AKA The Pizzlets

Well after many weekends of work on Adam’s part we have finally finished! I think we both had moments wondering how much longer it would be before we would be finished but we’re here…and we’re finally relaxing!

We decided to redo the back yard.  It all started with the Water Oak that needed to be torn down.  It left a huge mess and even less grass in our sad little back yard.  The dogs had dug several trenches (really…I was convinced it was going to be a moat), there were weeds everywhere, we had loads of things crammed onto a teeny tiny concrete pad and the fence was all ripped down because of the tree. 

Here is what we did…as usual, turn on your speakers and give it a sec to load once you’ve pushed ‘play’

So we now have new grass (yes, it's different color to the grass on the banks), new irrigation, new fence, new concrete pad...now, to keep it looking that way!

It’s been a really great weekend, full of fun and relaxation…just what the three of us needed.  The weather was cooler and it was enjoyable being able to go out in the garden and grill.  We had fun watching Milly toddle around and chat to us.  I think I say it on almost every post but she is doing so well and we truly enjoy watching her.  We always have a giggle because there are so many things that she does and to write them all down wouldn’t convey the fun we have. 

I must learn to have more of a stern face – yes I said I needed a sterner face (I know there are some of you out there who would disagree).  Amelia flings her food and looks for a reaction…I went to say no to Amelia (who was in her highchair at the table with us) but when I did she giggled in a completely new way which made me laugh out loud.  I am clearly the wrong person to discipline her!  I am sure it’s just something I need to work on…maybe??

The food was good…a fry up (bacon, sausage, eggs, beans and toast), bbq pork ribs, french toast and bbq chicken with salad.  It was the Father’s Day request from Adam.  And everyone dug in…even Milly.

Now it would seem only fair to post a pic of Amelia and Adam but I am not going to do that.  If you want to see pics of them you can go here (you’ll need your speakers for this post).  Instead, I got a few of Milly and I together…a rare treat (well probably not in terms of recent posts but in reality I only get a couple of pics every month or so).  The one below is one of my faves from Adam’s mini session…

Since we’re so far apart and don’t often get the chance to have a hug, I thought that this set of pics would serve as a gigantic hug for you for Father’s Day!

Wish I could be there with you and hope you have a great day doing NOTHING (Mum, are you reading this??…Make him do nothing!!).

Miss you lots and hopefully we’ll talk soon…I look forward to our chats!

Lots of love

Kate x x x

So Sara and Archer came over yesterday and it was, as usual, a great visit. Sara definitely has the touch when it comes to encouraging Amelia…she called for her to come over and she just started walking over there. It was so absolutely silent in the room as we all watched (including the dogs and Archer) Amelia toddle towards Sara. She took her 1st three steps a few weeks ago and since then it’s been one step and then plopping to the floor or grabbing for the nearest sturdy object.

I waited for Adam to get home so he could finally see her walking…it was a great end to his extremely hot day…thanks Sara…now let’s work on the dance moves

I was happy to see today that Amelia continues to show me that she’s following in my footsteps.  She alerted me started yelling for me when she woke from her nap and as I opened her door I saw that she had stacked her toys in her crib to create a step.  Thankfully, I have been slowly removing her toys from her crib so she is less stimulated when I lay her down but I shall have to remove even more before she finds a way to climb out of her crib and repel down the side (as I did as a toddler).

You know the little thing you can do with flower petals – he loves me, he loves me not?  Everytime I see the photo’s below I keep thinking “she’ll forgive me, she’ll forgive me not”.  There’s always a few pics you loathe from your childhood…perhaps this set will be on the loathe list for her…”Mum why did you dress me up like this”??  Well, Amelia, because it was as hot as Hades outside and I didn’t want you to burn your head…but will she care or thank me??  I have quite a wait to see!

It’s been almost a year of almost weekly play dates and I have never once posted a pic or made mention of Archer!  **Slap head**

I strongly believe Archer and Amelia are meant to be…he’s a real character and Amelia seems to really enjoy his company – well who wouldn’t.  Just scroll down and take a look at that face…and those gorgeous eyes!  He is a chatty type which works well for the ever so chatty Amelia…they just sit there having a baby chat with Sara and I wondering what sort of topic they could be discussing.  He’s a huge sharer (she yanks his binkie out of his mouth all the time) and isn’t bothered by all the girlie toys (which we’re thankful for as almost all of our toys are pink and purple).  He laughs…loudly and it cracks me up.  And a key advantage, he doesn’t seem to mind when Amelia pulls up on him (surprisingly he doesn’t topple over).  Yes, they’re a perfect match…

I am desperately hoping that Archer will teach Amelia some of his dance moves…they’re awesome!  Seriously, I can’t wait for another visit with this little guy…

You have no idea how tempted I was to use Stifler’s (American Pie – American Wedding) altered cake title as the title of this post, but since only a few of us would find it funny (since it’s rude) I will just have to think it every time I see the post!

Last year Jim took the plunge (no pun intended) and decided to make a career change.  Pretty brave if you ask me as it was a huge gamble.  And, honestly, who wants to start studying and taking exams again?!?  It all paid off and we are all proud to call him a Yachtmaster.  For those of you who don’t know what a Yachmaster is, it means he is now able and entitled as a Captain to take people out and sail the seas.  He can deliver yachts and captain a boat for the rich and famous woohoo!  Of course, he would prefer that we call him Captain.  Does it help that Adam refers to you as El Capitan Jim?

