Have a Magical Day

We did it! We survived a week long trip to Disney. Oh, it was wonderful, or as they like to say..."Magical". The trip started off a little difficult. Our flight was scheduled to fly out on Friday at 3:15 p.m. We were ready to go, so excited to take the kids on their first airplane ride, and then the snow came in.....our flight was delayed, then canceled!!! We could not get on a flight out until Sunday late afternoon!! I was devastated. Nothing was going to get in the way of MY DISNEY TRIP!!! I mean, I have planned this trip for so long. We have paid for this trip with money that we have saved! NO NO NO--we were getting to Disney! I looked at Matt after we saw that our flight was canceled and said, "Let's drive". So off we went. We drove to Disney! I know people do it all the time, but not in a snow storm, and they usually don't leave at 2:00 in the afternoon.
But, we got the atlas out, and we were off. We drove, very very slowly through Atlanta traffic and it snowed the whole way until we crossed the Florida line. We stopped in Gainesville Florida for the night and got up the next day and made it to Disney by noon!
I will spare all the details of the trip, but it was great. I am ready to plan our next trip back in a few (or maybe more) years. The kids had a blast and so did Matt and I. We missed Gray Gray! We talked about him lots and couldn't wait to get our hands on him when we got home, we will be taking him with us next time, for sure!

All Packed Up....check!

We are packed. We are ready to go.
Clothes. check
shoes. check
underwear. check
socks. check
umbrella. check
ponchos. check
backpacks. check
brush. check
toothbrushes. check
toiletries. check
EVERY ITEM YOU COULD POSSIBLY THINK OF THAT WE MIGHT NEED.....check!

It is hard to believe that we are leaving tomorrow. We have had this trip planned for so long and it is finally here. There have been plenty of times that I have almost exploded with excitement. It has been a challenge these last few weeks to not fill the kids in on our plans.
We will be picking the kids up from school tomorrow around noon, dropping sweet Gray off with Nana (poor guy is a little too young for Disney World), and heading to the airport for a 3:15 flight.
So, for now....Bon Voyage!
I will post a video in the next few days of us telling the kids where we are going! I cannot wait to get this on video.

The B word!

It always bugs me a little when people talk about how busy their life is...so much busier and hectic that yours, so much more going on, so much blah blah blah blah blah....you get the picture!
I think we can all agree, we are all busy! Maybe busy doing different things, maybe busy with 1 child or 2 or 3 or 4 or more....but in the end we are all in this life that is jammed packed with "stuff" that keeps us busy! I have tried to steer away from posts about how busy our life is, but I don't do a good job not posting about how crazy it is in our house. Don't get me wrong, I love the fast paced life. On days when we just don't have much going on, I get bored. But, we all have different tolerances to what we can handle and different definitions of "busy".
Lately, I have tried to quiet my life and LISTEN! I realize I don't listen very well. Sure, I listen to my friends, my kids, my husband, but am I listening for the one who really matters? Am I listening to God whispering to me. Can God really speak to me , plain ole ordinary Mallory, when I go about being so "busy"?
Yes, I believe God is speaking to me all the time, I just need to listen! Now, I have had God speak to me before during my quiet times of devotion, but more often He whispers to me in the middle of my life experiences. In the car, when the kids are screaming, through a friend, through a book, while watching the beautiful cardinal that visits my feeder every morning. One thing I am sure of is, that when God whispers from His heart to mine, something changes. I feel more energized, I feel transformed, I am infused with hope! I know God is speaking all the time, but sometimes this crazy culture around me drowns Him out.
I want to pay attention when I am doing the mundane things of life. When I am on my computer, exercising, making dinner, bathing the kids. I read somewhere that "God doesn't waste words. He can change my life with but a few!" I pray I can be still long enough to hear Him.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalms 46:10a

Just call us "Fancy"

Kate and I went to a Fancy Nancy party at the Bookstore today. I am always looking for fun, FREE things to do and I saw this advertised a few weeks ago and had put it on my calendar. Well, it worked out that I could take Kate alone....just the girls. Matt had to go drop off all our crepe myrtle branches at the dump, and the boys were begging to go with him so they could see the vultures-gross! So, once I convinced Kate that she would not like the trip to the smelly dump, we got her all dressed up to attend the party. It was nothing really fancy, just a story time, but lots of little girls were dressed up and Kate and I treated ourselves to big chocolate chip cookies and hot chocolate. I love having a girl!

