Great Wolf Lodge

STOMP! STOMP! CLAP! CLAP! HOOOWWWLLLL!

We had a blast last weekend at Great Wolf Lodge.  The last time we went to Great Wolf, we had a day pass.  As we were leaving I remember Macie asking if we could stay the night and we said we didn't have enough money.  She was quick to tell us that we could use her money from her penny bank.  This time again as Great Wolf was approaching Macie kept doing extra things so she could earn money.  Her words were, "It's my responsibility."  Anyway this time around Macie was her BRAVE self and went down a big slide and wanted to go down the others but she wasn't tall enough.  Weston took a short time to warm up to the water but then he walked up the steps for the little slide all by himself and slid down.  He was smiling at the beginning but also had a look of terror.  He went down the slide a few more times.  He also would jump of the edge into your arms or hold fingers and jump in.  I think my hands will be full this year at the swimming pool.  Zack and Josh made Nonnie go down a couple of the big slides.  She said she was scared to death but secretly I think she liked them. We loved that Nonnie and Pappy and Josh's family went with us.  We had a great time but that swimming will wear you out. The kids were asleep before we even pulled out of the parking spot.

 NOTICE...the cones.  NOTICE two cones have been moved so two cousins could have front row seats.

February

February...the month of LOVE!  What do I LOVE...FAMILY!  This past month we were able to spend a lot of time with family.  One of my favorite things from this past month was going to a MAVS game with my brother. I need to upload pictures from my phone so I can show off our brother/sister bonding.  Lyndsie stayed home with her kids and Zack watched our kids while I met up with Josh for the game.  We had great seats, good food, and lots of fun.  I enjoyed just hanging out with him. I think he probably thought I was a little crazy because I definitely did some cheering/yelling, lost my phone and almost my wallet.  I NEED TO GET OUT MORE!   Growing up I was his second "momma."  Then throughout high school and college we became such good friends (I still tend to momma though).  He and I hung out a lot together.  So it was fun just to spend time with him.  On our way to the game we called Sheldon, our older brother.  We were wishing he could have been with us too!  My brothers have always been so loving, supportive, and just plain 'ol special to me.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that Macie and Weston have that kind of relationship as they grow up.  I know I say it over and over but I am so BLESSED to have amazing parents, in-laws, and brother and sister-in-laws!  Plus, I have some of the sweetest nephews and nieces which I love them like they were my own.  These are the people you get to spend your life with and I feel so fortunate for the family I am surrounded by.

Miss Blair turned ONE!  She is just so precious and easy going.    She loved her cupcakes and ended up eating two for sure!

Blair shared with Weston and everyone else.

So I attempted another painting craft with Weston.  I say Weston because Macie knows not to eat paint.  This time around I gave Weston a sucker hoping that he would keep that in his mouth instead of the paint brush.  Well, I was WRONG.  He ended up painting his sucker and putting it in his mouth.  Weston did loving making his handprint for his daddy.  Macie made symmetrical hearts and painted her hands too!

Filling out cards for her friends at school

Valentine day I made the kids red heart-shaped pancakes.  It was much harder than I thought it would be so I only made a few.  The Paula Dean in me wants to make all these fun things but it isn't easy.

Macie is ready for her Valentine Party.

As they always say, "Best Cousins."

The one part of the playground at Nonnie's school that had mud and water these three found!  Weston jumped right in.  Blake found a puddle as well!  BOYS!  They were entertained with throwing things in the mud.

We headed to Nonnie's school on Valentine's Day.  We picked Blake up first and that was a lot of fun to see him at his school.  Nonnie had the Valentine's goodies for them.  They were thrilled.  My dad also had my favorite flowers, tulips, at the house when we got there.  That made my heart melt.

Weston headed off to the reading corner, opened his nerds by himself, and then found a partner in crime to share his candy with.

Daddy had flowers and a Barbie for Macie when she got home.  She remembered last year that he brought her flowers so she kept wondering if he would bring her some.

