visit with the Denton family

Laura and I go waaay back.  

We've been friends since the beginning of high school & lived together throughout most of our college days.  Her family recently moved to Columbia, SC from Florida so we were able to stop there on our way home to Georgia.  What a treat to be able to spend so much quality time together.  

Elly & Davis are only 6 wks apart so it has been fun to watch them grow up together.  

Carson & Audrey (who is the FUNNIEST toddler on the planet) had the best time hanging with the big kids.  

They played so awesome together...leaving lots of catch up time for the mamas.  

We are so excited to have a good pit stop now when we travel between GA and MD.  

And, to be able to see some of our favorite people more often.  

*Davis went shopping for Elly at his school store.  He bought her the perfect set of princess markers.  I think she was pretty excited.  

Here are some pics. from our fun night.  

Here is mask boy and the lovely princesses.  Audrey was chasing Davis around saying, "mask mask".  Oh my, I can still hear that adorable voice in my head.   

 Princess markers for a special friend.  

 Audrey hugging mr. mask goodbye.  Her parents are lucky that we didn't take those girls with us.  So cute! 

 Mr. Rob is so fun & let them try on his flight masks/ helmets.  

Looking forward to our next playdate! 

thanksgiving by the sea

This was a first for us.  

We have not been away from our families on Thanksgiving...ever I don't think. 

I was really anxious and sad at the thought of everyone else being circled around the tables together, but it actually turned out quite lovely.  

I was really able to focus on being thankful.  For ALL of our blessings.  

Without scurrying around from house to house.  

Enjoyed just the four of us so much.  

 The fancy "beachy" table decor provided by davis & carson.  

 Shane's awesome deep fried turkey!  Yummo!!  

It was a lovely day.  

I even snuck out late afternoon and got a jump start on Christmas shopping.  

thanksgiving celebration

A turkey is a funny bird.

His head goes wobble, wobble.

 All he says is just one word.

 Gobble, gobble, gobble!

(in her very best opera voice.....)

Today was so fun! 

Carson had her little school thanksgiving performance & feast. 

I was so proud of her.  She spotted me right away and just smiled so big.  I just knew she would cry.  But, she didn't and sang her little heart out.  At home she has been practicing.  In her most serious Opera tone ever. 

While talking to my mom the other day, she said she would be dressed like a turkey, have a "nest around her waist", and "drop eggs from her booty."  I kid you not... we died laughing!  Of course the only true part was dressing like the little turkey that she is. 

i'm free!

Facebook-less.  Free of the bondage that it had on me.  I'm so embarrassed that it took this.  I guess I'm more of an all or nothing type gal than I thought.  It's funny that in my mind this is such a big deal.  Really?  Then yes, it was a big deal for me to let go. 

Let go and take in this...

I cannot get over the color of this tree.  It's a super cloudy day so of course the picture doesn't do it justice.  My goodness I could stare at it forever.  It reminds me of my friend Jaime's yard.  I've always loved the mounds of yellow leaves they get.  Not so much that I offered to rake them.  :) 

Let go & take in these adorable faces that are changing every single day.

Let go & take in these awesome belly laughs.

Let go & take in my son's incredible wonder.

There were so many days when i used bathtime to catch up on emails or fb.  See, I told you I was crazy over here. 

a few random acts

In order to simplify & take the stress out of our fun month,  I stopped numbering them in my head. 

My favorite thing about this little activity has been watching the kids come up with fun ideas. 
It usually starts with "Mom...i think ______ would make me smile." 

I love that they are beginning to process what it means to share kindness. 

*while eating out this week, we talked about what it means to tip.  the kids decided to use their arcade $ and pass it on to our waitress who was so incredibly delightful. 

*spreading coins at the playground so others can see a penny and pick it up...

*returning a ladies books to the library to keep her from getting out of her car in the rain.

*treating our new friends to an afternoon of frostys (thanks, nana!)

Didn't take many pictures of acts because it seemed a little silly. 

These memories will sure continue. 

day 3

sharing the love through snail mail today! 

