The Crew At The Zoo!

Friday was a teacher workday... so Maria & I decided to take advantage of the day off and the BEAUTIFUL weather and take the kids to the zoo! We had so much fun & all of the kids were SO GOOD! The zoo was not crowded at all... and all six kids walked the entire time with NO stroller! Climbing on the animal statues... feeding the lorakeets... climbing the rocks at the penguin exhibit... and riding the carousel were the favorites!

Moms In Front...

Boys In The Middle...

Girls In The Back...

a.k.a. The Zoo Bus!

Our six little monkeys...

NO SNOW FOR ME!

They were calling for snow flurries here again last night... in SC... in MARCH??? Okay... so I really enjoyed the snow the first two times this year... the kids loved it... Black Jack loved it... but I have had my fill. Fortunately... we did NOT get snow this time! We got the best possible scenario... a 2 hr delay for school! So, the kids and I had a relaxing morning... the twins did not have preschool b/c of the delay... and I have been able to get a few things done around the house. I will say... this is a picture of what Jessica keeps in our freezer in the garage... and this is the only snowman I need to see until NEXT winter. The snowman can stay in the freezer... but bring on the sunshine... I've got my flip flops ready ;)

Relaxing Weekend!

Mom & Jim came to visit this weekend and we had such a relaxing time! It rained ALL weekend... Jaycie still had a soccer game on Saturday morning, so James & Jim went to watch her play in the rain. Mom & I did a little shopping... and other than that, we just relaxed around the house, played with the kids, celebrated birthdays (the twins & mom), enjoyed sangria (thanks for the yummy recipe, Maria!), and read... it was very nice. Since it rained so much, Black Jack - our "outside dog" - ended up in the house quite a bit (I hear some of you laughing!)... he did pretty well, but had a hard time settling down around Baron b/c he wanted to play so badly. After the past few days, some sunshine would be nice... but it was nice to stay inside and relax!

New birthday toys...

apparently, it is not possible to have too many trucks!

Park & Picnic

Last week, we met Maria & Anderson at the park to play and have a picnic. The kids had fun... even though it was a bit chilly. Hopefully, it will warm up SOON! I can visualize Jacob & Anderson getting into lots of trouble together one day... but Jamie will be around to keep us informed ;)

Anderson + Jacob = Double Trouble!

February Fun!

We have been keeping busy... as always! James took Jacob to the Monster Truck Show... rednecks in the making! If there is one thing my little man loves... it is trucks... monster trucks... garbage trucks... fire trucks... dump trucks... delivery trucks... tanker trucks... you get the point. That is all he talks about in the car... we drive down the road and he tells me EVERY type of truck we see! So, the Monster Truck Show was his thing... he loved it. He ran around the house for days before the show announcing in a growly voice... "I'm going to the Monster Truck Show, man!" Ever since... he has been lining up his hot wheel cars, and running them over with his monster trucks.

We also met Maria & Anderson at WINK pottery... the kids had so much fun and Anderson is the cutest little guy! They painted a fish, a horse, and a monster truck (guess who picked that one?) Of course, we headed to lunch afterwards... they recently moved here from Raleigh... so Maria & I have a lot in common and I am SO THANKFUL she is here! I know James is, too b/c I was driving him crazy.

Something new for us... SOCCER! Jaycie asked to play (from ballerina to soccer player)... and since Troy, our neighbor, told us he would be her coach & she would be on Hunter's team... we signed her up. She is doing so well and seems to really like it. She is the type of kid that is happy doing anything... I think she really wanted a reason to have more time to play with Hunter b/c now she tells me that they need to spend time practicing together... hmmm ;)

Londa gives Jaycie some tips before her first practice!

James & Jaycie before the first big game!

Jaycie's first soccer game was actually on Valentine's Day. That morning... the kids opened their Valentine Bags... we made them at home and then they put notes to each other in there all week. There were also cards from family and special treats from Mommy & Daddy in their bags... they loved these! One other tradition we have is that we decorate their doors! They loved it! We went to dinner at our friends' house... the kids (big and small) had a blast. The next night, James and I had a quiet steak dinner after the kids went to bed... it was SO good... we will definitely head back to the NY Butcher Shop!

