BFF

Gavin is very motherly. He's never met a child/animal/stuffed animal he didn't like. And today he asked if we could have another baby. Nah, sorry honey. The next baby that comes around here is probably going to be yours! These two are going to be trouble one day!

He's a natural!

Not even another (yes, ANOTHER) illness could keep this boy from missing his first day of t-ball. We, the proud parents, took 151 photos. Check back tomorrow for photos of my son's natural-born talent! :)

I *heart* free food!

Two delicious free meals that I just had to share....

Free sub from Quiznos here.

Free pancakes at IHOP here.

Taking a time-out from time-out

The timer went off and I called for him to come over and talk to me about why he was sent to time-out. No answer. I called again. No answer. This is what I found.

Can you tell he spends some time here?

Who's spoiling who?

Just another beautiful day spent with two of our favorite people. You gotta love February in Tallahassee where the average high is in the upper 60's and humidity is always low. Kind of makes up for the sweltering Florida heat of June/July/August/September....

Baby Bears

I got a phone call yesterday from Logan's T-ball coach informing us of the practice time, place, and other information. The following is the conversation I had with Logan later that day.

ME: Your T-ball coach called me today.

LOGAN: Why?

ME: To tell me where your practices are going to be.

LOGAN: Where?

ME: Winthrop (their favorite park).

LOGAN: Whoa! Cool! I'm going to play on the playground!!!!

ME: No, you're going to do t-ball.

LOGAN: And play on the playground a lot.

ME: (ignoring this comment) And he told me that you're team name is the Cubs!

LOGAN: What are Cubs?

ME: Baby bears.

LOGAN: EWWWW, NO!!!!! I don't wanna be a BABY bear, I want to be a BIG, SCARY bear. I'm not going to be a Cub.

So Logan's first t-ball experience is going well so far.

Allison Health Update

We finally found out that Keegan has double ear infections. Fun. But at least it's treatable. Now if only he'd take the antibiotics like the good little boy that he usually is so he could get better. For such a mild-mannered child, he really puts up quite the fight when it comes to putting anything in his mouth other than milk. It's not like it even tastes bad, but he spits, thrashes, and screams his way through each dose. Twice a day, for ten days, which will then likely be followed by another round of antibiotics when the infection doesn't clear up since more of it usually ends up on me than in his belly.

We are looking forward to the weekend. I've been sick all week myself, and mom kindly came over on Wednesday for an American-Idol-dishes-washing-children-bathing-laundry-folding party since things were getting seriously out of control in my house. Much better, although there's still plenty of work to be done. Any volunteers!?!?!

Have a great weekend!

A sign of the times

Lately, I've been finding lots of really great restaurant/food/travel coupons and thought I'd start posting some here. Either I look harder for them now or it's just a sign of our economic times and proof that all types of businesses are hurting as more and more people cut back. Either way, I love free stuff and I'm assuming you do too.




Click here, print, and take this to T.G.I.Friday's (not on V-day, sorry!) for a Buy 1 Get 1 FREE entree.



Thanks SouthernSavers

Free Favorites

With the kids being so sick, this was not a great shopping week for me. I didn't make it to Walgreen's and I boycotted CVS for this ad run. They're running a "test ad" this week in Florida which doesn't include any Extra Care Buck deals (which is how I get stuff for free there). Even though they had a few things I needed, I didn't want to contribute to their little marketing test. I did manage great Publix trip (without kids!!!!) where I saved about as much as I spent, including the use of $27 worth of coupons. I got Muir Glen tomato paste, Jiffy Pop popcorn, and Pam Cooking Spray for free. We ate out or ordered in a few times more than normal thanks to the germs infesting my house, but hopefully I made up for it with my cheap Publix week.

On the mend

We are on our way back to normal, I believe. Keegan and I still have a fever off and on, but the rest of the house is pretty much back to normal. There was plenty of fighting, wrestling, whining, singing, guitar playing, and laughing throughout the house today. In other words, just a normal Saturday in the Allison house.

After being cooped up in the house most of the week, we decided to stretch our legs a little bit today and enjoy the fresh air. It was 70 degrees with clear skies today. What a change from the lows in the teens that we've had this week! We took the kids to Chick-fil-a for dinner, where they were very well-behaved and amazed us by the amount of food they ate. Not to be outdone, Keegan decided to try french fries and chicken nuggets and LOVED it. So, I guess he does eat solid foods...just not baby food. We then immediately headed over to Costco where the boys yelled loudly, "What's for dinner, mom? I'm starving!!!!" Ummm....didn't we just feed you a half hour ago?

Quarantined

Over the past several days, we have done more laundry, Lysol-ed more rooms, blown more noses, and cleaned up more vomit than I really care to discuss. We are exhausted and my contacts are sticking to my eyes. I also almost forgot to brush my teeth before I went to work this morning. Nothing major -- just the normal-kid-illness kind of stuff, but it's sucking in a very big way at the moment.

say cheese

So Santa brought the boys a digital camera for Christmas. I have to say I'm really impressed with the durability of this thing. I mean, Gray is the clumsiest kid I know. He has probably dropped it 15 times already, and it doesn't even have so much as a scratch on it. It's easy to use, shuts off after a few minutes of not using it, and doubles as a video game system. The only problem is that every time I break out our camera to get a picture of the boys doing something cute, this is what I get....
....one of them taking a picture of me taking a picture!

Keegan sandwich

hot dogs & peas

I think we found something he likes!!!!

just brothers

Just three little brothers watching TV together on a lazy Saturday morning.

And the band played on...and on....

My house is like a high school football game at half time (but with slightly less talent). The boys run (march?) around the house playing "Marching Band", something they learned by watching this year's Christmas Parade downtown.

