Surprise!

The plan was devised, the wheels were put into motion and the mom's were about to bust in keeping the secret. But, it was all worth it!

I should start by mentioning that Katey's birthday is coming up on Thursday and Mike and I were trying to figure out how to celebrate that with her. Should there be a big party, a slumber party with a few friends or a small something with just one friend? Decisions, decisions, decisions... I should also mention that we have some very dear friends, the Molendorp's, who used to live here but moved to Indiana 4 years ago. They have a daughter and a son whom our kids adore. We try to see each other a couple of times a year. Oh, and their daughter, Anna, is Katey's best friend.

Mike and I thought it would be fun if Katey and I had a special girls weekend away as the birthday celebration this year. And, it would be even more special if Anna could be there. So, Anna's mom, Sara, and I started planning and scheming! We decided to meet in Cincinnati at a hotel with a water park inside (Coco Key Resort) and also decided to keep the fact that we would be together a BIG SECRET! We couldn't wait to see the look on the girls' faces when they saw each other.

It was utterly amazing (and due in part to the oblivious nature of our daughter) that this secret was kept until the very end. Katey knew we were going away, it would take at least 8 hours to get there, it was in Cincinnati (to which she asked, "Is Cincinnati in Texas?"), and we needed swim suits. We had a great car ride there and enjoyed spending time with just us. We listened to some new music on my I-pod (a new fascination for my daughter!) and listened to a book on CD. When we arrived at the hotel Sara and Anna were already there. They rounded the corner and Sara and I were giddy with anticipation of the girls seeing each other. It took a minute for it all to register then the conversation went something like this:

Anna (with wide eyes and mouth dropped open): Katey, are you staying at this hotel, too?
Katey (with eyes just as wide): Yes.
Anna: Mom, is their room close to ours?
Sara: Honey, they are staying in the same room with us.
Mouths drop open even further and kids begin to jump up and down with glee as the moms realize that both girls think this is all a coincidence.
One of the moms: This weekend was planned - it is a surprise to you both - we knew we would all be here together.
A look of realization crosses the little faces
Anna: Can the kids sleep in the same bed??

I, of course, had hoped to capture the big moment on camera. Unfortunately, in the excitement of it all, I forgot to get my camera out of the van. So, I settled for a shot after we got to the room. Notice, the girls are in the same bed.

We had such a wonderful weekend with our friends. There were a few more surprises for the girls - we had a birthday cake waiting in the room for them (Anna's birthday was a couple of weeks ago), the hotel had left goodie buckets for each of the girls, we spent part of Saturday at an aquarium, there was fun at the water park, eating out, painting nails and special matching t-shirts for the girls as well. It was definitely hard to say good-bye on Sunday. Katey loved spending time with Anna and I had such a great time catching up with Sara; it makes me miss having her nearby. We hope to do something like this again - and maybe even include the boys next time!

Here are a few cute pictures from the weekend:

Vacation!

We spent a funtastic week at Lake Norman this year. We rented a house and a boat with Jen's mom, sister and brother-in-law and his family (which we absolutely claim as our own!). There were 16 of us for most of the week - 9 adults, a 7 year old, 4 five year olds, a 2 year old and a 1 year old. Yes, you read that correctly, 4 five year olds - 3 of them being boys! We all had a blast...a noisy blast, but a blast all the same.

Here is a shot from the back deck of the swimming area and boat:

There was a wonderful swimming area that the kids and adults all loved to play in (that is, once we got past the nasty feeling of squishy disgusting sandy mud between our toes!). It started out zero-entry and got deep really fast. We were able to do cannon balls, can openers, pencil jumps, belly flops and dives off the dock. What could be better than that?! Well, since you asked...

Tubing on the boat (only 2 kids fell off the entire week!):

Driving the boat:

Learning to ski (courtesy of our friend, David Pharr!):


Movie night and slumber
party in the basement:

Hanging out with friends and family:









Oh, there was also the pinata, bags full of toys and games, the luau and treasure hunt, craft making, hand-painted t-shirts, donut making, and roasting of marshmellows (Katey informed us afterwards, "I have been waiting almost 8 WHOLE YEARS to taste a roasted marshmellow and it finally happened!! I love them!" We didn't know we were depriving our child, but apparently we were; at least according to her.). Most of the above was curteousy of "Mamaw Kathy" as she has a wonderful way of planning and making everything extra-special for the kids.

So we have come back tired from all the fun, but excited with all that we were able to do and try for the first time. I'm just wondering if I should be nervous...Mike confessed the other day that he was looking at boats on Craigs List. Bring it on, baby!

An Historic Happening

I have caved to peer pressure...again. First Facebook and now a blog. (Will someone please challenge me to something more noble for once. Like, say, reading through the Bible in a year or keeping my house clean and organized or avoiding Target and all the unnecessary spending that goes along with a leisurely trip to said store...)

So, as I have seen in the beginnings of so many other blogs, I will repeat here: We'll see how this goes. I love the idea of journaling this way - especially considering I don't usually journal another way. And, I adore reading the entries of all my friends and family. So, I have caved and will do my best to keep up with an official blog!

For my first post, I would like to explain the title of the blog.
Katey is our Monkey, Seth is our Turkey. I was a new mommy and holding my precious, beautiful little bundle of pink on my shoulder. I looked down lovingly into her face and thought to myself, "This child looks like a monkey!" From thence forward we have called Katey "Monkey" on a regular basis. A name that fits this child well. She has been curious and wild and into everything - including climbing trees - from the day she was born. A name in which she is now coming to not appreciate so much, but being her parents, we persist with. :-)


Seth's story isn't quite so involved. It was Thanksgiving 2003. Mommy awoke, ready for a day of cooking turkey and mashed potatoes and all the yummy fixin's that go along with the wonderful holiday of Thanksgiving. I stepped out of bed and realized that we were actually going to the hospital to have a baby instead. 4 hours later I was holding baby Seth in my arms. Our silly little Turkey baby!


There we have it. I am excited to be setting out on this historic happening (historic for me, anyway). More posts and some pictures to come as soon as I figure this thing out!