'What Not To Wear' Candidate

All of you 'What Not To Wear' fans will appreciate this one!
We met Grammy & Papa for dinner tonight (sorry Eric...that's what you get for being out of town!!) and they gave Levi a new shirt! He loves it. After bath time, he wanted to put it on and I'm sure it won't come off until I can convince him that it is dirty and we need to wash it....probably late Saturday night! LOL! Luckily, Levi remembered that he had green pajama shorts that match it (OMG)....I'm so sorry Stacy & Clinton.

Yes, here is the poster child for next week's episode of WNTW!! ;)

Chicken House

You may or may not know the joint the “Chicken House”. I’ve never actually been there, but I’ve had food from there. It’s a white sided building that kind of sits in the middle of nothing. From the outside, it looks a little, um, rustic. ;) It reminds me of a place that would have belonged in with the Dukes of Hazzard. That’s my preface for the conversation that Levi and I had this morning while driving to day care ---

Mommy: Levi, do you know that in 2 months we are going to go on vacation again. Do you remember what vacation is?
Levi: Yes.
Mommy: What?
Levi: You tell me.
Mommy: It’s when we go to the beach; the big water! And we go with Papa, Grammy, Travis, Jenny, Griffin, Emmy, Daniel, Tricia, Bailey & Casey!!! It’s so fun!
Levi: YEAH!! I want to go there!
Mommy: We all stay in a BIG house together and go swimming!
Levi: Like that one? (pointing to the Chicken House)
Mommy: Um, yeah, kind of like that one. Except, not really. ;)

My wedding dress...

If you are a woman, then more than likely you have struggled with losing weight…whether it is 5 pounds or 105 pounds! I’ve struggled with gaining and losing weight for…well, for forever! Recently, I re-joined weight watchers for the umpteenth time. Actually, I think this is my 3rd or 4th time to officially join the meetings and not just “try it on my own”. My Mom, my co-worker and I joined on Feb. 14th. This time, it feels different for some reason. Like I want it more…Like I’m more determined…Not sure why, but it just feels different. I’ve lost 14 pounds in 9 weeks. I’m so happy! Since Eric and I got married, I’ve lost and gained the same 20-25 pounds. Ironically, the lowest weight I remember being is right after I had Levi. I am 3 pounds away from that weight. :) I don’t remember what I weighed when I got married, so I told Gretchen that I wanted to try my wedding dress on. She was ALL over that idea and encouraged me to post pictures. So, yesterday after work, I ran by Mom’s and picked up my dress. I tried it on at her house. I was going to wait until I got to Gretchen’s to try it on, but I was afraid that if it didn’t fit, I’d start crying! LOL!! Drum roll, please….
It fit! At first I was a little depressed b/c I thought I actually weighed less now than when I got married, but I guess that isn’t the case. I think I must have gained weight after we got married because of pictures that I’ve gone through recently and then over the last 4 years, I started to lose that weight….slowly. Back to the dress…yes, it fit and was just a little loose in the torso area. The funny thing is that I put it back on once I got home and got Levi in bed so I could take a picture and post it. Only, try wearing a big ol’ wedding dress and taking a picture of yourself – doesn’t work too well! I couldn’t get the whole dress in the picture. But, I wore my dress around the house for a little while, just remembering my wedding day. :) I made sure all the blinds were closed so my neighbors wouldn’t think I was crazy! I was loading the dishwasher, folding clothes and picking up the toy room…all in my wedding dress. Maybe I’ll try it on again in a few months and take a picture of it NOT fitting!

Shhhhhh

Last night when I told Levi it was time for bed, he crawled up on the couch with me and “zipped” my lips shut. I started laughing (almost hysterically) and he said, “Shhh Momma, you can’t talk! I stay up 5 more minutes.”

How could I deny that?

GNO

Last night was GNO (girl's night out) and we really had a great time! Melanie and Jami couldn't join us tonight - we missed you guys!!!! First, we headed to dinner at Olive Garden. SO GOOD! It's so nice to be able to go to a nice restaurant and sit and have adult conversation without trying to occupy kids! After dinner, we headed to the movies! I was like a little kid. :) I never get out to a movie, so it's a real treat when I get to go. We saw 17 Again and it was really cute. Had some really funny parts in it!! Finally, we ended up at the Pie Kitchen for dessert. It has become our old faithful. We sat outside b/c it was such a nice evening. We ended up sitting there just talking until around 10:30! We were out LATE girls!! :) Already looking forward to next time!! Love you guys!

Yes, I was a dork and took my camera into the movie theater! Jill & Janna...
Me & Gretchen cheesing it up big time! It only took about 18 takes to get a decent shot! LOL

At the Pie Kitchen - relaxin' and gabbin'...Gretchen & Jill

Janna 'rockin' it out at the Pie Kitchen. I can't even remember the story she was telling us, but we were dying laughing!! I'm sure people thought we'd been out drinking!!

Thanks, girlies, for a great night out! Had a blast. Here's to next time!

Morning at the zoo

Saturday morning was a beautiful morning! My parents got Levi a zoo and science center pass for his birthday and we decided that Saturday was a good day to go over and sign up for it! Aunt Tricia, Bailey & Casey went along, too to sign up. In fact, there was a group of us! Jill, Reece & Janie came as well as Jami & Cooper! Lots of fun!! I realized that I didn't get a lot of pictures of all the kids together because I was consumed with taking pictures of the animals. I am going to upload the pictures to Kodak and make Levi a flip book of his day at the zoo. I did that last year and he loved it! We are blessed to live in an area that has something fun to do like a zoo and a science center! Thanks, Grammy & Papa for the pass to the zoo. We will have so much fun taking advantage of it!! :)

Levi & Casey in the double stroller
Casey & Bailey waiting for the elephants to perform

The gorillas were very playful this morning! Levi was a little intimidated by them and wanted to go to the next exhibit!! :)

And, of course, there are tons of animals to look at and this was Levi's favorite picture!!

