The Pierce Family Blog

Rose Show Parade

Friday night was the big Rose Show Parade in Thomasville.  What was really cool about this year's parade was that a big celebrity came!!!!  Yes! Miss Patty Cake!  How exciting!  I got an email about two weeks ago that said she needed a few more kids on her float, I'd wondered how Luke would do but thought I'd talk to him about it and see if he wanted ride.  He was so excited about it so I signed him up!  We talked all last week about the float and the parade and how he was going to wave at everyone!  Eugene and I had our doubts he'd do it but every time we talked about it Luke would say he wanted to do it and that he wasn't scared.  So Friday night Eugene dropped Luke and I off near the float before the parade.  Luke didn't last but about 10 steps before he started clutching to my leg.  I picked him up and we walked about 3- 4 blocks to the float.  I could tell immediately that he wasn't touching it with a 10 foot pole!  I talked to him about the fact that if we left he couldn't ride the float, that this was the only chance.  He said no, he wanted to leave.  So I snapped one picture of him as we walked away....you can see the float in the background.....and what about that face?!  He looks so worried.

So off we were to meet up with Eugene and Caroline.....which was another 6-7 blocks of me carrying him!  As we started getting closer to downtown the crowd started getting bigger and Luke started clutching tighter!  By the time we got to our spot on the route Luke was screaming to go inside.  So we left Caroline, who was happily sitting in her stroller waiting for the parade, with my parents and we went in Old Mexico.  We sat at a table near the window and me, Eugene and Luke all got to enjoy Mexican and watch the parade!  Luke loved it because he got to see the parade without hearing all the noise or being around all the crowd.  And I loved it because after carrying Luke for the past hour I was ready to sit down and enjoy a good meal!  Hopefully this is a stage he'll grow out of!

Tonight I'm trying to catch up on a few things around the house, this evening Eugene and I took Luke, Caroline, Grace and Claire to Chuck E. Cheese!  My mom was suppose to go too....but long story.... she wasn't able to.  We actually had a great time though.  The kids were perfect and so excited to be there!  Eugene and I enjoyed the pizza and got to relive childhood memories of playing all those fun games!  The kids ran around wild and had a blast.  We were able to get a 3 year old, two 2 year olds and an 8 month old buckled in 4 car seats and down to Tallahassee and back without any problems.  We were pretty impressed with ourselves! 

Oh, and I found one more picture from a few weeks ago.....Luke and Eugene chalk drawings...aren't they cute?, the big wet spot on Eugene's head is spilt bubbles!  I wanted a chalk drawing too but by the time I did these Luke was off doing something else. 

Last Thursday Night

Hey there, it's me....the big fat LIAR!!!!  I did not post as promised....oh well!  I'll have to take the next few posts to catch up! 

Last Thursday night the T'ville fam got together to celebrate my Dad's 60th birthday!!!!  HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!  We all ate at Danny and Jenn's house.  We had grilled steaks, baked potatoes and green beans, it was a great meal.  I just love a good grilled steak at home, you just can't beat it!  My mom made a cake of course!  Here's a picture of Pop Pop blowing out his candles!  If you look close you can see finger marks on the sides of the cake.....there was a cute little culprit sneaking samples!  I think most the finger prints were traced back to Claire Mae! 

After dinner and cake the kids put on a show!  They were too much!  They sang a few songs and danced around.

It was a great family night, and a great way to celebrate my Dad's birthday.  We wanted to have him a big party but he said just being at home with family is the way he wanted to celebrate.  But that's the kind of thing the World's Great Dad and World's Greatest Pop Pop says right?  I love you Dad! 

Where to start?

I've done it again....I'm behind on the blog....let's go back to last week shall we...

I was out of work the last part of last week, the walking pneumonia really got me down!  I would take a round of medicine and think I was starting to feel better....then I'd try to get up and do stuff...then the medicine would wear off and I'd be back to not feeling well...take some more meds....that was pretty much my week!   

