Shelley Ties the Knot!

This past Saturday we snuck away for the day to Columbus, MS to see my sweet friend Shelley tie the knot! It was a beautiful ceremony and reception, and I was so happy to be there!

Shells and I lived together for the better part of 3 years, our last two years of college in one room in the sorority house, and our first year out in an apartment. We had our roommate “moments” (right Shells? ;)) but she was hands down the best roommate I could’ve asked for, and those are some of my favorite memories!

Was she not the most gorgeous bride?! Seriously, beautiful inside and out!

The reception was held at her parent’s beautiful house where she grew up and where we stayed a couple of times while we were in college. I will probably never forget the time we went home with Shells and Miss Linda made poppyseed casserole, and I at like 5 servings and swore was the best thing I’d ever had in my life! BTW, Shells, did I ever get that recipe from you?

Love these girls!

It was a wonderful day and everything I had pictured for Shells wedding day from our many few conversations!

The kids had a blast at home with Nunna, and in true form, Z was upset sad disappointed downright angry that we were home and the party was over.

He perked up after a bit when we went outside and played with Shelley’s wedding favor/rice substitute, paper airplanes. How cute is that?

Floods and Ears and Toys, Oh My

It was a crazy week and weekend. The craziness really began about 6:30 a.m. on Thursday when we received a text saying that the preschool was closing because a pipe burst and it was flooded. Awesome… We finally stopped having snow days and now this…

So, a phone call later and Mom came to the rescue. I had one HAPPY little boy (Lu was happy too, but Z was especially happy because he knew what was going on).

He wanted nothing to do with me from that point on. He would say, Mama, are you going to work, then when I would answer yes, he’d say Yayyyy! Yeah, it’s all real funny, until someone gets their heart ripped out!

I came home at lunch as I usually do when they’re home and found them cuddled up watching Nick Jr. and eating chips.

I relieved mom for a bit, fed them lunch and attempted to put them down. That didn’t last long with Z as he knows he can sweet talk his way out of nap when my mom’s around.

He was none too pleased when I came home and ended the party that was happening with him and his BFF Nunna. He eventually got over it, but it was not fun there for a while.

He mentioned something briefly about his ear that day when I came home from lunch (and never mentioned it again). Knowing Z (and that he doesn’t complain much) and the fact his nose has been crazy runny for almost 2 weeks, I made the decision to take him to the doctor on Friday. This is noteworthy for a couple of reasons:

1. I dislike going to the pediatrician immensely (if you’ve read this blog for any significant amount of time, you will know this)

2. I dislike going much of anywhere on my Fridays home with them.

But, my new pediatrician gets right down to it, gets us in and out, and most importantly knows what he’s doing, so that makes the visit much more pleasant than it used to be.

We went, and he did in fact have a full blown infection in one ear and fluid in the other. Well, whaddaya know? I’m glad I went with my instincts on that one.

He was such a good boy, even though he thought we were going for Lu right up until the doctor stuck his otoscope in his ear. I was so proud of him.

He was feeling particularly fierce in the parking lot because he had a batman AND a Spiderman sticker. Miss Priss had it going on with all her Dora and Hello Kitty stickers too.

 

We went straight to the pharmacy to get his antibiotic, and I took them to Wal-Mart (a.k.a. the Blue Store) to buy toys.

We had the best time at Wal-Mart. I know that sounds crazy, but they had so much fun picking out their toys (I ended up letting them each get two). We bought fun snacks, coloring books. I mean it was pretty much all about them, but I loved, and feel so thankful I was able to, do that for them!

After nap, we headed out to Nunna and Jido’s with our new toys in tow!

Perhaps someone should inform Lu that it hasn’t even been 24 hours since she last saw Nunna….

Peanuts Schmeanuts

We had a pretty low-key weekend all in all. I guess the big thing was that I found out on Friday (what I already kinda knew) that Lu is allergic to peanuts.

A few months back, my mom was watching her when she was sick and gave her a fiber one pb&j kids bar. I had never exposed her to peanuts, and was waiting until 2 (which is what I did with Z). In Mom’s defense, the bar did say “kids.” Anyway, shortly after she had a bite, she started coughing, then rubbing her eye which then swelled almost shut. Thankfully, I was on my way home and able to get some benadryl, which I gave her and she started getting better. I still put a call in to the on call nurse, and we felt like it was kindof an isolated incident, but that she should probably get tested at some point.

I wasn’t about to give her anymore peanuts or peanut products, but wasn’t really sure it was an allergy per say. Wellll, fast forward to the last sick visit when I mentioned it to my new pediatrician, and he totally freaked out and said I need to take her to an allergist stat. He may have even said the word stat, I think he said yesterday, but I digress. After I picked up my ‘Mom of the Year’ award, I made an appointment with an allergist in town which brings us to Friday and this:

1 is the control and 4 is peanuts. Well, there you have it folks. From this point on, you will not find peanuts or peanut products in the Gax house… Period.

Who needs ‘em?!

The rest of the weekend was great! We were supposed to start soccer on Sunday, but it got rained out. I guess all of Z’s practicing was for nothing.

Who wants to tell this girl she’s not old enough to play yet?

We all know I love some front step photos. I usually like it best when they’re in cute clothes, but we didn’t feel like changing out of pj’s to go to Nunna and Jido’s on Friday, so pj’s it was.

