Happy Memorial Day!!

We are spending the weekend at Casa del Rio (Papa and Nana's house in Camden, AL). We have had a precursor to future cousin camps as Mimi, Walker and Kathryn have enjoyed many fun activities: swimming in the kiddie pool, jumping in the castle, playing the piano, painting, coloring with chalk, eating popsicles, and taking Walker and Kathryn on their first boat ride! Here are some pictures of all the fun...

It's OK, Walker. Mommy's crying too!

Today was Walker and Kathryn's last day of Weekday Preschool for the school year. These are a few pictures I took this afternoon with the two of them and their sweet teachers, Ms. Deborah and Ms. Shelbi. We are going to miss them so much!! Mommy is REALLY going to miss them. Even though Walker and Kathryn only go one day a week, that is my one day to have five wonderful hours of freedom!! But dry those tears everyone. The fall will be here soon, and Walker and Kathryn will be going two days a week next year. Now that's something to smile about!!

P.S. Walker started crying when Ms. Shelbi picked him up for the picture because he thought Mommy was going to stop by, take a picture, and leave without him!

Go, DC!

I vote David Cook...well, if I can get through one of the three phone lines I WILL vote for David Cook. Hope you will too! Tune in for tomorrow's big finale.

Gearing up for Little Einsteins

Our new morning routine includes climbing into Mommy and Daddy's bed to watch Little Einsteins. Walker, of course, has both "buppos" (aka pillows) with him, and Kathryn has Quack Quack and her Diego stocking (an impulse buy at Target at the end of Christmas...I think it cost 50 cents!)



And I had to include this one...Kathryn isn't really asleep, but this is minutes before naptime one day last week. I walked in the den, and Walker was helping her get situated on the couch and trying to cover her up with her blanket!

And while we are on cute things our kids do....Walker and Kathryn LOVE Dora. Everyday at 9:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., we make sure we are available for Dora. Kathryn likes for me to dance around with her on the opening song, and then we stop dancing to hold out our hands and say "Swiper no swiping." Today, we were talking about foxes, and Kathryn said "Swiper no swiping" (which she has said before), but then she followed it (all while trying to snap her finger just like Swiper) with "Awww, man." So cute!!

I guess you would have to be a Dora officianado to truly understand, but I know your little ones say cute things too. What is their most recent or your most favorite...I would love for you to share!

Tagged!

I've been tagged by Jennifer P. Yeah! I've seen this on other blogs, and I have to admit, I was a bit jealous that I had not been tagged. Thank you, Jennifer!!

10 Years Ago I was...

Finishing up my junior year of college at Samford University (Go Bulldogs!!). Valerie and I were packing up the dorm room for the last time (we moved to our Memory Court apartment our senior year) and planning for the infamous "trip to Savannah" (Valerie, I am still waiting on that piece of chocolate cake!) If I remember correctly, May 1998 was also the month and year Valerie and I ventured to some unknown part of Alabama searching for a replacement cat for my mother. It was there that I called my Dad on a cell phone from a trailer park asking if I could pay $300 for a Himalayan cat. Needless to say, he was not thrilled. But as usually happens, the women won out, and Mom and Dad have had Sophie for 10 years now.

5 Years Ago I was....

Oddly enough, planning another trip to Savannah! This time Matt and I traveled to Savannah for our first year anniversary (our anniversary's in June, but work and school schedules made May a better travel option). We stayed at the Zeigler House and had so much fun seeing the sights and eating our way around Savannah. We have Carolina and Confederate jasmine planted all around our house to this day because the jasmine was in full bloom in Savannah that May and everything smelled absolutely delicious!!

1 Year Ago I was...

In awe at how quickly Walker and Kathryn's first year was flying by! We were gearing up for a fun filled summer: Walker and Kathryn's first birthday party at Dauphin Island, the Busbee family beach trip, and Brad and Makenzi's wedding.

Kathryn and Walker on their 1st birthday.

Fun at the beach!

Kathryn tearing up the dance floor at Uncle Brad and Aunt Mak's wedding.

Walker playing at Cherokee Ridge.

5 Things on Today's To Do List (Wednesday)...

1. Take the kiddos to Moms Day Out

2. Return to Moms Day Out for their Field Day festivities

3. Hopefully, get some shopping in before I return to pick them up!!!

4. Take hubbie's clothes to the cleaners

5. Bible study at church

5 Snacks I enjoy...

1. I know it's silly, but I LOVE granola!

2. Cheese

3. Cheese curls or cheese puffs

4. Any kind of snack mix from Fresh Market

5. Any kind of gummy candy (especially Hot Tamales)

If I were a billionaire I would...

1. Give a large sum of money to The Jimmie Hale Mission, a wonderful organization fighting homelessness by providing hope and the means to truly make a difference in peoples' lives.

2. Sponsor and participate in medical missions with Matt.

3. And now for the selfish side of me...Buy myself a Range Rover and Matt a Defender.

4. Travel all over Europe, especially the South of France and Italy.

5. Buy all of the Tory, Lilly, Kate and Louis my wallet could afford!!!

5 Bad habits...

1. I hate calling people on the phone (ask Valerie!! Does the name Jeremy ring any bells!)

2. I tend to be a procrastinator (but I am getting better about this).

3. I don't take advice very well (I think this comes from being the first born).

4. Being too independent.

5. Chewing gum and biting my bottom lip!

5 Places I have lived...

1. Mobile, AL

2. Birmingham, AL

3. Alexandria, VA

4. Birmingham, AL

5. Memphis, TN

5 Jobs I have had....

1. Babysitter

2. Staff Assistant, Rep. Joe Scarborough (R-FL)

3. Manager, Public Policy, Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce

4. Leadership Projects Coordinator, Rhodes College

5. And my most favorite job of all....MOTHER!!

Finally, if you are reading, WILLING, and haven't already been tagged, I tag...

1. Valerie

2. Carrie

3. Lauren F.

4. Ashley A.

5. Amy W.

A Happy Mother's Day Weekend

Why is Sissy so happy?

Because she saw these.....

Her favorites...FLAMINGOS!! Yesterday, Walker, Kathryn and I ventured to the zoo with the Campbell Clinic in our new Radio Flyer (Thanks Nana and Papa for our early birthday present!!). We had so much fun seeing the animals "on the farm"--the cow, sheep, donkey, goats, hens and chicks and a horse. We also spotted the ostriches, several different primates, a giraffe and a zebra.

Walker and Kathryn loved the panda bear too. We only saw one, so I am not sure if it was Ya Ya or Le Le, but the panda was definitely a favorite!

Later that night, I snuck a picture of Kathryn and Walker brushing their teeth (on their new stools from Pops and Tula!). They are also wearing their new matching pjs and nightgowns from Two Friends.

Today, Mother's Day, we took a wagon ride to the local Sonic. Kathryn and Walker ate an early dinner of tator tots and grilled cheese. Matt and I enjoyed a Sonic Blast! YUM...what a wonderful end to a great Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!!

Field Trip Friday...Dating at the Dewdrop

We were in Mobile this past weekend, and what's a trip to Mobile without a stop at the Dewdrop Inn. You cannot find a better hotdog anywhere!! And that's a challenge! We were especially thrilled that we were able to sit at Matt's grandparents' booth. You can see the plaque in the picture, and it reads, "Ethel and Lloyd Busbee...Dating at the Dewdrop in the 1930's." We had to give Walker and Kathryn the Coke cans so they would take the picture:)