The excavator is helping to build the new habitat for the polar bears - my personal favorites!! It is due to open in 2010 and I can't wait!! It will be a fabulous exhibit!

Griffin's t-ball game

We went to my nephew, Griffin's t-ball game tonight. It was so cute. They did a really good job! After the game, we went to Griffin's preschool. They were doing a bike-a-thon to raise money for the preschool.

Griffin is #2. Yes, that is him sitting on the ground, during the game. LOL!
Emmy being sassy with some of the older kids

Travis, in the blue, went over to, um, "encourage" Griffin to get involved in the game! So funny!

Emmy lovin' on her daddy!

More of Emily being cute

Levi & Papa watching the game (yes, he is a papa's boy!)

Griffin running to home base!

Griffin batting

Afterwards at the bike-a-thon. Levi doing his favorite thing...getting dirty!

Dad, Eric & Trav having a blast at the bike-a-thon

Emmers & Levi...cheeeese!!

Very fun evening! Tomorrow we are headed to the zoo and then Momma has girls night out!! Whoop! :)

The Negotiator

Mom: Levi, 5 minutes to bed.
Levi: Okay, Mom (said dramatically like a teenager)
***** 5 minutes later*****
Mom: Levi, come'on, bed time.
Levi: Moooom, I want 5 more minutes!
Mom: Nope, it's bed time.
Levi: But, I'm not ready. 5 more minutes...
Mom: Nope.
Levi: Pleeease.
Mom: 2 more minutes.
Levi: 10 more minutes.
Mom: 1 minute...
Levi: Okay, Mom! Thanks.

I love negotiations with an *almost* 3 year old.

How funny is this?!?!

I came across a picture of all the kids at our first official play night for GGNO (Guy Girl Night Out). How adorable! Look how everyone has changed and grown up!

Buddies for Life!!
Pierce, Hopie, Corbin, Levi, Luke, Ashlyn holding Cooper, Ian

Visit to see baby Addie

Sunday night, we went out and visited with Matt & Melanie. So much fun! We had lasagna, garlic bread, salad and some chocolate chip cookies. YUM! The boys ran around like mad men and I got to hold Addie for a long time. She is so sweet and cuddly!

Look at Eric's face...as soon as he picked Addie up, she started crying! LOL
Levi and I got her calmed down. :) Levi was in awe of her!! He kept touching her hands and talking about how little they were. He's going to be a good big brother some day!

Melanie holding Addie for Corbin and Levi to see. Corbin just wanted to hug Levi! Cute.

Levi loving on Addie's hands :)

Eric chilling with the boys. They were watching Funniest Home Videos. I love Corbin's foot propped up on the chair! ;)

She's so pretty! Just love her.

My favorite spot all night!! :)

Hope's Birthday

Gretchen already blogged about Hope's birthday party, but I had to add my pictures, too!! :) We had a great time. I can't believe Hope is already two years old. She's such a big girl.

Aunt Jo and the birthday girl!
Jami & Cooper

the kids playing...Levi, Cooper & Hopie

the grill master Paul also knows how to light candles

Levi & Pierce playing corn hole

blowing out the candles on the cake

how cute!

Jami was having too much fun!

opening presents...love the glasses!

Paul made homemade donuts - yum!

Hopie even got powdered sugar in her hair :)

Oh, and the best picture of the night was Paul opening Hope's gifts with this knife!

Bath time

I haven't had much to blog about since Easter. This week has been pretty boring, I guess. :) The highlight of my week was Tuesday night...Eric and Levi were playing ball, so I snuck away to go take a hot bath. Right as I get settled, ready to let all the stress of the day melt away, the bathroom door opens and in walks my two year old carrying his army men, water guns and a bulldozer. "I wanna bath, too, Momma." Sure. Just what I had in mind. The more, the merrier! LOL I love my son.

Happy Easter

What a fabulous day of worship! Our day started out with back to back services at church, praising God and telling the story of Jesus. JESUS.
"My chains are gone, I've been set free. My God, My Savior has ransomed me. And like a flood, His mercy reigns, unending love, Amazing Grace."

Here are a few pictures of Levi from today...
With his Easter basket from Daddy and me
at my aunt's with his new watch and a candy necklace :)

with his Easter basket from Grammy & Papa

Happy Easter, everyone! May the rest of your day be filled with the fullness of Christ.

Saturday morning fun

This morning, Eric, Levi and I went to the grocery store before heading to an Easter egg hunt at Mamaw's church. Levi had a lot of fun. Once he figured out that the plastic eggs had candy in them, he was all about getting a lot of eggs in his basket! Here are some pictures of the hunt...

Eric's mom "Mamaw" showing Levi some more eggs...

Daddy & Levi eating lunch (hot dogs and chili) after the hunt

All the loot

Oh, and here are Levi & Daddy's new toys from the grocery store. Levi wanted to keep them in his room during his nap so Daddy couldn't play without him!

Levi sleeping with his new gun

After naps, we are doing an egg hunt outside with our neighbors. :) Eric and I just finished filling some plastic eggs with more candy. We'll be on a sugar high around here!!