Memorial Day Weekend

I was so excited for the three day Memorial Day weekend.  Unfortunately, Stephen had to work Saturday and Monday, but it was still a great weekend!

We had no plans which was wonderful and also meant it was time to start potty training.  Stephen has been showing signs of being ready and I was just waiting for a weekend when we would be home and this was it!

So Friday after school, we went to Target so he could pick out some underwear.  He was super excited and picked Mickey Mouse underwear.  While at Target he wanted me to buy a big bag of M&M's since we had them at the beach house, but I told him that we weren't going to get them today.  So he said, "ok, Daddy bring me Target, buy me M&M's."  Oh really!!!  It's so funny to see him think about things.

Saturday morning I put him in his underwear and explained all about going potty.  I would ask him constantly if he needed to go and he would say no.  He had an accident and then I decided to set the timer on the microwave for 30 minutes and make him go every 30 minutes even if he said he didn't need to go.  We ended up running to the gas station and buying some M&M's as an incentive.  He gets one for trying and two if goes potty.

While Stephen was napping, my parents came over to start decorating for the gender reveal party next Sunday!  I am so excited that it is almost here!

My Mom and Aunt Linette have gone all out and done so much for this party to make it a really special day for us.

Aunt Linette made this photo booth with props!  So fun!  We set it all up and were trying to find the best spot for it, so we asked Dad to pose for us.  Stephen saw him and ran and got a prop and stood next to him.  He even held the pacifier up to his face!  Too cute!!



Then we moved it over to this wall and Mom was our model.   Stephen also wanted to be in the picture, but right as I snapped this he threw his prop in the air.



I am so excited for the party and can't wait to see if we are having a boy or girl!

Saturday night we went to eat at Hoggs N Chicks at the front of our neighborhood.  I was really nervous about leaving the house since it was our first day of potty training, but Stephen did great.  He told us he needed to go potty twice and didn't have any accidents!



He was being so funny and cute at dinner.  I know I say this all the time, but he just brings us so much joy!  I can't imagine my life without him!



Saturday night about 10:30 I went into the kitchen to get a glass of water.  I opened the refrigerator and saw the pickles in the door and had to have some.  As I was eating them I was laughing at myself.  Who eats pickles at 10:30?  This preggo!!  I did not have ice cream with them though.



Sunday was supposed to be a work day to get some things done around the house for the party, but instead it turned into a play and relax day and it was exactly what we needed!

I snapped a picture of my belly as we were headed out the door.  I can't believe how big I am and that I have 18 more weeks to go!   But I love actually looking pregnant now and not just really fat.



A Shipley's opened at the front of our neighborhood so we decided to go get donuts and kolaches.  With the 7,000 other people who live in our neighborhood.  It was a madhouse, but was SO good!

We then headed to the park where the boys played soccer and I followed them around like the paparazzi.







Stephen really loves playing soccer.









Oops!



I don't know what this move is, but it's cute!





Next to the park is a big hill which is actually called the amphitheater.  Our neighborhood has concerts, movies and fireworks here a few times throughout the year.



The boys had so much fun running up and down the hill chasing the ball.



















Stephen was getting so tired from all the running so he started walking behind Daddy and Daddy was pushing him to run.  Daddy side tracked to go get the soccer ball and Stephen took off running to beat him.







Daddy was trying to show him how to roll down the hill.  Stephen wasn't to interested.





We brought the boys bikes in the back of the truck so they could ride them home.





As you can imagine, Stephen was absolutely exhuasted after all of that!  He took a great nap and slept until almost 4:00!!

When he woke up we went to run some errands.  He has been complaining about his bike helmet being too tight and it makes a red mark on his forehead so we went to Walmart to get him a new one.  The next size up was 5 year plus.  This kid has a huge head!!

Monday was gloomy and raining all day.  Stephen and I went to the grocery store that morning and that was an event!   I was so exhausted when we got home!  I quickly made lunch and put Stephen down for a nap so that I could also take a nap!

When he woke up around 3, I felt like I had been hit by a bus.  My whole body just hurt and I couldn't wake up.  Thankfully it was dark and raining which meant we just hung out on the couch and watched TV.  We never do that and it was just perfect.  We ended our night with a game of memory.  Stephen loves this game and is pretty good at it!





All weekend I thought about our soldiers who had lost their lives protecting our country and their families.   I used to get sad on holiday weekends when Stephen had to work, and I still do because we just miss him, but today I was just grateful that I have a husband who comes home to us at night.

I am so grateful for those who serve our country and those who pay the ultimate price for our freedom.  There are so many spouses and kids out there who don't have a loved one come home at night because they sacrificed their life so we could live in this wonderful country.

And because it's throwback Thursday, here is a picture from last year on Memorial Day Weekend.