I love this age

I love the ages both my kids are at now. They are amazing and so much fun in their own way.

Emma is 3.5 and wonderful. I got a lot of warnings about how this was such a hard age, and was kind of scared to see what it might bring. Overall it has been so much fun. She is so enjoyable to be around and great to talk to. I love our long conversations and watching her figure things out. She almost never has tantrums and if she does they are at home before bed when she is overly tired. We have found that although she does require quite a bit of structure to her day we very rarely have to discipline her. When we do discipline her she takes it really well and gets over it quickly. Yesterday she pushed Jack out of the way to get to a swing, he fell and was very upset. She went to time out without an argument then got up apologized to Jack and all was well. I think we just got very lucky with Emma, she has an easy going personality and just does not get upset about a lot. We went out to dinner tonight to The Cotton Patch with both kids and Andrew and I were joking how easy our life would be if we just had Emma:). She is a very energetic little thing and always on the go. She loves all kinds of activities and is always looking to try something new. She is beginning to learn to read which is THE coolest thing ever. She loves writing letters although could care less about numbers and counting. She seems to learn something new everyday. I love this age. I love my three year old and am so glad to be her Mom.

Jack is 18 months and this is where the fun begins. Jack is learning new skills and words everyday. He is in the middle of a HUGE language explosion and is talking so much now. He has gone from my laid back little man to a determined toddler. He knows what he wants and makes sure we do too. He is so very sweet and loving and spends a lot of time curled up on my lap or giving me kisses and hugs. He loves trains, cars, boats, and balls. He will throw a ball and chase it around, we spend a lot of time throwing a ball between the four of us. He is very gross motor inclined and loves to be playing, running, throwing, jumping or riding a tricycle. He makes me laugh all the time with his little games and new words. He is just starting to test us and push boundaries. He is trying to figure out who HE is and it is so cool. I love this age. I love my 18 month old and am so glad to be his Mom.

Andrew and I always agreed on two kids, it was something we talked about before marriage and agreed on. We have found so much joy in our kids and with our family we are now talking #3. It was the same when we hit 18 months with Emma, then came Jack. I love being a Mom, I love staying at home with my kids, our life is not perfect, my kids are not perfect, but it is the perfect life for me. I am so blessed to be a Mother of two of the worlds most amazing kids!

Jamaica 2010

Our trip to Jamaica was amazing! A full 7 days of relaxing and fun. We went back to the same resort we went to last time Sandals Dunns River it is our favorite resort so far, and was great to be back. I can not even explain what it is like to spend 7 uninterrupted days with my husband. We ate three meals a day together without cutting up food or trying to pacify a child, we talked more than we have in a long time, no one to interrupt and no one to scream over. Andrew and I look at these trips as an investment in our marriage. We totally reconnected and I am so glad we went. We were looking at ways to go back next year, but were very saddened to find out that our resort may not be there at all:(. Sandals the corporation actually rents the resort, the guy that owns it wants to sell it and is really high balling the price. So we shall see.

We went to see sleeping beauty at the local children's playhouse on Saturday. We went with Rensi, and our friend Chloe. We all had a blast, the girls loved the play and Rensi was the brave one getting up to dance when Emma and Chloe wanted nothing to do with it at first. Eventually all the girls got up. Emma of course loved Sleeping Beauty and was following her around. I am counting the days until Disney World I know it will be an amazing magical experience she is THE PERFECT age!

Prayers for our decisions

A very interesting opportunity has come up for our family, for Emma in particular. Just when we thought we had all her schooling and such figured out a wrench was thrown into the plans. God seems to know better than we do. One of Emma's teachers from her school last year (yes 12 months ago!) recommended her for a testing/trial program. We have always thought Emma was bright but as parents we are very biased. It seems someone else thought so too. I had a meeting yesterday to discuss this new program and school placement. It was amazing and interesting to say the least. I am still unsure if she will qualify, if it is the right choice for her, or our family. We have lots of balls in the air with this one. I am writing this for one reason we could really use some prayers and support that in the end we will do what is best for Emma and that everything will work out the way we planned. We are trying to keep our eye on the goal. Our goal being that Emma will find a lifelong love of learning and be challenged but not discouraged.

