Weekly Happenings - 1/19 - 1/27 - Turks & Caicos Vacation

We just got back from an amazing week on vacation with Grammy & Grandpa (in part to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary--wow, right?--and Grammy's upcoming retirement) at the Beaches resort at Turks & Caicos.  What a great family resort!  We spent time at the beach playing in the sand, swimming in the ocean, swimming at the pool (with two zero-entry areas for the kids!), ordered fun drinks for everyone (virgin for the kids, of course) at the pool--Peyton loved coladas the best, golf for the older boys, extra time in the sun for Grammy & I, cotton candy & ice cream snacks, tons of delicious meals at all kinds of restaurants, parasailing for Chad & I, romantic dinner on the beach for Grammy & Grandpa, scuba diving for Chad & I, lots of fun time at the water park for the kids--lazy river, water slides, splash park, playground time, sailing trip to snorkel and to a private island (where we saw iguanas and found lots of seashells, breakfast with the Sesame Street characters, nightly Sesame Street shows and dance parties (the kids both loved these!)...WHEW!  Here are just a few (of the 200+) pictures from our trip - enjoy!!

Weekly Happenings - 1/14 - 1/20

1.  As this was the week jut before we left on vacation it was a pretty quiet week but I couldn't completely skip the week!  One thing I wanted to note - on Thursday, Peyton had a disagreement with the support wires for the uneven bars - oops!  Unfortunately, Peyton lost...and ended-up with a black and blue eye.  Well, it started off black and blue, included a pretty good sized scrape and eventually turned purple!  

Weekly Happenings - 1/7 - 1/13

1.  We had a pretty quiet week - quite a change for us!  On Saturday, Peyton attended her friend Victoria's princess birthday party.  The girls had a blast dancing, playing games and of course - CAKE!  I forgot my camera and this is the best shot I got with my phone but she had a great time with her friends!  Oh, and Mommy had to wear a dress to the party too - of course, it was a princess party!

2.  On Sunday, I taught Children's Church which is normally for a class of 7-9 3/4 year olds.  Ok - I am not a teacher but have really enjoyed teaching these kiddos on Sunday mornings.  I got to church plenty early to get prepared only to find out one of the other 3/4 year old teachers was sick and I would have both classes.  Wow - I was exhausted after teaching ~16 kids for an hour - I really don't know how preschool teachers do it!  Our class had a great time and I was so proud of the kids in my class for how they welcomed their new friends to class!

3.  Then on Sunday evening we visited our friends and old neighbors at their new home!  As soon as we arrived we heard the kids inside alerting mom & dad that we (ok, Peyton) had arrived.  We had such a great time visiting, enjoyed an awesome dinner and of course wrapped-up the meal with brownies.  This is the best one I could get of all the kids together - they move too fast!  We really need to get together more often!

Weekly Happenings - 1/1 - 1/6

1.  On New Year's Day we had a quiet morning and enjoyed visitors in the afternoon!  Aunt April, Wyatt & Whitney stopped by to see us while they were up near our house shopping.  Peyton had a great time showing them around our new home and playing with her cousins, as did Garrison!

2.  Unfortunately, late Wednesday night Peyton got sick in her bed - trust me folks, it wasn't pretty! - so I stayed home with her on Thursday.  Our day was filled with some quality Mommy/Daughter time, completion of 9 loads of laundry (yes, 9 loads), lunch with Daddy, playing and some rest time as well.  She may have been sick during the night but she was her normal self all day.  Check-out some of her quotes of the day below!

3.  On Saturday, Peyton, Garrison & I went down to Clinton to take Apollo for his visit with Grammy & Grandpa while we are having our bathroom remodeled.  We had a great visit just hanging out and playing with Grammy, Grandpa & Grandma Mintun.  Check-out Princess Peyton counting her piggy bank money.  She did such a great job counting the money - guess her patience is growing with all the puzzles she has been putting together recently!

4.  Peyton has had some great quotes here recently. 

--Peyton:  Mommy, I want to play my guitar.  Mommy:  Peyton, you don't have a guitar...  Peyton: But I asked for one for Christmas.  Mommy:  I know, sweetie, but we can't get everything we asked for.  Maybe you can ask for one for Easter, your birthday or you could use some of your own money to buy a guitar.  **silence**  Hilarious!  The topic has come up a few more times since then and she is contemplating using her own money to make the purchase.  She has since told us she is sad she does not have a guitar.  Love this one!

--Peyton:  I want to wear shorts (on her sick day).  Mommy:  Ok, I will make you a deal - you can wear shorts if you wear tights or leggings underneath them.  Peyton:  Ok.  

Fast forward to about 2 hours later - Peyton:  Mommy, I want to have a fruit roll-up for breakfast.  Mommy:  Sorry, honey, fruit roll-ups are not for breakfast.  Peyton:  I want another deal.

--Peyton:  Grammy is your Mommy.  Mommy:  That's right.  Peyton:  Grandma Mintun is Grammy's Mommy.  Mommy:  That's correct.  Peyton:  Is Grammy Grandma Mintun's Mommy?  Mommy:  No, Grandma Mintun's Mommy was your Great Great Grandma Witchurch.  Peyton:  Did she hold me when I was a baby?  Mommy:  No, sweetie, she didn't hold me either.  She had gone to heaven before Mommy was born.  Peyton:  (crying) I just miss her SO much.  

5.  Garrison is learning so much these days, it really amazes me.  His vocabulary is increasing and does a great job saying thank you among other things.  He will say Daddy (his favorite), Mommy & Sissy but whenever we ask him to say Apollo he always responds with Dog!

Garrison is also using utencils more with his meals and is very self sufficient with getting himself snacks out of the cabinet.  He is also a bottomless pit!  The boy wakes up hungry and eats all day until he goes to bed!  We may be in trouble when he is a teenager!

Garrison LOVES Mickey Mouse!  For a long time he has just watched but now, when Mickey asks questions he gets up, dances and tries to answer - it is adorable!  The boy loves to dance and the Hot Dog song can solve just about any meltdown! :)