Fall Florida Trip

Each year in September or October we head down to Destin, Florida for a 4-5 day trip. It is highly anticipated ALL YEAR!!! This was our 4th year to go with Mimi and Papa. We decided to wait and use your Fall Break this year, Caitlyn, so it was later in October. We always eat at the Donut Hole the first morning ..............

Then head to the grocery to do our grocery shopping................

Because it was later in the month, it was MUCH cooler. We only made it out to the beach two days this year. We tried to make those days stretch and spent several hours out playing in the sun.

Caitlyn, you continue to be the water girl. You stayed in the water most all day....

Caroline, you tend to be our sand girl and spent a lot of time building sand castles and collecting shells. Mommy spent A LOT of time sitting in this chair and taking pictures. I had just begun to feel really nauseated from the little "sprinkle" in my belly. The two of you didn't know at this point...it was really hard not to tell you why I was sitting and doing "nothing" most all week!!!

There were tons of jelly fish this time....here is Papa pointing a big one out to you, Caroline. We had to really watch out!

Cuddle time..........

Collecting shells with Mimi........she is a great shell finder!!!

Sweet moments...........

I like this picture............you can tell how cold it was. We had gone over to the Wharf to eat that night and were FREEZING!!!!

We ended up inside a lot and spent the time playing lots of games!!! Here you are beating Daddy at MEMORY, Caroline!

WE LOVE TO BIKE RIDE!!! This is our favorite thing we do while there. It was cool, but we headed out anyway one morning. Caroline, you got to be the very first child to try their new double bike contraption. You were nervous at first, but ended up having a ball. Caitlyn, this was your first year to ride your very own bike, big girl!! Since Daddy is training for the half marathon, he ended up running beside of all of us instead of biking.

Having fun at our midway stop at the Wharf playground..........

Hanging out indoors..............

You two brought your GLOWDOODLES...a fun new toy that kept you busy for hours inside the condo and the car..............nice!!!!!!!!!!!

Our last day at the beach.........enjoying a walk with Daddy!

I love how you always seem to make friends while we are at the beach. It is so fun watching you interact with others and find fun things to do together. Watching the jelly fish............

Limbo...................

Diggin holes..................

Caroline, you got a kite for your birthday. It was the perfect windy weather to fly it. You and Daddy spent lots of time and entertained all around..........

My pretty girls........on our last night at the Back Porch restaurant. Another great way to end our favorite trip! Next year will be a little different........we'll have a 4 month old enjoying the sand for the first time! Amazing how much can happen in one year!!!!!!!!!

How can you be five?

This was a hard one for me...my baby turning five years old. Five just isn't little anymore in so many ways....and your five came sooo quickly, Caroline. You were JUST born it seems. In these last five years, you have brought us more joy and laughter to fill a lifetime. You are our sensitive, humorous, busy, compassionate and perceptive little girl. You enjoy girly things, but can hang with the boys, too. You love to do what Caitlyn does...wonder how long that will last? You also LOVE to irritate her, too...the job of a little sister, I suppose. You like to try new things, even if they are difficult. You still enjoy helping me cook and love to sample anything sweet!!!
Speaking of sweet, we decided for your birthday this year to celebrate at breakfast time at a new place...the Funky Griddle. We had heard about how neat it was and wanted to try it.

You get to cook your own pancakes on a griddle at your table. We had to wait awhile to get a table, but it was well worth it. They put us out on the screened in porch, where we had plenty of room and space to celebrate!! Mammi, Big Daddy, Mimi and Papa joined us, as well as Josue' and Mariana.

Your favorite were the ones we made with M&Ms inside.......mmmmm...that's my sweet tooth girl!!!

Caitlyn, you loved to flip...you got really good at it, too!

Checking out the new camera!

SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A new bike!!!!!!!!!

Later that day, we allowed you to invite a few friends to go bowling. What a fun time we all had!!!

The ladies of the lanes...............

After bowling, Paisley and Ashlyn got to come over for a slumber party! Your first.........of many, I'm sure!

Getting ready to make pizza!

I lucked out this year and didn't have to buy or make a cake...these cupcakes were perfect for the four princesses!!!

Watching a movie..........

...playing Pretty, Pretty Princess game...........

and yes, you ALL three slept all night!!!!!!!!!!

Here you are at school the next week. You and I made cupcakes with sprinkles for your class. I got to come and enjoy lunch and share in another celebration of YOU!!!!!!!

Happy 5th Birthday, sweet Caroline!!!!!!!! We love you unconditionally for ALL eternity.

Catch up!!!

Ok---feeling decent at the moment and wanted to try and catch up a bit. Back to the beginning of October.
In honor of Caroline's birthday, we surprised the two of you with tickets to Disney on Ice. "Miss Christy" helped mommy and daddy get tickets. I loved your expressions......

And MY favorite part of the night was watching you in awe of the characters.

Such fun family time!!!

We attended a baby shower for Camille and baby Price at Fourth Avenue Church. She got so many sweet things. Seeing BLUE things still seems strange to me!!!

You loved helping her open the gifts.

Sweet Aunt Bela and Lucas wanted to treat you to a birthday dinner, Caroline. So, the five of us went to a Mexican Restaurant for supper one night. Aunt Bela had asked you what you wanted for your birthday a few weeks earlier. Your answer..."A doll whose hair I can fix".

Aunt Bela always gives the PERFECT gift

Your free dessert after being serenaded in Spanish.............with a dip of whip cream to the nose!

Where I've been..........

I know...I've never gone this long between posts before. BUT...there is a reason. I have felt overwhelmed and quite under the weather for several weeks now. We finally spilled the beans this weekend................ We're having a baby!!!!!!!!!!!

Caroline, you weren't sure about the news at first..........