Saturday morning we got up bright and early and headed to Savannah to celebrate my Granddad's 80th birthday!  All the fam met at Tubby's in Thunderbolt, which is his favorite restaurant and right around the corner from their house.   We had a really nice time, when we got to the restaurant I realized I left my camera bag in the car and asked my sweet husband to go and retrieve it.....I thought I could still cash in the sick card right?  Well he came back to report that I left it at home, I quickly said "No, I specifically remember getting the bag"....he says "Well you got the bag, just forgot to put the camera in it".......At least I was able to blame it on the meds!  Thankfully Jenn had her camera and took pictures!  I even got in one!                     

Granddad blowing out his candles!

Since we were in Savannah everyone wanted seafood for supper.....I sometimes wonder how I was born into a family of seafood lovers......I like crab legs but that's it.  We went to Flying Fish, I got a chicken sandwich, which is usually my stand by at seafood restaurants!  At the restaurant Luke started playing with a cute little boy about his same age.....I started really looking at the kid and noticed it was my friend Nancy from college's little boy, I recognized him from her blog!  Crazy small world!  He was there with his grandparents.  Saturday night we stayed with my cousin Staci, after we got to her house Eugene's head started itching...before long he was covered in hives and struggling to breathe a little.  Poor guy, he had a reaction to seafood a few months ago......but we thought it might have been limited to crab legs but looks like it probably includes scallops and maybe shrimp too.  We jumped into the car to get some liquid Benedryl fast!  Thankfully Kroger is less than a mile from her house, we went in....found the medicine isle and Eugene cracks open the bottle and drinks it right there in the isle!  If you know him you know that is sooooooooooooo not him!  It cracked me up!  He quickly retreated to the car and I had to pay for the empty box of Benedryl!  Thankfully that stuff starts to work fast and he was fine!  After Eugene passed out for the night in his Benedryl coma the rest of us stayed up and had brownies,cookies and ice cream, oh my!  Luke had a blast playing with Tori and Lauren too.Sunday we got up and came home.

Sunday afternoon I stopped taking my "good" meds so I could get ready to go back to work on Monday, but Sunday night I started running fever and feeling bad again.  I stayed home Monday to just really take it easy, I even took the kids to my moms.....it was so weird, I don't think I've been by myself like that in forever!  I was able to go to work Tuesday, but Tuesday night I popped some more pills....but Wednesday I woke up feeling much better and haven't taken meds since!  I feel like I'm definitely on the upswing of this.

The kids have been wonderful lately, not that they aren't always but both are in great stages!  Caroline can sit up great but isn't crawling, she's such a little happy baby!  And Luke has been walking such a straight line lately, he has greatly reduced his number of fits per day!  And he's been accident free for almost two weeks!  We've stepped up to big boy underwear now!!!!!  YEAH!!!!!  I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that he doesn't have any set backs, I have several mommy friends that say that happens.

Well, I think I've talked long enough!  I'll post again tomorrow night PROMISE! 

 

A little loopy...

I had second thoughts about posting tonight since I'm heavily drugged right now....but thought I should probably go ahead and update the blog so I won't be tempted to fall behind!  Why am I drugged you ask?  Well I have walking pneumonia and who knew but Vicodin makes a great cough suppressant! 

I've been sick for a few weeks now with a cold and cough.  It hasn't gotten to me too bad so I kept just thinking it would go away.  Eugene kept telling me to take some medicine, I'd follow up with "but I can't take anything because I'm nursing"....well I just wasn't getting better.  Then the other day at work 2 people commented on my cough and said it sounded bad, it kind of surprised me, I thought "maybe Eugene's right?  maybe I should get some medicine?"  Then I started really not feeling well and feeling pretty achy.  Finally it was my brother who said "Mindy, you need to go to the doctor and get that taken care of" so I finally listened!  See Bub, I do listen to you sometimes!  I had no idea that I'd have walking pneumonia, crazy huh?  I told Eugene earlier tonight that I can see how people get hooked on drugs, this vicodin makes me feel all chill and my aches and pains go away! 

