Italy

Jason and I had a great time together in Italy. We went to Venice for a few days and then Florence for five days. Both were beautiful and very different from each other. This post will be about Venice. It is a city completely surrounded by water. There is one major canal that run through the city and there are several little canals that run through the city as well, just like streets. Venice is pedestrian city. There are no cars (and no streets for them anyway) and the only way around is to walk or take water transportation (around the outside of the city or through the canals). Here are a few pictures from Venice.

WOW! 6 years

So on Tuesday Jason and I will celebrate our six year anniversary! In many ways it feels like just yesterday. I can remember so many details from that day. The lady who was suppose to do all of our hair showed up almost an hour late. My friend Andrea made her redo her "poof" at least 5 times! I was almost late to the church because of traffic. It was one of the best days of my life. Everyone seemed to have a GREAT time. Many of our friends have "stories" they may or may not wish to remember. 

I am so lucky to have found my best friend and love of my life in high school! We have been through so much in the past six years, especially in the past six months! I am excited to continue on this amazing journey with Jason! I can not wait to see what the next sixty years is like for us.

 To celebrate our anniversary we are taking a seven day trip to Italy, without the boys!! Last year I was nursing (and Tyler was only a few months old) so we couldn't do anything big for our five year anniversary.  This will be the first time I have been away from Tyler and the longest I have ever been away from Carson. It will be very hard but I am excited to get away and spend some quality time with Jason!!

Friendship

To all of my friends near and far...

Source: a248.e.akamai.net via Chitrali on Pinterest

I miss having girls friends to meet at the mall and go out to dinner with!! Although we are apart, I'm so glad I have each of you in my life!!

Big boy

Tyler is getting to be such a big boy!! I can't believe how fast he is growing and changing!! He has been so much fun over the past month. He is becoming more interactive and his little personality is coming out. He loves playing peek-a-boo and he LOVES copying whatever you are doing! He often follows Carson around and laughs and laughs at everything!! 

The other day he climb up on his stool in the bathroom and just started brushing his teeth!

 

On Sunday we went to Monkey Joe's to burn off a little energy since it rained all weekend! He had so much fun exploring and bouncing!! 

Father's Day

Our Father's Day was pretty low key. Carson and I made the family French Toast (Daddy's favorite) for breakfast. We then did some MUCH needed organizing/cleaning in the garage. Of course the Bates boys love to clean!! What's more fun than family bonding over some cleaning?! 

 

For Father's Day Jason got a new toy car.  During Tyler's nap Carson and daddy went to hit golf balls at the driving range. Carson was SO excited!! Jason said they had a lot of fun and it was something him and Carson will have to do more often!

 

When they got back from their golf outing I had some dinner waiting for them. We made homemade personal pizzas. And for an extra special treat, we ate in the living room and watch golf (The US Open) on TV. It was a pretty great day!

It was a the perfect day for the perfect Father of my children!! The boys and I are so lucky to have Jason! He is a great father!! We love you Jason!! 

Where have you been??

I know!! I have not blogged for a few weeks but I've been bitten by the summer bug. I have both kids-FULL time now so I haven't had a lot of extra time on my hands. We have been busy little bees.

What have we been up to? 
The boys and I went to Charlotte a couple of weeks ago for 5 days. I drove up to Charlotte with the boys on a Wednesday and then Jason flew up Thursday night. We stayed with a good friend from college who was nice enough to let the whole gang stay with her (and her husband and dog, Dollie). We had a great time visiting with her as well as many of our other friends! We were able to attend a good friends 2nd birthday party. I am so glad we are able to still make the effort and go to events in Charlotte! I also went to a little baby shower dinner for my good friend Jenn (who is due in a few days)! It's amazing that even though we moved 5 months ago, when we go back to Charlotte we are able to pick back up with our friends like we haven't been gone! (oh how I miss them!)

While we were in Charlotte we all got hair cuts!! :) It's getting H-O-T HOT HOT HOT in Florida!! We all needed shorter dos!

Getting his hair buzzed off...

Daddy got a buzz cut too!

  

Once we got back from Charlotte Jason left for the week to travel for work. Luckily he doesn't take long travel trips for work often. (Although he does travel semi-often.) While Jason was I painted our living room (something I had been planning on doing). Before Jason left we picked out a color and then I went to town. :) It's not a drastic change but it's a welcomed change.

 Picking out the color...

 

We decided to go with darker color. It's a gray/brown.

 

A work in progress...

 

All done! 

 

  This week we have been hanging out. Yesterday the boys and I went to Sea World and this weekend we're hoping to make a day trip to the beach. Just a few of the perks about living in Florida. :) Next week Carson has camp all week and then we are leaving for DC on Saturday. The boys will be staying in DC for a week with both of our families while Jason and I head to Italy to celebrate 6 years of marriage!! YIKES!

a weekend away

This past weekend I flew up to Virginia for a bridal shower. One of my good friends from college, Julie, is getting married in August. Tyler and I flew up Friday night and came back Sunday evening. It was so wonderful seeing my college friends! I don't get to see them as much when I'm home. It's so hard trying to fit a visit with everyone in. The shower was a tea at the Willard downtown. Julie and I spent a summer studying in London between our junior and senior year. Her maid of honor took that into account and asked all the guests to find cute hats in honor of the Queen's diamond anniversary and the Queen's Jubilee. It was a beautiful shower!!

Tyler hanging out in the airport... we were delayed 2.5 hours, he didn't seem to care! He had a great time pushing the suitcase around.

 

Me in my hat before leaving 

 

Tyler and mommy

 

JMU/Tri Delta girls 

Tyler at Glammy and Grandpa's house 

Glammy 

 Grandpa

 Glammy and Grandpa 

Elisha and Tyler

Unfortunately I did not get any pictures of my mom because I was at the shower all day Saturday when mom and Elisha were watching Tyler! Until next time...