Spring Break - Part 2

Our first day of rain for the week arrived on Thursday. Truthfully, the rain was very welcome. The pollen needed to be washed away and we hadn't had rain in a while. The kids weren't even that disappointed about the rain - it just meant more time to play their videogames and watch their favorite shows on T.V. After a visit with Grandma Margie, the rain began to clear a bit and they were able to go out for a little while before we had a small thunderstorm. Craig and the boys watched a movie while Cora and I napped. I also spent a great deal of the day reading. I've already finished the 3 books I got at the library on Monday! I told you...I get obsessed with reading and can't put it down until I'm done.

We decided to go out to eat that night at Chili's (gift cards, once again, rule where we go!) We also had a free kids meal coupon so that pretty much decided it for us. We went around 7:30 which is LATE for us to go out to eat but Ben had taken a late nap so....The trip to Chili's was a success! The kids were great, ate like champs, and so we had an after dinner treat of Brewster's Icecream (another gift card). This was a pretty big treat for us because we seldom ever go to Brewster's (usually it's Dairy Queen for a kid's dollar icecream or free icecream if we have the coupons). This may have been our most successful trip of all - it was completely FREE! Thanks to all who have given us gift cards....

On Friday, we really had to force ourselves to go do SOMETHING. We ate at the Station House for breakfast (can you tell we like to eat? We really don't usually eat out this much but it was our treats for the week...it is Spring Break, after all!) then we went to Sawnee Mtn. Preserve. We have never been before and had wanted to check it out (plus, it's free! Do you see a pattern here?) We weren't sure how long a walk it would be or if I should do it, but we decided to go to the Indian Seats. It really wasn't a bad walk at all. The kids seemed to enjoy it and so did we. The temps had cooled a bit and I was so glad to have a jacket! When we got to the top, it was so windy and cold! We couldn't have chosen a better day to go, though, because it was so clear! We didn't have a camera with us so no pictures but we will definitely do this again and be sure to take a camera with us.

Afterwards, we went to Coal Mtn. Park and let the kids play on the playground (FREE!!). We really love this playground for a number of reasons.

1. We were the ONLY ones there.

2. It is good for all of our kids. What I mean here is that little supervision is required. Most all of the playground has rails/sides at the highest points so you don't have to worry about them falling. It has stuff that big and little kids can do, the area around it is not bark or pinestraw, but that rubbery, in the ground stuff that can't get in your shoes or anything. It is also shaded which is great, too!

3. It's clean.

4. It has nice benches for adults to sit on.

5. You don't have to walk very far from the parking lot to get to it. (I admit it - we are a bit on the lazy side these days.)

In the afternoon, Craig and the kids planted our spring flowers while I took pictures. Aren't they bee-u-tee-full?

Notice that we have a VARIETY in each pot, but each pot has a PATTERN to it. And, each pot is the SAME more or less. Normally, we have all the same color in the pots or very little variety so we spiced it up a bit this year. But, we still have to have some sense of ORDER and SYMMETRY so that's where the pattern comes in. We're weird like that. We are working on it, though.

Our goal is to become a bit more spontaneous. I'll let you know how that goes.

Lolly

Spring Break Happenings...

Our stay-cation has been going well. No pictures so far but here's what we've been doing....

On Monday, the kids went to their Grandma Margie's. While they played at her house, Craig mowed the lawn and did yardwork. I checked out the new library that is near the Hampton's off of GA400. It is so nice! I have to say, I loved the smell of the new library. The new building smell, the new carpet smell, the new bookshelf smell, the new BOOK smell! Yum. I may have to go every day. Seriously, it is a really nice place. The books are so new and fresh. And, the selection was very good as well. I really do want to take advantage of having this new library so close to home and take the kids and just go by myself, too. I love, love, love to read but don't always take the time. Sometimes, I don't take the time because I take TOO much time when I do read. I read super fast but get super involved in a book so when I do read, that is ALL I will do. I will finish a book in one day just because I don't want to stop. Then, I feel like I have done nothing. I need more self-control when reading and take my time.



After a much needed afternoon nap, we all piled in the car to go watch a high school baseball game. We went to see the Lambert Longhorns play Gainesville at Lambert High School. A friend and former coach of Tate's is the head coach at Lambert so we went to support his team. A relatively cheap thing for us to do because Craig works for the school system, our kids are little enough to be free and the guy selling tickets let me in free as well (this doesn't always happen at all school events). We did buy some food at the concession stand which was a bit pricey. Next time, we plan to take a small cooler/bag with our own food, snacks, and drinks. It was really nice because we sat on a grassy spot in the shade where the kids had room to run around a bit. Afterwards, we went to Dairy Queen for some more food and icecream! It would have been a cheap outing if we didn't have to eat!



