He smiles

Last night Gabe started smiling again. It was so good to see him smiling, laughing, and playing. It's like someone flipped the "all better" switch and he turned back into his happy self. I could tell he was glad he was feeling better too; he was back pestering Allie. In the bathtub he randomly leaned over and gave her a kiss (a french kiss but who cares about details, right?). Welcome back sweet boy.

SICK of being SICK

I take full responsibility. I brought this virus into our home a week and a half ago....aches, chills, headache, sneezing, green congestion, coughing, wheezing, fever, etc...Allie and I are still getting over it and in the process have managed to pass it on to Gabe too. He scared me this morning when he woke up running a 102.9 fever. He also had a rosy complexion, shaky body and then came the vomit. I had a very trying day juggling a sick and fussy Gabe and my ball of energy Allie. Not to mention Stephen flew out for Cincinnati today for work. Times like this is when I wish we lived closer to our parents.

Put me in coach.

Despite the rainy conditions....


Allie had her first soccer game today.



Here she is....lucky #7.



It was 63 degrees and raining.



Allie had NO CLUE what was about to happen; she was scared and timid.



But still managed to make the starting line-up!




This was pretty much sums up Allie's participation during the game.

The other kids would be in a cluster going for the ball and Allie just stood and watched...occasionally she would walk over towards the action.

Here is another time when she watched the ball roll right passed her.

Notice the hands on her hips?

Stephen stepped in to give her a few pointers. She did just fine considering this was her first game. But we definitely have some things to work on.

Put me in coach...

Linus

Gabe has been given a new nickname, Linus.

He carries his blanket around with him everywhere.


The child loves his blanket.


He likes to completely cover his head and walk blindly around the house. Today he ran right into the edge of the wall...

He also loves his pacifier.

Stephen says we should take it away. I am not ready!

I was actually dangling the pacifier above his head in this shot. Look how happy it makes him. He loves it. Who would want to take away this happiness. Its just not right.

For now, the pacifier stays.

School Days

Allie started school this week. She will be going two days a week this year from 9 - 1. Pretty sure she's loving it.

Gabe and I are getting some much needed together time. I miss my Allie, but I love giving Gabe the one on one attention that he rarely gets. I can see he loves it.

Cinderella

"So I will dance with Cinderella

while she is here in my arms,

'Cause I know something the prince never knew.

I will dance with Cinderella

I don't want to miss even one song,

'Case all too soon the clock will strike midnight

and she'll be gone."

~Steven Curtis Chapman

Bragging Rights

My husband definitely earned some bragging rights yesterday!!!



I'm still trying to figure out how I got so lucky marrying him.



The kids and I abandoned Stephen all last week leaving him behind to work while we enjoyed the beautiful sandy beaches of Gulf Shores, AL. I talked to Stephen throughout the day on our 8 hour car ride home; every time mentioning how nice it was to lay on the couch all day watching football. Turns out that wasn't the case at all.

I came home to a spotless house. Dinner was ready for me when I walked through the door, the vacuum had been run, sheets washed and put back on beds, towels and rugs washed, kitchen clean, dishes put away, he even went to the store to buy wood floor cleaner (I usually just use water) and mopped the hardwoods; you get the idea! And to top it off.........flowers and a card. Upstairs in our room.....2 more vases full of flowers and another card and a rose laying on our bed.

I was missed and that makes me happy. I love you Stephen. Thank you for always making me feel special.

Gulf Shores

The kids and I met Pop and Maw-maw down at the beach. We are definitely missing daddy, but somehow are managing to have a good time.

Gabe has at least one accident per day...it's only a matter of time before we visit the ER. Yesterday, fell out of a chair by the pool onto the concrete and landed on his head. He got pretty banged up, but he's a tough boy and is okay.

Future Auburn Tigers

We had an amazing weekend visiting our Alma mater, Auburn University.

We stayed on Lake Martin with our friends Trae and J and their little girl, Addyson. Allie and Addyson are 1 week apart in age and play so sweet together. (We had a great visit guys....appreciate the invite to stay at the cabin!)

Gabe tailgating at his first Auburn game....complete with a little chicken hanging off his mouth.

I couldn't resist buying this little AU hat. This is his first ball cap and he is having to get used to it....but he WILL wear it!

Gabe loved exploring and played, and played, and played on these stairs behind him.

Blue 42, Hiiiiiiiieeeeke.

Allie and Addyson found some neighboring little girl tailgaters whom they wanted to play with. But, they just stood watching and wishing the girls would invite them into their game of tug-of-war. This picture breaks my heart. Girls, you'll always have each other!

This is Auburn's tiger walk (the team walks through the crowd into the stadium). In my 4 years of going to college at Auburn, I NEVER saw it like this. It was crazy hot and crazy crowded.

The kids were a bit small to take into a game like this, but we had a great time! Gabe will never remember it, but Stephen and I definitely won't forget it. Allie was cheering along with the crowds, "War Eagle" and "Come on D". Gabe was too busy throwing popcorn and pushing the poor guy sitting in front of us to even notice the football game.

One of my favorite parts of the game was when the eagle was released in our section. Always such a rush to see him circle the stadium with everyone cheering "Waaaaaaaaar Eaaaaagle, Hey".

See you in 2025.

Movin' on Up

We have a climber!



2 to be exact. But, I find it completely amazing that this little one year old can climb like he does. I looked up and he was like this climbing up the ladder....all by himself. Impressive for a not quite 14 month old.





We quickly realized we were going to have to keep a closer watch on him. Gabe would climb up and go down the slide and walk back over to start the process again before we could blink.

He would have fallen a few times if it weren't for a dad who was right there to catch him.

And, what a great daddy these two have. Allie got her some daddy time too. How sweet!

Allie's eyes lit up when she noticed 2 other little girls coming over to play. They immediately found each other and the playing began.

Since Allie was being entertained we could focus our attention on this little guy, who was still climbing and sliding....and climbing and sliding.