Cousin Visit!

Last Thursday, we had the privelige of having Tim's brother Scott and kids come visit from Virginia. They were here less than 24 hours, but the kids played together non-stop. We mostly let them play at the house, but we had to take them to our #1 favorite place in Rome: The Honeymoon Bakery!

Tim attended a conference back in Colorado (I'm jealous!) this past weekend, so I hung out with the kids. We started our Saturday at Berry College with a Farmer's Market and a run. The kids LOVED the free face painting!

Later that evening, we checked out the mall and ate at the Chick Fil A there then played with scents at Bath and Body Works. I got the kids in the car and found out Ty had stolen a little hand sanitizer. After making sure he knew it was wrong that he took it, we treked back in to return the $1.75 item. Ty was angry and embarrassed when I told the employee, so we hurried out and I bumped a $12 candle that fell and shattered. I felt awful. It would have been better for them economically if I had just kept the hand sanitizer. once out of the store, Ty threw a fit and pulled his pants down. It was quite the night.

Other than that, things have been fairly quiet. Lucy fell asleep mid-bite one day with cheese still in her mouth!

I was stoked I got this BOB stroller at Goodwill for $15. I see them on Craigslist for up to $200! Now I have a single jogger for when Ty is at school. Lucy enjoyed it right away!

Mommy and Lucy cuddle time (to send Daddy a picture while he's out of town)

Pirate Lessons

My amazing and talented friend Megan created a numbers learning game about pirates called Land Ho! over at her blog The Many Little Joys. I just loved the idea, so for this week's knowledge exploration, I checked out books about pirates from the library while Ty was at school, and when he got home, we dug in (no pun intended...okay, maybe). Ty LOVED the map and colored it and his "ship," adding to it all night. He showed it excitedly to our missionary dinner guests as he also explained all he learned. 

Minus a few tantrums during the game (he wanted to play with all of the dice and not share with Lucy), it was a huge hit!

Two Days, Two Adventures

Tim and I are setting a one-word theme for this (school) year. Our word this year is Explore. We hope to apply it to Rome as well as knowledge, etc. We are definitely exploring Rome right now! I just got too excited, so we went on two after-preschool trips this week. First to the Eco Center where we saw all sorts of animals, then to the Northwest Museum of Flight! 

The Eco Center is just the upstairs of an old building by a park, but it has all sorts of animals that you can see up close. Unfortunately, many of them were snakes and creepy things, but Ty and Lucy loved the turtles. There were swimming turtles and land turtles. They also liked the fish and a cute puppy that belonged to the employee working!

Between the Eco Center and a park is a tree house. It wasn't too exciting, except that we saw a bike police officer on the way up who gave the kids police badge stickers. It also made for some cool pictures!

I totally spoil my kids. I admit it. But only because I spoil myself with sugar and butter. After our adventure, we headed to a local bakery called The Sweet Bar, where we picked out sweet pastries. 

The good news: Lucy can now say "cupcake."

Later on, she learned how to use dot paints. They actually workout really well for her!

Our second adventure was to the Northwest Georgia Museum of Flight. I just found out about it and couldn't wait to take Ty! It's just a hanger next to a small airport, but it was filled with planes and a few vehicles. The kind employees (including a sweet Air Force Vet) gave us tours and let us climb around in them. Look closely below to see Ty in the cockpit.

Pilot Lucy:

Our sweet friends the Seaton's joined us. Ty and Tate enjoyed the Army Jeep.

Another cockpit tour by the pilot herself...

Warning: Cute Pictures

Daddy is in Phoenix with some college friends for the BYU football game (Go Cougars!), so we kept ourselves busy on a fun walk downtown. 

 We hit the pedestrian bridge, though it took a high level of negotiating with Ty to get there.

 This area of Rome is just beautiful. Diney mentioned that it looks European. I do have to say that having moved from "the Athen's of the South" to "Georgia's Rome," we feel very cultured.

 We stopped at a little picnic area along the trail on our way back because Ty found the perfect place for his "bobcat" (that we got at the thrift store for $.99 yesterday...along with a $15 BOB stroller!!!...I digress) to play. 

It was here while Ty was in "time-out" that Lucy had to join in, try and sit on his lap, then just love on him. It was adorable. I'm so glad I stole a few pictures!

 

 

I've now updated all of my technology backgrounds with these adorable pictures. 

At home, Ty played Lego's, and, at age four, is officially better at them than me.

Before our walk, I also tried giving Lucy a cute ponytail. 

Luckily, I documented it, because it only lasted about 30 minutes.

 

Later on, we headed to Kennesaw for some shopping and dinner. It was the first time I'd been on a freeway in over a month!

The day was not without challenges (ie negotiations, time-outs, and tears), but we managed to have a fun day together even without daddy.

When Grandma and Grandpa Visit...

When Grandma and Grandpa visit...

...You get new Paw Patrol pajamas and can't even wait to put them on.

 ...You get to hang out at the cabin, your favorite place in the whole world, and share big laughs and yummy breakfasts.

...You get to celebrate with the birthday girl and the 1/2 birthday girl

...You get to ride to the Snack Shack in Red Rover and get fun snacks. 

...They take you out for ice cream (and even share theirs with you)

...They read you lots of stories and sing/cuddle you to sleep.

(There may have also been some bed-jumping going on.)

Thanks for all the help Rod and Diney. Come back soon!

A Rough Day

Today was a hard day. Ty stayed home from preschool because he is starting the cold that has gone around the family this week, and it seemed that every time I turned around, there was a new mess to clean up. Broken headphones, spilled Popsicle, poopy diapers, poopy toilet seats, late for Lucy's class, spilled soda, Ty painting a wall, and more. I wish I were one of those ladies who now says something inspirational, but the only thing I can think is that today was hard, and I'm glad it's over. I believe tomorrow will be better, and that's all I need right now.

Tourist Walk

This morning, Lucy and I headed out on an adventure walk/run on the trail by the river. We started downtown with the double jogger only half full and I just kept snapping pictures of the Rome scenery! We had so much fun that we kept exploring the historic neighborhood in the downtown (I want to live there). We walked past the historic clock tower, down Broad Street, across the love-lock bridge, and through the town square. It was quite the trip, but Lucy's favorite part was meeting the sweetest dog ever.

And when we got home, she brought me Ty's Superman PJ shirt. Adorable.