a windy spring day

What a perfect spring day. Brisk, windy, sunny - certainly felt like spring. We spent the afternoon on Kite Hill on the Clemson campus, made a giant princess castles in chalk on the driveway, putted around on big wheels and cozy coupes, and had frozen yogurt at the new Three Spoons in Clemson - where they have a chalkboard to color on and where the kids scored giant balloons!

A visit to Connecticut

We left beautiful springtime weather in SC to visit chilly winter in CT.  We had fun with some of the kids' cousins, picked pussy willows, sat on tractors, visited Grammy's moo cows, and got a little dusting of snow. Savannah and Elizabeth (we call her Baby Elizabeth even though she's almost 3!) marched around Grandma Rooney's house to the same "marching song" about 20 times, and they even got me, Kristine, Gram Rooney and "Aunt Yinda" to join in the marching. Gage loved sitting on Grandpa's tractor but could not figure out how Grandpa got those cool orange blinking lights to turn on (he tried and tried all the buttons), and yes, we did have a few boo-boo toes thanks to the ever-popular rocking horse at Grammy's.

Sweet home Alabama.....

The Rapp family is on the move again! Adam was recruited by University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa for an amazing job opportunity. We accepted the job, so it is official that we are moving to Alabama. It involves a promotion, a raise, less teaching, and lots of other perks. We are now in the midst of selling our house and finding a new house in AL. On to a new adventure and chapter in our lives :-)

take me out to the ball game....

Saturday we attended our second baseball game of the year - 77 degrees, sunny, sure was a beautiful day for a game.  Savannah is snuggling Ross, one of her buddies. If Ross' parents ask him about getting married someday he says he plans to marry Savannah. If we ask Savannah the same question, she answers Ross.  At the ball game all of our friends skip sitting in seats and instead park it in a grassy open area along 3rd base. The kids run around like crazy nuts, the dads stand on the wall to watch the game, and the moms chat, run after kids, kiss boo-boos and snap pictures when the Clemson Tiger stops by (which he ALWAYS does!).

Playdate fun

We had a little princess and superhero dress-up play time before our make-your-own-pizzas were ready today. The princesses and spiderman were shooting webs at me when I walked in on them...

Little carnivore

No, that's not poop on the rug..it's turkey breakfast sausage. Gage LOVES it. Anytime I open the refrigerator he opens the bottom drawer and takes a sausage link out to gnaw on. Sometimes (as you can see) he grabs the whole box and makes a break for it. He is a little meat lover!

Beautiful spring day

Savannah had no school today, so we hit the zoo this morning.  They had a little baby monkey that she LOVED to watch, Gage napped for a bit in the stroller, and then he got out and walked like a big boy. That is the first time he actually stayed with us when we were out and about and didn't try to take off.  Our little guy is growing up!   He threw crackers at the giraffes, trumpeted at the elephants, and...well, he ate one of the elephant crackers too (they look like Wasa crispbreads).  Savannah told me all about owls, and how they go to sleep in the morning and wake up at night - apparently they are learning about owls at school!  We are home for an afternoon nap and then off to Clemson's first baseball game of the year with some friends. 75 degrees today!

 

Savannah's birthday party

We had a fun party yesterday!  Savannah wanted a Jessie the cowgirl party (from Toy Story), so we all painted piggy banks (Evil Dr. Pork Chop), went on a hunt for army guys hidden all around the yard (Savannah and her friend Kate both found the most!), wacked a pinata, and had cake, etc. Now we're busy playing with all of her new presents :-)

The new fun game

 Gage's latest big fun game is to hide behind the table and have mom & dad say "where is Gage???", then he pops out looking very amused for a minute before we do it again and again...and again...

Yeah for rain!

Although everyone else seems unhappy about the big rainstorm we're getting, Savannah was thrilled that she was able to wear her new ladybug raincoat that Daddy brought home from Belgium.  She was not all that happy that mommy wouldn't let her wear her ladybug rainboots to school also, but we all know moms are mean ;-)

Chompers and Glamour Girls...

Gage is getting *four* teeth at the moment -- 3 molars and one front bottom tooth. Poor little dude. He's also picked up a few new words. He says uh-oh (constantly) and eh-eh (no), which he also says constantly.  He is climbing on everything and if I turn my back for a minute, he climbs on TOP of  the dining room table. He is trouble! Although he's been climbing stairs for a while, he has been terrified of getting near the top of the stairs. But, he just learned how to come down backwards. I guess if he can't see how high up he is, he's not afraid. Uh-oh! Savannah got lots of make-up for Xmas and came out to surprise me with "pretty eyebrows" (blue lipgloss on her eyelids) and "pixie dust" (glitter powder) on her lips. She said "Daddy's not going to believe his eyes how pretty I look"!  Had a great playdate this week where Savannah ran around dressed like Batgirl and the boys dressed like Superman and Batman - big fun. Crazy kids...growing up too fast!

After a snow surprise, back to our routine...

Last week brought a snowstorm that left 8 inches of snow, school was closed down for 4 days!  We tried our hand at sledding (in laundry baskets, pool floats, and other equally ineffective devices!), and although it was fun for a few minutes, both kids got cold and unhappy. Savannah wanted to head inside, Gage wanted to play in the garage where he didn't have to walk in the dreaded snow. Mommy has since bought everyone some better winter coats/mittens/etc., so we're prepared for our next storm, if we get one! Everyone is now back to school and we are back in a routine. Savannah started gymnastics today, and dance starts back up tomorrow.

Disney Day 4

Our last day was a relaxed day in Magic Kingdom with fewer crowds and more beautiful weather. We finished up the rides we had not made it to yet, rode others again (and again and again -- 5 rides on Goofy's Wiseacres rollercoaster!), had lunch, bought a bunch of goodies (including a GIANT Cinderella castle) and headed back to the hotel. We spend the afternoon at Downtown Disney, where we had lunch at an Irish Pub where Savannah got to try out Irish dancing! We ran around like crazy monkies in the hotel lobby, danced to the grand piano, and fell asleep the instant they hit the pillow. We loved that the housekeepers arranged Savannah's kitties and lots-a-bear on the pillows with chocolates for us each night. What a beautiful hotel, and a magical trip!

Disney Day 3

Our 3rd day took a slower pace at Animal Kingdom. We went on a great safari and saw elephants, giraffes, hippos, rhino, monkey, ostrich, etc. Both kids love that. We met lots of characters, loved the Bug's Life show, had fun at Rainforest Cafe for lunch, back for naps, and a lazy day of swimming, playing, and pizza delivery :-)

Disney Day 2

Our second day started with an early breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table inside the castle! So, Savannah was able to finally get inside that castle (without busting in with Daddy). She met Cinderella immediately and thought that was it. But during breakfast, she also got the chance to meet Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, and Ariel. Gage LOVED Ariel and amused himself by stabbing his breakfast with a sword. Savannah got a wishing star and princess wand, and the princesses did a wishing ceremony. She wished for a teddy bear, and later told us that she wanted a "pink bear who smells like strawberries" (Lots-a-Bear from Toy Story 3). Daddy made some magic happen and when we got back to our hotel that night, the exact bear she wanted (and yes, he smells like strawberries) was under the blanket on her bed!  We did another full day of rides, naps, swimming, parades and fireworks, and crashed asleep happily with the new bear (and kitties, of course).