Happy 3rd Birthday Ainsley Bug!!

First - can you tell I'm catching up on my posts? Aren't you lucky that you get to read three posts instead of one today. But this is the last one because I have to get ready for the big party today.

I can not believe my little baby girl is 3 years old! Where does the time go? Last night we took her out to dinner at Red Robin and they sang to her and brought her ice cream and a balloon! She was in heaven.

Happy Birthday Ainsley Bug! We are so blessed to have you in our lives.

Who's so big, so big, so big?

Freddie is so big! Freddie is so big! Okay, so that's a silly little song I made up for Freddie. He's so cute I can barely contain myself. If you don't believe me, see for yourself...

4th of July Celebration

I've been meaning to post this all week, but it's been very hectic with Clif leaving and trying to get ready for the birthday party this weekend. So, real quick...we did our independence day celebrating on Saturday. We went down to a friend's neighborhood party. They had pools and slides set up for the kids.

Then we headed out to the Brandermill golf course for fireworks.

Ainsley had a blast running around with the other kids. Freddie did a lot of sleeping and some observing of the older kids playing.

I love fireworks. Seriously, fireworks make the 4th of July very high on my list of holidays. I just love them. I'm glad Ainsley seems to like them too. Even Freddie seemed cool with them.


He was awake for them, but he didn't cry or anything from the noise. He got a little tense during the finale, but that's to be expected.

The Big Event

I was a little nervous about Ainsley and the wedding events because everything was taking place past her bedtime. So I decided to try a nap on Friday before the rehearsal and dinner. The rehearsal was not due to start until about 7 and the dinner wasn't happening until 8:30. I did my best to wear her out at the beach that day and then headed in around 3 for a late lunch and a nap.

Of course it was difficult getting her to sleep. She doesn't take naps anymore and even when she did it was hard to get her to go down. But she did finally fall asleep and she slept for 2 hours! I was so proud that my plan was working...and then she woke up a very cranky, unhappy little girl. I could barely get her dressed and outside in time for the rehearsal. She cried while I dressed her...but finally she was ready.

The wedding was to take place on the beach right outside the beach house we were staying in...so that's where the rehearsal was.

The dinner was very nice. Clif's parents did a really nice job and Denise put together a video for Cam and Amanda just like she had for mine and Clif's rehearsal dinner. It was very sweet to watch.

Ainsley had a blast running around with the other flower girl and her little sister.

Saturday morning Ainsley slept until 10:30!! She was worn out! I decided not to do a nap that day after Friday's disaster. Apparently there was some crankiness during the pictures after the ceremony, and getting to the reception was a bit hectic, but once she was there she just played with the other kids...but I'm getting ahead of myself.

The ceremony was beautiful. The groom was handsome and the bride was stunning...and Ainsley was a doll. She was too cute for words. Freddie slept in the baby wrap...I think you're probably seeing a trend here...need a cooperative baby, put him in a baby wrap!

The reception was a lot of fun. Freddie slept most of the time, but I did get this picture of him with Poppa.

Ainsley was a wild woman on the dance floor with her cousin Sammy and the other flower girl.

We had to pull them off to the side during the toasts. This was completely unacceptable to an overtired, little flower girl. It was the beginning of the end for her and she passed out in no time.

It was a fun week, a great party and it was wonderful to catch up with family and friends. Now we get to prepare for Carolyn and Mike's wedding in October.

Swimming with Sharks

Clif was very busy with wedding events on Friday and Saturday, so I had the kiddos all to myself. Friday we spent a chunk of the day at the beach, but I left the camera at the house and it was really too much work to go get it with two kids in tow.

Saturday I decided to take them both to the local aquarium. I've been to a few NC Aquariums and this one really didn't match up. I expected a bit more. But still it was something fun to do.

I have no pics of Freddie in the aquarium because he slept in the baby wrap I was wearing the entire time. I was probably a sight to see with a diaper bag and camera on my shoulders, a baby strapped to my chest and chasing after a toddler.

Tomorrow I will update with all the wedding details...Finally right!

Bittersweet

So I think I'm finally ready to make an announcement...I haven't told many people because I have very mixed emotions about the situation. Clif has accepted a job. After a year and a half of searching and networking and praying, finally he has been hired. Unfortunately, the job is not in Richmond, it's in Northern Virginia.

I am so happy that this very trying time in our lives is over and I am so proud of Clif for the wonderful stay at home daddy he's been and I know he will be a treasured employee. However, I feel like Richmond has become our home and I am so sad to be leaving. Both of us come from Northern Virginia, but Richmond is so much more dear to me.

I am sorry that I haven't been able to celebrate with Clif. I thought for sure when the phone finally rang with a job offer we'd throw a party, but neither of us really feels like celebrating. It makes me sad because Clif really deserves a celebration. He definitely has been the positive one and the rock through this last 18 months of insecurity.

As for what happens now...we have a lot to do. We need to sell a house, find me a job, pack, find a place to live, move, find daycare, etc. So now, Clif goes and I stay here with the kids. He starts after the 4th of July holiday. Luckily, his sister is coming to stay with us and help out with the kids for the month of July. She truly is a god-send and I love her for doing it.

So that's it for now. I just felt like I should let you all in on the ending to the unemployment story. I'm just sad that I can't be more happy about it.