a field trip that ends in donuts...

is a field trip that makes maddie smile!!!!

last friday, maddie's class headed over to the post office to mail valentine's from mrs. sumlin! they were all so cute rushing up to her to get their "sticker" (aka stamp) so that they could put their envelopes in the mail slot!!! we were hoping for a grand tour...but i'm not sure what the postal workers thought of all those little ones!!

after everyone's letters were signed, sealed, and deposited...

we herded over to krispy kreme to watch donuts being made...and of course, high on maddie's list...got to eat one!!!

it was a fun day spent with my precious madeline and her sweet pal, reeves (who rode with us!)! i love watching them make memories with their friends!

maddie & reeves...waiting to go mail their letters!

just some of the "sumlin safari scouts"!

the crew

sweet girls...and boy!

maddie insisted on piggy tails with two different colored bows...:)

getting her "sticker"

down the chute...

having fun!

waiting on the donuts...

sooo cool...

even cooler...

exactly what i thought...

this case makes my mouth water...YUM!

waiting to pass out water!

one happy little girl!

hugs & kisses...

from the price family!!!! happy heart day!

the big kisses (rice krispy treats) we sent to school...

for the valentine's treats!!!!

making the big girls close their eyes on the way to see their surprise!!!

excited about their loot!

jeffrey insisted on taking this pic...of me with my annual "book & cookie cake slice!"!!!!!

my little valentines

my main squeeze...ella wanted to take a "kissing pic"!!!

happy "balentine's day"

ava giving "waddles" the penguin love...sweet girl!!!

our newest snow angel...

it's official...

we had a REAL snow day!!!!

we were oh so very excited to actually SEE snow falling from the sky and STICKING to the ground! the kids could not get suited up fast enough...which meant that jeffrey and i had to gear up ourselves! ava looked like a pink version of the "marshmallow man"...and wasn't too sure about the snow AT ALL at first...but soon warmed up to the idea! however, her poor hands and nose didn't warm up at all!!!!! her little self froze quickly...and we had to bring her in to thaw out!!!

ella & maddie had an absolute blast! they played outside for hours...and never seemed affected by the cold one bit!

it was a fun day filled with lots of playing, movie watching, and snuggling...and it looks like we get another one tomorrow!!!

hard to see...but the snow is really coming down!!!

this picture just cracks me up...look at ava's face!!!

sweet little snow bunnies!!!

look at all the pink...

making snow angels!

i love these little people "snow" much...i just HAD to...i know...cheesy!!!

sledding down gran & poppy's driveway!

so fun!

look at this little baby...laid back! priceless!!!

in the fast lane...

a few weeks ago, jeffrey and i decided to take all three girls to the bowling alley for an afternoon of fun!!!! they were hilarious!

ava hung out in her stroller THE WHOLE TIME...i think she was in awe of all the sights and sounds!

ella & maddie had fun for the first round...and then i think their little arms became tired...so they wanted jeffrey and me to help them!

it was a fun afternoon spent with the whole fam...and daddy even got a few strikes!!!

daddy trying to be "competitive" with his new ankle weights!!!!

ahhhhhh...

i could pretty much stop this post at that...ahhhhhhh...

because that's exactly how i would sum up this past weekend!

for the first time since may 2008, my husband and i were able to take a "weekend getaway" with our friends the hables! to say that it was fabulous would be a huge understatement for me...i truly didn't realize how much my mind, body, soul, and marriage needed restoring until i made the break and went!

leaving my children is very hard for me. i'm aware i have control issues...and i'm aware that i'm just gonna miss them...terribly...but man, this was just what the doctor ordered for me!

jeffrey and i left early friday morning to head to tyler, texas to meet up with our friends megan and chris! we loaded up in their ride and made our way to austin for a relaxing weekend at the barton creek resort and spa.

see what i mean...ahhhhhhh!

the men...or shall i say "boys"...headed out for a round of golf as soon as we arrived...so megan and i headed out for a round of shopping! it was so. much. fun! we even allowed a sales lady to assist us in trying on clothes...the majority of which i knew i was not buying...but it was fun to just play! in the end...i ended up spending my money buying "happies" for my children! can't break old habits over night!!!

we picked up our significant others and made our way to "the oasis" for a fun dinner overlooking lake travis! the "after party" consisted of driving around looking for a milk shake...but ended at the HEB buying pints of ice cream and plastic spoons! i personally find those little nuggets the most fun parts of vacation! we sat around the fire pit, under the stars, laughing and licking our spoons until it was time to call it a day!

after a short, but great night of sleep...megan and i were ready for our first spa treatment! the boys were already enjoying their "2nd 18"...so we had the morning to enjoy our pampering. i had the best massage i may have ever had...and as the weekend progressed..."gavin" would become a household name!!!! we shared many a laugh regarding my masseuse!!!!!!

that's really when the "ahhhhhh" part of the weekend started...it was amazing!

megan and i went back to our rooms to clean up and decided to spend the afternoon "caddying" for our husbands during their 3rd round. the weather was gorgeous, low 70's, so it was nice to be outside soaking up the fresh air! the guys played, what i would consider, a pretty nice round of golf...and megan and i enjoyed driving the carts! i hit a few shots...one going about 150 yards from the men's tee box...and certainly the only one worth noting...but we had a blast!!!!!

we finished up #18 with little day light to spare...and starving! after getting a couple of dinner recommendations, we decided to head downtown to perry's steakhouse! excellent choice! i'm pretty sure i'll be dreaming about the asparagus i ate for a while...and the lobster tail!!!

it was a wonderful dinner with wonderful friends...filled with lots of laughter! even though we were stuffed...we attempted another milk share find...but came up empty handed again! i'm think we were saved by divine intervention on this one...because i don't know how i could have pulled it off!!!!

we ended the night with another conversation by the fire pit...of course, it was after midnight when we went to bed! so much for catching up on our sleep while we were without children! we were all enjoying the company so much!

on sunday morning, megan and i went for our final spa treatment...we both chose to have another massage...and you guessed it..."gavin" came through again!!!! ahhhhhh! it might have been even better the second time! it. was. fabulous!

we joined the boys for lunch overlooking the hill country...and called our weekend to a close.

i was certainly ready to see my precious girls...but it made me realize that it's ok to want to take a few moments to be a wife... just take a few moments for myself. we all need that...even though our jobs as mothers are some of the most fulfilling! i know i forgot that during my three year hiatus...but i don't intend to forget it any time soon!!!!

i have felt so refreshed in the two days i've been home...and i'm so thankful for that! thank you to our family for handling our precious cargo with care...and thank you megan and chris for making the weekend so much fun!

i'm already looking forward to "the next time"...even though i don't know when or where that will be!!!!!

this was the view from our hotel room!

these guys cut up the whole time!!!

the sunset was beautiful!!!