EaStEr 2011

Easter for us begins on Saturday when we have dinner with the Finley side. Although Chad and I missed the dinner because our vehicle shopping took way too long, the kids were there to enjoy and be enjoyed!
They hunted eggs with everyone again and again! Nanny tells me that they were great and that everyone had so much fun!
I'm so glad we have such loving families!
Our Sunday began at church with Nana and Pops.
We had lunch at their house along with an Easter egg hunt with all the cousins.
(the race begins!)

Duke is SERIOUS! (He had already shed his vest and hat :( )

Molly hears the talking egg and is trying to figure out where it's coming from!

Molly finds the prize egg!

Duke checks out what he scored in his basket!

After Nana and Pops', we headed to visit Nina and Papa.
We had to hunt eggs AGAIN (the kids love it!) and then we all went for ice cream!
Our day couldn't have been any better!
(unfortunately I wasn't at Nanny's to get any pics and I didn't take any at mother's b/c she has a FAB new camera and took all of the pics.)
We love our families!

Turner Field and Pine Mt. Ga.....

Last weekend we decided we would head out for a night and do some fun things with the kids.

Our first stop Saturday night was turner field to watch the braves. We ended up getting there late, the 4th inning I think, so we bought the cheapest seats they had. Once inside we stopped at the restroom and while Chad and Duke waited on Molly and I, Chad was telling Duke to look out at the field and see how close we were.
An usher heard Chad and since it wasn't a crowded game, he told Chad that we could sit in his section. So we ended up in the first row of the out field!
It was really neat to be so close!


After the game, the Braves did a fireworks show and of course we stayed for that!


Once the fireworks were over, we headed to our hotel in Atlanta to rest up for Sunday!
Sunday morning we went to Pine Mountain Ga for some safari fun!



We (Chad and I included) L.O.V.E.D. it!!

We rented a zebra striped van and bought a few bags of food for the animals
and were on our way!

This is what we encountered as we entered the gate!!!

It took us about an hour to drive through the gated area and saw ALL KINDS of animals!

It was hilarious b/c I would be turned away from my window taking a pic of Chad or the kids and then I would feel something breathing on the back of my neck! When I turned around it would be a buffalo, or a zebra, or a deer, or some other monsterous animal!





They are completely harmless (as long as your in your van!) and just want to be fed! I highly recommend a visit to Pine Mt. Ga Wild Animal Safari!

movin' on up.....

I never thought I would say this, but..... I LOVE baseball!
Only because Duke is playing, but still, I really enjoy his games and watching him on the field.
He is doing really well, which is surprising this year b/c he moved up a level.
Last year was our last year of tee ball and this year we moved up to the pitching machine!

I thought it might be forever before some of the boys got to where they could hit the ball from the machine, but I was wrong!
Duke has had a good many practices and only 2 real games and he is one of the best hitters on his team! yay duke!
He also has a new position this year.
He is playing catcher, which was the position Chad played growing up.
I like this position for him b/c it keeps him focused and in the game.

On this level, he has to be ready!
But mostly I love baseball b/c Duke seems to love baseball. I love watching him smile with excitement when he gets a good hit, or when he makes it to base w/o getting out, or when he slides home earning a point for his team, or when he makes a good throw or play in the field! Not to mention that it's a great time for Chad and him to bond. This makes the 3rd year that Chad has been an assistant coach and I love having them on the field together.

I really hope this is a sport that he sticks with! But, if it isn't... well, I'll just have to deal! ha!
Molly is always along for the ride. Although she doesn't do much cheering just yet. It's more running and playing with the other sisters right now!

Good luck Duke and Cheaha Home and Lawn!

gRoWiNg like a WeEd!

We have had Stella for about a month and a half.
She is now about 12 weeks old and she is growing like a weed!
She went to the vet last week and weighed 19 lbs.
She probably weighed about 5 or 6 lbs when we got her at 6 weeks.
Molly is just about to the point that she can't pick her up anymore!
(I'm actually glad of that! ha)


The other night, they called her into the bathroom while they were in the tub
(which btw... they don't do anymore, but they did that night for some reason)
and when I came into the bathroom, this is what I saw!


