Swimming Fun

We were invited to go swimming in Tiffany and Patrick's neighborhood this weekend.  It was such a nice day, and Meredith was so excited!  Our cousin Alex is in town, and he came to swim too.  Meredith and Alex had a blast!

We all brought picnic lunches and snacks and we stayed at the pool for almost 3 hours.  Meredith spent the night with Granmommy and Grandaddy, so she stayed at Aunt Tippy's house and played with Alex while they waited to be picked up. 

We all met for dinner at El Vallarta, Saturday night.  Meredith and Alex sat together and had a blast watching videos on Aunt Tippy and Aunt Donna's iphones.  When they were walking into the restaurant they were holding hands.  Aunt Donna took a picture and sent it to me.  So sweet!  I am so thankful Meredith is close with her cousins.  She loves them so much, and gets so excited when they come to visit!

Happy Father's Day!

I'm a little late getting this posted, but things have been crazy around our house!   On Father's Day we took Creig out to breakfast at the Palace, so he could get his favorite blueberry pancakes.  We got up extra early, got dressed for church, and then it was gift time!

He was pretty excited over the Carolina t-shirts.  I bought him a set before we got married, and he still has one of them.  He loves to wear it, but it was starting to look pretty rough, so I thought it was time for some new ones!

After breakfast, we went to church.  Instead of going out to lunch, we decided to grill out at our house.  Mom, Dad, Tiffany, Patrick, and Patrick's Dad came over.  Creig's mom was visiting and it was so nice to have her there as well.  We had hot dogs, with all the fixings, and...I made homemade vanilla and cherry ice cream.  It was fantastic!  After everyone had full bellies, we decided to play the Just Dance game on our Wii.  I love that game!  Tiffany and I are always trying to beat each other, and of course, she beat me again. 

After a lot of persuading, we were able to get Creig and Patrick to dance.  I got several good videos, but this one is my favorite...

They are quite entertaining.  Here's what Dad thought about it...

I'm not sure if he was laughing or crying!  HA!

It was such a nice day to be with family!  I am so thankful for my Husband, and my Dad!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

"Let's Go to the Movies"

Meredith's dance recital was last night at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.  She was super excited when she, Creig, and Gramsy came to me up at work.  Great Gran rode over to Aunt Tippy's with us where we met Granmommy and Grandaddy!  Aunt Tippy helped me get Meredith ready.  She put a little makeup on and added some curls to her already curly hair. 

We had a small setback as we were getting in the cars to leave.  Our van wouldn't start!  We didn't have jumper cables, and Tiffany didn't know where Patrick's were.  Luckily, Tiffany's car was there, so we just loaded up in Mom and Tiffany's cars and headed to Charlotte.

Meredith was so excited...until we went backstage for her to get ready to dance.  It was a little chaotic, and for a few minutes I was afraid she was going to have a major melt down.  They had coloring pages and crayons backstage for the girls to keep them occupied.  Once she sat down with her friends she was good to go!  I left and headed back out into the audience.   When it was her turn to dance I headed up front where parents could take pictures and video.  It was so funny because as soon as she got out there she was looking for us.  She kept lifting her hands to her eyes and a couple times I saw her say "Where are they?"  It is almost impossible to see anyone in the audience when on stage.   I got a short video before they started dancing of her looking out in the audience....cute!

She was fantastic, and we were all so proud of her!  She really knew her dance!

Of course, everyone had prizes for her when she finished and Daddy and I gave her a rose.  She got a ballerina blanket from Granmommy and Grandaddy, a beautiful necklace and bracelet from Gramsy, and flip flops and a crayola wonder set from Mommy and Daddy.  After she changed, we took her to eat at Cracker Barrell for dinner.  I think in the future we can expect to sit at the recital for quite sometime.  One Dad told Creig they would be there for about 4 or 5 hours!  Yikes!

After dinner, Meredith and Grandaddy played their special game of Checkers!  I am not sure who won, but I am pretty sure there was a bit of cheating on both sides!

When we got back to Tiffany's, Patrick found his jumper cables and once they got the van running we headed home!  It was a long night, but we all had so much fun! 

We are proud of our little Ballerina! 

