Lots of... Mine

Today is short and sweet.  I love the ages my kids are right now.  I wish (sometimes) I could freeze time right where they are.  Now don't get me wrong...there are lots of :

• moments of crying
• moments of explaining things in kid terms
• moments of "I had that first"
• moments of "That's mine"
• moments of me saying things nicely 3 times and then losing my cool
• moments of "why?"
• moments of sitting down just to realize someone needs a cup of milk, or a snack or  a blanket or whatever else is on their mind
• moments of "man, it just got quiet. That's so nice they are playing together" and then you check on them and they are into something they shouldn't be OR you've ruined the nice time playing together and now they follow you
• moments of "it is SO much work to go anywhere because you have to pack up the car"

BUT then there are lots of moments where I stare at them and think:

• How did I get so lucky?
• How did I end up with two beautiful, healthy, happy children?
• Why was I so blessed when so many people struggle?
• How can a person love someone else so much it hurts?
• Moments when tears fill my eyes at the thought of anything ever happening to them.
• Moments of things said by them that are so sweet and innocent that I hate the thought of them being corrupted by people and the world.
• Moments where I get so angry because people say things around them that I don't want to have to explain or worry about them copying it. (I want to keep them innocent as long as I can).
• Moments where they get praying hands and sing the dinner song in the sweetest voices ever that you can't help but smile.
• Moments where they love each other so much and are so close they get sad when the other child isn't here.

TWhenever I say to someone I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old, people respond with "Oh my, you're busy!"  The truth is...Yes, I am...and I have lots of "moments"...but the truth is...these moments are MINE, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

July 4th Memories Made? Yes, but WARNING - long post ahead.

Traveling always begins with car rides...well our traveling does, because we literally pack everything but the kitchen sink to take with us.  The car rides - to and from Georgia - roughly about 6.5 hours, with a 4 year old and a 2 year old.  You can imagine how those went right?  Sigh.  

JUST KIDDING.  Maybe it was the prayers, maybe it was the DVD player and the new movies that I was smart enough to get out of the $5 bin, but something totally worked and the kids were AWESOME!    

Eli & Evy kept asking where Muffin was, but thanks to my dear friend, Gela, I knew Muffin was safe and loved and I didn't have to worry about her being alone or locked up in a kennel!  The kids thought I had given her away and Eli's reaction was "Oh no, but I'd miss her?"  Evy's reaction was, "Do they love her? If they do, they can have her!" 

 The kids were so excited to get there.  We had to wait in the lobby a little while, but Eli was entertained with the many escalators and elevators.  He kept saying, "oh my goodness mama, we've never stayed in a hotel before," (even though he just doesn't remember) or "Oh my goodness, this room even has a bathroom!"  

It's the little things really...and trust me they explored every inch of this room. He doesn't quite get it that if this room didn't have a bathroom, we might have serious problems. 

Friday night was something more magical to Kevin  than taking our kids to Disney will ever be ... an Atlanta Braves game.  Technically, Eli went with us when he was 10 months old  - but it consisted of him sweating while he slept in our laps, giving us occasional smiles when he was in the seats and then TONS of bouncing, walking and pushing in the stroller up by the food.  It was exhausting, but he sure was cute!

But this love for the Braves didn't start with his first game.  It's ALWAYS been a love of Kevin's and finding out he was having a son made this dream come true for him - being able to pass these memories on.

This time was a much different experience and although it was hot and exhausting, it was sweet and special. Eli & Evy kept hugging each other, staring at the field and saying, "Can you believe it? We're watching the Braves?"

Kevin was in heaven, and I was falling in love with him all over again watching the twinkle in his eye explain how special this was to our kids.  This was something Kevin and his dad grew up doing, year after year, and even now it's their "Special place."  We're so thankful Mrs. Marlene and Mr. Wayne could go with us and experience this first special memory that is so near to their hearts!

The kids did great and made some special memories, but it was so extremely hot that the kids were soaked in sweat, and so were we...so Mrs. Marlene and I decided to take them back after the sixth inning.  It was getting late and we had a lot of stuff to do the next day.

On Saturday, because this special tradition did begin with the men, Mrs. Marlene and I took the kids to the mall, and hung out around the hotel (which excited the kids) while the guys got to spend the day together in their last game at Turner Field.

 Sunday, we took the kids to the indoor/outdoor pool, swam for a little while and then got ready for our next adventure - Stone Mountain!  Here are the kids in their July 4th outfits. 

The kids had a blast, but if we thought the Braves game was hot, boy were we wrong!  We aren't really in the stroller stages anymore - both of my kids want to be independent.  Well one of them at least - so here we are walking around this huge place (me with Evy on my hip - she ONLY wanted me) and Eli is running around saying "I'm tired of walking."  When you are in 100 degree weather, carrying a toddler on your hip - you see juuussstttt how out of shape you are.  Regardless, the day consisted of seeing fun things, playing in some place called the Barn (which you would think had animals, but it had all kind of fun slides, rope courses and balls.)  It was a great break from the heat.  The kids both LOVE trains, and now they've added a cute little show for the train to stop and see.

We started getting frustrated around dinner time because everything had a wait - BUT God looked out for us.  While we were eating our later dinner in an air conditioned place, the bottom fell out of the sky and SOAKED everyone in the park, except us.  When we walked out of the restaurant the rain had slowed up enough for us to get to the car and everyone else looked like they had been on a water ride - except the didn't want to be on it.  They were DRENCHED and looked miserable!  I'm so, so , so thankful for the 40 minute wait to eat and that it kept our family dry.

To sum it all up, one word comes to mind : PERFECT.  Did the kids get tired and crazy sometimes? Yes.  Did we get frustrated at all or tired? Yes.  Was it everything we hoped for and were once - in - a - lifetime memories made that can never be replaced? Yes.

