May 31

Happy 30th Birthday Clay!

Yesterday all the cousins/second cousins went to Hubers and picked strawberries. The weather was great, the kids had a great time, and the strawberries were about the best I've ever had! Can't wait to go back next year!

Mamaw and Papaw G's Great Grandkids
L to R: Mayson (9 month), Jase (7 months), Julia (4), Jessica (4), Elizabeth (3), Ali (2), Kat (2), and Savanna (1)

Today is Clay's 30th birthday. Beyond church and chocolate cake we have no plans! We'll figure that out as the day goes I guess...

May 30

Happy Birthday Grandpa Tim!!!

Last night we went to Mamaw and Papaw G's to visit with our out-of-town cousins and second cousins from Georgia and South Carolina. There were 8 kids under the age of 5, so it was a little hectic (okay, alot hectic!). We celebrated Uncle Paul's 60th birthday. Today we're heading to the strawberry patch.

The oldest 5 playing "soccer" (L to R: Julia, Ali, Kat, Jessica, Elizabeth)

Mamaw meeting Jase for the first time

Julia holding Jase, while big sister Elizabeth making sure she does a good job

Happy Birthday to you!

May 29

This morning Kat's buddy Leah had her 3rd birthday party. Both girls were invited and had alot of fun! Tonight we are heading over to Mamaw and Papaw G's house to celebrate Uncle Paul's 60th birthday. Aunt Susie, Uncle Paul, their three daughters, and all of their kids (8 of them all under the age of 5!) will be in town for the next few days, so Julia and Kat should have alot of fun playing with them.

Julia putting the cherry on the cupcake

Doing the cake walk

Kat bouncing with Anna

Julia, Julia, Kat, & Leah decorating their cupcakes with sprinkles and candy

Coloring together

May 28

Today was another busy day. The girls and I ran errands this morning, then Julia went back to the Dr. to get the wart on her foot frozen again (didn't work last time). After that we cleaned and cleaned some more. After naps (we all took one) the girls helped me clean the playroom in the basement and get the guest room ready for Clay's cousins that are coming tomorrow. After dinner Clay mowed the yard and trimmed the hedges while the girls and I went to Sam's Club. When we got home the girls played over at the neighbor's house for awhile. We came home when it started raining and played in our yard in the rain until bath time. I need to go to the grocery store, but I may wait until another day - I am pooped!

Playing in the rain

May 27

This morning we went to Jill, Brody, and Mollie's house to play. The kids had alot of fun playing together. After dinner, we all went for a walk. Julia and Clay rode their bikes and I pushed Kat in the stroller. It was nice outside - but muggy. After that warm-up, Clay went for an 11 mile bike ride to train for his next triathlon. Last night Kat had us up 5 or 6 times between 12:30 and 2am, so the girls went to bed early tonight... and Clay and I will probably follow suit!

Spiderman (Brody) and Buzz Lightyear (Julia)

And just so I am not misrepresenting our family (I wouldn't want you to think things are peachy keen all the time), here is a video of Kat at her finest. I was changing out the girls clothes into the new dresser, and Kat was still screaming about dinner. She has a bad habit of getting up from the table and the returning a little later to eat some more. I have decided she needs to sit until she's done. When she got up from the table tonight for the second time (I warned her first), I took her plate away. As you can see, she was NOT happy!

May 26

Today has been one of those days when my Type A Personality has worn me out! I have been going non-stop since breakfast 15 hours ago. I brought all the baby gear upstairs and cleaned it and washed our gender-neutral baby clothes, crib bedding, etc. After that I drug the girls to the DMV (which due to a clerical mistake in which they had one of our cars being sold in S. Carolina last year - which it wasn't, took a LONG time), McDonald's for lunch, and then to get the oil changed in the car. While the girls were napping, I found a dresser on Craig's List for the baby's room and I also looked into swimming lessons for the girls. After dinner, Clay went swimming (training for a triathlon), Mamaw kept the girls, and Bapaw and I drove to the middle of nowhere to pick up a dresser - thanks Mamaw & Bapaw!

6 Months Pregnant

Babies Room - minus curtains and pictures on the walls... it's almost ready!

May 25

Happy Memorial Day!

This morning the girls had us up at their usual time of 7am... so no sleeping in for Clay on his day off. I got some cleaning done while Clay fixed some things around the house. We had Mamaw and Bapaw, Papaw G, and Uncle Joe over for dinner. Afterwards Bapaw replaced the light fixture in the nursery - thanks Bapaw!

Don't be alarmed! That's just my cave-man husband's back hair on the floor. His back is now smooth as a baby's behind!

Bapaw working on the light fixture

Before/After

May 24

Kat woke up from her nap yesterday without a fever so we headed to the lake last night. The girls had a great time fishing and swimming. Julia was constantly begging to go do one or the other (and she hooks her own worm!). The weather didn't cooperate much today. It sprinkled or rained almost the whole day. There was a short time this evening when the sun came out so the girls got to swim for a little while. We came back tonight so Clay can have a day to rest at home before heading to work Tuesday.

Julia playing cornhole with Mamaw and Uncle Bob

Mamaw the sticker book

Mamaw and Julia fishing

Kat's first time fishing

Clay built a fire and we roasted hot dogs and 'Smores. The girls clothes were soaked after playing in the lake (that's why they are naked).

May 23

Yesterday morning Kat woke up at 3am with a fever of about 100. Even with alternating Tylenol and Motrin yesterday, her fever was still around 101 when she went to bed last night. She acted fine and was eating normal, so the fever was her only symptom. This morning Clay and Julia headed to the lake without us. Julia was so excited to go fishing and ride her bike at the lake. Kat and I ran errands most of the morning. I just laid her down for a nap (2pm) and she didn't have a fever, so hopefully it was a 24 hour thing. We are planning to stay in tonight and have a movie night, and take it easy.

Spidey is starting to be more active - the girls are enjoying him!

Sick Kat

May 22

Yesterday we went to pick up a stroller that we found on Craig's List. The back seat is a bench for older toddlers. So now I am going to sell our Graco DuoGlider, if you know of anyone looking for a nice double stroller. It has some wear and tear, but in pretty good shape overall.

We met our friends for a play date at the park and had a picnic lunch. The girls had a great time playing in the water play area. Last night I babysat for Scottie's boys so she and Phil could go on a date. Clay took the girls to Chuck-E-Cheese for dinner.

May 21

Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment. Everything is still going great - except I am gaining weight quickly (a little too quickly)... but the Doctor wasn't concerned about it. So, since the doctor wasn't concerned and since the girls (plus Anna) had done great at my appointment, we went to McDonald's for lunch. Probably not the best choice, but it sure was yummy! We also went to Target to buy Kat a new pair of sandals... she didn't want any! What girl doesn't get excited over some new shoes!?! I am not a girly girl, but even I like to get new shoes! Tonight the girls played out in the yard and across the street with the neighbors while I did yard work and Clay mowed.

Some pretty flowers from our back yard (I don't know what they are - any help?)

May 20

Yesterday I babysat Mallory. The girls and I played outside almost the entire morning. We went for a walk (Julia rode her bike beside us) and then they played in the yard while I trimmed up some of the bushes.

Popsicle break

To celebrate Clay's and my wedding Anniversary, we took the girls and had a picnic at the park downtown. We walked, played in the water fountains (the girls, not us), and had a fun evening together as a family.

This is what 8 years will do to you!

These look alike, but I couldn't pick the one I liked best...

Our little drowned rat