Celebrating Independence Day in Savannah

Our family enjoyed a new tradition of watching the fireworks on Historic River Street in Downtown Savannah.  The fireworks on the river were really beautiful, and it was a festive event.  The boys always enjoy our adventures downtown, and we look forward to continuing this tradition as they grow up.

We walked by the police station on our way to River Street.  There is a cool half taxi, half police car out front.  

Brody likes to get his picture with all the monuments around town.  We haven't yet gotten to try Leopold's Ice Cream because it is always so crowded.  

We opted for some Ben & Jerry's instead.  

The boys enjoyed playing with their light sticks while we waited for the fireworks. 

Pictures with our glow sticks. 

Some cool motion shots of the glow sticks. 

And some group pictures in our red, white & blue. 

The Savannah riverfront and riverboat ferry looked pretty in the setting sun. 

And finally, the fireworks began.  Maybe one year we will buy tickets to watch from the ferry. 

Mattox really enjoyed watching the fireworks. 

Our Annual Spring Pictures 2018

I am so so so behind, but I couldn't resist getting our Spring pictures edited.  Spring is my favorite time of year, Easter is my favorite holiday, and our Spring family pictures are always my favorites.  I look forward to it so much, I start planning the kids' outfits a year in advance.  I bought them all matching shirts (will this be their last year of dressing alike?) on the end of season online sale at Janie & Jack.  It was just lucky they had all of their sizes in the same shirt.  Eddie and I usually just coordinate with something we already own and rarely get new clothes.  I guess that is pretty typical of parents with four young children.  Yesterday was just a gorgeous day down here in South Georgia so we decided after lunch to head into downtown Savannah and take pictures in the well-known Forsyth Park.  Earlier in the month, this is where the big St. Patrick's Day festivities occurred with the big fountain turning green.  This time, the grass and trees displayed the greenery instead of the water. It was really beautiful and so many people were soaking up the warm breeze and lounging in the soft green grass.  The kids loved running around and playing.  Our yard does not afford them much opportunity for rolling around in the grass.  There was even a wedding getting set up nearby, and I envied them just a little for the beautiful day and setting.  Although not every picture we took was "perfect," I cherish these memories we make together.

My arms are full just like my heart!

I love how much these boys love one another.

He is just too good to me. 

In front of the famous fountain. 

The baby just wanted to look at the water so I was trying to get his attention elsewhere. 

My middle boys are so special.  I think they will have a special bond in life.  Mattox just wants to do everything big brother does. 

Trying to get pictures of all four boys together is tricky.  

Mattox was not being very cooperative. 

Probably the best shots of all of them. 

But these are some of my favorites showing them doing their own things.  Evan just wants someone to wrestle with, but Brody and Mattox would rather pick flowers. 

My biggest boy.  He posed for the least amount of pictures, but they were good ones. 

Oh, the sweet faces of Brody. 

My little Ferdinand the bull picking flowers.  He may be the largest of our boys, but he is the sensitive type. 

Sweet baby Grayson has been enjoying his freedom lately as he explores the world on two feet. 

He really enjoyed "finding" Easter eggs this year. 

Carrying his basket and finding some eggs too.  

He likes standing up better than sitting. 

Oh my sweet Mattox.  Yes, he is exhibiting more of the characteristics of a rambunctious toddler and can get frustrated at little brother sometimes, but he is such a sweet boy with a precious heart. 

He got his big brother Brody's appreciation for flowers. 

He also likes to find Easter eggs. 

Daddy even took pictures of me alone which is extremely rare. 

And I always want our precious daughter Mattie in our family pictures.  She will grow right along with her brothers and would be almost 5 years old now.  

Just a few pictures to capture the beautiful park.  A late frost and colder than normal March killed the azaleas that had been blooming beautifully since early February.  Usually, there would be a ton of colorful azaleas all around the park.  

The mural of Savannah on the local Whole Foods depicts several Savannah icons, including the Forsyth Park fountain in the middle. 

Kindergarten Fun

Brody was lucky that his last week at his old school was so fun.  They celebrated their 100th day of school and got to go on a fun field trip to Marbles, the children's museum in downtown Raleigh.  I was thankful to get to share in some of this fun with him.  Daddy and I also went to eat lunch with him at school on his last day, and he got to pick some friends to eat with us in his classroom.  He picked all girls.  Haha!  I am feeling very nostalgic already looking back at these pictures from our last days in North Carolina.  Sigh.  I am just sad because my heart will always be in North Carolina where I grew up, fell in love, and started this little family of ours.  All of our children were born there (except Evan since he was technically born in Virginia).  It will always be home, but I know in a few years, I will have a ton of memories here in Georgia to make this feel more like home too.  I just want my kids to remember the good times we shared in their beloved first home.

I made him a cute monster shirt with 100 googly eyes for his 100th day shirt.  Thanks, Pinterest!  I am having too much fun making cute kindergarten projects for him.  I don't remember getting to do these things for Evan.  I don't think his old school was as active, and unfortunately, I don't think their new school is either. 

I just love his faces. He was trying to make mean monster faces, but he just ended up looking cute. 

His teacher posted these shots on their class share site.  The kids made 100th day hats to wear.  Apparently, Brody preferred wearing his upside down.  He was hard at work making shapes with yummy pretzel sticks and marshmallows.  

On my walk to meet Brody's class at the museum in downtown Raleigh, I couldn't helping taking a few last shots of downtown Raleigh.  Raleigh does have some old history in it, and this old church has been designated a National Historic Landmark. 

One last view of the old Capitol building. 

Ready for a fun day at Marbles.  I do wish we had visited this little museum together as a family before we moved away.  It was always in my plans but just never happened.  Brody's class had been doing a whole unit on money and buying wants and needs so this section of the museum dedicated to money and how you earn it was perfect.  Raleigh isn't a big banking center like Charlotte, but it does have the headquarters of a large local bank that sponsors this exhibit.  

Brody loved visiting the "bank" and driving the armored truck and using the teller deposit tube to send his "deposits" which were just balls.  He loved watching them go up the chute. 

He went to work at the lemonade stand making lemonade. 

He loved jumping on the big piles of coins and making them light up. 

Working in the pizza parlor making pizza was definitely a favorite for him.  He loves to cook so this was a perfect spot. 

But he also cares for animals and loved taking care of them at the pet spa.  He gave his puppy a bath and cleaned her up and put her to bed. 

Yay for money!  I could see his face on some currency in the future.  

A special "magic" show about money and how it really isn't made by magic. 

Building with giant legos. 

Playing with real tools (yes, real saws) and making some art.  I am glad I took a picture of his creation since it didn't make it home safely.  He colored a dog like Cocoa and dressed her up with a collar and blanket to keep her warm. 

My little ladybug (those can be boys too) put on a performance on stage for me.  Then, my little firefighter hero put out some fires. 

He worked on the farm and couldn't decide whether he wanted to be a vet or a pediatrician as he lovingly cared for a newborn baby and a big dog. 

He planted and harvested his garden. 

He also fed the baby animals but cooking in the kitchen was still his favorite option. 

He did enjoy driving a city bus though. 

These piano stairs were awesome.  I got on with him and tried to play some music.  It was so fun as they lit up and played the keys as you stepped on them. 

The boys posed for a picture on their last day at school.  Yes, I am sad to leave that school behind.  We noticed that Brody's class had made it onto the wall for getting the bronze award for earning golden hawks which are their good behavior awards.  Brody was on the front row in the class picture. 

Goodbye, old school!  *Sniff*