Busy is an understatement....

Oh my goodness...I feel like I have a newborn again.  We have been functioning on very little sleep around here.  Mainly it's because once again we are in remodeling mode!  Last Friday, we ripped the old flooring up in our dining room and had plans to start putting down the new flooring Saturday morning as soon as Justin got home from work.  A guy that works with Justin came over once they got off work and he decided we needed to start in our den to keep from having to work backwards halfway through our room.  Thank goodness he made that decision because that saved Justin a lot of time.  However...we had to move all our furniture back into the dining room and rip up the den & hall flooring.  It was late Saturday afternoon before we really even got started.  We worked our tails off.  Not to mention...we had two two years old to entertain while we were working.  We even kept working through nap time and after they would go to sleep at night.  Thank goodness my two can sleep through anything.  Even with the air compressor running constantly, Justin sawing right outside Emma's room, the nail gun, and all the hammering...they snoozed right on!  Most people were out vacationing or on the lake and we were inside putting down flooring.  It was well worth it though.  It is now a week later and we are 99.9% finished.  Justin is hopefully going to get the last few pieces put down tomorrow.  Here are a few pictures.  I forgot to take a before picture.

                      

Doesn't it look good???  I love the wide planks!  Justin still has to finish the side piece in the first picture and put back down our shoe molding.  It looks MUCH better though!

Then, this week...Emma & Evan had their first swimming lessons.  I was thinking Emma would do better and of course they proved me wrong.  Emma would cooperate about 15 minutes and then she just wanted to play.  Evan did great.  He only cried on time and that is because the water was cold!  Once he got use to it...he was fine.  I took a couple pictures of our swimming lessons.  I tried to stay out of the way, so they would listen to her and not worry about what I was doing...so these pictures are from a distance.  Even Morgan bragged on how well Evan did.  She thinks he will catch on to swimming pretty quickly!  

Emma at one of her lessons!

And I was trying to keep her quiet while Evan had his lesson.  I could just eat her up!  

                      

And my sweet boy during one of his lessons!

After their first lesson...we went to Chick-Fil-A and got ice cream because they did so well!  

Wednesday...Davis & Floyd celebrated our 60th anniversary!  We had a big event in Columbia.  That was a central location for all of our offices.  They rented buses and drove us all down there.  I think there were only about 5 people from our office that didn't go.  All of our Columbia office was there.  Most of the Charleston group came.  The Florence group were all there but none of the Hickory group made it.  So, we had a good crowd...not to mention all the outside guest that they had invited.  We had a fun night celebrating and are looking forward to another 60 years.  The reminded me that I could probably be around when we celebrate 100 years.  I said there is no way I'd still be working then...because I'd be 70...but the way things are going in our world anymore...I may still be working at 70.  Plus...the average age of people at D&F is well over 50!  People don't ever retire from there.  It is a great place to work.  I am excited about the future!  

Then, today was our last day of school!  I can't believe it is already another year behind us!  I of course took pictures of my sweeties this morning.  They have grown so much this past year.  

                            

They have had such a good year and have learned so much.  I know I am partial but I feel like they are doing very good for their age.  They can talk in sentences very good.  They know almost all of their colors, numbers, and are starting to learn letters.  They just amaze me everyday with what all they are learning.  We of course had to make our classmates a goodbye gift.  We got them beach balls and the little note says...We hope you have a ball this summer.  How cute was this?? 

It was of course a Pinterest project!  So, that ends another year at Learning Express.  I am still not sure what I going to do with E&E next year.  We have another few weeks before I have to decide that for sure.  Anyways...it is now after 11:00 and once again we aren't in the bed!  So...good night!!

