Day at the Beach

We had a fun time at the beach today with Gram, Aunt Sarah and Grace. The girls enjoyed chasing seagulls, eating apples, building castles in the sand and wading in the water. Baby brother hung out in this cool contraption that a friend gave me. It's made to go to the beach and sit in the sand, preventing sun burn and sand getting on baby. I wish I had a bigger picture so you could see it better. After the beach, we all came back to our house and the girls took a bath and we all ate lunch, played for a bit and then said goodbye. What a fun day!

Sesame Street Comes to Town!

For all you local mommys of toddlers and preschoolers, "Elmo Makes Music" is coming to Ruth Eckerd Hall November 2-4th. The Bates family has tickets and we can't wait to go! :)

Avonlea's Grocery Store

Today was grocery shopping day and I got a great idea as we were shopping. I thought it would be neat to set up a play grocery shopping store at home and let Avonlea "shop". So during her naptime, I collected some empty cereal boxes, an oatmeal box, some Jello boxes, empty shampoo bottles and fake foods and set them up like a grocery store. We used her cash register to "pay" for the food/items, a purse with fake money, Publix grocery bags I've saved, etc. to create our own store. I think we were in her room playing for hours this afternoon. Here's just a glimpse...

Another week has flown by and I can't help but notice how quickly my little ones are growing up! Rob and I whipped out some old videos the other night of Avonlea as an infant and how much you can forget...the little things. We are so blessed.

This past week, Rob has been working to finish up the kids' playground in the back yard and I've been working on putting up a tree in Lincoln's room. I made the tree (last summer) to go in my classroom as a prop from the book Tuck Everlasting (there's a magical tree that produces everlasting water from it). I knew I wanted to keep it and put in in one of our childrens' rooms one day and so here it is...

Lincoln's tree I made (with some help!).

First time in the exersaucer.

Avy's displayed artwork. She loves looking at what she made and the fact that it's at her level is fun for her. :)

Avonlea's dollhouse (thanks Rhonna!)



Tea anyone?

A Reunion, A Little Piece of Paradise,Lincoln and Bucs Pics.

What a neat time we all had yesterday getting together with old high school friends. From left to right Avonlea and I (Lincoln is in the carseat), Lisa and Kayleigh, Alison and Noah, Polly and Reese, and Ashley and her "stand-in" for her son Gavin (poor kiddo is sick). We had such a fun time talking about old high school days (ten years ago!!!), our kids, our husbands and just life. We're hoping to make it a weekly get-together and I'm very much looking forward to reminicing with old friends.

I took this photo when I was at the beach this past weekend having some much needed "Mommy alone time". I love where we live!

I'm growing up so fast...

Avonlea is ready for the game. Go Bucs!!!

Lincoln in Bucs attire.

Thursday morning grocery shopping has a whole new meaning! :)








Dressed and ready for grandma's.







Trying out the Boppy.

A Visit From a Friend

I feel so blessed to have shared my afternoon with an old friend whom I used to teach with. We both taught Middle School English together and became good friends. She's now a missionary in the islands and it was so good to hear what God is doing in her and her husband's lives. They have started a church in St. Lucia and have lead many people to the Lord since being there. I hope that when my children get a little older and I can either leave them in Grandma's care of take them with me comforably, we'll all take a trip down there to visit and help in their ministry.


Here's a picture of Lincoln just hanging out this afternoon:

Kooking with Kelli

Alright all...Here's one of my favorite recipes and I hope you don't get mad at me Rhonna, but I'm posting it on Blogger because it's just too good to not share! It's a baked bean recipe and I hope everyone who checks our blog will try it in the next few weeks. Here goes:

1 can lima beans (drain)
1 can kidney beans (drain)
1 can pork and beans
1/2 lb. hamburger (we use lean ground beef)
1/2 lb. bacon (we use low sodium)
1 small onion
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup of ketchup
1 squirt of yellow mustard
1 tablespoon of vinegar

Fry bacon first and cook altogether with hamburger and onion. Add all ingridients together (we used a crockpot) and serve warm. This goes great with barbeque and typical summertime foods (corn, watermelon, squash, etc.).
Have fun and happy cooking!

PS-If you do try this recipe, leave me a comment and let me know how you like it. :)

Lazy Lincoln

Here's my sweet boy lounging around on Daddy's chest. (Saturday afternoon)

A Visit From Jo

We were so blessed to have been visited by my college roomie (from Illinois) and best friend Jo this past weekend. I haven't seen her in over a year and it was great to be able to spend the afternoon with her. She and I headed off to lunch on the beach, did some shopping on the boardwalk and then came back for some visiting with the kiddos and Rob. Avonlea got a kick out of her new friend and called her "JoNANA" instead of Joana. :) We played with sand, played the piano and sang, painted and played in Avy's room for a bit. Even if it was only for a few hours, it was so nice to see you Jo! Love you!!!

Go Bucs!!!

The first pre-season Bucs game is on tonight so this blog is dedicated to our beloved Buccaneers. Lincoln wore his first Bucs onesie today so I just had to take pictures. He also had his 2-month visit to the doctors and received 4 shots (ouch!) and was 15.4 lbs.!!! (My growing boy. :)


Some artwork by Avonlea...

