Fancy Schmancy Date Nights (sometimes with kiddos...)

I'm very proud of James' and my ability to maintain date nights, nearly every week.  Sometimes it's just the two of us, but usually it's a social event that we are invited to. And sometimes it's with three kids in tow (but the Country Club now offers childcare so wooohoooooooooo!)

A few weeks ago we attended the Dublin Laurens County Arts Council annual fundraising dinner. Jazz themed, the music - and food - was top notch.

Two weekends ago, we watched the Kentucky Derby with some friends, getting doled up with fascinators and, for Maryn, a bow as big as her head. :)

We participated in a friendly gamble with the rest of the party attendees, paying $10 to pull the name of a horse out of the bowl.  We pulled By My Standards (19-1 odds), and our friend, Ashley, pulled Maximum Security....I'm sure you can see where this is going....

After the race and her horse's "win", she excitedly claimed the pot!  Not 20 minutes later, Maximum Security was DQed and she had to hand it over to the other table.  Lots of laughs - she was a good sport. (And, it was only $100 - can you imagine some of those people who lost thousands????)

Not a week later, James and I attended the annual Spring social for the a local women's service organization that I joined this year.  Also Derby themed, you'd have thought I would pull a Kate Middleton and recycle my hat (I didn't, it's too fun to try something new!) 

I did try to convince James to dress a little more "Derbyish" for this event.  He pulled off  the matching pocket square perfectly, but neither of us could tie the bowtie!

As part of the initiation, the new members (+ spouses) had to perform various skits as the "entertainment".  Fortunately we joined forces with some dear friends, Lindsay and Steven, which made it less painful (and dare I say "fun"???)  Still, glad that's over with, and I look forward to next year's Spring Social when I don't have to spend the dinner hour with butterflies in my stomach!!

Many of my friends are part of this organization, and I'm looking forward to serving with them the next 10 years!

And with that, I believe our social calendar has slowed down for the summer. I'm sure our babysitters are sighing with relief.... :)

Celebrating Mother's Day

We spent a wonderful two days up in Atlanta, where we celebrated Mother's Day with two other special mothers in our lives: our Gia and Aunt Nicole.  Part of our trip to Atlanta included meeting our sweet new nephew, baby Christopher, so it was an extra special weekend!  He is absolutely precious and I cannot wait to watch him grow and join this crazy gang of Sasser cousins. 

Saturday evening we grilled with the other Sassers (while I hogged the baby).  Sunday morning the kiddos were very excited about giving me my cards and gift, and JB also made the bed that morning.  Such a sweetheart. :)  Then we headed back to the Sasssers for a Mother's Day Brunch...and I, again, hogged the baby. I just love a newborn and Christopher is super cuddly!!

It took about 45 pictures to get a good one of Gia with her grandbabies.  Besides the one above (the best!), we captured a few other funnies.  Wesley is definitely the wild card - you just never know how he's going to react to the camera. 

Well, and Maryn can be a cheesecake, too. :)

While the bigger kids played lots of games with Gia and Aunt Wyllene, Wesley passed the time by rolling a car up and down the walkway.  He's really such a chill little dude (except during photos!), and entertains himself so well.  We lucked out with an easy third child!

I am so, so blessed to be the Mama of these precious children.  I'm so thankful to them, James, and the rest of the family for making it a special day!

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(And, even though we weren't home in front of the fern for our third annual Mother's Day photo, I did remember to grab one last weekend so we could do a comparison. Y'all know I love comparisons!)

Kangaroos in Pre-K!

The kids came home last week and told me all about how they got to hold a baby kangaroo. They shared that he would jump into a bag when scared, as if it were his mama's pouch. They talked all about how he drank from a bottle, but said "we didn't get to feed him ourselves" (very disappointed). OH, and they said "but he was a completely white kangaroo". 

Sounds far fetched, right? Of course I didn't believe them!  They (well, mostly JB) frequently come home with really elaborate stories that are, in fact, not true.  A few weeks ago JB ran into my office to tell me how they took turns "jumping from the playground into a huge swimming pool of ranch dressing". When I inquired as to why he didn't smell like ranch, he said "well, we got to take off our clothes, wash them, dry them, then put them back on...."  (Sometimes I worry about his teenage days- he can come up with a little white lie so fast.)

So, yes, white baby kangaroo, I wasn't convinced. Then I received a text from his teacher that evening with some pictures:

This crazy story is actually true!  I guess a church member (or contact of a church member?) raises wild animals for different wildlife centers, and they had an albino baby kangaroo - well, actually a wallaby, but still in the kangaroo family - that they brought to show the kids.  So much excitement.

The kids are still talking about this baby, and they'll probably remember it forever.  I'm thankful for such a great little preschool!

Which, speaking of, they also participated in a day of prayer last week - for our country, state, leaders and parents.  Those kiddos are growing as much spiritually as academically and socially. :)

More Beautiful Butterflies!

Last year we started the Spring tradition of "growing" butterflies from baby caterpillars.  This year we bought two containers of baby caterpillars, and experienced double the fun. I'm impressed by the quality of Insect Lore (no sponsorship here, just stating our experience) - of all 10 caterpillars, only 1 failed to work his cocoon magic.  But, this allows us to have some hard "facts of life" type discussions with our kiddos: i.e. nature can be savage.

Last year the butterflies emerged while the kids were at school. This year I stalked them after Day 10 and yelled for the kids as soon as I saw movement in a cocoon.  They witnessed two coming out!

After all 9 butterflies were flapping their wings (and seemingly anxious in the net), we released them into our lantana garden.  The kids said goodbye, and we watched them fly away....as Enda tried to eat them. :)  

Such a fun Spring tradition!  

Munchies with Mom

The kids' preschool hosted a Munchies with Mom event this week, which included way more than delicious goodies to eat.

The kids put on a very enthusiastic performance with songs, poems and a bible verse, nailing all the words and hand motions.  Even Maryn, who is normally a little reserved in such situations, sang her heart out.  She also (I believe/worry intentionally) flashed the audience, have mercy...

After the performance we dined on Chick-fil-A nuggets, mini quiches, apples and cookies.  We took some pictures in the photo booth, and chatted with friends. The kids each painted a flower pot for me, but, unfortunately, I tripped and JB's fell to the floor, shattering.  I felt the absolutely worst!!  It upset JB, but he knew it was an accident. I promised that we'd paint a new one together.

JB completed a survey about me, and I loved the answers. He's spot on for most of these (though I do prefer to drink something a little stronger - like coffee, beer or wine)  :)  Quite different from last year's answers. 

Love these sweet kiddos!  These two, plus their little brother, have given me the most important work I'll ever do in my life.  They mean the world to me!

JB Earns His Yellow Belt!

JB is still committed to Taekwondo, and has worked hard this year to perfect his kicks, remember his forms, and participate in class. He takes it very seriously, and is quite disciplined for his age. 

"knowledge in the mind, honesty in the heart, strength in the body!" 

This last week he achieved another belt - YELLOW!

His ceremony took place on Thursday, and we treated him to a dinner date afterwards. Later he asked "Is this what y'all do on date night? It's sort of boring..." 

Such a goober. But I still think he enjoyed the 1:1 time with his parents.  :) We're proud of this kid!