Maggie Turns 5!

We spent this past weekend celebrating our Baby Moo turning five years old. Maggie has been telling others she was five for months now, but she made it official on Monday!

The festivities began on Friday afternoon with the much anticipated trip to the mall for ear piercing. Although Tuttle and Daddy teased her about how her ears would fall off, she was completely adamant that she wanted earrings. Little did I know that this "quick trip" to the mall for dinner in the food court and ear piercing would turn into a 3.5 hour ordeal. :)

Maggie started off strong walking into the shop, but quickly the nerves got the best of her and tears filled her eyes. I suggested we eat first while she decided if she really wanted to go through with it. After dinner we returned to watch a teenage boy getting his ears pierced that I literally warned that he better not even flinch because Maggie was watching his every move. He was a trooper, and Maggie was ready to take her turn next. As soon as the sales girl opened the piercing kit, Maggie decided that she did not want to do it, so I paid for an unused kit, and we preceded to the car. The rest of the evening was spent returning to the shop, changing her mind, returning to the shop, changing her mind, and finally gaining the courage to get the first ear pieced. The entire mall heard her scream, and she refused to get the other ear done. The sales girl told us that taking the one earring out would hurt as much as getting the other ear pierced, so at last the final resolution was the meet Daddy halfway home for him to return to the mall with Maggie and get the job done. Daddy was successful in making Maggie get the other ear pierced as well as buying up half of the shop as a reward to Maggie. 

Maggie was surprised with her first big American Girl doll, Rebecca, the next morning before her friends arrived for her party at the American Girl Bistro. 

We kept the party sweet and simple this year with brunch with four little friends. It was all girls (except Tuttle), so Daddy and Grandaddy stayed at the house with Jacob while Grandmommy, Aunt Peach, Holland, Piper, and Gram attended the celebration.

I have so many fond memories of playing American Girl at the Shelnutt's house across the street growing up, and I love to see Maggie's excitement with the dolls and accessories. It is half the reason I was excited to have a little girl in the first place! :)

The brunch was extremely yummy and so much food! All the kids selected pancakes, and you could barely tell that they had touched the plates after brunch since they were piled so high! We ended the meal with decorating cupcakes for the girls and their dolls. 

The girls all loved exploring the store afterwards, and I am sure went home with a list a mile long of all the treasures they wanted to buy. Maggie was able to select a wagon from Aunt Peach and a new dress for Rebecca from Lily while we were there. Rebecca also got her ears pierced to match Maggie. Luckily her experience went much more smoothly than the night before!

We met the boys back at our house afterwards for cake and ice cream. Aunt Peach's birthday is next weekend, and she is turning the BIG 40, so it was only appropriate to light 40 candles on her cake, including 10 trick candles!

While Gram bought the family tickets to the Georgia Aquarium for Maggie's birthday, Grandmommy and Grandaddy gave Maggie her new big girl bike. She was clearly very proud of her fancy wheels!

We loved celebrating our Maggie Moo! Happy 5th Birthday!

Summer Blur

Summer loving had me a blast.

Summer loving happened so fast!

(We are officially obsessed with Grease. The CD is on repeat in the car, and Maggie wants to be Sandy for Halloween. More specifically Sandy at the end. Don't we all want to be Sandy at the end?)

Celebrating 18 Months and 9 Years

Our charming, naughty, adorable, exhausting, perfect ending baby, Jacob, has been a part of our family for 18 months now.

Jacob continues to be my most challenging child, but his loving grin always allows him to get away with his antics. He has never met a stranger and will approach any group and win them over within seconds. Jacob is starting to play independently with toys, specially trains and cars, and will stop whatever he is doing to watch a plane, the trash truck, or construction vehicles. He is ALL boy. Jacob also wants to listen to short board books sitting in my lap now. I savor the 45 seconds that he is sitting and snuggling with me. :)

Jacob prefers to be outside (which leaves the house intact), so we go on a lot of walks and trips to the playground. He is drawn to any ball that he can throw or kick. Pushing his toy lawnmower is a common scene in our front yard. 

Little Boy is still a champion sleeper and usually snoozes for 12-14 hours a night. In the last few weeks, I have adjusted his nap schedule down to one longer nap to prepare for preschool in September. He still gets a bottle when he sleeps, but I am going to TRY to wean him from this. With Jacob being my last baby, I think I am having more trouble with that change than he would. 