I am back

Sorry it has been so long since I blogged. Andrew and I spent the last week in Jamaica. The week before was spent in major preparation. Look for a lot of blog posts today as I am playing catch up. I have Easter pictures, Jamaica pictures and an interesting post about what is going on in our lives!

Happy St. Patricks Day

Of course the kids were decked out in their green.

Rodeo

We had a wonderful time at the Rodeo. The weather was not great so we ended up only playing one game and riding one ride. Poor Emma was so upset as she was really looking forward to the rides. I promised her tons of rides at Disney World and that seemed to ease her disappointment. We did get to see a baby goat being born, it was the coolest thing. The kids watched for like 20 minutes through the whole experience, Emma also got to see a chicken hatch. What a wonderful learning experience. We took the kids to the rodeo because we knew it would be fun and they would enjoy it, I never expected them to learn so much. Jack loved the petting zoo and got to ride his first pony! Overall it was a wonderful day spent with family. The kids loved it and so did I.

Jack kicked the goat- I have no idea why he thought this would be a good idea, but funny I caught it on camera
Emma was not a fan of the petting zoo, no surprise there

Andrew was home making a living for us and we were enjoying his dream car, one day this camero will be ours:)

Watching the baby sheep being born, it was amazing!

Watching the baby chick being born

Burying our corn seeds at the kids market area

Pony rides-fun for all sorry about the quality it was my point and shoot, not my EOS

Jack's first time on a horse-he looks unsure, but actually had a good time

The tractors were a huge favorite for all

Jack did not want to take a picture with Miss Moo

The whole crew

Watching the pig races

My sweet niece Marissa, I love this kid!

Sea World

Our Sea World Trip was a HUGE success. We drove down on to Austin on Friday, it was a long drive with lots of traffic. I got a great recommendation for a restaurant in Westlake that had an awesome outdoor area with a huge sandbox and playground. The kids ran off some steam while Andrew and I relaxed at the picnic tables and ate dinner. It was a great way for them to run off steam after the long drive. We then headed to the hotel (thanks Dad:) and Andrew put Jack down while Emma and I walked around. She was so excited to stay in the hotel and ran around the room in total awe. Look at the mini coffee pot she exclaimed it was too cute. It was a two room suite so Emma, Andrew and I shared a king sized bed while Jack slept in the port-a-crib in an adjoining room. It worked out well and we all got a good night sleep.

We woke up Saturday ate breakfast at the hotel and headed to San Antonio. We met Amy, Fernando, Marissa and Mark at the McDonalds by Sea World then headed into the park. We actually got season passes since they were the same cost as daily passes so we will go back!

We had an amazing day. The kids loved the azul show (beluga whales, dolphins, acrobats, divers and swimmers), even Jack watched in awe the whole 30 minutes. We saw all the attractions and had a great lunch. Jack fell asleep for a while which was nice as he really needed a nap, it is so nice to have a kid that naps in a stroller. The Shamu show was a little boring. The trainers can't get in the water so it was just whales jumping every so often, the kids were bored and so were we. The sea lion show was great and really entertaining.

Hands down the best part of the day was feeding the Sea Lions and dolphins. You buy fish 4 for $4 and can feed them. The sea lions you stand outside and kind of just drop them into the water, but the dolphins are up close and personal. It was an amazing experience for all of us!

We played in the water, on the play ground and all around.

Later we headed back to a hotel on the Riverwalk. We ate dinner then spent time swimming before we all headed to bed for the night. We shared a suite with Amy's family and it was really good, we got lots of sleep and the kids enjoyed spending so much time together. Sunday Emma headed back with Amy and Jack, Andrew and I drove back to Fort Worth.

