Quiet Time with My Little Girl

I am sitting here holding my sweet baby girl in a quiet house. We have had a really busy weekend. Right now my boys are out having fun and us girls are hanging. I had to mark the occasion because my beautiful daughter just gave me a big huge smile!!!! The first one she has given me!! So sweet!!! I am so in love with her! She is such a blessing!

I just thought I would share this special moment with you all! (I would post some pictures but Matt has the camera). Now we are going to do a little online shopping together. Our first of many shopping trips I am sure!

An Alabama Snow Day

So today was your typical Alabama snow day. They have been predicting it for a week so of course all the schools closed early (and will be closed tomorrow) and there was no groceries to be found! Most of the time when this happens it doesn't really snow but today it did. Not too much but it was about an inch or so. It was really pretty and fun! Here are some pictures from our Alabama snow day...

This morning while it was really coming down Ben and I made a fort in the living room. It has been a long week trying to keep him happy while stuck inside. He loved the fort!

He played with his Batmans all morning in his fort.

Kate slept the day away in her cute snowman sleeper.

After Ben woke up from his nap we went outside to check out the snow. He didn't know what to think at first.

We made a snowman. His favorite books right now are about snowman so he was super excited to make a snowman. We used Mr. Potatohead pieces so Ben loved changing out the faces.

He even shoveled the driveway!

We went down and he played with his buddy! They had a blast hitting each other with snowballs and playing in the snow!

He really got into the action!

Matt enjoying the snow fun!

Kate even came outside for a minute to see the snow!

It was a fun snowy day. Ben stayed out in it for about 2 hours and I think he could have stayed out there longer. We drug him in and warmed him up with some hot chocolate. Now we are sitting down warming up watching the big game (Go Texas!! Hook 'em Horns!)

And since the city is shut down it looks like tomorrow will be the same. All the roads over the mountain to where we live are closed. Matt has to go to work in the morning so it will be interesting to see how he gets there. He is planning on leaving around 5 am. The roads are supposed to be really icy tomorrow.

The Game Has Started

If you remember, I said my "thing" the year is couponing. I started last night on my adventures in couponing. I am looking on it as a game to see how much money I can save. So far it has been interesting.

Last night I went to Publix with Ben. We have always enjoyed grocery store time together and now we are doing it at night since Kate is around. I had all my coupons clipped and coordinated with the sales that were going on at Publix. When it was all said and done I saved $31.31. I thought that was pretty good.

Today after I took Ben to school Kate and I went to CVS for our next adventure. This is a little more challenging because they have these Extra Care Bucks that you have account for and be savvy about. But I have heard that you can go to CVS and get a whole bunch of stuff and never pay anything. It didn't work out quite that well for me today but I did get some good deals. I spent $65 but I also saved $65 in coupons and sales. I thought that was pretty good. I even have $5 in bucks for next weeks trip.

So overall week 1 was a success. I will look forward to trying this some more and making it a game to see if I can get better at it!

Here is what I got at CVS. Lots of good stuff for not to much!

And I know you guys don't read the blog for boring posts about shopping so here is a picture of Kate napping. I wore her out today running errands. This week has been the first week I have taken her out. She seems to enjoy getting out and about!

Life is Not Fair

I am just going to start out by saying that this blog post might seem a little whinny (but I hang out with a whinny 2 year old all day what do you expect). Life is not fair! Especially when it comes to grandparents. When I was growing up I so very badly wanted the game Hungry Hungry Hippos. I asked my parents for it numerous times and I never got it! Flash forward 25 years. I mention that I think Ben might like the game and my parents run out and buy it for him that day and give it to him for Christmas. We just mention something Ben might like and the grandparents get it for him. So not what they did for us!!!! As a daughter I think it isn't fair but as a parent I think it is great that he has such wonderful, loving grandparents that want to spoil him!

While we are on the subject. Growing up we had toys but not all that many. Really all the toys we had could fit in a couple of storage boxes under the bed and in the closet. Ben has a room full of toys and also a 18x20 playroom full of toys! Life is just not fair!

Here we are playing Hungry Hungry Hippos! At least I finally get to play it anytime I want!

Baby It's Cold Outside!

There is a reason I live in Alabama - because it is not supposed to be cold. I don't mind it being a little cold for a day or 2 but much more than that and I will balk! The weather report this morning had everyday for the next 7 with a high below freezing except for one when it will get up to a balmy 35. That is just way to cold for this warm blooded person!! I know all you Northerners that read the blog are laughing right now but it is true! Needless to say our goal for the week is just staying warm! We will be staying inside as much as possible (which means being creative to burn off some little boy energy). They are even saying we have a chance of snow/ice later in the week (pray it doesn't happen because we have too much going on this weekend).

Here is our attempt at staying warm this morning...

Ben in his super cute footie PJs. I just love these on him!

Kate in her frog sleeper. I love this outfit. I had bought it for several of my friends when they had little girls so of course I had to get it for her for Christmas! I am excited she can wear it to stay warm. Look at those cute froggie feet!

Blogging in 2010

You may have noticed all the blog posts lately. It is partly due to the fact that I am not working right now so I have more time than usual. It is also due to having a great baby that give me lots of free time that I didn't expect. But the big reason is there is just so much I want to capture right now. I didn't think about how with 2 kiddos you have double the amount of things to try to remember.

So in 2010 I plan on using the blog more than ever to capture what is going on in our lives. I love scrapbooking and doing baby books but that just isn't happening right now so hopefully I will be able to use the blog to go back and do all that when I get a chance. I plan to try to blog every day or at least every other day. My goal for the blog isn't for it to be for other people as much as just for us to look back on for memories. I am glad that there are some people out there reading and enjoying this crazy journey with us though! I love the comments when you have them. So hears to lots more the the Eckleys in 2010!

A Visit from GG

We had a great start to the new year with a visit from my grandmother and aunt. Ben has started calling my grandmama GG (short for great-grandmama). He loves his GG. He talks about her all the time. He was so excited to have a visit from her! She is a pretty great grandmama! We also enjoyed the visit with my awesome Aunt Lisa. I am so glad they were able to meet sweet Miss Kate. I loved just watching my grandmama sit and hold her. It was so sweet. I think it is pretty cool that my kiddos have 3 great grandmamas to love on them!

Here is GG and Kate

Great Aunt Lisa and Kate

Ben cheering on Auburn! It was a wild and crazy game yesterday but so glad they were able to pull it out in the end!

I thought this was so cute of Kate holding in her paci.

Kate saying "Touchdown Auburn" She looked so cute in her Auburn attire. It is amazing to see how much she has filled it out since she last wore it.