Thursday, May 10, 2012

The Zoo

When we had Palyn for a couple of days during Spring Break, I was excited about all of the fun activities I had planned for us. My mom had been telling her that we were going to the zoo and she was already making little monkey noises when I picked her up! "We goin to zoo?? See monkeys?? eee eee, ooo ooo!" And she would do her little arms like monkeys.

When we first arrived to the zoo, we came upon a black bear. And what do you think the first thing sweet cousin Caden said to her? "Look Palyn, there's a bear! He is coming to get you!!" So this is P, screaming that she's scared and doesn't want it to come get her. Bless her, (and me!)


The monkeys that she had been so excited to see!

Passing here, I asked, "Look Palyn, what's that?"
Her response? "A cave. Ive been in there."
Really?

Of course to her, this was "Baby Jaguar"
You know, from Diego.


This little man meant he was getting some leaves.
His arms were stretched way out at one point.

Showing Palyn a turtle.

They have a nice park, and the kids loved running around and playing.

Monkey see, Monkey do

We found a few peacocks strolling down the path, and they thought it would be great to sneak up on them. They didnt scare them or anything though!

This one hopped right up on the fence, then hopped down into another animals exhibit.

And wahh la! It was very pretty!

Then we went into "Parakeet Cove"
The kids can feed the birds in there, theyll even land and sit on you.

Palyn trying her best to feed one!

She was scared again when one came a little too close to her!

sweet love birds!


After making our rounds with the animals, they asked to go back to the park. They played a bit more before we made another round of visiting animals. We found out that a zoo membership for a family of four is very reasonable and plan to get one once we are moved and settled. If your family goes twice, you have already spent more than a membership. It only makes sense, especially since we will be so close. We spent about 4 hours there and she was worn out! She feel asleep on the way home, however when I layed her in bed and tried wiping her feet off, she was up and ready for round two. We stopped for a yogurt treat on our way to Publix, and later had CiCi's Pizza with Shane. The next morning we headed south for our Tata's and the beach. I always enjoy my time with our sweet girl, but those two together are SOMETHING ELSE!



Friday, April 27, 2012

Easter Weekend

Ok, did Easter sneak up yall this year or was it just me? I usually stash anything I get Caden or Palyn (niece) from after Cmas- Easter for the Easter Bunny to bring. This year it was no surprise that Palyn's basket was ready to overflow, while all Caden had in his stash was underwear. (not kidding) Daddy Easter Bunny ran and picked up a movie earlier in the week and an overload of candy. Also earlier in the week, Caden and I put these cute favors together for his 2nd grade class. The free printable and idea came from here. 



Our new church was offering 5 services at our campus. Saturday night, Sunrise, 8:15, 9:15, and 11. I was excited about the Saturday night service because it gave my dad's family a chance to come up and check out our new home and church for Easter without having to miss their service at home.


Shane said this was a grandma dress,
what do they know??

But yes, I should've taken off the glasses!

My sister Calan with me, our brother is too cool for family :)

After dinner at Outback, we arrived at church a good bit early. We went and checked out the golf course from the back patio. It was nice to have them join us for such a meaningful service.

Caden's candy filled basket,
with underwear and Chipwreaked movie!

I had never attended a sunrise service before, but knew this would be a great spiritual service. It full of praise and worship and a brief message about the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. I knew I would want to begin this as part of an Easter tradition for our family.

When I was picking out clothes for Sunday, Shane wanted to wear this dark green shirt. I explained to him that we needed to wear pretty springy colors on Easter and that was just a dark, fall/winter shirt. His response of, "But baby, its the Masters!!" was priceless. As you can see below, I had nothing to say back to that!

After a yummy breakfast at IHOP, I helped with the nursery for the other services. Let me just add that this was my first Sunday ever helping, I had planned to just wait until I was living here for good and could make a more regular routine out of it. Easter always needs extra help so I went ahead for that day. Well, I was put with the 2/3 yrs. and stayed in the floor playing and reading most of the time. I stayed on crouched on my knees and kept smoothing the back of my dress down in the back, when I felt a huge rip split right below my bottom. I was thankful for my cardigan and stayed in the chair during the next service! Embarrasing!

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter celebrating the Risen One with your family. If you are interested in anymore information on a relationship with Jesus Christ, just leave your email in the comment section! I would love to share Him with you!


Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Golfing like my Daddy & Recreational Companionship

At least once a week, (HUUUUGE understatement) Shane heads out to the golf course. He loves it, and I love that he loves it. Everyone always jokes with him about, "getting in his time while he can", or "Brittany let you come out here?". I know they are all kidding, and I know as our family grows our schedule may get a little more hectic and less free time, but I am seriously not the "wife" that demands we be together 24/7. I always joke back and tell him that if I dont care about him going on the weekends while I am visiting here, I am surely not going to care if he goes on the weekends when I live here. I kid saying that Ill probably want him to go!! Seriously kidding, I love being with him. Although, I do feel like it is important in a marriage/ relationship for you each to have your own recreational time. I also think it is essential to participate in some recreational time together.

Recreational companionship is actually one of a man's 5 basic needs in a wife. I have thought about our "recreational time", because I do not play golf, watch it or other sports on tv. But I dont mind going every now and then to "ride along". I know Shane already despises shopping, with the exception of Belk. (He hates Target the most) And yes, to me shopping would be an activity, at least its not an addiction!;) So the things that we spend our time together doing is walking/running- Shane has been very consistent in walking 3 miles everyday for the past 6/7 years. I enjoy running and he joined me when training for the 5k we ran recently. We get Caden to walk with us too. I will always want us to make that family time a priority. He also used to bowl a lot, so that is something we all do together as well. I am thinking later that we 3 may try a little tennis too! So I am not saying you need to stay stuck up your man all of the time, but try to make that time to just have fun together doing what the other enjoys. It has been effortless for us so far, but I know life will get crazier at some point and it will have to become a priority.

The intent of this post was to document the last time we all went out together to the golf course, but it looks like I got off track a little!

Caden, as you know, has not found his "thing". I of course hope that he wants to play golf like Shane, but will not push anything on him. The only thing we wonder about him playing golf is his ability to focus. Which is no surprise to anyone that knows us! His favorite things about the golf course right now are....

Playing on the driving range


Checking out Shane's awesomeness
ha! Im partial!

Cleaning the balls, and getting water in those cone cups

His favorite, of course, is driving

and playing on the hills!

I love this photo above!

After the wedding craziness slows down this summer (July), we are signing him up for Jr. golf lessons. He will know after that if he likes it or just likes goofing off!

BTW- I was cleaning out Shane's closet a few weeks ago, and trying to make a little room for myself. When I was finished I was amazed at how many clothes he still had after getting rid of those that didnt fit anymore. This man has 45 "golfing" shirts. Seriously. Not including regular Polo shirts, Im talking Ashworth, etc shirts. I was in awe that a man would take up a walk in closet. "Scoot over", I tell him!! In the back of my mind, I may have been rejoicing a little due to the fact that he can never complain about how many clothes I have!!!

Catching Up

I should be fairly good at playing catch up by now! It has been more than a month since I have found the time to post about anything going on. I have found my self missing it, but when I get the slightest amount of free time, I remember 1000 other things I have to do instead of blog. However, since I cant sleep AT ALL tonight, Ill catch up on as many posts as possible. Way too many sweet memories in this time that has passed!

Mostly for myself to not leave anything out, here is a list of posts to come:
  • Golf Course
  • Weekend with Palyn
  • Zoo
  • March Beach trip
  • MK Career Conf.
  • Wedding Wednesday
  • Easter Weekend
  • Bachelorette Weekend
  • Apartments Easter Egg Hunt
  • Family Fun Day
  • Random Leftover Pictures
Whoa! I didnt realize how much I had until I just wrote that! I am pretty sure I wont ever let it get this out of hand again! Hope you're all ready to catch up on what has been keeping us so busy!!


Easter 2012

Note to self- Remove sunglasses

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

3D, Belly Buttons, and Cherry Blossoms



This is the kind of toothpaste we use at our apartment. We have used it for the past couple of tubes we have had. Well this morning, Caden wanted to know what it meant that our toothpaste was 3D. I told him that it just makes our teeth really white. "Like a 3D movie?" he asked. "Well they dont pop out or anything, they are just supposed to be really white." The conversation went on, and I wish I could remember it word for word, which is part of the reason I blog, to remember our funny conversations. I love looking back at the funny things that he has said or done over the years!



Cheeeeese!


Something else,  tonight he had a band aid on his belly button. He said they had to put one on there after they took it out. "Took what out?" I asked. "My belly button." he responded like it wasn't a big deal. "Who took it out?" I questioned again. "The doctors." he said. After asking him where it went, he kind of drifted off into another conversation. Funny times though!


