Ice Skating Fun!

For Thanksgiving this year, we went over to my parents' in Jackson, MS.  My brother and SIL just moved over there with their two adorable boys in September, so it was really exciting to be there to celebrate their first holiday in their new city.

 

And it was cold.

 

I'm not talking chilly, I'm talking bone-chilling cold.

 

So cold the lake near my parents house froze and we were all able to ice skate on it.

 

See?

 

 

Ok, kidding.  I think it would be another ice age before Jackson would actually get that cold! (But, seriously, it was near freezing and to me that is beyond cold!)

 

The Baptist hospital near their house had set up an ice rink and sledding doohicky.  We decided to try our hand at ice skating despite the fact that our only other skating experience had been an epic fail trying to teach them to roller skate.

 

My mom, SIL, and I took the little kids over there to check it out while the guys (including Jack who I'm pretty sure now thinks of himself as one of the guys) were golfing.

I wish I had a picture of the incline.  It was steep!!

 

After some sledding, we decided to try some skating.

It was somewhat challenging at times but a lot of fun!

 

 

So fun that we even went back over there later that evening so the boys could join us too!

 

 

What I Learned From Disney On Ice...

Last night, Melody and I went to Disney On Ice.  Just like the last time we went, it was magical!

 

And full of life lessons. Below are four important things I took away from my Disney experience.

1.  It is totally ok and normal to scream with excitement when you see a princess.  Melody and I both did.  And I may have gotten a little teary too.

2.  I want Jasmine's body.  Seriously, this chick is solid.

(You can't really see from the pictures, and she's upside down anyway, but believe me, I could see every single ab muscle.)

 

3. I want my life to be just like a Disney movie.  I already have my crown and everything.  See?

 

 

4.  I already have my Prince Charming. (Yes, I know I'm totally being cheesy here!)

 

(Picture from Father's Day, 2010)

I better go and do some sit-ups!

Touchdown!!!

My boys love Upward Flag Football.  This is Jack's 3rd year playing and Charlie's 1st.  It's a great organization that teaches Christ-like sportsmanship and still keeps score (which I think is an important part of teaching sportsmanship)!

 

Anyway, Jack has really developed a love of this game and plays hard and tough.

 

*Disclaimer: the pics aren't great. It was at night and I had to zoom in pretty far and they were taken with my iphone and not an actual camera.*

See? Check him out trying to psych out the other team here! The other guy couldn't even maintain eye contact! Ha!

 

Defense is generally Jack's favorite position to play. He is an awesome flag-puller.

 

But he has skill on offense too.  Last Friday night, he had his first touchdown of the season.  He caught the ball, fought hard against three opponents to make in into the end zone, and then scored!!

 

During the fall months, I shout "touchdown" pretty often...but this was the best time I've said it so far this year!! 

 

After the game was over, Alex and I walked over to where the team was gathered to de-brief and Jack ran up to me, threw his arms around me and said, "I got a touchdown!" 

 

Talk about melting a mama's heart.

 

I hope he still does that when he's 16!

(Just kidding, Dad. I know you rolled your eyes when you read that!)

 

Way to go, Jack!!!

5

A week ago today, one of my very favorite little boys turned 5!

It's hard to believe this was 5 whole years ago. It seems like it was just yesterday! (It's also still hard to believe he was 8lbs 11oz at 37 weeks, but that's another story!)

 

We started the birthday celebration with a special treat at preschool.  He was so excited to wear the birthday crown and listen to Ms Dale tell a special story about him!

 

 

 

 We have been planning his birthday for the past three months...ever since his big brother had a birthday.

I have to admit, I'm actually glad it's finally over. I was getting tired of all the "Mom, for my birthday, can I..." comments!

 

Anyway, he finally decided on a soccer themed party. We made plans and sent out invitations.  And then he promptly changed his mind to a football themed party.

In the end, we stuck with the soccer theme but added some football fun in there too.

We were blessed with a beautiful fall day...perfect for a party at the park!

 

We tossed the football around some.

 

Jack led the kids in some soccer drills.

 

 

We opened presents ("Awesome!  Superhero legos!" was the comment here)

 

 

and had cupcakes.

 

 

What could be a better birthday?! (Here's the whole crew...minus a few little siblings who weren't keen on the idea of a picture.)

 

 

Oh, and we topped it off with dinner at Waffle House. 

Not the place I would have picked, but it wasn't my birthday.

 

After all this excitement, I'm glad we are birthday free until January!

Best Day Ever!!

