WHOAAA OH - OHOHOH... whoooa oh - ohohoh

That is my attempt at the Braves' Chop Chant!  To round out our spring break, we went on a Sunday afternoon adventure to the Brave's game.  It was their season home opening weekend, and they swept the Milwaukee Brewers.  We went with the NOHS baseball team who organized a big group to see their favorite veteran and former ball player, Michael Boucher, honored at the game.  I must say, seeing him walk out onto that field in his dress Marine blues made the whole day worthwhile.  

Posing in front of the BIG field after the win

It was Maeve's very first Braves game.  With her tomahawk in tow, she was ready!  I tried to describe the game to her and what all we would see.  On the way there she kept repeating the chant and saying, "When are they going to do the WHOAAA OH - OHOHOH... whoooa oh - ohohoh?"  As we were walking in to the stadium, she said, "I think it has already started" as there was a lot of commotion and a band playing.  Then when she saw the field for the first time, she said, "Whoa.  That is a BIG field!"  She really keyed in when the Chick-fil-A cow would join in on the chopping.  She liked to see him chopping slow.

Heading to Turner Field

We arrived early (I know...shocker for the McCullers!)

A little tomahawk action from Cam

Proof that she did have a wholesome snack (atleast one!)

Both she and Cam were great during the game.  Cam was really into the rules and plays of the game.  Luckily he sat next to his daddy so that all of that could be explained to him.  Maeve, well, let's just say it is likely that she consumed a week's worth of calories in pure sugar during the game.  To her, it was all about what mama had brought to snack on!

She is a pro chopper now!

Braves won 7 to 4.  They both passed out on the ride home from a day full of sights, scenery, and sun.  When I tucked Maeve in, she commented, "They never did play the ball game."  She was too busy taking in all the details to even zero in on what we were there for.  Oh to be able to experience life like a three year old!

Sleepover

Now that we have converted the bedrooms into fully functional little people rooms, we have plenty of room for friends to sleepover.  So, we wasted no time in asking Chloe and Anna Belle.  They came to stay the night with us to try out the new beds.  Chloe of course slept in Cam's other loft bed while Anna Belle joined Maeve in her big girl bed.

These two like to do everything together

The only time I could watch them all together

We took in the newest park in Good Hope before settling in at home.  This is when I actually had time to take some pictures.  Once we got home, I kind of forgot about the camera and was busy living....as in fixing supper, drinks, bathing, clothing, washing clothes, and cleaning up after four little ones.  Boy was I ready to settle into a nice long rest after all of that.

A little fun-dip at the park

Chole and Cam acting like this was a roller coaster ride

Dangerous - maybe?
Fun - for sure!  

I am hoping to etch the images of the sweet sleepers into my mind as I have no proof that they actually stayed here.  I guess that means we'll just have to have them over again very soon!

Break...Ahhhh!

Compared to other school systems around, our breaks are few and far between.  So, after enduring others who had a whole week off for winter break, we also had to endure their spring break being a week earlier than ours. So, it seemed like it took forever for ours to finally arrive.  But, arrive it did indeed!

First task - room renovations!  We finally took down Maeve's crib and swapped it out for a Big Girl Bed.  She actually got Cam's double bed.  The one that she had shared in his room with him for the past year or so.  Our nighttime routine was for me to jam between the two, read some books, and then lay there until the two of them fell asleep.  This worked great for Cam, who still wasn't ready to be just tucked in.  It also worked for Maeve who likes to rub someone's face as she is falling asleep.  On more than one occasion, Cam woke up disgusted by the way his sister had wallowed on him during the night.  So, we promised him that we would resituate soon.  To replace his bed, we opted for loft beds (like bunk beds, but both beds are high).  He was pumped about the room renovation and was very big that first night as he heard the story in Maeve's bed and then went over to get in his lofty bed.  I really like their rooms and am glad we finally bit the bullet and made the swap.  I am a bit nostalgic about not needing our baby stuff.  But, so proud of my big kids sleeping in their own rooms!

Big Girl Bed
To quote her, "I have no more baby bed!"

Excited about sleeping up high!

Cam has plenty of room to play now
(Little sister enjoys the ladder and challenge of the climb!)

Exhausted after all that shuffling around!  

Second task - Easter!  It was so nice being able to enjoy the day in its entirety without having any of the typical Sunday blues of having to work the next day pop up. We enjoyed sunrise service, regular service, lunch at Moo and Doo's, time in the yard, napping, and supper with CG.  It was quite honestly a near perfect day!

Third task - Relaxing Camping Trip! We do love to go camping and don't get to do so quite as much as we would like to.  So, we sandwiched a mountain camping trip in between Tony's baseball schedule.  We tried out a campground on Lake Burton called Moccasin Creek.  It was small and quaint and a beautiful backdrop for a little relaxation.  Little did we know that the hottest spring I can ever remember would turn cold.  Luckily our camper has good heat and I packed long britches and jackets!  It was windy and even frosty in the mornings!  We definitely needed a campfire!  We even got to venture up to Hiawassee to visit with Nanny and Larry.  All in all, it was the perfect little getaway.

