my little sunshines

I am loving this spring weather with my little sunshines.  We have gone to the park or gone on a walk every day that it has been pretty.  In the past week we have gone to The Firefighter's Park, The Pirate Park, Murphy Central Park, and the park behind our house.

Pearson's favorite park is most definitely The Firefighter's Park right now.  I'm sure next week it will be a different one.

Nash is a fan of any park that has swings, As am I, because it makes my life a little easier to have one kid "locked up".

Nash is so chill when he swings.  He just crosses his little hands and soaks in the sunshine.

Sometimes he is so chill it looks like he could just fall asleep.  

 Lolly, Ashley and Oliva even joined us one day.   

 This spring is going to be crazy since Nash will be walking around soon.  He is getting closer and closer to walking every day so I am savoring these sweet moments of him just sitting because it won't be long until he is running around the park chasing his big brother and wanting to do whatever he is doing.

I can make a promise to you, if it's a pretty day this spring…...you'll probably see us at the park.

 What is your favorite park around town?
We'd love to try some new parks out this spring!

meal planning monday

Monday: Dinner @ My Parents

Tuesday: Out to Eat with Family

Wednesday: Pick up FREE Corner Bakery

Thursday: Lasagna Roll Ups, Veggies, & Garlic Knots

Friday: Chicken Spaghetti (Extra for The Howards)

Saturday Breakfast: Homemade Donuts

Saturday Lunch: Grilled Cheese, Chips & Fruit

Saturday Dinner: Chef Boyardee Pizza

Sunday Lunch: Edamame Bean Salad

Sunday Dinner: Monterey Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Veggies & Rolls

meal planning monday

Monday: Leftovers

Tuesday: Baked Fajitas & Black Beans & Quacamole

Wednesday: Goulash & Cornbread

Thursday: Me & Boys: Out to Eat Matt: Work Thing

Friday: Pork Chops w/ Apples & Cheesy Grits

Saturday Breakfast: Breakfast Pull Apart Bread

Saturday Lunch: Veggie Quesadillas

Saturday Dinner: Monterrey Chicken, Creamed Corn, French Bead

Sunday Lunch: Out to Eat

Sunday Dinner: Shrimp Scampi, Zucchini, & Garlic Knots 

pearson {3 years 9 months}

• One time we were driving somewhere and you asked, "Are we going back or forth?"
• You called a crescent moon a criss cross moon.  
• As we were driving you said, "Hey, the sun is following me!"
• We drove by a skunk and you said, "Do you smell that stunk?"
• If we tell you that you can't do something, you always say, "I can do that when I'm a Daddy!"
• You said that when you grow up you want to be a Daddy and then a bird.  Okay?
• After we read a Bible story and say prayers, you immediately tell us "Get out of my bed!"
• The tot clock is working beautifully! You usually wake up any where from 6:45-7:00 but you just roll around and play with your pillow and stare at the clock until 7:15 then come running into our bedroom. 
• Nash had a shirt on that said "Off to Grandma's".  You looked at it and said "Nash's shirt says….Off to Grimaldi's".  We had been to Grimaldi's the day before. 
• You like to put things on your head and say it's a "halio" like an angel.
• You are a total sight word reader. You can just look at words and pretty much figure it out.  

klyde warren park

On Thursday, Ashley and I took the kids to Klyde Warren park.  I had been wanting to go ever since it opened.  We were hoping that the sun would come out but it stuck around 60 degrees and cloudy for most of the day……at least it didn't rain!!  Pearson was so excited to pack a picnic.  It's so funny that something so simple can make him so happy!!

 As usual, Nash hung out in the stroller most of the time.  I feel bad that at this age Pearson got to do a whole lot more, but Nash isn't walking yet and it's too hard to keep my eye on both of them.  Thankfully he doesn't mind being in the stroller one bit……as long as I keep the snacks coming!!

 The thing I was most looking forward to at Klyde Warren Park was the food trucks.  I have only eaten at food trucks a hand full of times, but they have never disappointed.  I ate at one called The Butcher's Son and I got beef braised quesadillas.  They were soooooo good……..and pretty reasonable priced.  

Miss Oliva kept Nash entertained while I ate my messy (but oh so delicious) quesadillas.

I don't know why I didn't think about packing a ball for Nash because he LOVES to play catch.  Thankfully Carson brought a football and let Nash play with it for a little bit.  He didn't get to crawl around as much as he would have liked because the ground was still a little damp from all the rain the day before.  He was not a happy camper when I made him get back in his stroller. 

 Before we headed back home we when and played at the Children's Park for a little while.  It was so incredibly crowded.  Not only was it Spring Break, but there was also some Jeff Gordon even going on  and the place was filled with Nascar fans. Pretty much all Pearson was able to do was slide down this little hill, ha! He thought it was awesome though!!

