Happy {heart} Day

We had a wonderful Valentine's Day!  Of course I know it's just another day...and we do try to show we love each other all the time...but who can resist another opportunity for fun and traditions?  Friday we surprised the girls with a couple small gifts and breakfast of pink pancakes and heart shaped sausage.  Later, Jeremy took Joey and Lucy to surprise Shelby at school for lunch. 

We had lots of little messages written on the hearts for the girls.  Joey asks us every day if she has grown, so one of them said, "You are really growing!"  That was her favorite and she got really excited when we read that to her. 

 

Then I got to go to Shelby's class party.  It's always fun to see your kids in group settings.  Shelby's class was so silly- maybe they'd had a bit too much candy.  Bless her teacher for putting up with them every day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeremy and I went out that night, which we haven't done in about 12 years.  We generally don't like to go out on Valentine's Day because of how crowded it can be, but we decided to venture out and try to do things that we thought wouldn't be too busy.  We had planned on dinner and Spa Castle, but since I knew Spa Castle was more for me than for Jeremy, I decided to surprise him and go to Top Golf first.  We lucked out at got there right before the crowd hit so we didn't have to wait at all! 

 

After that it was over to Spa Castle.  It was our first time.  We were a little curious as to how it might be, who would be there, etc.  There were a few things I didn't like:

• They tell you (over and over) that it's a "barefoot facility".  In fact, there's a first locker room where you take your shoes off before you enter the main locker room.  However, every staff member, cook, maintenance person, etc. wears shoes.  So I'm walking around barefoot on these people's dirt?
• The locker room does not have changing rooms.  Call me a prude, but I'm not ok with undressing in front of people.  I'm not alone, though, because about 98% of the women there all lined up to change in the bathroom stalls.  If the majority of people want to undress in private, just build some changing rooms.  
• The bathroom stalls are made of frosted glass.  Um, who wants people watching them pee?
• The naked bath.  I can't even remember what they call it.  The whole thing is optional, and I had no intention of doing it or even going in that section.  But, they had the only other entrance to the pools closed off so you HAD to go through the naked bath area to get there.  At first I thought it was just maybe a giant hot tub and women would undress and quickly get in the water.  Um, no.  There small pools, but there's also like a shower section with benches where naked women are seriously just lounging around.  Weird.  
• The "grotto".  So there is a grotto in one of the outside pools.  I understand it was Valentine's Day, but it wasn't the grotto at the Playboy Mansion.  Let's just say we got out of there quick.  

I know it sounds like I am complaining about a lot.  There really was a lot we did like about it.  We tried every different kind of sauna.  Some were really relaxing and some-like the 180-something degree one- were just unbearable.  The pools were nice and there were lots of cool seating areas in the pool with jets.  Very relaxing. 

 


Saturday we took the girls on a little Valentine's date and got lunch at the mall and then FINALLY saw Frozen.  I kept hearing that it was SO GOOD and one of the best Disney movies, but I was skeptical that it could top The Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast (my faves).  But it was SO GOOD.  I won't say it beat out the other two, but it may have tied them.  I loved the music and I felt like it had more of the traditional Disney princess feel with the music and all than other recent movies. 

All-in-all it was a fabulous weekend!

Daddy/Daughter Dance

Shelby came home from school about a month ago with a flier for the Little Elm Daddy/Daughter Dance.  She put it up on the fridge and she and Joey have been so excited about it.  It was really fun to get the girls all dolled up yesterday.  I painted their nails, curled their hair, and did their makeup (barely any blush, a nude eye shadow, and some tinted chap stick).  The theme was denim and diamonds, so the girls wore "diamond" earrings, bracelets, and tiaras.  I also made the girls some little wrist corsages (which fell apart about 2 minutes into the dance).  My pics came out overexposed.  Booo.  I was just trying to hurry and get pics before Joey lost interest and wasn't paying attention to the settings.

The girls had such a great time.  They went to dinner with friends and then met up with our neighbors at the dance.  It was HEAVEN for Shelby.  She was not shy about dancing.  I really need to find a dance class for her- poor girl gets her moves from me. 

       

Patty Melt

Tristan is back from Afghanistan!  We drove down to Ft. Hood for the midnight ceremony on Friday.  The girls were all really good despite it being freezing cold and the middle of the night.  We are so happy that he is home safe and sound. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Radio Flyer

Hey mister where you going
I was wondering if you'd mind towing me 
For a little while
Yes I'm traveling far
Though I don't have a car
I've got four wheels and a driver's seat
I admit she's kind of small
No there's no room at all
For anyone else but me

In my radio flyer
Flying higher than the stars
My radio flyer and me just hanging out
Between the cars in the parking lots
All across America
I'll be the girl in the red and white
Hotrod with a handle

So you may think I'm crazy 
Or you may just think I'm lazy
But I think that traveling by wagon's ideal
I know it gets kind of tough
Am I asking too much when I say
Can you pull me up the hill

In my radio flyer
Flying higher than the stars
My radio flyer and me just hanging out
Between the cars in the parking lots
All across America
I'll be the girl in the red and white
Hotrod with a handle

I've been sitting here for awhile

Patiently with a smile On my face

Waiting for someone to walk by

In my radio flyer
Flying higher than the stars
My radio flyer and me just hanging out
Between the cars in the parking lots
All across America
I'll be the girl in the red and white
Hotrod with a handle

                         -Law of Nature 

That song has been stuck in my head ever since we gave Lucy her new wagon for her birthday. We took her out for a spin today and she was all smiles.

Lucy went in for her 1 year well check yesterday. Even though she still has plenty of rolls, she is definitely thinning out already. She had only gained a few ounces since her last appointment, weighing in at 21.5 lbs. She is in the 54th % for weight and 63th % for height, which I find hilarious because usually my babies are always 95% for weight and height. She is 92nd % for her head though (Ahem...Jeremy). 

Lucy Belle is ONE!

Lucy turned ONE on Friday!  The birthday girl woke up to balloons with her breakfast.  That night we took her to Going Bonkers for the first time.  Her look as she went down the slide was priceless.

 

On Saturday we invited some friends and family to go to the zoo with us.  We couldn't have asked for more perfect weather.  We went to the children's zoo section first and then stopped for lunch.  Then we went back out and saw the rest of the animals.  I think the favorites were the cougars, lions, giraffes, and monkeys.  Lucy loved seeing the animals- before she fell asleep half way through!  Really we had a good time though and it was definitely more relaxing than having a party here at home. 

 

Liam loved Isaac!

 

It took Lucy a while to warm up to the cupcakes.  Silly girl!

 

....aaaannnnnd she's out!

We love having Grandma and Grandpa so close!

 

Sleepy Birthday Girl!

Lola and Shelby loving the petting zoo.

We just can't get enough of Lucy!  She says Mama, Dada, Bye, and sometimes Hi.  She waves, claps, and blow kisses.  Lucy LOVES to dance and bop her head when any music comes on.  She is SO CLOSE to walking.  She has taken 4 steps.  She is great at cruising and standing on her own though.  She is pretty much done with baby food.  She REALLY loves the baby food pouches though, so we still give them to her for easy snacks.  She still LOVES my blankie.  When she wakes up and we go to get her out of the crib, she will reach her hands up for us to lift her and when we do, she will slyly reach back down to grab her blanket to bring it with her.  That thing is pretty much disintegrating, so I need to have mom help me sew a new back on it soon.  

I really do love this age- when everything is cute and she is learning so much.  I can't wait for her to start talking more and more and hearing her cute little voice.  Happy Birthday, Lucy Belle!  We love you!