The one where we party like we're Irish....

Our last name is McCarty, so we have all rights to party for St. Patrick's day! Right? Well we do, just like every other American. This is our 2nd year in a row hosting a seafood party. We had SO much food... 30lbs of Shrimp, 15lbs of Crab Legs, 50lbs of craw fish, 10 lbs of sausage, 50 lbs of oysters, 30lbs of potatoes and 15lbs of corn... I mean we bought a TON of seafood and we had probably about 50-60 people. NO LEFTOVERS. Seriously. We didn't foot the WHOLE bill. We charged people per head. It was so much fun. The kids love it because we are all outside, they can romp and run and roll in the dirt and no one cares. I can't wait until its warm enough for us to have a POOL party, hey now theres an idea!? We've been here since October and haven't been to take advantage of the pool. So anyway, back to the party.... it was great. You know the best part is our parents come. It's always been the other way around, we get dragged to our parents friends houses for the cookout and we actually are the ones hosting it now. Its hilarious to see the Dads out there playing beer pong and corn hole. I love it! It's all the family and friends that I grew up with and the other half is the family and friends Josh grew up with. Its such a blessing we still have such great friends to share fun Holidays with! The clean up was easy! The guys helped pick up everything outside and the ladies helped me inside. So, all in all, we will have a 3rd annual St. Patricks day party... the only thing different next year is we need to add Green Beer and maybe some Irish games! hehe

 LOVE

The one with my beautiful children...

Have I already used that title? I feel like I would have with how adorable I think my kids are!!! Anyway, these past several days have been AMAZING spring time weather. We have loved being out doors and with Miss Addison being fully mobile, she has loved it too. Cooper has always been a rug rat who loved outside. Yesterday morning I said Cooper, can you go get dressed (yes he picks out his own clothes AND brushes his own teeth!!) so we can go to the store. He replied, "No, me and Daddy are mowing the lawn today...." Everyday, I swear, Everyday Cooper asks to mow the lawn with Daddy. Between mowing the lawn, building camp fires and digging holes, Cooper is truly all boy. Now can our pool just warm up so I can throw him in at the end of the day and call it a bath? It's a salt water pool, so technically is like being in the ocean, and who showers after the beach! HA. Just kidding. But seriously, don't parents use the excuse, no bath tonight because you went swimming today? Yea, that's going to be me!

Addison is fantastic. She still is a pistol. Even more now that she can run from you. She knows what she is doing too. Her sounds and laugh is hilarious. She's becoming more independent, not relying so much on me for attention. We are learning that chalk is for coloring, not eating. We are learning the true meaning of "No Ma'am"... she gets her pouty face on when you tell her no. She's almost a pro at the mini 4-wheeler, it only took a few minutes for her to catch on to that. Next up, pink Barbie Jeep. She can't be sporting the blue and green and me-downs. She needs to feel and look like a princess! She's still me good little eater. I keep telling my self, I won't get lazy, I won't get lazy. When Cooper was her age, I was working a full time job and it was easy to make PB&J all the time... hence his LOVE for them. However, the new rule in the house now, is that Cooper has to try ONE new thing a day. And you know what, the majority of things he says, hey its good. Like he know will eat Mac-N-Cheese. I know what you are thinking, what kid wouldn't love mac-n-cheese from day one, but you know who is father (and grandfather-cough cough, Papa Jeff) are right?!  :) AND Cooper also found out that he does love grapes. So as they say, we are making baby steps... he didn't like Shrimp and we aren't even going to let him try filet Mignon for fear he will love it!

LOVE

The one where our little girl is one...

Addison turned 1 on Saturday. I can't believe it. I feel like time flew by 100 times faster than Coopers 1st year. Life is so much faster with 2 kids. I am always on the go, never really relaxing and eating on the move. BUT I wouldn't change any of it, ok maybe just one thing, slow life down a little. Addison is adorable and such a HUGE blessing in our life. She completed our sweet little family. We have the BEST of both worlds. Addison is a fire cracker or a pistol, as Daddy says. She's the light in a dark room. She's the joy in my heart. She is truly DADDY'S PRINCESS. When she looks at Josh, she literally lights up. She looks like the cartoon characters with red hearts in her eyes. She adores her Daddy. Addison is a full blown walker, and I would say almost running since she is now mobile and able to take on Cooper. She has 6 pearly whites. She claps, waves hi and Bye, says momma and no no. She's a pretty good eater, better than Cooper is now since he is addicted to PB&J and Cheetos!!!

Addison's birthday was a hit. She LOVED the cake. She loved the pictures and being sang to. She's a total diva, got lots of cute clothes and her very own singing pink pony! We just had the family over for lunch and cake. Addie had her own smash cake and like I said earlier. She LOVED it.... we took lots of great pictures, so enjoy.

