Life as Family of Five: February 2012

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

I Intentionally Left My Camera

As we headed out the door for an impromptu pretty day outing the other afternoon, I considered it. Then I told myself, "Stephanie, you need to be able to go and enjoy fun things, without feeling like you have to be taking pictures while you do it". This was a big step for me, given we were going to one of the most charming little areas and local photographer hot spot around here, the Collierville Town Square. Ryan had buzzed out of work early and we battled with how to "make the most of it". Its' always a tough decision, enjoy relaxing at home, or get out and see the sun for a while. It was no big deal, but the kids I think ended up thinking they got to do something special as the conversed on the way home over what was their favorite part. Ha. Anyway, verdict is still out on whether I wish I woulda' brought my camera or whether I'm glad I didn't. Either way, I still wasn't strong enough to resist some phone pics. Atleast there is only 8 of them instead of 800 ;-). It's progress.....

We walked, checked out the trains, and bathed ourselves in ice cream (well at least the 4 and under age group did, the rest of us just ate it) and just enjoyed being together.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Mish Mash

Just some random thoughts and things from lately.

I don't blog as much any more. I always think its due to lack of time, but actually I think is has more to do with our laptop biting the dust before Christmas. Now that I feel like I can't sit in the same room as Ryan during our down time at night and blog, I think it affects how often I do it. He also plays his guitar A LOT more (love that!!) and uses the computer for song chords.

We celebrated our 10th Valentine's together this year. It was low key and wonderful. Ryan left me a sweet note in the morning (I always really love it when he does that) and since I didn't get him a card =( I decided to hang cards from years past over our "romantic" tablescape for the night's dinner.

I put the cards from our 1st V-Day together in 2002 to eachother by our dinner plates.

I was pretty proud of myself for having the kids Valentine's stuff several weeks ahead this year. I kid you not, in years past I have ran into Walgreens the morning of and bought Valentines, suckers, and tape, and sat in the car trying to write their names on them as fast as possible. Horrible, I tell ya. This year I was determined I would do better. While we were assembling the goody bags (still the night before) I think I was grinding my teeth as a muttered through them "We are having so much fun! This is wonderful!" Convincing myself that I did not just want loose my cool at something that I really find to be more stressful than enjoyable. Kudos to you moms who have figured out how to love those types of things! Not my gig. What I did find quite cute was the boy/ girl difference that was already overly obvious in my children. Bennett was counting to the bottom of his stack with each one, just waiting until the bottom when he would be D-O-N-E. Hannah Grave however, cherished every minute of deciding what Valentine would be most fitting for who, and pouring her heart into it. "Well, Luke's favorite color is green, so I think this one would be prefect for him, and....." It was very sweet.

All finished!

I never included these from a rainy evening back in November. I think they are pretty cute!

(Yes, Sadie is wearing two different boots in this picture)

What's a post of random stuff without a slew of phone pics!

Go figure the kids had more than enough in the way of warm coats this winter and I think we've only had about 2 very cold days! Ha!

Hannah Grace bowled for the 1st time before Christmas, she was actually pretty good (even if bumpers were involved)!!! Big Grandpa would be proud!

Bennett was not wanting to wear a hat for hat day at school until we found this one. Daddy has trained him young.

No, Bennett is not wearing lipstick in this picture. None the less he is devilishly handsome (in a completely non literal way of course) and they are ready for battle!

Bennett hammered some Venison tacos one night (we didn't actually tell him it was Bambi meat)! It was awesome! He is a boy after his mom's own heart when he asks me at 10:00 in the morning "mom, I want tacos for lunch!"

It is a good thing my 1st daughter has the patience of a saint. She has sat through more toilsome 30 minute sessions of me attempting to learn to french braid (how I have not learned by now I'm not sure!) I keep taking pics of my attempts. Most day she sits while I try 20 times, only to fail and end up putting it in regular braids or a pony tail.) Shakin' my head...

A little story time on horse back...

I think Bennett is really wanting Banks to be old enough these days to have "hang with the boys" time.

Laundry day and cleaning day on the same day is a HORRIBLE idea. Somehow I always do it anyway and this is what my living room looks like. Yikes!

I had to wake this thing up to go get the kids at school one day. Has to be one of the hardest things to do!!! Especially when moments that they look this sweet are few and far between ;-).