Meredith's First Visit to the Dentist

Creig and Meredith both had appointments to see the dentist today.  It was an extra special visit for Meredith, because it was her first visit to see the Dentist.  She was so excited....until, she went back to watch her Daddy.  Creig had to have some x-rays done, and he has a super sensitive gag reflex.  Needless to say, he made all sorts of ridiculous noises and scared Meredith.

She and I ended up going back out into the waiting room, because she didn't want to watch Daddy anymore.  I have quickly learned a lesson.  Always have your child go first.  She could have gotten it over with instead of sitting terrified in the waiting room.  I told her how important it is to see the Dentist and take care of our teeth.  I told her we need our teeth to eat, and if we didn't take care of them they would become ugly and fall out.  She looked at me and said, "Let's just let them fall out, Mommy.  I don't want to see the Dentist!"   

When the hygienist came out to get Meredith, she was so scared.  I kept trying to reassure her, but everyone in the office could hear her by the time we got back to the exam room.  She was not having anyone touch her teeth, let alone look at them. 

The hygienist was fantastic.  She talked to Meredith and showed her everything.  She did a wonderful job getting her to relax.  When it came time to get in the chair, Meredith wasn't having it!  They didn't make her do anything she didn't want to.  Finally, Meredith said, "I want a prize."  The hygienist told her she had to let her polish her teeth to get a prize.  Meredith climbed up in the chair and sat while she polished her teeth.  She didn't want anything else done!  Dr. Gickling came in and gave her a high five and asked her if he could count her teeth.  She sat in my lap and let him count and check out her teeth.  He told us she looked great and had no cavities.  We didn't get any x-rays done, but who would want to get in the chair and have x-rays after watching their Dad gag and make scary noises!   She promises next time she will let them do everything.  We'll see!  If she's anything like her Mom, she was just saying that to get out of there!  HA!

I did get one picture of her in the waiting room.  We tried to pass the time by looking at magazines and she watched a few Berenstain Bears episodes on my phone!  Who knew going to the dentist could be so much fun!!!  HA!

"My Pleasure"

Tonight, Meredith and I were working on a puzzle on the living room floor.  Meredith looked up at me and said, "I just pooted!"  and laughed. 

I said, "Thank you for telling me Meredith."   She looked at me completely serious and said, "My pleasure!  I couldn't help it!"

I never know what is going to come out of her mouth, and I have had more laughs from the crazy things she says!  

The Big Rehearsal

We drove to the big city of Charlotte yesterday for Meredith's dress rehearsal.  The recital is at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center downtown. 

Meredith was fantastic!  I was so proud of her! 

She is so excited about the recital on Friday.  After they finished practicing, I went back stage to pick her up.  She was happy to see me, but then she saw the camera.  She told me she was tired of me taking pictures and she was ready to go.  Here's the face I got...

She did so well at the rehearsal, and I can't wait to see how great she is on Friday night!  

Ballerina Girl

Yesterday was Meredith's last dance class of the year!  All the girls dressed in their costumes and it was family watch night! 

She did great, and we were so proud of her!  This year their song is "Just a Spoonful of Sugar!"  I hope she enjoys the recital this year as much as she did last year.

Daddy helped her change her shoes!  Such a good Daddy!

When class was over Ms. Shannon gave each student their trophy and certificate.  Meredith was super excited about the trophy!

So proud of this beautiful ballerina!  Can't wait to see how the dress rehearsal goes tonight when she gets on the big stage!

 

 



Happy 30th Birthday Creig!

June 2nd was a big day...Creig turned 30!  When Creig got home from work I had his requested meal ready.  Tacos!  After dinner we all enjoyed cupcakes, and then headed to the airport to pick Gramsy up.  What Creig didn't know was that his big birthday surprise was coming on Saturday. 

I planned his first ever surprise party and, it really was a surprise!  We had a DJ, ate fried chicken, potato salad and baked beans, and had a very yummy cake! 

Creig says he was very surprised and didn't have a clue about the party!  I am so glad.  I was certain someone would spill the beans. 

I made a movie of pictures for Creig, and it turned out really well.  He loved it!  After everyone ate, some of us did a little dancing!

Meredith loved dancing with her daddy! 
And of course, we sang happy birthday and Creig blew out the candles!

We had a couple of guests decide to get silly at the end of the party!

The party was so much fun, and Creig was super surprised!    I am so thankful for such a wonderful husband and family! 

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY CREIG!