Happy Easter!

Wednesday was CeCe's class Easter party and egg hunt.  She had been looking forward to it for a few weeks!  It was fun!  

That afternoon she started acting funny and I felt like she was getting sick.  We were dying eggs and she got really pale and then it happened......she threw up.  She only threw up 2 times and has had an upset stomach a few times but she's been so weak and sleepy.  She had fever Thurs. and Friday and has slept and watched TV a lot more than normal.  We had to miss our church's egg hunt yesterday, Sunday School today (we did make it to big church but kept her with us) and lunch at a new friend's house today after church.  She needs a nap again today (hasn't been sleeping at nap for months now) but we are going to try to go to a neighbor's egg hunt.  She's fading fast while I type this though so we might not make it.  

Thankfully this morning we saw some of our old CeCe coming back!  Both kids were very excited to look in their baskets the Easter Bunny filled and then we noticed that silly bunny had hidden eggs in the playroom and in the backyard. We had fun searching for all of the eggs. It was awesome to see CeCe smile and hear her talking again.   

 We had planned on Bryce and I going to church while Anthony stayed here with CeCe but since she was feeling so good we decided we could all go!  I'm so glad we did.  She was happy and smiley the whole time.  We took a few pictures before church in front of the beautiful azalea in the backyard.  

It is Spring Break here and we are supposed to be leaving early tomorrow morning to meet my parents and sister and her kids in Chattanooga, but I really don't think we will make it.  CeCe just doesn't seem up to it and I don't want to share our germs.  The kids are going to be devastated when I tell them we can't go.  

St. Patrick's Parade

We braved the crowds today and went downtown for the huge St. Patrick's day parade.  It was crazy crowded like last year but this year we did it in style!  The Tootle family was so nice to include us in their 'tailgate'.  Nick's dad Lynn got down to the square at 2:30am to stake out a spot and then some of his friends got there at 5:00 to relieve him.  He went home and slept a little before going back down there with his family around 8:30.  We got super lucky and made it downtown before all the roads started closing and got in a parking garage very close to the square where everything was set up.  We were out there from 8:30-4:00 today (the parade lasted over 3.5 hours!)   Last year there was talk of there being around 1 Million people there and it felt just as crowded today.  Haven't heard any crowd projections yet though.  It started out cool but the sun came out and it warmed up quick.  We had to get out the sunscreen and shed some of our layers early on.  

Bryce and Nick

CeCe and Julia (Nick's little sister)

Hilarious!

All the kids waiting on the parade to start.  

My sweet girl!

She was marching in place and saluting the troops here.  Very cute!

As soon as we got home the kids got out these instruments and were marching around the backyard like the marching bands from the parade!  Our favorite parts of the parade were: marching bands, the groups of bag pipers, and the Clydesdales.  Being on the front row watching and feeling the Clydesdales running by was awesome!  

I want to remember this about Bryce.....he had a hard time staying still today(and by still I mean not running around throwing a ball constantly).  He enjoyed sitting and watching the parade for about 2 hours and then just couldn't sit still anymore.  I don't know how he makes it at school.  He started pacing around and for the rest of the time he had a ball in his hands and was playing catch with one person or another.  He even started playing volleyball with the next tent over at one point.  Somehow he managed to get grass stains on both knees even though there were people EVERYWHERE and it was hard to walk much less fall and catch a ball.   As soon as we got home he went outside and has not stopped moving since.  I put on a movie thinking we could all chill out for a while before bed and he lasted about 20 minutes.  Now he's in the playroom running around and throwing the football over and over.  This kid does not stop moving!!  

Busy Day!

Today has been a busy one!  Anthony took the day off which was such a nice surprise for the kids and I.  We started the day off wishing Bryce a very happy 7th birthday!  He had school today so we got him in the car and off he went.  Next we got loaded up on our bikes and biked to CeCe's school for the big St. Patrick's day parade.  

It was a great parade and she had a blast riding on the float with her friends and teachers.  

The Grand Marshall from the huge parade tomorrow was there and a bag pipe group!  It was great! 

They rode around the back of Bryce's school and they let all the Elementary kids out to watch the parade and CeCe was so excited to tell us that she had seen her brother!  

After the parade we came home for about 20 minutes and then went up to Bryce's school to eat lunch with the birthday boy.  Went to Publix, came home and made brownies (Bryce's birthday request), finished sewing his blanket, hurried back up to May Howard to take the class Friday snack for the birthday boy (he requested chips again this year!) helped Mrs. Aiken with her folders, had about 20 minutes to kill so picked up some books at the library, picked up Bryce and Nick from school, came home and Bryce couldn't wait to open his presents from us.  So we let him.  In my mind we would come home from dinner, eat brownies and sing happy birthday and then open presents. But on this beautiful day how could I say no to opening them right after school?  

