Upward Soccer

Oh Mackenzie, we've been kicking around the idea of signing you up for soccer for some time now.  Well, we finally took a shot and signed you up for the Upward program at a local church.  You were so excited and couldn't wait to play...until that day finally came.  Back in early March, you had your first soccer practice, and to say you had fun, wouldn't be so true.  It's overwhelming for Daddy and me, so I can't imagine how you must feel.  You're the youngest on your team (GO LIGHTENING!) by about a year and a half and you are certainly the smallest.  The boys on your team are boys, and are really rough, but you're getting there.  The first few practices, I had to be out on the field with you and you had to be holding my hand.  The same is true for your first game.  It was so hard for me not to get in there and play with a bunch of toddlers!  Coach Jerry is oh so patient with you, and you love to kick the ball to him to turn him into Cinderella.  It's pretty funny watching him prance all around the field!  

All smiles on your way to your first ever soccer practice!

 Not so sure about the cleats and hating the shin guards...

 Listening to Coach Jerry

 Look how small you are out there!

 Adjusting your socks for the upteenth time...

 Making sure they're just right...

 There!

 Running the field with Daddy after practice.

March 2012

A Weekend in Ellijay

One of my most favorite places (besides OBX) is Ellijay, GA.  There's something about the drive up 515 with the north GA mountain view right in front of you.  On Superbowl Sunday, while the game was on mind you,  Daddy was busy texting Carmen, Rick, Trish, and Mike about going to Ellijay for an adults only weekend to celebrate my birthday.  Major kudos to Daddy for looking at the calendar and figuring out what weekend would work best for everyone!  You two stayed behind with Granma getting SPOILED rotten!  You had breakfast with the Easter Bunny, made Build A Bear animals and colored until you could color no more.  Daddy and I headed up to the cabin on Thursday after work, and Rick and Trish weren't far behind.  We had SUCH a great time!  It was the most perfect way to spend my birthday weekend, staying in our pj's all day, staying up super late, and sleeping in past 7:30 a.m., eating whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted, watching trashy tv, and reading.  On Friday, Carmen and Brandon joined us and we all sat around on the covered porch overlooking the Ellijay River listening to the rain fall.  The weekend went by way too fast, but I'm pretty certain it was what we all needed, a few days away from reality.

 Pretty boy, Nicky loved relaxing on the porch.

 Where we spent our evenings by the fire and tv.

 VERY funny conversations were made at the dinner table, of all places!

 The porch of my dreams....sigh, one day....

 ROUGH picture, but just goes to show that there was no make up being applied on this vacay.

 My 4 legged boy with his 2 legged Daddy!

 "THE" Boulder, there were strict rules about this thing.

March 22-25, 2012

Turning 30

Oh my!  I have no idea how this happened and so quick, but I turned 30th on the first official day of spring...you two will understand just how important that is when you get older.  :)  Since my birthday fell during the week, we decided that we would go out to eat, just the 4 of us.  Well, I've been dying to try Henry's in downtown Acworth, and man, we picked a BAD night to go!  The wait at 6:30 p.m. was THREE hours long...on a Wednesday night!  I was so bummed.  Apparently, they do all you can eat crawfish (YUM!) on Wed. nights and this was the first night of crawfish season, who would have known?  Anyways, we ended up at my favorite mexican place, LaPa.  There wasn't much of a wait, it's loud and you two could do as you please.  Luckily, we didn't tell anyone why we were there, so I dodged having to wear the giant sumbrero.  Daddy picked out a gift card for the movies because The Hunger Games was opening that weekend, a GIANT bag of Sour Patch Kids, my favorite!  We had a great time with our little family celebrating the big 3-0!

My world!  The reason I wake in the mornings and count my blessings at night.  And yes, Mack, you are wearing your Dorothy shoes with frilly socks.  Crazy girl.

My little Monkey climber.

 This just makes me smile!

March 21, 2012

Young 3's Picture Day

We're at the point that you want to dress yourself day in and day out.  And that's completely fine with me, except on Picture Day.  The night before, we both went a laid out 3 different outfits, along with socks (because your favorite thing to do, is wear Christmas socks with everything!), and shoes.  You picked the above outfit out.  You looked darling, sweetheart!

March 21, 2012

Hand Made Outfit

A dear friend of mine made you the cutest little outfit, Mackenzie!  And you have a pretty, green flower clip that matches it to a T.  You were a little annoyed, because at the time, you weren't too fond of tops without sleeves, but you managed.  You got all sorts of compliments all day long and your teachers absolutely loved your new outfit!

Mad about the no sleeves deal.

 Nothing a little Goldfish can't fix.

 There's the happy Mack we all know.

 All better, happy to be going to school!

 March 20, 2012

St. Patrick's Day 2012

 All dressed in GREEN for school!

 Because St. Patrick's Day fell on a Saturday this year, Mackenzie, your class celebrated on the Friday before.  You were asked to wear some green, and Mommy made shamrock cookies for you to share with your class.  Apparently, the sneaky Leprechaun made a huge mess in your classroom while you were at lunch.  He threw toilet paper all over the classroom and left all the toys out and in a mess.  You got a huge kick out of this.  You also tried a green drink, but you told anyone that would listen, that you did NOT like it...at all.

Nolan, you even sported your lime green for the day!

 To some, this may make you nervous, however, this is a daily routine around here.

 I didn't get a picture of it, but for breakfast on St. Patrick's Day, that sneaky little Leprechaun turned our milk green!  And then for lunch, our noodles were green as well!  Sneaky, sneaky thing he was!

Because St. Patrick's Day fell on a Saturday this year, Mackenzie, your class celebrated on the Friday before.  You were asked to wear some green, and Mommy made shamrock cookies for you to share with your class.  Apparently, the sneaky Leprechaun made a huge mess in your classroom while you were at lunch.  He threw toilet paper all over the classroom and left all the toys out and in a mess.  You got a huge kick out of this.  You also tried a green drink, but you told anyone that would listen, that you did NOT like it...at all.

After lunch, we headed up to Granma's for a St. Patrick's Day dinner.  You two fooled us all by eating and enjoying Corned Beef, potatoes, and cabbage!  We won't tell you two that you thought you were eating hot dogs.  Mackenzie, this was your first time ever eating red meat and liking it!

Once we were finished eating supper, Granma had festive cupcakes to share.  Nolan, there's a reason why you have the white frosted one...you happen to eat like a pig!

March 16-17, 2012

Proof You Are a BOY!

We never, ever had to baby proof with you, Mackenzie.  We could lay you down on a blanket and you wouldn't go far.  Nolan, you on the other hand have been moving since birth (we all know you didn't do much moving before that!).  You have broken more things than I can count, and we pretty much has to keep our eyes on you at all times.  If you're quiet, you're probably up to something.  See example below...

I put on a movie so you two could wind down before taking a nap.  In the mean time, I was folding and putting all of your clothes away.  I stepped out of Mack's room and heard, "Uh-oh, ma-me, I made mesh."  In your little hands were two markers.  You were proud of your artwork, and honestly I was laughing on the inside.  I used a baby wipe to clean it up and it disappeared quickly.  Now, markers only come out when you are sleeping, little man.

March 8, 2012