Loving life!

It's springtime around here and life is good!  Here are a few things that I am loving lately...

Getting to play outside and together (Ali's favorite thing to do is be outside so spring is a happy time around here!)

Pretty flowers!

Grilling out outside....  This past Friday was the perfect night - we grilled out, blew up the moonbounce, and just hung out outside with a glass of wine!  It was so nice outside and it was just so nice to have nothing going on and get to be with just the 4 of us!  Plus, I think I was in bed around 9 p.m. which wasn't too bad either! A few pictures of Ali and her daddy taking over the moonbounce (is that even what you call it? We call it "jumpy thing" around here)



Rhodes sitting up and enjoying the pretty weather...  She has also started scooting backwards - I am enjoying the sitting still in one place as much as I can before it turns to crawling before we know it!
And having a taste of the grass (it was in arms reach so of course it ended up in her mouth!) It looks like the first try may be the last, though! :)

Me and my girls!
Having our picnic outside
Smiley Rhodesy
Yesterday, we headed up to the square for the Taste of Marietta after church..  Not a smart idea to go in our church clothes b/c it was H-O-T and crowded but a lot of fun!  It's days like these that make me so happy we live where we live!  The girls, leaving SEST parking lot...
I think it was a little too hot for poor Rhodes...
Ali, Ryan and I ended up taking Rhodes in for some a/c at the office (thanks to Mimi and Papa who were there!) and we went back out for some fun.  I think Ali's favorite part was her blue ice cream (aka blue raspberry italian ice).  We went to Rita's a few weeks back and she got some blue ice and now she thinks that is ice cream and she LOVES it!  Our little blue monster....
Blue ice cream makes me feel like this!
Wired!
Watching the girls play together some more...I am loving it!
I took my eye off of them for a minute and turn around to find Rhodes with a beautiful necklace on...thanks to her big sis!
And a few for Ali...

Then, today... a reenactment...this time, the necklace became a headband!

My new frame that sums up how I feel these days!

Catching up and feeling refreshed!

With tax season behind us, Ryan and I backed our bags and heading to Pawleys Island, SC this past weekend.  The start of it was bittersweet for me - not ready to leave my girls, but excited for a weekend with just Ryan, too!  It was a little bit stressful trying to figure out the logistics of Rhodes eating situation since I am still nursing, but it all went very smoothly.  I had a big breakdown walking out the Patrick's frontdoor, knowing I wouldn't see them for 2 whole days and bawled my eyes out for at least 10 minutes, but after that we were good to go - especially hearing good reports from our parents on how their side of the weekend was going!  Ali and Rhodes spent Friday night with the Patricks and Saturday night with my parents and had a fun weekend!  We can not thank them enough for taking care of our most valuable possessions while we were away! :)  

It was also so nice to get some good QT, just me and Ryan!!  We had a lot of fun and had 6.5 hours of catching up there (not so much on the ride back - we were exhausted!) and then spent the weekend with wedding festivities!  Ryan was in one of his best friends, Mike Hendrix's, wedding.  We stayed out way too late both nights but had a great weekend!!  Congrats Corey and Mike!

On Sunday, although completely exhausted, I could not wait to get home and squeeze my babies!!  Since being back, we have already had loads of play time and have enjoyed hearing Ali's stories about the weekend.  Here are just some pictures of the girls!

Rhodes enjoying the day outside in her exersaucer (this was actually from last Thursday)

  They are turning into little bffs now that Rhodes is sitting up and they "play" together!  I'm trying to teach Ali not to snatch every toy out of Rhodes' hand - but she has had the toys all to herself for the past 2.5 years.  Rhodes is such a trooper though and as soon as Ali snatches a toy, she just casually moves onto another and stays perfectly content.  The girls sit there and have screeching contests (although I think Rhodes thinks they are having conversations) back and forth and even though it is loud, it is adorable watching them interact and play!  Ali made me move her chair closer to Rhodes last night so here are some pictures of them at dinner. (And Ali still in her gymnastics outfit from earlier that morning!)
Say cheese!
Rhodes always has her arms out on the lookout for something to grab and stick in her mouth!
Alas - she found the cardboard from the paper towels! Delicious!
Mimi got Ali a little bubble machine while we were gone and she loves it.  It's a little bit better than the regular bubbles that Ali loves (and have been spilled all over our house!)!  Also notice Rhodes playing with one of her favorite toys, the classic rings.
Look what Ali can do! (It's a lot easier than blowing them!)
In heaven! (Ali had spilled some of the bubbles on her pants so that's why she's down to just her pj shirt)
Hello!
Sometimes Ali gets them a little too close to Rhodes' face, and she just closes her eyes and then laughs!  Too cute!
What a fun weekend and treat to be with my husband, but so happy to be home with our family of 5 (including Baxter!) and playing with our girls!!  I feel a little rejuvenated as a mom and am ready for this weather to get nice and warm so we can get these girls outside to play!  Thanks Mimi, Papa, Grandmommy and Granddaddy for taking care of our girls - they had so much fun too!

Rhodes' first Easter!!

I love Easter!  There is nothing like going to church on Easter morning - huge crowds and all - and celebrating this huge holiday!  This was an especially happy Easter for us - with both of our little girls with us - and Rhodes' first Easter!  Here are some pictures from our day!

The Easter bunny came! (and, I might say went a little overboard!  I think he/she forgot what all he/she had gotten and it ended up being a little more than expected!)  I'm hoping the Easter bunny will come back and get all of the candy to give to more children next year - Ali wants to eat m&ms for breakfast, lunch and dinner - not happening! :)

M&M egg!  Yippee! 
A Cinderella dress!
Rhodes hanging out with her FIRST Easter basket!


Lunch at the club after church!  Ali checking out the Easter basket that the Easter bunny brought to Mimi and Papa's....
And Rhodes checking out hers.... She especially loved her singing/dancing bunny!  She was such an angel during the entire lunch and stayed entertained with all of her goodies!
Yummy!  Ice cream to add to the sugar high!
Hello sweet girl!
Some photos with the Easter Bunny

We love this guy...


Hanging out in our backyard enjoying the beautiful Easter day! Rhodes is just starting to really sit up (and not fall over after a minute or two) - I LOVE this stage! :)
Patrick girls
Ali loves the Easter baskets
Trying to crawl?
Look at me stand!
Daddy and his little girls!  Rhodes wants everything in her hands/her mouth - going after her big sis' sippy cup!  (Not a good idea, Rhodes!)


We felt especially blessed this beautiful Easter day!!  Christ the Lord is risen today - Allelujah! (my favorite Easter song)  Happy Easter!