Spring

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

First beach trip

Anna Kate & Drew made their first trip to the beach last week. We went to the Isle of Palms in South Carolina. The trip was somewhat impromptu but I am so glad we decided to go.  A few weeks ago we were at our Sunday lunch at DotDot's house and she casually mentioned going to the beach. It snowballed from there and before I knew what happened, we were booked to leave in three weeks!  I have to be honest and say I was quite nervous about how the trip would go. Drew and Anna Kate aren't great travelers and are usually ready to get out of the car after about an hour and a half so I couldn't imagine was 6 hours was going to be like.  I very strategically thought out our travel schedule and now that we have made it through, I am happy to say they did wonderfully! And they LOVED the beach! We had been talking up the beach trip for weeks and they were really excited about it even though they had no idea where they were going! :)
Our trip started very early Tuesday morning when we left at 4:00am.  Aunt Ashley rode (actually, drove!) with us so she spent the night at our house Monday night. Drew and Anna Kate were so excited she was there. They both woke up when we got them out of bed to put them in the car and were awake for a while but were excited that we were finally going to the beach and in good spirits.  Drew did ask less than 1/2 mile from our house if we were there yet! I got a little nervous then.  They both went back to sleep about an hour down the road and slept for about 2.5-3 hours. They woke up in time to stop for breakfast and when we got back on the road, we only had about 2 hours left in the trip. It worked out perfectly! When we arrived our condo wasn't ready but they allowed us to use the beach access and pool until it was ready.  It was very windy and even chilly that day. We went to the beach first and Drew and Anna Kate were really excited about the "sand box". They ran straight to the ocean and got straight in. They had absolutely no fear.  After spending some time on the beach, we went to the pool area to eat lunch. We tried to get in the pool but the water was just too cold! It wasn't long before they called to say our room was ready and around that same time, DotDot and Grandaddy arrived! We took our stuff to the room and got settled in before heading back down to the beach so Drew and Anna Kate could show DotDot and Grandaddy their new found love for the ocean.  Our first beach day was a success and I couldn't have scripted it any better. You hear stories of kids hating the sand, the ocean, etc... Anna Kate and Drew traveled so well and loved everything about the beach!
 Traveling. While we were going through the mountains, Anna Kate started getting angry that her head was flopping back and forth so I had to sit and hold her head in place for about 2 hours. But... it kept her sleeping, and happy, so it was worth it!
 Snoozing soundly.
 Checkers break before getting back on the road after breakfast.
 We're here! It was so fun to experience their excitement!



 Their first few moments experiencing the ocean. As you can see they really thought it was great (Drew especially)!
Checking out the view from our balcony before bed time.  We were on the 5th floor and Drew kept asking how we were going to get down.

Monday, September 16, 2013

'A camping we will go.....

We packed up our tent last weekend and hit the road to Townsend.  We found a great camping spot last year and knew we definitely wanted to go back again this year.  I am sad to say this was our first time going to the mountains to enjoy some fresh air this year. Drew and Anna Kate have been to Cades Cove a couple of times with their Mamaw & Papaw this summer but we haven't done a family trip.  A taste of Fall hit and it was perfect weather and even got chilly at night. We had a picnic lunch when we arrived, then we set up our tent and loaded up the car to make a trip around the Cades Cove loop. Drew and Anna Kate really enjoyed themselves.   They didn't make the overnight trip and were picked up by Mamaw & Papaw just in time for dinner. From what I heard, camping must have left Anna Kate famished because she ate as much as a grown man!  Mamaw & Papaw had a slumber party at our house with Drew and Anna Kate Saturday night and we picked them up Sunday afternoon when we got home.  Hopefully, we can make this camping trip an annual tradition. We may even let the little campers sleep under the stars next year!
 Drew is always so eager to help!
 Children after my own heart! The helped sweep out the tent.
 Drew really wanted to help us blow up the air mattress.
 Last year we planned our trip for July and went tubing down the river. Since it was so mild, I can only imaging how cold the water was this year. We admired the pretty water but didn't get anywhere close to getting in! 
 Exploring one of the old cabins. In past years, we always let Drew and Anna Kate get our of their car seats and sit on our laps while we are driving through the loop (as did other people).  Apparently, the same rules apply in the Cove as on the road and they have to stay in their seats. We came upon a Ranger not too long into our journey that informed us of this so we had to convince them to get back in their seats. They were pretty good about it so we wanted to let them get out and run for a bit.
 They enjoyed their time out of the car. They ran all over the property. I got Anna Kate to pose for a picture briefly.
 Drew was adamant that this door in the barn stayed closed.
 Hitching a ride with Uncle Kris.
 The weather seriously couldn't have been more perfect!
Snuggling with my girl before Mamaw & Papaw came to pick her up.

