Mommy's Get Away

We had a wonderful girls weekend at Gulf Shores last weekend.  We laughed so hard my sides ached for days.  (Clearly I need to focus a little more on my abdominal workout at the gym).

Beautiful morning walk...

Can't wait to do it again ladies.  Thanks hubbies for watching the kids :)

First Haircut

Before.

It took me a long time to decide to cut Addison's hair, well 3 years and 3 months to be exact.  I did not intentionally set out to have her hair get so long but I also never got around to getting it cut.  Then before I knew it, she was two and she had this adorable, long, silky blonde hair.  All of a sudden, I got emotional about it.   " I can't cut her hair, that was the hair that was originally on her head when she came out of my womb!!!"  Which is actually kind of gross but whatever, I just couldn't cut it.  Well, now it was so long it could be tucked into her panties so I thought I better cut it before it dips in the toilet or something really traumatic.  (Oh, and keep the comments about her bow to yourself, she is a southern girl and that's how we roll).

Big girl, half way through her hair cut.  She was all smiles and was very excited to sit up in the chair.

All done, time for a treat!!!

After.

Third Grade Field Trip

Amelia's 3rd grade field trip to the New Orleans Zoo and Aquarium.  A field trip from 7am -5pm with five third grade classes? Sure, why not sounds like fun!  Fun yes, exhausting absolutely.

Best Friends Forever-Amelia and Mckenzie.  

Thankfully we had beautiful weather and it wasn't hot yet but holy cow, I think every school in LA and MS were at the zoo that day.  I only had three kids to keep track of but I was one more crowd away from tying them all to my belt loops.  

Yay Oak Park!!  We also went to the aquarium but I left my camera on the bus for that half of the day, whoops.  Just pretend you are looking at lots of pictures of sting rays, sharks and sea horses.  We also happened to be in the midst of French Quarter festival during the field trip so a 15 minute bus ride from zoo to aquarium took about an hour.  It also didn't help that our bus didn't see a little Mercedes trying to sneak next to our giant coach bus and well, let's just say little Mercedes got a little smooshed.  Never try to take on a coach bus...you will lose.  But we got to dance around to some great music during the festival so everything ended up just dandy.  As we were driving through the French Quarter I pleaded with the teachers to make a pit stop at Cafe Du Monde for some beignets or at least stop and get a Hurricane drink.  No dice.  Rules schmules.

Easter Morning

And the hunt was on!!  The kids woke up at the (pardon my French) butt crack of dawn to see if the Easter Bunny hid their baskets.  Amelia was stumped for a long time and couldn't find her baskets, here she is running frantically, searching.

Luke usually finds his baskets and everyone else's in about two minutes.  Personally, I think he gets up in the middle of the night and starts searching but he is mum about how he does it.

Addison found her favorite book, "Llama Llama, Mad at Mama" and sat down to read it and that was the end of searching for Easter baskets.

Look mommy!

Finally Amelia found a basket :)

Too cute not to love.

Our sweet Addison.

Jesus has Risen!!!

Our loves.

Daddy had to work but here I am with our bunnies.  As we worked our way through Lent we tried to remind the kids that Easter was really about Jesus rising from the dead and proving He is our one true Savior.  Addison apparently was listening because when we walked into church she yelled repeatedly to everyone who would listen, "Jesus has risen from the dead!"  She even included Pastor Scott and Pastor Jon in her joyous exclamation and they even got the extra punctuation by slapping them each on the backside.  Oh, Addison.  Whatever am I going to do with you?  Happy Easter to everyone!  

Treasure Oaks Egg Hunt

The country club had their annual Easter Party last weekend and the kids had a blast like always.  It's getting harder for me to catch them to take pictures these days.  They are speedy, busy and not all that interested in mommy when they are at the club.

And she's off!  Addison rocked it out in the 3 and under category.  She eventually got so many eggs that she gave up and sat down to eat candy.

Luke and his trusty Spidy basket.  

I couldn't even find Amelia until her hunt was all over.  They really hid the eggs well for her age category.  

They all enjoyed face painting:  Amelia a cute bunny of course, Luke an Angry Bird and Addison a snake??  The face painter was talented and did these adorable Hello Kitty's, Minnie Mouse, etc.  but Addison insisted on a snake!  

Cousins Rock! (And Aunts too)

Hooray!  Max and Traci came to visit us over Spring Break.   HORN ISLAND RULES!!!!  We had lots of fun watching the dolphins swim around us, collecting shells and sea life and wave surfing.  

Big cousins are so much fun :)

Amelia and Max found and dragged this rope across the whole island, Survivor-style.

The next day we swam at the Kroc center and then headed to the Marine Mammal Institute and studied, touched and awed at sea turtles, blue crabs, horseshoe crabs, sea stars, etc.  The kids learned all about native species to the Gulf of Mexico and the importance of conservation of our wildlife.  We also learned our little Mississippi sound has the biggest concentration of bottlenose dolphins in the entire world!

Then it was out to the dolphin tanks for the kids big suprise.  Their very own dolphin encounter with Bo and  Buster!  

Instead of the Bopsy Twins...we were the dorky twins.  

We all got to pet, feed and help the dolphins perform their tricks.  It was an unbelievable experience and not one we will soon forget. 

Rubbing the dolphins belly.  I think I was as giddy as the kids.

Digging for shark teeth was a big hit too!

Boys being boys.

We had to redeem ourselves after the dorky picture.  Love my big sis!

When the kids weren't on the boat or the island, they were in the treehouse where they collected snails and fed them wild blackberries and wild onions from our yard.  I have never seen three dirtier kids at the end of each day but look at those smiles.

Tubing!!!  

We love you Max!  We smashed in a lot of fun and we all miss you guys already.

Chocolate Ball

Another beautiful night for the Chocolate Ball on the lawn of the Mary C.  A perfect night with friends, food and lots of chocolate.  And alas, this year I could partake in all of the desserts because I had not given up desserts for Lent.  Everything was delicious and a fun evening was had by all.

Me and the hubs.  Conveniently mom and dad were still in town so we even had free babysitting :)  Thanks mom and dad :)

Kristen sneaking in her bootleg wine...can't bring that girl anywhere ;)

This dessert was named "Lovers Lane."  Yay! 

Lots of fun with girlfriends.

While I was having fun with the girls and chocolate martinis, Steve hit the silent auctions.  Last year, he won a golf trip for himself and three friends.  This year, did we win the art? the jewelry? the spa getaways? the bed and breakfasts?  No, we won a year supply of TatoNut!  I couldn't believe he bid on doughnuts, I mean they are heavenly, but now I need him to bid on a personal trainer.