THE GREAT WOLF LODGE

I got sucked into a Groupon.  A Great Wolf Lodge Groupon.  The boys had a teacher workday on Thursday so it worked out for Charlie to take off and for us to go on a Wednesday for the night.  Jackson and Nash have been before with their grandparents and talk about it all the time.  They were pumped.  And you know what, it was worth all of the hype!  We had a great time.  It took us less than 2 hours to get there, we checked into our 'kid kamp' room and walked down the hall to the water park.  It was not busy at all.  The big guys played while Theo and I headed back to the room for a nap and then we all met up for more water time.  We ate dinner at 'the lodge' right before story time and then hit up the arcade that was also right next to our room.  The next morning we did it all again.  I highly recommend it for this age.  It was really 'easy' for a water park.

We are here!!

The cutest little wolf you ever did see.

 He doesn't do slides or put on life jackets to go in the deep part but he will stand under water buckets (NOT the big one) and wade in the water until his skin is shriveled and his lips purple.

He does it all.  Water slides, obstacle courses, wave pool, basketball, etc.  GWL poster child.

This little guy, loved it.  I had to keep a tight grip on him, he was ready to dive on under.

And they have adult drinks.  I am just saying, it helps sometimes.

Jackson and 'Wiley' at story time.  They asked who wants to help us out? Jackson - Ohhh me, please, I do!! Nash - Nope, not meeeee!

He was more in to gaming it up with his dad.  They got kicked out of the game room, closing time… shocker.

Super cool camp bunk beds that… wait for it… had a TV!  We have one TV in our house, so the idea of a TV that you can watch from your bed, so cool.

And what can be greater than GWL? A DUNKIN DONUTS in GWL. Breakfast of champions.

strep

J-man wasn't feeling so hot this weekend and when he slept in till 9:45 on Monday morning I decided we should definitely get checked out.  I didn't want to go to urgent care, which is the reason I waited until Monday.  Then I could not get an appointment at his doctors office so we had to go to urgent care anyways, annoying.  After 3 short hours he was thankfully diagnosed with strep.  The doc put him on antibiotics and said he should be 100% in 24 hours.  We all sanitized our hands 47 times while waiting in the germ ward and are praying no one gets strep or worse.  Today he is back to his normal self, just mad I wouldn't let him go to school.

Hamming it up.

You can't keep giving me crackers... come on, let me get on that floor!

Picking up our prescription, as easy as 1-2-3.  Can we go ahead and get 3 doses of that amoxicillin please. No one looks sick to me...

Friday Fun

Jackson does not have preschool on Fridays.  At first I thought this would be a great day to relax around the house and get things done.  Ha, I haven't figured out how to get things done with so many helpers.  Instead we call it Friday Fun and try and do something special.  Send any cheap ideas my way!

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts for the WIN.

Visit to Goldsboro to see Papa and Nana!  J-man got caught in the scratch my back for a minute trap….

Pullen Park with friends.

Theo and I even did the Merry -Go-Round.  We getting 'busy' mom! Dizzy, but it is too funny to correct.

Fun at aunt Brittni's work spot.

Jersey Mike's lunch dates. (duh) 

Football games.

The real movie theatre.  The popcorn was good...

Nash loved 'Paddington-Barrington.'  But seriously I payed big bucks for this nap.

Sandlot

The big guys were introduced to possibly one of the best movies of all time last week, The Sandlot.  Both of them sat still for the entire movie and I loved hearing them laugh throughout it.  I forgot that it could be a little bit racy at times.  I got away with explaining that chewing tobacco is 'old chocolate candy' and held my breath when the cuss words started flying.  BUT, when the movie was over Nash told me to pretend I was stuck in the pool and he had to get me out. (watch out ladies)  The best part was this morning when they were yelling at each other over breakfast...

Nash - 'BE QUIET JACKSY.  YOUR A WHINEY HINEY!'

Jackson - 'OH YEAH, WELL YOU THROW LIKE A GIRL!'

Nash - Aghhh Ha ha ha ha ha!  Hey mom, he said I throw like a girl.  That's funny!

                                    

Rainy afternoon movie time!

 Hey ma, you throw like a girl!

