Pirate Paige

When Paige moved up to her new class she got a new schedule.  This schedule is way more interactive and a little more structured than what she was used to in the infant room.  I don't know who is more excited about this, me or Paige.  I love that she is getting stimulated more and that she is learning and having fun at the same time.  I think she enjoys being a big girl with the other kids - she is very independent.

Each month we get a calendar of what is going on in the class.  The infant calender was pretty simple.  It told what they were "learning" about each week - transportation, dinosaurs, etc.  Well, the toddler room kicks it up a notch.  There is a theme each week and different activities that go along with this theme.  Along with that, every Wednesday is "bring a book" day and every Friday is "show and tell" (yes, my 1 year old is doing show and tell...the teacher says it helps with sharing - works for me!).

"Pirate Paige"

We all know that hat didn't stay on very long!

This week's theme was "Islands and Pirates".  Ms. Ashley arranged a sweet little treasure hunt for the kids out in the side yard.  Hats were made for each child, the kids made telescopes and they got to decorate their goodie bag.  Then it was off to the field in search of treasure.  We got to send a little something for her to find and Ms. Ashley took care of the rest.

Paige's hat, goodie bag, and all of the treasures she found including a stick (you have to look pretty close, but it is there with the silly bands).

Now week's theme is "Camping" and I know smores are on the agenda!

New Helper

Paige became my little helper over the weekend!  I got the steam mop out and all she wanted to do was push it around.  I needed to go ahead and get it done so I gave her the swifter and she went to town!

Imagine my surprise when I gave her the actual swifter cover/pad thing to see if she could actually do some cleaning and she took it off! 

Maybe cleaning will be a little bit more fun now that we have a little helper in the mix!

7 & 29

7 & 29 - 2 important numbers we celebrated this weekend.

7 - Brad and I celebrated our 7 year anniversary over the weekend!!!  Our actual anniversary was Sunday but we celebrated Saturday night.  One of Paige's teachers, Ms. Margie, graciously offered to keep Paige so we could enjoy and evening out just the 2 of us.  Brad treated me to a quaint restaurant in Point Clear, The Wash House.  Everything about it was wonderful!!!  We may just have to make up a special occasion to go back!  I love you honey!!  Thanks for a wonderful 7 years!

29 - Monday was my 29th birthday.  I don't know if I should really be admitting my age to everyone but there it is in all of its glory - ha!  I joked with my mom that this was an important year because you always hear every year after this as the xx anniversary of my 29th birthday or '29 and holding'.  I have reached the magical mark!  My gift to myself was taking the afternoon off and just relaxing.  I spent some time by the pool and some time piddling around the house (while it rained  - just gives me an excuse to take off another sunny afternoon for more pool time!).  Then Brad and Paige took me out to dinner.  We tried a new place, Rosie's Grill, in Daphne.  I had the hardest time deciding and finally decided that it would be fun to try something new.  We all really enjoyed it and think this will be a place we bring visitors so look out if you are coming our way (the menu is a mix between mexican and american - perfect for those not wanting mexican!).

Hmmm....what should I get?

Birthday Kisses!

Yay for a family picture!

Silly Goose

After riding in the car Monday, this chick was ready to get out and play!  I am glad I had my camera to capture some of her sillyness.

Anytime she finds a blanket or towel she puts it on the ground, says "night, night" and lays down.  It doesn't matter what time of day it is and it doesn't matter if she is tired or not.  So funny!

Can you see the love in her eye's?  So sweet!

Yes, we have a big exercise ball in our den that sometimes gets used.  Paige may play with it more than Brad and I use it for sit ups, but that is ok!  Seeing this picture reminds me of how much P likes balls - doesn't matter what size it is.

Crunchy Grass

Summer is here!  And our grass is dead!!  There has been little to no rain for months.  It cracked me up the other night as we went out to play and all you could hear is crunch, crunch, crunch on our grass.  Luckily, we are not alone with the crunchy grass - I think our whole neighborhood is this way.  Poor Brad though, he loves his yard.  I am the mean wife who won't let him water the grass.  During the month of April he watered it off and on and our water bill quadrupled (and I was out of town 2 of those weeks!).  When I say quadrupled, I mean it was like 4 times from the month before - not cool!!!  So, now we get to look like the rest of the neighborhood.  Ok, now that I am done rambling about nothing, I will leave you with the star of the show...

It is almost like she is in camo if it weren't for the pink shoes!

"Look, I can see myself in daddy's truck!"

I love it when kids "stop and smell the roses" - such a good reminder to all of us how we need to slow down in life and not take things for granted.

Race Day

Another one of the reasons we came to Huntsville for Memorial Day weekend was to run the Cotton Row race.  We are going on vacation this summer and needed some motivation to get in shape.  A few years ago I ran the 10k and I thought that I lost some weight and toned up as a result.  So, I thought why not do it again...I did it 3 years ago, how hard can it be, right?  Wrong!! 

Who knew that it could be so hard?!?  I trained 3 days week for 12 weeks by jogging and walking on the treadmill.  I was already going to the gym on a regular basis during lunch so this became part of my night routine.  I stuck to it even though I was out of town 2 of the weeks.  My main goal was to finish - just cross the finish line.  I knew my time wouldn't be as good as last time, I knew I could last and make it through.  With all of that being said, I finished in 1:12:14 - not great, but I finished!! 

Seconds from the end!

My cheerleaders!  Brad also ran the 5k.  Way to go Brad!!

Nana was there to cheer us on too and Papa Joe ran both the 10k and the 5k - wow!!

Brad and I both really enjoyed preparing for the races and hope to keep it up!

A family that runs together, stays together!

Memorial Day Weekend Fun

We enjoyed a long weekend up in Huntsville for Memorial Day.  Even though it was long weekend, it sure didn't feel like it and didn't seem long enough!

While up visiting we got to cook out with the Wright's...

Paige loved playing with Laney, Justin and Christina's dog.

Visit with Grandad and Dede...no pictures - sad!

And visit with sweet friends...

Sweet Rebecca and even sweeter Katie Lane

The girls were too cute playing together! 

This cracked me up - Paige plopped on down on the car and Katie Lane just started pushing. 

We were so lucky to get to see our friends Andrew and Lisa.  They are having their first baby, Ben, in August.  We can't wait for him to get here.  One of the highlights of the weekend was getting to go to a baby shower for Lisa and then we got to even eat dinner later on.  Ben is going to be one lucky boy with parents like Andrew and Lisa!

More to come on the rest of the weekend...