Monday Fall Break

We had a fun low key kind of day on this first day of Fall Break.  We went to our friends' the Potts today just to hang out and let the kids play and MB and I got some adult conversation. :)

Ethan was dying to play Twister today and the girls (and I) played. :)  

My little limber gymnastics girl...

Ethan and Karis (both in Kindergarten right across the hall from each other at school)

Ellie the caller

Lucy helping us bake cupcakes

Mary Beth is sooooo creative and talented and I always look to her for great ideas.  She had it in the plans today for the girls to make duck cupcakes.  I would have never attempted but she did and they looked great!

Eli thoroughly enjoyed his cupcakes and the icing...

Aren't these cutie?  The girls helped :)

This afternoon the Potts kids came home with us so MB could take their van in to the shop.  They ended up eating dinner with us and then staying and playing until 9:00!  As if they hadn't had enough of each other, Karis went home with Ellie to spend the night and Ethan spent the night with us.  It was fun and yah for freedom during Fall Break!  Looking forward to another fun day tomorrow.

All kinds of stuff....

Yesterday I was feeling a little under the weather and didn't blog but I did give my blog a facelift (overall new look...background, header, new fonts/font colors).  I get tired of it often and the pics I had were a little outdated!  So if you are a Google Reader gal (I am)...check out the new look here!  For those that don't know...Google Reader is a way to see all your fav blogs in one place and you don't actually have to go to each blog every time you look at them.  I love it!

Anyway, I was feeling much better today (guess I had a little bug yesterday...absolutely no energy or appetite) yet we started off the day pretty lazy...I love Saturday mornings!  

Karis practiced her letter matching game (yep, her idea on her day off of school, not mine).  But I sure didn't mind!  :)

Lucy loves to color these days.  I guess she has seen her sissy do it a time or two 2, 999 times!

Lucy's masterpiece 10-9-10 (a day shy of 17 months old)

Today we met up for lunch with some old friends (not age old) that have moved away and were back in town for the weekend.  You can visit some old blogs here, here, and here.  Chris and Ashley Clark both went to college with me and Ashley was actually an acquaintance (friend of a friend) before we even got to college and then ended up being ZTA sisters while there.  Later our hubbies ended up on church staff together for a while.  They moved away 1.5 years ago and we haven't seen them since.  They were back in town today for a wedding and we were THRILLED to see them!  After all, Thomas was Karis' first little friend (sniff sniff)!  They have 3 children also...Thomas (age 6), Maggie (age 4) and Mary Taylor (age 3).  

Here are the girls...(L to R Lucy, Karis, Maggie and Mary Taylor)

...and the boys! (Brayden and Thomas)

Me and my sweet friend Ashley (she told me to mention that she couldn't find her blow dryer this morning so excuse her crazy hair...whatever she always looks great!).

When we left Jay brought Lucy home to nap and I took K and B grocery shopping (Aldi's and Walmart).  Yes I bribe them sometimes and this is the bribery reward Brayden got...chocolate.  Hey you gotta do what you gotta do sometimes!  I pick my battles around here!  It was hot today and it melted in his hands.  I had to capture this moment no matter how disgusting it looked haha!

This afternoon Jay took the kids to pick a piece or two of cotton for memory sake while I unloaded groceries.  What sweet memories with dad!

Tonight we made homemade pizzas for dinner and they were so good and fun to make!  

He was concentrating so hard can you tell?  haha

Tonight we watched the movie Letters to God.  OH. MY. WORD.  It was so good and so sad!  I had to seriously hold back so I didn't sob and scare the kids.  Jay was laughing at me because he knew I would cry like a baby!  Karis said it made her sad too but she liked it.  OHHHH how I am so thankful for my healthy children tonight.  It puts it all in perspective.  Despite how crazy busy our day was, it was well spent with the family and I am thankful to have them!!!

Karis' first field trip

Jay and I weren't able to go on the zoo field trip with Karis today so Lolli wanted to go with her.  Karis (and Lolli) were so excited about it!  I was very sad I couldn't go but so glad Lolli was able!  Karis had 2 other girls in her group, Destiny and Precious.  (Pics have been blurred for security reasons).

Here is a funny video of the monkeys shaking their head no at the kiddos....it's pretty funny.  Brayden has wanted to watch it over and over and over again!

http://vimeo.com/15644717

Monkeys at zoo from Amanda Lemonds on Vimeo.

Big brother

I captured some sweet moments today that made my heart smile.  Brayden was being such a sweet big brother to Lucy.  :)

I love them so much my heart hurts.  Although being a parent is very challenging sometimes, the good times far outweigh the bad.  Children are such a blessing from the Lord!