Will's 1st Plane Ride! Philly Day 1

The first week in May we went to a conference for Kevin's work in Philadelphia, PA! We took my momma with us to help me while Kevin was attending CE courses. It was the best decision. She was such a help, the boys loved having her vacationing with us, and we enjoyed her company the entire week.  We flew out of a local airport at 6 am.  The boys were AMAZING!  

 Pops, MaMaw, & PaPaw dropped us off at the office and took this group picture before we boarded the plane.  I think we were the only ones at the airport at this time of day.  It was so dark!

 Will was SO excited and was such a big boy!

 Grams & Zach sat behind Will & I.  They played games the entire flight.  Z loved having Grams undivided attention.

Will fell asleep on the 2nd airplane. He was so excited and adorable. He just couldn't take it for another minute.

 Upon arriving in Philly we decided to take bathroom breaks, play in the kids zone, and take our time getting to the baggage claim.  It sounded like the perfect plan. However when we went to get our 5 suitcases there were only 5 suitcases on the carousal however only 4 of them were ours. There was a navy suitcase that resembled mine but it was not mine. I knew immediately someone must have taken it on accident.  Sure enough some lady grabbed the wrong bag. After a little delay in the baggage claim area and a very patient private shuttle van driver we were off to our hotel.  Thankfully the lady returned my suitcase and the airline delivered my suitcase to me later that night. Not really a big deal but something we will always remember from our trip.

After getting settled and exploring the area we decided to eat at Hard Rock Cafe Philadelphia. We thought it would be perfect for a 19 month old because of the loud music however Will was great!  Mom quickly learned that when we are on vacation we eat whatever we want, we eat often, and we try lots of food.  In fact our trip usually revolves around the food. 

 After dinner we went to the Reading Terminal Market to check out all the stops.  We loaded up on a "delish" dessert box of cupcakes, whoopie pies, and cookies to take back to the hotel.  My plan was to stop by the Flying Monkey bakery daily to gather goodies for our hotel room but we never made it back there because it was either closed or out of desserts. Total saddness! This was trip #1 of about 10 to the Terminal Market.

Also at Reading Terminal was this Bronzed Pig that you could drop change or dollars into its mouth. Then it would poop out your money into a large, locked plexiglass bin. Zachary thought it was hilarious. Everything with a 6 year old boy is pooping, tooting, or armpit toots.  So the pig was a hit.  All the money was donated to feeding the hungry so it was a great cause. So great that Zach and Will fed the pig EVERY TIME we walked by it...EVERY TIME we went to the Terminal Market. 

The funny thing about going through this market is that Will waved and said "HI!" to every person he was strolled by. This gentleman and his wife could not get enough of Will, Wills kisses, and his waves. So he stopped my mom and the stroller about 8 times to see Will.  As if walking through a huge farmers market didn't take enough time  on its own, it took an even longer time with the "Social Chair Committee, Will".  Memories!

Our first day of traveling and seeing Philly was a hit.  Zachary went swimming while I got Will to bed in the pack & play. Then Zachary got showered and headed to Grams room for his evening PARTY! Grams & Zach were "crazy animals" and stayed up late, ate snacks, and made memories!  Grams is such a wonderful grandma!  

Helping Daddy Out!

The boys and I decided we would help Kevin out a little bit at his office. It was time to update the flower boxes at the office and our house.  The boys and I did it all by ourselves. It was so much fun!  We shopped and shopped for the flowers. Then we loaded up Zachary's bike and scooter and headed for the office.  While I pinched back our fall mums and planted the new flowers Zachary drove around the parking lot on his bike & scooter. Will helped a little bit here and there but he was excellent to stay close by. 

Shopping with the boys! Zachary remarked that it looked like Mother Nature was in our van. 

 Before: Our Fall Mums were still in the window boxes so we just pinched them back and hid them in the flowers.

 After:  Man I love me some colorful summer flowers!

We had a blast while helping Kevin out!

Perspective

When my oldest son was a baby I used to get super frustrated or tired of messes.  I felt like every time I turned around I was cleaning something up. Oh wait...I was.  This time around 5 years later with son #2, I am still cleaning up messes. However I have taken on a new approach. My husband has too.  We have seen how fast our boys are growing up.  Zachary hardly needs my help for anything, except getting those darn dirty baseball cleats on.  He's so independent. I am happy and proud of him for being able to be self reliant however it makes me sad to see how fast time has flown by.  I know in about 5 more years he won't even want to hang out with me.  At least he still needs hugs and kisses.  Baby 19 month old Will still needs his momma to help him to everything. It's exhausting but this time around I am enjoying every second. Even if it is demanding, exhausting, and messy.  Both of my boys LOVED/LOVE to feed themselves.  They want to do it by themselves. So we let them and then clean up the after math. Here's a daily example of our post lunch table....

