A COLD Valentines beach weekend

Barrett, Champs and I were able to spend the weekend in Pawleys and celebrate Valentines Day all together.  It was so fun to be with my valentines for the whole weekend and have some great time for relaxing, warm fires, snuggling, good food, and just chilling out!!

We headed to the beach late Fri afternoon and it was a big day for Champs b/c he was FACING FORWARD for the first time.  What a treat after facing the seat for a year and half!  This was in the driveway before he realized all the trucks and dig-digs he was about to spot!

Champs hadn't been at the beach house since last September, and sadly, I don't think he remembered it.  So we'll start again with new memories this year :)  He had a ball exploring everything at the house, checking out the beach, sand and "water" and even saw a boat or two.

Friday night when we tried to put him down shortly after getting there, he wasn't having it.  I think he was a little scared, not remembering the beach house, so Champs stayed up very late for him and then fell asleep on the sofa.  It was sweet having him sleep there while we enjoyed take-out from Bistro 217 by the fire!

Saturday morning fun!

He loved this bench!

Early Saturday morning - COLD - so we wore hats inside!

Opening his Valentine.

Loved his frog card.

Cookie time.

The key is so awesome.  Keys are probably his favorite thing ever!

More fun on the bench.

Though it was such a cold weekend, we did get out to the beach for a little digging and chasing birds on Saturday afternoon!

We had a very "romantic" Valentines date on Saturday night at 5:00pm at Caffe Piccolo that I wouldn't trade for anything!  Champs got all dressed up in his red suspenders and knee socks and was ready to hit the town.  Though the restaurant was a little small, very dimly lit and tables were quite close together to be dining with a one and a half year old, Champs did pretty well.  We did have to bring out the iPhone videos which is funny, b/c I used to swear I'd never be one of THOSE couples. 

Before and after our Valentines date! I wish I would have gotten someone to take a picture of the 3 of us, but I didn't.  Oh well, it was fun - mixed with a little anxiety of "please don't have a meltdown all of a sudden"!

Champs had so much fun this weekend, despite the frigid temperatures, and we sure did too!!  He turned ONE AND A HALF yesterday, so look for 18 months update post soon!

Valentines Party at school

Champs was so excited for his Valentines Day party at school this week.  He was back to feeling well and we had treats for his friends and some cookies for his teachers. His teachers must have been teaching them all about "hearts" because he was talking about them!   I took these pictures the morning before his party. 

Happy Day

I hope your Valentines Day was as HAPPY as this boy's!  And if you haven't had an Oreo lately, you should - they are delicious! 

Champs' 1st 5K!

This past Saturday, we participated in the MGC Long Run.  MGC, the law firm Barrett works for, started this event last year and it grew to be even bigger and better this year!  It has 3 elements: a Kids Fun Run, a 5K and a 15K.  The entire event is a fundraiser for USO South Carolina.  It was a great event and so much fun.  We did the 5K portion of the event.  We ran about half and walked the rest, which sure isn't great, but to NEVER workout anymore :( it was fine.  The portion we did run we were running behind the military guys and listened to their chants the whole time.  It was pretty cool and funny to hear them.    

Meeting the Chickfila cow before the race.

Getting ready to start - brrrr!!

Family pic before the race.

After the race, we had an early lunch at Dipratos, where Champs dumped the sweeteners on the floor over and over and over.  Good times! :)

Sunday afternoon we had Baby Will's (my friend Kelly's little boy) party.  He was so cute. It's hard to believe he's already one.  Time is flying!!

Champs and Will!

First time in a bounce house!

Sweet bday boy and his smash cake.

How many of y'all are gonna squeeze in here with me?

Okay, all 4 of you!!

Snacks at the party!

A few randoms that make me laugh.

There are no words for how much Champs loves Sammy!  I had to finally bite the bullet and give in to letting him stay in the crib.  He sleeps on him every night and nap!