Laney Marie Babb

Well...our well kept secret is out!  And boy am I glad!  Laney Marie Babb was born Tuesday, May 27th at 1:54 pm weighing 6 lb 10 oz and is absolutely perfect!  Let me back up and tell you the story from my point of view.  Mother's day was the day we found out that Katie & Matt had been chosen.  We celebrated the day at Katie's house and nothing was out of the ordinary other than Matt's mom was at our family celebration.  I didn't really think anything of it other than the fact that Katie hadn't mentioned she was coming.  Normally she would have at least told us.  Anyway...she had the dining room table set for all the ladies and had cards in front of our seats.  She told us to fix our plates and we could read our cards later.  So, I was the first back in the dining room and I thought while I waited for everyone to get their plates and come eat...I would read the card.  As I was reading the card, it took me a few minutes to comprehend that I was going to be an aunt to a sweet little niece in late May.  I started "quietly screaming" and hugging Katie.  The other ladies wondered what in the world was in that card.  None of us had any idea what an exciting Mother's Day this would be!  Katie filled us in on what all had been going on.  She knew a whole week before she told us.  They had even met with the mom and had ultrasound pictures.  Katie never let on a thing.  I am not going into all the details because I am not sure exactly how much Katie wants to share but let me just tell you...it was all part of God's plan!  I can't even begin to tell you how this was a just God's perfect timing.  Katie is now finished with her first year of reading recovery and all the training that came along with that job.  She is now out of school for the summer.  She just got a car that will hold this sweet little baby comfortably...and those are just some of the minor things.  God worked through the birth mom and her family in that they all three separately chose Matt & Katie...it is just amazing.  Katie & Matt knew from the beginning that this was one of God's callings on their life and they were faithful to that call.  So, we know little Laney is going to be such a blessing to them.  So, since Katie only had a little over 3 weeks to get ready...we were all in a rush to help her prepare.  Granted I have been telling her for months that she needed to get ready and she didn't heed my warning!  So, Matt got to work moving the guest room upstairs and painting the nursery, Katie ordered her furniture, Matt's mom got to work on the curtains, and us girls went shopping!  We got all the necessary things they needed to bring the baby home!  Tuesday was such a long day for us.  Katie & Matt got to the hospital a little after 6.  At 9:00 we got the message that they had broken her water.  Then, we didn't hear a single thing until about 12:00 and she was a 4 cm.  Then, about 1:00...she was about 7 cm and then we got the picture of Katie holding her!  I of course couldn't tell anyone so I was sitting at my desk just a smiling to myself!  So, then of course we got lots of texts a a few pictures on Wednesday & Thursday.  Me & Alison went over to Katie's Thursday afternoon to decorate the outside for baby Laney's arrival!  Little did we know it would be almost 8:00 before they got home.  Regardless...we are all there ready and waiting to welcome her home.  Now...let me share some pictures!  We are in love already!!

                 

These are pictures of pictures that they took.  Katie took Alison's camera and didn't take the cord to connect the camera to the computer...so she took a picture with her phone of the picture on the camera.  So, that is why these aren't the clearest pictures but they are two of my favorites.  You can see her little face so good.  She is beautiful!!  I could just squeeze those little cheeks.  And trust me...she is little!!  

                    

 Some of our decorations.  Balloons, a flag, and a new wreath...all made by me!! :)

This wreath took me forever...but I was very proud of it!  

And of course...I went a little crazy monogramming!  

Here she is when she arrived home all snuggled up in her car seat!  

I love this picture of Katie holding her.  She looks like she is smiling at Katie!

And of course...the little Babb family!  

We are so excited to have a new addition to our family.  Emma has already tried to give her the paci and just today they both helped feed baby Laney.  And just to think...we get to do this all over again in less than 3 months when Reid gets here.  His name isn't set in stone but I am tired of him not having a name...so I am sticking with Reid until Alison makes up her mind!  We are ready to meet him too!  

Totally in Love....

I went to view our pictures today from Trinity Street and I am totally in love with all 94 pictures.  I tried narrowed it down to just my absolute favorites to share on the blog and it was still 14 pictures. I have NO idea which ones I am going to print.  So here are my favorites!

Don't you see why I am having a hard time only picking three??  And I even like more of the black & white ones than I do the color ones.  Choices...Choices.  I am glad we went with Trinity Street...it was WELL worth the money!!

Happy Mother's Day & a little weekend fun!!!

