Love is in the air!

We've had a bunch of fun doing crafts in preparation for Valentine's Day this year.  Last night we did some window decals that Annie & Pa gave the kids last year - they loved sticking them on and making the sounds of each animal.  This morning we worked on some Valentine's for the grandparents and a little more decor for the kitchen area.

I'm planning for Naylor and Lalon to make their own Valentine's for school this year, but I suppose we need to get started on that sooner than later!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Yesterday we had some family fun as we headed downtown Raleigh for the St. Patrick's Day festivities and parade.  Our friends, Blaine, Liz, Carson and Harrison were there and the kids loved every minute of fun.  They jumped in a couple of bouncy houses and we got up front row to watch the parade - they were in heaven!  It was such a beautiful day, close to 80* - not typical March weather, but we all enjoyed it.  It was close to 2pm when we got in the car to head home; both the girls were out before we even got out of the parking lot.  Naylor spent almost the entire ride home saying he wasn't going to take a nap and then about 5 minutes from the house fell asleep.  I needed to hit up the grocery store, so I did that and Brian kept the kids in the car while waiting... I was afraid if we took them to their beds they'd not go back to sleep.  When we got home Lalon and Whitley Ann both did go to their beds fine and then Naylor laid in bed with me and Brian and watched a bit of tv, but didn't go back to sleep.

Once naps were over, we played more outside, riding bikes and just having fun.  Brian mowed the grass for the first time this season to get the dead stuff out and there's lots of green peaking through!  We were having so much fun playing outside, we set up our tailgating table / grill and made dinner out there - burgers and zucchini grilled and it was great.  Naylor, Lalon and Whitley Ann were loving the 'picnic' we made.

After a long day outside, we hit the showers and then bed... not long after the kids were down, I followed suit! What a great day filled with friends, family and fun - looking forward to a great Spring!

 Waiting their turn for the bounce house

 Harrison - he and Whitley Ann got some quality time watching the parade in the stroller together.

 cutie Lalon in her pretty dress

 Family photo!

 Irish Wolfhounds - we saw about a dozen that were in the parade

 This one had to take a rest, so Naylor and Lalon said hello!

 Attempt # 23 (no joke!) at a girl pic... it'll have to do with Lalon's tongue out!

Front and center parade watching.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Thanks Valentine's Rooster!

The roses we shared with the kids

My beautiful roses - I don't know that Brian has ever given me a dozen red roses  - hmmm....

Lalon showing Naylor her new stuff (I can't tell what she's holding)

Lalon *loves* hearts; she was having as much fun with the decor as her treats!

This airplane was a hit; he hasn't put it down yet.  I love Lalon's expression here; she's the best.

A day late, but Happy Valentine's Day!  We were good this year and the Valentine's Rooster visited us all.  Naylor and Lalon got a few little knick knacks and candies, while Whitley Ann got some puffs and fruit.  Lalon was sick last week, so she's been making up those at school yesterday and today so Naylor, Whitley Ann and I had a nice day just hanging out at home.  Once we picked Lalon up from school, it was home for a nice family spaghetti dinner and a quiet night in with some wine.  Brian brought home a beautiful dozen of red roses that we shared with the kids - got them each a small bud vase and they loved smelling their own rose.  Brian and I got the kids cleaned up and in bed and enjoyed the evening together just catching up and watching some tv.  I also got to play around with my new iPad!!  I'm still deciding if I want to keep it or not, but wowee this was our biggest Valentine's ever.  After all this time, Brian can still surprise me!  The best part is the love that  this family has brought me - I feel like we are truly complete and really finding our groove as a family of five now.

Visiting Santa

After naps today, we got on our Christmas shirts and headed to get Brian from work for a special treat of mall dinner, visiting Santa and a cookie treat.  The moment I got everyone buckled and came back in for the bags, it started raining like all get out.  On the way I hear a wind advisory on the radio, a stop light is on the fritz and blinking... this is not the trip I envisioned.  I expected some hurdles, but was expecting them at the mall!