We headed to Tulsa, Oklahoma to hang out with more cousins for a weekend.  We finally got to see Sheldon, Reagan, and the family and their new home in the states.  It took us a little longer to get up there than we planned but we had a wonderful time.  The house is beautiful and my kids loved the toys/play set.  We went to the aquarium one day which was a lot of fun.  There was an area where you could touch starfish and fish with ONE FINGER....you know who picked the whole starfish up...the one in the blue and gray.

Both mornings even though it was too cold for me to want to be outside, the kids begged to go out so we let them. We played out in the afternoon as well.

Lunch Time

We squeezed them all in for bath time.  Sheldon and Zack then went out to see if they could win some money at the casino while Reagan and I stayed home with the kids.  We had a lot of fun visiting.  She came home with earnings of about $3 and Zack came home negative $40! That is no fun.

We also got to see Grammy and Papaw for a few days.  They got to watch Weston play and play and play BASKETBALL.  Papaw and Grammy also were super sweet to dance at one of Macie's DANCE PARTIES!  She was dressed up and ready for it.  We did a lot of dancing.  The kids loved it and so did I!

January

 When the boy is hungry he EATS!  Weston is showing off his garden snack and as yucky as it may seem it is always said to let your kids play in the dirt.

 Weston loves more than anything to hit the play, shoot the ball, kick the ball, or throw the ball!  He spends much of his time with playing with balls.

 Riding his scooter.

 Macie and Weston love helping with the dishes.  Macie was at school and he wanted to help even though she wasn't beside him.

 This was one of our snow days back at the beginning of January!  I am so glad we had snow this year for them to play in.

 We went to the zoo one day with some of our neighbors.  We had lots of fun looking at all the animals.  We actually ended up going to the zoo again about 3 weeks after this one time with all the stay at home moms and kids.  I feel blessed to have fun neighbor friends for my kids and for myself.  I just love it!  (This zoo trip is the trip were Weston grabbed a snake they were supposed to be petting with one finger. I need to find the video.)

 Tents are so much fun.  We loved making them in our living room when we were little and  Macie and Weston do too!

One of the best things that happened in January was we got to meet our newest cousin, ALAYNA GRACE McClung  We were thrilled to go to Austin and stay a few days to play with cousins, help Amy, take pictures of Alayna, have a shower for Alayna, and a birthday party for Finley!  It was a beautiful weekend with warm weather.  The kids loved playing outside in the bounce house and on the place gym.

Holding a newborn is one thing I love!  Leaving there, I definalely had baby fever! Macie did too!  She really wants another brothe and a sister! GONNA have to convince Daddy.

 LOVE is such an amazing thing!

 Is anyone surprised that a football is in his mouth?

 Macie held Alayna every chance she could.  I had to remind her that we had to share Alayna with everyone.  Alayna is wearing one of Macie's outfits from when she was new.  That made it a little extra special for me to think back to when I held my precious daughter 4 years ago.  Also after this weekend with Miss Alayna, Macie "nursed her babies quiet often."  When I nursed Weston I didn't think anything of it and she never made a big deal about it.  Maybe she was a little younger and didn't completely understand but she got it this time.  The funny thing is she was playing with a friend and the mom and I walked in Macie's bedroom.  Macie was on the bed feeding her baby just like Amy did while we were there.  I explained to the mom why she was "nursing."

 These two have a great time together!  We don't get to see any of our cousins as much as I wish we could but boy do they love their time together when they are together!  SO DO I!  Thinking back to my childhood,  some of my favorite memories are the ones I had with my cousins!  I know Macie and Weston will feel the same way when the think back some day!

 SUPER HERO PARTY!  

Grammy's words, "The world feels a little safer" with these two.

Here are a few of the many pictures taken of Alayna.  I am the crazy picture lady...as I call myself but I love pictures.  It is even more fun when taking pictures of the ones I love!  

 Right before we headed back home....