July 4th Weekend with the Jenkin's Clan!

To celebrate the Fourth, we along with the Jenkin's family headed to the Gaylord for the weekend. They are some of my favorite people in the world, so I couldn't have asked for anyone better to celebrate with! I apologize in advance for the litany of pictures, but between me and Jace & Amy, we took 1000 pictures!! Good lord. Anyway, I put some of my faves here, and uploaded the rest to our picture site.


First, we all met on the riverwalk for a super yummy brunch a "few" mimosas. Then, the kids had fun watching the fish and playing on the train... and running everywhere!!!










On the way to the pool (and yes, that's a shower cap on Grady's head):




One of the things that we were looking the most forward to was just relaxing poolside! Well, we got there and we couldn't believe it. There were so many drunk people just going crazy so we didn't feel comfortable getting in with the babies, so we found the indoor pool instead. The kids didn't seem to notice or care...they had a great time regardless. We cracked up because between Amy and me, we had enough floaties for the entire pool.








We headed back to our rooms for a little naptime (while the boys headed to the sports bar to watch Tiger). Sailer's never really slept in a "big girl" bed so I was suspect. I was right... no sleep for the weary! So we ordered up some $6 an episode Mickey Mouse instead. (=




After naptime, we all rounded back up. They were clearly obsessed with the cowboy!




We made reservations at a super yummy restaurant in the heart of the resort for dinner. I was so proud because the kids behaved wonderfully. You think Sailer was digging the cornbread cactus or what??






After dinner, we mostly just let them run around like crazy...




After dinner, we walked around the resort and they had SO many fun things going on! One of the highlights was the balloon man! While we stood in line with the kids, we took some fun photos... don't you just love the progression of those of Mark and me?!?!?




Waiting patiently for her turn... and then, a very happy little girl!




While we waited for the time to come to head to see the fireworks, we confiscated an empty conference room and had a little dance party! The kids LOVED the table dancin'! Sailer was absolutely in love with Mr. Graham the whole w/e as you can tell from the following pics. We did make a little pit stop at the front bar before we headed to the parking lot for the mommys and daddys.










The Gaylord is known for their impressive fireworks display... and it surely did not disappoint. The first pic is of S and her daddy waiting for it to start. She was SO tired from not having a nap and playing so hard all day, but once the fireworks started she was back in action! The best watching venue is from the top of the parking garage, so we headed up there with the rest of the hotel to watch the display. The kids had just as much fun running around, climbing on everything, and then, playing with their light-up necklaces. Too funny!




After the fireworks display, we grabbed a few "roadies" and headed back to our room. I think this might have been one of the kids' favorite parts.... they jumped on the beds like monkeys, played beauty shop (or at least Sailer and Graham did), and watched a movie. Aren't Lincoln and Graham so cute in their matching pj's??






And one of my fave parts of the weekend... everyone sacked out except for the mommy's, so we stayed up really late drinking our room service goodies and talking.


Well, we had reservations to eat at the Sunday brunch overlooking the lake, but we didn't quite make it in time. Did I mention we think someone pulled a fire alarm at the hotel around 4am so we were rudely awoken... thus we all slept in. Once we all got up and around, we met and grabbed LUNCH at one of the restaurants that were luckily open at that time. The food was actually pretty good though.




We finally ventured back out to the outdoor pool for awhile to end our trip. Amy and I even managed to take off the over-ups and get in the pool.



I'll leave you with a pic of the hunk-y daddys...

3 July ~ The Proposal


Today I did a lot of shopping for the weekend... mostly the torturesome bathing suit shopping! UGHHH!! Two words come to mind.... DIET NEEDED! Anyway, that night we met the Mackies out for a dinner/movie date night and saw The Proposal.

2 July ~Surgeries and Dance Parties


Today Lincoln and I played Nurse Ratchett for the Mimi... she had surgery today and was a great patient! Luckily, Mimi's friend, Debbie, was there b/c we wouldnt have been able to do it without her! We weren't supposed to stay the night after the surgery, but the post-op regiment seemed a little daunting for the great-g-parents to handle, so we stayed to make sure she was ok. Lincoln loved it because he got to spend some quality time with his Pom-o and Mur! I had to take a quick pic of Mr. L sleeping on the puppy at Mimi's house (this was actually a shower gift for his big sis once upon a time!)


Anyway, I was a little worried about leaving Mark along with Sailer, but it seems like she was quite entertained in my absence (WHAT is up with her hair... that SO looks like a daddy was left in charge!)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEeZOTR5pUk

1 July ~ 2 month check-up & Dancing Divas


I took my little man in for his 2 month check-up today:
Heighth: 23 1/8 in. (55%)
Weight: 12 lbs, 3 oz. (55%)
Head: 15 3/4 in. (65%)

Today completely reaffirmed why I go to see our pediatrician- he's truly LOVES his job and kids. He was so good about incorporating Sailer into the visit, and she had the best time (um, Lincoln, not so much).



I was scared Sailer would be upset when Lincoln got his shots (because it's absolutely brutal and cruel & unusual punishment), so I forewarned her that they were going to come in and put band-aids (one of her new obsessions) on his boo-boos. And that he would likely cry, but it was ok and it was to make him better. So she asked to hold him, and she started "shhhh-ing" him like she was trying to settle him down. Despite the fact that she's trying to vie for my attention right now, she really does adore him.

The picture quality of this is terrible but I was watching through the one-way glass at Sailer's dance class this morning and had to grab a picture of the teacher LITERALLY pulling Sailer and Hope back to the rest of the class. Do you see how the other girls are minding and sitting there quietly?? Looks like they were trying to make a get-away, but truthfully they just wanted to run back to the mats to jump some more.
Her cutie little tutu because let's be honest, it's more about the outfit than the skills at this point:

This is how Sailer helps "push Rincoln":

Girls Night!

Tonight was SO fun for me. First and foremost, because one of my best friends was in town for the night. Second, because I got to catch up with my college girlies that I so miss! And third, because I only had 1 baby in tow. Man, it's amazing how easy having just 1 seems once you have your second. Although I absolutely love it, it is definitely a challenge to balance both, so it was nice to be able to relax and actually have girl talk that doesn't involve poopoo and Minnie Mouse.

The whole gang:
Jennie & I.... with what could be. HA!:
Auntie Mel:
Auntie Jules:
Auntie Jaime... she's not a baby lover at all (right!):

30 June ~ With an Artistic Flair

This morning, Sailer met her two gal pals, Hope and Ella Claire, for an Art class. Because she's not in school right now, I really wanted to find something artistic for her to do this summer. She LOVES art, which I really want to promote. We do a lot of crafty stuff around the house (I know this is really hard for you to believe, I'm sure), but it's always more fun to do it with friends... and on someone else's carpet and walls. (=

Play-doh is always a great place to start with her...

Painting her masterpiece:


Excited about making a Mickey Mouse (although it was really a bear)And then, last but not least, my little angel that either sat quietly or slept through the whole class: