I lost my son today

It's true.

I knew it would happen one day.

Today was the day.

Levi found a game in the closet that goes to Eric's XBox and wanted to know what it was. It's a BMX motorbike game. He wanted to know if he could play it and I said "Oh, Honey, it's too big for you." "But Mom, I turned 4!!! Pleeeeease???!!"

So, being the cool mom I am, I hooked up the XBox (of course I called Eric to find out how!!) and read the directions on what buttons to push. I showed him 3 buttons and he took off! I walked back in to check on him 25 minutes later and he started showing me 3 different stunts, how to go backwards, and he even got to put his initials in the 3rd best time slot! Man, it's like Christmas around here!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Look how serious!!!!! ;)

He was even doing some pretty harsh trash talking... "Move outta the way green motorbike!" "Awwh no, I'll push you off the ramp!" ;)

Yep, I've lost him forever!!!

swimmmmming

We've spent the majority of our summer swimming, especially at my mom's pool!! But, Miss Maggie May got in the pool, sporting her cute little pink swim hat, for the FIRST time this week! Our neighbors had us over to swim and the water was like bath water, so we decided to throw her in (not literally!). She did great!!

my luvs

Today is another blog off!! I really enjoy doing these types of things. You get to talk about yourself plus learn more about the people you stalk! Awesome...

So, MY FAVORITE THINGS.... (in no particular order!!)

chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven with a cold glass of milk. heaven.

the beach. i'm not crazy about swimming in it, but i love the beauty of it...the sound of the waves...and how vast it is, stretching further than i can see.

peyton manning. he's my boyfriend. :)

fall. i love wearing jeans, a cute sweater, and heading out into the brisk air to do fallish stuff...especially with good friends!

shoes & purses. nuff said.

so you think you can dance. ok...i'm white. really white. i have no rhythm as i've previously stated in other posts, so i live through the people that can dance. one day, i vow, i will take krumping lessons....

mcdonald's diet coke. it's just that good!

gatlinburg in the fall with great peeps...you know who you are!

sunglasses. i love sunglasses because they allow me to watch people without those people knowing i'm watching them! they also allow me to cry without people knowing.

my peeps. i have a ridiculously wonderful group of girlfriends and i love you guys with all my heart. period.

formal apology

People, I was wrong.

Five years ago, this little book was published called Twilight. Up until a week and a half ago, I teased and rolled my eyes at people who seemed to (Jaime, using your word...) "swoon" over it. I mean, seriously, it's just a book. A series.

So, after many people who kept suggesting (threatening) over and over that I read the books, I caved. I started reading Twilight on Sunday, the day we left for vacation. I finished Eclipse (the 3rd book) on Monday, the day after we returned. Crazy, you say? I think not! I am deeply, madly in love with Edward Cullen. I know...get in line, right?!! ;)

I was able to watch Twilight the other night and New Moon last night. Holla! My goal is to see Eclipse this weekend before it leaves the theaters.

I hope that Peyton doesn't get jealous...

the beach...

It seems like the last few weeks have flown by and I've really neglected my blog! I'm back and can't wait to do some updates!! We just returned from Gulf Shores on Sunday and I'll give you a little taste of our vacation! I'm still trying to figure out how to upload 264 pictures to Blogger... ;)

Here was our home away from home for the week. Um...yeah... What can I say about this house?? I'll tell you like I told Gretchen after we arrived: "This house is stupid. 8600 square feet of stupid." :) When we first got there, I seriously got lost looking for my bedroom. There were 3 or 4 different sets of stairs. We counted 6 different air condition units. 3 dishwashers in one kitchen. It was fun to live in extreme luxury for one week!!!! :)

The weather was perfect. It didn't rain once while we were there. We were nervous about how the beaches would look due to the little oil problem in the Gulf, but surprisingly, everything seemed pretty normal! The kids got to splash in the water on the beach, but not really go swimming in it. We had the pool, though, and they used the heck out of it!!

I'll do some more detailed pictures later! I just wanted to post a few until I can blog in detail. I'm so thankful for my parents who take us on this vacation every year!! There were 14 of us this year and even though we probably all get on each other's nerves at some point, I'm blessed that we all get along and have fun together! My parents are awesome and I'm so happy that they do this for us!!! Thanks Mom & Dad!

At Lambert's for dinner...

And of course, my two sweet babies on the beach...

attempt numero uno

Another attempt at being a cool mom didn't turn out so well! I got these cute little, um, what do you call them?? Skillets? I think so... Anyhoo, they are animal shaped pancake makers. Cute, right? Um, yeah, maybe in a perfect Martha Stewart world!!!!!!!

So, I mixed up the batter and poured a little in the skillet. Then, I thought, "hmmm, what do I do when it's time to flip the pancake??" Yeah, that's a problem. Being the genus that I am, I just got a plain skillet and flipped it onto there. Problem solved. All seemed to be going okay until I put it on the plate. Instead of a cute little froggie pancake that you serve a 4 year old, it now looked a little Children-of-the-cornish and like a deformed frog with age spots. Oui.

My suggestion to anyone wanting to buy cute little animal skillets: DON'T.

babes in paradise

I'm venturing out more with the kids lately. It feels good! Maggie is such a good baby and she just goes with the flow. I asked Gretchen if she wanted to hang today...we were debating on the free movie at Great Escape or going to Mom's pool. She didn't care which, so here was my deciding factor: the pool b/c I didn't have to get ready!!! :)

The kids were dying while we were taking their pictures. All they wanted to do was jump in!!
The cool dudes - Pierce & Levi

Princess Hope

Seriously, can we LOOK ANY WHITER??????

Maggie has a sweet little set up! She gets a swing in the shade. Every once in a while she wakes up for a second when she hears a high pitched scream. Other than that, she sleeps. :)

Oh, and here's a perk for living out in the "country"...get to pee in the yard! Woot!!

It was CRAZY today because the water was warm, but it was chilly outside! After being in the water you would freeze your booty off if you got out!!!!! Brrrr...... But, the sun felt nice!

One more shot of the little babes...

Oh, and afterwards, here are our special boys watching toons!