Pudding Painting

I am sure all of you mothers out there have heard of pudding painting...but have you ever really tried it? We invited our sweet friend Caleb over to play in the water and paint with pudding - everyone had a blast!

Elizabeth and Caleb jumped right in and started to 'paint'; Tom was a bit more apprehensive about the entire ordeal, but it did not take him long. Continue to scroll down

I wish I would have done things in this order...

1 - Make the kids run around outside a little as I set everything up

2 - Then dish out the pudding and next time use paint brushes (mine had fun without them, but I have a feeling they are not going to know what to do when it is time to use non-edible paint)

3 - After painting go swimming - I actually did this first and by the time I needed to rinse them off in the baby pool, there was no more water (due to intense splashing) and I had to use the cold hose pipe

...and maybe next time add some food coloring to add some different colors

Tom supervising while the other two rebels lick their toes...yes, you read it correctly

Needless to say the event was a huge success and we will definitely paint again!

Of course I have not forgotten about their birthday...stay tuned for the pictures from the birthday week!

Mommy Goes on Vacation!!!

Reading through my blog, you would probably think I am always on vacation, but I promise that is not the case at all! Some of my greatest friends and pledge sisters go on a trip every year towards the end of the summer. This was our sixth year; we vacationed in Orange Beach and had a blast. The group size varies from five to ten each year and we have girls coming in from Georgia, Texas, South Carolina, and New York. This year the trip was unique because for the first time all of us are married and half of the crew is pregnant! My how the times have changed from fruity drinks on the beach in the afternoons and long nights of dancing to now super tasty meals (prepared in the condo from our two in-house chefs Nicole and Holley) free of processed cheese and non-alcoholic beverages! Wehave gone from talking about boyfriends to talking about married life and kids - where did the tiem go?!?!

Regardless, when you get us all together we have a wonderful time! Front left to right...

Nicole (Nelson) McLaughlin - her second is due in March; Me; Holley (Johnson) Grainger - just married in April!; Lindsey (Collier) McLain - mom of two girls; Mollye (Yates) Gunnells - her second is due in March; Holley (Shepard) Lollar - first is due in December

Similar to the trip last year (it was the first time I have left the twins for three nights) I struggled leaving all the kiddos behind. This was my first time leaving John William and it was hard waking up and not worrying about feedings and dressing anyone other than myself.....well, it wasn't too hard - just a change of pace. The kids stayed in Atlanta with Tom and he had excellent help from his Mom, JoJo - I really don't even think they missed me.

After I came home I was informed that each child was sick with a fever for about a day and everyone had Tylenol for the first time. But when I returned everyone was healthy, tired and wanted their daddy more than me!