 He loved all of his presents.  All were sports related of course!  This is the blanket I made for him.  I just started sewing in January so this was a big project for me.  It's far from perfect but the look on his face made it all worthwhile.  He loves it!!  

We let him pick the restaurant for tonight and told him he could invite a friend to come with us.  We are on our way to pick Nick up now and drop off some of our parade items for tomorrow with the Tootle's.  Nick's dad Lynn is getting to the square at 5:30am to get a spot!  

Happy Birthday Bryce!!!

         Happy Birthday 20 Questions!

       1.  How old are you?  7

          2.  What is your favorite color? Maroon

          3.  Who is your Best Friend? Nick Tootle

         4.  What is your favorite meal?  pizza

         5.  What is your favorite snack?  cheezits

         6.  What is your thing to drink?  Sprite

         7.  What is your favorite toy?  football

         8.  What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play football

         9.   What is your bedtime?  8:30

       10.  What is your favorite TV show? Football

       11.  What was your favorite vacation this year? Legoland

      12.   What are your teachers’ names?  Mrs. Aiken

      13.  What is your favorite thing to do at school? Play soccer at recess

      14.  Who do you like to play with at school?  Nick and Julian

      15.  What is your favorite restaurant? Molly McGuires

      16.  What is your favorite book?  Sports books

      17.  What is your favorite game to play? Monopoly Jr

      18.  How much do you weigh?  48lbs

      19.  How tall are you? 48 inches

      20.  What size shoe do you wear?  13.5

Bonaventure with Cappy and Papaw Ruff

Sunday after Bryce's party we got up and went to church.  We have recently found a church we really like here and have been better about going regularly.  We were excited to take Cappy and Papaw Ruff.  

After church we came home and ate lunch outside to enjoy the beautiful weather, then we loaded up and headed to Bonaventure cemetery.  It is such a beautiful place and have been wanting to take my parents there ever since we went with Kiki and Papaw Duke last fall.  

CeCe found the outfit my parents brought back from China when Bryce was 2 and insisted on wearing it that afternoon!  She looked like a hot mess by the time we got to the restaurant that night. Cappy french braided her hair before church (and it was so cute!) but hours later it was falling out and then a button on her top popped so her belly was hanging out.  Good thing she's so cute!! 

Everyone had fun walking around at Bonaventure

Bryce still loves reading the headstones

 Some of the azaleas were blooming (and by today, Thursday, they are GORGEOUS all over town)

Big weekend coming up....Tomorrow is Bryce's birthday and a big St. Patrick's day parade at CeCe's preschool that goes around Bryce's school (I heard there might be bag pipers there!?!).  Saturday is the HUGE St. Patrick's day parade downtown and we plan on going again this year. 

Shamrock Run 5K

Friday night Anthony ran in the Shamrock Run 5K race downtown.  We ran into our friends the Tootles down there and the kids had fun running around playing by the fountains before the race.  

Anthony is getting pretty good at this running thing so we didn't have to wait long for him to cross the finish line but we had fun waiting.  

Here he comes.  3.2 miles in 23:01!  

He finished 12th in his age group and 72nd overall (out of 1500!)

7th Birthday Football Party!

We celebrated Bryce's 7th birthday today (his birthday is on the 15th but living in Savannah there is no way we could have his party on St. Patrick's weekend!) with a football party.  It's been so cold here for the last week but today the sun warmed things up just enough that it was a picture perfect day.  The gnats even stayed away which was amazing for this time of year!  We had about 8 boys and 5 girls here and it was a perfect amount of kids with very little chaos! The boys played flag football while the girls played hide and seek, chase and played on the swing set.   My parents are here which is such a treat for all of us.     

My birthday boy!  SEVEN!  I can't believe it!!!  

The main theme was Mississippi State Football but we sprinkled in all of his favorite teams with his new pennants on the bulletin board.  

Football field cake Cappy and I made

Every football game needs a referee!  Ours was super cute!!

Anthony and Papaw Ruff spray painted a football field in the backyard and it looked amazing!  The boys thought it was so fun to play football on a real field!

They really got into it and with a little help from the coaches (Anthony and Nick's dad Lynn) they played 3 great games of flag football!

Bryce's sweet friend Taylor was the only girl from his class that came to the party (he only invited one other, but she couldn't come) and she had fun watching the boys and playing with CeCe and her friends.  She's such a sweet girl.  

Having a great time! 

 Huddle Up!  Strategy time.

Bryce on the defense!

 Touchdown Bryce!!

Referee gatorade break!

Happy Birthday to you, Bryce!  We love you!!!