Tooth Fairy

Natalie lost her first tooth today! She has had three loose teeth for the past couple months and she hadn't been able to eat properly because she can't bite. The last couple days I told her to bite into an apple or whatever to see it if would come out. She was so scared about the whole thing...worried that it would hurt and she didn't like the idea that there might be blood. So after dinner tonight, I was looking at her teeth. The one tooth looked like it was gonna come out really soon but then I looked at the one next to it and it looked even looser! I told her to see if she could twist it. She tried and it actually twisted all the way around. She was so excited! So she did it one more time and it came out in her hand. I actually snapped this picture right after she realized that her tooth was in her hand!

I still can't believe my little girl is so big! 

Half Marathon

Shane and Matthew ran a half marathon today! So crazy! It is so inspiring though to watch! Makes you want to get out there and run! 

This was Shane's second time running the Augusta Half and Matthew's first. We all went down to cheer them on and watch them come across the finish line. Shane came through first at 1:37 and Matthew came through a little bit later. He did a great job for his first time running! They both did!

  

Home and Garden Expo

Shane and I are thinking about doing a little remodeling. I inherited this bug from my parents...I just love tearing walls down! In our last house I took the wall down between the kitchen and dining room and put in a eat in bar in between. Anyway...I just love it. The day we moved into this newly built home, I decided I wanted to tear the island out and put in a new one. The builders really didn't think about practicality when they built the island in my kitchen. It is two levels but the leven that you are supposed to sit at is too high and too narrow. It's just wasted space. So we want to build a bigger, one level island, replace the countertops and put wood floors all over downstairs. We've been waiting to do all this for almost 5 years now and I think we are finally ready to take the plunge! We spent the day at the Home and Garden Expo and got so many great ideas! We took the girls with us too...which was kind of crazy. Although they did have a Home Depot workshop where the girls got to make their own toolboxes. It was so cute!! They got to glue and hammer and wear a Home Depot apron with their names on it. 

A Late Valentines Day

Shane and I celebrated Valentines Day on Saturday. He planned the whole day and it was awesome. He surprised me with an early dinner at the Melting Pot in Columbia. We were both starved and dinner was so good! We took our time and enjoyed every course. I was so stuffed by the time we left! It was still early and Shane had more plans for us. He found this really cool outdoor shopping center with cute shops and lots of trees and fountains. We walked around and looked at all the cute shops...and then it started SNOWING! It was so beautiful and magical. We just walked around with these huge snowflakes falling from the sky. And took a bunch of pictures. :)

We had to head home early because the whole shopping center closed early because it was snowing! It wasn't even sticking to the ground and they still closed all the shops! We did manage to get cupcakes at this cute place called Sweet. So yummy! I have to be honest...I love cupcakes but I usually hate cupcakes from cupcake shops. They always have too much frosting and the flavors are too sweet. But this place...I haven't been able to stop thinking about it! I want to go back to that shopping center just for another cupcake! :) It was such a nice day with Shane. I'm so happy to have time with him again!

Best Day Ever

Today was seriously so much fun. First planned family fun day...success! We took the girls to Snow Mountain in Atlanta today. It was a 2 hour drive and we stopped at Chipotle for lunch before heading over. Shane and I were really looking forward to a nice lunch but the kids didn't quite agree. After the tears and tantrums and a few bites from each of them we headed to the fun. :) Thankfully...the rest of the day was much much better! 

First we went to the Snow Village. There was a snow machine spewing snow everywhere. They had a couple of small sledding areas too. We threw snowballs and the kids dug in the snow. They went down the small sledding ramps a few times. Then we headed to the big sledding. They had a couple lanes closed because they melted, about 4 ramps for the single riders and 3 ramps for the family or group riders. We did the family one twice...so much fun! Then Natalie wanted to go by herself, so Shane took her and I stayed with Heidi. She is still a little too short. Natalie loved going by herself and wanted to go again so the next time I went with her. Not as fast as the family rides but still fun. Then we took the sky rail to the top of Stone Mountain. The kids loved the ride and the top of the mountain was really cool. You could see so far! Heidi made me a little (or a lot) nervous. She was running and jumping like we were in a playground and not on the top of a mountain! When we finished walking around we took the sky rail back down, went down the big family ramp one last time and then let them play in the Snow Village one more time before heading home. This time we got some Chick-fil-a...no complaints from the girls there! :) As soon as we got home, I got them both into bed and they were out cold within minutes. Such a great day! :) 

 At the top of Stone Mountain

 Ready to go sledding

 

 Shane and Natalie 

 Downtown Atlanta in the background

 In the family inner tube....my favorite part of the day!

 Snow Angels are highly overrated. :)

He Did It!

Yesterday was Shane's last class for his Masters. Yay!! His graduation ceremony isn't until April but I wanted to do something small to celebrate. I invited his brother and sister and Colby, Dane and Colie. We all surprised him when he walked in the door, clapping and congratulating him. It was so awesome. It was pretty late and we are planning a big party when he has his ceremony but it was just enough time for a toast! :) 

 Shane was pretty excited to be finished too. :)

 Cheers! You did it and you're awesome!!

I am so so proud of Shane for working like crazy to do this. This past year and a half was insane and super busy with him working, studying and going to class. He did such a great job! I am so happy that he is finally done though and that I get my husband back! For the next few months we don't have anything planned except for lots and lots of family time. :)

100th Day of School

 

Natalie had her 100th day of school yesterday. It was so cute...they had her dress like a 100 year old person! Not an easy thing to make a cute little girl look old by the way! I put her hair in a bun and poured baby powder on it to make it look gray. Mom had a pair of reading glasses that she took the glass out of and Natalie loved that! She wants to keep wearing them! The clothes were a little tougher. I put her in her normal clothes but threw a sweater around her shoulders.