Monday, September 9, 2013

The days are long but the years are short!

I came across this saying today and it sure did hit home. I have been saying for several weeks now that the age 3 is going to be a rough one. I have heard that whoever says it is the terrible twos obviously hadn't made it to three yet. I hoped that my two sweet things would just skip the terribleness but I'm thinking we may just be getting started. I know part of it is that they are flexing their independence muscles. They have opinions and preferences and now more than ever we are just going to have to pick and choose our battles wisely. They are still sweet at times but some days, it is a good thing they are so darn cute, otherwise, I may be tempted to put them in the back yard with Jake!
This weekend was supposed to be the calm before the storm but it really didn't work out that way. Friday evening I had a party to go to at our neighbor's house so while I did that, John Clay took the kids to the mall and to get dinner. I think they really enjoyed spending some quality time with their Daddy. They had Chick-fil-A and got to see the model train. He said they were SO excited about it. He said they were jumping up and down and making the "Choo-Choo" noise. He said that a few people even stopped just to watch them!
John Clay acquired some tickets to UT's football game last minute so DotDot and Grandaddy graciously agreed to let Drew and Anna Kate stay with them Saturday afternoon while we went to the game. It was a little warm but lots of fun. We promised Drew and Anna Kate that if they were good, we would take them back to the mall to see the train. They held up their end of the deal so after we got home from the game we headed to the mall. They got to play with the train again and even managed to talk us into a ride on the carousel and a couple of other toys that you ride on. I think they enjoyed themselves.
Sunday was our normal fun day at DotDot and Grandaddy's. Summer has had one last push so it has been hot here.  Drew and Anna Kate are to the point that they ask every day now if we are going to the beach and they are definitely excited. This next weekend, we are going camping and then on Tuesday, very early, we will be leaving for the beach. I can't wait to see their reactions!
A few pictures from our evening at the mall:



Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Labor Day weekend!

Our Labor Day weekend was a success! We had a great long weekend. It got hot and actually felt like summer! Saturday was pretty low key. We spent the morning around the house and Drew and Anna Kate went to Mamaw & Papaw's with their Daddy to pick up a mower. Saturday night they went to dinner with DotDot, Grandaddy, Uncle Papaw, and Uncle Norma. After dinner they had a slumber party at DotDot and Grandaddy's house and I got to go see Daddy's band play. From the reports, they were good and slept well. I think they had fun too!  Sunday we had lunch at their house with Aunt Ashley and headed home earlier than normal so DotDot and Grandaddy could rest. After naps, we had dinner with our new neighbors which was really fun! It was nice to be able to walk back and forth between houses and enjoy time in the back yard. They have a 4 year old daughter and Drew and Anna Kate had a lot of fun with her! (I didn't get any pictures of the fun being had!) Monday morning John Clay worked a bit and then we headed to the lake to see Aunt Teresa.  We enjoyed time in the pool (without freezing) and then had a boat ride. We were well into nap time by the time we got out onto the boat and at one point I looked over and poor little Drew was sound asleep on his Daddy's lap. That was right before we saw a train crossing over the bridge which got him right up. That was definitely the highlight of our boat ride. They really enjoy going on the boat and hopefully, we get to go at least one more time before the end of summer.
We have had some great times this summer (albeit a little strange with the cooler weather). We have so many fun things planned for the next couple of months and Fall always provides lots of exciting activities. It seems like things start getting busy in September and don't slow down until after the first of the year. But we will be busy doing fun things so we are ready to bring it on!
*I was terrible about taking pictures this weekend. Below are the ONLY ones I took!
 Ready for the boat ride!
 Watching the lift lower the boat into the water. They fought over who got to "drive" first.
The train! They always look for the trains on the tracks we past on the rare occasion we catch one. You can imagine the excitement of seeing one from the water. They have told everyone they talked to about it.