I'm so glad Ashley and the kids went with us.  It's not an adventure I would have wanted to do on my own.  I don't drive in Dallas by myself.  I would have gotten lost, driven on the wrong side of the road and never found a parking spot if I went by myself!! 

 Love these sweet boys and the adventures we get to take together!!

 Now……don't hate me for saying this…….
but I need to honest about our visit to Klyde Warren Park.

While our day was definitely enjoyable and the food was great, I don't really see us going back any time soon.  It's a long drive for us for a picnic and a small and crowded park that to me isn't all that great.  At one point, Pearson even said, "Is this the park?" I think he was a little underwhelmed.  It's definitely more of a play ball and run around kind of park and when Pearson thinks of a park he thinks of slide and swings.  I think we will just stick to picnicking and playing at the parks closer to home!! 

I'm glad I can say I have been to Klyde Warren Park though.  I definitely think it's a Dallas must do thing!!

sealife aquarium

I was given two free tickets to the Grapevine Mills Mall Sealife Aquarium almost two years ago.  For some reason we just never could find the time to go.  We finally got around to going over there and using our tickets this past weekend.   With all the snow and ice days we had in the last few weeks, we were all ready to get out of the house for a Family Fun Day!!

There are 3 Aquariums in the Dallas Area: The Dallas Aquarium, The Grapevine Sealife Aquarium, & The Children's Aquarium at Fair Park. I have been to all three, so I can definitely say you get what you pay for.  However I think they are all a little over priced…..especially for young kids. 

At Sealife Aquarium it is  $20 for adults and $16 for children (3 & up) if you walk up and pay.  That's absolutely ridiculous…..that's more expensive than the Dallas Zoo.  Way to expensive if you ask me!  If you pay online it's $16 for adults and $12 for children.  That's better, but they still get you with online processing fees.  I get coupons in magazine's all the time with $12 ticket deals or BOGO tickets.  I think the cheapest way to go is to definitely find a coupon!!

While we definitely enjoyed ourselves, I would have been a little disappointed if we had paid full price for our tickets.  It only took us about an hour to get through the whole thing. 

Pearson was so excited to see all the fish as soon as we walked in.  We tried to get Pearson to go into this glass ball with Matt but he wasn't interested.  He looked at the fish for a few minutes and was ready to move on. No time for photo ops.  

Clearly I am not a photographer because the crazy lights made my pictures look funny, but we looking at all the different creatures.

It was fun to talk to the boys about how God was so creative making all of these sea creatures so unique and different.  

Pearson was so funny when we got to this walkway.  He would not walk on the glass.  We had to convince him it was okay!!

I'm really not sure how we convinced him to take this picture, but I sure love that sweet smile!!

Nash was in awe of all of the fish. He would just stare in amusement.  He happily stayed in the stroller the majority of the time just looking at all the fishes.  

At the very last exhibit, I took Nash out and we crawled underneath the take to get a good look at the fish. Nash loved it. He was all smiles and loved touching the glass to try to get the fish!!

After we saw all of the exhibits in the aquarium, we ate lunch in the food court and strolled around the mall.  When we got home both boys crashed for nice 2 hour long afternoon nap.  I'd call that a successful day!!

nash {13 months}

Measurements: 
25lbs & not sure in length
You are wearing 18 month PJ's, 12-18 month and some 18-24 month/2T hand me down shirts, 18 month pants.  You are in size 4 diapers and size 3 shoes when you keep them on.  

Sleeping: 
I don't really want to type this for fear I might screw things up, but we had a great month of sleep.  FINALLY!!!! As always you go down super easy for all naps and bedtimes.  You go to bed at 7pm on the dot and this month you have pretty consistently woken up at 6:30am.  Still earlier than I would like but it's better than in the 5am hour.  If you wake up closer to 6am, I have been able to nurse you and put you back in your bed for another hour which has been nice.  Sadly no matter what time you wake up, you wake up a grump…….crying until we come get you.  There is no playing in your crib happy over here.  Just crying.  It's funny that for such a happy baby, you wake up so grumpy.  Naptime is usually 2.5 hrs after you wake up in the morning, so most days its around 9:30.  This most you typically napped for about 1.5.  Afternoon nap is always at 2pm because that's when Pearson's rest time is.  You sleep about 1.5-2hrs in the afternoon.  Afternoon naps are almost always longer.  It's funny how your sleep continues to change each month even at a year old.  Pearson was always soooooo consistent so this is so different for me!

Eating:
I am still nursing you first thing in the morning, before afternoon nap and at bedtime.  I tried to drop your nap time nursing but you just aren't ready.  You started drinking whole milk, but you still aren't crazy about it, which is why I don't think you are ready to drop the nap time nursing.  I definitely throw away more milk than you drink.  You eat three meals a day and have a couple snacks throughout the day.  Your favorite snack is oyster crackers and your favorite food is any kind of fruit and pasta. There have been a few times this month where you have pushed almost all your food away and just skipped meals and I'm pretty sure it's because you are teething.  I can't see any teeth yet, but I really think one is coming.   We still haven't found a thing that you don't like.

