Better late than never...

Right? Isn't that the saying? :)

Sorry I've been out of commission for a while.  We've had a lot going on with softball, baseball (in two different counties might I add), birthday parties, vacations, and work.  Hopefully I'll be able to start updating this ole thing again.  I actually kind of miss it...

We just got back from a 5 day trip to the beach that was absolutely fabulous and when I have more time, I will blog about that and add some pictures, but for now, I've got some eye candy to get you through..

We are working on opening the pool and Sammie loves to swim in it even though it's not completely clear.  And Mahlon, well, he just loves the hosepipe...and tormenting Sammie..

 

..I absolutely LOVE the look on his face..

                                      

..this is where he was torturing her..she hated the feeling of the cold water, but wouldn't move..she just stood there screaming..

I promise I'll be back with more!!

Sorry Mom...

I just had to post these pictures because they made me happy. 

I cannot wait to be able to load the car up and head back up to North Carolina.  We need more weekends like this. 

I love and miss you, Josh, Steph, and Savybaby!

I love you too, mommie :)

Snow!!

All day yesterday the weatherman kept telling me that we were going to get some snow. Of course, we've heard this all year and ended up with ice or too little snow to play in, so I didn't believe them.

About 8 o'clock, the snow started falling and around 9ish, there was enough on the ground to take the kids outside and let them play for a while. I'm sure that most of the kids in our neighborhood were in bed by then, but I knew how bad Sammie wanted to play in snow this year and I wasn't about to let what could be our only chance at it pass by.

We had snowball fights and Sammie made a snow angel. Mahlon loved being able to throw the snowballs this year, but that boy has a problem with his hands...they freeze way too easily. So, after about 30 or 45 minutes of hard core snow playing, we went inside to warm up and drink some hot chocolate daddy made us. I don't usually let the kids stay up until 10 or 10:30 on a "school night", but it was so worth it last night!

SNOW! (or "NO" as Mahlon calls it)

Our neigborhood is so pretty when it snows.

Sammie was definitely a happy camper.

I think Munch was pretty happy himself.

He WAS actually throwing a snowball, but he did stop and pose long enough for the picture. =)

Sammie's snow angel.

I absolutely adore this picture, but it's blurry.

hehe =)

Of course, I had to take my "grandaddy patton" pictures as I call them.

This was this morning around 6:30.

I do love the snow because it calms me, but I just wish it didn't have to be so dang cold for it! =)

Here's to spring, summer, and warmer weather!

Family Photos

I have this new app on my phone called the "fx camera", it's really cool. It lets you take pictures with several different options. You've got the toy camera (colors used below), the Polaroid, fishbowl (hilarious!), symmetrical, and the Warholizer. Needless to say, we've had some fun with this thing and we TRIED to take a good family picture.....

Me and Sunset took a pretty good picture.

He was struggling to hold his eyes open through the flash.

Sissy tried to butt in on our picture..he didn't like that.

We knew we were all making silly faces and I pulled Mahlon's cheek for the effect, but didn't realize Sammie was doing the same thing..ha

soclose!

C'mon Mahlon, really?

This was our best shot..out of...20. And you wonder why we don't take family photos.

It was a lot of fun though.

*Snow pictures coming next!! =)*

Family

I love it when my family comes to visit! We're all so scattered now and with Josh's schedule the way it is, it's hard for us all to get together, but it sure is nice when we do!!

My brother, Josh, his wife, Stephanie, and my beautiful neice, Savannah (affectionally called SavyBaby by her aunt Sarah) got to come home for Thanksgiving this year and it was much needed. By both me and my mom!

As you can tell from a previous post, I wasn't counting down the hours until they got here :). Once they got to town I got them to come by and see me at work! I see SavyBaby maybe two to three times through the year and I'm always afraid she isn't going to remember me, but dangit she did!! I got her door open and she was jumping and trying to get unbuckled and screaming "Sarah Sarah I love you!" Made my day!

Over the next couple of days, my home was filled with people. Little running feet, screams, laughter, silence (very rarely), and snoring (mom!). I wouldn't have had it any other way! *Well, maybe with a cleaner home once everyone left, but hey..what a price to pay for what I got to enjoy!*

I love watching SavyBaby and Sammie play together

and it's really nice when they can include Mahlon without fights....

and sometimes, Mahlon and SavyBaby get to sneak away and enjoy Fruity Peebles off the floor! -haha- This was priceless! Mahlon was eating them from the bag, but once SavyBaby wanted some, he would grab a handful and drop them in the floor infront of her. I know that sounds (looks) gross, but my floors weren't THAT dirty. :)

We spent Thanksgiving Day with my mom's side of the family and that's always nice! They are such a silly bunch of people and I love being with them!

Once we got home Thursday night, Steph and I stayed up and went shopping for Black Friday! We got to WalMart around 11:20 p.m. and shopped until 5 a.m. We got what I was after and some extras (thank goodness!) and headed back to the house where Steph climbed into bed and slept the rest of the day while I got in the shower and headed to work for 8 hours. What a day!! Luckily it was a slow day and everyone in the state of Alabama was at home watching the Iron Bowl! 37 1/2 hours of no sleep is NOT fun, but the shopping sure was!

Saturday was spent with the Patton family at our annual Thanksgiving. It was nice to be around everyone, but it was strange being there without Granddaddy. We made it and we made it fun so we know he was there in spirit!

I am so thankful for my family (every one of you!) and I'm thankful that we do all get together throughout the year! I love you all and can't wait until Christmas!

Disney on Ice

Sammie and I took our 2nd annual girls trip a couple of weeks ago. We went to see our very first (mine too!) Disney On Ice! It was the Princess Wishes show so we couldn't miss it!

Sammie just had to have one of those $15 cups with the snow cone inside and I just had to buy it for her:). Guess who ended up having to eat the snow cone.......yep, me. It wasn't that tasty, but it made my baby girl happy.

I desperately need a good camera, but I am willing to wait. So you'll have to be satisfied with the low quality of my blackberry indoor nighttime pictures. ha!

This was MY favorite part. They had a huge dragon chasing one of the characters and it set the ice on fire!

Sammie's favorite "princess"...Ariel (wonder why...)

This was the end when all of the prince and princesses came out together and lifted Tinkerbell up in the carriage. They shot fireworks out of the top of the carriage too!

I'm pretty sure that Sammie had a blast and I know that I loved it!

Here's to our 3rd annual trip!! I love you, Sammie Grace and I'm so glad we get these opportunites!

Halloween

I know that I am waaay behind on these, but at better late than never, right? :)

Mason was Mario, Sammie was BatGirl, and Mahlon was a dinosaur (not Barney..)

Our church had the Fall Festival that night so we spent a couple of hours there letting the kiddos run wild and free (with the exception of Mahlon..he's a little TOO wild and free). All 3 of the kids and myself enjoyed the big slide. Mahlon had me carry him up and slide down at least 4 times. He would squeal each time we slid down! I think we need to invest in one of our own. ;)

We let Mahlon play in the bounce house for a while and he was happy with it...until the big kids started coming in. Bless his heart, he couldn't stand back up. ha

Sammie got to play the game that Poppie and Mr. Scott were working. You shot the bow and arrow at balloons and whether you popped one of not, you got a prize. Sam was amazingly good at this!

After the festival, we took the kids to see Matt's Granny for a little while and then we ended up in Fairmont and "Uncle Corey's" house. We ate some supper there and trick or treated through the neighborhood for a while.

All in all it was a very fun Halloween and we are still recuperating from the mountains of candy we ate!