Thanks Jenna and Patrick. I'm thinking of gifts to send for Macie's birthday....a drum set? A whistle? A tambourine?

Long weekend...Thanks, MLK!

We have thoroughly enjoyed our long weekend together.



The boys had a sleepover at Nana's last night (hooray for a night off!). They went to see a movie and lounged around the house this morning before heading out to China Super Buffet to meet us (seemed like a good idea at the time, but now I need a long nap followed by an even longer run!).


After the bike ride, the boys enjoyed some quality "man time" with Daddy and put Santa's gifts to good use at the "Battery building" (a state office building that looks like a battery).

They found a nature trail and went on an adventure.

And a day outside would not be complete without Logan finding a stick to use as a sword/weapon on his brother.

(photos taken from Jay's Crackberry...I mean, Blackberry)

We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo. How 'bout you-o-o?

Friday night the boys got to go to Nana and Papa's for a sleepover. They went to the park and Chick-fil-a that evening, followed by a trip to the zoo Saturday morning. Do you think they might be spoiled????We had a nice evening home "alone" with Keegan. Funny to think how four years ago we wouldn't have considered it a relaxing evening home alone with a 7 month old, but it's a piece of cake to us now. It's nice to have that time alone with him sometimes and I think he enjoys it as well. He got to eat with us and didn't have to share the bath with anyone!

I love my Great-Nana

(see what I mean about him holding that yellow ball all the time?)

The day has finally arrived

7:00am EST. Santa has arrived!

And he brought new big boy bikes!

In their stockings, the boys found candy, toys, and tape measures (so they can be just like Daddy and measure stuff). Even Keegan got one!


Gray was particularly excited about the Nerds he found at the bottom of his stocking.

And here we have the coveted Bat Cave.

This was not on the original Christmas list, but as Christmas drew closer and the advertising execs. had a ball pumping the cartoon channels with toy commercials, the Bat Cave rose to the top of the list and was repeatedly requested to Santa in person. So much so that "Santa" had to run around town on 12/23 in search of said Cave so as not to ruin Christmas for two "good" little boys. Luckily, he was successful seeing as Mommy really did not want to pay extra for overnight shipping. In all seriousness though, they have not stopped playing with it (or fighting over it) since Christmas morning. Christmas would surely have been ruined, despite the living room full of new toys, had Santa forgotten the Bat Cave.

Warm mittens and a hat from Mommy and Daddy. We wore shorts on Christmas day, so I'm not really sure when we'll really need these.

Keegan's favorite toy -- a ball and cup set from Ashley, our Nanny. Although you only see one picture of him here, every single picture of him from Christmas morning includes the yellow ball either in his hand or in his mouth. He simply would not put it down. We lost it on 12/26 amidst all the Christmas clutter, but subsequently found it again during the New-Year's-Day-Resolution-Clean-Up and it remains one of his favorite toys today.

Thank you to all our friends and family for the wonderful gifts you sent. If you sent a noisy gift (like the ones pictured here from Jenna and Patrick), and you have children of your own, then don't worry -- your time will come. We will resend obnoxiously loud gifts in return for your child's next birthday! But really, I must say that the band instruments are a hit (separate post about that later).

Yay! Transformers from Grandma Cathy!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

the making of the gingerbread house

Mad because I won't let them eat the candy (Gavin refuses to even look at the camera).

After consuming a few pieces of candy, Gavin shows off his Gingerbread guy.

Logan...always posing properly so I can get good pictures for my scrapbook/blog.

Finished product.

Christmas Eve

This Christmas, for the first time, we made a budget and stuck to it. I did most of our shopping on Black Friday as well as Cyber Monday. I also managed to wrap the presents, pester Jay into assembling toys as needed, bake goodies, and prepare Christmas Day dinner all before December 24th. So, for the first time, I was able to relax and enjoy Christmas Eve. Here are the highlights of our day...

Baking cookies with Nana and Papa.

And eating the finished product.

(I'm at home wrapping a few last minute gifts, showering etc. Who knows where Jay is. Probably on another one of his two hour bike rides!)

Our annual trip to Dorothy B. Oven park to look at the lights and run the kids around till they're tired.

The train conductor is pouting for some reason that I can't recall. I think it's because we wouldn't let him in the front until the Daddy of the little girl in front of him took her picture as the train conductress. In other words, he was mad because we made him wait his turn.

Taking a ride on Santa's sleigh.

Do you have any idea how difficult it is to successfully photograph all three?

Mad at Daddy for another reason I can't recall.

Me like-e me food-e

The photo that didn't make it into this post, but was just too funny not to share.

He eats!

HE EATS!

...and eats...

... and eats!

In fact, he ate so well that I decided to try a jar of baby food one more time (sweet potatoes). I think he liked it! Do you?

So, I hadn't really intended on giving him food tonight. I'm getting tired of wasting little uneaten but opened jars of baby food. BUT, While I was juggling holding the hip-monkey this afternoon and getting the boys some Ritz crackers he kept trying to grab the cracker sleeve out of my hand. He cried when I wouldn't let him have it, so I thought, "Why not just give it to him? He's not going to like it anyway." So I plopped him down in his high chair and pulled out a couple of crackers with the hopes of simultaneously doing the dishes and giving my right bicep a break from carrying around a 24 pound 7 month old. And so the rest is history.

In other Keegan news -- he's such a trooper. He is currently working hard on pushing through those two front teeth, has a cold and a nasty little cough, and got a flu shot in his thigh yesterday. I mean, the boy is in pain to put it mildly, yet he never complains. If only his brothers would follow suit.