Terrible Twos

I am afraid that the Terrible Twos are here to stay for a while. Our first clue was the unwillingness to sit in the stroller for any extended period of time. Then, the refusal to sit in a high chair or booster seat. Just recently, we have left restaurants with a screaming child in tow. Now, the unwillingness to be carried anywhere has begun (although I usually carry him kicking and screaming up the stairs of our apartment). So sad. I decided that I needed to remind myself that Davis could be sweet and loving and cuddly sometimes. So here is the proof...

Loving on Dad

So cute!

Learning to spread weeds.

So innocent...

Ok. I feel a little better now. This too shall pass...

Down on the Farm

We had a special after school trip to the farm on Friday. Well, we went to the Biltmore Estate Farm. I know, it's not much like a real farm...but they have ice cream. I think the kids had a great time - I know I did!

First, we checked out the animals in the barnyard...

Drew and Carleigh with Bert and Ernie (the huge horses)

A cute calf that found the shade (smart cow)

Posing with a sheep


Then, we played some games on the lawn and crawled on the "vintage" tractors...

How cute!

Please let me out to play!

Lawn bowling

Carleigh teaching Davis the bean bag toss game - he escaped his stroller!

Having fun with the animals.


We had some ice cream (of course)...

Yummy strawberry!

Last, we churned some butter...

Ladylike churning...

...Not so ladylike churning!

It turned out to be such a beautiful spring day and I was so glad to be outside! I immediately started begging for a back yard! Oh well, I guess we can always go over to the Vanderbilts' house (we're really close) if we want to spend some time outside!

My Drew

My very first post on this blog was about how my baby has grown so much lately. Well, I'm feelin' it again today. Not sure why. It may be because we got out Drew's old autograph books from Disney World and it's blowing my mind to see how little he was 3 years ago (and so cute!). It may be because he's reading chapter books and is such a fluent (geeky early childhood major term) reader now. It may be because he's growing out of everything that I dress him in lately and that he's making more and more clothing choices himself. I'm not sure. What I am sure of is that he's a confident, self-assured boy who loves his family. Drew is the best big brother Davis could have ever hoped for. I love my Drew. He's making me so proud lately and I just wanted to share.

Here are some of Drew's latest soccer pictures...

Running for Mom...and the water break.

Precious brothers

Tough guy pose

Birthday Kidnapping

So...this is what I saw when I answered the door at 9:00 on Saturday morning.

*WARNING: YOU MAY FIND THE FOLLOWING PICTURE DISTURBING. I KNOW I DID...*

My friends Michelle and Brooke had come from Greenville to "kidnap" me for my birthday!!! My sweet husband was in on the surprise, too. I opened our door (thinking who in the world is banging on our door at 9:00 on a Saturday?) a tiny bit and saw Michelle with panty hose on her head and I screamed and slammed the door! I was laughing so hard when I opened the door again and saw Brooke and the signs. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard!

Then, I find out that we are going to breakfast! Hooray! I'm on a diet and haven't had eggs in 3 weeks! Breakfast is followed up by manicures and pedicures here...

You're jealous by now, right? I know! We had a wonderful time just sitting and talking and relaxing. Then, we went to the Southside Cafe (my favorite) for lunch. Did I mention my diet went out the window on Saturday?

Michelle and Brooke used to be my co-workers at the Child Development Center, but they quickly became my friends (and Kevin's too.) They are my friends that can tell me the truth because I know that they aren't being mean, just honest. I have read lots of definitions of what a true friend is, and Michelle and Brooke definitely meet all of those criteria. But, now I have something new to add to the definition - a true friend is someone who plans (a month ahead of time) to drive over an hour to your house early on a Saturday morning, show up at your door with laminated signs and panty hose on her head to celebrate your birthday. Even when your birthday is a week and a half away.

Countdown to Disney!

Anyone that knows us, knows that we LOVE Disney World! We have had a really busy couple of years (a baby, a Master's Degree, a new job, a move, etc...), so we are thrilled to be going back to the happiest/most crowded place on earth this Summer and taking Davis for his first encounter with "The Mouse". Drew (um....Mom) is so anxious that we decided to make our own "Countdown to Disney" chain of links. This morning, we took off the first link - only 63 more days to go!

And...have you noticed something is different? I found a really great blog designer that gave me a "blogover"! Her name is Rebecca - you can click on her link in my new, handy dandy side bar to see examples of her work. She is redesigning blogs as a way to raise funds for her international adoption - her son will be coming home from China very soon.

A few new photos...