Tuesday, July 23, 2013

First Movie Date!

If you don't know this already, Regal Theaters do $1 movies every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:00. Each week they have 2 movies...older ones...that they show. How can you go wrong with a $1 movie? So, I asked Erin if she was up for taking our little ones to their first movie. We kinda thought this was the best way to test out their "theater behavior"...I mean...if they weren't into it...it was only $1 that we were out...as opposed to $1,000 for a regular movie. :)
 
This week one of the movies was...
 
We thought this would be a fun one for them to see...plus we hadn't seen it...so double win. :) I fully expected us to step one foot in the theater and Landry would be backing out saying, "No, no, I don't want to!" He was a little hesitant but got over it quickly!

 
Once we found our perfect spot...these two got all settled in with their treats and all!
Aren't they the cutest? Yes this picture will be featured in some way on their wedding day. :)
 

Erin and Amy
 
Landry and me

 
They did a great job of sitting, watching, giggling, laughing, eating popcorn, and more! Of course Landry had a billion questions from "Why is the carpet red? What is that window for? Why is that girl over there?" to questions about the movie itself...and "Why do you keep saying, 'Shush' Mommy?" We were doing so well...when all of a sudden...this happened...
 
 
The movie broke! Ha!!! It was good time for a snack break...

 
and a chance to stretch their legs.

 
Within about 15 minutes or so they had the movie back up and going. Landry and Amy got all cozy again...and we actually made it to the end of the movie!!!!

 
2 three year olds + $1 movie + unexpected break in the middle + popcorn...everywhere + fruit snacks + 3 potty breaks + no one got "eaten" by a seat + making it through the entire movie with no tears = SUCCESS!
 
Of course SUCCESS = these two happy mamas!
 
 
We are already planning our next trip...which we are totally going to splurge and go to the $3 movies! :)

Preschool!

Last week we had a big day in our house...Landry started preschool!!!!!
 
I have to say that I had a lot of mixed emotions about this day. I was so excited for him to go somewhere new and to make new friends...plus it would give me my own "me" time. I was nervous about not knowing how he was going to respond and knowing that he is so uncomfortable in new situations. I was excited for him to be in an environment where he could really thrive and benefit from being around a larger groups of kids. I was hopeful that he would love it. And of course...I was sad! So sad that my little man has reached another milestone. I find it funny that when your child is a baby you can't wait for them to hit all of the milestones...then all of a sudden things change. I think it is right after talking...which there are definitely times I wish we could go back on that one :)...you realize that you want to wait as long as possible before they hit the next milestone. Because those milestones mean one thing...your little one is growing up...way too fast!
 
Chad and I debated back and forth for a LONG time about whether or not to send Landry to preschool this year, or to wait, or to not do it at all. We love, love, love, love, our daycare provider...and honestly...the idea of not seeing her every morning breaks my heart. She is so wonderful with Landry, and all of the other children, and has trully become a part of our family. I'm hoping she'll still be interested in watching Landry whe he is in high school. :)
 
Finally we decided to try and find a place where he could go two days a week. Then the hard part came of trying to find one that we liked, fit our schedule needs, was close by, and that we had heard good things about. Never did I think that choosing a preschool would be so hard!
 
One day I decided to just "pop in" to one that is pretty close to us and see what it was all about. I immediately fell in love! They were so warm and welcoming, gave me a tour, showed me ALL of the classrooms...not just the one Landry would be in...and I immediately felt at home. Plus I was super impressed with how well-behaved the children were at 4:30 in the afternoon...and ALL of the things they were learning.
 
So...we decided on...Brighten Academy!

The week leading up to his first day we talked about it a lot. I would show it to him everytime we would drive by. I got him a monkey backpack...which he LOVES...and he was so excited the first morning.
 
