2013 Spring Break-Easter

Travel from St. Augustine, Florida to Sea Island, Georgia was seamless. Two hours door to door.

We made it in time to get unpacked and ready for the Easter egg hunt at Retreat. If you can make it to the video at the end of the page (I could not stop taking pictures of those little bunnies!) then you will see Wip shaking each egg in total confusion of why he would want an empty egg (it turns out that the empty eggs had certificates for cool prizes). We will know for next time!

The boys played a little "throwing golf balls" before the big hunt

Bubbles for life

I put my hand up on my hip

Hula hoopin'

Daddy and his boys

Mama and her boys

The bunny was not a hit (Duncan was scared to death!)

Ready to get his Easter egg hunt on!

Over 10,000 eggs

Mission accomplished (each egg had a 1 piece of candy)

2013 Spring Break-The Wedding

A colleague of Patrick was getting married in St. Augustine, Florida. We made the wedding part of our 2013 Spring Break. To say that our trip has been an adventure is an understatement...

The trip started out well

As we got towards Florida we all started melting (and mommy and daddy wanting to pull out their hair)

The car would suddenly get quiet for a long period of time, and we realized that David was giving Starburst to Duncan to make him stop crying (and it worked)

When we arrived we ran to the beach and dipped our toe in the sand (Duncan actually dipped his entire body)

The taco shop for dinner was A-MA-ZING

We got the boys in bed only to be woken up at 2am by the sound of Wip getting sick. After the third time of asking for new sheets the gentleman at the desk told us that they did not have any left because the hotel was at capacity. Oh, how I loved renting a bed for a ridiculous amount of money only to sleep on the floor.

Poor little man also got sick at the breakfast table, I don't think they were sad to see us go

Even with Wip under the weather he was such a trooper, we played on the playground and picked up some popsicles at the farmers market.

How do you not look that this street sign and want to bust out "Ice, Ice, Baby"?

After leaving the invitation at home and getting confused because the website and invitation had different times we made it to the wedding (literally as the groomsmen were walking out). Shooweee.  It was such a great wedding and I don't think we left the dance floor once (not even to check the score of a March Madness basketball game).

Diana

Sometimes I like to think that if I were to meet someone like Princess Diana, we would be friends.

Trust me, I realize that the only thing we have in common is the fact that we have two boys (although when I was a little girl my mom made me a pretty awesome princess costume with a crown that we made out of aluminum foil:).

http://i1.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article133138.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/diana-princess-of-wales-with-her-sons-prince-william-and-prince-harry-at-the-piano-in-kensington-palace-pic-getty-388156739.jpg

I came across the precious picture above with Diana and her boys and it got me thinking...

I wonder if Diana ever giggled to herself in the car because one of her boys was talking about how they learned about frogs and "tattoos" that breathe under water, and realizing he was talking about tadpoles.

I wonder if Diana ever decided that everyone should put their pajamas on at 1pm on a cold Monday afternoon, just because. 

I wonder if Diana ever had the "aha" moment when her son always talked about his clothes being "tucked in tight" when what he meant was "inside out". 

I wonder if Diana ever watched Peter Pan with her boys and tried to mimic the flying scene. In doing so, getting to see her 22 month old son jump with both feet off of the ground for the first time.

http://img2-3.timeinc.net/people/i/2007/features/magstories/070604/harry_william.jpg

I am sure that she had many moments like my Monday and I am sure her boys miss her everyday. 

2013 Spring Sing

Wip had his Spring Sing at the Temple on Friday. The children looked ADORABLE in the color coded class t-shirts and I must say they put on a fabulous performance.  Of course, the Cow Class not only did the best job but also had the better songs to sing! Enjoy the performance:)

I heart Trader Joe's

I could probably start an entire blog about why I love Trader Joe's. In many ways, it has changed my life.

Maybe it is the "most easy dinner ever" black bean soup recipe that I discovered:

• 1 can TJ's Cuban Black Beans

• 1 bag TJ's Chimichurri Rice

• 1 box TJ's Latin Black Bean Soup

• 1 pkg TJ's Chicken Breast Chunks (optional)
• 1/2 pkg TJ's frozen roasted corn (optional)

Pour all contents into a medium saucepan and warm over medium heat. Top with sour cream and serve with tortilla chips! Cooking Time: 10 Minutes (not kidding)

Maybe it is the Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels that were offered during the holiday season. I become so obsessed that I actually won back my very own gift during a white elephant swap at a holiday party because I knew how limited they were becoming (crazy lady).

Maybe it is because I can get over a weeks worth of meals for a family of 5 for under $150.

Or maybe, just maybe it is because I discovered Letter Cookies. As I have talked about before, Wip is OBSESSED with letters. Each day begins with "what does alligator begin with?", "what does watermelon begin with?", "what does house begin with?". Surprising him with a letter cookie snack after his rest pretty much made his week/month/year.

Duncan's World: We Just Live In It

That guy!

While Wip and Daddy were out hitting golf balls, Duncan and I took a walk. As soon as we got out the door he started saying "Will-Ummm" (none other than his cousin William). We went by the Creason house and Emma the dog was in the backyard. He waddled over to say hi to the dog and then continued on with his search to see "Will-Ummm". Nobody was home. He could not understand this. With tears in his eyes we headed toward the slide.  

While getting ready for church this morning, Duncan came out of his room and did this adorable lean and wave to his Daddy who was brushing his teeth in the bathroom. The only problem was that his lean sent him rolling down the entire flight of stairs (again). Thankfully he landed on his back and I was way more shaken up then he was. He just kept saying "just scared", "just scared".

While greeting at church this morning, the sweet man from Duncan's childcare room came out with Duncan in his arms and a bloody tissue. Duncan was playing and made a wrong turn causing him to fall in a crate of toys and cut his mouth. After a cup of milk and some TLC he went right back in the room and I was able to go to the service. 

You might be thinking "poor Duncan". Missing his cousin, falling down the stairs, blooding his lip. But I am happy to report, his weekend went out with a bang! We heading to MyGym to celebrate his buddy Jayden's 2nd birthday...he had a ball (with no injuries, just cake:).

The party started with some hoops

Of course he loved the balls

Duncan and the Birthday Boy

Group shot (attempt)

Duncan with his hand on his hip waiting for cake

The party ended with hoops

Cooking with Kids

I received the above picture from the Temple preschool yesterday of Duncan in the refrigerator. It got me thinking that I really need to start cooking with my kids more. So yesterday we made some brownies and here is how it went down...

Always wash your hands before preparing food

Make sure to read the directions (it called for 2 eggs and not the 5 that Wip wanted to put in:)

Be prepared for a mess (especially when you allow your child to "break" the egg)

Give them the independence to figure things out (like opening the impossible chocolate bar)

Stir it up!

We all know the best part is licking the bowl

It was possibly the highlight of Duncan's week!