So, once we were inside we ate quickly.  Naylor and Lalon made a few laps around the Food Court area and then we headed to Santa's area.  There was a tiny bit of a line, so Whitley Ann and I held a spot while Brian, Naylor and Lalon went to ride the carousel and some cars to help pass the time.  Once it was our turn everyone went up, although Lalon was a bit hesitant to sit on Santa's lap.  That was okay though, since they were full with two other kids, so she just stood in front.  We got a few pictures - not the biggest smiles ever, but no tears, so I count that as a WIN!

Dear Santa...

Last night after dinner we wrote letters to Santa so he'd know what the kids wanted.  With some prompting they told us what they wanted and then Brian and I drew pictures so the kids could understand it.  Then Brian took the kids and their notes out to the mailbox to send the letters to Santa... 

here's a picture of how excited Lalon was about the process.

 and Naylor showing off his letter:

 and to the mailbox they go!

Naylor asked for a bicycle and a helmet to keep him safe.  Some BIG boots, he emphasized big quite a few times.  Some books, movies, shoes, socks and gloves...

 Lalon asked for a camera or computer, some pretty dresses, books and movies, and maybe a doll although that wasn't on the list, she said, "a baby" later on.

O Christmas Tree...

 Running as hard as they could - they loved it.

Brian left today to be in Charlotte for the week, so we made an extra effort to go pick out our Christmas tree last night.  It had been raining earlier in the afternoon so Naylor and Lalon were able to find the biggest puddle in the history of the world and jumped in it about 72 times.  We were the only folks there at the time and even across the lot I could hear the sound of splashes and giggles.  They were soaking wet when it was all said and done, but they had the best time and we were going straight home for bed, so why not let them have at it?

I zeroed in on the perfect tree right away, but after a few laps everyone else came back to agree with me.  So we loaded it up (Naylor and Lalon continued to puddle jump) and headed home for a nice warm shower.

The kids are down for their naps now, so I'm going to get the lights on the tree real quick so they can help decorate as soon as they wake up.  Also, I hope tonight to catch up on some blogging - we've been so busy having fun over the past month that I haven't had time to document it!!

 Whitley Ann thinks I should stop taking pictures and go get those hoodlums jumping in the puddles!

Is she not just the cutest thing??

Happy Halloween and Happy 35th Birthday Brian!

 Brian carried the patio umbrella to keep everyone dry - too funny, but it worked.

We had a great day for Halloween.  The kids and I made some breakfast and delivered to Brian in bed where he ate and then opened some presents and was off to work for the day.  Naylor and Lalon spent some time in the morning decorating some cookies with frosting and sprinkles and boy did they have fun.  I'll have to keep that on my list of things to do because it was entertaining for some time!

Late in the afternoon it started raining and so we were planning to just skip out on the trick-or-treating, but then as we were eating dinner some folks started arriving, so we decided to hustle and make one token stop so the kids could do their thing and we get a picture.  It was fun, but wet so we came back home.  Naylor and Lalon had just as much or maybe even more fun passing out candy.  It was so cute to hear them say "trick-or-treat" and "Happy Halloween" to all of the kids as they passed the candy along.

Once we were back in, we had some birthday cake.  It was my first attempt ever to make a 10 layer chocolate cake and it was pretty good for a first try!  I'm not sure how those ladies get their layers so thin, but this one was pretty darn great and I'll try it again - maybe around the holidays.

Brian has been helping Blake (our good buddy and neighbor) with his Trail of Terror, but there was too much rain to spook the kids last night without electrocuting someone, so it was postponed.  I think Brian was a little disappointed in that, but they are going to try again tonight once it's dry.  I think he had a pretty good birthday, aside from getting old and all... ;-)

 When I went to pass out some Halloween candy, Whitley Ann snuck some birthday cake!

A Very Bedford Ridge Halloween!

Each year our street goes all out for Halloween.  The houses are decorated almost as much as they are at Christmas and we have a big street cookout with a few games and then an adult Halloween party that night.  This year was no different other than it was about 20 degrees cooler than the past few years!  What a fun time all around - sure do love this street, our neighbors and friends!


Blake has once again done his Halloween thing - the first year the spooky bridge, last year the Tunnel of Terror and this year the Trail of Terror through the woods.  They did a trial run tonight and I heard lots of screams... guess it was a HIT!  :)

A few pictures here and then link for the day's events.

Bedford Ridge Halloween 2011