Jacob completes our family. We laugh that he is God's promise that I will not ask for another. :)

Jay and I celebrated 9 years of marriage on the same day as Jacob's 18 month milestone. Gram treated the entire family to dinner at Marlow's Tavern and ice cream for dessert. I am so lucky to be married to Jay. He has made ALL my dreams come true and amazes me with his commitment to our family's success. Marriage is definitely work, but I could not imagine doing life with anyone else. 

We recently found a fantastic babysitter, so we have been able to go out on a few more dates. (Last weekend we were treated to dinner at Paul and Val's country club!)

We are already planning a BIG 10 year anniversary trip for next year. Eek! I cannot wait!

Fourth of July Fun!

Our holiday weekend was full of fun and family. On Saturday Gram and Grumps hosted a HUGE crowd at their house to kick off the celebration during Donna and Jim's visit. The afternoon included eleven kids under 8 years old, a handful of teenagers, and twelve adults. The rain held off for a cookout outside. Everyone had a wonderful time, and Jacob even took a 2+ hour nap, so I was able to have real conversation! 

We were so impressed that Tricia joined the event being a week overdue with baby Emma. Luckily for her, Emma officially joined our family three days later on July 4th! Madison is now a big sister!

While my original plan was to make it to church with the babies, the weather on Sunday demanded that we spend a family day outside. I do not remember a day this summer that has not included rain, so we jumped at the opportunity to soak up the sun. We hiked to the top of Kennesaw Mountain. Tuttle and Maggie both impressed us with their endurance to keep up. Jacob rode in the hiking backpack while Jay received many compliments for carrying such a heavy pack up the trail. 

Daddy went to work on Monday to take advantage of a quiet office, and the kids and I met some friends at the new Suntrust Park to play in the splash pad. Daddy met us a few hours after we arrived. I cannot wait to go back, and Gram is within walking distance, so it will be easy to meet for lunch! The kids ran back and forth between the water and the grassy field, and we practically had the place to ourselves.

Our July 4th started out early, as usual, with Daddy's 13th Annual Peachtree Road Race. We arrived to our normal cheering spot after a stressful drive where I forget how to get there. (I have ZERO sense of direction despite parking in the same location for at least six years!). Daddy actually gave me directions mid race on his new watch phone!

The babies and I cheered on the runners while we waited for Daddy to pass by us. Tuttle announced that he was handing out "Free High-Fives" while Jacob repeatedly tried to join in the race with the runners. 

Tuttle actually reminded me to take "the picture" this year. I love that he is such a good sport with my traditions!

We kept up our traditional lunch with the Poole Family at Taco Mac. Jacob decided exploring outside was better than sitting at the table.

The afternoon consisted of a long nap for Mommy, Daddy, and Jacob and ended with fireworks at our house. 

Happy 4th of July!

Catching Up

Our summer weeks are flying by, and we are enjoying every second. I am especially enjoying the fact that all three babies sleep until close to 9am every morning! :)

Last weekend we celebrated Aunt Peach and Uncle Drew's upcoming September wedding with a Fiesta Couples Shower. I was one of the hostesses, but I cannot take credit for any of the success. Allison's friends (especially Kerry) created such a fun party with all the yummy food and drinks you could possibly want!

We tried a new babysitter that the kids love from Oglethorpe University. I have already scheduled her again for this weekend!

We cannot wait until the big day in September although Uncle Drew has already been a member of our family for years! :)

The kids' favorite highlight for the week was Vacation Bible School. This was Maggie's first year to be old enough to attend. The super hero theme was fun especially with all the crafts Tuttle and Maggie came home with everyday. I love that they learned that God is really the best super hero of all!

While most of the time during VBS was spent napping for Jacob, we did get a little one on one time together which is a preview of the days ahead with Maggie and Tuttle both in school. Just this week Jay and I have noticed that Jacob has started to become interested in actually playing with toys, more specially cars, trucks, and trains. When we stopped by Publix, Jacob was like a statue watching the real construction vehicles. It was the most still that I had ever seen him!

Maggie and Jacob took a little dip in the baby pool after VBS one day. Popsicles made the afternoon even better!

I cannot believe that school starts in ONE MONTH! I am trying to soak up every day. Our home might be a circus most of the time, but I just love these little monkeys to pieces!