I'm sorry Ryan

but I just have to post it.

I have done what I have not been able to do in 5 years of marriage. I beat Ryan in a sport (a game actually). I am sure there are many excuses...er...reasons why i was able to do this tonight. But the point is that I did it--and it just needs to be documented.

I beat Ryan in racquetball, 2-1 (best out of 3) and yes, I did a dance on the court in celebration (sorry, no pics of that).

Love you Ryan! and I LOVE playing sports with you!

and whats not to love...

about a full week of celebrations.... (could be a little picture heavy).

I am now an official member of the 30's club and want to be actively involved :) Ryan made it a special day. Starting with my favorite part of the day-BREAKFAST :






and ending with my favorite cake--doesn't that look like a plate of happiness. it was!


Miss Aubrie is now 4 and she tells everyone--repeatedly. Today at the doctor she told him very happily "I get to have FOUR shots cause' now I'm FOUR!" Then she very bravely climbed up on the table and then screamed for 5 minutes in my ear :) She is such a treasure!




This will hopefully be an annual tradition. I love pinatas and I love them at parties (we always have them at reunions). This is Aubrie and Robbie's soccer pinata (an aerial view, thanks Ry)
Then Robbie-bo's 2 year birthday was next. He is just a handsome, cute as a bug little hombre. We enjoy his personality so much. He is VERY good natured and just happy almost always (there are a few temper tantrums thrown in there lately). He is easily distracted and is OBSESSED with anything that he can ride on--tractors, cars, motorcycles, etc. I mean OBSESSED. He will hunt them down and he doesn't care if mom leaves him and walks away threatening to leave him there if he doesn't come. He doesn't care at all.

Robbie loves to do whatever Aubrie is doing most of the time. He is either playing WITH her or yelling for her to come "wook" at what he's found (a bug, a coin, etc). He always wants two of everything so that Aub-ee can have one too. We love that little man!


He was a little excited about the cupcakes!!

Fixing his car with the new tool set he got from Lito and Lita.

The love their new easel grandma and grandpa!






and lastly, we also celebrated 5 years of marriage to each other. I love Ryan so much. He is my very best friend (it has been fun to live in a new place because it has made me realize that he really is my best friend and I love doing things with him). This was what Ryan brought home--and arranged himself. I thought is was a pretty cool idea for an arrangement. We already know how I feel about Ryan

Happy Birthday Aubrie!!!

our baby girl
she's one
and now for those two's
already 3???
and now a big girl!!!

4 things Aubrie can do:
She can write and spell a lot of words--she really is anxious to read and loves to make notes (as many of you know who get her cards in the mail)
Swim!!!!
Be imaginative--she will role play for hours with her animals/dolls--with or without someone else.
Talk to anyone and everyone. She is Miss Friendly. She is friends with an elderly couple (they find her and Robbie in their garage from time to time) next door, and quickly becomes friends with whoever is walking down the street or standing next to us in line, and will tell everyone whatever is on her mind.



4 things we love about her:
Aubrie is tender. She loves being a sister and sincerely enjoys playing with Robbie--they are (at least for now) constantly together and playing. Hallie is often the recipient of Aubrie's mothering.
I love when she just walks over and says "mom, I really like you" and gives me a hug. What's not to love about that? :)

Aubrie is fun to talk to. She has a lot of opinions and easily has a good conversation with us about anything. When we sit down for dinner she will usually start us off with "dad, what did you do today?" "Was it fun?" I like to know what she is thinking about because it is usually something interesting

Aubrie likes to play. She is always up for hitting/catch in the backyard, swimming, playing with puzzles, etc at any time.

Aubrie is a pretty obedient. You can reason with her--most of the time (we were a little concerned that wouldn't be the case at 2). Once she understands something is important than she will try to always do it--prayer, her jobs, brush her teeth, look both ways before running across the road, etc. She has a quick mind.

Love you Aubs!!!

Our Break From School

Given my 2-week break from school, I (Ryan) thought I would chime in on the family blog and give an update of a few things we've done during our break.

Lake EuFaula (Alabama) - We spent the last four days at Lake EuFaula (the same lake where "Sweet Home Alabama" was filmed) with Carl & Courtney's family. It was a blast. However, we quickly realized that boating with five kids under the age of four is a challenge with only four adults. I wish we would have kept all of the diapers that accumulated during our trip and taken a picture - the pile would have formed a small mountain. :) Even so, it was a fun trip and very relaxing. Aside from all the water activities (see pictures below), we spent the rest of our time watching movies ("Step It Up 2" To the Top!, Penelope, Empire of the Sun, and too many Disney movies to count), reading, eating, talking, riding the 4-wheeler (or as Robbie called it, the "truck"), and playing games: "Ultimate Uno" (poor Courtney joined in after the 4th round of ridiculous rules), Boggle (I'd like to give a little "welp" out to Carl for proving his superior intelligence in the world of words), and ESPN's SceneIt (hey Carl, can you identify team logos?). A special thanks to the Granthom's for letting us stay at their place!


If reincarnation were a reality, Aubrie would no doubt want to come back as a fish. She could spend all day in the water and, in fact, she did most of the days we were at the Lake.


After tubing long enough, Aubrie would ask when to fall off to be able to get back in the water.


Runnin' the waves with Dad! I wish we could do this every day. Good times, good times.


All the sun and the long days of playing in the water usually led to some very thirsty kids. This is Robbie at his finest, begging us for a drink of Gatorade. Well, you can't fault his taste.


All children must have a life jacket on, even if that means the life jacket prevents the kid from moving or breathing. Hallie wasn't the biggest fan of her life jacket. :)


Stone Mountain (Atlanta, GA) - Last week, we ventured out to historic Stone Mountain where a large Civil War image of Robert E. Lee has been carved into the side of the mountain. We embarked on the 1.3 mile hike up to the top of the mountain before enjoying the laser light show in the evening. It was a fun day...

This gives you a good feel for what the mountain looks like if you haven't ever been there.


Amber and I soon realized that we would be carrying more than just ourselves up the mountain.


Almost to the top! Aubrie looks so tired in this picture because she is tired. She climbed the entire way up the mountain on her own. Everyone we passed on the way up commented on how much energy she had. Amber and I were really proud of her. It was pretty fun to watch her make it all the way on her own.


WE MADE IT! The kids were pretty excited to make it to the top of Stone Mountain. Getting back down the mountain was an adventure as well, but we were too tired to take any pictures. The laser-light show with fireworks that night was fun and felt like the 4th of July all over again.

a girl (and her daughter) can dream...

oh man. someone is excited for her daughter to play soccer. Aubrie is signed up to play starting in a few weeks and I really couldn't honestly say who is more excited (or "I'm so exciting" as Aubrie would say) between the two of us. i LOVE soccer...LOVE. we bought her shinguards and a soccerball awhile back (they are really too cute) then today Ryan found these beauts at a consignment sale for $3. Can't beat that--these cleats are brand new. Oh, the smell of grass and running around after a ball. And, did I mention I volunteered to be the assistant coach (we'll see if they let me). yes, I will probably be one of those moms--at least as far as soccer goes.