SPRING BREAK OR BUST!

I was absent from blogging all last week because I was away for some planned and some totally spur of the moment getaways. My best friend from college, Susan had a little girl a month before me and throughout our pregnancy we would talk about how once we had the babies we would have a girls spa getaway.  She has a little three year old boy too so we both have our hands full. So a girls weekend was exactly what we needed.  She is currently living in Charlotte, NC (although she is about to move back to Seattle) and Atlanta is smack in the middle of Charlotte and Starkville.  We checked into the Four Seasons and immediately hit up the hotel bar for some catching up, people watching and amazing cocktails! We then went out for a casual dinner where we had some amazing pizza at a place called Antico.

The next day, we ordered room service for breakfast and drank mimosa we hit up the spa for most of the day and it was so incredible.  Oh my gosh! We were so relaxed! We had this awesome two hour treatment and then we had the entire nail suite to ourselves while we received Moroccan oil manicures and pedicures and listened to the nail girl talk to us about all the famous people she has worked on.  After we left the spa we went back to the room and ordered more room service for snacks and crawled into our beds and watched a movie.  We are total moms because laying in bed and watching a movie is a vacation! That night we went out for a delicious dinner and came back to get into bed. Ha! It truly was an amazing weekend spent with a friend and I we both said we were ready to go home and be mommies again!

I came home Sunday and the coming up week Elle was going to be out for Spring Break so Kenny and I decided at the last minute to take a trip down to the beach!  The weather has been so cold and gloomy we desperately needed some sunshine.  Although the forecast wasn't looking so hot for the beach either!

We decided to leave Monday afternoon and stop halfway which gave me a small amount of time to pack but I managed to get it all done! While we were loading the car my friend Kelly drove by with some of the girls in the neighborhood and Elle hopped on and went cruising!

Caroline, Kelly's niece (not sure of her name), Brooklyn, Piper and Elle

About an hour into the trip I decided we should got to Cracker Barrel for dinner.  We stopped at one in Mobile and we were so disappointed.  Food was terrible, service was terrible.  It was all terrible. So sad! Because it is the ultimate road trip stop.

Walker hanging out in the hotel we stayed at in Pensacola.

The next morning we rode over to Seaside in hopes we could check into our cottage early because the sun was actually shining that day and we wanted to get to the beach pronto!

Our little cottage.  It was on Savannah street maybe three streets over from Seaside square and we loved being so close.  We normally rent a larger house in Seagrove about a mile down the road.

We immediately suited up and headed down to the beach.  This was Walker's first time and of course Elle is an old pro now. Walker was lulled to sleep fairly easily by the ocean waves.  He is a white noise addict.  He has a noise machine and so does Elle.  

Relaxing to the sounds of the ocean.

Hanging out with mommy while ole and Daddy played and built sand castles.

Walker taking a killer nap with Kenny on the beach. 

Oh my gosh this picture! One of my favorites.  His sweet little smirk and cheeks and chubby legs. Eeeeek!

The next morning we were there.  It was sort of cloudy so we hit up our favorite coffee shop and then went over to Modica for breakfast and their famous fresh squeezed mimosas! The we sat and just relaxed and let Elle play in the amphitheatre and took a short walk.  One of her favorite things to do and it was such a wonderful and relaxing morning.

Waiting on Daddy to bring out the breakfast.

Fun in the amphitheater.

Walker is not amused. My new hashtag on Instagram for these types of pictures because he makes the funniest unamused faces.

Snoozing on our walk.

WALKER MONTH 4

Oh Walker! Month four has been an amazing one! He has become so much more in tune with the world around him.  He is smiling and giggling and have discovered his hands and his voice. I am enjoying him so much! He is sleeping pretty well and sleeping has made all the different in every one's attitudes around here!  He enjoys playing on his play mat and still loves his mobile on his swing.  He hates the bumbo so we introduced the Fisher Price sit and play and he likes that much better. He is still much more needy than Elle was but we are starting to get used to that.  All in all month four was a four one! Here are a few pictures from Month 4!

