Monday, April 22, 2013

Racin' in the Southeast

It's been SO nice that the last two races have been in Birmingham and Atlanta. 

Barber (April 6th) 
One of my dearest friends from college, Amy, lives in Birmingham. For the past couple years, we've crashed at her house race weekend. Her children are both 5 months younger than mine, so it's perfect- we all get to play together! One night we ate at Little Donkey (Mexican) and then headed next door to Steele City Pops for dessert. James, Lea, Adelyn, and CeCe loved it (although James didn't get holding it with a napkin so your hands don't freeze!)

New shirts for the track! Michelle at E is for Embroidery does a fabulous job! If only they'd both look and smile....

We watched the race on a hill and the kids had a blast! I only pack these headphones to look like a good mom....my kids wear them for all of 30 seconds. 

Riding the tram around the track- fun! 

Lea ate a blue marker. He was only crying because Amy took it away from him! HILARIOUS!!!

Seth and Dan finished 8th. They ended this race being THIRD in points! :)

Road Atlanta (April 20th)

Road Atlanta has not been on the Grand Am circuit in the past, so we were excited to have it this year! Seth knows this track very well and it's always fun when it's so easy for family and friends to come out and cheer for Bimmerworld! 
I saw Reba McEntire on the Fan Walk (her son races too). I HAD to get my picture taken with her. My family has always called me Reba and James and Reba have matching hair. She was nice as could be. 

Seth and I with Crystal and Dan Rogers (Dan and Seth are co-drivers). We had SUCH a great time with them. They stayed at our house for the race weekend. 

Heather and Trevor  

Happy 7th birthday, Emily! She had a mini celebration with cookie cake

Dada's car
My parents came too! :) They stayed at our house, so Adelyn got to sleep in a mini tent in our bedroom. She was SO excited. 
Seth's car after the race....looks like the windshield got a tad dirty!

Unfortunately, when Seth was driving another driver hit him causing rear strut damage. They ended up finishing 22nd and got knocked back to 7th in points. Next race is Mid Ohio and I'm sure the 82 car will kick some tail! 





Sunday, April 21, 2013

22 Months

   I find myself looking at James and thinking, "He's a little boy!". He is growing up TOO fast. He's starting to try and sing his ABCs and other songs (Rain, Rain Go Away seems to be the favorite). He's learning shapes and sometimes he'll identify red, green, and blue. He is talking more and more...although, it's mostly about TRACTORS!! This kid is seriously obsessed with tractors. He talks about them from the moment he wakes up and it's the last thing he says when he goes to sleep at night. Seriously. I wish they came in more colors so we would at least learn something useful :). James has learned to jump (and almost using both feet). It's so cute to watch him because he uses every single muscle and part on his body. I definitely think he'll be my more athletic child. He's still so skinny. I laugh when he wears shorts because his legs look like pinkie fingers sticking out. We're seeing some of that "red headed temper". When he doesn't get his way, he squeals angrily. It sounds like fingers on a chalkboard. He's my little wild man and I love him so!

   Adelyn is my little drama queen- always singing and making up stories. She loves to pretend! Often when she wakes up in the morning, she can't come downstairs and eat until she's fed her children and put them down for naps. Her birthday is about a month away and she is very excited. I had to make her a chain. Each morning, we take a link off to count down the days until May 11th. I'm proud of her reading- getting a little better each time!

Proof of the tractor addiction: We have his John Deere for Kids documentary on the iPad and I had just put it in my backpack. He moved the tower several feet (and it's heavy!) and climbed onto the counter. He'll go to great lengths to see a tractor!
Running on Fast Lane: One day, we were leaving my mother in law's house. Adelyn asked if she could race the car. I said sure, thinking she'd run for 30 seconds and quit (Adelyn is usually not into any activity that requires effort!). She ran all the way to our house, which is probably a half mile away!! I guess she's been hearing me talk about my running?


This was a great investment! Here the kids have collected sticks and are driving them to the fence so we can throw them in the pasture.


Sweet kiddos at Mae's 4th birthday party. It looks like Dean and James are plotting something.




I spent an entire Saturday doing yardwork and planting flowers. James was out with me for a couple hours. He loves being outside! And getting dirty! :)


This occupied him for quite a while! Water + dish soap + whisk + measuring cup = I can cook supper
Adelyn's spring break was the week after Easter. I met my mom and her wonderful friend Wendy in Brevard, NC. We spent two nights there. That is a cute little mountain town! We went shopping, played outside, and ate yummy food. My mom and Adelyn added sticks to this fort (it was already started). Actually, we had to rename it Fairy Hut because Ms. Prisspot said forts are for boys.
Gelato on the Brevard campus (where my brother went to college)
Janie and Adelyn wore princess costumes to see Beauty and the Beast (at the high school down the road). The play was well done, only $7, and we had front row seats! It lasted until almost 10 pm though!
They were adorable after the show- so excited to meet the characters. I think Adelyn even curtsied for Belle.
I love Adelyn's preschool! They do the neatest things for the students. Every year they have Circus Day. There are tons of activity booths, a jump house, food, and pony rides. Most kids come in costume. Adelyn chose Dorothy....not sure why!


Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Easter

Since I have been married, I have spent one Easter at my house (and that was when Adelyn was due in a month). We normally stay at my parents' house in Tega Cay SC, eat lunch in Hickory NC, and then drive to Dawsonville GA for dinner. This is our first Easter without my grandmother, so that felt very different. I miss her. We stayed at our house and saved all the windshield time. 

Most importantly, we celebrated Jesus's resurrection and what that means to us as Christians. I love watching Adelyn's understanding of this miracle grow a little deeper each year. 

I gotta get better at food photography. At any rate, I made Rice Krispie bird nests for Adelyn's class Easter party
Me and my girl!


Egg Hunt! Stepping it up...the children had to find the eggs with their name on it. 
On Saturday morning, we dyed Easter eggs
Handsome cousins at the church Easter egg hunt Saturday afternoon 
Emily and Adelyn ready to hunt!

The couple that hosts the egg hunt basically live on a farm. James spotted the barn off in the distance and naturally assumed there were tractors inside. All he cared about was hunting for TRACTORS. 
Easter morning bunny pancakes
Easter baskets on the front porch
James got truck books and a shape sorting truck in his basket
Adelyn and Kate got matching bath robes
Hunting eggs....James was much more into it this time 
Before church
Matching yellow chick outfits
Conner's first Easter egg hunt at Papa's (Seth's grandfather's)
These eggs are really hidden!


Adelyn, Emily, Conner, Thomas, and James
Seth's cousins have a tradition of pitching the eggs across the street. The goal is to hit the barn roof. It's pretty funny to watch the boys compete!