Happy Valentine's Day

This is the first year Thomas wrote all his own Valentine Cards. He did a great job. Here he is finishing up...

Tyler is helping him with moral support!

It was a Valentine Tradition that my parents alway gave me and my brother books for Valentine's Day so we are carrying on that same tradition with our boys. Here they are with their new books.

Tyler's 1st Valentine's Day

And a little Candy too!!

We hope everyone has a very Happy Valentine's Day!

Our Weekend

We spent almost the whole weekend at home but on Saturday night we met some friends for dinner at The Brewery, one of our favorite places to eat.

4 Months Old

On January 22nd Tyler was 4 months old. At his 4 month check up he weighed 16lbs and 2oz and was 25 in long. So far his accomplishments this month are learning to roll over and eating cereal for the first time. He still isn't a pro at eating with a spoon yet but we'll keep working on it. Also this month he was sick for the first time and took his first antibiotics.

And this is what my nights look like...

When I come home from work Thomas has almost always already had his bath and is in his pj's ready to love on his momma and do a little homework. Titus does such a great job of taking care of the boys till I make it in.

Thomas is entertaining himself with his DS while I give Tyler a bath.

No matter how grouchy Tyler might get from time to time, as soon as you start giving this kid a bath he is all smiles. I love bath time with a baby more than anything, they are sweet and soft, and smell so good!! Hopefully this means he will love the water like the rest of us do. I see lots of swimming and water play in his future.

After bath its time for a little lotion rub down and some kisses for momma!

Here are the boys in pj's after baths, I love to be in the floor with them!

You would think that since I don't get home till almost 7pm on the days I work I would be dead tired and want to do nothing. And in a way I am but as soon as I walk through the door and see those sweet faces I get a burst of energy and can't think of anything I would rather do than just spend time with my family. Now laundry doesn't get done, and dishes stay in the sink, and toys don't get cleaned up, and the quantity of time we spend together isn't alot (on my work days) but the quality of our time is amazing! We only have a couple of hours together at night...at best...but they are the very best 2 hours of my day.

My mornings these days...

My mornings consist of a whole lots of pre-planning so that Titus and the boys can have a smooth start to the day...

I lay out Thomas' clothes

I make sure backpacks are ready, lunch is packed, and breakfast is set out to grab and go... (yes that's chocolate milk and chocolate chip muffins for breakfast...Thomas shares a love for the sweeter things in life with his mother)

And Tyler needs breakfast too...along with his medicine (10 days on antibiotics)

And then I rush out the door so I can get to work on time!

McDonald's Oatmeal

Have you had Micky D's new Oatmeal???

My friend Crystal brought me some the other morning ...and I have to honest I would have never tried to otherwise, But I am totally loving it, It's my new breakfast of choice. Since I stop there daily for my large iced tea I have been getting this on a regular basis as well. I totally recommend it. And thanks Crystal for bringing it to me!

Cuddle Gram

I just love looking in Tyler's little backpack and finding these notes about his day. I know I have said it over and over but I am so thankful for my daycare.

My New Necklace

A few days before I started back to work, Titus and I went out to dinner while my mom and dad kept the boys. After dinner we walked around to a couple of shops in Gatlinburg and I saw these adorable charms for a necklace and had to buy them. I told Titus I will still treasure this necklace when I am old and grey! And think about my sweet little boys!!

Back to the real world....

I have finished my second week back at work, both kids have been sick already. I have been to the doctors office 4 times in less 1 1/2 weeks. And still haven't been able to get Tyler's 4 month old well check-up with shots because he hasn't been well yet! Hopefully we will to that next week. Tyler rolled over for the first time last week at day care...of course I missed it, but Thomas got to see him, it was early before he went to school one morning. I still haven't seen him do it yet. Hopefully this weekend he will show his mommy his newest accomplishment.

I really miss being at home with my boys. But I am thankful for a good job that I do enjoy. So....if I must work, and I must, I am glad to have the job that I do.

Thomas is doing great in school, he is currently working on his reading skills and he is trying to get in the 100 word club. They have 6 groups of word flashcards that total 100 words that we are currently practicing daily so hopefully it won't take him long. He is very excited to finish all 6 levels. I try and post his progress.