She took her princess job very seriously!

Once she got crowned, her smile came out!

The best part of the day!

Keeping it interesting!

I found these pictures of the kids. Santa brought Owen a pack of mustaches in his stocking and here are a few candid shots of my little "stached" men. I could not get Gray to come near one, so no pictures of him here! I think the boys kinda look like Sherlock Holmes...what do you think?

Gray is all over the place! He is busy busy and showing his personality a lot more lately. I guess you could say that he is asserting himself and trying to be heard in this crazy house of ours. This morning he found his bath seat, and after throwing it down the stairs, decides to sit in it in the middle of the kitchen. I was happy because he was stuck in it, but that didn't mean he couldn't cause some trouble. Kate got a little too close to him and he hit her in the face. This hitting thing is another phase he is going through. It is always so hard to teach little ones "no hitting". I don't want to spank his hand and say "no hitting" because this seems wrong in so many ways, but I HAVE GOT to teach him that we do not hit. In the past, with the other kids, I have grabbed their hand firmly and said..."Gray Gray no hitting, be sweet". It takes repeating over and over and over, but eventually it has worked in my favor. Anyway, Gray has started to hit himself after I say "No hitting". Immediately, he slaps himself in the head. I cannot help but laugh at him because it is just funny. The kids think it is hilarious that he does this and they laugh and laugh and laugh at him...therefore, encouraging him to do this ALL THE TIME! It is alright (kinda) at home, but when we are out in public and he pops me in the face, and I say, "No hitting" , and then he starts saying "No" and hitting himself, we get a few stares. It would be weird telling everyone the whole above story in order to explain why my child hits himself, so being the stellar parent that I am, I just laugh at him therefore encouraging him to continue to self harm! I am praying the Lord pours out some extra grace on our family!

I caught a picture of Gray right before he is about to hit himself. That look is pretty scary!

Dress Code

I will start this post out saying that I have long given up what my boys wear. They dress themselves. Some days I attempt to allow them to let me dress them once again, because to be honest their style just isn't so stylish...if you know what I mean. But, I have learned what battles to fight and have long given up this one! In the big picture...it really shouldn't matter , right?
I would love to say right, but it is just wrong! It doesn't matter what my kids are wearing...it matters what they are NOT wearing! Even though it is February and pretty darn cold out, my boys insist on short sleeves and a shorts (if they can find them). They also love to wear things that just don't match in any color scheme whatsoever. For example, a pair of red windpants with their bright orange Auburn shirt/jersey. Most mornings, I pull the..."please try to match at least ONE color and it is Winter today" talk.
I do try to stay on top of matching shoes. Not sure how the picture below went under the radar, but I thought it was very good problem solving on his part.
We had to run out to do a few things and when we pulled to our first stop I notice, as Wills is exiting the car, that this is what he has chosen to wear:
Mom: Wills, why do you have on 2 different pairs of shoes?
Wills: I couldn't find a match!
Mom: well.....okay, then!

On another note, this is what Kate wanted to wear to school. Sweet girl, beginning of February and she is still pulling for those Auburn Tigers.
This is what Gray would like to wear most days and when we are at home, more power to him. The problem is...I have to hunt him down when I do finally need to get some clothes on the boy. He sees me coming with clothes in hand and he takes off like a race horse.
Had to get a picture of Owen in here, because in all actuality, this post is for him! Thank you Owen for always making sure I am on my toes!

