July 2010-4th of July

Walter has gotten brave this summer and started jumping off the dock!

My sweet dear friend Holly Martin came all the way from Germany to spend a few days with us at the lake (ok...and to spend time with all her other friends).

Happy 4th of July!

All the kids after a fun day at the lake!

Sweet Mitchell took little W out for a ride on the jet ski..and let him drive. Walter loved it!

The 4th of July was great. My great friend Holly Martin and 2 of her 3 kids came to see us while in the states (they live in Germany). We sent the weekend at the lake riding jet skis, swimming and roasting marshmellows. It was such a great time. We haven't seen eachother in a year so it was great to catch up. Our other friends Clint & Lynn and the boys joined us too. The boys fit right in and we all loved every minute of it.

June 2010-AE Dance Recital and Father's Day!

Adult swim at the pool means rest time and snacks for the little man.

Happy Fathers Day Daddy!

The ballerina at work!

She does love to dance!

June was so much fun. We spent almost everyday at the pool and swam all day. The kids really got to be good swimmers over the summer.

Fathers Day was great. The kids and I spent the sat before with my dad and then on Father's Day we had Walter all to ourselves. He loved it.

Ann Elizabeth finished up dance and had her recital at Queens University. She performed a tap and ballet number and did fabulously at both. She LOVES being on stage and performing. I think that tap/jazz/hip hop is by far her favorite, but she still likes ballet too.

Walt Disney World 2010

Ann Elizabeth standing in front on Finding Nemo at Epcot. Walter was being Walter and didn't want to get into the picture.

Walter got picked to go on stage and be a part of the Hoop De Do Review. He was hysterical and loved being in the show. It was a great dinner too at Fort Wilderness.

The kids with Mickey at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort.

Walter with Cinderella. I think she was his favorite princess.

The kids in the Disney World ears.

The day after K graduation we loaded the kids up in the car and went on a road trip. They had no idea where we were going and really didn't ask. Walter asked a few times and Daddy and I would just say we are going to a hotel with a pool. That seemed to do him just fine. We even stopped about 2 hrs away from Disney at a place that was swarming with Disney souvenirs. They were too excited about the alligator heads to even realize that we purchased the shirts they have on in the picture above. About 7hrs into the trip we hit heavy rain in Jacksonville and little W needed to go to the bathroom. Well....not really being a place to stop we convinced him that if he needed to go he was going to have to use a cup in the car. He thought that was the coolest thing ever.

Once we hit Orlando, we asked AE to start reading the signs and see if she could figure out where we were. She had no clue until we pulled onto Disney property and went under the "Welcome to Walt Disney World" signs. The look on she and W face was priceless. It was a dream come true for them.

We stayed at the Contemporary Resort and were able to take the monorail everywhere. It was great. The kids loved seeing the fireworks every night seeing the Magic Kingdom right beside the hotel.

We did tons of character breakfast and saw every princess and character that they wanted to. It was great!!! Walter said to this day that his favorite ride was Pirates of the Caribbean and AE was prob the roller coaster she and her Daddy rode.

The kids continued to ask throughout the summer when we were going back. Every time we said that we were going on a road trip they would always ask..."are we going back to Disney World". It was the best trip we have taken as a family of 4 and our first real vacation together.

Lots of memories were made...ones we will never forget and many dreams came true...it is a magical place you know!

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!!!