Random Pictures from the Weekend

Ashlan and her daddy leaving the park. Ashlan was sad...she was having fun!



Ashlan and Mason at Timrod Park




Little girl with a BIG attitude. It's a fun little attitude and we wouldn't have it any other way!




Ashlan and Mason....Valentine's Sweeties




Ethan LOVES sports!! He always has some sort of ball with him.

Disney Cruise

We are home from our Disney Cruise vacation! The kids had a ball! Here are a some random pictures from our trip. I will add more later and tell you all about the trip. For now, I need to unpack and unwind!

Ethan buying a surfboard necklace on a private Bahamian island


The kids on Castaway Cay


Ashlan dancing during the Pirate themed night


Ethan at Blackbeard's Cay


Having fun in the sand on Castaway Cay


Daddy and his Princess on their way to dinner


Daddy's sleepy princess after dinner





Ashlan and "Belle"








Ethan with Donald Duck and Daisy






Ethan's favorite spot on the ship

Our weekend

We stayed in town this weekend with no plans/obligations. It was a nice break from our usual hectic life! We had fun paying with the kids. Ashlan decided she wanted to be batman and put on one of Ethan's old Halloween costumes. She is a hoot! She is also potty training. This was a good week to keep her in big girl undies. She even slept in them...what a big girl she is becoming!! Last night we played grocery store checkout. Mommy was the checkout girl:) Ethan filled up the grocery cart with non-grocery store items and after they were scanned....a T-Mobile receipt was given to him. Ashlan had to hug the "checkout girl" after each purchase. We played this over and over. It was nice to see brother and sister playing (shopping) so well together. Nice break from the usual fussing and rivalry!

Ethan's Ouchie

Ethan slammed his thumb in the car door today:(
Tough guy didn't even cry but Mommy wanted to!

Skateland USA

We went to a friend's skating party today. This was Ethan's 2nd time on skates and Ashlan's first. Both kids had lots of fun~

First Day of 2K

Ashlan started 2K today at Colonial Childcare Center. I had a really cute outfit picked out for her to wear but Ethan thought it looked silly. He asked if he could pick out a dress for her so I let him. He picked out a blue dress with whales on it. I thought that was really neat because Ethan wore blue shorts with whales on them to his first day of 2K. I need to pull out his 2k photo and compare the two! We like whales:)

Dancing Update

Ashlan did much better at her dance class tonight! I have been talking with her about going into class like a big girl. (i also bribed her with a lollipop). She walked into class by herself tonight but it was only a minute later that I heard her in there crying. One of the teachers brought her out to me and asked that I join them in class once more. Ethan was with me so I was nervous about going in there with a non-cooperative toddler and a 6 yr. old wanting to roll his matchbox cars! Ethan and I curled up in the corner of the room to watch Ashlan dance. She was a little hesitant at first but soon started dancing away. Ethan enjoyed watching the class and was very well behaved. I was so happy!!!! Keep your fingers crossed that next week she will go into class by herself. I have to admit that I enjoy watching her. Deep down, I hope she needs me one more time.....:)

Mountains

Mommy and Ashlan took a weekend trip to the mountains with Kim and Caden. We went to Looking Glass Falls, the fish hatchery, downtown Brevard and Sliding Rock. We lived on the edge! (literally)
While in Brevard, we took the kids to Rocky's...an old time soda shoppe. We had hot dogs and hot fudge sundaes while there. Ashlan showed the people there a modern day temper tantrum before leaving. Ah, the memories!

Caden and Ashlan at Looking Glass Falls


Ashlan at the waterfall


Caden sliding down a rock at the waterfall


Pre-temper tantrum at the soda shoppe

Here is a picture the "barn" we stayed in while in the mountains. We LOVED staying here! The woodwork in the barn was amazing...and the antiques throughout the house added a nice touch. The barn was recently built and we were one of the first people to stay in it. The kids kept saying that they loved their new house. HA!


Ashlan loved the claw foot tub


Caden and Ashlan at a mountain view overlook...too foggy to really see the mountains in the background


my little climber

Sliding Rock

While in the mountains, we decided to take the kids to Sliding Rock (the mommies really wanted to slide). I wasn't too sure about taking Ashlan down the rock. We watched others go down and I felt like it wasn't as dangerous as some had made it out to be. I let Ashlan decide for herself and she was ready to SLIDE!!! I asked her numerous times on the way up if she really wanted to slide and she assured me that she was ready. We made it to the top and we were on our way. It was my intention to hold her up over my head when we reached the bottom of the rock. However, it took all my strength to sit up straight while sliding with her in my lap ...so when I reached the bottom...I took her under the water with me. Thankfully, Kim had given her a mac daddy life jacket so she popped right out of the water! Her eyes were as big as saucers when I looked at her. I asked her if she wanted to go again...."NO".

ashlan and caden getting ready to slide


ashlan watching the others


wanting to slide!


popping out of the water


the water was COLD.

~Dance Class Begins~

The excitement of dancing has been building in the Shriver household for several weeks. I must say the excitement ended the moment that Ashlan walked into the dance studio! She was a little overstimulated by all the music and tu-tu wearing toddlers. Mommy was called into dance class to help ease Ashlan's fears. Mommy's presence didn't help all that much. Ashlan didn't want to participate her first visit but says she wants to go back. Hopefully, she will be a dancing queen in the next few weeks?!?!




Miss Deann had to carry Ashlan during the choo choo train song.

Ethan's First Touch Down

Ethan played his first game of flag football this morning. Each game starts with prayer and then it's time to play! At first Ethan seemed a little overwhelmed, concentrating more on chewing his mouth piece than playing the game. He started coming around after half-time. By the end of the game, he was running like a pro!




GOING FOR HIS FIRST TOUCH DOWN