So of course.... I had to run downstairs and grab the phone to take a pic!!
And this is what I got!

I absolutely LOVE this pic!

Duke and Molly absolutely love Stella!
Chad and I love her too, but honestly, we are so ready for the puppy stage to be over!
We can't seem to break her from biting. It's the puppy nipping, but boy it hurts!
Oh... and definitely the potty training!
I'm thankful for the stained concrete floors! ha!
Maybe it won't be too much longer.
We have decided she definitely needs obedience school in her near future!
She is SO stubborn!
Hopefully these few things will get better soon enough!

bAbY #3....

We have a nEw aDdItIoN!
Stella!


She's a pit bull and we got her when she was 6 weeks old!
She is precious and we all adore her!


We are raising her to be a sweet, loving baby!
Welcome Stella!

wrestling 101

This year Duke tried a new sport..... wrestling!
I wasn't too keen on it, but wanted to let him try if that's what he wanted to do. Chad wrestled some in school and so he thought it would be a good opportunity for Duke to learn some techniques. So we did it.
At first... it wasn't so bad. But as the season went on, I decided this was by NO means my favorite!
When Duke went up against other boys of his own experience, he did really well!
We were all really proud of him.
But... at his first match... b/c of his weight, he was put up against a 3rd grader who had been wrestling for 2 years. He was really good! Duke knew nothing about this kid until they met on the mat. Needless to say, Duke wasn't prepared and the match didn't go so well.

However, at the next match, they were paired again and Duke held his own.
He also had a match (where for the first time in his sports career, Chad and I were out of town) where he got a baby tooth knocked out!!!!! That did it for me!

I do believe Duke has learned some good techniques that may come in handy at some point, but for now.... I vote we leave the wrestling to someone else!
I'm thinking Duke may feel the same!
He tried it, finished the season, learned a thing or two, now..... moving on!!

Here are some pics from our last match where Duke was put up against another child with the same experience. He came out on top and ended the season well!

Charlie got to wrestle as well! He had much better luck with who he had to wrestle and did really well.


Good Job Duke! He's so well rounded!


Duke runs to Chad after his victory! (this warms my heart!)








Here's to, hopefully!, our first and last year of wrestling!! ha!
(Thanks Kelly for the awesome pics!)

oh me... he's 7!

For some reason Duke's turning seven feels like he is officially not a baby anymore!
I realize that he hasn't been a baby for a while, but now it just feels different.
I have no idea why. He is for sure, a BIG BOY now!
Of course Torie and I had big plans for yet another party! As you can tell... we LOVE throwing parties for the kids! ha!
I guess that's good for the kids!
This year, Duke requested a Cowboy Party. I was a bit surprised... but cowboys ALWAYS make a perfectly cute party! And.. I would much rather do a cowboy theme than some cartoon character... but, I did leave it up to him.
I had BIG plans for an out door party complete with a hayride, hay bails, a shoot out, horse racing, etc... But, wouldn't you know, we had an 80% chance of rain and thunderstorms so I had to make a change in the plans.
Even so, everything turned out perfect (other than not being outside) and Duke had quite possibly, the cutest party yet!
Here's a pic of his perfect invitation done by Aunt Torie!


I have just about decided that maybe I don't need a dining room table since this room has come in so handy for parties! ha!
Here is the set up for the food table. It is complete with tin plates! (it's nice to have friends in high places!!! ha!)




This is a corner of the room that we used Duke's cowboy christmas tree in. We used some wood and made it look like there was a little campfire going near the tree!
(Who just so happens to have some random Levi's cowboy pic in the garage? Torie and Joey of course! along w/ several of the other decor.)


Root beer and Loot bags for all!


The rootin tootin cowboy himself! Alongside his homemade birthday banner.
It said "Happy Trails" "Duke 7". It was PERFECT! and last minute!

This is a better pic of the entire banner! I just loved it!


Torie gave Duke this pic frame and we thought it would be perfect on the table with his invitation in it! We didn't name him Duke after John Wayne, but luckily he loves cowboy movies and anything with "The Duke" on it is PERFECT!