Day 1

Front yard water play:

I've been doing a few photo shoots for people. Here are some pictures from a recent one. I'm hoping as I learn more, I can get more and more little side jobs. Really loving photography! My next step is to buy some photo editing software, such as Photoshop.

Playing around with my shutter speed, and G was happy to oblige with my request to put her head under the faucet:

I bought the girls these headbands, and the girl who made them wanted pictures for her business page. Grace LOVES her frozen headband, of course!

We went on a last minute overnight camping adventure this weekend. The McCormick children lovelovelovelovelovelovelove nature and exploring in the wilderness!!! Me...well, I love everything about camping until about 10:00PM when it's time for bed. Then I'm ready for my warm, cozy bed, in my critter and wild animal-free home...but I took one for the team! We had a lot of fun and made some great family memories. The kids, especially Jack and Grace, just absolutely love exploring and using their imaginations together. They couldn't have had more fun doing that together this weekend!

 More playing with shutter speed. Colin got the kids glow sticks (in case you can't tell what they are).

 The is from our "date night" to Gator's. We had fun. LOVE any one-on-one I can get!

 I am counting down the days to DST when I (hopefully) will finally be able to sleep past the 5 o'clock hour! I am utterly exhausted every single day from them waking up so incredibly early. This picture was taken after a long night and an early morning for them. We went to Target to pick up supplies to make the below craft, and when I got there, everyone was asleep. If there's anything I know for sure, it's that I WAS NOT waking these three! So I sat at Target for a good hour while they snoozed.

 Silly Erin faces! 

Grace's behavior has been stellar lately - listening the first time you ask her to do something (which, HELLO, is HUUUUGE!!! for any of my 3), super helpful and kind-hearted, etc. Colin rewarded her by taking her to see Frozen one day last week. 

Today starts my daily blogging and no sweets (except on G's birthday) lent resolution, so check back often!! 

We are somewhat cooped up today due to runny noses, sneezing, coughs, etc. Both girls aren't feeling too great. We skipped church and after the park took baths and got back into cozy jammies to hunker down and relax at home for the rest of the day. So I figured this would be a good time for a photo update. 

V-day photo session(s) - 

Boosterthon Fun Run - thanks to all who donated! I went out during my planning time and quickly saw Jack run one of his 25 laps. He was having a great time!

Trip to BJs with Wiki Stix. Jack made Grace the necklace she is wearing, out of Wiki Stix. 

After several days of rain, we took them to Jumpin' Joey's to burn some energy. Probably the reason everyone is sick now, hah!

 

Now I have a few bangs!

Family Walk. So funny that Jack always has some type of "belonging" to tote around wherever he goes! 

Climbing walls

Doc McStuffins on call!

Jack came home after a few days of Pre-K with Strep Throat. 

 We rode bikes to the neighborhood park today for pictures and fresh air play time -

Poor Erin will be visiting the doctor tomorrow. I think she must have an ear infection. :( Grace is also having cold-like symptoms. 

Such a pretty day today to be outside!

Jack has been telling me he wants to take me on a date to Gator's. Here we are on our date. We'll make this happen this week, preferably Tuesday since kids eat free!

Grace and I will be having a mommy/daughter day at Magic Kingdom on her 4th birthday. We are so excited!!! I'm taking senior pictures for a friend at work whose husband works at Disney, so we are trading pictures for tickets. Counting down!!! I'm seriously considering getting a very, very part time job there (as in a few days over the summer) just for the ticket perks. I really miss Disney,  and it would be so fun to take 1 or 2 kids at at time now that they are at the perfect age for Disney World. I'm also trying to decide whether or not to have an actual birthday party in our neighborhood park for her, with a few school friends, rather than just our standard family dinner and cake. Either way, it will be fun and FROZEN-themed, of course!

All along Colin and I had planned on staying home and ordering Outback to-go for our Valentine's date. I was a little bummed, but would rather do that than wait for hours to get in at one of the few local restaurants we have around here. Anyway, I came into our house on Friday after work with a line of suitcases packed and ready to go. He had organized a one-night stay in downtown Tampa. We quickly went back to school to pick up Grace because when I went to pick up the kids, Grace's class was just starting their Valentine's party. Then we took the kids to Grandma and Grandpa's for the night and headed to the coast. We went out to dinner and ate on the water. It was a much needed, mini getaway and such a great surprise! Things don't typically get past me (at least I like to think they don't), and I just can't believe he pulled this off. This is the guy who begs me to let him give me my Christmas gifts, weeks before Christmas. Besides being super surprised, I think the best part was laying in bed until EIGHT THIRTY, a good 3 hours before our normal wake up calls, without having any demands or responsibilities. 

Our view from the room

After dinner before we walked back to the hotel

Lent is coming up, where I'll be doing my daily (yikes) posts, so you may not here from me until then. :) Thanks to those who keep checking back, even though my posts are so few and far between!!!