Saturday, August 31, 2013

First Dentist Appointment!

I have been meaning to take Drew and Anna Kate to the dentist for a while now and I figured since they are three now, I needed to make it happen!  So, we set our appointment up and headed off to see Dr. Webb Thursday.  Drew and Anna Kate were pretty cooperative for 3 year olds, from what I understand. Drew did better than Anna Kate but they both did well and were members of the No Cavity Club!
 Anna Kate was up first. She was feeling a squirrelly that morning and was a bit wild. She did agree pretty easily to lay back in the chair by herself and let the hygienist work on her teeth. Every time she stopped to switch tools, get more tooth paste, etc... Anna Kate would flip over and pop up. so we kept having to convince her to lay back down and let her finish.  She "explored" the office (read: ran wild through the back) while we waited to be seen by Dr. Webb. Someone finally brought her a balloon which I was able to use as leverage for good behavior. We got her out of there without causing too much of a ruckus. I think she was decently behaved with Mamaw Katherine while Drew took his turn. The waiting room was still standing. 
Drew got the award for most cooperative. Bless his sweet heart he was excited but also nervous. He wanted to hold on to my hand. He laid very still while the hygienist worked on him and we watched a squirrel robbing the bird feeder while we waited for Dr. Webb. He also got a balloon and they both got treasures out of the No Cavity box. All in all, a successful appointment! And, I think they will let us come back!

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Savoring Summer

This summer has been strange. It has been rainy and cooler than normal and hasn't felt much like summer. Don't get me wrong, it is nice to be able to get outside and not feel like your baking but it has whizzed by pretty quickly. If the weather pattern continues, I have a feeling we will have a pretty cold (and dare I say SNOWY!?!) winter and fall will most likely be on the cooler side too. So, we spent the weekend savoring what is left of the hot, summer months.
 Saturday John Clay worked for a while and Drew, Anna Kate, and I ran some errands and went grocery shopping. After John Clay got home, I gave him a hair cut. I guess Anna Kate and Drew needed front row seats.
 After beauty shop, Anna Kate wanted to play dress up. She was a beautiful princess (who can't walk in her shoes! Those things are a broken ankle waiting to happen!).
 Princess kisses for Daddy.
 We went to Mamaw & Papaw's house for dinner and for John Clay to do some work on one of his lawn mowers. Drew was all about helping! Do you see his green bucket and hammers on the concrete? When John Clay told him what they would be doing, he packed his tools so he could help!  While Drew was helping fix the lawn mower, Mamaw Katherine, Anna Kate, and I went to Walmart to see if we could find sis a new piggy bank since she dropped and broke hers.  Anna Kate was a wild woman at the store. She wanted everything and would just walk by and grab things and throw them in the buggy. At one point, she grabbed an entire stack (probably 15 pairs ranging from 6mos.-5T) of pink lace leggings and threw them in. We did manage to find a new piggy bank and a couple of other things she convinced us they needed.
On Sunday we did a our usual lunch at DotDots. Drew and Anna Kate found some cupcakes they thought they needed for a snack after they got up from naps.

After snacks we went outside for a car wash. Drew and Anna Kate were both great helpers! 
 They got a little wild with the soapy sponges and water hose. Anna Kate got Drew right in the face.
 Anna Kate helped Grandaddy do some yard work.
 Drew doing his most favorite thing.*
There are some new cows in the feild across from DotDot and Grandaddy's house and Anna Kate especially was quite excited about them. She requested that Aunt Ashley get a chair and sit down with her so they could look at them. She also came up with some names for a few of them.

*While we were at our Sunday lunch, we decided on an impromptu family beach trip! We are going to leave in about 3 weeks and head to Isle of Palms. I am little nervous about how well Drew and Anna Kate are going to travel but I am very excited to see how much they love the beach. Drew isn't going to even know what to do with himself when he sees all of that sand! We will have to be sure and take lots of diggers for my boy!