If you mess with my Mommy, we're coming for ya!

Early morning tee-pee time.  Yes, still in Christmas pj's.

After a super weekend, Champs started the week with some sort of stomach bug.  I did get to stay home with him for 2 days while he was sick, but he spent of a lot of the time sleeping.  He seemed to feel much better yesterday afternoon, so we walked to the park near our house and played for a bit.  He went back to school today and had a good day, so hopefully we can see that bug only in the rear-view mirror!

We are headed to the beach this weekend.  Though it's going to be super cold (UGH!), I am excited for some good quality time with just the 3 of us and to celebrate Valentines Day with my loves!

Hope you all have a Happy Valentines Day too.  Thought I would close with a few pictures of Champs from LAST Valentines Day.  Goodness, what difference a year makes!

Super Bowl Sunday

We had such a great weekend at home doing not much of anything.  I took Champs to the park on Friday afternoon after work and let him run around for a little bit.  He loves to slide now, so did that and chased the big boys around with their football game.  He thinks he's as big as them.

Saturday morning we went to the park that's close to our house so Champs could show off his sliding skills to Barrett.  Barrett hadn't seen him slide in a couple months, so he was excited to see he climbs up and slides down all by himself now!  We went to lunch at Chickfila, which Champs loves (who doesn't!) and then went home for a long Saturday afternoon nap! My mom and dad were in town running some errands on Saturday so they came by and took Champs and me for fro yo and a trip to Belk. Who knew running through the aisles of Belk home section could be so fun!

Sunday we kept the nursery at 9am service and then came back and played outside for a while and ate lunch outside.  It felt so good.  I am SO READY for spring and warm weather so we can be outside all the time!

Sunday afternoon we went to Charlie and Melissa's to watch the Super Bowl.  Champs was really excited and kept doing touchdown with his arms in the air.  He loves to talk about "football" and says "yay" and claps when he sees the football players on the field.  We took his tailgate chair that KK gave him for Christmas and he loved sitting in that.  He had a really good time and even stayed until 7:30, which is a big deal b/c this boy loves his 7pm bedtime.  Charlie made the best chicken wings I've ever had on this Big Green Egg.  Kathleen and I made the exact same Supreme Pizza dip, courtesy of Natalie from Designer Bags and Dirty Diapers blog.  Too funny! 

All else is going well with Champs.  At school they have been working on learning 4 colors these past few weeks.  They are wrapping up this week with red!  Either his favorite color is blue or he's only listened well the first week, b/c anything I ask what color is it, he says "Blue!"  He is starting to say all his friends at school names.  It's so cute to hear him say "Annie, Emmy, Monroe, Delaney, Charlie" when I ask him who his friends are at school.  He tends to say Annie and Emmy the most b/c they are the easiest to say I suppose!  (or maybe they are his girlfriends, who knows :)

Here is a picture of his main teacher, Ms. Stephanie reading a book yesterday afternoon that Champs was loving!

And a funny pic of him picking out books with no pants but tobogan - that's normal right?

Side Notes:
- We are in the process of upgrading to a King bed and a memory foam mattress!  I sure hope both are worth it, b/c good gracious mattresses are expensive!  Should have all in place by end of the month - very excited.
- Our rental house was broken into yesterday which is quite the bummer on many levels.  There are some cruel people out there and it's very scary.
- We have Baby Will's 1st Birthday party this weekend.  Hard to believe he's one.
- Our little family of 3 is heading to Pawleys next weekend for Valentines Weekend and I cannot wait!  We haven't been in a while and I'm so excited to get down there.  I would give anything for a rare warm weekend, but I'm not holding my breath!
- I've watched The Bachelor/Bachleorette series on and off over the years, but my cousin Catherine has me all into it this season.  Cannot believe they left us hanging last night!  Who is he sending home?  I keep waiting for it to be Samantha, as she gets NO air time, but he continues to keep her.  And what is wrong with Kelsey??