Celebrating 6 years ... island style :)

After celebrating our anniversary in Costa Rica last year, we decided to travel again for this years anniversary.  What better way to celebrate six years than in the islands?  It just so happens that our anniversary falls at a time in the year when the hubs and I are in need of a break.  Following a long baseball season, it's always good to reconnect, take some time to relax, and just enjoy time spent together.  

Our trip to Turks and Caicos was the perfect little getaway.  The resort was amazing ... pool and beach were beautiful, staff was super friendly and accommodating, spa was quite relaxing, and the restaurant had great food.  During our stay we ate at some great local spots, met some belongers (natives) that were full of knowledge about the island and other interesting stories.  :)

We spent our days on "island time" with no set itinerary.  We're so used to the everyday hustle and bustle that it was such a good feeling to just go with the flow for a few days.  Relaxing on the beach, by the pool, and curling up on the balcony with a good book was simply the best.  We snorkeled, went bonefishing, played some golf, enjoyed the fish fry that the belongers put on each Thursday night, relaxed by a bonfire, went shopping, and drank way too much wine. 

Turks and Caicos, you definitely showed us a good time!  The setting was beautiful, some of the skylines were the most beautiful I've ever seen.  Happy Anniversary to my sweet, thoughtful, and handsome hubby!  Here's to many more ...

Halloween, did that really just happen?

Just like any other holiday, Halloween came and went super fast.  This year it totally crept up on us, leaving little time to plan our family costumes.  I guess it worked out better this way since Abby knew she wanted to be Sofia the First, a Disney princess.  Gone are the days of Mommy and Daddy conspiring together to plan coordinating family costumes.  Duck Dynasty surely would have been a huge hit! 

We had thought about dressing up as a royal family, dressing the little man as a prince.  But we simply ran out of time and truthfully I got a little lazy with costume hunting.  So for 2013, Abby went as Princess Sofia the First and Levi went as a dragon.  The hubs and I ... well I guess we went as ourselves.  So boring! 

Same as in years past, some of our friends joined us for dinner and trick-or-treating.  Abby was super excited this year, knowing exactly what to do, and anticipating how much candy she would receive.  Needless to say, the kids were NOT into picture taking and were ready to RUN!

Seriously... RUN.  Out of 8 adults, none of us could get our children to stand still for a picture.  There were no cute photo ops this year, no pictures of Abby and Levi together ... just pictures of kids running around in circles and they hadn't even eaten any candy yet.  Ugh.  This Mama was sad.

The kids first house.  Abby, Nick, and Isla ran to the door with giggles and shrieks of excitement.  And with a quick thank you, they took off for the next house ... and so on.

Unfortunately, Levi was grumpy.  He wanted to run, not ride in the stroller.  Scary, tempered dragon!

After trick-or-treating, these two party animals were ready to live it up.  (just like their Daddies ... uh hummm...)

Levi has the biggest crush on this sweet girl.  Aubri is just precious!

Who wants candy?  These kids were just happy to eat Fritos late into the night! :)

Thanks to everyone who came and enjoyed the evening with us.  Hopefully next year we can snap some more photos and have less mosquito bites by the end of the night. ;-)

Preschool Trunk-or-Treat

Abby's preschool hosted it's annual "Trunk-or-Treat" event yesterday.  Being new to the school this year, this was our first time participating.  The hubs stayed home with the little man so that I could volunteer in Abby's classroom for the day.

It felt really good to get back into a classroom (especially as Abby's Mommy) and I just loved hanging out with these sweet kiddos! Parent volunteers decorated their trunks and the kids went from trunk to trunk collecting treats.  It was so cute and some of the parents really went all out decorating for the kids.  It looked so fun that Jim and I may have to be on trunk duty next year! :)

As you can see in the pictures, Abby is dressing up as Sofia the First (princess) this Halloween and amongst her class we had a waitress, ladybug, ninja, hotdog, Ariel, witch, cat, and a skeleton.  All adorable of course!  Abby talked the most about Collin's costume (hotdog), even weeks before the actual party.  All the kids thought it was hilarious.

After trunk-or-treating was over, the class headed back into the classroom for some fun.  Another parent volunteer and I headed up some Halloween activities.  We played "Pin the Broom on the Witch", made spider hats, and the kids enjoyed yummy spider cookie treats made by Miss Abby herself.

Once the Halloween festivities were all done, it was time for chapel.  It may have been my favorite part of the day.  Seeing all the kids come together, sings songs, and learn a lesson from Pastor Steve made my heart smile.  Abby is learning the most valuable lesson of all ... the love that Jesus has for us all. :)

It was such a fun day!  I'm so happy that we love the school, Abby's classmates, and the things she is learning.  It's such a perfect fit. :)

Life. Happens.

Here I go again, apologizing and seeking forgiveness for not posting anything in over a month.  I really can't keep saying I'm sorry over and over again, so I'll just say this ... life. happens.

It's been a crazy whirlwind the past month and a half.  Here's the rundown, friends.  Kids and I flew home mid September, with hopes of returning to Baltimore for playoffs in October.  Our house renovations weren't complete so thankfully dear friends let us stay in their condo in a nearby neighborhood.  Kids began a new school routine ... Abby started PreK (seriously!?) and Levi is still doing his three days a week.  Florida had lots and lots of rain.  I'm talking like four straight days of rain.  More delays on the house renovations.  Orioles ended the season, earlier than we had hoped and Daddy came home.  Still at temporary house.  Hubs had to sleep on sofa since Abby was bunking with me.  Not a fun way to start the offseason.

Finally we moved back HOME a couple of weeks ago.  My parents were here and thank God for that ... we needed all the help we could get!  We are enjoying being home and are looking forward to everything being done with the house.  It's an absolute dream to call this house our home.

So as you can see ... it's been crazy.  But life. happens.  Life IS good!

Here are some pictures from the O's family day... just a few months late, but can't pass up not sharing the fun. :)

Little boy with the field all to himself.

Playing baseball with The Bird.  

Levi is mildly obsessed with him ... 

One of the best face paint jobs ever.

And here it is folks.  Abby played catch with The Bird and Tucker.

Those of you that know Abby, know her dislike for mascots.  

This was the closest she has been to him, at least with a smile on her face!

Wordless Wednesday - Sweetness.

Levi loves this little guy at my parents house .... 

So much sweetness.  Just makes me laugh :)

Wordless Wednesday - All Smiles :)

Ahoy mateys!

Arrggghh! For Abby's 4th birthday we celebrated in true pirate fashion aboard a pirate ship!  Back in May, Abby and I joined some friends on "The Fearless" and had a blast, which gave me the idea to invite more family and friends along for one, big party!  A party to celebrate Miss Abby's 4th birthday.... (4th?! Really?!)

It was a beautiful day, a bit warm but thankfully not as hot as it had been.  Everyone participated in the pirate fun ... a little dancing, a little singing, and some pirate games.  Levi and Abby both got to steer the ship, which Abby of course thought was super cool.

We all dressed in costume, got tattoos, and wore eye patches.  It was such a fun time catching up with old friends and new .... 

I put together a slideshow that best shows the fun everyone had.  All photos in the slideshow are courtesy of a fabulous photographer and friend of mine.  Thanks, Jewell - you captured the day wonderfully! :)

And to sum it up - this is just some of the fun :)

Happy Birthday, Abby! :) Arrgghhh!