The water was cold

but that didn't stop the little people from playing in the surf!

Car trip, fun trip, glad to be home trip!

We just got home from a very, very fun weekend at the Outer Banks in NC.

Kevin's college buddies have spent the past 10 memorial Day weekends together at the beach and we decided to go this year for our maiden voyage. The weekend is called "Evengreen" and it is quite a production. The organizers (apparently the responsibility rotates from family to family each year) make up t-shirts (even for the kids) and a CD made up of songs that each person submits prior to the weekend. Everyone brings snacks, booze, toys - all to be shared and then each family contributes cash for grocery store trips. Each night an easy meal is planned and several hands help to cook. This year we were treated to delicious shrimp and grits by Timmy T., and enormous and flavorful FergBurgers. One night we ordered delicious North Carolina BBQ, too.

What a great group of people! Counting children, there were 42 people in ONE house - which accommodated everyone quite nicely. The house had a pool and was right on the beach. I couldn't believe how smoothly everything ran. The mood was relaxed and spirited. Amazingly, the children played well together and had a total blast.

Really fun times! Of course at times like this it is necessary to take a few pictures. Jack was quite charmed by little Miss Sadler as you can see! More photos to come...

operant conditioning!

Ooppps!! It's been awhile since I took PSY101, so I forgot the difference in classical vs. operant conditiong... Professor Kevin told me that Addie and Ruby were involved in operant conditioning yesterday with the shaking and treats!!!!!! Pardon my mistake!

Shake!

Addie was doing some good ole fashioned classical conditioning today with Ruby. She was so excited that Ruby would do what she asked with the help of treats. Little does Addie know that I try this technique with her and Jack on a regular basis!!! Boy, is it ever easier to train a dog than it is to raise children!!

cutie kiddos!

Took this picture for my neighbor last weekend when her family was in town for her daughter's baptism... CUTE CUTE kids!!!!
Dada and I are headed out for a night out! Patti is babysitting!! Yea, Patti!!!!

More from today

I couldn't believe when I got my camera out today that Addie actually sat beside Jack and tolerated her picture being taken (is that a grammatically correct sentence???!). I love it when they are so sweet to each other and this afternoon they spent a bit of time just laughing and eating apples together. Jack LOVES to scream, so he would scream and then they would both laugh at him.

It seems that Addie is changing overnight. Each day she does something or says something new/older, or acts in way that totally surprises me. Pardon me if this is too much info... but up until 3 days ago the child WOULD NOT go poo poo on the potty... I bribed, I begged, I bribed more, I tried guilt... she just woud not go. All of the sudden a couple of days ago she decided that she is a "big girl" and she wanted to go on the potty... low and behold, that big girl is now obsessed with poo pooing on the potty!! SHe is SO proud of herself. I am proud of her, too!

I love when Jack wakes up from his nap - his hair is so curly! Can't decide if he needs a little hair cut - I'm afraid the curls will go away. Doesn't Addie look like she's from a 1980 exercise class with her hair in the headband???!!!

We had these GORGEOUS red rununculus at work today... so beautiful.

Excited!!!

I get to visit these guys and their human brothers and sisters again soon... can't wait! SO beautiful!!!

I planted my two back deck pots today --- Kristen and I made some garden center trips over the past few days. Our lettuce seedlings are coming along nicely, although Addie gave them a dousing of water so I hope she didn't drown them!

Our wonderful weather continues... but I dare say we need some rain!
Happy Monday everyone!

First peony blooms

ok... so there will be a couple of pictures tonight. It's Mother's Day - flowers and mothers go hand in hand, right?! My early blooming peony showed her pretty face today!

Mother's Day

No pictures today... just a little blurb on being a mother.

The other day I was at the neighborhood park with the kids. We had been on a walk and Addie fell asleep in the stroller. Jack and I had some alone time and we were swinging. I started to realize the differences in my children - Addie would have wanted me to push her "higher" and "faster." Jack wanted me to push him once awhile and then swing next to him in my swing. Interesting, eh? So, as I was swinging next to him, and watching Addie sleep in the stroller I started asking myself, "when did I become a MOTHER of two children? When did the babies that I had grow up to be little people? WHO are these kids and WHY am I their mother??" It was an interesting hour as I watched my kids.

They are growing so fast. Little things never cease to amaze me. We went out to dinner tonight at UNOs (nice and kid friendly!) and when we were finished I asked Addie if she could figure out how many boxes we needed for our leftovers. She looked around and counted 3, because Jack finished his meal and we didn't need a box for his food! I don't know why, but I thought that was cool that she could figure that out.

Time to put my precious cherubs to bed. They are amazing creatures!!

Happy Mother's Day to my mom, my mother-in-law, and all of my mommy friends! How would we ever get through this thing called motherhood without each other!

Cute kids and beautiful weather

I just can say it enough --- "I LOVE THIS WEATHER!!!!" Did you hear me?? Love it, love it, love it!!!!!

Had a fun opportunity to do a session with one of Addie's classmates. Cute kids!

Can't get enough of this awesome weather!

Can you say "GLORIOUS!!!!" Blue skies, bright sun --- fabulous. It has been a great few days. We've been playing outside, working outside (first grass cutting), and just being outside. It's been lovely. The plants seem to double in size each day and they are loving the beautiful weather, too. Here are a couple of photos of flowers from the yard this spring: