What are you doing Wednesday?

I can't believe it, but tomorrow is August 1st!  What does that mean BACK TO SCHOOL!  I don't officially have to return to work until the 7th of August but I am heading back in tomorrow to at least get a head start on my classroom.  

Today I spent a lot of time printing and cutting!  

And printing and cutting some more! 

I still have quite a bit of printing and cutting to finish up tonight.  Oh my, who am I kidding!  I am probably going to have lots of printing and cutting to do the next week or so!

Confessions of a Clothing Addict

As I walk around the house cleaning and getting things in order for back to school.  I am met with this beautiful table. 

 

Yes, those are clothes.  There are three bins stuffed in the closest.  They will hardly close because they are packed full!  I mean really, let me be honest and tell you that one of them will NOT close.  I have things sitting on top of it so the lid won't pop off. 

 Those clothes, well, they don't have a bin.  AND they won't ever have one!  They are going to some other little boy so he can love them. 

I don't know when it actually started or how it started, but it started!  I started buying a few pieces of Gymboree for Cade.  It was just so cute!  I remember my very first order online, and I bought every single piece from one line.  I loved it!  Then I found Janie & Jack - oh my!  It was bad!  If you are a Janie & Jack shopper you can probably spot a couple of their outfits in my pictures.  I remember calling Janie & Jack's in other states looking for pieces.  I knew which stores I should call to find cold weather clothing, warm weather clothing.  I knew which ones had the nicest employees.  I mean, I even had SA's calling me to tell me about sales and ask me if they should pull anything for me.

One day I found another brand to love - Mini Boden!  OH MY!  It was love at first sight!  I couldn't resist the clothing, and honestly I still can't.  I love Mini Boden and would dress the boys in in daily, okay let's be real again, I do dress the boys in it most days.  Sometimes I mix it up with a little Hanna Andersson.  Haha!  

Anyway, my whole point was, I don't know when this actually started or how it started taking me over but it has and it does.  Last night as I was cleaning and I saw the piles I decided I was DONE!  I am not selling all this stuff, I just don't have time.  Sure, I could make some extra money, but what would I spend it on?  DING, DING, DING...MORE CLOTHES!  So those bins they are finding a new home this week and I am vowing not to overbuy.  Please someone help a clothing addict out and make me stick to this.  First step admitting you have a problem! There you go, I did it!

Our Quick Trip Vacation

We didn't have a big vacation planned out this summer.  So we decided to take a few days and do something in Orlando.  It's only a three hour drive and we knew the boys would love what we had planned.  We booked three nights at the Nickelodeon Hotel and spent two days at Lego Land.   

Before arriving at the Nickelodeon Hotel we did spend a night at the La Fiesta Inn & Suites in St. Augustine.  It was super nice and I can't wait to go back.  Hopefully, when we go back it will just be Larry & I though - date weekend?  Sounds like perfection to me!  

We went to dinner at a neat little Cuban Restaurant.  I am not all for trying new things so this was a little difficult for me! 

However, I was able to find something that I liked to eat!  I giggled when I was reading the menu because my boys always want to watch SpongeBob so I know that he has "Crabby Patties" on there.  I couldn't help but take the picture because where else can you get a "Crabby Patty"? 

My mom also came with us on this little vacation, so Sunday morning we got up and walked down to the beach after eating our breakfast.  

 Our toes in the sand!

Then we loaded up the van and headed to Orlando!  The boys actually thought we were going home so it was so funny to see their faces when we pulled up to the Nick Hotel.  

First thing we did when we got there was go see Colin's favorites - The Ninja Turtles! 

Colin was so excited and so was Cade! 

 Obviously I am not a great picture taker and I am using my phone ALL the time!

 Colin needed his favorite turtles mask!  He wore this most of the afternoon.  It was too funny!

 

And of course I had to get a picture of all us while there. I mean what fun would that be if I didn't get one picture of us all together?