A Little Inspiration

After checking my e-mail this morning, I was inspired and decided that I'd blog and inspire other moms out there in "blog world". My friend from church e-mailed some other moms from church last night so this blog entry is based off of that...

There are definately days when as a mom I look around my house and think what did I do all day? There are dishes overflowing in the sink, Diaper Genies to empty, baths to give, a porch to sweep and clean up, laundry to fold, beds to make, a dog to feed, calls to make, e-mails to respond to, a devotional to "squeeze in", and if there's time, I might get in a shower! I had to make my own list of things that I feel accomplished about today:

1. I took my kids to the park instead of Home Goods to buy some extra pillow cases.
2. I snuggled with my son and daughter.
3. I chased my daughter around the playground and she laughed with delight.
4. I read books to my kids (multiple books, not just one to get them down to nap).
5. I did messy artwork with my daughter and didn't worry about getting dirty.
6. I took a nap with my baby boy.
7. I sang to my kids today.
8. I made grocery shopping educational for my daughter (finding numbers and letters as we shopped).
9. I "hunted" for American flags with my daugher as we drove to and from the park and the store. (I'm so proud that people in our country display our awesome flag).
10. I thanked God for my family and how precious each moment is with them. We are never promised tomorrow.
11. I e-mailed my husband and told him that I love him.

I hope this has inspired some of you moms out there. Sometimes we are caught up in all the business we need to get done in a day and forget to stop and enjoy the "little things". We're going to turn our heads one day and look at our grown up children and think, "How did they grow up so fast?" (tear)

**** Challenge: For those of you who read this, make your own list of accomplishments for the day and post in on Blogger for all to see.

Cath Kidston...you've gotta visit

Just a fun website I thought I'd share. It's called Cath Kidston and it's a boutique found in London, England (I discovered it when we went over to visit our family there) and it's got great fabrics, clothing, toys, accessories and more. Everything is super cute and the only bad thing about it is that you have to pay in pounds (the UK's dollar) and it's twice as expensive over there (like $1.90 to our dollar...or something similar) so when you buy online, I'm not sure if it costs extra or not. (???) I have a little
i-pod case from there and love it. Check it out!

Two Months Old!

Here's what Lincoln did the whole time.




Lincoln is officially two months old today. Wow! Has time flown by.

We went to the zoo yesterday and boy was it ever HOT! When leaving, Rob and I looked at each other and both agreed that we're not returning to the zoo unless it's under 90 degrees. It's just too much. The last time we went to the zoo was with my good friend Melissa and her daughter Emily from Illinois. It was hot in the beginning, but then it rained, no... POURED, and it cooled off. We did have fun, but I think we'll pick the aquarium or other indoor things for the next few months.:)

Well, I think I'm going to try my luck at scrapbooking again seeing that I haven't been able to work on any of it for months.

Rainy Thursday

Hanging out last night...




Today is Thursday and wow has it ever been raining. Both kids are asleep (go me!) and I'm actually somewhat rested to where I feel like blogging and cleaning during naptime. :) We managed a quick trip to the grocery store this morning. I LOVE Publix! They always give out free balloons, free cookies (to the kids of coarse) and they have these nifty carts that can fit two full-sized kiddos on a bench and then the regular cart attached to the front so you can shop comfortably with multiple children and still fit in groceries. I especially love a particular Publix we go to near our old house because it has a lot of organic produce, dairy and meats and I don't have to make a seperate trip to the health food store.



We're all still sick here in the Bates household, but the medicines are kicking in. Avonlea was at the doctor's yet again yesterday for her asthma (see picture). I never knew a cold could off-set asthma, but it can. Thankfully I remembered what her asthmatic coughs sound like so I began breathing treatments the other night after I would be up from feeding Lincoln (yep, still not sleeping through the night, but hey, he's only 2 months old!). So, we have spent over $200.00 between the 5 trips to the doctor and all the medication we've been on. Craziness!! I will say this though (and I've mentioned it before), I am so grateful that we live in a country with insurance and medical care. Last night, I prayed over dinner and thanked God for the blessings of doctors and medicine. I also prayed the Lord's protection and healing over the millions of sick babies all over the world who's mothers can't take them to the doctor's or a pharmacy for medication. Mommies are supposed to make "boo-boos" better and I just can't imagine not being able to make my children better.

I will honestly admit that since having Lincoln, any spare time I get is dedicated to sleep. Well, today is felt so good to sit down and read my Bible. I've been working through a devotional by Women of Faith called "Living Above Worry and Stress". I joined a Bible study last year after leaving teaching to stay at home with Avonlea so I joined right in the middle of the devotional book. I have recently been going back and doing the beginning devotions that I never got to do. I came across a series of verses today that I thought I'd share (it skips around a little):

Matthew 10:26-39

"So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows...Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

Jesus loves us THAT much!!!

I hope everyone has a sensation Thursday and remember that that's how much YOU are loved by the Creator.