Rolling Acres

Johnny and I have been eyeing this house since we moved out here a year and a half ago. We first saw it when pulling over to make a U turn, then realized there was a dirt road down to it and a small stone pillar that read Rolling Acres.

It. Is. Amazing.

It sits on about 2 acres of grass fields and huge trees. There are remains of an old barn and fenced garden, old stone steps and paths that look ancient. I love to wonder just how long they've been there.

Its vacant and has been since we first saw it. Someone maintains the grounds in the summer and it always looks beautiful. When I picture my dream home, this is it!

I wanted to share it with you...

(sorry there aren't more, it was snowing so hard my camera was getting too wet)

Bubba's Cast

Poor Bubba's cute, chubby leg broke two weeks ago when Johnny slipped on the last couple steps going down the stairs in our home. Johnny fell backward, landing on Bub's ankle. After taking him to an Insta-care, we saw an x-ray of his ankle and saw two little breaks in the bone. It was SO sad and we were devastated, but Bub's let is know he was ok by giving us his huge smiles and laughing when we kissed his soft, chubby cheeks.

Here are some pics documenting his first cast!

Longwood Gardens

Last week our little family went to Longwood Gardens to look at their Christmas light display. It was SO beautiful! The gardens consisted of an outdoor display of lights in trees and fountains, and the indoor gardens were forty acres of flowers, trees, and lights. The whole place smelled so good and Drake and Bubba were fascinated! I can't wait to go back every other season!

Just for Fun

Drake wanted to go "bye bye" this morning so we went over to Valley Forge and I let him roam. He was infatuated with the colorful doors!

I'm in Love...

..with the blog House of Turquoise, I can't get enough of my favorite color.

Bubba

My little Bubba is getting so big! I left him in the living room for 2 minutes to make him a bottle, and when I got back he was looking out the window! This is the first time he's pulled himself into standing position. Just the other day I was telling my mom that it will be a while before he starts walking, he only just learned how to crawl! He proved me wrong, and now I just have to sit back and watch him become a toddler.

Its like having a puppy, you always want it to stay a puppy. I wish Bubba could always be a baby Bubba.

Cars, cars, everywhere...

This is Drake, with marker on his nose, and chocolate ice cream on his face.

He love's cars.

In his world, its always stop and go,

And there's always a place to park.

Saturday

Saturday was perfect. Johnny cleaned the kitchen, I decorated the house, and we listened to Christmas music while the boys played. Right as we finished, it started snowing! This is the first snow this winter. Drake was fascinated and it was fun to see his excitement at the 'oh cooold' stuff he could eat. I love days like this.

(it'd been 30 seconds since I dressed him and already he lost a glove)

Thanksgiving in Florida

For Thanksgiving we got to spend 6 days with the wonderful Wallace family. Our Thanksgiving meal was heavenly. Amber and Brett made so much food! My favorite's were the stuffing, gravy, pumpkin pie (homemade) and chocolate cream pie (also homemade). Johnny's fav was the sweet potato concoction that he ate almost entirely on his own. Drake loved the raspberry salad so much, he wouldn't even touch anything else.

It was so great to spend time with my sister and brother-in-law and watch our four boys play together! Johnny loved all the football they got to watch, and the Madden football they played. Amber and I got to go see New Moon and walk around Barnes and Noble for 2 hours without worrying once about the diapers that weren't getting changed, or the naps that were missed : )

The highlight of the trip was this beautiful beach they introduced to us. I dream about this beach, it was such a great day and a perfect little trip!

(...and sorry Amber about Drake throwing up in your car, and on your couch, and in the crib, and on the floor. Next time, we'll wear masks on the plane like the other crazies so we won't get the stomach flu!)

The Wallaces

Eli and Bubba, admiring the view

Brady & Drake, picking up sand, dumping it, picking up sand, dumping it, etc....

Such a pretty place!

Drake's Heaven

After lunch and before naps, we came here. I loved sitting with Bubba and watching Drake explore, climb, and slide.

DC

Yesterday we went down to Washington DC for a tour through the East Wing of the

White House. It was pretty crazy to be in the same house our President and past Presidents have lived. I loved how each room was decorated and they were all so beautiful. Sadly, we weren't allowed to take in our camera so I had to leave mine in the car. By the time we got back to the car it was so windy, cold, and rainy that we didn't want to get out to get more pictures. (We would've toughed it out but both baby boys have colds). Here are a few I did take from the car as we drove around to some other sites. It was a long day, but well worth the trip.

Help

This boy is difficult.

I know, I know - he's two. But what do you do when someone likes to hit your knuckles with toy cars (which REALLY hurts) or poke his brother eyes? Who likes to hold food in his mouth for ten minutes then spit it out all over furniture or the floor? Who throws hard objects at heads?

Time outs don't work, he just bangs his head against the wall or ground and we don't want brain damage. Spanks don't work, he just covers his diaper-covered bum and says "Top it Mammas, OUCH!" tries to kick me, and makes me feel like a horrible mother.

And the hardest part about all of this is, 20 times a day, in between the hits, kicks, throws, bites, and pokes, he comes right up to me, says "Tankjou (thank you) Mammas" and gives me a big hug and kiss, for something simple like handing him his little taxi that he just hurled at my face.

I sure love that little guy.

Halloween

Halloween came and went fast this year! Johnny won the costume coin toss and decided on a basketball theme. I couldn't be too disappointed, I loved the little guys in their getups.

Johnny was the punk referee. Why punk? He just happened to have the punk wig, bracelets, and piercings lying around...

Although it was too wet and cold for them to go trick-or-treating, they posed for a few pics and were rewarded with milks (Bubba) and candy (Dwake & Johnny).

Tribute to Fall

I love the Fall, it is my favorite time of year! Sunday we took the boys on a long drive through the countryside. The colors were at their peak, the weather was perfect, and I loved every minute of it. I loved it so much, that I want to share it with you! Here are my favorite pictures of the drive, and (especially for those of you that don't have Fall) I hope you like them!

I call these Knees Trees