 

After, meeting The Ninja Turtles we headed to the pools.  I don't have any pictures of this because I left my phone in the room and I was running around the slides trying to keep up with boys.  Both boys were tall enough to ride the slides at the hotel.  Colin did have to wear a life jacket on the slides, but Cade did not.  One of the pools had a Putt-Putt course beside it and Cade LOVED it.  We did that a few times with him.  

The Nick Hotel also had shows that you could attend.  We signed up on our first day to attend Dora's Friendship Fiesta.  Cade said it was for babies but he enjoyed it just as much as Colin.  

After, the show there was a small dance party with Dora & Boots. 

 

We also attended another show that evening, DOUBLE DARE!  Cade had never heard of Double Dare until the show, but it was a child time favorite for me.  I remember watching it every time it was on and I always wanted my family to be on the show! 

 

Cade loved the show so much that we watched it each night we stayed at The Nick Hotel!  Now, Cade would like a Double Dare birthday party.  I can't wait to put that one together!

Papaw Came To Visit!

My dad was able to come visit us for a few days.  I was so excited for the boys to meet him and get to play with him.  Yes, I said for the boys to get to meet him.  That is because I haven't seen my dad in six years. Technically, he has met Cade but Cade doesn't remember and well I want my boys to know my dad.   

I am not sure who was more excited for the visit - my dad or me!  I couldn't wait for him to get here and he kept telling me on the phone that I wouldn't recognize him, but of course as soon I pulled up to the curb at the airport I knew it was him!  He looked just like he did six years ago, just like my daddy! 

While he was here the boys got to spend some quality time with him and so did I! 

We went out for a seafood dinner on Colin's birthday.  My dad and I both love shrimp!  Larry can't eat shellfish often so we don't go out for seafood very much.  This was such a fun treat!

The boys enjoyed being with their Papaw as well!  It was so much fun to see them laughing and playing.  We even had a pool day!  My daddy ALWAYS took me to the pool during the summer and it was always so much fun.  It is one of my favorite memories with my daddy.  

I am so glad my boys got to go with my daddy as well. 

 Picture of my daddy and me with my boys!  I love this! 

Oh my goodness I had missed my daddy much more than I thought.  It was just like old times with him here and I can't wait for him to come back, SOON!! 

Happy 4th Birthday Colin!

Colin, I cannot believe you are 4 already!  

It seems like just yesterday I brought you home from the hospital as a little tiny 6lb 12oz baby.  

You were so tiny and sweet and precious!  We stayed up late every night for three weeks because you refused to sleep in your bassinet.  Ok, who am I kidding?  We didn't stay up late, we stayed up ALL night!  I should have known then that you would be just as stubborn as your mommy!  

You LOVE to "petend" and use your "'magination".  You can play pirates and Ninja Turtles for hours!  You LOVE cake and it's your main reason for wanting to go to birthday parties now.  

You also love swimming at the pool!  This summer you have become quite the fish and you are even swimming without your floaties.  You actually swam across the entire pool on a noodle yesterday.  While I loved watching you do that and seeing the excitement in your face, I must admit, it did make me tear up a little.  My baby is growing up and FAST! 

This year we had a "real" birthday party for you with friends and all!  You loved every single minute of it!  Blowing out the candles was your favorite part! 

Colie Wallie - I love you so very much!  I am so happy that God blessed me with you.  Your strong willed personality reminds me how much we are alike each day.  Your little gap toothed smile melts my heart and when you say, "I lub you" - well I am pretty much DONE!  Happy Birthday my sweet boy!

Wednesday, Wednesday!

Every time I think of Wednesday, I now think of that crazy commercial on TV, you know the one I am talking about, right?  The one with the camel running around the office saying you know what today is?  It's HUMP day!  It makes me giggle every single time I watch it. I guess I am just easily amused these days.  

It seems that summer is coming to an end quickly.  I always feel that way when we hit July!  I went to pick up swords at the Dollar Tree for Colin's birthday party on Saturday and I saw this huge section of bins. 

It's like a teacher's dream and worst nightmare!  

Then, I decided it was time to backpack shop.  I had already seen the huge section of bins so why not add a little salt to the wound.  Haha!  I couldn't decide if I should order Colin a new backpack or not.  It is his first year in "Big School"  however this backpack was just floating around our house in perfect condition.  I think I might just use this one and purchase him a new lunchbox.  