Overall I can not tell you how much I recommend Sea World for a family vacation. It is not cheap, it was about $150 for our family to get in for the day (in addition to food, drinks and fish food). But those are season passes so next time we go back it will not cost us really anything. It was a long drive from Fort Worth so I am glad we broke it up on the way, and wish we had time to break it up on the way back. We will go again, probably the weekend of Emma's birthday. This is an open invitation for every one to join us, the more the merrier.

Here are some pictures from our trip, I know some of them are sideways and even upside down, but I used my point and shoot instead of my SLR and for some reason can not get them to rotate. While I love having a smaller portable camera for these types of days it is a pain when getting them edited and uploaded.

Jack checking out the fish at the aquarium, probably his favorite part

Emma feeding the dolphins this was amazing



Look how close they are

Jack feeding the dolphins with Daddy's help he kept saying "bid fish"

These two will be lifelong buddies Jack loves Mark and follows him around

The water was so cold, the girls stayed for like 3 minutes Mark was in it for like 30 that kid is tough

The play area was awesome

Feeding the sea lions sorry this is upside down, how does that even happen?

My little man was worn out, as long as he has his blankie he sleeps anywhere

Ready for the sea lion show

Emma walking like the penguins at the penguin exhibit

The Shamu show

Eating lunch with Daddy such a big boy at the picnic table

Ready for the Azul show

Swimming at the indoor pool at the hotel Emma is diving!

Poor little Jack was so work out by the time it came time to swim

5 Years in Pictures

Andrew and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary last week. Our gift to each other was a trip to Jamaica, we leave April 4, and will be kid free for 7 wonderful days. A lot has happened in the past five years. Starting on March 5, 2005. In the past five years we.



-Went on our honeymoon to St. Lucia


-Moved across the country away from family and friends to Maryland, we met the most amazing people and created such a strong foundation to our marriage.


-Went on several trips as a couple, the finger lakes in NY, a pig roast in upstate NY, several Virginia Tech Games, Matt's lake house, Washington DC, Arizona, California, and Jamaica again.


-We bought our first car together-Andrew's Magnium

-Became totally debt free.


-I quit my job to be a stay at home mom-5 years ago wow this has gone by fast.


-We were blessed with our first child a beautiful daughter Emma.


-My Grandfather passed away


-Went on more trips, upstate NY, Saratoga NY.


- We moved back across country it was a sad and happy time, saying goodbye to all our friends, but so happy to be closer to family


-We bought our first house


-Bought and paid off our second car as a family


-Andrew's Godfather passed away


-Andrew got a promotion


-Went on more trips, upstate NY, Jamaica again and came back with....Jack


-Andrew's Grandmother passed away


-Our son was born in November


-Andrew got another promotion and nice raise


- Went on a family trip to Galveston, and Andrew and I went to Upstate NY, and CT for Nick and Cece's wedding


-Planned another trip to Jamaica for April 2010.


- Rang in the new decade


- Celebrated our 5th anniversary on March 5, 2010!


In the past five years we have bought our first house, two cars, moved across the country twice, traveled both domestically and internationally, welcomed two kids, I quit my job to stay at home, Andrew has moved up amazingly in his company, we have loved, l0ved and loved some more. We have learned to be a married couple, parents, and friends. We have fought, made up and learned new ways to communicate. Overall the past five years have been the best of our lives, we don't find marriage hard and enjoy each other 99% of the time:) I am so looking forward to the next 5 years and can't wait to see what they have in store for us.

2005-Our Honeymoon-St Lucia

Arizona 2005

Pig Roast-Upstate NY-2005

Jamaica-2006-Pregnant with Emma

California-2006

Washington DC-2006

Morgantown WV-2006
Saratoga NY-Jess & Matt's Wedding 2007

Jamaica-2008

Fort Worth TX-2008

Fort Worth TX-2008

Galveston TX-2009