I'm trying to think what else has been going on but I'm seriously having a hard time weeding through the fog in my head to remember!  Today I was talking on the phone with Eugene and when I went to hang up I said "I love you Dad!"  Eugene was like "ahhh Mindy....I'm not your dad."  I was like "oops...where did that come from?"  Let's see....I'll just give you an abridge version....kids are good....Caroline's two teeth are coming in on top.....Luke's about got the potty training down perfect (knock on wood again).....and his favorite song this week is Kumbaya (sp?).......I'm all caught up on laundry!!!  (is that sad that's my big accomplishment for the week?)

We're going to Savannah Saturday for my Granddad's 80th birthday, I'm betting I sleep most the way there......and listen....no one tell grandma I'm sick, okay?  She'd get all worried for nothing! 

Wal-mart!

Oh how I love thee....let me count the ways!!  I just can't get enough of Wal-mart!  I just love the place!  Sunday afternoon Caroline and I went to Wal-mart just the two of us!  Our Wal-mart just got a makeover and it's so nice!  The fruit and veggie department has improved drastically!  You can really get anything there!  The clothes are cute, the housewares are nice and they are a one stop shop!  We were in need of light bulbs so I stocked up.  You can get 4 walmart brand regular bulbs for $.76!!!  What a deal!  And thank goodness for equate and sam's choice brands!  They are so much cheaper than the name brands and in most cases are the exact same products!  I just heart Walmart so much!!!!!   

We had a nice relaxing weekend for the most part.  This past Saturday we had our usual big breakfast, this weekend it was pancakes and sausage.  We're trying to make that a standard thing we do every Saturday...make it a family tradition of sorts.  Then Saturday Eugene finished our taxes and me and the kids went with my friend Amber to Target/Kohl's shopping and Chili's to eat.  We had so much fun!  Luke loves Amber and was right with her every minute of the day, he even wanted her to take him potty!  Thankfully Amber obliged....she is a sweety and loves my kids which makes me smile!  At Chili's though Luke just reached over and took a big gulp of her drink....I guess we need to teach him that we don't share drinks outside the family.....it's not polite to just drink from anyone's straw! 

Sunday was church then Sunday night we had a little family fish fry at my parents and ate outside, which Luke thinks is so cool!  He went camping with his Nana and Papa two weeks ago and just loved being outside!  He kept telling me that his favorite thing he did while he was gone was eat outside!  Luke really enjoyed camping with them, it was the longest he'd ever been away from us but he did fine and he got to spend so much time just exploring and being outside!

Tonight I have been folding clothes like crazy!  I tend to wash a bunch at once and hope a folding fairy comes by and folds all the clothes and puts then up for me while I'm at work....no such luck!  So tonight I had a folding party on the floor of the den while Eugene and I watched Deadliest Catch!  The new season started tonight!  Now everyone's tucked in for the night I'm waiting on bread to bake!  I have been so into using my bread maker lately....it's starting to smell so good! 

I'll leave you with a conversation I had with Luke Sunday morning......

Me:  Come on Luke, let's go to the bathroom and comb your hair

Luke:  But I don't want too! 

Me:  Luke, you don't have a choice here, we're combing your hair

(he begrudgingly followed me to the bathroom and I begun to wet and part it)

Luke:  The kids at church laugh at me when you comb my hair like this!

Me:  What?  They laugh at you?  Who laughs at you?

Luke:  They all do, they say I look funny!

Crazy huh?  I don't really think they were laughing at him, and if they did it probably wasn't about his hair, he just knows he'll get a reaction out of me when he says crazy things like that!

Finally up to date!

Man it is so hard to go back and try to remember what's been going on!  Isn't that terrible?!  Let's see....an update on the kids

Caroline is sitting up so well!  Just this evening I took the kids to walmart to buy some groceries and Luke walked (such a big boy) and Caroline rode in the buggy by herself!  This was her first time without being in her carseat!  She is doing so so sleeping at night.  Some nights she sleeps until 4-6ish...other nights she wakes up before that, she's still not consistent but at least she's been out of the cradle in our room for about a month now!  It's nice to have our bedroom back.  A few weeks ago I completely de-babied it...except for one drawer with middle of the night essentials. 