But, you came around!!!! We've got a long time to wait, but are super excited and thankful beyond words.

It may be awhile before I am caught back up on "life", especially here on my blog, but we'll get there. Stay tuned.........

September shots

These are all very random, but fill in some of the gaps that words just cannot. Here are some of our fun moments of September. Caroline, this was you one Tuesday running errands with momma. You were enjoying the massage chair at Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Oh, how we have loved on the new babies in our life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kamry

Josue'

Stretching at Let It Shine

Learning how to jump from side to side and walk on the balance beam.

The funnest part of class is jumping in the foam pit!!!

We loved America's Got Talent this summer. We have been into "singing" ever since. Mimi got you these great microphones....money WELL spent, I'd say!!!

Your created microphone stand!

Caitlyn had spirit week last week. Caroline, you decided (even though Otter wasn't having spirit week...) to have your own! One day was miss-match day. Caitlyn, you wouldn't pose for a picture, but Caroline sure loved going along with it!!!

The last day was crazy hat day. We didn't have crazy hats, but we had these sweet "Princess" ones, given to us by Aunt Amy. And... of course, like monkey see, monkey do!!

Our new routine

Well, the more relaxed days of summer are gone and we are living the more scheduled life of school and work. It's definitely taken some getting used to. I know in many ways, more gets done when we live with a "routine", but I must admit I often fight against it...and so do the two of you. So...in hopes of helping us get out the door, be on time, and have some more harmony and flow when we are home, I put some new things in place. We've only been doing it now for a few weeks, but I do think it is helping us stay focused.

I wanted to record this, so one day, we all could look back and smile on these days.........

Morning

Get dressed
Make beds
Eat breakfast
Pack bag
Brush teeth
Be ready by 8:00

After School

Empty out school bag (and lunchbox) and put away
Homework
Pick up
Recyle or trash when needed
Kitchen help (set or wipe table)

Before Bed

Bath
Clothes picked out for next day
Brush Teeth
Read/Bible Study
Bed by 8:30

At each time of the day, when you have completed your "jobs" you are allowed to watch TV or get on the computer (something that had gotten out of hand). Also, if you accomplish these (I think very reasonable tasks) with good attitudes , you earn a "Diamond Dollar" the following morning. If in a two week period (minus weekends--we have to have a break sometime!) , you can earn eight Diamond Dollars, you are allowed to invite a friend over (a huge treat!).

Our weekly schedule:
Mondays- Momma works and Daddy takes you to school in the morning. Mimi picks you both up from school and brings you back home until Momma or Daddy arrives. Most Monday afternoons, we go to Mammi and Big Daddy's for a family dinner. You love this time, especially playing with Mariana and Josue'.
Tuesdays-Caroline, you and I take Caitlyn to school and then go to gymnastics. I allowed each of you to pick one activity to do this year, and you chose a class at Let it Shine Gymnastics. Its so fun to watch you learn. We usually run errands, have appointments, or just stay home together. What a sweet memory this will be for you and I!
Wednesdays-I take both of you to school and either have some time alone (Which I love and value!) or spend the day with Aunt Amy and Josue'. Us mommy's need some rejuvenating time often! I pick both of you up from school these days. Wednesday nights we go to church. We had gotten out of the habit of doing this last year with dance, and it has been nice to be doing this together again.
Thursdays-I work these days, so I meet Mimi in the school parking lot with both of you early, so she can take Caitlyn into school and then she spends the day with you, Caroline. We are so thankful to have family to help us out sooooo much!!! Mimi and Caroline pick you up, Caitlyn, then bring you home. Daddy and I usually get home around 5:30.
Fridays- I work this day, too, but don't have to be there until 9:30, so get to take you both to school. Sometimes, I can't leave work until 2:30, so you get to go to extended care, Caroline, which you LOVE!! We hang out at the Purple Cow and get an icee and then it's off to get sister. I love Fridays, b/c it means the weekend is coming!!! Weekends are so anticipated!!! Weekends are never the same, but one thing we are trying to fit in every other weekend is a horse riding lesson for you, Caitlyn (your chosen activity). I love that you wanted to try this. I have struggled a bit with my fear of you getting hurt, but I know this is not the first time I will have to "trust and let you go!" We try to let Sundays be family days...church, out to eat, and just hanging out together in some way before the week starts up again.
Daddy has been training for a 1/2 marathon amidst all of this and I am just trying to finish a book and keep our underwear clean!!!

I wish I could post some pictures with this post, but for some reason blogger won't let me. We'll try again tommorrow!

Day trip!

A few weekends ago Aunt Bela and I talked about going on a journey with you girls and Lucas. We have had plenty of playdates, but never been on a trip together. Aunt Bela had a great idea....a day trip to Chattanooga and the Aquarium. We left Daddy at home working and Uncle Virgil kept Cameron. We woke up EARLY and met at Cracker Barrel for a delicious pancake breakfast. You have to sit for awhile on the frontporch in the rockers at Cracker Barrel!!

It is SUCH a treat to watch a movie in the car...ready for Nemo!!!

Chattanooga has such a cute downtown. The three of you enjoyed playing outside the aqaurium almost as much as being inside. Here you are jumping the fountains outside and playing on some of the walls and green space.

I had not been to the aquarium in over 12 years...they have added a lot in that time. You all were captivated by all of it! I was in awe again of the power and imagination of God as He has created such an ellaborate world under the waters of the world with such interesting colors and life.

We ate lunch under a bridge while listening to live music by a one man band. It was even cool on this August day!!! What a gorgeous summer we have had!!!

Trying to touch the stingrays...........

WE all LOVED watching the penguins....they are so funny!!!!!

One of the highlights was getting to play in the water outside of the aquarium at the end of the day...it was difficult to get you to leave....

Bribing with ice cream always seems to work, though!!!