Snow Day Fun...

Yesterday we had our first snow day in North Carolina in like 4 years. It really doesn't happen too much. They predicted 1-3 inches in most parts and 2-4 is some. We ended up with 41/2 almost 5in.! We were so excited. Mommy and Daddy were out of work and school was cancelled. In fact the South doesn't play around. Up north we would have had a delay but here they closed school and over 800 businesses for 2 days! Even Chick fil A was closed!

We spent the day making a snowman, throwing snowballs, sledding on trash can lids, and painting the snow! We even went to Nenner and John's to play for a little while! We had a great day together!

Getting ready to go outside!

Lots of snow!

It's still snowing!



How much snow is there?

Brrr... please let me in! I'm a baby!


On your mark...

get set.....

Go!


Playing with Nenner

Painting the snow!

Are You Gonna Leave Or What?!

This weekend Matt and I were able to have a kid free dinner. I must admit it was kinda nice not to say "sit down please", "leave the sugar packets alone", or "I thought you said you were hungry".
2 years ago a child in my classroom gave me a gift certificate to go to the Angus Barn. We never really go out by ourselves because by the time you pay for a babysitter and dinner you are almost at $100! I know I had a gift certificate but the Angus Barn is no ordinary restaurant. You must make reservations weeks and sometimes months in advance! In fact they were booked for Valentines Day before Christmas! I don't know about you but I can't plan that far in advance!
We made reservations last month to go on Saturday. We figured if we didn't have to pay for dinner we could pay for a babysitter ;)
Things actually worked out even better. The parents in Gavin's class decided they would swap babysitting each month. It is actually working out quite nicely. About 7 of the kids go to a friend's house once a month from 4 to about 9 and have a "party". The other parents then get a night to themselves. It is lovely! (I only say this because we have not reached our house in the babysitting rotation.. haha!) Anyway... Saturday was the night that Gavin got to go to his "party" while Mommy and Daddy went out. That's right... we didn't have to pay for dinner or a babysitter! Those are the best kind of dates!
We really enjoyed getting to have an adult conversation and enjoy each other's company.

You might wonder how Gavin does when being dropped off at a friends house and not having Mommy and Daddy stay.....

I believe the conversations went a little like this....

Mommy & Daddy - "Ok, Gavin we are going to leave... give us a hug and kiss bye"
Gavin - "Bye"
Mommy & Daddy - "Love you... be nice"
Gavin - "k, bye"
~ Mommy and Daddy stand around and talk to parents for about 5 minutes.
~ Gavin comes up from playing in the basement with his friends...
Gavin - "Are you gonna leave or what?"

Mommy and Daddy leave for dinner and return around 8:30.

Gavin - "Why did you come back?"
Mommy & Daddy - "We missed you too.. thanks"

Touching isn't it? At least it is nice to know that he can enjoy himself without Mommy and Daddy being around.

It's All About Me....

What do you do when you are stuck at Aunt Lala's house for a week and you have nothing but boy toys and a cousin who is fun at first but then really annoying by the end of the week???
You send all boys out of the house! Matt goes to work and daddy and Gavin take Emma to the doctor. Now you pamper your cares away at the spa with mommy.....
A child I used to have in my class had her birthday party at the little kid spa and it was just too cute for me not to send Kennedy to! She had a blast getting her toenails and fingernails painted, getting her makeover complete with facial, and getting her hair done. She is just too cute! I'm actually a little jealous I couldn't go too! Maybe next time I can go :)

It's Mommy's turn now...

Now there's some pretty pretty princesses!

The Holidays at the Stevens house

The night before Christmas we decorate the birthday cake for Jesus. This is the kids job and they can decorate it however they would like.... things can get pretty messy...




After singing Happy Birthday to Jesus we open just one gift...



After putting reindeer food on the lawn and cookies out for Santa..then it's bathtime... (the more the better right?)....then off to bed to wait for Santa's arrival




When we get up.... First things first.... gotta see the stocking!




Then we read those same verses that get read every year explaining why Christmas is celebrated (just when you think you know all those verses by heart and the really is no need to open the Bible you learn another new fact!) And then it's presents... presents... presents!!








It's always an exciting time! :)

"I won't do that again!"

"I won't do that again!" These are the famous words now spoken about 50 times a day by my boy. I mean this sounds wonderful right? Yes it would be... if.... he didn't do something else that he swore just yesterday he "wouldn't do again" 5 minutes later!

The last two days he has really worked us. I'm not all about these people who want to throw labels on children and diagnose them with crazy stuff but I must say if I have to say "Stop running Gavin" , "sit down correctly in your chair before you fall out of it", or "Listen the first time, please!" I might be inclined to believe that he might have a little more than hyper 3 year old behavior! Ahh... I've found myself questioning several times what I was thinking when I said yes to the hopper ball. Now he can't seem to walk anywhere he must hop!

I've even tried to get him to listen by reminding him of "Bogo" the elf that Santa sent to watch him. That worked for about the first 5 days.

I've decided I've tried everything I can think of so it's time for the last solution on my list... I'll just have to start saying the same thing back to him until he realizes if you say you aren't going to do it again that means ... DON'T DO IT AGAIN!

Tomorrow when I don't take him to the library or when I don't give him chocolate after dinner, or when I don't let him ride that really annoying horse that sits at the entrance of Walmart I'll remember to tell Gavin.....

"Oh, sorry Gavin. I won't do that again!" Then maybe Sunday I won't do all that stuff again and I'll try it again.... "Oh, sorry Gavin. I won't do that again!

Eventually he will stop with the "Oh, sorry Mommy. I won't do that again" right?

Probably not but I'll keep hoping!

Busy, Busy, Busy

Yet again I have let the blog run away from me. I often wonder if it would be easier to post if I had a job that required me to be at my computer all day. I just can find time to sit down and post!

We went to Maryland the Tuesday before Thanksgiving to go to Mommar's funeral and spend Thanksgiving with my sister. The visit was great. We all stuffed ourselves full of Thanksgiving goodies (well except Gavin who claimed he "didn't like that stuff" and wanted a hot dog instead -- don't worry it was a turkey hot dog :) ). The day after Thanksgiving my crazy sister and I were up at 3 a.m. and headed to the stores for some good "bargains". We didn't really find anything too spectacular but we were able to get some presents taken care of. We had a fantastic time bowling on Saturday night although I do hate to admit that little Kennedy had a better score than Aunt Lala!

On Saturday we took Gavin to the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Matt and I used to go there all the time when we were dating and I wanted to take Gavin there really bad. Although it was way more expensive than it use to be he had a great time seeing all the animals. He especially loved the dolphins. In fact a little bird (about 3 feet tall) did tell his daddy that he and Kennedy really wanted to swim with the dolphins too!! I can't say that I blame them. It does look like fun!

The trip home was probably the worst part. Just about everyone in the U.S. was on 95 I think! We left around 3:00 and didn't get home till almost 11:00! It was a long ride but worth it! We had a great time!