Cousins Weekend

Love these sweet kids! Laura Ann, Ruthie, Emmie, JP, Mary Jane, Ellie

Two weekends ago the kids, Gin-g and I headed to NC to stay with Paul's Aunt Suzy and Uncle Clyde for cousins weekend! We look forward to this every year. This year we only had 2 of the older girls and we really missed the other cousins but we had a blast!
Friday we got there and JP immediately spotted the dogs. He was immediately smitten. We had to go over and visit with the dogs before we did anything else. Then we ate dinner and the kids played a bit (they had a ball playing hide and seek outside) and then it was time for bed.

My little man loves a good hat!

Saturday we got up (JP immediately wanted to check on the dogs), watched some Saturday morning TV and ate a HUGE, yummy breakfast and headed down to the river.

snuggle time!

There was a little playground that the kids played on for awhile and then we walked down a little overlook and they loved throwing rocks from the deck into the river. We then took the kids down to the river wehre they could stick their toes in the water. They LOVED getting all muddy. JP had lots of fun until those mean adults wouldn't let him go all the way in the water!

Ellie and Uncle Clyde

The adults had fun too!

Ruthie and Danny

When you're one of the littles you get piggy back rides everywhere you go!

having a blast!

We headed back (checked on the dogs), ate lunch, and let JP get a nap. The girls played play-doh while he napped.


We pulled out some bubbles for the kids after naps and they were entertained by that for a few minutes. (JP was really more interested in the dogs than the bubbles!).

Aunt Suzy and Roo

Carla played lots of songs for us on the piano and the kids loved "helping" her. Ellie now wants to learn how to play the piano!

Carla was very tolerant of all her little helpers!

JP wanted to dance with his GiGi.

We then headed over to check on Jennifer and Danny's animals and let the kids jump on their trampoline. You may remember from previous posts that they are slowly adding animals onto their farm. We LOVE seeing the changes every time we go (they're talking about adding pigs next!). We visited the chickens, goats, and llamas. The kids loved seeing the animals. And JP was thrilled that they also have a....DOG! (Seriously, this kid is obsessed.) The girls jumped on the trampoline for awhile as well.

Ellie was a little nervous about Mary Jane's dog at first but she was super brave and after a few minutes they were big buddies.

We headed back in time for dinner and then they played some more hide and seek before bed (and JP checked on the dogs a few hundred times).

JP and Patrick

JP and Bailey

Sunday we ate a light breakfast, checked on the dogs, packed, checked on the dogs, ate an early lunch, and then headed back to Columbia!

We had a great time visiting with family and we can't wait to go back!

Paint and Literacy Night

Tonight we had a really fun event at school. They did something called Paint and Literacy Night. First they had pizza for dinner. Then we moved into the other room where all the supplies were laid out for us.  The literacy coach read a story about Van Gogh's Starry Night and then we painted. I LOVE our art teacher. She is so sweet and encouraging and the kids just adore her. We had lots of fun and I'm hoping they do this event again next year!

Getting ready to paint!

Such a cute book about Van Gogh.

The girls with our fabulous principal, Dr. Hill.

our masterpieces!

The girls with our fabulous principal Dr. Hill!

19 months

I am 19 months old!

• I wear a size 18-24mo shirt and size 12-18mo pants. I wear a size 5 or 6 shoe and a size 4 or 5 diaper.
• I sleep from 7:30/8pm-7/730am and take about a 2hr nap after lunch.
• At naptime and bedtime I like to read a book (usually a Clifford book), give everyone a kiss or two, then get in bed with my blankets, my pillow, a few pacis, and my Clifford.

• I have pretty much all of my teeth. In less than 2 months I went from 6 teeth to a whole mouthful!
• I still don't say many words. I do communicate pretty well with sign language which is helpful (as long as you know my version of sign language). I have great receptive language skills however and overall I'm a pretty good listener.
• I LOVE dogs. Big dogs, little dogs, any old dog will do. I love them all! I can spot a dog from a mile away.
• I love the trash truck. I will hear the trash truck coming down the street and run to the window to watch.
• This month I celebrated Easter. I enjoyed getting to spend the day with family. I wasn't so interested in the egg hunt. I was much more interested in the basketball court!

• I love sports. I like to watch them on TV with daddy and I like to play them.
• This month I did lots of fun things. I went to strawberry picking, to the zoo twice, went to waterfall junction at the zoo, had many trips to the children's garden, and went to the children's museum twice.

• I had a playdate with Mary Ruth and Ezekiel. It was lots of fun!

• I am finally starting to realize that grandparents are pretty wonderful. I am pretty happy to go play with them even when Mommy's around.

• I love to play in the rain.

• I do not like the Easter Bunny.
• This month I got a haircut. This was my 4th or 5th haircut and I did wonderful.

• I still think that as a group my sisters can be pretty overwhelming but I love them to pieces one on one! I love to give them hugs and kisses and I love to sit with them and play.

• I prefer to run around with my shirt off. Sometimes in the afternoons I will come in the house and ask Mommy to take off my shirt. On a good day she can convince me to keep my shorts on!
• I love wearing hats!

• This month I went to my first baseball game to see the Columbia Fireflies. I was not super impressed. What I really wanted to do was climb up and down the steps!

• I am an excellent climber. I have now learned how to climb out of my car seat once Mommy unbuckles me. Which was really great because then Mommy could unbuckle me and then Ruthie and I could get out on the same side of the car at the same time. Then I learned how to push the button to open the van doors. So that makes life interesting.
• My arms are VERY strong. I can open just about any push/pull door. Such as the playground door at chick-fil-a. Which means I can spend the entire time we're there going in and out of the door.
• I love music and dancing.
• Cookies are still the only dessert that I have much interest in.
• I have started pointing to my diaper whenever anyone is going to the bathroom. Mommy has let me sit on the potty a few times and I think it's really great! I will also sometimes come and tell Mommy when I have a dirty diaper or a particularly wet one.

Emmie at 19 months

Ellie at 19 months.

Ruthie at 19 months.

Easter Bunny Fun(?)

Going to visit the Easter Bunny is always an adventure. Invariably I have at least one child screaming bloody murder. This year was no exception. Ruthie refused to sit near the Easter Bunny unless I was holding her and JP was not happy to go anywhere close to the Easter Bunny without screaming. Even if I was holding him. If nothing else the pictures are entertaining!