Well, it's already another weekend!  This week flew by!  I guess it was because we had a lot of stuff going on every night this week.  Monday was bible study, Tuesday Justin went to eat at Shealy's with his bible study group, Wednesday I went to the visitation at the funeral home for a friend's uncle who passed away and Justin went bow fishing, Thursday we started the process of uncovering the pool and had to be inside by 8:00 to watch the NFL draft. So, see it was something every night!  That was a lot but we survived.  Let me back up to Wednesday.  Remember I was making homemade cinnamon rolls for Teacher Appreciation.  Well, this is a picture of them before I added the frosting.  Don't they look YUMMY???

Since I made 3 dishes of them...I sampled a few.  So did Emma, Evan, & Justin. Trust me...they were YUMMY!!  Also, here are the cute little gifts we made for Mrs. Melissa and Mrs. Carmen.

It was a pedicure basket with flip flops, toenail polish, polish remover, cotton balls, and clippers.  The tag said "We "toe"tally appreciate you!"  Can you tell that was a Pinterest idea??  Friday night we celebrated Mother's Day with Justin's family in Union.  Jason & Ashley grilled out and they kids got to play together for a little while.  I think everyone had a good time.  Saturday morning , we made a quick trip to Greenwood to get some supplies for our attempt at being crafty for Mother's Day gifts from Emma & Evan.  I painted their feet and we made butterflies on flower pots.  They turned out really cute.  I thought I had taken a picture but apparently I didn't.  I will have to take one when we go to momma's this week.  Saturday afternoon, some friends invited us over to grill out.  They had a bouncy house for the kids to play on.  And Caleb took them all on a ride around the house.  It was so cute to see them take turns riding with him! Emma & Evan had a great time!

                 

Just so you know Evan is getting one of those toys in the second picture.  He loved it.  You would step on the plate on the ground and the arm raises up and hooks the ball on the cord hanging down. It was the neatest toy!  Then, yesterday...we celebrated Mother's Day!

This is one of the only pictures I could get with both of them.  Emma looks a little surprised!  I could just squeeze those little faces!  I am so blessed to be their mom!!   Emma & Evan gave me the sweetest poem about being a Mother of Twins and a picture of the two of them.  Justin actually put some thought into a meaningful gift and I loved it!!  We had breakfast served to us in Sunday School again this year.  Justin actually asked E&E the questions this year and the answers were no where close to what they should have been but that is something I will treasure forever!!  As he was reading their answers I can so hearing them saying it.  What a special time it was this morning.  Then, we went to Katie's to celebrate with my mom. 

We had to take a picture of us girls with momma!   Katie did the meal and it was great as always.  We had ham, spinach salad, tomato pie, broccoli salad, fruit, bread, & strawberry trifle for dessert.  My parents are getting ready to plant new shrubbery at their house...so we had the perfect gift for my mom this year, a gift certificate to help buy the shrubbery!  I love a practical gift.  You are probably wondering what Justin got me for Mother's Day???  Well, it will hopefully be coming this weekend after we view our pictures from Trinity Street.  The plans are to print a portrait of Emma and one of Evan for my dining room and then to print one of the whole family for my living room over the fireplace.  Since that is 3 big canvas pictures and I will need frames for them to go in....I told Justin he could just help me pay for that!  If the pictures don't turn our like I hope they will..I am sure I can come up with something for him to buy me! :) Mary Anne just sent me a text tonight saying she can't wait for me to see our pictures.  I am SO excited to see them!!  I am super excited that I may have finally found some curtains for my den also.  You would think it would be easy since green & brown are the only two colors in my den...but our green color is not a popular color apparently.  I was hoping to find something patterned that still had that green in it to help add some color to our room! I found what I think will be perfect on Etsy.  They are custom made curtains and the girl is going to send me a sample of the fabric before I order them.  It looks like it will be the perfect green with a rust color...which I think is VERY close to my kitchen color, and an burnt orange color.  I hope these will work.  The last time I ordered curtains thinking they would be perfect...when they got here they were blue and nothing like the picture on the internet.  So, after I get her sample...I will know for sure if these will work.  I sure hope so because it is very cute fabric!!  So, that was our weekend hope you all were able to celebrate with your mom's!  There is no other job in this world as important as being a parent!!  Have a great week!!

