Spring time plantings

I bought a gardening book for North Carolina to learn which plants would be good for our front flower bed. I have decided to plant mainly perennials because they are less maintenance yet still produce nice spring and summer flowers. Here are some pictures of our front flower bed with our new additions.

Our azaleas bushes.

Been too long

I know it has been a really....I know....really long time since I have posted. And honestly, I really have no excuse this time. With the computer downstairs, I just don't seem to get down there alot to play around on it....and having my email sent to my iPhone...well, that doesn't help either. But I will attempt to update you on our happenings over the past few weeks. No pics....again sorry for that. Maybe one day I'll get around to uploading more photos.

We spent early December getting back into a routine since I was allowed to return to normal life. Having help is wonderful, but as children often do, they took total advantage of the having grandparents around and decided that rules did not apply to them. So mommy had to send the boys to boot camp. I am proud to say within about a day or so things were back to normal....or at least heading in that direction.

We counted the days down to out Christmas break so that we could leave our lovely home in COLD, COLD, COLD North Carolina and fly south to warm South Florida. Too bad the weather has been COLD, COLD, COLD since we have been here. But we are having fun hanging with the family and the boys love playing with their cousins, Abby and Dean. William has turned into a great babysitter and loves to make Dean smile and coo. He often holds him and feeds him his bottle very well. Paulie also loves to make Dean smile, but would rather run and play with Abby. They are so happy to have little playmates. Many mornings are spent outside in the garden digging, playing and throwing rocks into the pond. Christmas morning should be filled with lots of fun and happy children.

We look forward to getting home to NC.......not for the weather, but for Aunt Sara and Kyra's visit and for Daddy's return home.

Post 3 - and Egg Hunt and BOATING!!!!!!!

On Saturday we joined Uncle Tye, Aunt Kelly and Abby for City of Delray Beach Egg Hunt. The boys had a great time trying to get as many eggs in their buckets! Paulie did not like being held back until they called the time, but what can you expect from a two-year old. Here are some pics of the boys before, during and after the hunt.

We then spent the afternoon on the boat with Uncle Tye. Aunt Kelly and Abby went to the west coast for cousin Jake's first birthday celebration. The boys had a great time on the boat and remembered what fun boating is! Makes me wish we never sold ours.....but boating in NC is definitely not like boating in FL....unless you are lucky enough to live in the Outer Banks. That is not us at the moment. So we get our fix when we visit Gaga and Papa.

Changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes

Moving makes you think about change....things you miss and don't miss. Here is my running list of both:

Don't miss:

1. The 30 minute drive to the main road. Having to watch out for Special Police (SPs).
2. Errands taking a minimum of 2 hours because of the drive.
3. Staying in town for countless hours because of road closures.
4. Watching out for bike cyclists on 3-5-9 mile, especially Tuesdays at 5PM when bike club would meet.
5. The poor and extremely slow Internet connection.
6. Feeling like the house will never be clean because it is jam packed with stuff.

What I do miss:

1. Good friends that shared time with us.
2. The smell, feel and sound of the ocean.
3. The beach and feel of the sand.
4. Our boat, being out on the water.
5. William being able to ride his bike in the circle.

And, it always seems that good things come from moving. Here is my running list on that:

Things I am happy for from our move:

1. Kevin being professionally satisfied and feeling challenged.....being happy with his work when he comes home.
2. Having more space in our house...not feeling so cramped.
3. Close shopping and quick trips for errands.
4. Making roots and settling down.

Catch-up, the beach, Daddy's welcome home, and best friends

I know that I said I would post pictures of the house, but darnit, I just have not gotten around to taking more than pics of the kitchen. And, honestly, at the moment there is a MOUNTAIN of gravel in my driveway. So you can't really see the house. Still waiting for the gravel people to come back and spread it. Driving around it is real fun though. So I know that people are checking the blog. I know you are waiting and waiting and waiting for our pics. Here are some from right before we left Florida. Do check back because I will get some house ones up soon.

When Kevin came home from his selection course we went to the beach for the afternoon. This is probably one of the sweetest photos of Paulie. Sleeping in Mommy's lap.

