Greensboro Children's Museum with Daddy

Andy is out of town a bunch in the next couple of months. The bonus is that we sometimes get to see him on the week days when he comes home. Two weeks ago he flew in from Baltimore on a Monday and we picked him up in Greensboro at 9am and then headed the Children's museum there. I think it is better than ours, so it is nice that we have a reciprocal membership. After the museum, we headed to lunch and then home for all three to nap!

They have a newborn nursery, and I think C&J could have stayed there all day. Here is Dr. Carly with a patient.
Nurse Joiner is assisting

Playing a giant Operation game with Daddy. We have the small version at our house and they are really good, if you don't mind the beeping:)

Getting our food at the Pizza restaurant

Now that's service!

I take a lot of Spin classes and the girls think it must be very cool as I come to pick them up in the play room all sweaty. So they thought it was so much fun that there were these exercise bikes. They kept saying they were so sweaty and asking how many miles they had ridden. Here is Carly "in the zone." Andy said this to them and then they were yelling it at us. "Sorry mom. I am in the zone."

Joiner "in the zone."

Soccer Season

We finished our Fall soccer season last Saturday. Andy and I were the coaches this year and it was a lot of fun. I don't have many pictures because we were always on the field, but Leah took a few for me of the first game. We didn't make it to the first coaches meeting, so we had purple jerseys. The girls and I were happy, but Andy would take off his coaches shirt as soon as the games were over! We were the Spartans which was the name of Andy's fist team. Carly and Joiner had really grown since last season and I think they had a lot of fun.

Chilling with Mom before the game. Hanging with Daddy. We hadn't been given our coaches shirts, yet.

Some pre-game stretching

We are hearing the rules about how to play fair. This guy is Joel, the YMCA sports director and the kids love him.

Carly on a blitz

Going for the ball.

At this age, you run around the field with them to help them find the ball. More games than not, I was holding someone's hand and running. On the games where Andy was absent, it was rough:)

The Nutcracker

For Carly and Joiner's 4th birthday, we are not having a party this year. Instead we are having a special day where everything is about them. The highlight of the day will be to go see the Nutcracker Ballet. They love ballerinas and dancing and we think they are old enough this year. Tickets went on sale a few weeks ago and if you went on the day the box office opened you got $5 off a ticket. This was a big savings when you consider our entire families will be there! Anyway, we went right after our soccer game to buy the tickets. The girls were so excited.

Part of the opening of the ticket sales was a special visit from some of the ballerinas and the Mouse King. You can't see him in the picture because I asked him if he could walk away (sorry) but the Mouse King is obviously close enough that both girls are terrified.

Here is the 2nd picture and you can see that Carly has slowly moved behind me and Joiner is not even looking. What a fun family memory. I have to admit that the Mouse King was a little intimidating.

So we got outside with our tickets and the free hot chocolate the girls were given. I think the hot chocolate canceled the Mouse King.

The Beach- Ice Cream and Nap Time

This will be the last day of beach posts. I have a ton more pictures, but I am sure it is getting old. When Grumpa didn't come to the beach, he sent noted to Carly and Joiner. In each note was $20 to get a souvenir!!! After I decided not to take it and give them a $1, they went to work thinking about what they wanted to spend it on. Well, sweet girls and sweet-loving girls that they are, they took us all to ice cream. This made Grumpa very happy as his favorite food is ice cream! They spent the rest of their money on a kitty in a carrier for Carly and a puppy in a carrier for Joiner. Thanks Grumpa!

Carly with her Cookies N'Cream

Joiner with her cookies n'cream- Grumpa's favorite!

The Whole Gang

Gigi and Caga got in very late on Tuesday and we were all up again early on Wednesday so almost everyone took a nap. I am not a napper, so I read, but it was relaxing.

Gigi and Carly snuggling after Carly woke up

Meanwhile...Joiner was out in the bed next to them

Caga passed out on the sofa

Daddy creatively finding a resting spot. I should add that Caga and Daddy were passed out before we put the girls down for their nap. Thanks for the help, guys!