Outside in April

April has been another fun month. We've spent almost the entire month searching for a playground for our backyard. Pa and Ro Ro said they thought the kids should have a playground in the backyard and for us to start looking....who am I to argue with that? So we started our search and let me just tell you, there's a lot out there! But, we finally found something that we really liked and placed the order. This past Friday, they were coming to deliver and install and everytime the kids thought they heard the truck coming, they would run to the window and look. They finally got here and Ethan was soooooo excited (Nina was already down for her morning nap). He literally stayed outside all day long Friday and Saturday (except for nap). Ethan already has a farmer's tan. They absolutely love it and don't want to come inside. There is a phone on the platform and that is the prized possession right now...not sure if we're going to order a second one or not. Maybe that can be Nina's b'day present! Tonight we went to dinner after church and it was almost dark when we got home, but they didn't care! They still played and played and played, in the dark! Thank you Pa and Ro Ro! Can't wait for you to come see it in person!!!

I went to Nashville Friday afternoon to run in the Country Music Half Marathon on Saturday morning. I stayed with our good family friends, Julie and John. Julie's parents, that live in Peachtree City and go to church with Mom, were in town for a visit and we had a great time together. Friday night after a fabulous pasta dinner, we stayed up til midnight playing Mexican Train Dominos and had a blast! We had great conversation and of course, John had to blame his loss to the fact that we talked too much...although I think he's the one with the reputation for 2 minute stories turning into 10 minute stories...! I got up early Saturday morning and headed to LP Field and then to the race start. There were over 30,000 that ran this race and it was so much fun! I was proud that I finished in under 2 1/2, especially in that heat and humidity! It was 85 at race time - yikes! I had a great run and actually got to see several friends from my time at Lipscomb. After I got back to their house that afternoon, we went to the Franklin Main Street Festival and walked around. It's just such a cute town with adorable shops and the festival just had the best smells....fresh funnel cakes, kettle corn, smoothies, lemonade, chicken on skewers, bbq, fresh potato chips....the smell of Summer! I hated to leave before I could redeem myself at the game table, but I promised Ethan Dairy Queen, so I had to head home. I feel so blessed to know the Hallford/Cottrell family and to consider them friends - they just radiate goodness and are the perfect example of wonderful Christian living! I want to be a better person just by being around all of this family! Thanks for opening your home and making me feel welcome! I can't wait for Paris - we really need to figure out a way to get the Dominos over the pond with us! Mark and I were still eating dinner one night and the kids started coloring with markers - somehow, some one started coloring on themselves and it turned into a green nightmare! They thought it was so cool that I told them they could keep doing it and for a few days after kept asking if they could do it again.

They have been all about the sandbox recently, which is great when I'm cooking dinner because I can keep my eye on them while still in the kitchen. They play here for a long time and love it!

I think someone gave this hat to Mark when he turned 30 and Nina found it in our closet the other day and refused to take it off!

The playground!!!!

Nina goes up the ladder and comes down the slide before you can even turn around. She's fast!

Having a little snack in the fort

Heading to church tonight. Ethan was so excited that I told him he could finally wear his green flip flops! He keeps saying, "oh, Ro Ro is going to love these and we'll wear them at the beach." I don't think he realizes that our beach trip isn't for 4 1/2 more months!

This "dress" as my Mom calls it, was mine when I was 2. Can you believe I wore dresses that short? I know my booty had to have been hanging outta that! So, I made the pants to go with the "dress", that is now a "top". Nina just thought she was the stuff wearing this outfit and her white sunglasses!

Hope everyone has a good week!

Easter

Last Thursday after Ethan's Easter party at preschool, we headed to Georgia. The kids were both good travelers, even though Nina only napped a little and Ethan didn't nap at all. Towards the end of the trip, it got a little hairy, but we made it. Friday we went into Atlanta to see the puppet teams at Lads to Leaders. Ethan loves this little girl from church so he was excited to see her....although when he did see her, he got very quiet. Saturday we went to Cedar Grove's cookout and egg hunt. It was fun to see all our old friends and the kids had a good time - it was so chilly though. Sunday was Easter and it was so pretty outside. The kids loved running around the yard and finding eggs. I love seeing all the pretty trees, flowers and bushes blooming!

Ethan and Kate before the puppet competition

Ethan looks really excited

Ethan and Allie at the egghunt Nina had at least 2 Lindt lambs before church....and yes, she's in Halloween pjs - not great planning on my part!

Ethan caught in the middle of a yawn looking through his Easter basket

I thought Ethan and Nina's expressions were hilarious - neither were interested in taking pictures (surprise, surprise)

Hope everyone had a great Easter!