Lots of wishes were made...

Precious time was given to us for one night, because we fall in love again everytime we go to Atlanta...

...and memories to last a lifetime were created.

July 4th memories made? CHECK.

Life is busy.

Today, I happened to read a friend's blog ( I love following these friends and their thoughts).  It makes me feel normal, it makes me feel like I'm not crazy, and that the struggles are real - BUT the blessings are even more real in the struggles we all have.

So...I decided to look at my blog and my last post was in 2013, about EVY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS! My crazy, sassy, beautiful, animated almost 3 year old was 1 month old...and all I can say is because life is ...  Busy! The title of my blog - shows you where Kevin and I were in our life.  I started it when we moved to Florida (hence the name) in order to help family keep up with us and those special moments.



My precious babies are now 4 1/2 and 2 1/2.  Everyday, I check my time hop app and see just how quickly my two sweet children are growing up.

 Eli is turning into such a little man.  He's still one of the most kind-hearted children I know.  He cries if I yell or get upset and starts apologizing frantically because he can't stand the thought of me being upset.  

And Evy - what a pistol!  She is also sweet, but so above 2 - when I say her age, it just doesn't match her actions.  She has always wanted to be right there doing what Eli is . She started walking at 9 months (full walking) and can have a complete conversation with you including vocabulary like disgusting and patient.  They both absorb everything said to them and believe you me - will repeat back at you during the appropriate time.



On a different note, this past year I personally know so many people who have lost loved ones or that have situations where they are struggling to get through the trials they are in.  I take these things to heart.  When someone loses a loved one, it almost literally breaks my heart for them.  I put myself in their shoes and just can't imagine how they feel and I selfishly pray I won't have to for a long, long time.

Specifically, several friends have lost husbands and children.  Don't get me wrong - I feel that all loses are hard, but I just can't fathom losing one of the most important people in my life.  The ones I share daily life with.  The ones who see me at my best and at my worst and still love me 100%.  

So with that said - one day, whenever God's timing happens - memories will be all that I have left or my loved ones have of me.  So I'm going to do better. I'm going to make more time writing things down (typing in this case) so that my children and my husband get to see exactly what went through my head , especially in special moments.

I hope this blog doesn't come across as morbid or depressing, but it is very real life.  It's a wake up call to me that life is short.  Tell people you LOVE them, show people that you LOVE them, and take the time for what matters.

Evy's first Christmas and Eli's first Santa Visit...

Obviously, with two kids at home and a normal busy life with everyday stuff, my blogs are delayed a little bit but I will catch up. :)  Tonight is the first night in my married life that Kevin has ever gone to bed and I have stayed up in the living room to have "me" time and all I could think about was catching up on stuff for my babies.  I finished my pregnancy picture week by week book, my pregnancy journal and now it's blog time.  With all that said... first up = CHRISTMAS!

This year we were super excited.  We knew that Eli was at the age (2) where he could understand somewhat to expect at Christmas this year.  He could get excited about Santa (Ho, Ho) as he called him and would love opening presents.  Kevin, me, Eli, Evy & Muffin all set off for the 12 hour trip on Friday, December 20th at 4 a.m.  I know it sounds crazy, but we thought the earlier the better because the babies would sleep and it would still be dark out AND since most kids were still in school we could beat travelers and rush hour traffic.  We made it home and the babies were wonderful.

While we were at my parents house, we had a family get together and celebrated Christmas together with my dad's side.  This year was so much fun with that side (not that it isn't normally...but you see I've been the baby on that side of the family for years and now me and Crystal have kids and so we got to watch our babies and it was chaos and FUN).  We also saw several other family members and friends at different times.  My family is always so sweet about coming to my mom and dad's house so we don't have to travel with the kids alot.  ALSO, let's not forget to mention that we were all packed for North Carolina weather...we got there and BAM it was in the 70s.  We were so sad!  We have that in Florida all of the time!  We wanted COLD! But, because of the beautiful weather, Papa got to ride Eli on the lawn mower (which may not sound like a big deal but he has been waiting 2 years to do this) and Evy was sweet as ever as she was passed around from arms to arms.  Our kids were spoiled with presents galore. Every one that Eli opened he responded with "WHOA!"...then the 2 year old came out in him as he would say, "MORE".

Evy - 1 month old

I can't believe a month with my baby girl has already flown by!  She is truly a bundle of joy and a really good baby. 
At one month:

• Evy is already drinking 4 ounces of formula every 2-3 hours, but she falls asleep somewhere in the middle of every feeding and there is NO waking her up.
• Still looks tiny in person, but somehow looks like a chunky monkey in pictures.
• She just got into 0-3 month clothing
• she smiles every single time she is falling asleep
• she loves to have her hands up by her face when she is asleep or she likes to hold on to the top of my shirt, or my hair or have her hand under my chin.
• she is a snuggler...she will wiggle her way into the most awkward, snug position ever when she sleeps in your arms.
• she is just like her brother...is a hold me baby even though we have tried really hard to put her down.
• the only place she will sleep for a long period of time is the swing
• she will only take an "orthodontic nipple" on her bottles instead of the standard so we have to use the NUK bottles whether we want to or not.
• she is very alert and has started to giggle
• gets mad and screams bloody murder if she gets hot in the carseat.
• has the sweetest cry I've ever heard, Eli's was no joke!
• she rarely spits up at all and is a great burper!
• she twitches/wrinkles her nose up when she smiles...it's so cute.
• can sleep through absolutely anything at all and only cries when she's hungry.
• is in size 1 diapers
• is perfect!

and last but not least, she loves (or at least tolerates at this point) tons of kisses from her brother, which happens very often and is the sweetest thing I've ever seen.