 Sweet picture with Gramma!

 I love Elle's face in this one.  You can just tell she is baby talking him!

 Ha! Covered up with children!

 My sweet smiley boy!

 Aunt Tracy came to meet him and get some cuddles.

This is how I get ready these days. Rocking with one foot the entire time.

I am completely convinced he already knows what the camera phone is.  I have so many videos where he will be doing something so cute and I'll whip out the phone to get it on video and he will stop the second her sees my pink phone. Ugg!  These are his unamused pictures.

 She was so excited I put him in the Sit N Play the first time.  She took to entertaining him immediately and he loves watching her be silly.

Elle and I spent a snow day morning decorating this princess accessory kit which was so much fun but she thought Walker needed to wear her crown.  I am afraid he has a long life ahead of wearing girly things at the insistence of his sister.

THE LION KING

Last weekend we headed to Memphis to visit with my sister and my mom and to take Elle to see The Lion King at the Orpheum. Taking Elle to see her first Broadway musical is something I have dreamed about for a very long time.

Since I was a young child I have love love loved musicals.  I saw my first Broadway show when I was 8.  It was Phantom of the Opera.  Then I saw Les Miserable and many many more.  I can still sing so many different musicals from start to finish.  When I was a senior in high school my aunt and uncle took me to New York City for a week and we saw three plays in that week alone.  I love the theatre and I especially love musicals.  So taking my children to the theatre is something I have wanted to do forever.  It is the equivalent of taking them to Disney World for me. That is no exaggeration. I never thought we would take Elle at the age of four but when we found out that The Lion King was coming back to Memphis we thought she would loved it and grabbed some tickets.  This was my fourth time to see it so I knew exactly what to expect and we chose our seats accordingly.  I was so anxious for her to like it! I want to share my love of theatre with her throughout her life.  This was big!

She loved it! She absolutely loved it! I teared up two or three times throughout the play out of pure happiness.  I was even worried that after the first act she would be kind of worn out from all the excitement and possibly fall asleep but instead she sat on the edge of her seat leaning forward taking it all in.  My heart wanted to burst! When the curtain dropped at the end she raised her hands in the air and clapped so heart. And I cried! It was the magical experience that I have always dreamed of and I can't wait to take her to another one!

Alright a few pictures from the weekend!

CeCe with Walker!

And a trio!

We went to the matinee on Sunday so on Saturday we ran a bunch of shopping errands.  We let Elle watch the iPad in the car if we are out of town.  I guess she was a little tired because one second she was belting out Let It Go and the next she was passed out.

Getting ready to go in. So excited!

Posing in the pretty lobby.

I have never gone to a show and bought a souvenir but Kenny couldn't resist getting one for Elle.  It was adorable.  She chose a small Nala lion doll.

And of course a mother daughter selfie with Nala!

OUR SNOW LADY

Well after our exciting day of waiting for the snow and then playing in it while it fell we were all worn out.  But Elle was still up bright and early ready to play! The forecast was saying it was going to warm up and the sun was already starting to peek out so we knew if we were going to make those snow man dreams a reality then we had to get moving!

On this morning I made sure to bundle Elle a little bit better!  

I thought she looked adorable in her boots and jacket!

She is so funny.  She wants to go out and play in it but then she gets cold.  

So she kind of stands there. 

But then we got to building.  Our neighbors who have three boys had already built a very respectable snow man in their front yard so we couldn't be outdone.  When you only have a couple inches of snow though it can be a little difficult. We even had to come inside mid-build to warm up. We are so southern.

Building the bottom.  In my opinion the hardest part.

And of course Walker was not having being left inside in the warm house.  

So I bundled him too and out he went with me.

Our snow man went from a man to a lady when Kenny's baseball hat did not fit her head.  But my Kentucky Derby sun hat from last year fit great. Then she got a pink scarf, some wooden bead buttons, a wine cork for a nose and I fashioned some luscious lips and big glue eyes out of construction paper.  We were all very pleased with how she came out!  When we asked Elle what she wanted to name her the answer was Abigail, after her best friend.

