Joshua's Hundredth Day

Joshua celebrated his hundredth day of kinder this week!  The kids all had a parade and parents and the older students filled the halls.  It was cute and the kids felt pretty special.  Joshua came by and excitedly waved and also sang the Darth Vader Emperial March.  He knew nothing about Star Wars last year and now he is obsessed!  

That afternoon the boys were having a hard time deciding who the blue bike was actually supposed to be for.  Nathan is tall enough to do it with the training wheels on but we actually got it for Joshua to learn to ride with the training wheels off since his bike is still too tall for him.  Joshua decided today was the day and the training wheels came off.  We spent about an hour running alongside a bike but he got it!  He was so pleased with himself.  The best part for me was after about 20 minutes he stopped on his bike and said, "Mom, I need to say a prayer to get Heavenly Father's help on this."  He did and then that evening he said a prayer of gratitude.  He might be a Star Wars dork but he is a spiritual and sweet dork so we will take it. ;-)

Hilton Head Island, SC

So back in February I received a call from a salesperson offering me an almost "free" vacation to tour a timeshare in SC.  It sounded like a great deal and at the time we were planning on a vacation to SC in April.  I thought it would be a good time  and give us something else to do besides hanging around the house in SC.  However, we didn't feel good about spending 4 days/3 nights elsewhere so we didn't go.  Well, guess what time flew by and we only had a month before my spontaneous purchase turned into a  financial penalty.  Not only did I buy this trip if we didn't attend we would be charged $250 for a cancellation. Martin Luther King weekend we decided to go.  We arrived and after an annoying toll bridge experience, getting lost trying to find the check-in building, and then being given an incorrect room twice we were feeling pretty discouraged about this trip.  However, due to the mistake with the rooms, we were upgraded to a 2 bedroom condo!  It was such a nice room and worth the price I paid.  I would have been even more confident that I should never talk to telemarketers if we had ended up in the original rooms.

We burned some energy off that night and I can say that was the only hiccup in the trip.

 

The boys slept wild but good!  They woke up that first morning shirtless and asking where Nani and PopPop were?!?!?

We all enjoyed the shops, the view, and the playground out at Harbor Town.  

Nathan and Joshua wanted to race and run up and down this pier helping everyone get their steps in for the day.  Nathan also wanted to feed the birds but I didn't have anything so he decided to feed the boats instead.  He would throw pebbles in for the boats.  I don't know if yachts run on pebbles.  :-)

We wandered a trail and Joshua spent the entire time discussing poison ivy since we read a sign about it at the beginning of the trail.  Nathan spent the entire time hauling sticks or being carried by Nani!

There was delicious food enjoyed all day.  

This is Nathan's "boat" with his fingers as the passengers.  I love the imagination of a 2.5 year old.

Ice cream at my favorite place Kilwins.  There aren't very many of these and the first time I had it was on a trip in the mountains with the in-laws when we came to finalize Nathan's adoption.

Sunday, we attended church.  Nani played with the boys at the condo since it was a special two hour broadcast.  The boys would have been tough to wrestle and let's face it Nani doesn't get very much boy time.  It was a win for all.  That afternoon we all walked the beach that was just a block from the condo.   I stole this picture from my father-in-law.  :-)  Nathan spent the time hoping to catch a bird.  Joshua collected shells in his pockets.  

Even though I am a Carolina girl I had never been to Hilton Head.  I loved it and would definitely go back.  It is my kind of place with miles and miles of sidewalks for biking and running.  We all love the water and the sound of the ocean.  There were more shops to explore too so I guess someday we will add it to the list of returns.  It was a great visit and we can't wait to play again!

Nathan

Nathan had a few rough days in a row.  This boy is happy and sweet 99% of the time but when he is off man oh man is he off. 

We had a day of this.

Followed by another day of this.

Turned out he was sick.  This is a puddle of puke.  Nathan only pukes in his car seat which is a huge adventure to clean up.

Recovering from it all the next day with a little ipad in the trunk while the rest of us ran around and rode bikes in the driveway.  Love this little boy even when he leaves me guessing as to what he needs from me.

Birthday Man!

My best friend and husband turned 33 on January 7th!  We played all week long to celebrate.  I am amazed at the many qualities that Matt has always had and that he has added in the years that I have known him.  He is fun to be with and I am so blessed to have him forever.

We went out to eat at Matt's Mississippi favorite, The Oyster House. This is definitely a place to enjoy during their lunch prices so we were excited that Matt was the afternoon worker the day before his birthday.  You know my man loves all things electronics and Apple.  He is modeling his apple watch here.  He works hard and helps me save on most areas so I don't mind his electronic splurges.

Then because it was his day to play he enjoyed some xbox.  I love the dress shirt with the pj pants!

The next day was his actual birthday and he did what I love about him best.  He played with his boys.  

Rachel and Joshua put their money together and got Matt an extra xbox one remote so that Joshua and Matt could play those games together.  We took a picture using Matt's watch. :-)

We all got fat because we ate this delicious homemade carrot cake.  There is a reason I usually just get a slice for each of us.  It was really good but next year we will be sharing the rest of the cake with the world!  

New Year

We decided to have some friends over on New Year's Eve.  This was an absolute blast.  I was nervous because Matt was on call all weekend and he of course did get called in; BUT he made it home at 7pm.  We played games, ate snacks, and chatted.  The kids had so much fun, and our kids especially had a blast.  A lot of times our family gatherings can be difficult because there are so many adults to our only two kids.  They can be overwatched and therefore overparented.  Kids watching kids means there might be issues, but they all just work it out.  There wasn't any crying or fussing just laughter.  The kids all made it happily until midnight!  There isn't much fanfare though on television.  I think next year we will count down with east coast and go to sleep an hour early.  :-)

Yay more friends!

xbox dance is so much fun to do and watch!

The kids were great together doing this cooperative game.  No winners/losers just a common mission.  Way to go Santa!

The rest of the weekend has been uneventful with Matt working periodically and the kids feeling a little snotty.  We did take a field trip to see Matt at work.

Sunday, was fast and testimony meeting.  Matt shared his testimony and the spirit was so strong in the chapel.  To try and paraphrase one part of his testimony- The New Year is the time of year that most of the world is practicing and exercising the atonement without realizing it.  We all reflect and repent on things we haven't done as well as we would have liked and therefore we make goals on things we would like to do better.  To accomplish this we need our Savior.  In this way, all across the world if you are reflecting and goal setting then you are using the atonement of Jesus Christ.  I love my husband and I love when he shares with us.  

Today we all went to the Beau Rivage for their military Monday deal.  The boys thought the concept of a buffet was fabulous, and the hotel environment is neat as well.  Although the boys wanted to go play "the games" afterwards, and we explained that you had to be a grown-up to play.  They didn't think that made any sense at all.