Egg Hunt

We had our church egg hunt this past weekend. It was so much fun and a LOT of hard work. Since we do Lads to Leaders Easter weekend, the smaller kids that don't participate, get looked over around this holiday. So, I got the bright idea to have an egg hunt. Everything went well and we had about 40 kids and over 125 total. The weather was perfect - 75 and sunny! We were originally forecast for rain and in our class on Wednesday night, several of us that had worked so hard on getting this together, asked that good thoughts and prayers go up for sun and no rain. Well, it worked.....and I kid you not, on the way home, after all was said and done, it started pouring down rain....for about 3 minutes and then it stopped! Anyways, the kids had a great time and so did the adults! Nina already eyeing the cookies!

Nina and Sydney don't quite know what to think....

...so let's just point to our shoes....

Kelly painted Easter eggs and bunnies on the kids

Nina is off to find the eggs

Mark is already trying to steal Sydney's candy

The older kids dying eggs - all the kids had a blast doing this!

A physical therapist, pilot and police officer...and a few others...now which ones charred the first 4 hamburgers? After that, they knew what they were doing - but when I saw those first 4, I thought we might be in trouble!

Ethan stopping mid grab to smile for Daddy

Ethan and Daddy making their craft together - a bunny windsock

Whew....nap time!

March Fun

March has been a busy month - I don't know why I even say that because every month seems to be busy. We started with the huge snow in Memphis and that was fun, but I was so glad to see the last part of that melt. Spring is in the air (along with pollen) and it's so nice. The kids are loving playing outside as much as they can and are shopping for a playground for our yard, compliments of Pa and Ro Ro. I ran my second half marathon last weekend. I was a little nervous because I was running by myself - last time I had a girlfriend from church run with me. But this was a small race and there were no rules against ipods, so luckily I was able to have that get me through. I finished 10 minutes faster than my time in December and that was after Mark had given me strep throat the week before, so I was pleased. I've got one more in April in Nashville and I think I'll be done until the Peachtree in July.

This past Wednesday, I packed up and headed to Chicago with my friend Mitzi Baker, her Mom, Vicky and friend Angie. They have a friend that is a producer at Oprah, and he got us tickets for a taping. They have been several times before - Mitzi's Mom and Dad were there for the red show with Bono. How cool! We got up early and took a taxi to the studio. There were 2 tapings that day and we were the afternoon taping, but we had to be at the studio no later than 11:30. We were there at 10:15. Once we got inside, they took our phones and cameras and we went upstairs to a holding room. Finally they started calling groups down to the studio to seat people. The studio is, of course, incredibly nice and actually large. We had great seats and saw ourselves on one of the monitors several times, so we'll see if we made editing! Once we were in the studio, there were staff members making sure everything was perfect before Oprah arrived. They were playing loud, energizing music to get the audience going. Finally they started talking to us and told us that it was going to be a great show - Dr. Oz and Michael J Fox were the guests. We were all excited - how can you not love Michael J Fox?!?! Of course, we would have loved to have been the recipients of a new car....but we were given something that was intangible and it was fabulous! All of a sudden the music got quieter and everyone was running around saying she's on her way...and out she came. It was really exciting to see her in person. I've watched her show off and on - not a huge fan or anything, but it was fun to see her and see the show being taped. Of course when Michael came out everyone went crazy - but it different because it was emotional too. Anyways, the show was great! Right now it's scheduled to air March 31st.

That night we had tickets to Mary Poppins - another great show! The theater was gorgeous and the play was fabulous! By the time we got back to the hotel, we were exhausted! Friday morning we got up and got dressed and hit Michigan Avenue - which was half a block from our hotel. We literally shopped all day long. It was a lot of fun though. Our weather was perfect - locals kept saying it was a heat wave...it was in the high 40s and low 50s during the day. By the time we left Saturday, our coats were not needed at all.

Mark had the kids while I was gone and did a wonderful job, of course. They went to the park, played outside, Chick fil-A with Mark Baker and the kids. He cooked dinner and I even came home to a completely clean house! Yes, I've got it good and I know it! Now, when I got home around 1:30 Sunday morning, Ethan was up waiting on me! Well, he was actually waiting on his presents. It was rather funny, but nice to have him excited to see me. We had the best time and it was so nice to get away for a few days but wonderful to come home! The snow fort that Mark and Ethan made with Jackson and his cousin - this was day 3 of the snow too...I can't imagine what they would have made the first day!
Finally it was warmer outside but Nina wanted to wear her hat

A few things I did for a lady at church to give at a baby shower

Cute appliques on onesies that I did for the same shower

Nina and Ethan watching a little tv

Ethan and Nina after church

Arriving in ChicagoThis is Jenna, a friend from Auburn. She now lives in Chicago and is a pilot for the Wrigley Company. She met us for dinner our first night in town. It was good to catch up with her!!! Mitzi and Miss Vicky outside Oprah's studio

The 4 of us before Mary PoppinsInside of the Cadillac Palace Theatre - it was gorgeous!
This was inside each bathroom stall in the American Girl store

This church was in the middle of all the tall buildings on Michigan Ave and it was so pretty

So cheesy - but Mitzi made me pose....Matt (my boss) gave me a Tiffany's gift card for Christmas, so I went shopping!

The Wrigley Building - this was our view across the river from our hotel