Happy 1st birthday baby girl! We love you.

LOVE

The one with chocolate, hearts and love....

Yeap, you guessed it- the one on Valentine's Day. Happy V-day to you!! We love all of you! And are so thankful you all keep up on the blog. Cooper is loving today, he's flooded with candy, cookies and tools made out of chocolate... this kid is in HEAVEN (and the day isn't even over!) He's loving all the love, Addie is loving all the love. I'm loving all the love.... Isn't that what today is about anyway, showing all the loved ones in your life just how special they are.... so I decided to take some pictures of the kiddos showing their LOVE.

And always,
LOVE

The one with Daddy's projects...

It's no secret, my kids LOVE Daddy!! And the second Daddy get his tools out, Cooper runs to grab his tool bag and Addison follows behind. We've been doing a few projects around the house recently (yes, still working on the deck, LOL) but I think Josh is starting to understand why I can't keep the house spotless. Every time I go to do something, a little kiddo is at my feet, pulling on my pant legs or simply trying to help. And the explanation process isn't so easy, everything is but Why? Why are you doing that Mommy? etc, etc, So Josh has been getting into a few things around the house lately and finds the little ones literally climbing all over him!! And then you have mowing the lawn, OMG, Cooper wakes up almost every day, saying Daddy can we mow the lawn. This kid is going to have his own lawn business one day! He just absolutely loves it, as long has he has on his ear muffs!

Josh is truly the weekend warrior. He works his butt off during the week not to slow down a tick come the weekend. Last weekend he hand made me shutters for the house and a shelf. AND he hung all the shutters himself. Who knew he was such a handy man. He says all I need to do is show him exactly what I want and he builds it (oh yea, I have to paint, he hates painting!) Talk about awesome  :)

Sunday Morning

 

BOOM! Sunday afternoon

Pinterest project, Bathroom shelf



LOVE

The one with the roadtrip...

We successfully made it through our road trip to Atlanta a few weekends ago. This is noteworthy, because it was Coopers first road trip as a potty trained tot AND Addison took her first wobbly steps. Both HUGE events. I am amazed daily about how fast Cooper is growing and how much he knows. Nothing gets past him, I mean nothing. Just when you think he isn't listening he spits out the only bad word you say. So, I'm locking it up and throwing the key away. I gotta be on my best behavior. He's a true human sponge. The last thing I need is for him to start Pre-K or Kindergarten with a potty mouth. I'll make sure he knows to always say he learned it from TV! Addison did amazing on the trip, most noteworthy was sleeping ALL NIGHT LONG!!! If you know her, you know that sleeping through the night isn't her BEST quality, especially in a different place. But she did it!!! Check out the CUTEST video of the 2 kids on the trip. You'll love it....

So we have a walker, not a full blown walker, but Addison will walk across the room. I forgot how cute lil bambinos are as they are learning to walk. And Cooper is such a good big brother. He and I will sit on one side of the room and Addie will walk to us. They both crack up laughing. The best part is Cooper says, MY TURN and he starts on the other side and slowly, walks, kinda of like a zombie to me, with his arms straight out. Its hilarious, then he falls into my lap. Just like Sis! So Addie is walking just in time for her first birthday!! Can you believe that she is turning 1 a week from Saturday! Where has the time gone?? Oh ya,
we blink our eyes, and here we are. SLOW DOWN LIFE.... so I have some great pictures of the little turkey's that rule the house!!!

LOVE

The one with Batman....

Batman lives in the McCarty house, did you know that? Cooper got a batman mask for Christmas and he loves wearing it around with the cape I made last year.... that thing is still holding up with my horrible sewing skills, but hey, Cooper (I mean, Batman loves it!). Batman was on TV the other night and Cooper was actually watching it..... well I say that like I was surprised, if he will watch Star trek, he will watch anything! LOL

Addison is going on 11 months, not walking on her own yet, but VERY close. She wants to turn loose and walk on her own, she just hasn't built up her own confidence yet. She's learned to clap when you say "YAY" and learned to shake her head and say "NO" when she doesn't want anymore food. She is talking up a storm (like a true girl fashion), but we can't quite understand her yet.... it won't be long. She's doing great at sleeping through the night, it only took 10 months! She is not my sleeper like Cooper. WHO by the way is almost a professional dirt bike rider. Josh took him to the track last week for the first time, and Coop LOVED it. Hopped right on his bike and took off, he wasn't intimidated at all by the fast bikes or the other kids. He loves it, that's all he could talk about all week was the dirt bike track, so we are going back tomorrow. This time a family event. I'd like to see him out there doin his thang :)

10 month old Diva

LOVE