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

3 Year Stats

Anna Kate and Drew went to the doctor for their 3 year well check today. Luckily, we hadn't seen that place in a while! Everything checked out great and Dr. Bean said they were perfectly healthy and very well behaved and cooperative for their age. I am not sure what room he was in but I would have went more along the lines that they did participate with him and do as he asked during their exam but for the rest of the time they acted like wild donkeys. They fought over toys and crayons, they ran, jumped, climbed on the exam table, sprayed water every where while they turning the sink on an off, climbed under the exam table, rolled all over the floor, asked to go pee 2,800 times, and even did a belly scoot across the room a time or two. The only thing that could have topped it off for this germaphobic mama would have been for them to lick the floor! Other than that though, they were great! :)  Here are their stats:

Anna Kate:
Weight: 28 lbs- 20%
Height:  36 in.- 25%
Head:    51cm- 95%- Still a big noggin*

Drew:
Weight: 31.5 lbs.- 50%
Height: 37 in.- 35%
Head: 53.5cm- >97%- His big ole' head still doesn't register on the chart*

*My children, you can thank the Garlands for a lifetime of special order hats!

Besides sharing a birthday, there aren't many things about Drew and Anna Kate that are the same. They look quite different and they personalities could not be more opposite. But, they compliment each other well!

Drew is my snuggler. He loves trucks, trains, tractors, motorcycles, and lawn mowers. He does not like be woken up before he is ready and will usually cry. He has an odd obsession with socks. He wants to wear them at all times and if we don't pay attention, he will wear two or three pairs at a time. He prefers to wear his tennis shoes but will wear Crocs (with lots of coaxing) only if he can have socks too. He loves to play in the sand box, take his toy diggers and dig in the dirt, and ride his bicycle. He isn't a great eater and doesn't really like meat. His favorite vegetable is corn, his favorite breakfast is oatmeal or a blueberry muffin, his favorite fruit is cantaloupe, and he really enjoys cake. He is stubborn, he picks at his sister just to annoy her, and he doesn't like to share his toys. He is our musical child and beats on anything like a drum (we can thank his Dad for that!). He sings a lot and talks a lot. Sometimes he talks or chants just to hear his own voice. He does this most when he is trying not to fall asleep. He has very good manners and will say thank you, please, and most recently has learned "excuse me" before interrupting. He is proud of his politeness and will tell you he has good manners! He sucks on his pointer or middle finger when he is sleepy and still "pets" his lovey. He is pretty independent and has recently started dressing himself if he doesn't think I am getting to it fast enough. Drew is very intelligent and likes to watch things work so he can figure them out. He is definitely all boy!
Anna Kate is as girly as it gets. She loves butterflies, baby dolls, and picking flowers. She has become an early riser and will get up most mornings before the rest of the house. Usually, she will try to wake Drew up but when he doesn't get up, she will come to our room with all of her loveys, babies, blankets, etc.... and climb in and ask to watch Barney. She likes to pick out her own clothes and also likes to wear tutus and frilly dresses. She loves it when you tell her she is pretty. She mounds her bed (or resting spot on the couch, floor, or chair) up with stuffed animals, babies, pillows, and blankets and will wallow around in them until she finds a comfortable spot. We say she is like a dog making her bed. She loves to go shopping. She really likes going outside and still loves to swing. She also will not eat much meat. She really likes cheese, her favorite vegetable is tomatoes, her favorite fruit is blueberries, strawberries, and grapes, and her favorite breakfast is pancakes. She gives sweet compliments about how someone looks nice or their outfit is pretty and is also polite like her brother with pleases and thank yous. She will also ask how your day was. :) She likes to be waited on and also enjoys "running the show" (I say this trait comes from her Aunt Ashley. She is very attached to her loveys and even though we have two just alike, she has one that is her favorite and insists on having it. Anna Kate is more clingy than her brother and will cry or whine most of the time when I drop her off at school, DotDot's, etc... I'm hoping it is just a phase but for now, she doesn't like to be left by her Mama for any reason.

My two cuties keep life interesting, that is for sure. They have big personalities, they are very active, and love life. Little things excite them and they really take note of anything and everything that is going on around them. They can spot an airplane, a butterfly, or a squirrel from a mile away. They notice immediately if something is different in their familiar environments. I love experiencing the world through their eyes. It is a perspective that is so carefree and fun-loving.