids Christmas presents there. The kids never know if it is new or not. All they care about is that is out of the box and ready to be played with. So I will be starting to do that.

The stage I am in with my kids rocks. Because I buy clothes they wear them and then I resell most of time for what I paid and it is like a revolving door. Stuff comes in and stuff goes out and I break even.

This whole thing is almost an art form. I used to do it with my best buddy Stacey but she has left me to move back to beautiful sunny CA. So I am accepting apps for a new partner in crime. HA!!! We would consign together and scope out the deals together. We were on the same wave length of our craziness for these sales.