Tulip Triumph

The weather finally cooperated for a trip to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens before the tulips (my favorite!) disappeared. I look forward to this visit each year and always almost miss it because it is still so cold. We invited some sweet friends to join us, and it was the perfect day!

Jacob allowed me to take some pictures after significant begging and a little bribery.

We definitely missed Tuttle and Maggie, but we loved our morning with Catherine and William. Jacob and William are both a little wild, so his mom and I bond over the struggle. :)

Jacob and I agree that we love this weather THIS much! We are ready to start Spring Break now!

The Greatest Weekend

I cashed in my Christmas request this weekend with three days completely alone at the house. Daddy took all three babies to Madison to Grandmommy and Grandaddy's house. It worked out so well because the weather was absolutely gorgeous for tons of time outside.

I heard Tuttle drove the go-cart around the yard 1.2 million times, and Maggie enjoyed assembling her first big Lego set all by herself and decorating the house for Easter with Grandmommy. Jacob was obsessed with the pirate figurines that moved with him from room to room. 

All moms can understand the importance of alone time at the house. The maids came on Thursday, so the house was completely clean, and I was able to relax and do absolutely NOTHING for three days. I did not make any plans with friends or appointments for pampering. I wanted to be able to sleep, eat, and watch mindless Netflix at my leisure. It was AMAZING. On Saturday I only moved from my bed twice to answer the door for Uber Eats. I did not change out of my pajamas from Friday afternoon until after noon on Sunday. I felt like I was growing into the bed! :)

I highly recommend this gift to all my friends. I told Jay when he returned home after dinner on Sunday night that I might even ask for it for Mother's Day!

Jacob was working on perfecting his smile for picture day at preschool today. I know I am all smiles heading into a new week feeling rejuvenated!

Five days until Spring Break. We can do this!

Jacob Shark

Jacob started swim lessons today, and despite being excited about his new "gobbles," he was not a fan once the actual class started.

He spent the entire 30 minutes clinging to the poor instructor and yelling for his mommy to get him. I was a little surprised at his reaction, but he did somewhat calm down at the end, so I am hopeful next week will go more smoothly.

We head to Disney in two weeks, so I think it will help with our pool day to be introduced back into the water after our long fall and winter break.

All three babies love the water, so I know Jacob will come around eventually. He has to learn how to swim whether he likes it or not....

A Library Card and A Lizard

Tuttle is such a big reader that I have stopped buying as many books for him because he flies through them so quickly. I stock up at the library whenever he tells me he needs new material. Right now his favorite author is James Patterson, and he loves ALL the funny series that he writes. Recently Tuttle asked me if he could get his own library card, so I took him this week to register for one. As we left the library, I asked for a picture to showcase his new card. He responded with the fact that getting a library card is not a reason for a picture. This is as good as it gets, and the reason he rarely makes the blog in photos.....

Jacob's preschool class participated in the annual circus this week. Each student has the opportunity to choose their costume and perform for the other classes and families. Usually there are an assortment of tightrope walkers, elephants, clowns, strongmen, lions, firefighters, and ballerinas. 

Jacob picked a big lizard. I have no idea where this came from, but he proudly wore a borrowed dinosaur costume and paraded down the runway. 

I loved attending the Greatest Show on Earth with the most amazing BIG LIZARD!

Spring Forward

Jay and I counted down until the days when we could officially be in March, and we finally made it through all the cold weather months. With the time change this weekend, we are really ready for spring!

Daddy worked out in the yard despite a little rain while Tuttle's soccer team pulled another win on Saturday.

We started the week off on the right foot at church. Our Sunday school class is doing a series on forgiveness, and it is a really engaging discussion, so I am more motivated to get my crew out of the door on time.

The kids are counting down until summer, and we are under FIFTY school days until the end. Unfortunately I do not see the projects and tests slowing down anytime soon....

The sunshine and close to 70 degree temperatures could not have come at a better time. We were starting to go a little crazy!

Being Present

For Lent I have decided to give up social media while the kids are awake. I easily get sucked into wasting time scrolling a news feed when I should be soaking up my babies and the time I have with them while they still want to be around me. :)

I brought out my camera yesterday to capture Jacob. Although he rarely plays with trains (unlike Tuttle who lived half of his toddlerhood on the train table), he was so proud to assemble the tracks. But in true Jacob fashion he destroyed his project with his balance bike a few seconds after I snapped these pictures.....

I am hoping the season of Lent allows my family to refocus on what really matters.

The Big Apple

Grandmommy, Aunt Peach, and Jay's much anticipated day trip to New York City finally arrived on Saturday. I helped organize a surprise getaway for Grandmommy's Christmas gift including round trip tickets, reservations at a yummy restaurant, and tickets to a Broadway musical, and Granddaddy sponsored the group to head to the Big Apple for a whirlwind adventure. The trio kept us involved in all their fun during the day with pictures and videos. I have to admit that I was hugely jealous!

Grandmommy and Jay left our house around 5:30am to meet Aunt Peach at the Atlanta airport for a morning flight. The entire day went smoothly, and they were even able to sneak in a little sightseeing at Times Square and Rockfeller Center in between lunch at Carmine's and front row seats at Chicago. The kids and I were fast asleep with this jet-setting crew arrived home around midnight.

I gave Daddy a lazy morning and took my circus to church. Like usual, they had to tolerate my photo shoot! :)

I am relieved that the big trip was so successful for Grandmommy. I believe experiences are so much more valuable than things, and I hope they remember this special day forever.