Mother's Day weekend 2013

So we had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend. It was filled with family togetherness! 

So the fun times began on Thursday after I got off work. We have a favorite Mexican restaurant on St. Simons and a new one opened in our mall. We had dinner there Thursday and it was almost as good. There just isn't free salsa and chips, but the chimichangas were delicious!

On Friday we went back to the zoo! It was so much fun. This time we started on the opposite end and got to see lots of new things like the penguins, the petting zoo, playground, inside play area, the dinosaur exhibit, and some small monkeys. Ruthie and Olivia enjoyed it just as much this time!

Happy Girl!

waving to the "monks" aka monkey

petting the goats

lots of dinosaurs! I think we enjoyed it even more than the girls!

Then on Saturday, we went to the beach. It was so pretty and not too hot since we got out there a little before 10 am. Ruthie loves the water even more than last year and Olivia was a huge fan of just sitting on the beach, under the umbrella, and watching people and birds as they passed by. Matt and I just enjoyed being all together.

see, she loves the water. just look at that smile!

tummy time on the beach

On Saturday night Matt grilled burgers and we ate fresh corn that we bought at a farmer's market on the way home from the beach. Don't worry we had a salad too. Then we rewatched the Office from Thursday night.

On Sunday morning we got up and Matt and the girls gave me my presents, then off to church, Japanese food for lunch which Matt picked up and brought home since eating out is NOT fun any longer with a 2 year old. The afternoon was spent at home resting and relaxing with no youth group. Don't get me wrong, we love our youth group, but a Sunday night off every once in a while is pretty nice! The weekend was amazing and I feel very loved by my husband and my kids who without either there would not be any celebration of Mother's day here at this home for me. 

my presents- Les Mis and a picture with Olivia's hand and foot prints. 

Matt and Ruthie gave me the top one with Ruthie's hand and foot prints my first Mother's Day and then I got a matching one for Olivia! So fun and perfect!

Painting and loving

Family Fun

Here are some pics from the last few weeks.

playing on a tree at the park with daddy

Ruthie likes stickers and she really likes to put them on Daddy

sisters

date with daddy

daddy's other date

Ruthie joined in on water day at the church preschool and had so much fun. I'm pretty sure that she is going to love going to preschool next week.

eating a popsicle at water day

swinging at the park

stylin in her sunglasses

wearing a dress she picked out on her own!

Ruthie reading to Olivia

trying bananas, but isn't ready just yet so we will hold off for a few more weeks

Matt made this and I thought it was cute!

Olivia turns 5 months old

Olivia, you are now 5 months old as of April 30th! We are getting so close to 1/2 year! 

You are such a sweet baby. You are happy unless hungry, wet/dirty, or have gas.

Olivia, you my dear, have some smelly gas and some smelly poops, but who cares b/c you are oh so sweet and smiley! 

This month you tried some bananas and some rice cereal, but just aren't ready yet for solids. We will wait a bit longer.

You turned over 2xs this month, but just don't seems to want to keep turning over just yet.

You are so alert as you always have been. Your big beautiful eyes are just always looking around at everyone and everything! You just love to watch people and you love to smile at them.

You did so much this month: first long trip to Awanita with the youth, first time to the zoo, and trying new foods.

You have just grown so much and I know you must be almost 18 lbs or so now!

You are getting so big I don't know that I can carry you in the infant car seat any longer.

You love your sister so much and the 2 of you love just laughing together and Ruthie loves reading to you and tickling your feet to make you laugh. Ruthie especially loves giving you eskimo kisses, but she calls it "ugga mugga" thanks to Daniel Tiger. (check out Daniel Tigers Neighborhood and you will understand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_SuVSx_Kes )

Olivia, we are so happy that you are our baby girl. We just love seeing your smile light up a room. We love seeing you grow and you bring so much calmness to our lives! It is wonderful! Thanks for being so great and for loving us back. We can just see all the love you have for us as you smile and look at us and we couldn't be more happy to be your parents! 

Spring Break in Awanita Valley

For Spring Break we took the Youth to SC to Awanita Valley. I went 2 times in high school and once in college! So many memories came flooding back as we walked around camp and did activities. It was wonderful! So here are some pics from the trip.

Kathy and Steve came for the weekend to help with the girls!

group photo

challenge course

hummer rides

horse back ridding 

paddle boats

more ropes course

momma and Olivia

papa and Olivia

AJ and Olivia

on the zip line in 40 degree weather. I did not go, but 5 youth did and loved it! The next day we did go and it was 60 degrees and a little better.

watching the zip line

playing apples to apples b/c it was raining, but we had fun!

stopped for gas on our way to Awanita

Welcome to Awanita!