The kids get so excited about writing letters, the stamps, and mailbox delivery so this was an easy task. 

davis & carson were so cute this afternoon~  doing random acts of kindness for each other through play. 

now i'm going to do myself an act of kindness and snuggle into my bed early. 

day two

Each morning I drop Davis off in front of his big elementary school.  This is his request and makes him feel so proud that he can do it alone.  It STILL makes me tear up when i watch him wave and give me a "thumbs up!"  from that big sidewalk.  Each morning the same 4 teachers are out there smiling as we drop (& hurry) them off for school.  It doesn't matter if it is raining, freezing, etc...  They are always out there with a smile. 

I appreciate them so much.  They make sure my big, yet so small to me, boy is staying on the sidewalk. 

day 2 act of kindness...  we took those four sweet souls a big cup of hot cocoa today.  they were absolutely delighted to hold it in their freezing cold hands.  we are so appreciative of their service.  I'm sure they'd rather be inside getting ready for their day. 

I'm feeling thankful that my sweet kiddos gave me another chance this morning to be a good mom. 

30 days of kindness

Today is November.  So glad the halloween hoopla has come to an end. 

I love this month.  Don't love being 5 states away, but going to make the best of it! 

Thanksgiving usually comes & goes for me.  We talk about being thankful.  We read books about being thankful.  We do a lot of reflecting. 

I wanted to do something a little different this year.  As a family, we're going to do 30 random acts of kindness.  Starting with today, we're going to make some people smile. 

Thankful that we are healthy and can provide opportunities for others. 

I envisioned this day a little different.  It was a tough one for us...i am pretty sure it's the sugar crash. 

However, we're thankful tomorrow is another day. 

Day 1:  Our pizza man mentioned that he loved snickers and my sweet davis decided he wanted to give him the snickers from his stash.  So thoughtful and a random act of kindness for sure. 

In between the yelling and sibling rivalry we did manage to put together this little thankful tree for our table.  A simple reminder to recognize all that we have and love. 



halloween...oh yeah!

I DO love Halloween.  I love love dressing up and being silly.  I love the excitement of fun decorations and parties.  However, this year I struggled with the greediness of trick or treating.  I don't know why- never bothered me in the past.  I was sortof a scrooge when it was all said and done.  BUT, here are some super fun events leading up to my five year old meltdown about being greedy and taking candy.  Hee hee...

Hitting the zoo with Mason & Tanner.  

Carving an adorable pumpkin on the dock because it was WARM! 

 Dressing up like an adorable Goldilocks & Cowboy! 

& just so I don't forget...both costumes under $10. 

 Davis winning the costume contest at the Ocean Pines Rec. Center!  He was sooo excited.  This was a big deal for my boy.  He is not a fan of being in the center of attention.  He fought back some tears...and I won't lie I did too.  He was scared and I was so incredibly proud of him for being brave.  

 Making super fun treats for our buddies at school. 

 Candy parades and dressing up at school.  This is Carson's adorable class.  There are 9 little girls..no boys.  And, they are all really really sweet.  

 Roaming around downtown Berlin looking for the best candy in town.  

 Running into our favorite girls...Riley & Payton.  

Did you seeeee all the candy collecting going on?  I'm over now I promise.  And, YES we'll do it all over again next year.  And I will have to remind myself that it's all part of the fun.  

making new friends

One thing I'm incredibly thankful for right now in my life are these two families. 

These two sweet girls have truly come into our lives and helped make us love living here. 

I met Monica the last time we lived in Ocean City. 

She was always so good about telling us the hot spots and inviting us to playdates. 
Mason is now 4 and Tanner almost 2. 

These boys are FULL of life and so much fun!  

The other day I mentioned to davis that daddy was so lucky that he got to go home to GA this week.  And he said, 'Mama, but WE get to go to Monica's house.  We are the lucky ones." 

This makes me so happy.

Jaime and her girls have truly been the biggest blessings as well.  Riley is in Kindergarten and sweet Peyton is in Carson's class. 

Davis is quite smitten with Riley.  They are both such awesome girls.