Oh - and how could I forget - after a little peer pressure at the campground, Cam was determined to come home and get rid of his training wheels.  There were two five year olds there who were both riding without them.  When we got home, that was his first order of agenda.  He worked, and cried, and worked, and cried, and got frustrated, and kept on working.   By the next day, he was riding full speed ahead!  Another spring break mission accomplished!  (I haven't been brave enough to take a picture of that yet....still cringing while I watch!)

He's Surely Alive!

Throughout this spring season, I have heard this song over and over.  Eventhough it is a far cry from the traditional Easter hymns that I think of like "Up from the Grave He Arose,"  it definitely epitomizes the amazingness of Easter.

My God's not dead

He's surely alive

He's living on the inside

Roaring like a lion

My God's not dead

He's surely alive

He's living on the inside

Roaring like a lion

He's roaring

He's roaring

He's roaring like a lion

Let hope arise

And make the darkness hide

My faith is dead

I need a resurrection somehow

Now..

Now I'm lost in your freedom

Now..

And this world I'll overcome

It is my prayer that my children come to the realization that the Lamb of God is surely not dead, but alive and strong and living on the inside of them too!  May they hear His mighty roar!  

Relay for Life

Relay for Life has always been a huge part of my children's lives.  We are constantly doing things to support fundraising efforts for the American Cancer Society.  They are finally getting big enough to kind of understand what cancer is and what the relay event is for.  Cam was able to tell his daddy all about the Charlie Brown cancer video they watched at school.  

Arrgg...take that CANCER!  

We have a HOPE that this is not a tradition that will continue with their children, but will soon be an event of the past when a cure is found for this disease.  Our school's theme for this year's relay was from Chicka, Chicka Boom Boom.  

"A told B and B told C, We want the world to be cancer free!  

Spring Hunts

Maeve's first egg hunt of the year was at her preschool.  I was lucky enough to be there for the hunt and festivities. She didn't quite know the point of an egg hunt is to find the most eggs.  She was more interested in looking pretty and smiling because he mama was at her school.  (A rare event since I neither take her or pick her up.  :-(  )  She realized after the hunt was over that she probably should have looked harder and faster for the eggs.  She said to anyone who asked her about the day, "I didn't find many eggs."

Later that night, we hunted at church.  The hunt was on for her this time as she scurried around finding as many eggs as she could.  She was a huntress for sure!  I was sad that Cam didn't want to hunt with his blue gingham basket anymore.  He opted for something a bit less frilly. He was disappointed that he was still grouped with the little kids for the hunt.  But, it worked to his advantage for sure!

At Nonna and Pop's the next weekend, they both got to dye some hard boiled eggs.  They hunted those and realized that you must be careful with the real eggs or they will roll out of your basket and crack!  As the night came upon us, we tried a pintrest way to hunt.  We put glow sticks in plastic eggs and hunted at night.  I must say it was pretty cool.  I can only imagine how many times I would have made someone hide glowing eggs for me when I was little!

Cam came home with a homemade bunny bag filled with 28 eggs from school!  He was excited about sharing his loot with us.

While we never ran in to the Easter Bunny this season, we sure did run into a mess of eggs!  Now, if anyone needs plastic eggs for next year, please hit me up before you go buy any more.  I have them sorted into four gallon sized baggies by various shapes and color schemes.

Twin Friends

I am sure Hillary and I have a picture like this (maybe our mouths aren't as messy!)  

Three years ago, something very rare happened.  A few months before, two best friends found out they were having babies, and their due dates were within days of each other. Although this had been a dream dreamed up many years before, it is something we thought would only exist there.  God, whose timing is just right, had something special planned for us through these two little girls.  He has given us a great way to pass on our special friendship...through these two who we refer to as the twin friends!

In the BabyLand Easter Basket

Chloe and Cam holding their little sisters in the giant cabbage

Taking a little time to rock in the cool mountain air

Although we don't get to spend as much time as we would like together, we try to make sure these girls are a part of each other's life for milestone moments and just regular memory-making opportunities.  So, this year, we split the difference between their birthdays and took a trip to BabyLand General...a place made especially for our baby-loving girls!

Eating together at Anna Belle's party

Just like their mamas, it seems these girls are going to bring out the best in each other.  Anna Belle is the more mild-mannered reserved one while Maeve is the one who takes charge and leads them into their next adventure.  (A nicely put way to say that she is the bossy one...does she get that from her mama?)  AB is sporty and loves to play outside (like her mama) while Maeve practices her dance moves and changes her shoes to match her outfits.  Since Maeve will likely only have a brother, I hope that Anna Belle can be like her sister cause every girl needs a sister!

We are three!
 (Notice AB making sure she is doing it just the way  Maeve wants her to!)  

What is a Friend? I will tell you. 

It is a person with whom 

you dare to be yourself.

- Frank Crane