May 2010-Strawberry picking, Bike fun, Field Day, Mother's Day and the end of Kindergarten!

Walter's 3yr old WEE School class.

We tie-dyed T-shirts at the end of the year. The kids dipped their own shirt in the dye. They loved it and the shirts came out great!

Walter finished up soccer with Champ Sports at Calvary.

He loved it but I think he loved getting the trophy even more! He really enjoyed playing but he thinks that he may want to try something else for next time....like karate! Perfect!!

As the Kindergarten year was wrapping up, we had many exciting events going on. First we had Field Day at the school. The kids loved this. It was just like field day from when I was a kid. Outside games at the school. Sooooo much fun!

Then we attended Ann Elizabeth's first violin concert. She did wonderfully. She practiced very hard and stood up on the stage and played all the songs with perfection. She had the option to only play a few but she played them all!

And of course graduation. What a bitter sweet moment for us. She was thrilled to be graduating Kindergarten. She was over K and ready for 1st grade. She even sang a solo in front of all the K classmates and parents/guest. She loves being on stage. We were so proud! I still can't believe that she is going to 1st grade!!!

During May we also celebrated Mother's Day. We were so thankful that both of our Mom's could be here to celebrate with us. We ate at Gado Gado in Matthews for a great Mother's Day lunch.

Walter's 3yr old class had bike day at school so he was able to bring his bike and ride around the parking lot with all of his friends. He loved it...especially his friend who had the "big wheel" that had lights and sounds. Here is W with his friend Paris.

Picking strawberries was something that we always enjoyed doing when we lived in Charleston so I was super excited to find out that we had a farm with strawberries right around the corner from our house. We went one day after school and thankfully we were able to find some yummy berries!

April 2010-Easter & Spring Fun!!!

Charleston fun at Waterfront Park!

Easter Sunday-The kids and Mom and Dad with the grands!

Dying Easter Eggs!

April was a great month for us all. We were busy with soccer with Walter, dying easter eggs, many easter egg hunts and fun on Spring Break. We went with Walter to Charleston on Spring Break and had a great time. Daddy was working so we went to the beach and visited some of our friends that were in town too. Walter also surprised us with a baseball game with all of his work friends. The kids loved it!!

Once post a day until I get caught up!

I really wanted to use this as a journal of our life so I wouldn't forget the funny things that are said and the things that we do as a family. Needless to say I have failed at that and really want to start over and do better. So, one post a day until I get caught up in what has been going on in our crazy, but super fun life!!

Father-Daughter Dance

Last saturday night, Ann Elizabeth and her Daddy had their first date....a dance. Our neighborhood does this every year for the homeowners and it is always a huge hit. AE and I had manicures and pedicures to prepare her for her big night. She had everything all planned out from her dress to her shoes to her jewelry. I am not sure who was more excited she or her Daddy!

My sweet little man turned 4 today!

I can't believe that my little man turned 4 today. We spent the morning playing with all the new toys (Batman and spaceships), and snuggling on the sofa watching his new Batman movie. It seems like yesterday that I was in the hospital awaiting his arrival. Ann Elizabeth was with us and it was the sweetest time waiting for our sweet baby to be born. We had no idea if it was a boy or girl, but we were just really excited to be adding to the family.

So, on March 2, 2006 at 10:42am weighing in at 7lbs 9oz we welcomed Walter Edward Nichols Jr. into our lives!

What a blessing he has been. This time 4yrs ago I was sitting in my hospital room cuddling a 10hr old little boy and savoring every minute of our time together alone. He and I still have a great connection and he is definitely a mommas boy...and I am ok with that. He has changed sooooo much in the last 4yrs and I can't wait to see what the future holds with him.

He surely is all boy, but a boy with a sweet loving heart and one who loves God. He is so caring and gentle and compassionate to others and loves everyone. His teachers at school tell us to watch out b/c he is going to be a ladies man!

We have spent the last 3 out of 4 of his birthday's in a different state and on 3 of those birthdays it has snowed. He thinks that is really cool. This year he has really "gotten" it and be super excited about his birthday! When he woke up this morning, before I even saw him, I heard him yell to me from upstairs..."Mom I am 4 today"! He was so proud and so are we!

We love you little W. Thank you for bringing so much joy into our lives and being such a wonderful child!

February Fun!

February has been a busy month too. We had another snow which the kids loved, celebrated Valentine's Day, AE celebrated the 100th day of school, packed up buckets for Haiti and finished up cheerleading. A busy month, but more great memories with the kids. Here is just a quick glimpse!

Snow Day 2010

The bucket ready to be packed with food for the people in Haiti!

Ann Elizabeth praying over the bucket and for the family that receives our buckets!

SO POWERFUL and such a big heart!!!!

Walter and AE sitting on the buckets all packed up and ready to be shipped out!

AE 100th day of school!

Time to catch up!

I am just saying that this may be long or require more than one post. I can't believe that I have let so long pass by with out updating.

Christmas around here was great. We spent Christmas here in NC and then went to TN for a fun visit the week after. It was great to reconnect with friends and also get closure for me.

January also has help so many things for us. Ann Elizabeth started cheering through Upward at our church...and she loves it. She only cheers on Sat mornings for about 45 min, but it is great practice for her. We also went to Atlanta to visit Walter's parents and we visited The World of Coca Cola and the CNN center (well, just the sign and a great Mexican restaurant inside). Little W LOVES coke so he was heaven being able to get his own coke.

We love our kids so much and I am really trying to settle into a slower routine and enjoy every minute with them. They are growing up way to fast and I want to make sure I can capture each and every moment with them. So, once again I am going to make a better effort to update this. I love looking back at the years previous and seeing what they were doing and what they said. It is a great memory keeper!!!

November Adventures!

November was a great month. Lots of BIG stuff. Walter is now traveling back and forth to Nashville, in addition to Charleston. BUT, we are thankful for a job and know that the Lord has plans for us. Ann Elizabeth lost her first tooth...and she danced in The Nutcracker. We had Walter's Fall party at school and he and Ann Elizabeth both had programs at school. November was really busy....and we had 2 birthdays, mine and AE! We had a great month.

October catch up!

I know that we are in Decemeber, but I missed Oct and wanted to post some pics of the kids on Halloween. We had a crazy month of Oct. From soccer to T-ball, visiting the pumpkin patch and parties at school, it was crazy. But, no matter what, the Monk, the gypsy and Optimus Prime still had a fabulous time Halloween!

My sweet baby girl turned 6 today!

I can't believe how time flys. This time 6 yrs ago I was holding my sweet first born. She was about 5 hours old and sleeping quietly in my arms. Her Daddy was of course right by my side and we couldn't keep our eyes off of her. She was the most beautiful little girl that we had ever seen. She was perfect. I can't believe that 6yrs have passed.

And today on her 6th birthday, we have baked cupcakes, played games, decorated for Christmas, cuddled on the couch and watched a movie. We have seen her dance in her 1st Nutcracker this weekend and be so kind and gentle to her brother and her friends. She has lost her first tooth this month and started Kindergarten this year. She memorizes a bible verse each week for school, wants to tell everyone about Jesus and is learning to play the violin. She has a heart of gold and loves Jesus. We couldn't have asked for a sweeter little girl nor could we be more proud of her than we are today as I look back and remember the sweet little girl I held in my arms at 3:52pm on November 29, 2003, my first born. We are so blessed to have you Ann Elizabeth and we LOVE you so much!