 Exhibit B: Will's chair and the floor. This is about the only reason I would see why we need a puppy.  However it isn't enough to make me go to the shelter and get one.

This used to frustrate me but I am realizing that God gave us this day and stage. It's a blessing.  It's a blessing for me to be a momma to these precious and messy boys.  It's a gift.  I treasure it and will look back one day sad that they have moved on and don't need their momma.  So today I am looking at my day in paradise (aka a messy kitchen) and giving thanks to God for my baby's.  I love them so!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Grams!

This year on my moms birthday we celebrated with a Girls Day Out luncheon + Will.  We enjoyed a tea room lunch with Ruey, "Aunt" Kelli, "Aunt" Steph, Rachel, Me, & Will. We had the best waitress who catered to our every wish and more. I wasn't planning on bringing Will but due to other circumstances I did and he was absolutely PERFECT!  I.MEAN.AMAZING!  Everyone loved having him there and he was SO good!  

It was a fun time celebrating mom with lunch, hot tea, dessert, coffee, and mom opening her gifts.  One of our gifts we got Grams was a self adjusting lipstick. I had seen it on another blog and thought it was a great gift.  Basically it is a clear gloss that you apply to your lips and it adjust to a light lip color.  It was funny because we all passed around this lipgloss and it totally looked different on each other.  It was a fun time! 

 Two very special ladies in my life!

 Grams opening her lovely gifts!

 Rue Rue getting some sugar from Will!

 Group Picture underneath the PEACOCK painting

 Will carrying out Grams gift sacks.  He was the gentleman of the day!

To be surrounded by such amazing women in our family is so inspiring to me.  These individuals have been amazing moms, have/had dynamic careers, and loved their families to pieces.  They are such good role models to me.  So thankful for my mom/Grams and celebrating this day with her!

COLOR RUN 5K

My BFF Melody formed a Color Run 5K team so that we could get discount codes and save some money. She posted on FB that we had a team and next thing you know our team of 4 went to a team of 20ish.  It was a lot of fun! I had shirts designed for our "Rainbow Rebels" team, Mel found rainbow socks, and we get ready for the walk.  Zachary was so excited.  He was excited about the "paint" and very excited about getting do something with just me.  I never thought he really noticed but the morning we left Kevin & Will at home he said, "Yes! Just me and my mom!" 

Before the Run

At the Run!

 After the Run!

We had the best time!  We had colored boogers for 2 days but other than that it was a blast! 

Goodbye tooth G! Hello Tooth Fairy!

It seems like the past few months has been nothing but loose teeth and the Tooth Fairy for Zachary.    After Zach lost tooth D a few weeks ago,  Kevin said that tooth G was very loose too but a little jarred between the adjacent teeth.  He told Zach that he needed to get that other tooth out soon so that everything said symmetrical.  That was music to Zachary's ears.  I picked him up at school and he had wiggled his tooth all day.  It still was still jammed so Kevin brought a few things home from the office.  These pics crack me up because it was really not this dramatic, traumatic or scary.  I honestly think Kevin could have pulled it with his fingers but I think he liked knowing he was needed.  Zachary was in heaven.  Kevin was in heaven.  The tooth came out in our living room! 

 Dr. Dad holding the gauze in place.

HE is RISEN! Happy Easter!

Before getting ready for Easter Services at church we had a mini Easter egg hunt. 

Will's Basket

Zachary's Basket

Will is not quite sure of what is going on. 

Peeking into his basket

 He found an egg!

Trying to get an automatic pic before we head to church. Will was so scared of the camera!

Pictures after church at Grams & Pops House

Will loved his goodies from Aunt Achel, Uncle Matt, Elliott, & Jerrytt

He had to stop for a hug

The Easter Egg Hunt

 My mom had decorative eggs in her front lawn. Will thought those were the best. He tried to stuff them into his little bucket. I was adorable!

Zachary changed his clothes immediately following our family photo. Thankfully he put on a tshirt and shorts...normally he's in his boxer. I love this warm blooded boy!

 Will found my Pappy's rocking chair. He LOVED it!

The Easter Eggs &  the Easter Baskets are fun but the real reason we celebrate is because Jesus died on a cross, He rose from the Dead, and he Reigns in Heaven forever.  Thank you God!