Detour

We were on our way to Atlanta to see our newest cousin, my niece...when 30 minutes into our trip, we hear a little girl in the back seat throwing up! I know, TMI--but poor little thing. We take the next exit and clean her up. Luckily, since we were on a trip, we had a change of clothes. We start to head back the other way, back home. The boys are bummed. They were so excited to spend the night with their Uncle Steven, see Meme and Pop, and all their cousins. Matt and I decide I will stay at home with Kate and Gray (who is not fully recovered from the throw up bug from last week) , and he will head back over to Atlanta with the boys.
I am glad we made the decision, as Kate has had about 6 more rounds of throw up! Please Lord, let this be it! She is sleeping. Please let her sleep this off. I have towels laid out, the trash can by the bed, the bathroom light on to lead the way. Gray is sleeping too! I am all alone, watching SuperManny--yes...Super-MANNY~ hilarious!
It is shows like these that make me feel like I am actually doing a pretty good job with my kids. So, thank you very much to the producers of SuperManny, who give me quite a ego boost whenever I catch the show. I think I may actually be doing something right here.

A Great Purchase!

Dear Entryway System (this is what pottery barn calls you),
Thank you for coming into my life. You have made me so happy over the past 3 months. Every time I pass by you in my garage, walking from my car to the door leading inside, I give thanks for the special piece of furniture you are turning out to be. My life is easier because I have you in it. Now, each child's shoes have a special place just for them, as do their jackets, sports equipment, and all the many other things that have no place to call home. I love your cute little hooks inside each cubby. Backpacks stay quite nicely on them! Please excuse us if we treat you too rough. Sometimes we stand on you to reach your amazing top shelf, (that holds our hats), but we don't mean any disrespect. You serve your purpose quite well and we are forever grateful for the order you bring to our lives. There have been many, okay lots, of occasions when our shoes don't quite make the baskets, but we are practicing and trying the best that we can! Please remember we are young and, should I say it?, sometimes.....a little lazy! We do hope that you hold up for many years to come and we are forever grateful to our Aunt Mandi and Uncle Zach who introduced us in the first place.
Your Friends,
The Carrington Family

p.s. If you want one, my brother in law sells them--just like pottery barns--but A WHOLE LOT cheaper! Let me know!

Everyone Loves Nachos?!!

Today I ventured to Wills school to eat lunch with him. He is always asking me to come, and I have been up to the school quite a few times, but I am convinced he would like me to come everyday if possible. I think he is wondering what I could possibly be doing all day with him gone? Sitting on the couch watching TV, I guess. Because I knew I was going to surprise him today, I purposely did not pack his lunch. I usually pack his lunch because he is a picky eater, but I saw on the lunch calendar NACHOS, and thought, "Everyone loves nachos".
Lesson learned: Pack his lunch on "nacho day". There were a total of 3 chips underneath a pile of questionable meat and cheese sauce. I am not a stickler when it comes to eating a balanced meal 3 times a day, but when your child eats 3 plain chips and then his cookie, I take notice.
I did not say anything to him because 1. the sweet boy did put some iceberg lettuce on his plate, and 2. because I want him to enjoy me coming to eat lunch at school. I sat back and listened to him talk with his friends and grin ear to ear that I was there! So Sweet! I love him so much.
Today was hat day and Wills whipped out the craziest hat he could find. It was so cute to see him walking down the halls with so much pride wearing that thing. His class is very diverse, which I love and it made me miss my teaching days....(just a little) . The kids are so sweet. One little Hispanic girl told me my hair was just beautiful, which is funny because it was really not looking beautiful at all! Another boy told me my baby (that would be Gray) was pretty!?
I was able to help half of the kids open there juice boxes, and one boy open up his milk carton (after he attempted many times with his MOUTH). Wills' teacher informed me that when an adult comes to eat lunch, all the kids are attracted to him/her like a magnet.
I loved it! I love to see children from all cultures and backgrounds all together, and Kindergartners are so sweet. I loved seeing how Wills interacts with everyone. He is truly a kind-hearted kid. I have been so pleased with our public school experience this far. His teacher is a believer and I know God's hand was on that! He is succeeding too! In fact, his reading has really taken off. I am so proud of him.
Forgive me for a long "brag on my kid" post", but I am so thankful for how God has blessed me, I just have to share it somehow!
This last picture cracks me up. The teacher tells the kids to "catch a bubble" in your mouth when she wants them to be quiet. So, here is Wills catching the biggest bubble he can possibly hold. I thought he was going to pass out...I mean, I had to remind him to breathe! He really really wanted me to see him catching his bubble!

