When Verizon goes on Strike...

We go CAMPING!

Yep...that's right. We headed to a local state park for the night with both kids, our pajamas, and a few yummy snacks. Tim and I decided to do something that we wouldn't normally be able to do if he had to work. The kids were all for it. We invited another family over to our campsite for some hotdogs and some roasted marshmellows. We had a blast! We even slept fairly well in our teeny-weeny tent, except for crazy, maniac Hayes, who was all over that air mattress all night long! Next time, he gets his own tent for sure!

Take a deep breath Carrie.

I need to remind myself to take a deep breath. Be more patient and remember that she is 4 years old. Remember that she is at an age where she likes to push the envelope. And, let's just go ahead and admit it, she gets it honestly.

Perhaps it was the earthquake, or this nagging cough I can't seem to find the time to get rid of. Or maybe it was Hurricane Irene and my failed attempt at saving some water that resulted in an overflowing bathtub and a leaking light fixture, or maybe it's just simply because I have been "stuck" in this house for 4 days straight!

Whatever the reason, I seemed to have totally lost my patience with her. She's lying to Tim and I about the simplest things these days. She sasses back when asked to do something she's not really interested in doing. She rolls her eyes and she has the smartest mouth I've ever seen on a child.

I don't want to be too hard on her. I don't want to expect her to "act" older, wiser than she is. I only want for her to be respectful and pleasant. I want people to like being around her. I want her friends to want to play with her. I want to help her be a likable person.

So....I need to take a deep breath, remember that she is only 4 years old, and beg God for more patience!

Love these two....

I cherish these days. I really do. Not one day I take for granted. Even when I'm grumpy, and they are "driving me crazy". I am very thankful for this time with the both of them.

Cuteness

Addie and Hayes love to snuggle up and watch a movie after their bath. Sometimes they bathe in the middle of the day after lunch so that we can get all of the chlorine off of Hayes' skin. It is not unusual for me to find them like this on the floor of Hayes' room. Addie takes good care of her little brother.

My mom bought the kids new shoes the other day. They are adorable. Too bad Addie refuses to wear anything but her princess flip flops she got from Ga Ga two years ago! Atleast she posed for the picture, and maybe with cooler weather approaching, I can convince her that flip flops will not work all day every day!

Bless Hayes' little heart! He's always willing to throw me a smile....what a trooper!

Little Fish

Wish ya'll could swim with us!

19 Days

Tomorrow will be the 20th day in a row (excluding fridays) that we have arrived at the local YMCA at 9:15 a.m for Addie's swim lessons. You can say that I am just a tad bit water-logged. Every morning, we wake up, eat a quick breakfast, throw our suits on, lather on the sunscreen, pack a snack, and run off to the pool. Addie's lessons last 3o minutes. Hayes and I walk hand-in-hand around the pool until she is done and he too is able to jump in. The next hour or so I spend pulling Hayes up out of knee deep water after he tries to swim "like a fish" and watching Addie practice jumping from the side of the pool without getting her face wet. I am pretty sure we keep the lifegaurds entertained. Yesterday, the two of them spent the entire time collecting pine straw from the pool deck because the water was too cold from all of the rain we got the night before. They then insisted that I put it in one of our snack baggies and bring it home to Daddy for his "birfday". It's been a fun few weeks!

Once we get our fill of the water, we head home for lunch and baths. They love snack time and a movie afterwards, and then time for a nap! I am not exaggerating when I say that this my friends, has been our schedule for the last month and a half! I love every minute of it!

Who takes baths in the middle of the day anyway? We do. It's how we roll.

And yes, I know...He's gotten so big. He looks like a giant in this little crib. Don't remind me how fast he is growing up. I'm trying not to face the fact that my baby is so BIG!

No, please Dada....

I don't want to go to bed.

I know that we have had the same bedtime routine now for almost 2 years, but...

I still plan on crying for five minutes straight after you put me in my crib.

Please, don't make me Dada. I'll cry. I promise I will.

Mommy, will you help me? I'll give you my saddest face possible. Please don't make me go to bed.

No, please Dada....How come Addie doesn't have to go to bed?

Fresh from a bath...

I love to kiss and hug and snuggle with a freshly cleaned, baby smellin', slightly damp little person. It is one of my favorite things to do.

They are just so darn cute. Can someone please press the "pause" button for just a little while?

Hayes and Lakyne

I pretty much love this picture of Hayes and his older cousin, Lakyne. They are going to cause some trouble in the not-so-distant future!

Cuddle Bugs

Yeah....we've been stayin' cool...hidin' out in the A.C and gettin a little lovin'! I think these two are somethin' special!