Our new friends are treasures that is for sure. 

I've even suckered them into running with me & become frugal shoppers.

It sure makes our days here more enjoyable!
ps...these precious kiddos have fabulous husbands too!  We have even squeezed in one adult only night and had a great time. 

go go...go sally...

meet sally.  and her one dollar fake hair (thanks a lot, nana!).  sally has learned to "hoowa hoop" and we have learned the louder we cheer the crazier those little hiney cheeks swirl in circles.  It's the cutest thing ever to watch a child hoola hoop. 

learning to do such a fun thing calls for a fabulous run on the beach.

little sally has also learned how to entertain herself during rest time.

on this day she had a "sale because she doesn't like any of these clothes anymore." 

she makes me smile from ear to ear. 

yes, you can!

my big girl wrote her name for the first time on her own!  so proud!! And now, she is hooked.  Obsessed with letters and writing any and everything.  Usually the ole' scribble waves that continue on for miles.  Don't you remember doing that?  I love it.  She knows exactly what it says. 

our little character kid of the month!  (september...i'm a little behind!)

i won't lie, this brought tears to my eyes.  not sure why, but it did. 

And he was so stinking excited that his friend Neil got it too... in fact, was a little annoyed with us because we were not screaming up and down for sweet Neil.  he makes me so proud.  his heart is neverending. 



my goodness

wow.  i can't believe i have not written down memories in six long weeks! 

lots of catching up to do, but for now a quick update will have to do to jog my memory of how we've spent our time.

our boy is now FIVE.  wow.  He had a fabulous birthday party back in Georgia. 

He was named Character Kid of the month (and we were overjoyed!).

He reads and writes like crazy and loves to count by 5s. 

our sweet girl is becoming so independent and now likes to sleep in her bed.  Whewww...  for now anyways.

she absolutely loves school.  spelled Wal*mart the other day when we drove up and I almost fainted.  smart little booger but doesn't like to do squat for her teacher mama! 

she has made 8 little girlfriends that she loves playing house with at school.

Mimi & Papa came for a great visit!

we've made some great friends up here.  helps pass the time!

all of this and more in posts to come...

my heart this week

Mama's heart feels good this week.  I mean really good.  It's been one of those weeks where I think, "I could do this forever."  (gparents don't panic...i don't mean stay in MD forever).

The kids seemed to mesh well.  The weather was great.  And, for the first time I felt settled and a true part of this community. 

We're starting to have more playdates and run into new friends at the grocery store.  

Davis has decided that he would like for me to drop him off at the sidewalk in the car pick up line.  Yes, I let him do it.  Yes, I cry everyday.  This is a big step for my boy. 

He is becoming so independent.  It's a long sidewalk in front of that big school. 

He doesn't know that I wait until I see him go in the door before I go. 

Carson and her girlfriends are just the sweetest class ever. 

She loves talking about brushing Lilly's hair and playing house with Peyton.

We took some time out at the beach after school one day.

Just the three of us and I did a lot of thinking. 

So cliche' to say, but man this is going by so fast. 

Their feet seem bigger.  Their thougths seem bigger.  And, most important their hearts seem bigger.

I was spending some time alone this week, too.
Browsing the outlet malls and noticed a girl with her first new baby.

She looked so frantic and scared...yet, so in love.

I don't think I was wanting to go back to those days, but it did make me feel like I truly did blink and they were 3 and 5.  I told her I was so proud of her for getting out. 

She was so cute talking about her baby and all the things she did to prepare for her day out. 

Perhaps it was such a good week because we're ending it with a trip HOME! 

To Georgia... where we'll see the ones who we truly love the most. 

Yahooooooo! 

sun kissed cheeks

The weather has been a bit gloomy this week. 

But, not today! 

We hit the beach after our morning at church and a yummy lunch at home. 

There were tons of shells today & shane rigged up this hysterical swing for the kids on the back of the truck. 

I just love days like this. 

No schedules.  We're all together under the sun.  Everybody is happy. 

Well, until they both want the dump truck at the same time.