"I'm Lovin it!"

This is the kind of day that makes me so happy~ It is January 19, yet sunny! Warm! 65 Degrees! I love it! It has been awhile since the last post and it is simply because I am just in survival mode. Last week was miserable cold, as was the week before, and I just don't do good with cold weather. It is so hard for me to stay inside! I don't want to bundle up the kids and myself to go play in the yard. I want to send them out in flip flops and shorts and feel the sun on our faces.
January has long been my least favorite month of the year. Falling right after the high of Christmas, always cold, we are usually sick, and it is a long month on top of that. Not meaning to be Debby Downer here, but just saying it as it is! I am tired of our playroom, tired of trying to find something to do (inside) that doesn't cost money! Whah Whah Whah!
Alright....pity party over because Praise God when He blesses us with days such as this! We have spent almost all of our waking hours outdoors, enjoying the warmth of what is to come....Spring! Please come fast, Please Please Please!

'For behold, the winter is past,
The rain is over and gone.
'The flowers have already appeared in the land;
The time has arrived for pruning the vines,
And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land.
'The fig tree has ripened its figs,
And the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance.
Arise, my darling, my beautiful one,
And come along!' "
Song 2:11-13 (NASB)

32 days and counting....

Until we are here!
I still cannot believe we are really making it happen! My kids have no idea what they are in for...I mean, they think the Galleria Mall is Disney World!
Matt and I (well, I am a little more on board than Matt) are taking the kids to D.W. for our 10 year anniversary. Yes, in our minds we long for, and have dreamed about sitting on the beaches of Costa Rica getting a little R & R, but doing both Disney and an exotic get-a-way is not an option, so we are taking the plunge!
BTW--a trip to the happiest place on earth isn't really happy on your pocketbook--ouch!
Disney is not for everybody! It is for people who are using college funds and retirement funds to give their kids a fun vacation.
In all honesty, we have saved for this and it is finally here!
I am so excited I can hardly stand it. You see, the kids have no idea we are going. It would be really cruel to tell them right now because they have absolutely NO concept of time. To tell them would actually be cruel punishment inflicted on us, as they would ask constantly how many more days until we go. So, we will keep it hush hush hush and quietly plan plan plan.
I cannot wait to see their faces when we pick them up from school in 32 days and let the big news out of the bag!
Mickey, Ariel, Goofy, Here we come!! I hope you are ready for us!

A Big Yellow Nightmare

Everywhere I go, this is who I see staring back at me.

I know I did it to myself. I bought it at a garage sale for 50 cents and after washing it numerous amount of times, let Santa leave it for a little boy on Christmas morning.
Now, I have nothing against "the sponge"! In fact, I think the show is pretty hilarious! I could do without the potty words, but it makes for teachable moments, right? Well, I knew if I made a big deal about NOT watching it, that my strong willed child, would only want to see it even more. A little reverse psychology on my part. We try not to watch too much TV anyway, so I am not going to waste my time worrying about it. Anyway, back to Spongy!
Owen loves this precious little, no wait.... BIG gift from Santa. We do not leave toys all over the house! Most are kept upstairs where the kid's rooms are, but somehow,

Spongebob Squarepants is omnipresent.

The guy is everywhere! I cannot get away from him. It doesn't matter if I pick him up and take him back upstairs. He finds his way back down. I wonder if this is some cruel punishment for buying it or is Owen using a little reverse Psychology on me?

