Makeover

My blog was looking a little dreary.... and I remember changing it to that....a hard time in my life....a valley experience. But I am making my way back into the light! And I think my blog should reflect that!!! So here are my dandelions back!!!!

Kindergarten Round Up

Monday we took Chatham to Kindergarten Round Up. At Clyde Campbell, it really a parent orientation, but you bring your rising Kinder and they get to spend a few hours with the TAs in the Kinder classrooms and on the playground. I have asked and asked what Chatham and the other kids did- but the only info Chatham gives is "the playground has a rocket ship, and you can climb on the hood", "I played fireman with a boy named Zack", and "the teachers name was Miss Pickles". WELL, I'm glad he had fun on the playground but WHAT ABOUT THE CLASSROOMS! and just for the record "Miss Pickles" is actual a teacher assistant named Mrs. Peppers! My kid cracks me up!!!!

All in all, it was very good for us to go- Devin got to see his old elementary school and show me around, I feel much more at ease about letting Chatham go (there were NO tears!!!!), and Chatham is SO excited to start BIG school in the Fall. Now we go back in two weeks for his Dial Screening- EEK!

A Tea Party with Cinderella

The NewArt Ballet School in Newton is putting on Cinderella. The cast put on a tea party for little girls in the area. Harper and some of her closest buds got ticket and went.

The girl who is dancing as Cinderella was SO sweet, and SO good with the girls. They decorated a picture frame and got a picture taken with Cinderella to put in it, they were playing the Disney version of Cinderella while the girls ate cupcakes and had juice and a beautifully decorated table. Then they went into the auditorium and watched a small clip of the actual ballet.



Harper had so much fun!

Happy Easter

My little honey bunnies!!

April 7-11 celebrates the "Week of The Child"

I love Abernethy CDC, and so do my kids! They have been doing LOTS of fun activities this year- like Door Wars and Bike/Trike day! Harper's class even tye-dyed shirts for school spirit day!!

 Here they are in matching Mickey/Minnie Jammies!

 Character day!

Hat Day! (It was actually silly hat day, so Chatham insisted on wearing his hat backwards)

Cooper River Bridge Run

 I ran the Cooper River Bridge 10 K in Charleston, SC and had such a fun and relaxing get away with the girls. My Aunt Carrie, Linda, and Gina did the race with me and Mom and Lisa came along for shopping and support!

 The weather was BEAUTIFUL!! Even at 5:40 AM when we had to be out the door to make our shuttle.

 I loved the costumes and "celebrities" that were there to show support. I finished my 6.2 miles in 1 hour and 10 1/2 minutes!!

HELLO?!?!?!....anyone still out there??

I have been looking a back at this blog and love all of the sweet times I have been able to capture while Chatham and Harper are growing. I kind of hate I missed such a large chunk of Harper's baby years- but I am back! Hopefully on a regular basis!!

 I mean LOOK at how big she has gotten!! Chatham is about to start KINDERGARTEN!!! If I don't start writing things down again I am never going to remember all of the silliness we are living!!

 We celebrated visiting Clyde Campbell for the first time with Chatham, that is where he will start kindergarten this Fall!! He has done the doctor visit screening and passes with flying colors (minus the fact that the patch in his ear has three SMALL tears in it). He passed his hearing and seeing test, and even got 2 out of 5 on the depth perception chart (which is above average for his age).

 Sweet Frog is our go to place for celebrations!!

Sunday's are busy at the Donleys

 Sundays are a day of rest in most homes- but in my home it WEARS ME OUT!

 All of the running and jumping and yelling (at the TV) takes a toll on ya!

 But we LOVE our Panthers, and show our support win or lose.

 This particular Sunday we were SO hot that Harper thought she needed some shades!

A Beach Wedding

Amber and Weston got married in October at the Outer Banks. We took an extra day off and spent some time sightseeing as a family. It was a little cold but you always have to see the ocean when you're at the beach!

 I can't wait to take the kids next summer for the family trip- they are so excited to swim in the ocean!

 Devin walked Amber down the aisle and the kids and I got to be front row guests.

 We went to the Wrights Brothers Museum and Monument; and to the Currituck Lighthouse.

These pictures aren't great, but the ones on the Nikon turned out BEAUTIFULLY!

Over a month with no blogging.....

So I took a bit longer hiatus than expected...but I am back... I am excited...and I want to get back to documenting our family memories on the blog!

See.... we're still the same!

 It's gotten cold here...like 30's and 40's cold!!!

 Harper's been working on her Wish List for Christmas and here is yet another shameless plug to Daddy.... I WANT A HELLO KITTY COUPE!!!!!!

  Trying on some accessories while shopping!

So this post was mainly to get back into the swing of things...it even took me a second to remember how to upload the pictures- YIKES!

Where has the time gone??!!!

I have so many pictures to upload, so many stories, and Chathamisms and Harperisms..... I haven't blogged in SO long. I will be getting back into the swing of it soon- I promise! If you're still out there looking for me don't give up! HAHA

Check this out!!!

So, first you need to know....I was recently approached by Easy Canvas Prints and offered a free 11″ x 14″ stretched canvas print of one of my photos in exchange for posting a review of their prints and service. THEN... they offered a second free 11" x 14" canvas if I give you all easy access with buttons on my blog to their site- WELL OF COURSE!!!

 Any one who has been in my living room knows I am no stranger to the world of canvas prints. I have not however used Easy Canvas Prints until this time. I have always used 8 x 10 mother's day freebies; or discounts from friends who ordered a canvas and get a 75% off coupon... BUT... I must say that my Easy Canvas Prints had the easiest order and the best shipping. I got one print right away within the week I ordered it. The second one took a bit longer (but for good reason) I used a picture off my facebook page and it wasn't great quality- so I got an email from the art department asking for a bigger file- the one I sent next still didn't look great- I LOVE that they are looking for things like that! I have received pixalated (is that a word?!?) pictures from other companies.

I obviously am working at a much slower pace than Easy Canvas Print- because I haven't even hung them up yet. They quality is AMAZING- my favorite part of the picture on the right is that they capture the BRIGHT colors in Harper's shoes!!! I can't wait for Christmas and hope that Santa knows that Easy Canvas Print is on my wish list!!!

So...what do you do now-- go to the buttons on the top right of my blog and order your own canvas!!

Money, Money, Money

 The Piggy Bank Room at Marbles....

 Our big money makers (I mean spenders)

Thomas was too fast for me, I couldn't get him to stay still long enough to snap a picture.

More Raleigh Fun

While the big boys went to VBS, I kept the little two at Beth's house. They had fun playing with trains, vacuuming and mowing the entire house...but most of all they liked hide and seek. (It was really more a peek a boo from the closet) 

 We also found time to go to Marbles Kids Museum (which was AWESOME) Chatham LOVED the farmer boots in the barn area!

 Driving the pirate ship was a HUGE hit!

Check out my little surfer girl!!

Pullen Park

We went to Raleigh over the weekend to stay with my sister and let the boys go to VBS at their church. We packed in the fun while we were there. Pullen Park was SO much fun, I can't wait to go again the next time we visit. They have a boat ride...

 a real caboose to walk through....

 a carousal... (which Chatham rode for the first time; he normally freaks out and ends up riding on the bench)

see saws.....

and the real train! (that we rode TWICE!) Harper has no fear- she did everything there was to ride and wouldn't even sit on my lap on the train- "SIT OWN".

 My kiddos loved it, they were so sweaty and tired by the end of the day!!