Saturday night we went to the mall and out to eat at Five Guys, which as we were sitting at our table, Google informed me is not the best place for people with peanut allergies. Lu had been there before, and thankfully she did fine, although we probably won’t take them again. Don’t let the picture fool you, sister only ate fries.

Z is all into making funny faces these days in case you couldn’t tell (Nick’s going to kill me for posting this one, but he had to know it would make it here).

We cannot go to the mall without going to play games, and while Lu and I usually shop while the boys play, this time she wanted to be a part of the action.

And yes, she is wearing baby jewelry, and yes if I can help it you will be seeing it again.

We went for ice cream after dinner, and Z ordered strawberry, which I thought was unusual, but he ate it all, and sister cleaned her plate too. Sunday was low key getting stuff done around the house and our impromptu St. Patty’s Day meal, which was delish if I do say so myself.

I am thankful for another great weekend with my bunch.

Wow, this post was so random.

I Tried It…

Lulu really seems to grow every single day. I am constantly amazed at how many words she says, and things she knows. She just seems so much more mature than Z was at her age, and the fits oh the fits. Sister can throw a fit. She’s also more “advanced” than Z was in that way.

After watching one of my friends videos where she asked her little girl her name, I thought I would ask Lu to see if she knew it. And, clearly she does and clearly her name is “Lulu.”

In case you don’t get the reference, “I tried it, and I liked it” is from Yo Gabba Gabba, or as she says “Iwant Gabba Iwant Gabba” every chance she gets. She is also liking Max and Ruby these days which she calls “RUUBY MAAX.” Many times she’ll ask for Ruby Max, or “tittins” (Backyardigans), only to then decide she “want Gabba!”

As weird as Yo Gabba Gabba is, and I fully admit, it’s weird, it does teach some great lessons, and Z doesn’t mind it, although he doesn’t want to watch it 24/7 like Lu does.

They are really getting more and more in sync with their schedules, which makes things easier. They eat generally the same things, only Lu prefers more variety, at the same times, bathe, read and sleep basically the same times. Lu’s bedtime is earlier, and when they bathe together the chaos almost doesn’t justify the time savings, but they just love it, and insist on it quite frequently.

If she sees something new, she says “Whuss at?” Then she repeats it, sometimes she gets it right away and other times not so much, as in “ship pop” (flip flop). I love it when she says stuff like “Mama’s cereal” when she points to my bowl then points to hers and says “Lu’s cereal.”

She is so bossy! She has told me or even Z to “sit!” and she points at the floor or wherever it is she wants us.

She really loves attention, and I think she is starting to become a Jido’s girl. She asks for him a lot, and when we pull into their driveway, she always says “Did-do… House”

She still gets scared of lawnmowers or loud dogs, but where she used to cover her mouth and moan, now she runs to me and says “Sare me.”

She seriously loves to read. Right now she loves “Mommy Hugs” and her Dora book. In general, she likes Karen Katz and Eric Carle books though.

She’s way sassy, and she’s had another first recently in her new toddler class, her first (second and third) visit to timeout. I swear Z didn’t go to timeout once until this year (it seems like) and sister has already been (three times in one day!). She also wouldn’t say sorry to her teacher and held out for about 5 minutes before she finally did. Sassy and stubborn… Nice…

She loves Z and he loves her, most of the time. I never get tired of seeing them play together, until the screaming starts, then I’m immediately tired…

Winter Beach Trip

Last year we went to the beach for AG’s b’day, Lu was at a difficult age, it was dreary and rainy almost the whole weekend, and looking back on the post altogether not our favorite trip, but it was still a nice way to finish up winter and get in the mind set for Spring and Summer. This year we went again and we all had fun and the weather was amazing! It’s amazing what a difference a year makes! It was just a weekend trip, but we jam packed it with family time, and we had a blast!

We left Friday morning, later than we wanted due to some ipad difficulties that I’d rather not remember. The kids did awesome in the car. They even dozed off for a bit, until we hit some random pockets of traffic. Why is it that kids instantly wake up when the car stops?

It seemed to take forever, but we finally made it, and they went right to playing with cousins.

We went for an early dinner that night to McGuire’s, and I could not believe they were able to accommodate a party of 15, but they did, and the kids did great! It was a miracle that we all got out of the house and to the restaurant by 5, a miracle!

We went straight to our rental that night, and put the kids down in their rooms. I was so proud of them! They went right to sleep and barely made a peep all night!

Saturday, we played outside (we were on the bayside) and walked down to the beach access to meet up with my parents. It was crazy beautiful, crisp with not a cloud in the sky! Just what we all needed after a week month of crazy weather and sickness!

Then we went to Flounders for the party. The kids played on the playground, ate, and had a treasure hunt. It was so relaxing and fun for everyone!

Saturday night, we actually went out to eat again! Party of 15? Anyone? We had what else, but pizza! Lu devoured some spaghetti!

Then it was back to the rental for another peaceful nights sleep, thank God for that!!!

Sunday might have been the prettiest and most fun morning. The kids got up and ate breakfast, then played right outside our house with Uncle Faris while we packed, then we had a picnic at the park!

AG was so sweet with Lu! She played with her the whole time we were at the park and even at her own birthday party!

They We were so worn out, they slept almost the whole way home! Can I get a hallelujah?!

It was a whirlwind weekend, but it was so fun. We made a ton of memories and I am so ready to get back to our little routine!