I is for ICECREAM

more graduations!

Tyler had a little graduation celebration at his preschool on Friday. Gosh, I remember when he first started there at just a year old and now he's already about to start kindergarten! He is very excited to go to his new school this fall and was happy to get his first diploma!

Tyler and his good friend Lillian


Tyler let Caiden taste some of his cupcake.. YUM

I love working at my children's preschool! I get to see them whenever I want... absolutely perfect!

Camping!! (LOTS of pictures!)

our view from our tents

We have been wanting to go camping ALL year and we FINALLY got to go! It's been too cold at night for the baby so we had to wait until it got just a little bit warmer. The weather was just about perfect last weekend when we finally went. Talking about perfect.. our campground Eric found was awesome! We were literally right next to the lake (check out the pictures below!). It was our first time camping there at Andrew Jackson State Park. It was not only a nice campsite, but very close to our house too! We had to choose one close by because Morgan's baby shower was on Saturday afternoon and I could NOT miss that!! We left Friday after Eric got home from work and met the Musso's there. Once we got there and put our tents up we relaxed by the campfire! The kids and dogs had a blast by the lake. As soon as we let Buck off of his leash guess where he went? Yep, straight in the LAKE for a swim. He even tried to chase the ducks.. it was kinda funny... The kids mostly played on the edge of the water since we really weren't supposed to swim in it. They had fun... doing what kids to best.. getting dirty! Jen and I had to give them quite a few "baths" all weekend! It was well worth it because by the end of the second day there the kids where so exhausted and past out shortly after they got there pjs on!

This was also Caiden's very 1st camping trip and he did SO well especially finding out he had a DOUBLE ear infections earlier that day(poor baby....) Yes, I was so glad I took him to see the doctor BEFORE we left. He had been congested all week and I could hear a little wheezing i his chest. I remembered the doctor telling me at his 9 MONTH well-visit just a couple weeks ago that he had fluid in his ears but no infection and to watch out for cold symptoms. And sure enough, the cold symptoms came and so did the ear infections! I got his medicine right away and we were finally ready to go camping! The doc prescribed Omnicef since it doesn't have to be refridgereted sice we were going camping! So great!
Caiden really loves the outdoors (what child doesn't right?). I just wish his was a little more mobile because it's hard for him to "scoot" on the the dirt. We had a kiddie tent we set up with lots of toys inside for him to play it but he someone managed to get out of it EVERY time! He did so well though and we can't wait to go again! Right now it's a little TOO hot...


Caiden and me playing by the lake

taking the kids on a little hike through the trails right next to our site!
Eric working hard chopping wood for the fire!

oh so comfy in the hammick

Buck and Taz playing fetch in the lake!

Ty Musso and Tyler having TOO much fun! Guess who had to clean them? Good 'ol Moms!


John cooking some dinner by the campfire.... Yummy London Broil..

Some of our greatest of friends, The Mussos :)


Water never tasted and felt so good!!

back to the Alphabet posting... it's been a while!

is for HOLIDAY weekend.. (Memorial Weekend to be exact.. it's just been a few weeks!)

Memorial Weekend was lots of fun for us because Eric's sister Tish and her husband Chris came down with there daughter (our neice!), Isabella! We went to Speedstreet Saturday afternoon and when we got there it seemed like EVERYONE and their mother was there too! (very crowded) It was fun trying to get free samples of everything from taco seasoning to bubble gum! I was even able to get a little massage in. We stayed up late each night hanging out on the patio since the weather was so wonderful outside while the kids played with Buck. Sunday we had a cookout and invited some more friends over for dinner. When it started to get dark we had a bonfire and roasted marshmallows.. my FAVORITE (and the kid's too!)

All in all, we had a wonderful weekend and we are looking forward to seeing Tish, Chris, and Bella again in just a few weeks when we go to DISNEY WORLD!!

Enjoy the pictures!

Bella and Tyler get along so well. It's so sweet to watch them play together. Bella was like Tyler's little shadow...oh so precious. I think in this picture Tyler is "pretending" he's asleep!

Our beautiful neice, Isabella. She'll be 2 in just a few weeks!

Tyler, Bella, Liam, and Abby having fun outside!

Bella, Tish and Tyler outside by the campfire. (And that's little Jackson in the stroller, so cute!)

It was also Chris's birthday that weekend (Sunday) so we had a little celebration with some yummy cake (not as yummy as Erin Woodward's brownies she made tho!)

Spaghetti Face!

I made spaghetti last night for dinner and Caiden LOVED it! He was trying so hard to pick up the noodles with his little fingers and even though the majority of it ended up in his lap and hair, some did manage to get into his mouth! it was so fun watching him eat; all three of us would clap and cheer when the food made it into his mouth... so funny..

Yummy noodles!

Gimmie that camera mommmy!

Kindergarten already??

