This Is Why We Go Riding...

Enough Said!

This is What Happens...

...when you mash up banana in your hands and then rub it in your hair!

Hmmm, maybe we should start a line of all-natural baby hair products :)

Happy 9 Month Birthday, Liam!

I cannot believe my sweet baby boy is 9 months old already! Time is going by way too fast! He is pulling up on everything, crawling like crazy and saying Mama and Dada (trying to say Annah). He is the biggest ham too...if he sees a camera, he turns it on big time. Here is how he measured up at the doctor...

Height: 28 5/8" ~~70th %ile

Weight: 19 lbs 11 oz ~~30th %ile

Head Circumfrence: 17 3/4" ~~40th %ile

Liam, we love you so much and are thankful every day that you are here!

Valentines Day

Even though Valentine's Day was actually last Saturday, we did most of our celebrating Friday. Danielle was kind enough to invite us over for a kids Valentine's Day Party. We had a lot of fun (and so did the kids!). It was so nice to hang out with the girls with no agenda and just have fun! Thanks so much, Dani for having us over!

Tucker and Ty try their hand at icing cupcakes

Landon colors some valentines

Tyler colors some valentines too

Annah was the only girl (with 7 boys) and was not sure what to make of all the "boy noise"

My Ladies Man!

Earlier the same day, Annah's class had their Valentine's Party. It was so cute to see all the kids together and having fun. They decorated some (rather large) cookies and played pin the heart on the heart. They also handed out their valentines. After a major sugar rush, we headed home for some rest before heading to Danielle's. Fun. fun, fun!

Annah pinning her heart on the heart. We made the game for her class...can you tell Annah helped paint it?

Annah and Ms Mary

Annah with Ms Teresa

Liam got to come to the party too

Same-Same

Same-same is Annah's phrase for anything that is alike. I finally got my hands on a scanner, so here are a few pictures that are same-same. Who looks like who? Let me know what you think...

Will at 11 months

Me at 10 months

Annah at 9 months

Liam, 9 months

My dad and me at Folly (I assume) around 2 or 3

Annah last summer...almost 3

Annah, 10 months

Liam, 9 months

Fair Trade

I am so, so, so proud of Annah (not that I am not normally proud of both of my children). We have been talking about getting rid of her dinkies (aka pacifiers) and decided we should pick something she really wanted to "trade" in her dinkies in an exchange. She decided that she really wanted a Sit and Spin. So we "left" her dinkies at the beach house (moment of truth...I really brought them home, but she doesn't know that). Last night was the first night with no dinkies and she did it!!!!! Woohoo! Way to go Annah!

Beach Weekend

Will finally took a few days off work and we took a long weekend to the beach. Not quite beach weather, but we had a great time just the same. Lots of relaxing and family time, which is just what we all needed!

How sweet are these two?

I love this picture because (and again, I need a scanner) I have a picture of me and Annah at about the same age just like this AND a picture of me and mom when I was the same age AND a picture of my mom and her mom when mom was this age. All in the same pose on the same beach!

The beach house is right by the Isle of Palms fire house. The firemen were out washing the trucks, so we went by to see a real firetruck up close and personal. The firefighters were so nice (I think they must get a little bored sometimes) and gave Annah and Liam "official" hats. They even got to climb up in the truck (well, I got to climb in the truck, Annah wasn't so sure). I can't wait for Liam to get a little older so he can appreciate what a cool treat this is

The real reason for the trip was for (baby) Perry's first birthday. He had a cowboy party (hence the bandanas)

Cowgirl Annah managed to round up a cupcake

Rosie and Cowboy Liam (love those dimples!)

The Birthday Boy! Happy birthday, Perry!

Big brother, Gardner, isn't left out of the action!

Liam LOVED his cupcake.

Note to self...remember to let Liam eat his first birthday cake outside! What a mess!

I'm The Boss

Let me start by saying I have got to find the picture of Will that goes with this (and then I have to get a scanner so I can upload it). There is a picture of Will at about the same age as Annah at the old dealership when it was where the Firestone is now on Gervais St. Written under the picture (that was hanging in the dealership forever said "Last week I couldn't even spell salesman, now I are one." Well Annah one-upped him. She put on Will's nametag and announced "Now I'm the boss!" We all knew it was true anyway!

Swimming Lesson

I LOVE this picture. She was so excited about her first lesson!

A little nervous in the beginning ...

But, she got in...


and kicked a little...

swimming "for real"

I am happy to say Annah had her first swimming lesson today. She did really well! Listened to her teacher and I am excited to see how she will progress over the next 4 weeks. As for me, I am really proud to say I did not intervene in her lesson once...after coaching swimming all through college, not so easy for me. I was however, the only mom taking pictures, so I didn't come out completely on top :) One of her friends from school is also in her swimming class and I think that helped her warm up. My goal is for her to be able to swim across the short end of the pool by this summer. I know she can do it!

Superbowl Sunday

Pretty low-key Super Bowl Sunday at the Shuping house. Chris (who works at the dealership) and his wife, Rebecca, and their two boys, Hunter and Kadin, came over for an afternoon of football fun! The kids (and by kids, I mean the actual kids and the dads) had a blast playing outside...tossing the football, shooting baskets, running in general. Annah and Liam got a couple late Christmas presents from cousin Norma--Annah got a Tinkerbell nail salon (Norma, I cannot thank you enough!) that she was very excited about. The boys were also interested in it. Most likely because they knew it was a "girl toy," so they weren't supposed to play with it. Anyway, we all had a great time and hope we can get the families together again soon!

Hunter gets busted playing with the nail salon :)

Liam with his football jogging suit. Perfect for today!