Can you say ... handsome??

 That's all I've got to say about this picture :)  

Two handsome dudes right here!  Daddy and Coleman have developed quite the BFF bond over the past few weeks.  As soon as Coleman hears Eric's voice, he looks around the room grinning until he sees him.  Then he gets a huge smile and a little giggle comes out.  It's the best sound on the planet! 

NEW YORK CITY

I just have to blog about my amazing 30th bday celebration!  Eric COMPLETELY surprised me with a trip.  Does he know me or what?  Not just any trip to the beach or mountains or somewhere nearby (which I would have LOVED), but to NEW YORK CITY.  I could not believe it.  Shocked!

On Sunday, June 4, I woke up to a very excited Eve who couldn't be quiet about my "birthday party after church".   She went on and on and could not wait to eat my cake and see who was going to be there.  Eric quickly let me know that there was no party, and he didn't know where she would have gotten that from :)  So, the whole way to church and after church, in the car on the way home... Eve was non-stop talking about this party.  I was confused, but guessed that Eric was trying to do something special for me at the house since he was going to be gone on a men's retreat for my actual birthday.  I was pleased that he had maybe put some sweet thought into it, so I let Eve continue :).  We get home from 2 church services and a guest reception!  The kids were WORN OUT... and so was I.  I was eager to take my church clothes off, lay the kids down for a nap, and lay around on the couch for the afternoon... but Eric had other plans.  He insisted that I sit on the couch while he get things ready.  Not quite sure what the urgency was about, I said ok and sat down.  He gathered all the kids and got out the video camera.  He was really making a big deal out of something, I just couldn't figure out what it was. I assumed our friends were going to start walking in the door or coming down the stairs to surprise me. He had printed out cards and had each of the kids bring one to me "PACK" "YOUR" "BAGS" ... and the he propped up the last one beside Coleman "Daddy's taking you to New York!"  I was SO excited... and in quite a bit of disbelief.  He had arranged everything, and we were leaving from the Augusta airport in a few hours.  So i got packed :)

We had the best time of our lives!  Our hotel was in the CENTER of Times Square.  We walked our butts off going from place to place.  Some of our highlights were The David Letterman Show, our pedicab thru Central Park in the rain, dinner at Serendipity, and sitting in Times Square with a piece of pizza at midnight.  I love Eric.  I loved this birthday surprise!

 on our way!!

 hotel view at 1am when we got there! 

cool and rainy monday morning... we were excited

 hotdog truck

 pedicab thru central park

 first night -- Times Square

 our hotel

 day two -- subway ride

 9/11 memorial

 comedy night!

leaving on Wednesday at 6am... bittersweet.  

425 Santa Anna Trail

 side yard

 Front entrance

Rocking chair front porch

 entryway 

 view from kitchen

 view of staircase from living room

 fireplace in living room with built-in bookshelves

 living room

 Living room to left, kitchen straight ahead.

 inside the living room

 kitchen

 eat-in breakfast area

 back deck

 Side yard

 View of backyard from side

view of backyard from back deck

spacious master bedroom on first floor

 master bath: double vanity, separate shower and soaking tub

 master bathroom

 half bath, just off laundry room

 half bath pic #2

laundry room leading to garage

 One of the upstairs bedrooms with large closet space

 Second upstairs bedroom with large closet space

Upstairs full bathroom

Memories I Don't Want to Forget...

-Eve loves to watch "American Idol Has Talent"
-The twins' faces when they see mommy or daddy walk into a room... Ellie reaches and grunts as if to say, "PLEASE get me!" Clara grins so big, shakes her head yes, and gets SO excited.
-Clara backs up into your lap with a book to read.
-Ellie walks around with a pacy clipped to her shirt, one in her mouth, and one in each hand (if she can find that many lying around).
-After a morning of sending Eve back up to her room to wait until the "bunny is running" on her clock, she tells me, "I told it over and over and over to change to running, but it didn't listen to me!"
-Eve loves to distribute the name tags for church on Sunday morning.  She slaps one on my thigh, on each of the kids backs (including her own), and puts the trash in the can.
-Coleman's sweet, snuggle-y thumb sucking with his head on my chest and big toothless grins anytime you talk to him.
-Clara turns her head and gaze dramatically away from you if she doesn't want you to see her or talk to her.  She is quite the fit-pitcher.  Flinging her head back and kicking her legs.  I really think she could win an award.
-Ellie is such a dancer.  Clara is such a singer.  Eve is such a story-teller (in a good way).
-Eve found a dead ladybug on the front porch and after sleeping with it in her nightgown pocket all night, it falls apart when she is trying to show me how to spread the wings out (gross, i know).  She is distraught and tells me, "I found that ladybug all by myself, and it was such a SPECIAL ladybug.  I am such a great mommy to dead ladybugs.  Let's split up and find another one."
-Anytime we go into a public restroom with Eve, the people in the other stalls will leave laughing.  Guaranteed.
-At 17mths, Ellie is now taller than Clara (slightly) and has one more tooth (all 4 molars).  They get along GREAT.  Sometimes, I will think they are getting on each other's nerves and instead, they break out into the giggles.  Cute connection.
-Eve can actually throw a ball accurately and with force ONLY left-handed.  When she throws right-handed, it is forceful in an unknown direction :)  

Coleman's New Do

So, yes.  I know that this isn't the greatest picture of his new hair style, but i loved his cutie pie face in this one, so i had to post it.  I'm sure you'll be seeing more of his shaved head in the coming days and weeks.  

In other news, summer is here... and that means HOME ALL DAY, EVERYDAY.  I am praying I can stay afloat and enjoy each one of my kids as I get to see more and more of their personalities come out.  They are a gift, and I need to look at them like they are.  Here's to a summer full of family-bonding days and playing outside!  Thank you, Jesus for my precious, happy, healthy family!

My Interior Decorator

Eve has quite a knack for decorating :)   If you don't believe me, just check out these pictures!

I find her stuff EVERYWHERE.  In drawers, cabinets, on light switches, in my stacks of laundry... the list goes on.  She has infiltrated every room in our home with her junk... i mean, toys!!  :)