OBX Wedding - Ryan and Rhea

We were honored to join Ryan and Rhea as they got married in Hatteras, North Carolina in the Outer Banks. It was a great weekend of celebrating and relaxing. My parents flew out for the wedding, and my brother Brian was a groomsman. Ryan is a close family friend that lived just down the street from us while growing up. The could not have had a more picture perfect setting for their wedding and reception! Thanks for letting us celebrate with you!

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

The happy couple!!

Just after the ceremony was finished these jets flew over.

Brian and Hilary

Hailey working the camera.

These girls made out with so much loot at this wedding it was unbelievable!

This is just a glimpse of what they got.

Sunset at the reception site.

Gorgeous!

Back to Summer... Ocean Breeze Water Park

Dave parents came out to visit during August and while they were here we went to Ocean Breeze Water Park to cool off during the hot weather. Although Hailey was a little timid at first, by the time that we left she was going down the adult water slides on her own. We were so proud of her, and it was so fun to see her, because she was so excited to do it on her own!! Madi also loves the water and loves to jump into the water wether you are waiting for her or not.

Daddy's girl

Enjoying the lazy river.

Hanging out in the wave pool!

White Play-doh...

Once Madi got into her classroom, she put her bag down, and she had to choose a seat at the table. Ms. Grippo and Ms. Piper had Play-doh already set up at each chair and the kids got to choose where they sat. Madi said to me "Mommy which one is my seat?" I replied, "Madi you can choose any seat you want." Madi then says "I want the white play-doh because... it matches my shirt!!" (Those that know me well, know that she is definitely my child). =)

Madi with her white Play-doh, coordinated with, of course, her shirt!!

Summer Catch-Up Interrupted by... Madi's First Day of Preschool!!

Madison started preschool!!!! It was an exciting day in our house this morning. In fact Madi was so excited that she actually got herself completely dressed by herself, came downstairs with this outfit on, and a brush in her hands and said to me "Mommy I can't make piggies, can you please help me??" Awwww, my baby is growing up too quick!! She had a great first day.

I love these backpack pictures when the backpacks are as big as the kids!!

Sister love

This is nothing but pure happiness!!

Look at that smile, she was so excited to be at school.

Chronological Summer Catch-up... Fourth of July

This year for the 4th we drove down to Charlotte to spend it with Brett, Cinder, and Tori. My parents flew out too, so it was nice for all of us to be together. (We just wished that Brian and Hilary would have been able to be there...) I am a little bummed that we did not take many pictures, but here are a few!!

First Day of Dance

The girls actually took a few dance classes this summer, but today was the official start to dance for the year. Hailey is taking a ballet and tap class and Madison is taking a ballet class. They both love dancing!! Tonight was my first experience with two hours at the dance studio, this is just a glimpse of what is to come... but the girls love it, so it is worth it.

Hailey's First Day of Preschool

Well, I guess it is fitting that the last post I posted was Hailey's last day of preschool, so now you will have the first day this school year to compare. It is amazing how quick she is growing up. She had a great first day, loves her teacher, and loves having a classroom filled with NINE little girls and NO boys!! (Please say a special prayer for her teacher Ms. Bragg!!) ;) Madi starts tomorrow and is equally excited, so stay tuned for pictures of her first day...

Our little preschooler

Ready to go!

Sisterly love...

On our way

Backpack hung up, little yellow duck put in the pond, and name tag on...

she is ready to go!!

Hailey's Last Day of Preschool

It is hard to believe that Hailey's first year of many school years is over. She had a great year, loved her teachers, and made some really great friends!!

Madison is looking forward to going to school in the fall!

My sweet girls

Hailey singing "He's got the whole world in his hands..."

Preschool 2 1/2 year olds!

It's The Little Things...

My two little girls and a wonderful, loving, supportive husband... these are the best gifts that I could have!!

Madison who carried her "night-night" around all morning in her nightgown,

so that she was able to have two free hands to cause mischief and keep herself entertained!! Great problem solving if I do say so myself.

My sweet Hailey, with a hair-do a-la-Daddy!!

