Signs of Spring

This weekend showed us some signs of spring and the warmer weather had us all just so happy.  There's something about the sunshine that does my soul good.  We spent lots of time outdoors, including Harper's soccer practice and a visit to a playground which sandwiched our time spent shopping for a new couch.  Let me just say, in case you are considering furniture shopping with three small kids, I would advise against it.  I think we made our selection based on the fact that we just don't want to even attempt that again.  What's funny to me is that every time we even mentioned another store we wanted to look at all we heard from the back seat were groans and complaints about how boring this was.  However, the second we stepped foot into each store Hudson saw it as a giant playground to jump and climb on and the girls wanted to test out every.single.couch or chair and pick up every pamphlet or flyer on every piece of furniture.  ALL of them.

Today the nice weather continued so the youngest two and I stopped by a playground while we waited for Handley to get out of school and then when we got home we spent the rest of the day outside playing.  The kids played frisbee, rode bikes, and found/sorted rocks for their rock collection.

At one point I was in the back playing with Hudson when Harper and came running at me with a sense of urgency making me thought someone had broken a bone.  She could hardly get out any words, but then I heard, "ice cream" and "please get your money" and I knew that could only mean one thing.  I'm a sucker for the ice cream truck and it reminds me of my childhood when my brothers and I would do the same thing to our parents when we heard that bell.  Who could say no to the first ice cream truck pass of the season.  Obviously not me because next thing I knew all three kids were eating their selections.  At 5:30 PM.  Before we had even thought about eating dinner.  I loved it though and a tiny part of it felt like the lazy days of summer I think we are all longing for!

Sophia's First Birthday

This past weekend we celebrated my adorable niece's first birthday!  It's hard to believe that Sophia is already one.

My parents were in town for the big occasion and we were so happy to see them (even if it was short and sweet).  Trey and Stefanie were sweet enough to let us all crash at their house so that we could spend more time with my parents after the party.

I'm so happy we got to stick around because we got to take my parents to see the new house, see Sophia open her gifts and enjoy lots of time together.  The girls had lots of fun seeing Sophia open her gifts and Hudson just kept asking where his presents were.  He's already talking about his birthday and points out everything he sees on TV or in stores and tells me he wants it for his birthday.

My parents had to head out first thing Sunday morning to get back home so we left then, too.  It's always hard to say goodbye to them, but knowing we will be heading to NC in just about a month made this time a little bit easier.

Friday Fun

Today Handley's school celebrated Teacher Appreciation Day so while the teachers enjoyed a nice luncheon parent volunteers covered the classrooms.  It was also Hat Day and Teddy Bear Day.  

Jen watched Hudson for me and even took him out to lunch with her crew while I was at Handley's school.  After that I met her at our new house to get him back and to show her around the house.  One of Hudson's favorite things about the new house is all of the nature there. He loves walking through the trees, looking for "big sticks" and anything else he can find.  That's exactly what he was doing when I was moving his carseat from Jen's car back to mine.  When I told him it was time to go pick up Handley from school he was not interested and was pretty vocal that he did not want to go see Handley.  My compromise to get him in the car and out of nature was to bring nature with us in the car.  You do what you gotta do and I was already running late.  With that one, I've learned to pick my battles.  

After we got Handley and on the way to her ballet class, we were all having a sing-along to the Frozen soundtrack.  The girls were giggling and said that even Hudson was singing along. :-)  We were all so happy to have the school week behind us and to be heading into the weekend! (And don't worry...we were stopped at a red light when I took this picture.)

Tiny Tykes

This winter Hudson has been taking a little sports skills class called Tiny Tykes. Each few weeks they focused on a new sport.  He had so much fun each week and since yesterday was the last day of his class the parents got to come in and watch all that they had learned.

I'm pretty sure he was the youngest one in the class, but he really did his best following directions and trying all of the skills. They did such cute things to teach them, too, like swinging pool noodles cut in half to hit bubbles (baseball) and learning the correct way to hold a football while running for a touchdown and then completing their run with a "touchdown dance." So cute!  

