Happy New Year!

We were planning a pretty low key NYE 2015.  Gary had to work and I worked here at home cleaning up Christmas and giving the house a good cleaning while I was in the cleaning mode.  We were both ready to chill out and hang with the kiddos and turn in before 12:00.

We ate pizza and I took pictures while the kids and my one big kid had monster truck races.  Then about 9:30 the neighbor texted us and said they were doing fireworks.  Who can say no to fun with the neighbors?  We went outside and enjoyed watching boys be boys.

Thankfully the weather turned chilly for us and we wore jackets and coats, except my guys still work shorts.  It's almost comical now. Ugh!

This one is my favorite!!

Layla did a sparkler.  Just one.  She wasn't in the fireworks mood, but she had fun watching!  

After the fireworks show we headed inside to watch the ball drop and pop some popcorn!

We even busted out the selfie stick and the kiddos played Wii until 2:30 am.  I was shocked when we looked at the clock and it was so late.  How did that happen?  Our early night turned late, but we didn't care.  We had a great time!

And yes, that is a box on the couch.  Two boxes taped together to be exact.  The children got all kinds of Christmas gifts this year, but they made a fort out of a box and have been playing inside it all week long.  Goodness gracious.  (sigh)  Next year we are just getting them boxes.  ;)

Happy New Year friends!

It's Friday once again!

We made it through another school week here in Georgia!

Rice crispy treats are the best way to start the weekend!  I'm going to try not to eat the whole pan, but I always end up eating 5 or 6 of these things until my tummy hurts and then I don't want any more.

Gary and I had the same idea for dinner.  We haven't had Mexican in ages, so we hit up our favorite spot and it didn't make me sad.  It's so good every time!

We had an early dinner and there was still tons of day light, so Layla met up with a few friends.  I decided to take a walk with Hayden and be nosey.  Just my opinion, but kids think they have the best plans, but then come to find out they are at another friends house and this momma can't handle that.   The texting and planning don't come across as they should and confusion is like whoooaa!  {I know I know, as kids we used to leave our houses at 8 am on a Saturday and not come back until dinner time.}  I'm not down with that.  I watch to many news shows and see too many kidnapping cases.  If I can keep up with my kiddos and feel comfortable that is for the better.  The second I can't find someone and I'll go all kinds of DRAMATIC on everyone.  My kids know the drama side of their momma and they prefer me more calm.   I'm thankful for mom friends in the neighborhood that I can text to keep track of ALL our kiddos.  I want to give Layla a little independence, but seriously she's 10 not 16.  We will find a balance in this area, but it will take time and trust on all our part.

This is exactly what I think of Friday night.  The week is done and emotions are always high.  Tears happen and eyes get glazed over tired from the past weeks activities.  I love easy relaxing Fridays because they are so very NEEDED!

Saturday funday!

The kiddos have been playing with the neighborhood kids a lot lately!  They usually all ride scooters and bikes up and down the sidewalk and write on the driveway with chalk.  They also try new stunts on their toys and make me nervous.  LOL!  They're little stunt people.

Saturday night  the adults were cracking up at all four of these sillies on their devices.  All their  faces are lit up and giggles filled the driveway. 

Boys and their foot races....good golly.  Gary joined in too.  I'm  not supposed to tell, but he pulled a muscle in his leg! ;-)  He won the races though!

We ended the night with fireworks! 

Weekends rock!

a birthday party and a lost tooth

Saturday night we celebrated Luke!  

Luke is our neighbor and he and Hayden share a birthday.  Luke is exactly one year older than Hayden.  He will turn 5 on Wednesday and Hayden will be 4 years old!

(Luke & DeeDee)

We had a fun night.  Layla never slowed down and was on the water slide non-stop.

Hayden did slide a few times, but a boy pushed him down the slide so he never got back on.  Grrrr.  I think he would have had fun, but that ruined it for him.  

Layla met a new friend and they bonded over having the same swim suit.  

Sweet girls!

Cake and ice cream!  YUM.

Silly little man was making me giggle.

After the sun went down the kids started dancing.  

Hayden had a fun time showing off his moves!

Layla made the water slide look so fun, so I decided to slide too.  It was so so fun!  

I felt like a kid and was convinced I got air-born.  There was a hump in the slide and it made me fly down super fast!

Sunday while running a few errands we saw a grass fire up close and personal.  I don't think I've ever seen a grass fire that close.  It was so scary.  We were stuck in traffic so I was able to snap a few pictures with my phone. Thankfully the fire was extinguished quickly.

Everything is so dry and this fire was just spreading so quickly. 

Sunday night while I was watching the Bachelorette season finale Layla lost her 5th tooth.  We thought she was asleep and then suddenly she came out of her room saying she thought her tooth was super loose.  It WAS and she pulled it about 5 minutes later.

She is so cute and now when she speaks you can hear a slight whistle.  It is just about the cutest thing I've ever heard.  The tooth fairy did visit her and Hayden noticed her tooth was missing first thing this morning.  

Happy Monday.

  I hope you have an awesome week!

birthday party at the neighbors

On Saturday we attended a fun pirate birthday party for our friend Luke.

Layla and I before the party.

Hayden and Dad at the pirate party.  I love my boys!

The birthday boy!

Luke turned 4 on the 25th of July.

He and Hayden share a birthday exactly one year apart!

The water slide was so big.  It was so fun to slide on, but I couldn't get up the steps.  Every time I managed to get to the top I'd slip and fall right down onto the people behind me.  I can't remember a time I laughed so hard.  It wasn't just me though...none of the adults could handle the slide.  IT was hysterical :)  The kids made it look so easy. 

The boys had a fun game of chase...they were cracking me up :)

Layla and Hayden are scoping out the slide. They aren't sure if they wanna slide or not.  Of course Layla slid, but Hayden didn't.

The birthday boy and his parents!  

We love our neighbors and are so happy to call them friends.

fire works in our own front yard

We enjoyed fireworks on Sunday night at our house.

Our next door neighbors, the friends two doors down and our buddies across the street all had a fun time watching the fireworks put on by our HOA!  It was a great treat!

We grabbed chairs and blankets and patiently waited to see the show we have grown to love over the years.  And I must say the show has gotten MUCH better!  We were very impressed this year.

Hayden asked about the fireworks all day long.  With a burn ban in full effect in our county we were worried there may not be a show, but there was!!

The grand finale was so pretty!!

God Bless America...Happy Fourth of July!!