Grit and Bear It

Once gain my wonderful two year old has done something to make me laugh and frustrated at the same time. All day I have been trying to get the house back into shape from being gone last week. So I have been doing laundry, dishes, and vacuuming. I was feeling pretty good about what I had done so far. It was time for lunch and I was making sloppy Joe's. Nathan was piddling around as usual. Running here and there,jumping,playing with his trucks. One of his favorite things is to hide in the pantry. I heard him and told to get out. In a perfect world he would have done so immediately. He finally did come out...carrying a bowl of grits. I first had to think where he found them, but then I remembered we had a small container of them. He was wanting to cook. So I let him sit at the table with his bowl and a spoon. He was just stirring and cooking as happy as could be. I turned back to finish up with the sloppy Joe's. As I turned back around, I saw grits all over the table and on the floor that I had already vacuumed. Nathan just smiled up at me and said "cookin',cookin'." How could i get mad. He was so cute and so proud of what he had cooked. I just had to wait until he was done and then vacuum my floor again. aren't kids the greatest!

GRRRRREAT!

I have received the letter G. So here it goes.

1. Gummy Bears
2. Gymnastics
3. Grandparents
4. Green Grass (ooh, double points)
Man, this is harder than I thought it would be...
5. Golf (Tiger is yummy!)
6. Girls Night Out (haven't had one in a long while...any one up for it?)
7. Gerber Daises
8. Gap clothes
9. Graham Crackers (cinnamon is the best)
10. Granola

There I have done it. Ten things I like that start with the letter G!
Wait, I have just thought of some more...Grilled Cheese Sandwhiches, Gardens, Grapes,Grits, Games....Okay I guess it just takes me a minute to get going. I 'm done now, really I am.

Nathan's Birthday part TWO!

As I finally finished posting all the latest news of our family, I had mom look it over and tell me what she thought. She got down to where I was talking about Nathan's birthday and I commented on how I didn't want to say to much and didn't know all that I should say. She then asked me why I hadn't talked about the cake. I told her I did and she said "No, you didn't mention the cake taking a spin." I immediately remembered what she was talking about, so he is the story that you all are now dying to know.

I began working on Nathan's cake the night before his party. I had baked it and was going to decorate it in the morning. So we got up early and headed to mom's with the cake ready to go. I worked all morning making the frosting (from scratch,with the help of Tabi) and coloring to the right colors for Lighting McQueen. My trouble began when I screwed up the red, making it brown (added to much black,trying to make a darker red). I then had to make a fresh batch with my time starting to run short. I was really starting to get frustrated when I couldn't get the frosting smooth and all the details the way I wanted them. I finally had to just call it quits with the details and left the cake how it was;which was still very good. I was taking a break and relaxing and nursing Sam and mom was in the kitchen. We were both apparently tired because we both heard a little voice saying "WHEEE, WHEE, VROOM, VROOM." We did nothing,then all of the sudden both of us turned and looked in absolute horror. There was Nathan sitting at the counter spinning the cake round and round. See, while frosting the cake, I put it on a lazy Susan so I could turn it easier. In my haste to sit and rest I didn't take it off. I think mom and I both had heart failure or was at least close to it. I would have died if the cake went flying off the counter after all the work I put into it. Luckily for me, someone was watching out because it didn't move a bit. So because of this, I have a great memory of Nathan's second birthday and hopefully y'all will find it a bit funny too.

Four...I mean FORE!!!

As we all know, Papa Rich is a avid golfer and will take anyone anytime. He had been talking about taking Madeline and Isabella for awhile but the timing never was right. He even bought them a set of clubs to use. Well
when they were over here for Spring Break, the timing was finally right. So together, Papa Rich and I took them and Nathan to the golf course. It was a lot of fun. It took the girls a few swings at the driving range but soon they were starting to get the hang of it.

Nathan loved it too, but he was wanting to go golfing on the real golf course. The girls were eager to go too but Papa Rich said they would have to wait a little while later, after they had bit more training. We also went to the practice putting green where Nathan showed us that he can get the ball into the hole every single time, on one stroke. I had alot of fun too as it was my first time golfing. I think Papa Rich was pretty surprised how good I did. We all hope to go again soon. Look out Tiger, here we come!!