(they can't get enough of it now)

8 months!

And just like that, he is 8 months.  We love our  'theo-ba-beo.'  And he sure does love to watch his brothers.  He wants to get down and play with them so bad.  Usually we make him hang out in his jumparoo in order to avoid eating foosballs and legos and darts and peanuts and dog food and other tiny things that are for some reason scattered all over the rug.  Anything that he can get his hands on is going in his mouth.  His favorites are bananas, strawberries, carrots, sweet potatoes and he can down a fruit squeeze in about 23 seconds.  He also loves his paci.  This is my first baby that has taken a paci.  Give your baby a paci as soon as possible, just trust me, do it.

You know what he likes to do?  Grab my face and give me big wide-open slobbery kisses, sometimes he even gnaws those two little teeth on my chin.  It only gets weird when he gives me chill bumps. 

Seriously mom?!

basketball

Jackson had his first ever basketball practice this weekend.  He was p-u-m-p-e-d!  He did some extra practicing in the garage with is dad.  He had lots of questions about how high the net would be, should he bring his own ball, could I double knot his shoes and could he wear his pajama shorts since his soccer shorts were too small.  I relayed this to Tat & Will who promptly got him a basketball outfit.  If he has not already invited you he plays every Saturday and loves to have fans.   He has a great group of friends on his team and I am sure it will be a big season for the 'Red Swords.'

Working on that pass.  Note in the background, super dad.  I volunteered him to help coach.  Hope these kids are ready to win! ;)

Jackson quietly took me into the hall after practice and asked me to take his picture.  He then did this unprompted pose.  How did I get such a sweet kid?

truth

Christmas Cards

This post is a little late but since we are still listening to the Children's Christmas CD it is kind of appropriate. All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth, on repeat, help me. I love getting actual mail.  So when Christmas card time rolls around I am one happy girl.  Here is ours from this year and our extended families.  Now, time to invest in a new kids CD.

                                             

By far the best Christmas card picture ever taken by our family.  Thank you Anna Routh Photography. 

2010

2011 (personal favorite)

2012

2013

Farris, Carinci, Asma Family!

Winslow, Farris, Fowler Family!

love

A boy and his dog and his paci, waiting for dada to get home.  The only other person that has been graced with slobbery open mouth kisses from Theo is me.  

Splish Splash

Theo loves to take a bath.  He has gotten too big to sit in his 'baby' bath.  This makes me sad.



But now he can take baths with his big brothers.  This makes me scared.

It's Clean Up Time...

I think we have finally gotten all of the Christmas decorations put up.  The house always seems a little bare in January.  I kind of welcome it.  The boys preferred to keep the tree up all year long.  But then the coolest dad ever showed them just how high of a flame a super dry Christmas tree can put off.  

FIRE!

Is that a candy cane dangling in your hair?  Why yes, yes it is.  

I said we put away Christmas stuff, we are still working on actually cleaning. 

Monday!

And not just any Monday.  The Monday that pre-school starts back up.  I had forgotten how precious 2 1/2 hours with only one sweet baby could be.  This morning we drank warm coffee ate our own breakfast, and watched a little bit of Live with Kelly & Michael.  Theo took a quiet nap and I cleaned like a mad woman.  All before noon.  It was fun, now carpool...  Wow.  I am such a mom.  Eeeeek.

Happy New Year!

2014, you were very good to me.  In a loud, chaotic, losing all control sort of way.  I am learning to embrace it and love it and soak it all up.  Cheers to 2015!  Keeping resolutions simple, I hope for everyone to get a little more sleep, read a few more books and do a little more playing.  Who is with me?

It's da spaghettiiii.  Carbing up for the New Year. 

Cheers!

Jackson may have been more excited about drinking 'champagne' and counting down to the New Year than he was about Santa.  He had 4 glasses and we had to turn out all the lights in the house, count down from 10 and blink them on and off a good 3 times.  May we find joy in the simple things this year like Jackson does.  

Starting 2015 au natural.  Nash would prefer to be this way all the time.  May we find time to take our time, just as Nash always seems to do.  

Even with a runny nose and nasty cough, Theo looking dapper as ever for 2015.  May we all smile as much as this little fellow.