The Grammys

In recent years, I have not kept up with watching the Grammys. I think when I hear these new artists and my response is "Who?" it just makes me just feel old. ;)
I was happy with a few of the performances. Elton John and Lady GaGa, though strange as expected, was a great dueling piano performance. I was also impressed with Pink's performance-it was very "Cirque du Soleil".
I was very disappointed to see Beyonce's "Single Ladies" get Song of the Year. Seriously?! How about Kings of Leon, Dave Matthews or even Lady GaGa (I must admit I am a fan of her music-not so much her outfits).

But I really liked seeing Dave Matthews, my favorite band perform "You and Me".
Below is the video of their Grammy's performance.

Snow, snow and more snow!

With all the snow we got, Christian and I headed outside to build his first snowman!

I had to get a little creative with our snowman's "features"....pink golf balls for eyes and a Pampered Chef citrus peeler for a nose and blue silly string for hair!

We went on to build a couple more snowmen. Christian wanted a large, medium and small snowman-"Like the 3 bears story, mom." he said.

We even helped out our neighbors and shoveled driveways! Christian loves to be a helper!

Christian helping Mr. Murphy shovel our neighbors, Mack and Linda's driveway.

School was closed yesterday (Monday). Even though the snow has not melted away, the roads are mostly clear so school is back in session today! Christian was excited to get back in his routine and see his friends! And I hope to make it into the gym this morning for Zumba! ;)

Winter weather blast!

Once again, we have been hit with some winter weather! I thought I lived in the South, but the past several weeks I have felt as if I lived in the North Pole! ;)

Beginning Thursday afternoon, our area had freezing rain and sleet. Jim's office even release people early from work so they could get home before it got too bad. After maybe an inch of ice, the snow began to fall....and fall....and fall! It literally never stopped for about 24 hours!

This is what it looked like in front of our house Thursday evening as the sleet turned to snow...


And this is what it looks like now...over 24 hours (and 7 inches later!)

Those same bushes coated with snow!

Our backyard fire pit

Our backyard play area

My little garden angel looks to be pleading with God saying "No more snow!"

Jim shoveling our driveway

One crazy story I had to share....the news reported Friday night that one of the snow plows in Bella Vista actually slid off the road and turned over. Luckily no one was injured, but just goes to show, if the snow plow is having trouble getting around, then it is best to stay indoors!

Here is a link to that story and pictures of the overturned snow plow...(just cut and paste into your browser)

http://www.4029tv.com/video/22382367/index.html

So we have been relaxing indoors yesterday and today. I have finished a book, played several games of "Go Fish" with Christian and finally--catching up on my blog. ;)

Christian and I even made some chocolate covered strawberries this morning!

Christian asked, "Are you having a party?"
"No" I replied, "These are for us to eat!"
"Alllllllright!!!" he yelled! :)

Christian was quite good and making chocolate covered strawberries!

Andrew enjoying his "big boy peas" as Christian calls them. ;)

So from our house to yours---stay warm and safe this weekend!

Student of the Week!

Christian was named "Student of the Week" at his elementary school last week!
He was excited! His teacher asked him to fill out a questionnaire and provide some pictures of him for display in the hallway. Here are his "My Favorite Things" questionnaire answers...

My favorite song: Jingle Bells
My favorite TV show: Curious George
My favorite game to play: Train conductor
My favorite food: mac and cheese
My favorite sport: golf

Congratulations to our big boy Christian!

Weekend tidbits...

I took Christian to see "A Year with Frog and Toad" the play at the Walton Arts Center last Saturday. He really liked it. We had recently starting reading the books and we both enjoy the cute stories. We met Pops and GoGo and Uncle John with his friends for lunch at Hugo's, one of my favorite dining places in Fayetteville.

Last Saturday night, Jim and I had a date night and enjoyed dinner at Basils. We actually went to see Sherlock Holmes, a VERY good movie! We had a great evening out together, just the two of us.

Jim has actually gotten in a couple rounds of golf the past couple weekends. He was chosen by a golf ball manufacturer to "test" some golf balls and provide them with his feedback. He was excited about that!

Christian and I went to his friend, Ian's birthday party at JumpZone this past Saturday. That worked out perfectly since it was a rainy Saturday.

Jim has gotten to spend some extra time with Andrew while Christian and I have our "mother and son" outings. Poor little Andrew is cutting his 1 year molars (according to his pediatrician) so he has been pretty fussy lately. I hope his teeth stop giving him trouble soon!

Christian has another loose tooth! His other bottom front tooth is pretty loose and he will soon have a big gap on the bottom of his handsome smile! ;)

We got to enjoy the one beautiful day that the weather was almost 70 degrees last week. We had an after school playdate with my friend Misty and her kiddos. We met at the park. Our older boys rode their bikes on the trail while we pushed our younger ones in the stroller. I was so glad to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. So were the boys!

I have been good sticking to my workout routine the past couple weeks! I got my new swimsuit in the mail that I ordered for our trip to Puerto Vallarta this summer---so that's my motivation!
I can't wait for summer!

I will end this post with a couple pictures...

Andrew's first time to ride sitting up in a cart...not in his bucket car seat. It was taken a few weeks ago...

He LOVES to ride around in the cart! So much to see and look at when we go grocery shopping!

Christian and Andrew in their matching fleece outfits from Aunt Kimberly and Uncle Wrenn!

9 months old!

Andrew turned 9 months old last week! WOW!

He has been furniture walking for awhile now. He loves to stand up on everything...including his little piano! I call him Jerry Lee Lewis! haha!

Andrew can stand up without holding onto anything now, but has not yet taken that first step without holding on to something. He is saying "dada" a lot! He has Jim really have a wonderful bond. Andrew lights up when he sees his dad.
Andrew is still eating 3rd foods and now eating puffs, yogurt melts and we have been doing some table food (muffins, rice, veggies). He is doing well with a sippy cup already!

Andrew had his 9 month checkup today. Since school was out for MLK birthday, Christian came along as my helper! I even got in my Monday workout, 30 minutes of the exercise bike and Zumba class this morning before his dr. appt. Can you say Super Mom?! ;)

Andrew now weighs 20 lbs. and 4.4 oz. (Chunk!) He is 27.75 inches tall (a bit over 2 feet).
Dr. Hill said he was doing great! He is right at average in all the percentiles except height-a bit shorter than average. He gets that from his mom. :)
He goes back for his next check-up at 1 year old! I cannot believe we are just a few months away from him turning 1!

After recently being at home so much due to the recent bad weather, we discovered a new "game" that Christian and Andrew both like....we call it "Baby Express". I put Andrew in his diaper box and Christian pulls him around the kitchen and down the hallway like he is riding a train. They both really have fun with it!


Who needs toys when you have an empty box lying around?! ;)

New Years Resolutions...

I have never been big about making New Years Resolutions. But this year is different. My resolution is to start working out. Not that I really need to lose weight, but more so tone and tighten and just get into shape. I have literally not worked out in four years. Luckily, I have been blessed with good metabolism and genes but as I get older, I think exercising could help boost it a little. So as of this week, I started heading to the gym a few days a week. I am taking some Zumba and Pilates classes and LOVE them! I am also riding my exercise bike for at least 30 minutes a day. I am already feeling better and excited about it! I have more energy too. This week has been so busy with school being back in session and me starting to workout that I have not gotten to blog much...but I will! :) Looks like I have a good schedule worked out to exercise now and Andrew does really well in the nursery at the gym! Yeah!
Andrew has his 9 month checkup on Monday. I will post his latest information that evening.
Have a great weekend!