The Dress and Baby Blue Suit

Easter was so exciting for me this year. I had a little girl to dress, which we all know is way more fun than a boy. I was really excited about Sam's dress. It was actually given to me at my baby shower for Nathan. A friend of Vickie's from work (Kathy) gave it to me in hopes that I was having a girl, but I didn't. I kept it however for when I would have one because I loved it so much. Well, with Sam's arrival, it worked out perfectly in sizing and time wise for her to wear as her first Easter dress. The problem now was finding an outfit for Nathan that "matched". So I had been keeping my eye out for something but wasn't finding anything. I finally thought about going to a consignment shop when I came across Nathan's blue suit. At first I was hello, the 70's are calling and they want their baby blue leisure suit back. As I continued looking around, I started visualizing the suit next to Sam's dress and the suit began to grow on me. I bought it but was still uneasy about it. When I showed it to Ryan and Vickie, they looked at me like I was crazy. They couldn't believe I had bought something like that, but I told them to look at it and picture it with Sam's dress. It didn't take long for them to at least consider it but both agreed they would have to see it on him. In the end they liked it and they both looked absolutely cute. Now getting them together for a picture is a whole other story!

It all Daddy's Fault

Ryan and I for years wanted to get Madeline's ears pierced but Jen had always said "Not until she's eight." So we waited and waited until she turned eight and were very excited when that day came. It was so much fun.A few days after she had them pierced though, she lost a earring and the holes closed up. I was very sad about this and thought oh well. It was soon going to be Isabella's eighth birthday and so we waited. Luckily her and Nathan share March as their birthday month so when she was over for Nathan's birthday party, we took her to get her ears pierced. Ryan had been wanting to get Sammie's ears pierced since she was born. So he talked me into doing it today with Bella. Unknown to Madeline, we were going to have her ears pierced again. Ryan's mom and step dad (aka Nonna and Papa Rich) came along. They didn't know we were doing Sammie's too. It was really funny to Ryan and I when she jokingly mentioned that we should do Sammie's ears while we were there. She was surprised when we told her that that was what we were going to do. So all three of the girls had their

ear's pierced together. We all had a fun time and the pictures say how excited Sammie was as well.

Nathan's Birthday

I can't believe I have a two year old. Really people, where does the time go? We had a small party with a few friends and family. Unoffically, it was a "Disney Cars" theme. He loves the movie, so because of this I made him a Lightning McQueen cake. I personally think I did a great job but I'll let you be the judge.

Here are a few more pictures:

Our Trip to Wild Adventures!

We took this trip a little while back and finally had the pictures developed.Nathan had a great time seeing the animals and riding on the rides. It was our first trip to a "theme park" and he did very well. We hope that you all will enjoy the pictures.

The Family

I guess you all know by now that this was mom's idea. Everyone seems to be starting with the family so I guess that I will as well.

Ryan and I met in high school on the first day of our sophomore year. It wasn't love at first sight(at least it wasn't for me...I don't even remember meeting him) but over the course of a few months it turned into a really nice high school love. It was really cool for me because I always thought that it would be neat to have a high school sweetheart. Long story short we have been together ever since. We are soon going to be celebrating our fifth anniversary! Ryan is working for the Georgia State Patrol in the Motor Carrier Compliance Division. He is loving every minuet of it. Right now is competing in the Inspector's Competition and had made it to the third round! It is funny that only a few years ago he was driving a big truck running from the law and now he is the law running after the big trucks. I am lucky enough to be able to stay at home with our children. We have two of the most adorable children, Nathan and Samantha. They keep me very busy and I absolutely love it. Well this is our family, at least for now.

Sam,Sammie,Samantha

Samantha is our six month old little girl. How excited we were to learn we had had a girl. We were so excited that we asked each other several times, "What did he say?" and even then we just couldn't believe it. Also what surprised us was the she had a head full of black hair. So much so that it looked like she was wearing a wig. It just isn't fair how fast they grow. She is now rolling and almost crawling. She has the sweetest personality and a smile that will melt any one's heart. We have also learned that she is a thumb sucker. No pacifier for her! She loves to laugh at Nathan and wants so hard to run around and play with him. For now though, she is my baby girl.

Nathan

Nathan is our two year old and is living up to the title of "Terrible Twos". Okay maybe not all the time, but is on the rare occasions. He is a great big brother and is in the stage of wanting to help and do everything himself. He is very big into the Disney's "Cars" movie. I think he has just about everything they make. He loves his family very much and is a big time Daddy's little man. He loves to play with Samantha and make her laugh. One of his favorite things to do is play outside. We have started a garden and he enjoys working in it with us. Nathan is getting smarter everyday and it amazes me how quickly he picks up on the things around him. He is just wonderful and he is my little man.