Jan - March Wrap Up!

Whew! I was better at blogging while the twinkies were tiny, now that they are ALL over place, its hard to sit down and do anything, much less blog and keep an "online scrapbook" of our life!  So to catch up, I have several events spread from January- March!  Enjoy!

 We celebrated Uncle Marshall and Aunt MoMo's bdays at Trophy! Sista dressed to impress that night! ;)

 Still searching for little things here and there for the new house, but it was my first time at Suzanna's Antiques.  Such a fun and UNIQUE place for sure!

 The big boys had Build-a-Bear gift cards from Christmas so we were brave and went to the mall on a Teacher Workday.   Luckily, we already had animals, so we just snagged a couple new outfits and beat the massive line.

 The twinkies and I have enjoyed eating lunch with Will at school.  Parker likes to come too and bring his own lunch box.  We try to join him at least once a month :)

 This is loving school (the social aspect for sure, writing....eh, he could do without. ha!)

 All four kiddos enjoyed our January snowstorm (or mostly ice!).  School was canceled and we had to bump back P's birthday party another day hoping that the sun could melt some more!

 Have no fear, ice or snow, the party still went on!  Several friends braved the roads and celebrated with P on his special day!

 The party was OUT OF THIS WORLD!

 They enjoyed making their own alien space ships and moon pies as their party favors :)

 He was proud to wear his rocket shirt to school and share cupcakes with his preschool buddies the following Monday.

 Legopalooza was held at the Planetarium in Chapel Hill one weekend. The boys loved seeing all the detailed creations.  Later we surprised them with Insomnia Cookies (basically two massive cookies with ice cream in the middle!) We could have all easily split one :)

 Caroline and Connor have started Baby Gymnastics on Monday mornings.  So cute and still fun, the third time around :)

 We did family night at the bowling alley with our small group on a Friday night.  It was a fun family event (a bit chaotic), but fun nonetheless.

 The next morning many of us volunteered with Habit for Humanity for special needs adults.  Amanda organized it for our group and provided lunch for all of us for us volunteering and supporting the "Go, Mason, Go" team. Afterwards, we knocked the mud off our boots and had some refreshing beverages at the new Trophy brewery down the street.  A fun morning for sure!

 We quickly cleaned up and then jumped in the car with the Johnsons and ate dinner at The Chef and The Farmer in Kinston, yep 2 hours away and so worth it! We started off at Mother Earth Brewery, appetizers at The Broiler Room and then ended the night at the famous restaurant.  So fun! 

 Valentines weekend - nothing says love like dirt, bulls and cowboy hats.  Since the boys love the summer rodeo, we usually attend the indoor one each February as well.  We took one of P's buddies with us....5 kids no problem!  

 My friend, Jenny and I tried out hot yoga at a new studio and then surprised our husbands with some beer from next door at House of  Hops.  #browniepoints

 Our house backs up to a green way so we have already put hundreds of miles on all the tires over here!

 Between B and Adam, the boys have built lots of new projects either at Lowes or Home Depot.  They always come back proud of their creations!

 Several of us at our church kept mentioning that we needed organized events for young families/couples.  So after a few emails, the ball got rolling and we had our first CONNECT event at Compass Rose.  Pretty much the most family friendly brewery ever! So between the chalkboard, board games, life size jenga, pizza/beer and a band...it met everyone's needs!  We had almost 50 people at our first event and already looking forward to our picnic at the park in May.

 For my birthday dinner the whole family met up at Cowfish in North Hills.  It was fun to have everyone together and to catch up with MoMo who just got back from Thailand and China the night before.

 I volunteered in Will's class for Dr. Seuss week.  I read "Red Fish Blue Fish" and they graphed their goldfish and ate a special snack.

 Just love these two!!

 Mimi and I had an adventure day with P and the babies.  We started off at "Read Across America" event at Brier Creek. 

 Next, we went to the Durham Bulls Fanfest and hung out with Wool E. Bull!  We shopped in the store for W's upcoming bday, watched batting practice and bought discount tickets for a spring game.  Meanwhile, Daddy and W were participating in "WakenFlake."  (Its a charity event in which you wake board in the morning at Hyco and then snowboard in the afternoon/evening at App Ski Mtn.)  Adam has done this for the past several years, but this was Will's first time going.  He loved it so much, that we planned another trip when they got back!

 Will tracked out March so we had lots of track out adventures: Marbles, NCMA, Life and Science Museum, geocaching, hiking, picnics, Pullen Park and tons of sleepovers at the grandparents too!

 We love St. Patrick's Day around here!  We always go to the parade downtown.  Its short and sweet and the kids love collecting all the candy, beads and all the animals.  The weather was so nice we ate outside at The Station and then played at Roanoke Park before heading home for naps.

 Smile! We are loving our screened in porch before the pollen comes!

 I got together with the new neighborhood gals one night and we saw "The Breakfast Club" downtown at Lincoln Theatre.  Fun night with new friends :)

 Our church hosted "Stop Hunger Now" the following Saturday.  Our small group was eager to sign up and participate in such a family friendly event!

 That afternoon we attended PGUMC's Easter egg hunt.  All matching - love it!

 Adam and I had a date night later that evening.  We were able to grab dinner with friends at Plates and then played some ski ball at Box Car for a friend's 30th birthday.

 Will shoots hoops, babies drive around and Mommy on the elliptical - basement for the WIN!

 Our small group served dinner two times over the month of March for the "Great Minds" ministry at our church. I took Will with me and he was very helpful (and hungry- 3 plates of dinner later he said he was full!)

Gearing up for baseball season over here! The twins and I watch from above, while Daddy and boys hit home runs until its dark.

 More geocaching and hiking with these two!

 I was in charge of this kid's Easter party at preschool.  He only thanked me 3 times for coming throughout the day.  Sweet P!  I'll be at every one of them from now on, P! ;) ha!

 Daddy had to meet with some clients in Boone, so we decided to make a family trip out of it towards the end of his business trip. So I packed up the crew and we explored a Boone park, Blowing Rock Park and then Moses Cone before meeting up with him at the hotel.  

 That night the Cash family had us over for pizza.  The kids play so well together and we love catching up with old friends!

 The next day, the little 3 nuggets and I shopped downtown King Street, walked part of the ASU campus and had lunch before meeting up with these two on the slopes!

 It was around 60 degrees so perfect for the crew to watch from the deck and cheer on our favorite snowboarders!

 P says he is ready to try it out next year!

Since Will wanted to keep going (A is so pumped!) the rest of us headed down the mountain and started towards home.  I did take a small detour and find this slice of heaven.  Maybe if I didn't have 3 kiddos in the back, I would have enjoyed a glass with this view!

The next day, our neighborhood had egg hunt for all the kiddos.  Caroline and Connor worked as a team filling up one basket.

This one needs to teach sista how to smile more frequently! ;)

Afterwards, we had a potluck dinner in the culd-a-sac.

 On Easter morning, the Bunny left some treats (new bathing suits, shoes, goggles and pool toys for all!  Also, he left a note and some eggs in the basement and backyard.  The boys quickly gathered the eggs and got dressed for church.

We had a delicious brunch with my parents, napped and then had another big meal with Granny and Grandpa that evening.  Hope you all had a wonderful Easter with your family too!

Now, I am all caught up and ready for spring!