On Tuesday, we had a nice day at home. We had been given a wonderful gift of steaks, potatoes, salad, and all the fixins' so we invited my family over for lunch and grilled out. The rest of the afternoon we spent outside playing, reading, and Craig worked on the camper a little bit. It was really a nice, relaxing day where we just hung out. We all kind of got to do what we wanted....played, ate, read, just a little bit of everything while right here at home. And, we didn't spend a dime....even better!



On Wednesday, we thought we'd run some errands and pick up a few things at BJ's. We were almost there and I remembered that I had forgotten to get the BJ's card from my mom's house. Since we were already in town, we decided to do a little shopping anyway. We went to Barnes and Noble (where we had multiple gift cards to) and browsed the aisles, let the kids pick out a few books, and had a grand time. We don't go to bookstores often but when we do we always say how we should go more. It's so much fun because there is just so much there to see. The kid section had a toy train in it that the kids played with for a while. They also really enjoyed picking out new books. Plus, there are other activity and crafty type things you can buy as well. Craig was in hog heaven in the magazine section. Something for everyone! I even have a few gift ideas in mind for a few folks. We topped off the visit by applying for a teacher discount (20% off) card and so we were even more thrilled when we checked out! We even had some $$$ left on the gift card. It's so much fun to buy stuff when you don't actually spend any money, isn't it?

Afterwards, we let the kids decide where to eat and they chose....PIZZA! So, we went to CiCi's Pizza, ate way too much, let the kids play in the game room (even bought them tokens which we NEVER do), they won some great treasures (READ: JUNK) that they were thrilled with and that was our adventure of the day! The rest of the day we hung out at the house, played outside, took naps, that sort of thing. The great thing about our kiddos is that they like to go places, but they like it at home as much as we do!

lolly

Easter Egg Huntin' and Easter Sunday

On Saturday, we attended the annual Pine Crest Easter Egg Hunt. It was an absolutely gorgeous, perfect day for it. (In fact, this Easter/Spring Break has been the warmest, prettiest we have had in a long time.)

After the first 30 minutes of Cora refusing to open her eyes or get down, the day went really well! (Still not sure why she chose to do this...but after I put her down - eyes still closed and running into the tables and crying profusely, PreacherMan had had enough. After a brief talk with her, she returned, ate a few bites, and went merrily on her way...)

The rest of the day was filled with hiding eggs, hunting eggs, eating candy, playing baseball, and general running around. Everyone was exhausted by the time we got home.

One of the only pics of the three kids together...as Tate says "We're wasting time and losing eggs! "...

Tate and Ben on the prowl for eggs....

Ben and Cora stuck fairly close to Craig...just in case they needed additional help in finding eggs...

Tate...in deep concentration ....trying to spot more eggs....

Cora showing off her BIG egg.... and sitting down to go through her basket of eggs to see what kind of "goodies" were inside...

Playing a bit of baseball....

We (meaning me and the kids) opted to skip church that night in order to prepare for our big Easter Sunday the next day (Read: I needed to preserve my sanity and energy for getting us up early and getting ready for SunRise service, sunday school, and regular church the next day). I am not Super Mom and know my limits. I was able to get them bathed, in the bed fairly early, and everything ready for the next day.

This was tremendously helpful the next morning when we were struggling out of the bed. Our alarm was set for 5:15. We finally made it out of bed around 5:30. By 5:40, I was in the shower. By 6 am, we were getting our kids up and dressed. And, between 6:20-6:25, we were herding the kids into the car to get to Sun Rise Service that starts at 6:45. I told Craig that next year, we might need to budget a few extra minutes in order to get #4 dressed and ready to go.

(I took NO pictures of us in our Easter outfits this year. Didn't even cross my mind. No idea why I didn't. I do have some of us that were taken for a church directory picture and we happened to have on our Easter outfits but none from the actual Easter Sunday. )

Sun Rise Service and Church was great! Easter dinner afterwards was delicious! Cora slept for hours after church so we waited to have our own little Easter egg hunt until that evening. Also, the Easter Bunny typically doesn't visit our house until after church. This year was no different. After Cora woke up, we found that the Easter Bunny had arrived with presents and candy! All of the kids promptly ate about half of their chocolate bunny and saved the rest for later. (This is the first year they received a chocolate bunny and they were a hit...messy, but a hit.)