In the fall, our weekends are pretty busy.  Between birthday parties, gymnastics, the boys' flag football games, SEC football games, etc, it seems we are always on the go. 

 

This weekend, we had a semi-reprieve from all the busyness.  No birthday parties on Saturday and Melody's gymnastics was cancelled due to a meet being held at the gym. 

 

So, the only big event on our calendar was the boys' regularly scheduled football games combined with their team photos being taken.  Since Melody and I had no real part in that we decided to treat ourselves to a little girl time.

 

So....

 

We road tripped it to Auburn for the day for some mommy/daughter bonding (which means we had a great time shopping at the cute stores in Auburn) and some AUBURN football!

 

Melody is, by far, my favorite shopping partner.  She always tells me I look great and encourages me to buy whatever I like.

After lunch at an Auburn favorite, Momma G's, we joined up with friends for some fun tailgating.  And what is tailgating without some tree climbing?

 

We meet up with friends for Tiger Walk.

 

 

 

 

 

And we went to the game.  I had no idea Melody was so into football.  She was captivated by the game. And her popcorn, chips, cotton candy, and strawberry frozen lemonade.  Don't judge. I only got her the popcorn.  She just so cute, all the people we were with just wanted to treat her to all kinds of things!

 

 

But, seriously.  She watched the whole game.  Asked questioned.  Cheered like crazy.  When we left, and before she crashed in the car, she proclaimed this the

Best Day Ever!!!
 

 I think that about sums it up.

The Last First...

Day of Preschool!

 

Last Tuesday morning, after dropping Jack and Melody off at school, Charlie and I headed out for a special treat...

 

 

What's the occasion?

 

It was his last first-day-of-preschool!

 

 

Charlie is following in his sister and brother's footsteps and is a Zebra this year with our very favorite teachers, Ms. Catherine and Ms. Dale.
 

 

He is super excited!

 

Additionally, since his name begins with a letter near the top of the alphabet, he was also the leader on the third day of school.  The leader is not merely the line leader, but also says the date, holds the flag while the pledge is recited, and does the weather.  The highlight of one's leader day is the toy.  The leader is allowed to bring a toy from home, show it to his/her classmates and then answer three questions about the toy. 

 

You can only image how Charlie felt on Thursday!  

(Ok, he was way more excited than that! I just think this picture is hilarious. He only allows me to take one picture before he gets annoyed and this is his "I'm too cool to have my mom take my picture" look.)

 

Yep! His last year of preschool is off to a great start.

Cousin love!

Right before school started, we took a trip over Jackson to visit my parents.  My brother and SIL were also in town so Ben could take the Mississippi bar.  Since they currently live in Denver, we are always excited to see them any chance we get, but this time we were doubly excited because...

 

We also got to meet sweet baby Hayes!!

 

We don't get to see our CO cousins enough (and cannot wait for them to move to MS so we can see them much more often!) so when we do we are sure to smoother them with all kinds of love and affection

Charlie had fun getting to be the "big kid" for a change.

 

Melody had fun practicing her babysitting skills

 

I tried to get as much of a baby fix as possible.

 

After all, who can resist a precious baby smile like this!?

 

 

Jack realized how fun it was to boss around a 2yo who will do whatever he's told. What could be a better activity for a firstborn, type A child!?

 

And we tried to get a group shot.  Well, we got a group shot.  We tried to get a good one! Tried being the key word here...

 

 

Just a few more weeks and our CO cousins will be living in the south permanently!

And we're off...

Starting another school year!

Although we started this race last week.  I'm just behind. I know, I know.  Although if you read my post here, you'll know that timeliness is not really a priority for me anymore.  As if it ever was. 

This year, Jack is in 4th grade.  He was very excited to get Mrs. Campbell as his teacher.  Aside from just being a wonderful teacher who truly loves her students, she also has a no homework policy.  Yes, this is one thrilled 4th grader and one thrilled Mommy.

 

Melody is off to 1st grade.  She has a new teacher this year, Ms Benefield,  She's super excited that her friends, Jordyn and Anji, are in her class.  She also told me she can't wait to take her first math test.  I know, I don't know how she's related to me either.

And, last but not least, this cutie gets to hang with me for another few weeks.  Pre-K starts next Tuesday.  He's very excited about being a Zebra with the teachers we love love love, Ms Dale and Ms. Catherine.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to cry on my last baby's last first day of preschool. But until then, Charlie and I will be packing in the fun these last few days of summer break!

And the Mom of the Year Award goes to...

ME!!!

 

1st place for loosing my child at Six Flags.