Jim is home for the weekend before he heads off into the sunset…Gibraltar, Greece and possibly the Caribbean.  Perhaps we should call you Jack after Jack Sparrow??  Far more fitting…Savvy?

Dad has always been a huge boat enthusiast and took us out when we were tiny right up until we were in high school.  Jim took to it right from the start as you can see…

After some years of family trips Jim ended up living on Dad’s yacht in London.  I think he may have taken the formal part of London a bit far though…a little too dressy perhaps??

But, after plenty of hard work and brushing up against the pro’s in the business he has finally found suitable attire and a happy career…

 Wishing you all the luck in the world Jim…be safe and don’t forget us when you’re rich and famous!  But, for the time being I will settle for an updated picture of you in Greece…I’m sure you’ll agree this is a little too old

We’re all so happy for you and for your success.  It’s truly an amazing adventure and I can’t wait to hear of all your travels…hint hint!

Oh…and before any of you wonder…I got a get-out-of-jail-free-card for this post.  I asked permission to use these old pics first!  I am sitting here savouring the moment hehehehe…well he did ask that I post more about him!

It seems like it’s been a while since I updated you all on what’s new with Milly…this has been her world recently:

• About two weeks ago I woke up in a new world of clinginess (some would say separation anxiety)…some days it’s cute and I love the clinginess, other days I want to lock myself in my room and hope she stops with the new whiny waaahahhh that she’s adopted.  Adam has had a tough time of it too…it’s become bad at night (before we go to bed) if she wakes up we have a rule that I am not allowed to see her because it makes her cry all the more.  The tables will turn and she’ll be a Daddy’s girl soon.
• Her hair is still slow growing but it’s definitely getting there…until it’s all in we’ll carry on with the headbands…anyone crafty and creative out there??
• New toys…a couple of weeks ago my good friend Linda asked me to visit her with Amelia and told me to bring some toys as she didn’t have any.  It was then that I realised that this kid needs better toys.  Every single one was plush and if you squeezed it it would play annoyingly perky and catchy tunes.  Job done…a xylophone, toddler kitchen, and a clippo brick table and she’s lovin’ life.  Actually she enjoys dismantling one thing after the other.  She’ll tear her kitchen apart and then move on to the brick table – throwing all the bricks everywhere – before she moves to the next toy.  We’re the suckers that go behind her picking it all up so she can repeat the process!

• She so desperately wants to walk…she’ll take a few steps and then plonk down on her bottom.  Or she’ll get so excited about the prospect of walking that she’ll try to jump instead and land right back on her butt again.
• She LOVES remote controls and telephones.  She loves to press all the buttons although she hasn’t quite worked out that sometimes when she presses the remote buttons it will turn off her show!  The phone is another kettle of fish…she just dials and lets it ring.  Thankfully the only person I know she has called is Adam although she didn’t realise it and kept pressing buttons in his ear.
• She loves to talk, she chatters away and even tries to sing to some of her favorite songs.  We just wish we knew what she was saying.
• When she’s doing something naughty like trying to rock in her high chair or eat Rosie’s food we will tell her “no…that’s naughty”  in a stern voice.  She’ll go quiet, then looks at you and then starts chuckling.  Hmmm, we have to work on this!
• Hallelujah…she has expanded her TV watching to the Shrek series and now we don’t have to watch Finding Nemo every single morning!  She also loves the learning DVD’s and tries to hug the TV when her favorite characters come on the screen.
• She loves to dance and to be twirled despite the fact that my shoulders and arms would say otherwise.  She’s a bouncy little girl.  But she just sings and laughs along with what she’s doing.

And finally…because she was in the mood…

So, now you know what her world is like…well, sort of, from our point of view!

Well it’s been a busy few weeks for us while we try to get our yard looking good – yes, we have decided that it’s not enough that it only looks good when the grass turns brown.  We want it to look good all year long!  More on this later…until the project is finished and done I have promised to keep quiet.  But I wanted to let you all know why there has been a gap in postings

We went to visit some friends this weekend in Charleston while we were up that way and it was a blast.  We got to take pics of each other, we got an updated family picture – thank you Tamara!  Not only did we have good company, a general catch up and the opportunity to compare notes on our little girls, but we were introduced into the world of Papa Murphy’s – quite possibly one of the best pizza’s I have had.  Sadly, as with most things in Beaufort, it’s an hour drive to the nearest one in Savannah.  But, all is not lost.  Since it’s a take-n-bake, it wouldn’t be ruined.  We could pick one up when we next visit and have it for dinner.  This is a sure way for me to gain even more weight…perhaps I should stay away…but who could deny Adam a pizza?!?  A truly flying visit, but a great time with great friends…let’s hope it isn’t another 7 months before we see each other again.  Best get planning now!

I recently read a post about how important it is to have pictures of you with your children and I am all too aware of the fact that Adam features far more than I do in the pics…(I can imagine my brothers joking with me that perhaps it’s better that way…wouldn’t want to crack the lens) but it’s hard to get the pics and then to accept how you look in them.  Many things have come from this weekend’s pics…I either need more flattering clothes or a diet (goodbye pizza), my hair needs to be cut and colored AND I need a tan!  They say alabaster is the new tan but I am not so sure!

Hope you enjoy our new family set…