Basketball Boys

Jace and Nate had a great basketball season. They both had practice and a game once a week. Jace constantly tried to get a game of soccer going in the middle of his basketball game, or getting others to race with him, or climb the basket hoop with him, anything but actually play basketball. On more than one occasion, he would be running in circles with his arms outstretched, pretending to be an airplane. Oh what fun to be a kid! To be blissfully unaware of the importance of winning! (Tongue in cheek of course!) There were a couple of times in which he did score, so he was a great assett to his team (when he was actually playing)! Go Gamecocks!

Our Saturday morning routine: we would get up bright and early, clean the house (usually trashed from the night before from staying up late) and go to the YMCA to watch basketball. Dad was usually filming on the sidelines, or refereeing the game.

Nate was an excellent defensive player. He was so aggressive and would often keep the other team from scoring by stealing or blocking. He surprised Andy and I tremendously at how well he played. I think part of it was his desire to play. He has wanted to learn how to play basketball for a very long time, and I think he actually preferrs it over soccer! Is this really my kid? Go Tigers!

Scooby-Doo

This butterfly, later dubbed Scooby-Doo, was caught in our back room porch. Nate requested we take a picture so we could look on the internet to see what kind it was.

Backyard Antics

Finally after seven years, we have an amazing backyard. It is huge; the kids have so much room to play. Sara loves to be on the trampoline by herself or when there are other smaller kids around. She likes to hang out with her brothers too when they are doing something that isn't so active. Their favorite game is Bouncy, Bouncy, Bouncy, Drop-- a game that I have managed to pass on from when I was a kid.

Jace and Sara are playing in a little truck that we keep in the yard. It was motorized at one time, but doesn't work. It is one of Sara's favorite backyard toys and she will try to get anyone to push her around.

Beaufort Fire Station

We had a great time learning about fire trucks and fire fighters here in Beaufort County. The kids were very nervous when the firefighter came out in full uniform. Jace and Drew loved the fact that he sounded just like Darth Vader!

Tanner, Sam, Jace, and Drew sit on the front of the fire truck.

Forever Underwear and Never Chuck E. Cheese

Tra-la-laaaaaa! Drew has officially graduated from diapers to underwear! In so doing, he earned a trip for the family to go to Chuck E. Cheese. What an experience! The closest Chuck E. Cheese is an hour away in Savannah. It was a madhouse. I have never seen it so packed. We had many interesting things happen to us while we were there, like an 18 month old beating up Jace, our leftover pizza getting stolen right off of our table, and adults cutting in line. Needless to say, we will not be going back anytime soon (if at all)!

Sara is driving the bus in the little kiddie area at Chuck E. Cheese. It was her first experience in actually being able to fully climb and play without help in a children's play area.

Birthday Girl

Wow. What a milestone. For everyone. Our baby is no longer a baby.We were all excited to celebrate Sara's first birthday! She was happy to be celebrated. She seemed to know what was going on, like she knew this party was for her. She was so giddy with excitement in anticipation of eating treats. Andy and I were giddy with excitement knowing that there is no going back to that "baby phase". No more late night feedings, no more sleepless nights, no more mustard poo (atleast I hope not), no more.

Sara was running around as giggly as could be, handing out hugs to anyone within reach.

Sara had no problem figuring out how to open her birthday presents.

In true Stubbs boy fashion, the boys got Sara some Barbie stickers to put in her car window.

Sara was mesmer- ized with the candle on top of her cupcake. She couldn't wait to tear into it!

Balloon Blast!

After the Valentine's party, the kids had an outrageous balloon boppin' fiesta! What a great way to end an already awesome playgroup party!

Valentine Fun

We had a really fun Valentine's day party for playgroup. The kids got to make their own mailboxes out of brown paper bags, and then they "delivered" valentines to each other. To top it all off, we had tons of delicious treats!

Stephanie and her boys Tanner and Austin decorate their brown bag.

Kelly and her daughter Kenzie color their mailbox before deliveries.

Jen helps Kelsee finish up her valentine mailbox for special treats.

Sneaky Sara

Sara is getting into everything! Toilet paper, pots and pans, towels-- anything and everything she can get her sneaky little feet, hands or body into! Her brothers, when they were at her stage in life, did that simply to make a mess. This girl, however, does it for the pure love of curiosity! She is truly seeing how things work for the first time and enjoys learning about it!

Other times, well, she is just being sneaky.

Grandma's Visit

Grandma had a business meeting in Atlanta, so she was able to come and visit for a few days. It was wonderful having her and the kids were so excited to see a familiar face! We took her to Sands Beach and taught her how to hunt for shark teeth. It was chilly, but that didn't stop Andy from wading in with his galoshes and filling buckets with sand and rocks to sift through for some great finds and special treasures!

We went to Pizza Hut at the end of Grandma's stay, where the boys took over the camera and had everyone make silly faces.

Sticker Frenzy

One of the most precious things to Nate is his sticker collection in the car window where he sits. It all started when we lived in Boston and he was going to "the Ollie" preschool. Everyday he would earn a sticker, which he would then put in is window, so he could admire it forever-- thus immortalizing it for years to come. The two younger boys caught on, and now they all have their own sticker collection. Some parents can't understand why we would let them put stickers all over the windows. We ust figure at some point you gotta let kids be kids! Hey, it washes off! No harm done!