Picture time! We were so proud of Snow Lady Abigail!

I love how you can tell we used every bit of snow in that area to make our Abigail!  And then the rest of it melted away quickly.  By the end of the day all the snow was pretty much gone but as you drove through the neighborhood all that was left were all the children's snowmen.  We went out of town this past weekend and when we got home Abigail was completely gone.  The wet scarf was left in our yard in a heap.  We will miss you Abigail!

HOORAY FOR A SNOW DAY!

So the weather men had been talking about snow in the forecast for what seemed like two weeks! They had already cancelled school for Wednesday by Tuesday afternoon so I casually mentioned that it might snow to Elle thinking she would not care.  I was wrong.  She cared! She even prayed for snow during our prayer that night!

We woke up the next morning and...rain.  Yucky freezing cold rain.  Elle was so sad.  And we were stuck in the house with Elle looking out the window wishing and still praying for snow.

Walker wanted to be held of course. So we just kind of snuggled down.

As the day progressed the rain turned to sleet and we started to get a good covering of ice and ice pellets. A few times we even got some flakes and we would run to put on our coats and by the time we got outside it was gone.  Even more heartbreaking!

But then it came! And to our delight it was sticking and piling up (for us) fast! So you can bet we got out there and played int it! Elle was so excited! Elle liked it but like me doesn't totally do well when she is cold! So we were in and out a lot!

We did takes Walker out in it once! 

I don't think he cared much.  This picture cracks us up!

Everyone in our neighborhood was riding their golf carts around 

on the icy roads and turning doughnuts and doing wheelies. 

Our friend Craig took Elle for a small ride.  

This was the first time we got a good snowfall in the new house.  It looks so pretty all lit up and cozy.

Made sure to get Lena in on the action.  She did not really care for it either. Old girl!

By the end of the day Elle was worn out from the anticipation and then all the playing and excitement.  But as it was getting dark she insisted on going back out to make snow angels.  She claimed to have seen Lambie and Chilly do it on Doc McStuffins.  And I guess she was telling the truth because she for sure knew how to do a good snow angel! She must of done eight of them. Then she was freezing and soaking wet and sat in front of our fire for almost an hour to get warm.

Doing her snow angels!

And of course what is a proper snow day without some delicious hot chocolate! I googled a recipe and made it with unsweetened cocao powder,sugar, vanilla and milk.  Then added a ton of marshmallows.  It was really really good! Elle had fun helping me!

Enjoying our hot cocoa!

You might be wondering where our snow man is?  Well we had to wait for snow to accumulate so tune in tomorrow for a post about our wonderful snow lady named Abigail!

A FEW LITTLE RANDOMS

Before I do some of the bigger posts about our snow day and taking Elle to do something I have dreamed of since before she was born I thought I would do a post on just a few random things. 

Things have finally started to calm down a little and life is starting to feel a little normal these days.  The weather has been awful so while we are so tired of being inside and are all kind of battling a cold at least we are sleeping more.  Walker is still requiring a lot of holding and soothing but I have set some goals to get him to start napping in his crib during the day and I think that will help a whole lot.

So here are a few random pictures from our life as of late!

Oh my goodness isn't he cute?

Elle had her bestie over for a play date one day and after playing for a while (dress up of course) they decided they wanted to snuggle and watch a movie.

Elle and I got to school early one morning so we had a selfie session! Love this little girl so much!

Our mean faces.

Group shot!

Last weekend my friend Tracy came in town.  I was so excited to see her! She is about to have her second baby in just a few weeks and she had to met Walker yet.  She got into town Saturday early afternoon and got lots of snuggle time.  Then we headed out for a girls night.  Dinner and a movie! It was perfect!

Kenny took Elle to the basketball while Tracy and I hung at home with Walker.

Before Tracy left Sunday afternoon we just layed around at home and watched tv and sipped on coffee.  It was so relaxing! My favorite kind of girl time these days.

My sweet friend with my sweet boy!