One of the cool things about his preschool is that they have a webcam you can watch him on. So of course...after dropping him off...he was tear free...me...not so much...I spent the next 45 minutes...no joke...watching him on the webcam. Uggh. I am a bit embarrassed to admit it. Here I was sooooooo excited for some "me" time...and what was I doing...watching Landry on my phone app. :)
 
It was all I could do to leave him there all day. I was sooooooo excited to get him and hear all about his day. When I picked him up, his teacher, Miss Annette, told me that he had an awesome day. Woohoo!!! She gave me a little "report" of how his day went...which they give us everyday...and I LOVE it. Here is his report for his first day:

 
As you can see they learned all about pets. Apparently Landry decided to tell Miss Annette that he has a pet alligator in his room. Yup. Lovely. They read the story "Fergus" and made their own puppy ears. So, every once in awhile Fergus is at our house! :)

 
I asked him what his favorite part of preschool was and he said..."Eating watermelon!"
 
Landry already loves Miss Annette...and I can tell that everyone at Brighten Academy already loves Landry...or Mr. Hollywood... as the owner calls him. :) We are so grateful to have found another wonderful place to take Landry.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Rounding third...and HOME!

First of all...I am behind on my blogging...just a little bit...but still behind. So, I will be playing a bit of "catch-up" here in the next few days...you've been warned. :)
 
As you know...if you read a previous post...Landry played in a summer t-ball league. The league was 6 weeks long and sadly...it has already come to an end. You might remember that he started off really strong, out on the field by himself, playing, having fun, and then we quickly went downhill. After that game we made a "deal' that if he played the whole game and didn't cry, then we would go and get ice cream afterwards. I am proud to say that there was only one week we DIDN'T get ice cream...and boy was someone upset...but...a deal is a deal. :)
 
Here is how most practices/games went down. Chad would do some warm-up activities with Landry. Landry would complain about the glove hurting, being thirsty, not watching the ball, etc. Then the game would start...and Chad and Landry would head to their spot at third base.
 
Chad would try to give Landry a bit of a "pep talk"...
 
which normally resulted in something like this!

 
If he wasn't sitting, twirling, playing in the dirt, facing backwards, or kicking sand...well...then he was just hanging out. :)
 
He did do a pretty good job at batting. He ALWAYS hit off the tee. The coaches would try to get him to hit a ball that was pitched...but he knew what he wanted...the tee. :)

 
After he hit the ball he knew to run...in the general direction...of first base...where he was almost always greeted with a high five from one of the other dads.

 
This picture cracks me up because in true t-ball fashion, most of the entertainment came from watching the kids "field"...and I use that word VERY losely. To say that we were a team of non-competitive players is an understatement. Notice all the dads. Yup, that's becuase if they weren't there...we would have only had two kids out there...Rylie and Johnny. Those two ran all over the field, tackling each other, and fielding pretty much EVERY ball. The others...well...they liked to kick dirt, put their gloves on their head, spin around, cry, pick up rocks...pretty much do anything BUT field the ball. :)


 
Here they are...the mighty Pirates...doing their final team cheer at the end of their last game.


 
Tunnel time! Yup...in true Landry fashion...he FINALLY went through the tunnel...the very last game of the season. Look at his smile! He was sooooooo proud of himself...and we were pretty proud, too. :)

 
After the tunnel it was time for them to get their medals. The volunteer coach/dad was so sweet! He called each child one at a time and gave them their medal.

 
He told the team that Landry was the team's "secret weapon!" Loved it!!!

 
Daddy and his t-ball player!

 
So proud of my little man!

 
We love you, Landry Tigh!

 
Big thanks to Auntie KK and Uncle Ron for coming out to watch pretty much every game!

 
And of course lots of love to Nawnie and Papa who cheered on our little man each week!

 
Here is his "official' team photo. Can you tell that someone was NOT happy about taking a picture WITHOUT his sunglasses?

