Wookies On The Go

Traveling is a blast! We try to get out of town at least once a month and we haven't gone on a trip since December. We are so overdue for a trip! This family is prone to spur of the moment overnight excursions or weekend getaways.

Since we travel so much we have packing down to a science. I draw pictures of the items of clothing on our white board along with how many they need of that item. Then the kids get their own clothes. We pack all of the kid clothes in a small suitcase. Hotch and I put all of our clothes in a medium sized duffle bag. That's right we only bring TWO suitcases when we travel. The kids get to bring a backpack with only ten toys to play with, one notebook to draw on, one book to read and one stuffed animal. Packing light is the way to go!

This time Braxton and Delaney decided that we needed to prepare for snow.

Brax reminds me of Yoda whenever he wears his snow hat. His ears look so cute!

All day Braxton has been singing "Star Wars (John Williams Is The Man)." The kids watched the video today on YouTube quite a few times. He kept singing the Wookie part while he played Legos after packing to go. It was hilarious!

He was so cute making the Wookie noises so I decided to start making them along with him. Brax was thrilled that we were singing it together. It was pretty funny. (Look how tickled he was by it.) This kid is a character to say the least!

Enjoy! Our kids love this video!

Bulbs under the Persimmon tree

In late December as we strolled through Lowe's, I spotted leftover bulbs on sale. Since the bulbs were 75% off I just had to buy some for our little yard. We purchased about 100 bulbs: daffodils, freesias, crocuses and irises.

As a family we decided to plant the bulbs underneath the persimmon tree in our front yard in the hopes of brightening that little patch of earth. The kids loved planting the bulbs and are always willing participants in planting flowers. It was so exciting for me when Hotch participated especially since he isn't the biggest fan of gardening. I really love that we created that little flower garden together as a family!

Honestly, I was not sure if they would bloom in the spring because they started sprouting only a week after we planted them. Pleasantly to our surprise not only did the bulbs bloom in early March, but they are still giving us new treasures each day.

Reminds me of when Willy Wonka drinks out of the wax daffodil.

Isn't this crocus gorgeous. It smells divine! Braxton swears it is a rose.

Can't wait until the irises bloom later this spring!

Tulip Trees

Three weeks ago after bringing Hotch back to work at Randolph Community College I noticed a stunning tulip tree on campus. It was in full bloom and looked heavenly.

I gathered up the kids to go on a photo shoot. They know when the buds are in full bloom here in NC that mom wants lots of pictures.

Not everyone was thrilled, but they know the drill!

Brax cracked me up with his sunglasses. He thought he was the coolest boy!

Delaney usually is my little model, but she wasn't in the mood at all.

Alyssa is becoming the loveliest young woman.

Seriously, those sun glasses made his day! Every picture he would readjust them.

Can you tell that they are done? Thanks for being such good sports guys.

These are my favorite shots from the day. Enjoy!

Love how delicate and graceful these tulip tree blooms are.

These beauties come in pink too! Wish I had gone a few days earlier because the pink tulip trees were already starting to lose their blooms.

Identity Cloaker

We love British television! Honestly, what's not to love about the Brits. The accent alone makes them so cool! Give me a British time period piece anytime and I am in heaven. For a while now I have been trying to figure out a way to back door BBC so we can watch their shows online during the current seasons. At last I have been successful! Just subscribed to Identity Cloaker in order to watch foreign television and it rocks!

The kids love this show and since we don't have cable they got their fill through the BBC. Love hearing them speak in a British accent after it ended.

They are so cute cuddled together on the love seat. Love seeing them glued to the screen. Mind you we have two couches, but they prefer to seat all together on the love seat.

You caught me! Yep, I'm taking another photo because I just can't get enough of my babies.

Snowflake, the moth

We don't have any pets because I am not a huge fan of animals. This mom is well aware that the burden would fall on my shoulders which would mean in the end the pet would have to go.

Tonight for about 15 minutes one little girl's dreams of having a "pet" came true.

Delaney is our insect lover and tonight she found a moth that had made its way into the house. She was overjoyed that she was able to catch it and take it for a walk.

She said she trained it to sit on the lid so she could take it for a walk in the hall.

What an obedient moth!

It did disobey and flew off the lid onto the floor. She tried so hard to get it back on the lid herself.

Delaney is not the most gentle child, but boy did she ever attempt to gently pick it up.

Had to call Daddy out to the rescue. Love how Lane is trying to help him.

"Listen to Daddy," Delaney urged in a sweet tender voice.

She was so ecstatic that Daddy was able to put the moth back on its lid.

It was so darling watching Delaney absolutely fascinated by her moth.

Snowflake, the moth.

When Snowflake got away again Daddy had to come help Delaney get it back on its lid one last time.

Saying good-bye to Snowflake. No little girl could have loved a moth more.