SNOWWHERE!

We worked with what we had! No, we didn't wake up a blanket of snow on the ground, but we DID get a few flakes steadily falling around 11:00. Once they started to fall, we were ready! We got bundled up and headed outside. Remember the days of waking up in the morning to find that it had snowed all night? The fact that you did not have to watch it fall, is the key here. The boys were ready to sled and throw snowballs the minute the first snowflake fell from the sky.
Wills was drilling me with questions on why isn't it snowing harder? when would the snow start to stick? and when would the hill be ready to sled down? I have had to explain to him, on many occasions, that I am not God! I am not all-knowing! It is so sweet that, at this point in his life, he truly thinks I know all the answers, that surely somehow, in my bag of tricks, I can control the weather? I hated to see the disappointment on his face as he realized our fun "play in the snow all day" snow day, was going to be more of a "play in the snowflakes and hang out inside day". We did make the most of it. We watched movies, pulled out every game in the playroom, played with stuffed animals more than I would like to have, and even got out of the house to get the kids a special cookie from Starbucks, uh-hum....and me, a very large coffee!

All bundled up and SNOWWHERE to go!

Poor guy, wouldn't keep on mittens... I know his hands were so cold, but not cold enough to keep him from eating his snack...ain't nothing going to stop that!

I think Kate played outside for maybe a good 5 minutes!!?? She is an inside kind of girl!

We had BIG plans to slide down the hills in our pool floats. We blew them all up and everything!

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Psalms 51:7

We are prepared!

Snow Day Tomorrow? Only time will tell. School has been called off due to the possible Winter Wonderland that we might wake up to! I really hope to wake up to some snow, as the kids are so excited at the thought of playing in it tomorrow. We had a great snow last February and our family had so much fun. Growing up in the South, I have had my share of big snow news forecasted and school called off, only to wake up to just another cold day....we will see.
In preparation for the "blizzard of 2010" we got some hot chocolate, milk, bread, and some other basic staples. I have my Art Box ready to go, some DVD's rented, and earlier today, the kids and I made some brownies (see above) and muffins for the big day. I hope to post some pictures of us playing in the snow tomorrow, but don't be too surprised if I post pictures of us watching videos instead.

It will make you Smile

Where the Wild Things really are....

I am still amazed that my boys manage to fall asleep upon the large masses of stuffed animals that call their beds, home!

Here is what I find every morning! The picture really doesn't even do it justice...there are about 20 small webkins/beanie babies hidden under Nemo, Tiger, Spongebob blanket and the Scooby Doo pillow. The other day, Owen told me he wanted a new stuffed animal, so could he go to a garage sale to get one?! Ha!

welcome 2010!

Matt and I were not too exciting on New Year's Eve 2009....we got a sitter, went to dinner and a movie and we were in bed by 10:30....not asleep though~our neighbors decided to shoot off fireworks for an hour and a half! So, while Matt snored away through the entire light show, I lay in bed, all worked up because I was SOOOO tired, but the loud booms outside my window kept me from falling asleep.
I have come to the realization that I am officially "old". I am in bed at 10:30 on NYE, frustrated that fireworks are going off. I was tempted to head over to the neighbors at 5:50 this morning (my wake up call from Gray) and start a fireworks show until 7:00.
On a lighter note, we spent the first day of 2010 hanging out as a family. We watched the Auburn game, played, cleaned out rooms, and ended it with a very cold walk at the park and then a family meal. It was a wonderful day!
I am so excited to see what God has planned for our family this year. There are a few "things" I am praying passionately about. I look forward to sharing them with you...God willing!
God has been so good to our family and we pray that our focus will be more on Him everyday.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. Ephesians 1:3-5

Little huntin' man

Skinny boy in big coat!

I dread the day I see these 2 drive out of the driveway!

Our newest battle wound. Check out the bruise on her forehead.

Happy 2010!