Tyler is starting kindergarten this fall and he is REALLY excited!! I took him last week to a kindergarten information session to see the school, meet the kindergarten team and talk about the upcoming school year. While I was listening to the different speakers, Tyler got to go with the other kids to meet the teachers and do fun activities with them! We were only there for a shore time and Tyler didn't want to leave when it was time to go. He found the playground and wanted to run out and play with the other kids! Eric took him back on Saturday so he can play. Tyler is not only excited to start at his new school, he also wants to ride the bus! Oh my baby is growing up!

is for GRADUATION! This time last year I was walking across stage with a huge grin on my face having my friends and family cheer for me as my name was called to get my diploma. This year it's my big little sister Kate! I know, I know, you're probably saying wow, I thought she had a few more years after you?...no, no, it just took me about 6 years to get my undergrad (but I did it!) and she's right on time! I just had to make sure I finished before her for my ego... hehehe

Anyhow, Katelen graduated from the University of Tampa with a BA in Communications. She's planning to move to Alabama with her boyfriend Dustin to continue school at Auburn because she wants to be a Veterinarian. Katelen I am so proud of you. You are an amazing women, sister, and friend and I see nothing but success and happiness in yours and Dustin's future (yes, I am psychic ). I'm just so happy you're going to be 6 hours away instead of 11! Whoo-hooo!! I love you Kate!

is for FLORIDA! When people ask me where I'm from I basically say Florida because that's where I spent most of time growing up. My dad was in the military (and no, I wasn't a "military brat".. I don't know why people really say that...) so we moved about every 4 years. When I was in 4th grade a wrote a paper called 4 Corners because we lived in the 4 corners of the US (roughly). I was born in Hawaii, I went to Kindergarten in Seatle,Washington, 1st-3rd grade in NYC, 4-5th in Charleston, SC, and Florida 6th-12th and my parents still live in the same house (since '93). So eventhough I lived in many different states, we lived in Florida the longest. I loved living in Florida, especially because of the warm weather and being so close to the beach. My friends and I would go about every weekend to play sand volleyball. I had one partner that we'd call ourselves "The Bandits" because we played with red bandanas with braided pic-tails. Oh those were the days..... I moved away from Florida to Charlotte in 2002 to start a new life with my husband and our now 2 boys! We try and get down there at LEAST once a year to visit (which is definatley not a lot) but so far in the past 5 months we've already been there 3 times! (not necesarrly on good terms, but it's always wonderful to see family weather it's for tears or laughter). After this last trip Eric and I decided that we MUST make ourselves leave REALLY early in the morning while the kids are asleep or else a 9 hour drive will take you 13.5 hours if driven in the middle of the day! Yes, that's how long it took us last weekend! Our next trip to Florida will be at the end of June to spend a week in Disney with Eric's Dad, Dave, Rachel and her family, Tish, Chris, Isabella, and my family is going to join us too! I'm SO glad that not only does MY family live in Florida, but Dave and Rachel do too. They just live on the West Coast near Fort Lauderdale!

There's no T in T-ball for Tyler!

T-Y-L-E-R, Hit it, Hit it, Really FAR!



Over the past 3 games the kids get a chance to hit the ball from the coach's pitch and if they can't hit it after 3 tries, then they can use the T. Tyler has done really well and LOVES it when it's his turn to bat. Eric told him to "hit it to the fence," so each time Tyler comes up to bat he has this serious look on his face... I think it's adorable.

is for Eric, my wonderful, loving husband. He means the world to me and I love him with all my heart. I couldn't ask for a better husband, friend, and father to our boys. I love you baby! Thank you for all you do...

Picture Post!

is for Dog. We've had our dog Buck for almost 6 months now (gosh has it only been that long?) and couldn't image our life without him. He is the perfect dog for us (even though we built a fence in the back yard he can jump over!). Tyler is SO great with him too! He feeds him everyday and as soon as we get home in the afternoon he takes Buck outside to play until the sun goes down. Buck really loves going to the park to play fetch with the Frisbee and run around in the creek. We usually take him to the park on the weekends when it's nice outside. He's also getting better about running next to me on the leash. About 2 weekends ago we dog-sat the Syke's dog Cooper and Buck LOVED that. He's very playful and it's always nice to see him and Cooper together. His other friend Taz is an older so doesn't like to play too too much, but they still enjoy each other too! We love you Buck

mmmmmm....

Watch Caiden's tongue in this video.. it's like a lizard ..LOL

C is for Concrete Blocks

Eric was talking to a co-worker the other day about how we wanted to build a concrete-stone wall in front of our house and she just so happened to have some that she was about to get rid of!! So, Friday after work Eric drove the truck to her house and picked up over 150 stones! Saturday was such a gorgeous day, so we spent most of it building (well, Eric and Tyler mostly.. I was hanging out with the baby). I did wash the cars though! Once the wall's built we can go pick out some beautiful flowers to plant. Neither of us really have a "green thumb" so Eric's mom said she'd help us out on what flowers would go best there since it's in FULL sun most of the day! I'm so excited.. it's going to look much better!

This is what the front looked like- BEFORE

Tyler ready to help.. he even has his own shovel!

Here comes the wall... AFTER
Stay tuned for the FINAL touches once we add the flowers, etc.