19 Months

Ellie is 19 months old and as funny as ever. She loves loves loves her baby doll, any stuffed animal, any real dogs walking by, her pacifiers, and especially her daddy.

This girl has a temper, which is usually exhibited through silent crying, pouty lips, and even licking things (i.e. the floor) if she doesn't get her way.

Words she is saying these days:
dink=drink (and she makes gulping noises when she wants to drink)
hung-ee=hungry
more peese=more please
cheese
I 'id it=I did it
eet=eat

And she has been saying for a few months now:
bai-bai=bye bye
bee-beeeee=baby
gangoo=thank you

It is remarkable to me that she notices babies out in public and yells out bee-bee, and that she gets excited about a new dress that she has never worn before.  Jackson could have cared less about both things when he was this age.

 Jackson is quite the little ham as well, and he is such a rule-follower/leader.  He loves to instruct other kids (i.e. at the splash pad, he made SURE all the other kids saw the dead bug and went "over it.")  He loves to read and to be read to, plays with his trains and trucks often, is very inventive in his play, and wants to be just like daddy (i.e. "Mom, I'm on a work call.  I can't talk now.)

 Checking out the Discovery Place with my parents

Jackson has also started saying prayers on his own, although he still asks us to say his prayers at nap time and bed time.  It is so sweet to hear him say what he is gankle (thankful) for.  The other day we drew a birthday card for a little boy we don't know that has a brain tumor.  I asked Jackson to pray for Danny and it was beyond precious to hear him praying for "Daniel."

Love these sweet gifts God has given me!

July 2014

We have had a fun and full month of July. Between family trips, dinners with friends, and Andy working insane hours at work all the time, it has been a packed month!

We started off by celebrating July 4th with our best friends who were vacationing in Asheville.

 Rosemary and I have been best friends since our first week at Auburn, we've been roommates and in each others' weddings, and somehow we've let 2 years slip by without seeing each other. So this was such a fun and special time to get our families together.

 A toasty summer day called for fun at the splash pad in downtown Asheville

 Stealing the above pic from Rosemary, as she got some cuties of our kids on the dock, in the bathtub, petting a turtle, and lots of hugs

 Rosemary's in-laws graciously watched all 3 kids so we could escape to The Glass Onion (my new fave!) in Weaverville, NC, for a much-needed couples-night-out.  We had so much fun talking and laughing and eating delicious food, that the elderly ladies sitting behind us asked to move tables :) That's the sign of a good time had by all. (note: we did apologize to the restaurant owner and she said the elderly ladies had already moved to 3 other tables prior to our arrival)

 Andy's eyes are closed, but at least we got a couples' shot.

I can't say enough about how refreshing it was to fill my soul with best friends, food, laughter, wine, delicious home-cookin' by Carole (Rosemary's sweet mother-in-law), and to watch our kids play together so well.  

For the day of the 4th, we watched fireworks back in our neighborhood after a pool-filled weekend, and had a great time at our neighbor's huge BBQ  party.

 We've had some fun gatherings with our favorite new Charlotte couples, the Harbucks and the Flannagans, and we are so grateful for their friendship.

 A quick trip to pediatrician and then urgent care for 2 small stitches after Jackson cut his finger on glass. He was so brave, and amazingly did well the whole duration of the stitches (8 days in total).

 A picnic with the Flannagans on the Anne Springs Greenway, in front of Billy Graham's grandfather's cabin

 We loved our getaway to Pawley's Island, SC, with just our family of 4. Jackson loved the sand, Ellie not-so-much.

 Standing atop oyster shells at Murrell's Inlet

 Andy and I celebrated 8 years of marriage on July 15th

 My cuties in the tub

And the best ever dinner and bowling with the Harbucks and the Flannagans. So much fun and a great night out.  I call these ladies my "soul-fillers."

May & June

These past few weeks, we've celebrated this guy turning the big 3-2 :)

I think the kids certainly enjoyed the Coconut Cake I make every year for Andy's birthday. Recipe below

Three Day Coconut Cake
 (you make it 3 days in advance so the flavors all have time to meld together, hence the name)

1 Duncan Hines Golden cake mix
14 – 18oz bag of coconut
16oz sour cream
1 cup sugar
8oz cool whip

Make cake and use 8”pans (2). Cool and cut in half to make a total of 4 layers.
Filling:
1. Mix sour cream & sugar in a bowl, then add all the coconut except 1 cup.
2. Frost between the layers.
3. Add 8oz of cool whip to the 1 cup of reserved coconut and frost the top and sides.

Put in sealed tupperware and refrigerate for a couple of days for best flavor. This is great frozen
(pre-slice and wrap so you can pull out a few pieces at a time).

 This summer, we've enjoyed trying on big boy clothes, picnics, popsicles, outside swim time, indoor movies to beat the heat, time at the pool, and staying put to enjoy our neighborhood, meet more neighbors, and get more plugged in to our church. (a huge praise, in that Andy and I felt a simultaneous mutual peace about attending Forest Hill. If you're in need of a good podcast to listen to/watch, check out their website)

 Jackson & James

 a picnic with the Bakers at the Dairy Barn

Enjoying peach ice cream at Springs Farm, our local produce stand.

Jackson attended 4 days of Vacation Bible School at his preschool, Andy traveled to Miami for work, we visited with my sister before her World Race tour, attended fun BBQs with our neighbors, and are overall enjoying sweet summer time.

Lazy 5 Ranch

My sweet mama flew in 2 weeks ago to keep the kids while Andy and I went for the day to the US Open in Pinehurst, NC:

 

Later that week, taking full advantage of the extra set of hands to help me, we ventured up to Lazy 5 Ranch to drive through their property and see all the animals. We had so much fun, despite the fact the beady-eyed emus and aggressive mega-deer-animals were clamoring in our laps to find the food buckets (hence, a mass amount of squeals from me and my mom):

 aka Bucket Stealers

Llama Llama Mad at Mama 

 Water buffalos

 he's not so sure of this adventure

If you're in the Charlotte area, this is a really fun outing to do!