A coy, sweet smile from William.

Mr. Mike and Miss. Laura joined us for the afternoon. It was quite chilly and breezy that day.

That night we celebrated with Daddy's Welcome Home cake. William picked it out. It looked like the circus he said...and acutally, he is right!

William and his buddy, Caleb, got to see eachother one last time before we moved. This is a sweet photo of the two boys. I had to document the goodbye....it was sweet. Good Friends.

Jam packed weekend

It seems that everyone wants to come to South Florida....and well, can you blame them?! The weather is fabalous, sunny, balmy and breezy....and you get to enjoy the vacation lifestyle all the time. Or at least, you like to think you can.

After Adrienne and her boys left, Auntie Sara arrived for the weekend. It was jam packed with fun and adventure. We went to dinner at the German resturarnt, Old Heildburg. Sara order the boot...again. A boot holding 2 liters of beer. And in Auntie Sara style, she finished the entire beer. We had a great meal! Friday and Saturday were filled with shopping, shopping and more shopping and a nice lunch. We spent the mornings lounging in the hot tub while naked boys ran around the backyard. Saturday night we met up with Uncle Tye and Aunt Kelly for Tye's birthday celebration. We had some drinks and appetizers and then went to the bars and dance clubs on Atlantic Avenue. Lastly, we went to the water park this afternoon. Busy weekend. I think I need to get to bed to rest from all the fun. Here are some photos from the events.

Tye and Sara.

Sara and I in my parents backyard.

William really liked this crazy straws....he loved sharing his drink too.
Gaga and Auntie Sara.

The ever-favorite pose from Paulie...his big mouth. I just love it!

Fun in the hot tub.

Sara and her boot.
Paulie and his thoughts....what was Aunt Sara thinkin'!

Goodbye to the Balows...but not forever

Adrienne and her boys took off on the big jet plane this morning for Chicagoland. We had a great visit. William and Aidan had so much fun. We went to parks, malls, zoos and just hung around each other. It was great fun. The best fun was when we were kicked out of the swimming pool in the LAND OF NO! You know that land, it is were all the crocketichy old people go to live and pretend to be happy, but really they just lay and wait to strike on anyone having fun. Welcome to sunny South Florida....the land of great dreams and big vacations. Oh well....what can you do about it.

It comes in handy when you son knows how to operate your camera. Adrienne and I did not have anyone to take our photo, but wallah, there is William! Here are some photos he took of us last night. And, I might add, he is a pretty good shot.

Fun at the zoo, and the ocean, and the park, and the....

Yesterday was a GREAT day for all! Adrienne is in town with her boys, Aidan and Keegan. We met up with them yesterday and went to the Palm Beach Zoo. We then went to the beach to see an old friend of Adrienne's, and THEN we had a picnic at the park. By the end of the night we had some tired, tired, tired boys.

Aidan and William were sewed together at the hip. Where ever one went, so did they other. It was crazy fun. And, the best part, the boys were better listeners with the other one around. They had so much fun. We tried hard to get some good photos.

Paulie and Keegan where their typical selves....so laid back you forget they were there....of course until Paulie squealed. He loved the zoo, playing in the water, and wading in and out of the ocean surf.

The picnic was the best part of the day....boys running crazy getting energy out and enjoying playtime with kids of all ages. The adults had a good time too. Having a few beers, kicking back and enjoying some good brats. Like I said, it was a good day had by all.

Paulie loved playing with the water in the splash pad of the zoo. He was not a fan of the water in his face, but his hand, well that is a different story.

I love this shot. You can hardly see the two of them running in the water.

Adrienne and I tried hard to get a shot of some new babies at the zoo.....two baby boy eagles. They are really good climbers. And they sort of resemble two little boys I know. What do you think?




A cute, cute picture of little boy conversation. Aidan had picked his cup up with his toes and William was AMAZED! And he asked, "How did you do that?" And so the conversation begins.

And, the best pictures of the night. Two little boys having a blast in the bathtub...squeaky clean!