Of course this picture makes me tear up!  Why, oh, why is he growing up so fast?  I thought this backpack looked huge on him but the more I look at it the more I realize it does not.  My sweet baby is going to Pre-K!  I can't even believe it! 

Last but not least, a random selfie, because if you know me,  you know I LOVE selfies!  :) 

I am still loving my Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray.  That is the best stuff ever invented! 

Family Pool Day

Larry has been working extremely hard to get our rental home ready to rent.  So if you live in South Georgia or know someone who is moving here please tell them we have a rental we need rented out ASAP! 

Anyway, Saturday he came home early and we took the boys down to the pool for a few hours. 

 Colin is a complete fish!  It's so much fun to watch him this year. 

 They were both playing on the ladder!  Cade actually smiled for a picture for me!

 And of course they always "fish"!  Colin caught a Cade! 

We had an amazing afternoon as a family!  I can't wait for us to do it all over again!

Friday Night Bike Rides

Do your kids hate to go outside and play?  My oldest, Cade, doesn't seem to enjoy it too much!  Colin loves to go out, but Cade not so much.  It's a constant battle.  We have spent a lot of our summer at the pool, but in the evenings after dinner we need to get out sometimes.  Lately, we have been playing golf, riding bikes, playing soccer, and pretending to play Halo in the backyard.  Whatever works and gets them outside and active, right?  

 Colin normally rides his balance bike some how he broke the wheel, so he had to ride the Thomas bike.  If you look closely, you can see way ahead of us!  He would go down and circle back up and then go back down and wait for us. 

  Colin did really well and made it around the whole entire block by himself! I was so proud of him!

 I had to include this picture, because I didn't actually take it.  I was sticking my phone in my pocket or taking out and accidentally got this!

Happy 4th Of July!

We are a few days late in getting this one up.  OOPS!  It's been busy around or it has seemed busy around!  

We started our 4th off at our small town parade.  They have a parade each year at 10am and the boys LOVE it!

We meet some friends there and thank goodness she remembered to bring bags for the candy because I sure didn't!  The boys had a great time watching the parade together! 

My sweet baby hated the waiting part!  

Of course while we waited I had to get a few pictures in there!  This one cracks me up every single time I look at it.  Larry took it and the sun was in the boys eyes.  It makes me giggle because even when the sun isn't in their eyes they do these faces to me - A LOT! 

Sara took a family picture of us as well! I love how it turned out!

The parade finally started!  We had a group of happy boys with bags full of candy! That candy will be accompanying Larry to work on Monday.  The boys don't care about eating it and the people in his office love it.  Win, Win!  Then I don't have to worry about eating it - which is really what the problem would be!  

 

During the parade I found my "other boy" as Cade calls him!  I couldn't resist a picture with him!

  It was too hot for us to head farther into downtown this year, plus I didn't want to fight all the crowds.  So we headed home for lunch and a movie. We saw Monster's University as family.  It was super cute but Colin got really antsy.  Maybe it was because we had just seen Despicable Me 2 the day before.  I am not really sure, eek!

Colin's favorite part of the movie is the popcorn and coke!  We finished off that big tub of popcorn by the end of the movie and that's just crazy!  

 After the movie we came home and had a quick dinner so we could head out to the fireworks.Our wagon always gets used on the 4th! 

I am not sure we ever use it any other time.  Crazy, I know! 

Colin enjoyed playing with Corwin this year at the fireworks.  Please know, Cade did too!  They loved being right by the water so they could fish and look for crabs.  It actually made me crazy nervous, but I survived.  

 

So I had the great idea that I needed to take a before and after of myself.  

This was the start of the day (plus let's be honest I wanted this picture so I could remember this outfit).

 And the end of the night!  Yes, it started raining right when the fireworks started.  It rained hard for a few minutes and then just sprinkled so we thought no big deal we will stick it out.  Then it poured and I was freezing!  Haha!

 Finally we made it back to the car and we were all SOAKED!!