Luke's big news!!.....he's probably 90% potty trained!!  I'm jumping for joy for this one!  He's been capable for awhile now but has just finally started cooperating with the program...he's so head strong! 

Tonight was a nice family night.  Eugene grilled chicken and we had potatoes and squash to go with it.  Then we all watched Bee Movie together!  I bought it a week or so ago, Luke loves Bee's so I thought it would be a good movie for him to watch.  I limit a lot of his TV watching at home.  We really try hard not to use it as a babysitter, and if we do turn it on for him to watch while we do something else it's only for a short 20-25 minute show.  He's never sat and watched a full feature length film.  I attempted to get him to watch Flushed Away with me when it came on TV, but he was disinterested and I didn't like it, the language was okay I just didn't think it was appropriate talk for a toddler...he ended up playing with toys instead.  Eugene and I would like to have family movie nights occasionally but I think we'll have to wait til the kids are a little older!

Luke did have a little mishap tonight while he was outside with Eugene, he got into some ants....they bit his feet and legs, then after we were inside for a few minutes he started squirming and freaking out a little...he had two in his pull up, how uncomfortable!  After his bath I put some calamine lotion on his bites....the smell of that stuff reminds me so much of having the chicken pox!  And since I had the chicken pox three times I was good and used to the smell of that stuff!  I also gave Luke a little benedryl which really excited him, he loves medicine!  So hopefully the bites will look better in the morning. 

Tonight I stayed up a little late and caught up on a few things around the house, and I'm catching up on my blog!!  This is going to make my mom so happy!  I have just been out of the groove lately, I think alot of it has to do with the fact that I've been going to bed earlier, and by earlier I mean around midnight.  Oh...and there's that whole new obsession with coupons!  That tends to take up a little of my time too! 

Have a great weekend!

Our trip to Savannah!

Eugene and I decided a month or so ago that it was time to make a trip to Savannah to see family.  We got kind of spoiled living in Statesboro, we were so close to Savannah that we spent time with family often but now living in t'ville with two kids it seems our Savannah family comes to visit us more than we go see them, so we thought we'd change that! 

We left after work on Friday and made the trip, we really love that drive, it's all back roads and we only get on the interstate for a smidgen of time....Eugene and I really hate to travel on the interstate, it's just boring and a little scary at times...the trip to Savannah is always so pleasant because you never, ever have to worry about traffic!  We got to my grandma thunderbolt's house around 11:30.  And, No, she doesn't live on an Indian reservation...thunderbolt is the little shrimp boat community my grandma lives in Savannah..my whole life I've always called her that, now Eugene does too!)  We talked for awhile then headed to bed...Saturday morning she cooked us a yummy breakfast and we visited awhile more.  Mid day we left and went to pick up my other grandma, Grandma Hatchell and take her to eat.  We met some old friends of ours for lunch at Spanky's!  Oh how I love to eat there.....my grandma kept stealing food off my plate, I almost had to tell her to eat her own food and quit bothering mine!  But I didn't....figured I should respect her right?  We sat and visited at lunch forever!  Our friends Trey and Nikki met us with their new little girl Emmalee!  Trey's mom Mrs. Elane came as well, Elane and my mom have been friends since they were teenagers.  It was so fun to catch up and chat!  Luke was fascinated with a tattoo of a butterfly on Elane's toe!  He was under the table staring at it for at least 30 minutes or so!  Let's just hope he doesn't hold the same fascination with tat's when he's 18!

Saturday afternoon we met my cousin Staci and her family at the mall!  I say she's my cousin but we're much closer than that, she's definitely more like a sister to me.  This week she's on vacation in Mexico and I keep picking up my cell phone to call her and talk but then I remember she's not home!!!  It's driving me crazy!  Miss you stace!  I had a few coupons at Bath and Body works so I took Staci and bought her a birthday gift!   I bought her a shampoo and conditioner and a nail file for $3!!!   She was uuber excited, she loves a good deal as much as I do.  I told her I just love the fact that I just spent $3 on her birthday and she's cool with that!  While we shopped the guys (Eugene & Michael) watched the kids play in the soft play area.   But before we left Eugene got his shop on....he bought 4 pairs of dress pants in JC Penney!   Again...I had some coupons!  He got each pair of lined dress pants, regular $50 for $18! 

