Monday Funday!

I've been trying to rack my brain with different things to do on Mondays. The pool cabana is closed on Monday and having to pack a cooler with drinks and a picnic lunch and add that to the mound of things we carry to the pool anyway just isn't fun for mommy! Last Monday, I asked Karlee if she had any fun ideas for us to do that day. She said she wanted to go on a picnic somewhere (a picnic ... just the thing I did not want to prepare food for!). I asked her where she wanted to go for a picnic. Out of the blue she said "Auburn University." I have no idea where it came from. I asked again to make sure I heard her correctly and she said "somewhere on the grass at Auburn University."

A grabbed a blanket and we loaded in the car to pick up Chickfila at the Magnolia street location. When we passed Samford Hall, Karlee said "See mommy. There's the grass for our picnic." She knew exactly what she was talking about when she said the grass at Auburn University!!

I parked at the hotel and conference center and we walked up to find a spot in the shade in front of Samford Hall. We all ate our lunch and the girls ran around and played for a while. Karlee then said she wanted to go walk around for a little while. Oh, do I wish it was for just a little while!! We spent 3 hours on campus. We walked from Samford Hall, down by Lowder business building, down by the stadium, over by the President's house, somehow ended up at The Barbecue House for Karlee to use the bathroom, and then back to my car at the conference center. Madelyn walked with us for some of the time but mostly rode in her stroller. That single stroller even carried Karlee with Madelyn sitting in her lap some of the way. I was one tired mommy with hurting feet!!

















The highlight of the day was getting a surprise visit with Aubie. There are a gazillion camps going on at Auburn. When we were playing beside the new Heisman statues, I looked over my shoulder to see Aubie standing beside me. I couldn't believe it. His "helper" said he was on his way to meet a group of people touring the stadium. He waved at Karlee to follow him and he went and sat down to play with her. It was priceless. I was following with Madelyn in the stroller so I didn't get the pictures of them dancing and laughing but Karlee LOVED it. I wished I could have put Madelyn in his lap but I had just got her strapped back in the stroller (which was a MAJOR task) and I was not about to get her out again!!



This was such a fun, impromptu picnic. Letting Karlee choose what we do on Mondays may turn out to be more fun than I expected. I like having someone else make the plans for a change!! Today she spent the morning at her friend Camille's house and had a blast. Madelyn was just stuck with me running errands and let me know that she wasn't happy about it. She kept calling for "sissa" and missed her terribly.

Swim Lessons: Check!

Karlee took swim lessons from Amber Fulford again this year. I tried to keep a low profile while I was there so Karlee would listen and not pay attention to me. So, I only got a few pictures on the last day.

My little fish did so well. She is swimming 100% without her puddle jumper and is more confident in doing it ... even jumping off the diving board.





We headed to the splash park on the last day of swim lessons since we were on that side of town. Karlee took off through the water but Madelyn just hung out and figured out what was going on. It takes her longer to assess the situation than it ever took Karlee at this age. That is good sometimes and frustrating at other times!! Karlee got bored that she didn't know anyone there so we didn't stay too long, plus the wind was blowing about 15 mph and it was chilly!

Blueberry Pickin

A few Sundays ago, Chip had an idea to go pick blueberries somewhere. We ended up in Camp Hill at Blueberry Haven. It turned out to be a very fun day! We walked away with twice the amount of blueberries we intended to pick but it was all worth it! Chip told Karlee that she could have her own bucket and he would have a bucket. The plan was for me and Karlee to pick half a bucket while Chip and Madelyn picked another half a bucket to give us 1 gallon. Well, Karlee decided she wanted to pick a whole bucket herself so we ended up with 2 WHOLE gallons of blueberries!

We put up several bags in the freezer for future use and kept out a few bags for immediate use over about a week. We have had fun making different yummy treats with them!

Madelyn enjoyed the picking just as much as the rest of us did because she was eating them as fast as she could pull them off. She didn't understand to just pull off the big ones. She would get the small, still red, sour ones and make the funniest face as she ate them. The sour taste didn't stop her though!!













