Weekend Soccer Fun

This weekend was one of the most fun weekends we have had in quite a while....and the funny thing is that we really didn't do anything major! Just relax and enjoy each other's company. Saturday afternoon Dalton had his first soccer game. He was by no means the most aggressive player on the field but he ran and laughed and had a lot of fun. His soccer playing reminded me of what Mom used to say about me when I played basketball in the 7th grade...he ran the whole time and never actually touched the ball! Haha! Fortunately for him, there is a big difference between a 7th grader and a 3 year old so I'm sure he will "get it" eventually! Anna had a great time laying on a blanket in the shade and soaking up the sights and sounds. Here is a cute pic of Dalton, Anna, and Zack before the big game.
I have to include the sweetest thing that Dalton said to me on our way out...he was holding my hand and walking through the parking lot and looked up at me and said, "Mommy, did I do a great job and are you so proud of me?" I thought that was the sweetest little thing and it just made me so happy to have such a precious little boy. Of course I told him that I really couldn't be prouder!We had planned on going to the fair after the game but it was so hot and Dalton was pretty ill and tired so we came on home. I really hated to miss the fair as this is the first time since he was born that we have missed it, but there's always next year! Saturday evening Jenny came over and had some wine with me while the boys went to Zack's office to do a little work. So nice having such great neighbors! After we put the kids to bed we grilled up some of our fave Costco ribeyes and had a delicious dinner.
Sunday we went to church for the first time since Anna was born. She sat in the sanctuary with us and never made a peep. Such a good baby! Dalton is at an age where he is really enjoying church and loves to go, which makes me really happy. This week he came out with a little construction picture of a strange looking man and told us it was God. What do you say to that??? A little disturbing! We told him that no one really knows what God looks like so it might be better to just use his imagination. LOL
I will leave you with a delicious recipe that I actually made for dinner tonight. I have really enjoyed cooking and trying all kinds of new recipes since I have been out on maternity leave and this one tonight might be my fave...Butternut squash lasagna. The perfect fall comfort food!

Find it here:http://www.designsponge.com/2010/07/in-the-kitchen-with-brian-malarkey.html

Hello, 30!

I'm starting to wonder how in the world I am going to keep up this blog when I'm working considering I can barely do it not working! That said, it has been another busy couple of weeks.
First off, let me talk about Dalton's big accomplishment....he has started his first organized sport, soccer! Unfortunately we had to miss his first game since we were out of town but he did go to his first practice, see below pic! It was quite the scene to behold. I told Zack next time I am taking my Kindle and parking myself in a chair with my head down. Have you ever been to a child's sporting event where there is a really obnoxious parent trying to coach from the sidelines--you know the type, yelling their kid's name over and over again and telling them what to do? Well hello--that was me! In my defense, he totally did not get it and was running into other team's fields and basically just running around in general with no clue as to what was going on. Perhaps we should have waited another year for this little milestone but I will revisit the subject later in the season....game day this Saturday...fingers crossed! I will add that he absolutely loved it though and cried when we had to leave. I guess that's a good sign! :)

Also...on 9/9 I turned 30! I had a really wonderful birthday, we went to Provino's for my annual birthday dinner with the kids and then had date night on Saturday at Davio's, an Italian Steakhouse in Buckhead. The atmosphere was great as well as the company. :)

Birthday celebrations continued the whole next week as Dalton, Anna, and I all went to Virginia and North Carolina. We had a great time visiting Dad and Joanne, Mom, Dave, and Diane, and Ann, Amanda, and Colton. We even got to see Uncle Ed on our way home. Unfortunately I got very lazy about taking my camera out and didn't even get any NC pics...here is one from when we were in Va with Dad.
One of the best things we did the whole trip was wedding dress shopping with Diane! On Saturday Dalton went to Grandma's for a fun football filled day with cousin Colton while Anna and I went out for a girl's shopping trip. We had a great meal at Olive Garden and spent the entire afternoon at the Bridal Mart. How FUN!! Diane looks gorgeous in everything she put on and I know that no matter what she chooses she will be the most beautiful bride ever. I am sooo lucky to have such wonderful family...I just wish they weren't quite so far away!
Oh and a little PS--Anna is now sleeping in her crib! Now this is a milestone I must say I wasn't too excited about. I want to keep my little baby small for as long as I can! She is doing really well and waking up about every 5 hours on average, just to eat and then she goes right back to sleep! She really is such a good baby!

Milestones

See, I told you I would update again before I turned 30!
This past week Dalton and Anna both accomplished some milestones.
First of all, on the day she turned 6 weeks old my sweet baby girl started smiling at me! Please tell me if there is anything in the world sweeter than that little baby smile because I would love to know what it is. I just melt every time I see it!

Also...Dalton put together his very first big boy puzzle all by himself. It is 24 pieces that are pretty small so I thought that was a pretty big deal for a 3 year old. I am so proud of my little munchkins!

Dog Days of Summer

I can't believe that I'm not "working" right now and yet I still can't seem to find the time to update this blog more frequently! Between hearing "MOMMY" 500 times a day and never putting Anna down the time is just flying by!
We have also been on the go a bit lately. Last weekend Reese turned 1! I cannot believe how fast the year has flown by. It seems like only yesterday that Brooke, Kristen, and I were meeting in Atlanta for our girls night out + Divine Consignment sale for the kids. The very next day...Kristen went into labor! Happy first birthday Reese! She is such a cute baby and we had a great time at her party. I don't know that I've ever seen another one year old get so many presents! Anna slept in her stroller the ENTIRE party and Dalton had a fab time playing cornhole...lol!

After the party we went down to Dublin for the weekend to visit Zack's grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins. It was hilarious trying to get down there because I had forgotten how it is to travel with a newborn. First of all we had to pull into a library parking lot for me to nurse Anna which took about 30 minutes. Then I decide to change her diaper. I get her all changed and back in the car seat and I hear a diaper explosion. So I pull her out and sure enough there is poop all over her cute little outfit. I take the outfit off and am cleaning her up while she is laying on my seat and then she starts peeing all over the place. Two outfits and an hour later we finally pull out of the parking lot to go to Dublin.
That said, we had a great time. It was wonderful to see Zack's family and had been too long. Dalton had a BLAST with all of his cousins even though he had a very hard time remembering their names and kept asking them who they were. LOL. I had a nice lesson in keeping my mouth shut as I almost freaked out watching my little 3 year old jump on the trampoline and ride around in a golf cart with an 8 year old driving it. As Zack said, "Come on Jen, when in Rome...." Hmmm...

We have been trying to get out and enjoy these last HOT days of summer. This week we found a watermelon in our overgrown garden and had a fun time sitting on the patio and digging in together. Zack and Dalton went up to NC this weekend to celebrate his mom's birthday and Anna and I stayed home while my friend Stacy from high school flew in to visit us from DC. Stacy is one of those friends who no matter how long it has been, we can always pick up right where we left off. We did a lot of shopping, a lot of eating, and a lot of talking! It was a great weekend.
Maybe I can find time to post again before I turn 30...Oh yeah...that's only 5 days away!!!!!!!