I dyed my hair for the first time. Eeek! I really thought it was going to be orange. This is the pic I took to send my mom to break the news to her of what I had done. Haha! Ryan hated that I said he "convinced" me to do it, thinking it sounded like it was his idea and he wanted me too. What I meant by it was something like the scene of a middle school kid saying to their friend "hey ya think I should try to drink this whole gallon of milk?!? Harhar" and the friend starts chanting "do it, Do It, DO IT!" On a random trip to Target he tossed a box of that potent stuff my way and said "I'll even help you". Haha and he did. Rest assured it's not orange, and really not that noticeable.

Bennett had his first kiss. Went to go pick him up from preschool and the teacher told me about it... right smack on the lips to this little girl. Her mom was standing there too as we listened, I apologized to her for my sons germ sharing. She assured me it was okay and that her daughter was actually quite fond of Bennett... haha ruh roh.

Don't look at this one too long, it will frighten you. I was trying to get Sadie to give me a sweet smile, and this is what I got instead. Honestly don't know what we are going to do with this girl!

Had a much needed girls night with some ooo-ld friends! I absolutely love these girls- check this out from way back after our sophomore year of high school. We took a mother/ daughter beach trip for our 16th birthdays. Some of my sweetest memories of my younger life.

Hannah Grace is already 5 and a half and I am just now starting to really give egg-less baking an honest go. We've done several muffins, pancakes, and now cupcakes and cake. (The above from Valentine's Day) This afternoon me and the girls made a cake. I had Hannah clean up the dishes. It was pretty cute and she did great! My mom always taught me to help from a very young age, and to an extent, I want to do the same with mine. (Even though I was convinced for a large portion of my younger years, my parents had us kids just to carry the chore load, LOL, the things kids think...) I had to grab the camera for some pics of my hard working little dishwasher.

Well my head is spinning from trying to recap on all the random little tid bits of the last few months and all the unorganized thoughts. Hopefully your head isn't spinning too after trying to follow me through it all. Now it's off to ice that cake... wonder if I would be pushing my luck to ask HG to wash that mixing bowl again after the frosting ;-)

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Weekend Winter Getaway

As a Christmas gift to ourselves and Ryan's parents, we rented a cabin in Gatlinburg, TN for the Braithwait clan over this past weekend. We thought it would be fun to break up those dreary post holiday winter months and take advantage of off season vacationing to have ourselves a little family time away. It was a bit of a short trip, but it was still great and worth it (in my opinion) and I think we are all looking forward to maybe making a longer return trip!!

Loaded up and hittin' the highway in the Yukon AKA "the Family Truckster" ;-) Papa rented for us all. This was moments before Bennett and Sadie started barfing. First experience of car sickness for these guys? Check! Luckily, with my mama cat like reflexes (right...) we managed to catch everything in a grocery sack and avoided what could have been a disaster. We stopped for lunch, had some anti-nausea meds called in to a local Walgreens, and managed to make it the rest of the trip holding on to our meals!

We got stuck in traffic close to Gatlinburg (won't make that mistake again) but luckily there was plenty of things along this highway to keep us entertained. If Ryan and I weren't already hitched, this little love chapel, just may have been all too tempting! Praise the Lord no one had to potty in traffic and we finally arrived at the cabin safe and sound.

Got a poor quality pic on my phone of the eating area.

We thought why not pile the kids all in one of the king beds. Gotta love Sadie's eyes, ha. Yeah, first night was a little rough and Sadie ended up in with us, but the second night went much smoother.

Another poor quality phone pic- we ate at breakfast hot-spot in downtown Gatlinburg Pancake Pantry and had a little pancake with our whipped butter, ha! Seriously though? Yum!

After breakfast we headed (walked) to the one "thing to do" we had on the agenda for the short weekend- Ripleys' Aquarium of the Smokies. Since it rained, it was a good thing we had something indoor planned. There are about a billion pictures because, well, I thought it was pretty darn cool!

"I shall call him squishy and he shall be mine, and he shall be my squishy." Gotta love some Nemo lingo at the aquarium.

In the shark tunnel. It was seriously amazing- a very long under the water tunnel loaded with sharks swimming all around and over you. Everyone road on the belt walkway while I stood off to the side loving taking pics. I was standing still and they were moving, that (along with trying to not use my flash) is why a lot of them are blurry. Still pretty awesome, though!