We took the boys and some friends to the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus this weekend. Everyone had so much fun – MJ and Ty both love animals, so we knew their first trip to the circus would be a hit. Steve was able to get us a suite at the Gwinnett arena, which made it MUCH easier to contain all of the babies and toddlers that were with us!
Chase, Mia, MJ, Ty and Lexi
Chase and MJ
Ty dancing with Jadyn and Jax
Lexi just loves “Ty Ty”
Tigers! Baby Will
Happy Birthday, Steve!
It has been a busy February. Steve went to Panama (yes, the country) for brother Andrew’s bachelor party last week. They had a wonderful time, and Andrew caught a huge black marlin! I stayed home with the boys and took them on a road trip to Birmingham to visit my best friend Kim and “niece” Ella. I actually did remember to bring my camera, but somehow I forgot my memory card (UGH!). So, here is the only decent picture I got with my iphone…
Ella (18 months) with Ty (16 months) and MJ
MJ had his Valentine’s day party at school- the kids were so adorable giving out their cards. MJ’s classmates have adopted Ty as the little brother of the class- they all scream “Ty Ty!” and give him hugs when I bring him into their room. Ty even got to enjoy his very own plate of snacks with the “big kids.”
Steve turned the big 33 on Friday. The two of us enjoyed a simple night out with dinner and a movie (we have become so lame over the years)! 
Cousin James celebrated his FIRST birthday this past Saturday! The boys had a wonderful time at the party… as you can see below, MJ couldn’t wait to get his hands into that cake!
Wait, I am supposed to wait for you to cut it??
Ty: “where’s my cake?!”
And finally, here is a picture of what Ty usually looks like after he tries to eat his eggs with a spoon:
He is so proud of himself! :)
Who, me?!
And yet he looks so innocent! To say that Ty is a busy little boy would be an understatement…he is everywhere! Over the past month, he has learned how to get up onto a chair (usually I find him standing on it or the table), open doors, and slide down the stairs backwards. I forgot how crazy (and yet fun) this stage is… I am so glad I have a few months left before #3 arrives!
Those of you with toddlers will remember the sequence of pulling up, sitting, and standing on the chair!
What?! You mean I am not supposed to go in this room??
He learned the “slide” from his big brother, who is so proud!
Here are a few pictures from our trip to the zoo last week. Hard to believe it is winter- the weather had been absolutely beautiful.
I want to say thank you to Steve for letting me go on our church retreat, Christ Renews His Parish, this past weekend (I was on a waiting list and got in at the last minute). There are very few life-changing events…this was certainly one of them. As a busy mom, wife, doctor, sister, daughter, and friend, I often put on the back burner my most important role- child of God. It was amazing to be in a room full of people all searching for the same thing- a renewal of faith, a closeness to Christ, a feeling of love without judgement – that we too often forget to reflect on in our day to day lives. It was a beautiful, wonderful, prayerful, inspiring weekend that I will never forget.
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20
