spring break 2016

We had a great and busy spring break last week.  But as good as it was, I am ready to get back to our normal weekly routine.  Getting off schedule and out of routine is hard around this house..  We like consistency.  

{the puryears came and played with us on tuesday and we had so much fun showing them around our little town!}

{we spent the day playing, shopping, sliding at the park and just having fun!!}

{wednesday we met the casteels at the zoo!}

{and we 'rode' lots of animals.}

{fed a giraffe.}

{and watched our favorites, the otters, goof off.}

{these three always have fun together. cannot wait for baby brother hudson to be able to run around and join in all the fun.}

{wednesday night, we headed to the minton's house for food and fellowship.  i do a weekly women of the word bible study with these amazing women and this week our families joined us.  it was so fun to get our families all together, it was a little wild but so much fun.}

{my wednesday night girls, we were just missing katherine!}

{thursday we had more friends come over for a little easter fun!

avett, maeve, hudson, dalton and asher all ready to hunt some eggs.}

{and on friday, my favorite person and i had a little day date!}

Saturday night we went to dinner and bowling with some friends but somehow we didn't snap one picture.. but it was a great little night out.

life through the iPhone and instagram

{sometimes this wild man still falls asleep in the car.}

{they've grown into the best little shopping buddies.}

{this gal loves bath time!}

{and she loves dressing like a hipster!}

{doing yard work is much more entertaining with these two.}

{ready for an easter egg hunt at school.}

{some mornings are made for donuts.}

{i blinked and they turned into these tiny little humans.}

{sister will fight a nap every once in a while..this time she passed out under her book.}

{holding hands...with a boy! during nap time at school.  we are in trouble.}

{we are the happiest when we are around josie and charlie!}

{slumber party at gj and papaw's.}

{they loved taking reecie to her vet appointment..they kept telling her, "it will not hurt reecie, it will just tickle" when she was about to get her shots.}

{loved celebrating josie and charlie!  josie turned seven and charlie is five!}

{we were mamaw's little helpers one day and helped her pick up her new car.  maeve was in heaven with just mamaw and me.  she soaked up every minute and loved all the attention.}

{friday night family date night always means ice cream stop!}

{my favorite people to go on a date with.}

{trying to get fit is more fun with these friends! lauren is kicking our booties into shape!}

{spring is coming and we are excited!!}

{"i wanted to be like woody, mommy"}

{our friends are in chattanooga and we love seeing them!  we headed down for the day a few weeks back and had tons of fun!}

adulting in the dominican

To wrap up the month of February, we headed to the Dominican for some much needed adult time, sunshine and sleeping in!

{we stayed in punta cana at the excellence resort and spa.  it was fabulous, this was our second time at an excellence resort but the first time in the dominican.}

{we had basically five days of this.}

{and my view was mainly this during the day.  i'm currently in the middle of a 'women of the word' study with some new girlfriends and it was just what i needed while there.  being on the beach, under the sun, listening to the waves was about as perfect as it could get for my daily quiet time.}

{we spent each day by the ocean...}

{and each late afternoon/evening in the hot tub} 

{if you have known me for a while then you know my favorite animal is a monkey.  i probably have 50 stuffed animal monkeys from my childhood.  i slept with a monkey named jacob until i got married.. i've always thought they were the cutest things.  we were sitting on the beach one day when a guy walked by with this sweet little teeny tiny monkey.  of course i had to get my picture made with him.  he was the softest, lightest thing! if i could've snuck him in my luggage and brought him home, i totally would have. total bucket list moment for me.}

{and then he climbed on my head!!  i about died. look at that pose.}

{our resort was gorgeous and it was just nice to walk around and take it all in.}

{this was the moment we arrived.  the workers greet you with a glass of champagne and say "welcome home!"}

{each night we enjoyed endless amounts of delicious food and dessert.  and a few adult drinks}

{there was a party/activity every night.  after a few days, you get to know some of the workers that you always see around the resort.  one of our favorites was Luz.  she was super cute and so bubbly and friendly.  one night, she came up to summer and i and said "summer and kayla!  i need some ladies, come on!"  we ended up in a dancing line in front of the crowd.  i was mortified because i do not like people looking at me but it was fun and i survived! ha}

{poor michael didn't want to take another picture.}

{each night had a different show.  this was disco night}

{one night was circus themed..these guys were incredible.  this one guy climbed all the way to the top of the ceiling and was doing tricks on this ribbon.  at one point he went all the way to the top and then twirled all the way down.}

{the two guys are probably two of the strongest men i've ever seen.  they were doing amazing tricks together.  he is sitting on the other's shoulders.  at one point, he did a handstand on the other guys head.  insane.  i didn't take a lot of pictures because i didn't want the flash to bother them.  they were extremely focused.  it was very impressive.}

{we went to the spa two times.  on our way we saw this guy.}

{i secretly hoped he would peck mike, just a little!}

{their spa was gorgeous.  this was the waiting area.}

{we were so excited about doing the aqua therapy.  we did the same treatment while at the excellence resort in mexico two years ago.  the aqua treatment is where you do different forms of water therapy.  here's a few that i can remember: sitting in a sauna, then going into another room and rubbing pieces of ice all over our bodies, sitting in a steam room, walking into a mist shower, dumping a bucket of warm/semi-cold water on our heads.  then we headed to two different plunge pools with different water pressure fountains.  one for our lower back and one for our shoulder.  we then sat in a hot tub.  after that treatment, trav and i headed off and each got a 50 minute massage and 50 minute facial.  total bliss.  we ended going back a few days later and doing the aqua therapy again!} 

{after a little less than a week there, it was time to come home.  and honestly, i was ready.. my heart is with my wild ones. on the plane about to take off.}

{good-bye dominican.  it was truly a beautiful place and full of mountains.}

{not sure i've seen a prettier sunset.  about to land in atlanta.}

We had such a great trip.  It's always great to have some alone adult time and to really focus on each other and just relax.  It was truly amazing to sleep in.  Trav and I did a good job this trip just relaxing.  That's what I wanted from this trip.. time to relax, reconnect and reboot my batteries.  I did just that.  I came back to my two favorite people completely refreshed.  Thank you to my parents for staying with our babies and taking such good care of them.  Thank you Nana and Poppy for coming down playing and loving all over them.  Thank you Ms Jaime for spending all day Saturday spoiling them rotten.  Our trip couldn't have been possible without any of you and we are forever grateful.