Well while were at it, I might as well add one more that I dont want to forget about! This one has kept me laughing. I love cinnamon toast crunch cereal, so I try not to buy it a lot because Ill eat it all. That actually happens with most cereals. Anyways, a long time ago Caden pointed something out to me that we have laughed about everytime a commercial comes on or the box is right there in front of us.


"Mama, look at their shoes!"

Yeah, so it may not be that funny to you. But I am pretty sure that if you know Caden, you pictured him saying it and it had to have made it a little funnier! Were both silly anyways! Shane and I were just saying the other night how much he is like me. I dont realize it until I do something, then I am like, "ohhhh that's where he gets it!"

Above was written earlier in the week, this morning Caden was looking at my new deodorent. He asked if he could have some and I told him he would need it soon enough. I may have let him wear it for fun if it didn't have a feminine scent. he said, "It's ok, my underarms already smell like cherry blossoms." Ha!

MC's first birthday!


I completely forgot that I drafted this posted and never finished it! Only about a week later, not too bad! Anyways, Last Saturday, we celebrated sweet Mary Charles' first birthday party! I love this precious girl, so I am sure it is no surprise that I stayed home in Sylacauga that weekend, and didnt go stay with Shane. She had a great turnout at her party and it was all just too cute!


"hi everyone! thank you all for coming!"


My favorite photo of MC and her mommy! So presh!

MC had a fun clown at her party! She played so well with the kids and made them all laugh a ton!

The clown made MC this little balloon ladybug!

Kayden Johnson had his face painted like a lion!

"This is what guys do"
That's what Caden kept telling me about he and Layne Parker playing the 3DS.

Everyone always brags on Caden when he is so good, like this night. I have to tell them that his game is like his babysitter. It keeps him calm and focused. There were mostly babies there, so he was just fine right there!! We are still sticking to the "only on weekends" game rule!

Kayden Johnson and Collin

Her invite said, "no gifts please"
Call me rude for not respecting her mommy's wishes, but there was no way I wasn't getting my girl something! Seems as if everyone else felt the same way! She ended up with too many precious gifts! I love my bag that we had her beach towel in!

Monogrammed beach towel from us!

Some of their other friends made this beautiful gift for MC. All of those photos were takken when she was 6 months old. Loved it!

Can't believe you are one, Mary Charles! I am so happy to be a part of your life and to be able to watch you grow and play almost daily. Love you sweet girl!

Wedding Wednesday- Wedding Party Style Inspiration

So as I have told you before, my best friend in high school, Ashley is designing our Bridesmaids dresses. These are two that she uploaded on Pinterest that I LOVE! I want one of each for myself, please! There will also be a one shoulder style. I cant quite decide between very pale yellow or blush for the dresses. I am leaning more toward blush I think. (very pale pink) As for the guys, I would love for them all to have the tan seersucker suits, not too sure that is possible. So I think we will settle for regular tan suits and have Caden in the tan seersucker. (I am so not good with html codes and everytime I do this post, it wont let me write under each photo so I am telling you all about them now!) I love that nail color, it is my all time fave for anything important I have to do. I think it makes every outfit look so polished and classy. Is that little girl's dress not adorbs? LOVE IT for my Palyn girl! I also like the look of the oversized men shirts, but I went with robes instead. I feel like I am giving away too  much info in this post, like nothing that day will be a surprise. These are just inspiration photos, not the exact dresses and such from our day.





































Source: jcrew.com via Brittany on Pinterest























Source: google.com via Brittany on Pinterest






Source: google.com via Brittany on Pinterest



VERY RANDOM PARAGRAPH BELOW!

Still been keeping busy with the planning! Met with our fabulous cake lady last week. Made decision on my cake table, but not groom's table. Im needing ideas to mix Caden a cake in with Shane's. They dont share any of the same interest so Im still searching for the right ones. I got a few deliveries at Shane's last week, so that was fun! Palyn's flower girl dress has been ordered. I need playlist suggestions, please! I am lost on what music to play. Shower dates have been settled, just working on the list for my sweet hostesses. Sweet Love informed me last week, that our honeymoon to La Playa Mujeres is a done deal! That excited me to no end! I havent gotten stressed out over things yet, I hope I stay this laid back. I want to remember that although it is a HUGE day, it is just one day. No need to miss it all by freaking out! Hope everyone is having a great week!

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