 

Yep.

 

Don't be jealous.  With a little work and dedication this may happen for you too.

 

Here's my story:

 

Today, my crew met Aunt Mimi and cousins Lorelai and Troy for a fun-filled Six Flags day.

 

 

 

We had a fabulous day, absolutely no lines, cool weather (shocking for June) and it was overcast.

 

So, barring a little whining and skinned knees from Charlie, nothing could go wrong.

 

Until the last ride of the day.

 

The Mindbender.

 

Melody and Troy were just tall enough to ride it. (Charlie was tall enough too, but being our resident 'fraidy cat, he opted to hang with Aunt Mimi.) They were so excited...their first upside down coaster!

 

We got up to the front, and I realized that two small children, two bigger children, and me, posed a coaster seating logistics challenge.

 

It was decided that I would go with Melody and Troy would ride either with Jack or Lorelai.

 

Jack decided he wanted to only go with Lorelai and that he would sit this ride out and go with her the next time around.

 

Except the next time around, the littles wanted to go again.

But not together.

 

So, I tried to have Jack go with either Melody or Troy but no go.  Apparently, Lorelai is is favorite cousin and no one else would do.

 

 

He stomped angrily towards the exit to go wait with Aunt Mimi and Charles.

 

When the ride was over, we walked to the exit where Aunt Mimi and Charlie were waiting.

 

Without Jack.

 

We looked all over the place.

 

Finally, Aunt Mimi sent me along the walk of shame to the Lost Parents booth.

 

So, I walked (ok ran) over there, trying to keep the rising panic at bay.

 

And there he was.

 

Apparently, he had come out of the ride and somehow he and Aunt Mimi missed each other.  He just continued walking up the hill and out of Gotham City and finally sat down on a bench to rest.

 

Where a lady in a "dress with swirls" on it walked up.  She asked him if he was here with his mom, to which my son responded, "Yeah, she's on the Mindbender and I have an aunt around here somewhere."

 

(Thanks for throwing me under the bus there, honey.  I'm sure that lovely lady thinks I just dump my kids in Six Flags and go gallivanting off)

 

She then took him over the the Lost Parents booth.  Where I found him about 10 minutes later.

 

We went back to the Mindbender where he finally got that ride with Lorelai.

 

And then we had a discussion about staying at the exit until the other people you are with finish the ride.

 

The excitement never ends!

 

 

 

Only 363 Days...

until I have a double-digit kid.

 

How do I know this?

 

Because, yesterday, this guy turned NINE!

 

 

Happy Birthday to my sweet Jack

 

who is so smart

 

so loving

 

so curious

 

so silly

 

and so perfect for our family.

 

The Lord knew what He was doing when he blessed us with this little guy

 

nine years ago!

 

Doesn't he look like a little Buddha?

 

I think he was mediating and trying to recover after the horrendous labor and delivery we had to suffer though. 

 

 

John Marc Powell

06.04.04

9lbs 4oz

21 1/4 inches

Up to the same ol' tricks...

If you've been a reader of my blog for a while now (you know, back when I actually used to blog on a regular basis), you know that Melody is my dare-devil. 

 

She loves a challenge and has come up with some crazy ideas.

 

like this

 

and this

 

and this

 

and my personal favorite, this.

 

And here is her latest

 

 

 

The pictures don't even really do this justice.  I have no idea how she does it, but she can shimmy all the way up to the very top in about 3 second flat.  And then just hang out there for a while.

 

Freaks. Me. Out. 

 

And that's my little Melody-the-monkey!

 

Spring break!

Nothing like a little fun at Resort Mitchell during Spring break.  Which I, incidentially, called Summer vacation the. entire. time.  Apparently I am ready for summer fun!

 

Lost of outside fun time!

Along with a little gardening

 

 

And we topped it all off with the first jumping wall jump of the season!

 

Summer, hurry up and get here!

A camping we will go, a camping we will go...

Well, not me, of course, but the boys did!

Alex, Jack, and Charlie headed down to Dothan, Alabama for an action packed three days with two other dads and their boys.

There was tent sleeping

gun shootin'

Weenie dog roastin'

S'more makin'

Fishin'

and fish fryin'

Sounds like the perfect weekend.

(Well, not to me, of course! Melody and I enjoyed some time together doing much more lady-like activies such as pedicures and sleepovers.)

Since it was up to Alex to take pictures, I hardly have any.

But....

Here's Charlie with a fish he caught all. by. himself.  He is quite proud of the fisherman he has turned out to be.