Titus is getting a dose of the real world too! No more home cooked dinners ready and waiting on him at soon as he gets home from work...and so much for keeping the laundry caught up daily. It's piling up quick! As for dinner its a bowl of cereal or a sandwich that he makes himself. He is taking and picking up both kids on the days I work, making sure they are fed, and have baths. He's such a great daddy though, he is doing a great job, and I appreciate him very much!!

Close Call....

Last Friday, Jan 21st, my off day for the week...I was at home with two sick children, Thomas with strep and Tyler a sinus infection, when I hear a very loud crash in the basement. Thomas and I both jumped...Then I thought oh I bet Titus is working in this area and has come by the house on his lunch break to put more wood in the wood stove that is in our den in the basement. I was holding Tyler so I told Thomas to go see if that was Daddy in the basement. He heads off down the steps then comes running back upstairs in a panic...no mommy...its NOT Daddy he says..its an emergency...the pipe fell off the wall for the wood stove he says! I jump up baby in arms and Thomas by side and run down there in a panic, he was right...I tried to call Titus, with no answer on his cell, big surprise...so then I try my Dad...after a couple of attempts I get in touch with him and he heads my way. Finally I have to call the dispatchers at his work to get him to call me due to our little emergency... Titus was able to come straight here. Within just a few minutes I had my Dad, Titus, and a several others here to help. I was literally shaking!! But somehow I held it together. There was some smoke coming out but no flames... thankfully I had neglected to put more wood in it due to a sick baby in my arms so we had just about let the fire burn down to only coals which is the only thing that saved us from having a major disaster. They were able to get the pipe put back in place until it burned totally out then later that night...Titus with the help of both of our fathers got it secured properly so we won't have this issue in the future. What a day!!!

First Official Day of Day Care

I officially started back to work on Tuesday January 18th. Here are a couple pics from Tyler's first day at daycare. I miss that kid so much!! We have grown very attached to one another. He handled me going back to work much better than I did. I cried, He didn't!! He is very happy.

At Home with my Boys....

Wow...it's been a long time since I made any blog updates. Here are a few random pics from the last couple of weeks I was home with my boys before I started back to work. I can't tell you how wonderful it was to be able to stay home with them every day. I am certain being a mommy is the greatest job I have ever had.

Tyler is about 3 1/2 months in this pic

And closer to 4 months in the following 3 pics

Thomas is such a great big brother, he adores his little brother more than anything. We have been having lots of Pajama Days...this is where we take showers and put back on clean pj's bc we never leave the house and we love it this way!!

Cades Cove in the Snow!

Yesterday we took a Sunday drive through Cades Cove to see the left over snow from last week and hopefully some wildlife. We saw tons of deer, probably the most I have ever seen. Lost count at well over 40 something and that was about half way through. We also saw lots of Turkey. Thomas took his new binoculars to use. This was Tyler's first trip through the Cades Cove Loop. We had a great day as a family!

Lazy Days...

It's been a lazy day! Both my boys slept till 9:3oam this morning and so did there Momma. I can't tell you how long its been since I have slept like I have been lthe past few days. I am getting spoiled quick. We all layed in my bed and played then slowly got our day started by taking baths and putting on clean pajamas. Then the rest of the day up to this point has mostly consisted of us wrapped up in our snuggies and laying on the couch playing Wii...by the way I have mastered holding Tyler while playing Wii... I am addicted to this thing. I am so thankful to be home and spending this time with my kids!

Christmas with Nana and Pa

After Thomas' weekly visit with Nana and Pa we celebrated Christmas with them last night.

Check out the new service station Thomas got for his matchbox cars...along with several more cars including the general lee from dukes of hazzard, dixie (the jeep), and a police car....very awesome!!!

And Tyler got a great new T-shirt and toy from them....

Yogi Bear Movie

Emily and I took Thomas and Grayson to see The Yogi Bear Movie today...They loved it! Good thing we sat on the back row because for most of the movie the two of them were standing and cracking up as they watched! I enjoyed seeing them more than watching the movie. They are so cute!!


And of course they had lots of coke, candy, and popcorn!!


Then Thomas went home with them to spend the night. I sure do miss him when he is gone, especially at night. He is the one who always helps me make sure everything is locked up and turned off for the night and he gives the best good night kisses a mom could ever ask for.