Craig had the idea to clean out our change (coins) from the car by putting it into lots of Easter eggs and then hiding them for the kids. We hid around 90 eggs filled with coins in our front yard and let the kids loose! They loved it! Afterwards, each of the kids put their coins into their piggy banks for future use.

It was a really great day! Beautiful, beautiful weather! I don't know if I ever remember a warmer Easter. We really enjoyed the warm weather!

Lolly

Spring Break 2010

What a gloriously beautiful spring break we are having! This year we are staying at home for spring break (unless we decide last minute to go somewhere... which is doubtful). We originally thought we'd go camping for a night or two. We had thought about going to Unicoi with some friends, or even closer to home at Bald Ridge on the lake but then Ben got sick so we held off on reservations, and honestly, staying at home just sounded so good.

We entertained the thoughts of going on an impromptu trip to the beach with some friends, or tag along with family to Savannah, and we were also invited to a cabin in the mountains. But, we declined them all to stay at home, save the money, save our sanity (vacation with 3 kids just isn't always a vacation) , and just hang out at home. We are self-imposed homebodies, and we are ok with it. Plus, we just got out of revival and Easter festivities, and come Sunday, will start another revival. Home just sounds so good sometimes. Plus, there were lots of little things we wanted to get done, or go do, so we opted to just hang out here. Though, every day or so, we say - "let's just go to..." then we change our minds. We are hopeless homebodies. And, besides, if I leave home, how will I get my laundry fix?

lolly

Out of Control

I'm out of control. Seriously. There are a few things that are really getting out of control right now.



1. my obsession with laundry.

2. my obsession with smells.

3. my obsession with clorox wipes.

4. my consumption of dove truffle eggs and all other forms of chocolate.

5. my obsession with taking long, hot showers.



That's it. I am officially out of control.



Lolly

Smells, smells, and more smells

In full disclosure and to accurately document this time of my life and to further add to folks thinking I may be insane, I thought I'd list some of my favorite smells right now. Remember, its the intensity of the smells that are affected during my pregnancy. Everything smells stronger and better somehow. Excluding foods, which is odd.







Here we go... (some are repeats from another post)







1. Laundry Detergent and Dryer sheets - preferably Gain - Original scent (none of that fru-fru mango scent or island paradise or anything - just plain 'ole clean and fresh smell)



2. Caress (or Equate) Shower soap



3. Any Fresh/Clean Shampoo



4. Soft soap - anti-bacterial soap - again, just the plain, clean, fresh smelling ones. I filled all of our dispensers today even if they did not need it.



5. Newspapers/sales ads - I really like the smell of paper....



6. Paper towels and toilet paper and kleenex - not the scented kind. Did you know that they actually do smell? I know you are going to go try it right now.



7. Chapstick - original



8. Craig's work building - smells like diesel, wood, and kind of dirt/grime mix but I kinda like it



9. BJ's Warehouse - the warehouse smell of boxes, paper products, cleaning supplies, etc.



10. Clothes fresh out of the washer or dryer, especially white T-shirts. I don't know why but they really do smell the best.



11. Heat - you know like in the shower or laundry room dryer or hairdryer or in the car - maybe its more the feel than the smell....



12. The smell of the kids' hair after their baths - I think that has to be everyone that has kids' favorite smell.





13. Clorox Wipes - I know that supposedly cleaners, clorox, etc. that has a chemical smell is really not good for you or the environment but if I can't smell that "clean" smell, it's just not clean to me. Agree?



Lolly

I may be crazy but....

A few things that are driving me crazy right now... (mainly due to pregnancy, and really, I am trying not to sound like I'm complaining because I really am glad to be having another baby.)





1. itchiness - Every pregnancy, I itch. Excessively. Sometimes, I think I am going to scratch my skin off. Maybe its because I am taking too many showers...maybe I'm drying out my skin...nah, that can't be it!


2. Getting up every 2 hours during the night to visit the bathroom. Enough said.


3. Heartburn.


4. Not being able to sleep very well.


5. Eating too much chocolate. Nah, that really doesn't drive me crazy. It should. But it just doesn't. I refuse to feel guilty. And, the chocolate thing is really not that related to pregnancy if I am being totally honest here.