New Tricks/Activities/Accomplishments: 
You are cruising and crawling all over the place but still not standing on your own or walking.  You are making great strides though (pun intended).  You are doing great with your walker and you like to walk with us holding both hands.  You are just still really wobbly and don't have any balance.  You wave bye-bye all the time. You can "give us 5". You LOVE to dance and are so cute when you do it!

Words:

Da-De (Daddy) Surprisingly you say DaDe instead of Dada and you definitely know it's Daddy! 

Hiiiiii & Bye-Bye (when you wave), Bubu and Mama (but you don't always know it's Bubba and Mama)

Teeth:

5 (3 top/2 bottom) The right top one still hasn't come in yet, but with so many days that you have pushed away food, I keep thinking it is.  Who knows?  

Likes:
Doors, toilets, cabinets, getting into anything you aren't supposed to, playing ball, rolling cars, pressing the printer button, open mouth kissesPraise Baby videos, your remote toy in the car, being tickled, being held upside down, when we pick you up from the nursery!

Dislikes:
Diaper changes and having to get diaper cream put on, getting lotioned up after bath time, when I put you down after holding you, when we pull you away from the printer, when we pull you out of the bathroom.

Other Random Facts:

• If we say "Gimme kisses", you lean in with an open mouth.  
• You love to "bulldoze" into brother.  It drives him crazy but you think it's so funny.  
• You have such a dramatic cry.  If we are in another room we can never tell if it's a actual hurt cry or feelings hurt cry.  
• You LOVE playing ball. You can actually play catch really.  You rear your arm back and have a really accurate throw.  
• You are absolutely obsessed with the toilets.  We have to keep the doors and potties closed or you are in it.  You discovered how to open up the potty this month so we can't ever leave the door open.  
• You are way more into things than Pearson ever was.  You love to get into anything you aren't supposed to. 
• You love to climb on and both your brother.  It's like you know it bothers him!! I see wrestling matches starting in our near future.  
• You love to look at yourself in your mirror in the car.  You also like to make lots of noise with your hands and mouth while in the car.  
• Your socks and shoes never stay on in the car.

Here is Pearson at 13 months and Nash at 13 months.

 Look how you have changed……

meal planning monday

Monday: Lasagna Soup & French Bread

Tuesday: Pork Tacos, Guacamole & Black Beans

Wednesday: Small Group @ Chick-fil-A

Thursday: Mississippi Roast, Carrots, Potatoes & French Bread

Friday: Wal-Mart Pizza Meal Deal & Ceasar Salad

Saturday Breakfast: Sausage & Cream Cheese Twirls

Saturday Lunch: Tortilla Soup

Saturday Dinner: Spicy Sausage Pasta, Roasted Green Beans & Garlic Knots

Sunday Lunch: Barbecue Sandwiches & Chips

Sunday Dinner: Leftover Soup or Pasta

snow ice-cream

It's another snowy day here in Dallas!!! 

We did the playing in the snow and building a snowman thing last week 

so today we decided to make snow ice-cream!!

It's so easy and super yummy!! You'll only need 3 ingredients other than the snow.

4 cups snow

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup heavy cream

Mix the sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream in a bowl. (You can also use half and half or milk if you don't have cream on hand.) Put the bowl in the freezer while you go outside to collect the snow. Get 4 heaping cups of fresh snow. Mix the snow with all the other ingredients. 

Enjoy!!

start your engines….

This past Sunday I had such a fun evening taking Pearson to a Mommy & Little Guy event at my parent's church.  They hosted a Daddy/Daughter Tea for all the preschool girls around Valentine's Day so this was the big event for all the little boys.  It was so fun to spend a little one on one time with my favorite little 3 year old guy.  

The theme of the evening was "Start Your Engines".  All the decor and actives were perfect for my car loving dude.  They had a cute little Photo Booth set up when we first came in.  I haven't gotten our picture we took yet, so I'll have to post it later.  

We started off the evening by getting a tattoo.  He was excited about getting a tattoo, but his eyes were on the bounce house that we were going to do later.  

 He was so proud.  I think that this was his first tattoo.  

 Our next stop was decorating our wooden car to race at the track.  Again, his eyes were still on the bounce house.

 They had to coolest race track set up for the little cars all the boys colored.  Pearson was only patient enough to do it once, because he was ready to bounce!!

Pearson spent the majority of the evening going up and down the bounce house slide.  I didn't mind one bit because I ran into a few old high school friends and enjoyed chatting with them while our boys burnt off some energy!!

 The only way I got Pearson to come off the slide was to offer him a cookie and popcorn…..two of his favorite things!!

 Yum! Yum!!

 What a fun night with just me a my little guy!!