having fun, but it's not the same without Daddy

While Daddy was away, we busied ourselves...

Friday afternoon snacks and a movie at Nana's house.

Saturday birthday parties...

First, we headed over to Chuck E. Cheese for Ramsey's birthday party. Did you know they serve gluten-free pizza? Ramsey's mom is my hairdresser and I might have embarrassed this just-turned-9-year-old ever so slightly when I loudly announced that I remember when she was just a baby. Yeah, I'm that lady now. After being homeschooled for the past couple years, Ramsey turned up at Gilchrist and is in Logan's class. I wouldn't want to embarrass him or anything, but it appears that sparks are flying. SHHHHH! Of course, Gavin's the one who brushed his hair and carefully chose his outfit for the party, so I might be on my way to my first taste of "when brothers like the same chick".

I couldn't resist getting a picture. Love is in the air. Yes, Logan's humiliated!

We headed over to Birthday #2, our second Valentine's Baby of the day, Baby Sam Lato. Baby Sam was born on Valentine's Day last year and was welcomed into the Lato family three days later. This adoption was  such a long time coming for a dear friend of mine and it's so fitting that he's a cupid baby.

The boys coached him on the logistics of cake. It's really quite complicated. See, first you have to realize that it's food, then you have to find your mouth, and all the while lots of grown ups are standing around with video cameras in your face.

With Daddy out of town, the boys wasted no time hitting up Grandpa Litz for a friendly game of football.

Finally, a silly Sunday dinner at Nana's wrapped up the weekend and we went home to see Daddy again! We had a fun weekend, but it's not the same without him around!

The Allison Weekly: Week of 2/4/2013

Some highlights from this week...

Why, oh why, does my future Picasso always draw pictures of wine glasses? 

What does that say about his mother? 

Succumbing to peer pressure from his girlfriend, Ella, Keegan tried his first non-water drink. Seriously, all he drinks is water and the occasional glass of chocolate milk. So, he tried this Minute Maid Cooler in Pink Lemonade flavor. And loved it. Duh.

Then he tried a Roarin' Waters and loved that too. So, I guess now he'll be drinking these like every other kid in America. Not sure how I feel about that. Water is so good for you and he has excellent teeth. On the other hand, I love to watch him explore his world and try new things. Remember when he wouldn't eat meat? Well now he eats chicken, hot dogs, and hamburgers! My how much he's grown!

This is the first weather report I saw predicting Winter Storm Nemo. My husband, who hates flying, is set to fly into this on Thursday.

Proof of why we shouldn't keep pocket knives in the bedroom of a seven year-old. Gavin stabbed himself in the finger and boy did it bleed...all over my hardwood floors.

Originally, Keegan refused to wear his bike helmet. Now he wears it both inside and outside the house!

I like to photograph my outfits sometimes because I can never remember what shoes or jewelry I wore with certain things and it makes getting dressed in the morning much easier. Do you see a little someone hiding between my legs? Now that I've figured out how to turn my blog into a book, I just had to include this picture. I'm quite certain I will be appalled at my fashion choice when I come across this picture years from now. Mint green pants, a pink and brown striped shirt, and a leopard print belt! But today, I like it.

I was aching for some quality family time in the middle of a busy week, so we decided to go out to dinner at Po' Boys. Don't we look like we're having fun together? It's late and the kids are hungry and tired. The service was sloooooow and that made for a cranky night out. 

Someone needs to buy me this shirt. I plan on making this my mantra.

This is part of my family organization -- school lunch menu, dinner menu, important papers, etc. I like to write song lyrics and quotes on here since it's the last thing we see as we walk out the door in the morning. Great song.

Guilty.

Mid-week ice cream treat with Nana.

So, Daddy made it to Connecticut just ahead of the storm for Gram's birthday surprise. This is Dad's old tree fort early on during Nemo. More on this in a separate post.

There's a pool somewhere out there too.

While he was away, we had sunny skies and 70 degree highs! Not to rub it in.

My Favorite Place -- By: Logan

3rd grade Expository Writing Assignment

By: Logan

My Favorite Place

There are many places in the world, but only North Carolina is my favorite.

My first reason is all my relatives come there. Normally Gram and Gramps get there first. When we all get there we have a party. It takes about 14 hours to get there.

Another reason why I like it is because we play in the pool. Sometimes, if we have everybody we can make a giant whirlpool. It's like spinning around the sun. Lots of times after the pool we go in the hot tub. Sometimes we even have a cannon ball contest.

Most of the days we go to the beach. Me and my brother Gavin bring our boogie boards to the beach to ride on. My two uncles always surf. I've always wanted to surf. At night at about 8:00pm I start hunting for crabs. I try to dig them out of the sand.

That is why North Carolina is my favorite place in the whole world.

Life's A Party

This weekend we quite the party weekend.

 

We had a triple-Zoinks-birthday-party on Friday night. The jury is still out on whether that momma was smart to do them all together or just down right crazy! The occupancy capacity in the party room said "27", but there were at least 30 kids, plus all parents (maybe an additional 20 or so). It was comical and had my phone not been completely dead, I would have taken pictures. Not my idea of a great Friday night. They really should consider selling beer and wine at that obscenely bright, noisy place, but the kids enjoyed themselves. Lucky Jay got to stay behind to attend a party with the governor following his budget unveiling today.

 

Gavin won an FSU ball from the claw-grabber machine thing. This was quite a feat since 3/4ths of the balls were Gator colors!

 

Saturday morning laundry sorters.

 Sometime on Saturday I looked outside and saw this many kids playing in my driveway. I just love that about our neighborhood! Makes my heart smile. Keegan is in the tree and there are a couple of others not pictured. Poor Ella is the only girl, but she's oblivious to it!

 We found time to read.

 And I made this many PBJ's for the neighborhood kiddos.

 We had a little Superbowl party with Nana and Papa.

 And snuggled up by the fire to watch the kickoff.

A grand party weekend, indeed.

Another heartbeat check

While tucking Keegan into bed last night, he announces, "My heart is saying that you always forgive me, Mama. So, don't forget that! Make sure you don't forget that!"

So, what in the world did he do/break/ruin????????