 
And here they are...the mighty Pirates of CUSD Summer T-Ball! There is so much about this picture that just cracks me up. Landry was quite "taken" with the little girl that is the third from the left. Her name was Victoria and he loved her. They were soooo stinkin' cute together. In this picture he was so mad that he didn't get to sit next to her for the picture. If this is any hint at what the future holds...oh my...we have a little Casanova on our hands. :)
 
We can't say enough how proud we are of Landry! He grew so much and showed us a side of him that we haven't seen before. He went out each week...with very few tears...and did what we asked of him. Chad and I had anticipated 6 weeks worth of tears but he proved us wrong. When we were talking about his last week he said, "T-baw is aw over...now we can jus tay at home aw night!" Gotta love it!
 
Here is a series of videos I took during his last game. They are not very exciting...just a peek at his "athletic" ability. :) Really...they are something that only a parent or grandparent finds interesting...just a warning. :)
 
Here he is batting and running to first...
 
Landry on first...running to second...
 
 
On second...heading to third...
 
Third to home!
 
This last video is Landry hitting and running all of the bases. They had a "rule" that when the last batter hit, everyone ran all the way to home. It was hilarious because the would all get to home and just stop...standing on the plate. Love it! :) Landry was the last batter so he got to run all the way.
 
 
 

Friday, July 19, 2013

Amy's Big Day!

Yesterday we got to celebrate our sweet friend, Amy's, 3rd birthday!
Amy's mom...my friend Erin...planned a perfect morning at the splash pad park. Amy requested a "rainbow" party...and a rainbow is what she got! There were yummy donut holes with rainbow sprinkles, rainbow goldfish crackers, rainbow fruit cabobs...and rainbow cake pops!!!!
 
We started with playing on the playground. Landry was very hesitant...but luckily his good friend Amy showed him how to do it. :)

 
The birthday girl and her wonderful mama!

 
Finally ready to go down...as long as I stood in an exact spot at the end of the slide. :)

 
The other kids decided it was time to play in the water...
 
 
Landry...not so much! :)

 
He did get totally "crazy" and put his hand in the water.
Oh my super cautious, non-risk-taking child. :)
 
 
 
Even Amy couldn't get him to get in the water.

 
What about this one...nope...not going to happen!

 
So, he was the only child that was COMPLETELY dry...yup...not a bit of water...besides putting his hand in the water.
 
One thing he did want to join in on was the fun with the balloons! The kids loved running around, playing with the balloons, and watching the trains go by. It is so funny how as mommies we always try to plan these extravagant things...and all they want is some grass, balloons, and train every once in awhile. :)

 
I do have to add that the other kids ran around with their balloons, punched them, karate chopped them, got tangeled in them, threw them...and my child...walked extremely slow with them. Stopping to look up and make sure they weren't tangled.


 
"Look...a train...it has lots of coaches on it!"
 
 
Of course it isn't a party without some blowers...yes, that's a technical term!

 
And of course...cake and candles!

 
Two cake pops for the birthday girl!!!!

 
Landry...double fisted...cake pop in one hand...blower in the other.

 
Yummy...red velvet!!!!

 
Here are all of the kiddos...absolutely darling!!!!!!!
 
 
And again...with party hats...except for one! :)

 
Amy...we had so much fun celebrating you and your big day!

 
We can't believe that you are already 3 years old...and we feel so lucky to have you, and your mom and dad, in our lives!!!

 
You know what's coming...yup...a look at the past!
 
Here are Amy and Landry at his 1st birthday...
 
 
at Landry's 2nd birthday...

 
and now...as big 3 year olds!!!!
 
 
I don't know what happened to our babies...but I think it is time to admit that they are "kids" now...not even toddlers. Two little ones with such different personalities but kindred spirits none the less. Oh how I wish time would slow down...but I have loved watching these two grow together and cannot wait to see what the future holds...marriage?
 
Of course we wouldn't have Amy in our lives if it weren't for this special lady!
 
 
Words cannot express how grateful I am for the friendship we share. I love that we can go weeks, or even months, without getting together and can pick up right where we left off!!!
 
I also have to thank Erin for taking darling pictures...many of these I stold from her Facebook. :)