Our little helpers!!

Justin finally got the hand rails up on the front porch.  I decided we needed to paint these rails.  We plan to paint it all after we pressure wash...but that could possible be three more weeks and this had already gotten on my nerves not being painted.  So, I made a family event out of it!  I got E&E paint brushes and let them help.  It really didn't matter if they spilled paint or not because the flooring is going to be painted soon.  They had a ball and we ended up with paint EVERYWHERE!!!

Our finished product.  What do you think??  It is starting too look MUCH better!!  Then, we decided to pull out the car.  They haven't rode in it for a while.  Emma is much better steering it than Evan.  He won't pay attention long enough for us to explain it to him!

Justin started playing around with the camera but I don't think Cody has ever made the blog!  This is the sweetest most well behaved lab we could have ever gotten!!  So glad Justin went against my wishes on this one!  He has been a keeper!! 

My window boxes are in full bloom!

And the pots beside the garage are doing well too!  

Justin has really worked hard on not only getting the yard in shape but he waters my flowers religiously every night for me.  When E&E allow...I help!  Sunday afternoon we had our family pictures.  We were supposed to do them Friday morning but it was cold and overcast so we decided to wait.  Sunday afternoon was perfect!  We bribed E&E with milkshakes!  They did great!  Even Mary Anne said most kids are over it within 10 minutes....and 45 minutes later...E&E were still doing what she asked.  We get to go view them on the 16th and I am so ready. She says they got some good ones...we shall see!!  Anyways...that is enough blogging for one night.  Justin is home from Shealy's and I am working on my cinnamon rolls for the teacher appreciation breakfast in the morning.  Good night all!!  

The Georgia Aquarium

So, we were up and ready to hit the road by 8:30.  Justin moved the mattress of the other bed in our room to the floor and E&E slept like champs!  There's hope for the toddler bed yet! :)  We headed to Chick-Fil-A for breakfast and then on to the Aquarium.  Here is my sweeties before we left!  Picture time is almost impossible anymore! 

Emma has her backpack on ready to go!

This is what most of our pictures look like these days!  

This is what you walk through right at the beginning.  It was fish galore!

I'm sure Evan is saying "Look at all the fish!"  We heard that  A LOT!!

We tried for a group shot and we had a little guy who wanted to be in our picture too!

We got inside one of the aquariums and you could see us on the outside!

The alligator!

The otters!

A ginormous crab! 

Some dolphins!

An octopus!

Some kind of sea dragon.  

Evan touching whatever this was.  I don't do sea life! :)

Another dolphin picture!

 

Then it was time for the dolphin show.  Evan loved it.  Emma will still tell you if you ask her about it "I was scared!"  She wouldn't even look!  It was a production with lights and singing and it was NOT loud by any means but she didn't like it.  Occasionally she would turn around and look at what was going on.  Evan liked it all though. He's my little animal lover!! 

Daddy & Evan waiting for the show to start!

The show was about to begin!

She's more interested in what's going on behind us!  Oh...just a side note...we went all the way to Atlanta and left her rabbit in 96.  The paci in the picture reminded me.  Half way there she asked for it!  We quickly told her she was at home keeping Daisy safe and that satisfied her.  That is a HUGE steps for us!! :)  We couldn't take pictures during the show so this is it for the Dolphin show!  I would suggest you guys going to see it.  It was so neat what they can get those animals to do!  

Sting rays!

A shark!

At this point, you get to pet the sting rays!  Evan did it several times.  It was just hard to get them to come to you!  He wasn't scared!  Emma again wanted no part!

We asked a guy to take our picture before we left and this is what we got.  Other people don't believe in zoom!  Oh well...it was what we asked for.  We got in the car and not 5 minutes later...this is what we saw...  

                               

They were knocked out!  We stopped in Commerce for a little shopping and lunch.  We decided to try Five Guys since we have heard so many people talk about this place.  It was good but way to expensive for hamburgers.  Needless to say...Justin said he won't be going back there.  We got home about 4:30 and it was a great trip!  Emma & Evan are still taking about the animals!  What a wonderful family get a away!!