Heart shaped Jell-O Jigglers... awww...
Jamie, Jessica, Jaycie, Jacob, Colin, & Anderson

And most recently... skate night! I was supposed to take the girls when the boys went to the truck show, but Jessica was sick. So... we went this weekend. And... it was supposed to be our family night... BUT the twins were AWFUL at nap time and lost their privilege to go. James QUICKLY volunteered to be the one to "miss out" and stay home with the twins... so I took Jessica & Jaycie. They had a lot of fun... and even more fun when they saw friends from our neighborhood. The girls did the skate race... (in the girl 8 & under category). That is what the video below is from. One thing I will say... that is the Friday night hang out for kids in middle school and I am REALLY NOT READY for that stage. I am sure I will be one of those over protective moms sitting in the corner pretending to read a book... for now, I am very happy they are at the stage where they want me to be their "skate partner" and when they wave at me across the rink to make sure I am watching!

Check out the carpet on the wall... whew...

Skate Race...

Tubes

After multiple ear infections (and more doctor visits than I can count this season)... Jacob had tubes put in his ears on Tuesday... a day after his birthday... sorry, buddy. Jaycie had tubes put in when she was 14 months old, so we know what a world of difference they can make. We had to wake him up at 4:45 am... to be at the hospital by 5:15 am... for surgery at 7:30 am??? Anyway, he did pretty well. He did NOT like having to put on the hospital gown (who does?)... but he was happy as a clown when he realized that his bed moved up and down. He was even more excited when he realized his bed had wheels and he got to go for a ride... in the elevator! The entire time the bed was moving, he sat straight up and grinned from ear to ear. The actual procedure took less than 20 minutes, he had a wonderful ENT, and all of the hospital staff took such great care of him. When he woke up from the anesthesia... he was MAD... so we didn't get any pictures of him after the surgery. I knew he was happier when he started playing with the buttons on the hospital bed again. After we left the hospital, we stopped by the store so he could pick out a new truck for being so good... and we were home before 10 am. He was grumpy most of that day... but was back to normal Tuesday night just in time to take Jaycie to her first soccer practice and have dinner at Moe's. Hopefully, this will alleviate his ear infections and our continuous doctor visits... but Jamie is on ear infection #4 this season... so she may be next. Time will tell.

"My own remote!"

"Aha! The bed moves up and down!"
Jacob loving the ride in the elevator!

PARTY, PARTY!

Happy Birthday, Jamie & Jacob!!! The twins turned 3 on Monday!! WOW... very hard for me to believe my babies are 3 years old! This weekend, we celebrated with friends. We met everyone at the bowling alley, then all came back here for pizza and cake. The kids had the greatest time! So did the adults... the party was simple, easy, relaxing, and nice... EXACTLY what we needed!

Jacob & Jamie ready to bowl!

Hunter, Jessica, Jacob, Jamie, Jaycie, Colin, & Anderson

Thanks for helping us celebrate!!!

I was so excited when a friend said

she could make Jacob a cake w/o eggs!

http://cakesbychristy1.blogspot.com/

They loved having their own cakes this year!

We sang to Jamie first, since she was born first...

Then to Jacob!

On Sunday, family came to visit and celebrate... James' family came for a few hours and Geri was able to stop by on her way home from the beach. The kids enjoyed playing with their cousins... then they had fun flying kites with Grandma Geri. Later that evening, my dad & stepmom arrived for a few days... we had a very nice time! Thanks to everyone who helped make Jamie & Jacob's birthday so special!!

The kids with their cousins, Grant & Sage.On their actual birthday... more gifts to open!

Scrapbook Weekend!

Ahh... this past weekend was our much needed long girls' weekend at the beach to scrapbook. This will be our 7th year of these "retreats"... and since we now have 12 kids between us (see January post about Raleigh... I've got pics of them all posted!) and take SO many pictures, we have convinced our hubbies that we just HAVE to have two 3-day weekend trips every year. Honestly, I would never get caught up without these trips. We rotate between Emerald Isle and Topsail Island... this time it was EI. We enjoyed dinner out... seafood... plenty of sleep... time to read... time to chat... lots of music... and even managed to get in a 3.5 mile run! Can't wait until our next beach trip!

See... we REALLY do scrapbook!

Heading out to dinner...

Samantha, Janet, Wilkie, & Jennifer

A quick walk to the beach before we have to leave...

Jennifer, Samantha, Wilkie, & Janet