Tag Archives: fun

Tiny Girlfriends

13 Aug

So Sweet

This weekend Nia got to have a blast with her best friend from Savannah.  Avery and her parents came to stay with us and it was such a great time.  It just amazes me how much these two little girls click.  They went to the same daycare together since they were like six months old or something and were inseparable from the start. Their cribs were even next to each other!  Taking Nia away from her Avery was really hard for us but it seems (thankfully) the distance hasn’t hurt their friendship. 

As soon as Avery got in the door (around 11:00 pm Friday) Nia and her were hugging and screaming and destroying the house.  It was so awesome hearing them giggling at 7:00 am and watching them hold hands as they walked.  This was the first “sleepover” for both girls and they did great.  They actually went to sleep and they were in the same room!  They were playing really hard though and we did keep them super busy.

On Saturday, we went to Stone Mountain Park and stayed out until 11:00 pm watching a laser/fireworks show on the mountain.  Before that, the kids ran around like crazy in a big barn full of foam balls and nets to climb.

Best of Friends

On Sunday, we went back to the Georgia Aquarium (it was Avery’s first visit there) and had a picnic near the tank of the Beluga Whales.  (It was so crowded there we couldn’t find a table!  It all worked out for the best though – just look at what we got to see while we ate!)

Our Entertainment during Lunch

The girls played so well together and it was like they had never been apart.  Andrew and I got along really great with Avery’s parents too (even the big kids had a ton of fun) so I know we’ll be seeing more of them – I just wish the girls could grow up together.  We just have to do all we can to make sure they keep in touch and see each other as much as possible – it would just be so sad to not see where their friendship leads.

Munchkins

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Underwater Explorers

9 Jul

The Georgia Aquarium ROCKS!

Whale Shark!

Today the Valles Family and our good friends from home (West Virginia), Chris and Julie, explored the awesome attraction.  It was a ton of fun and I can’t wait to go back!  Nia and Nate really had a blast.  Just take a gander at the pics and video.  Nate went crazy for the penguin!

The Fish are EVERYWHERE!

Checking Out the Fish

Tuckered Out Nate

Tuckered Out Nia

Looks Like Them, Huh?

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Celebrating the 4th

5 Jul

I knew people marked July 4th in lots of different ways but today I discovered a whole new way to celebrate.  While some people were firing up the grill to share the day with family/friends/neighbors and others were living it up at festivals – we loaded up the kids and had a blast exploring IKEA.

It was a complete spur-of-the-moment decision.  (I was the reason for the spur and Andrew loves me so much he said yes – plus I think I was driving him a little crazy because I kept telling him every time I saw a commercial for IKEA – it was a sign!  we were supposed to go TODAY – I’ve seen those commercials plenty of other times but this time I knew it was TODAY that we had to go.)  I couldn’t believe how many people were there!  Most of us were donning red, white and blue on our clothes – I made an effort to find a red ponytail thingee for my hair.  So, at least that was patriotic right?

The trip to IKEA meant we would have to give up our steak and shrimp dinner and settle for another 4th feast (subs for mom and dad – Mickey D’s for the kids) but I think it was worth it.  We got some much needed (and cheap!) frames and a nice framed picture for our spare bedroom.  Will it be a Valles family tradition?  I doubt it – but it made for a good memory!

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Tiny Homeowners

19 Jun

This weekend we bought the kids a playhouse.  It was Andrew’s Father’s Day gift.  He said it’s what he wanted because he knew it would make his kids and his babies’ mama happy. (Don’t worry, I still got him his very own gift too!)
Welcome to Our House
While the house is making everyone happy – there’s already been quite a few domestic disturbances to report. Nate is a wild man in the thing.  He climbs through the windows and he constantly tries to stand on that flimsy yellow table.  He also fights Nia for the little phone that came with the house.  Notice in the picture below that it’s missing from the wall?  Who knows where it is and we’ve only had it since Saturday!
A Happy Home
They really have been having a blast in there and Andrew and I have a blast as their next door neighbors.  (As long as they keep their music down and their grass cut!)
Hello There Neighbor

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Thanks for Liking Me

30 May

I am feeling pretty great right now.  I just had a super fun weekend with my good friend Julie and her mom.  Julie’s the kind of friend you don’t need to talk to all the time or see (haven’t been together since we lived it up in Atlanta in 2005) to know you’re friends.

We were practically inseparable while our husbands were at war and I treasure every minute I shared with her during that time. I know we both helped each other through all of the uncertainty and stress and I couldn’t even imagine what it would have been like for me and the Bean without her.

I have so many fun memories because of her (and a really awesome set of pink high heels) and I feel lucky to be able to call her my friend.  I look forward to the next time we can watch t.v., go shopping, drink yummy fraps or play a board game (even though she wins all the time) together. (Julie, this means you need to call me and book your next trip to Resort Valles!  I will leave fancy chocolates on your pillow next time! Miss you!)

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Growing Up So Fast

19 May

Getting Braver Every Day

Nia started taking gymnastics lessons at the Y about 5 weeks ago and tonight she got to show her stuff with all the other little gymnasts during a “meet.”  It was so adorable and I’m so excited we got to experience it.  When she first started she was a chicken liver – now, she hardly hesitates to jump from one thing to the next.  She even walked across the balance beam all by herself for two steps!  It makes me sad to see her growing up so fast but then I’m also happy about it – she’s a lot of fun and it’s neat to see the little person she’s becoming.  Also, the more she learns about growing up, the more I learn about parenting (which is actually kind of scary).

In fact, this event gave me my first real taste of worrying about my child being left out of something.  At the end of the “meet” they passed out trophies to all the kids. Well, I had noticed that they left several of the gymnasts’ names out of the programs (Nia’s was one of them), so I was already bummed that they did that (I was suffering from the whole “how dare they forget my daughter?!?!” attitude).  Because of that, I automatically started stressing that she wouldn’t get a trophy.  They went in alphabetical order so that didn’t help the situation.  I just kept watching her stare at all the other kids whose last names fell between A and U – I wondered what she was thinking…”Wow, look at their shiny trophies…I hope I get a shiny trophy too…I wonder why I haven’t yet?”  Finally, her name was called – Andrew and I relaxed and she beamed.  She was so quick to jump up and run over to collect her shiny trophy that she didn’t even pose at the top of the mat like all the other kids did.  She just grabbed it, turned around and ran to sit down and inspect it.

Daddy & Gymnast

It just feels good to see her so happy.  She loves “bynastics” (as she calls it) and I love watching her have a blast.

 

 

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When Parents (Want to) Sleep In

12 Mar

This is what Andrew and I woke up to on Saturday morning:

Crib or Toy Box?

We all heard Nate wake up – Nia was just quicker than lazy old mom and dad who decided we didn’t need to really rush in to him since he wasn’t screaming his head off.  It turns out that that morning he probably wouldn’t scream his head off since Nia brought toy after toy to him, filling up his bed until mom and dad finally came in.  We just had to know what was causing all that giggling.

No Room for Nate

Thank heavens for big sisters.  Because of her, everyone woke up in a good mood.

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Swingin’ in Savannah

2 Mar

Whee!

Swinging Boy

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