Karlee is hovering over her bucket to keep Madelyn from eating them!! Story of our entire day.



Tired and hot but so proud of her full bucket!!



Chip and Mr. Haven bagging up our loot.

A Successful Garden

We stopped by Chip's parents house to check on the garden a few weekends ago and I finally got a few pictures. Chip decided to plant a garden back in the spring behind his parents house. The last few times they attempted this, it didn't turn out too well. This time is a whole different story. We have vegetables and herbs coming out our ears!!

Karlee has loved the garden and has helped with it since the planting phase. She is so proud when she comes home from grandmomma's house carrying a big bag of vegetables. I don't know what all is planted but I know what has been brought home so far: zucchini, squash, eggplant, cucumbers, bell peppers, jalapeño peppers, tomatoes, green onions, basil, oregano, and dill. I have cooked up some amazing dishes lately with all of these vegetables (thanks to many recipes from Pinterest!!).

Karlee and Madelyn have enjoyed just picking tomatoes off the vine and eating them right on the spot!









Next time you see Chip, ask him about his garden. He is pretty proud of it!!

Just the 4 of us

It is very rare that just the 4 of us get to escape to the lake by ourselves. We are usually at the Baker's place or at my Granny's place with the whole family. Since my dad had back surgery at the end of May, he hasn't been able to go to the lake much. So, Chip and I took the girls a few weekends ago to spend time with just our little family on the water.

We loaded up on the boat and spent the whole day riding, picnicking, and swimming. Don't get me wrong, spending time at the lake is LOTS of fun with everybody but it was nice and relaxing to just be us for the day.

We stopped on goat island to swim and picnic for a while. The girls like doing this because they can run around and play in the sand and then run out into the water like they do at the beach.







Madelyn was cracking us up with these chips and the storage compartment. She would open the compartment, put in a chip, and walk away. She would then go back, open the compartment, take out the chip, and eat it. She did this over, and over, and over!



My fearless child decided it was time for her to jump off Chimney Rock. So, in the water we went to let her try it out. Of course I did not take her up the bigger side where everybody else was jumping. She's only 4 for goodness sake! We went up on the smaller side so I could show her how to climb. I think the actual climbing was her favorite part. We started off on the low rock and she jumped 4 times!! These pictures are pretty close to terrible. Poor Chip was trying to keep the boat off the rocks and other boats plus keep Madelyn from jumping out after us! At least he tried to capture this moment.







Karlee wanted to move to the higher rock where some other kids were jumping. And she jumped!! I see lots of rock jumping in OUR future this summer.



Lots of swimming and playing made these two crash on a boat ride. Karlee was asleep before I could get her to lay on a towel. I guess she was comfortable!!





This may be our only "alone" trip to the lake this summer but it was so much fun for all of us!

Celebrating Daddy's 33rd!

Chip turned 33 on May 19. Goodness he is getting old!! He was at a fishing tournament from Friday through Sunday and wasn't home on his actual birthday. So, the girls and I had him a big surprise when he came home. The entire living room had balloons (picked out by Karlee and Madelyn from Party City) tied to everything!! Streamers even hung from the ceiling over the kitchen table.

Chip was surprised when he walked in the door to find the house decorated for him. The girls could not wait to show him everything. Both girls helped put sprinkles on the cake and Karlee arranged he candles!!

Spring Sing 2012

An amazing school year at Indian Pines Country Day School came to an end on May 18. The school puts on a Spring Sing program before the kindergarten graduation. The 3, 4 and 5 year old classes all sing together and then each class sings a few songs of their own. It was precious! It also provided insight into how each class progresses with song learning and dancing each year!!

My pictures aren't that great since I was stuck behind a tree and someones head!!

These 3 became the best of friends this year. Sarah Elizabeth, Karlee, and Camille will miss each other terribly over the summer.



Performance time!









Madelyn didn't care much about the singing but LOVED the cupcakes afterwards!!