Saturday night we all went to Cancun's for Staci's birthday, my mom even sent a cake with us!  We had a great time!  Sunday we got up and came home. 

Eugene and I talked alot about how much we miss Savannah and the people who live their, we are really going to try and make more of an effort to visit!  I took some pictures but I can't seem to find them right now?!  I wonder where they could be?

I've got to go back!

I know Easter was like a month ago now but I've got to go back and catch up!  Easter this year seemed to come up on me quickly.  I think it's alot of fun to all get dressed up in new spiffy outfits for church, I know it has nothing to do with the real reason we celebrate, but it's still fun!  I especially had fun dressing Luke this year.  I searched and searched to find him  a little suit but the best I could come up with was this coat and tie !  He was so proud to wear it to.  He kept saying he was going to wear a tie like daddy!  Caroline wore a pretty blue dress, I liked it okay, but I just felt it was probably best not to go blow $50 on a new smocked little dress especially when she'd outgrow it in a few short months!  I even got myself a new dress and Eugene a new tie!  Don't we look spiffy?

Eugene and I decided this year to for go piling up the kids with junk and candy they didn't need in their easter baskets, and we didn't promote the Easter bunny either, it just feels like we cheapen the holiday a little with an Easter Bunny.....not sure why but I'm cool with Santa Clause, maybe because he's a real man and all!  Anyway...I digress....the kids did have little baskets but they didn't get much, Luke was thrilled with the raisins and fruit cup I put in his!  We spent the week before Easter reading part of the Easter story from his children's bible to Luke each night and I'd also gotten him this Boz book to help him understand why we celebrate.  I just love Boz!

After church Easter all the fam came over to our house to eat, the kids played and hunted eggs and had alot of fun!  Here are some more pics from the day!  Plus a few of us dying eggs, we got our old point and shoot camera to start working again so hopefully I can start posting short little movie clips...as long as it keeps working!

  Grace, Claire and Luke showing off their Easter shirts Mimi made them!

A quick back track....

I forgot to show you pics from the wedding I shot Easter weekend!  It was actually alot of fun!  Keep in mind I was just a second shooter so I didn't really get to spend a whole lot of time with the Bride and Groom together but I kind of liked being a second shooter, I got to shoot pictures without having all the responsibility of making sure I got all the right shots!

Don't worry! I'm still alive!

Hey Everyone!  I'm back....I know I've been so bad!!!  The truth is I've become slightly addicted to CVSing and clipping coupons.  I've been spending so much of my evenings planning my shopping trips and clipping/organizing coupons that I haven't been blogging, plus, we've been out of town, Eugene's been using the computer to do taxes, he bumped up the RAM in my computer one night....so I have plenty of good excuses for you!

But I have lots to catch you up on!  But for now I'll leave you with this.  Just yesterday I was having a conversation with a co worker about traveling.  I was telling her how I am so happy my parents took us all around the US and really exposed us to life outside the city limits of T'ville!  I've had so many opportunities to travel!  Eugene and I just can't wait til the kids get older to take them places.  I'm sure we'll go to the beach and the mountains but we want to drive them across the US, drive up to New England area....all the way down Florida!  Flying is fun but you see so much more in a car!  I guess we're kind of dorky in this area but we think it will be so much fun to mix traveling with education too!  Go to presidential museums, see national monuments, Gettysburg.....I'm getting excited thinking about it!!! 

Anyway!  I found this neat map online,  you can mark what states you've been too!  It has always been one of my goals to hit all 50 states, I was on a roll B.K. (before kids) but haven't really seen much past FL and TN in the past 3 years, but that's okay, we'll get back to it when they're about 5 and 7!  I remember my first big trip with my folks was to Boston when I was 5 and I still have alot of memories of visiting there for the first time. 

 

I've got 13 more states to go!!  Aren't maps fun!  It's weird...how'd I get all the way around Oklahoma and not visit???