Come to our playground!

Lydia got a wonderful present this year from Papaw (Michael Matlock, Michael's ex-step father). I almost feel like it was a present to me ;) He got her (and Eli) a swing-set! After 2 full days of manual labor on everyone's part, here are the fruits of our labor.

Papaw pushing Lydia and Eli on their new swing set!

Tadah! (spelling?) Here it is!
Trying out the glider thingy
Lydia modeling her swing set.

Lydia's Princess Party!

Lydia, like most little girls wanted a princess party this year. Here she is in her crown.
This is exactly what it looks like... Eli is testing out his moves on an older woman (Emma). I am proud to say he was successful in getting a hug.
Emma was a popular girl are Lydia's party. Here Lydia and Emma are enjoying one of MANY hugs that were accompanied with manic laughter. I have never seen two kids get along so well, they were like long lost sisters, minus the fighting, hair-pulling, and pushing down the stairs (Your welcome Courtney).
Michael and his Little Mamaw (Debbie's mother)
Lydia is obsessed with Little mamaw's shoes that she wears just like this, and this year Little Mamaw bought her a pair and she LOVED it!

Lydia, Grammy, and Aunt Christy enjoying some cake.
Lydia blowing out her candles, this may be been the second take, we didn't get through the first line of the Birthday Song, when she blew them out the first time.
My pretty Princess that turned 4! She is such a beautiful girl inside and out, and so smart!
Lydia and Eli.. Eli looks like he might be up to something!

Lydia trying to check out her hat, but Eli thinks he is more important... I can see them sharing a bathroom in 7 years.

Bithday Weekend

Grammy got Lydia some cupcakes for Gigi's Cupcakes, and we only made it through the first line of the Birthday song before the candle was blown out.
Eli enjoying his cupcake (or should I say icing?)
Lydia situating her new baby in her new stroller... what a good mommy-to-be
Opening presents, I couldn't seem to get her attention... wonder why?

This past weekend we went to Knoxville. Michael had drill and it was Lydia's birthday, so we thought we could spend some time seeing family, celebrate Michael and Lydia's birthdays too. The first day was Lydia's birthday, so we had pizza and cupcakes thanks to Grammy and opened presents from us. The next day we celebrated Michael's birthday with a pot roast and peanut butter pie! Now, I must go slave away at the gym for the next 24 hours to make up for the weekend. Overall, we had a great time. Expect more pictures next week from Lydia's actualy birthday party at our house!

Sometime I get lucky

Often times I try to get pictures of the kids together, but RARELY do I get anything worth posting. I think I hit the jack pot!

Sleep habits

Since Eli has been given his freedom from his crib, I never know where I will find him. I was checking on him at nap time, this is what I found.

Sad day...

Eli has become very attached to his crib blanket. This was never intentional, though I tried to get Lydia attached to a blankie Aunt Tautey made for her. Anyway, washing the blanket has become a type of strategy game for me. Since Eli feels he needs to drag it all around the house, sometimes eat sitting on it, often he tried to carry it downstairs or outside before I notice, so it gets dirty quickly. This is what happens when he figures out the blanket is being washed. He does one of two things: 1. SCREAM for it continuously asking "Where blanket goooooooooo?????" or 2. Sits outside the washer (or drying depending upon the stage) and not so patiently waits.Check out this face!

As you can tell, Lydia gets a kick out of it!

Are you still there?

Lydia loving playing in the snow.

Eli not enjoying making his snow angel

Lydia buried!

I know, it has been a LONG time since my last post, so be ready, because I am going to bombard you with new info. First, Michael is doing great since he has started his treatment, it took a while to get him regulated, but he thinks he might be good now. We go back to the Dr. in May, so we will know for sure then. Winter has been pretty eventful here, we got LOTS of snow for TN standards. When I finally got around to uploading my new pictures, I hadn't realized I ddidn't put my snow day post on the blog, so it's going here.

Overnight this winter we got 8 inches of snow! May not sound too much to you in the north, but it was for us. Lydia could hardly wait to get out and play in it, Eli wanted to watch from the window. So once everyone was suited up, we had our supplied to assemble our snow man, we headed out. Eli didn't want to get off the steps (he gets that from Michael), so I plopped him in the snow. First all the kids did was stare, so I showed them how to make a snow angel. Lydia was all for it, she actually took it a step further and tried to bury herself in the snow! She must get that from me. The kids were disappointed because we couldn't make a snow man that day, it was all powder, so we had to wait a few days and try again. I think we are ready for Maine now ;)

Me showing off my technique.