All of the kids got awards for their class and Hudson got the "go getter" award for always being ready to listen and participate and was a great member of their little team!  :-)

Weekend Fun

Our weekend flew by, as usual, but we managed to squeeze lots of fun in.  The sunny weather was nice and we took advantage of it.  Robby was out of town on a guys ski trip, so Friday after Handley's dance class we just came home and the kids were happy to run around outside before a quick dinner.  Then I put Hudson to bed and the girls and I watched Olympics ice skating in my bed together.

Saturday was spent running a million errands with all three kids, which had my nerves shot by the end of the day.  We did accomplish some things, but it was slow going for sure as I tried to keep everyone corralled.

Saturday evening we spent with Stefanie and Sophia.  Trey was skiing with Robby so the girls planned an evening of fun.  The kids loved seeing Sophia and I couldn't get over how much she had grown since we'd last seen her.  The girls loved helping her walk and after playing outside we went to dinner.  It was late and nearing bedtime and just a disaster with four little ones.  My kids usually do well in restaurants and the girls were fine, but Hudson was beyond tired with no nap that day and he wanted no part in sitting at the table.  Stefanie and I just had to laugh and decided that next time we'd be ordering pizza at the house instead of going out.  It was still fun and I'm happy we got to see them!

Hudson wanted no part of this next picture.  He was so happy to be playing outside and had found a stick that he was pretending was a sword.  BUT, I wanted a picture with all of the cousins, so he obliged, but without a smile.  :-)

Today when it warmed up the kids played outside and then we had a picnic in the driveway.  I can certainly say they were outside more today than they were indoors.

We welcomed Robby home late this afternoon and then we all loaded up for a walk at the park. The girls wanted to "jog" along with us and Hudson saw them out and wanted out of the stroller, too.  We finally let him out towards the middle and he surprised us all by running the rest of the way and running pretty fast!

Warmer weather

Harper and Hudson have been off school all week for their winter break.  Yesterday we all went to have lunch with Handley and today they got reacquainted with the jogging stroller as I got reacquainted with my tennis shoes. It felt good to be outside and to be moving.  Since I don't have a gym membership the winter months put a damper on my exercise routine, but swimsuit season is just around the corner.  

When we got home from picking up Handley this afternoon the kids headed outside to play and that is where we stayed until it started getting dark near dinner time.  They pulled out every outdoor toy we have at Gigi and Papa's house and just loved getting to be outdoors and just play!

Handley had a wonderful day at school.  She was named a star student for her excellent behavior and I was so proud of her!

February in Florida

We just got back from a wonderful trip to sunny Florida.  Robby did a little work while we were there and we managed to squeeze in lots of fun, too!  

We stayed with our good friends, the Mills, and had the best time catching up with them.  Our kids always get along great and we all seem to pick right up where we left off the last time we were together.  

On Saturday we went to a farmer's market near them that had animals to see, bounce house fun, food trucks for lunch and lots, lots, more.  The kids all loved feeding the animals and we topped it off with italian ice for dessert on the way out.  

That afternoon the kids played and played and played while we grilled out and then after the kids were in bed adults got to talk and talk and talk by the outdoor fire pit.  It was some much needed downtime.  

On Sunday we loaded up food and drinks and went out on their boat.  We rode to Blue Springs and although we'd been there once before with them, this time was much more exciting because when we got out to walk around we got to see hundreds of manatee.  It's their winter refuge and it was amazing to see these animals in person.

After the nature walk we headed back to the boat, had a picnic lunch and then relaxed out on the water.  One thing was for sure...spending February in Florida had us all counting down the days until boat weather back home.  

We ended the night with dinner at a restaurant on the water and then back to their house for early bedtimes for everyone.  

Monday morning we were up and out of their early so Robby could do a little more work and then we stopped by to have a quick visit with Great-Grandma and Aunt Sharon on our way out of town.  Hudson was a total ham while we were there and we all loved getting to see them.  

Thankfully we came home to warm temperatures and Harper even said that it felt like Florida here today.  We are hoping this means an early spring for us here in Atlanta!