Check out that braid...

Lets just say that she was just as proud to tell me that Daddy braided her hair,

as Dave was to tell me he braided her hair!!

(This now means that I can officially go on vacation, as Hailey has always said that I could not leave because Daddy does not know how to do her hair.

That is not the case now!!)

Mother's Day

Now that I am a Mom, Mother's Day has a much different meaning, for obvious reasons, but also because, even though they always tell you, just wait until you have kids, you will understand once you are a mom...

You really do not know what it is like to be a Mom until you are!!

The unconditional love that you have for your children.

The never, ever, ever, ending job of being a Mom.

The work, energy, love, work, energy, work, more love... that it takes to be a Mom.

All of these things make me appreciate my own Mom so much more. There are not enough words for me actually to express that appreciation, but what I can say is "I love you and Thank You." All I can hope is that someday Hailey and Madison will be celebrating their first Mother's Day and that they too will realize that being a Mom is the most amazing, yet challenging thing that we can do!!

"While we are busy teaching our children all about life,

our children are busy teaching us what life is all about."

Two and a Half Months...

Ha, ha, to those that thought I was going to spring great news of a baby, yeah right!!

That is how long it has been since I have posted anything on the blog. I know that some of you religiously check this, so sorry for the day after day disappointment. I really will try to be better. I have a lot of pictures just waiting to be downloaded from my camera, if only I had a lot of time!!

Here are some of our most recent pictures from Easter. We had a wonderful day complete with church, lunch with great friends, and an egg hunt of course!!

My girls... sisters!!!

Anxiously awaiting the egg hunt

Go Madi go!!

This girl is a serious egg hunter, actually she is just seriously competitive...

Hailey and Addy

Playing at the sand table, thanks to the Easter Bunny!!

A Little Overdue

We had a beautiful day here today, temps in the mid 70's!! It was a little windy, but we will take what we get. The girls enjoyed playing at a new park followed by a picnic. We are so ready for spring!!

I think that Hailey is going to be a rock climber!!

Crib Climbing ... Edited

Here is the same video with a little video editing from Dave. Make sure your volume is up. Enjoy! Also, take note at Madi's face, the reason that she has that look on her face is that Dave is filming her with his phone, and she thinks that he is taking a picture of her. She is making what we refer to as her "cheeeeese" face!!

Big Girl Bed... Just In Time!!

This weekend we had gone out and picked out Madi's new bedroom furniture complete with a big girl bed. We just decided that it was time to get rid of the crib. The bed arrived today, and to make a long story short I ended up not putting her into her bed for her nap; well I tried and it didn't work for various reasons... Her crib was still in her room, she kept climbing out of the bed because I hadn't put the railing up, I finally decided to put her back into the crib hoping that I would at least get some sort of nap out of her, only to hear her pounding on the door when I thought she should be sleeping!! Which means, that if I left her in her crib, she must have climbed out of the crib.

She gives a very good demonstration on how to climb out of her crib in the following video!! Needless to say as I type this, she is fast asleep in her big girl bed, complete with a railing, but I will not be surprised to hear her knocking on her door in the morning!! (She has to knock because I put a door knob safety thing on it so that she won't open it, because she also does that now!!) I am finding myself saying much more frequently, "Oh Madison..."

Winter Blast 2010

While it is pretty rare to have a white Christmas around here, the snow started falling Christmas night and kept coming. It is rare for a white Christmas, and it is nearly unheard of to have snow accumulation of nearly 14 inches!! It was beautiful. While everything was shut down for about three days, we took full advantage, of playing, shoveling, and making snow angels. We had to physically carry Hailey inside she loved the snow so much. Dave and I were thrilled at the thought that we could possibly have two little snow bunnies!!

Hats on and round little faces ready,

only accentuating the fact that they are sisters!

Daddy was just as excited to jump in as the girls were!

Hailey is thrilled and

Madi didn't miss the opportunity for a little snow tasting.

Mommy demonstrating a snow angel.

Madi working on hers.

Hailey's in process as well!