Take me out to the Ballgame, or Not!

Last Friday night, we took the kids to the Smokies game. Wiley got tickets for his birthday, so we all headed up there. We had a great time, the kids loved it. We sat right in front of four guys, I would say in their 20's. The kids played with them the whole time and I don't think either the kids or the guys watched the game at all. These guys had probably hit their limit on drinks, except for one of them. They have the Kids Zone place for kids so we took them to that, and whatever I was thinking I will never know, let the kids get these animal balloons right after the 5th inning. Call it a lesson learned! After the game (the Smokies lost, bad) we stayed for the fireworks. The four guys behind us, as we were leaving, THANKED us for all of the entertainment and for putting up with them, and we told them, "No, Thank you all for putting up with us!" Another couple also said this was the best game they had attended and thanked us for all of the laughs (they had season tickets). We, however, were pretty happy to get to the van!

Gage, just chillin'.

Gracie getting ready for the game to start, she cracked everybody up shaking her booty to Rocky Top!

Watching the fireworks.

The kids wanted popcorn, so we got it, only for Wiley to dump out half and do this with the box!

Grace chose a flower balloon and a ladybug to be painted on her face.

Wiley wanted a monkey on a tree, they chose the tallest balloons they had! Wiley had a baseball painted on his face.

The guys behind us laughed so hard at the popcorn incident, they encouraged Gracie to do it as well. See that nice lady in front of Gracie's head? I couldn't tell you how many times I had to grab the balloons before they decked her with them! Luckily she thought they were funny too.

Behind us is the one guy that was not drunk, the others went to get another drink. I know this because they informed us everytime they left their seats.

Our kids really do behave 90% of the time, lets just call this an "off day"! I promise, when I go anywhere or we take the kids places people often comment about how good they are to be the ages that they are.

This is how you know...

This is how you know you take care of three children all day, everyday (except on Friday or Saturday nights every weekend, thank you SO much Mom!), you are riding home from the store with your husband, having a snack and you turn to him and say "Do you want a bite-bite?" to which he just replies, "Yeah, give me one"!

The Story of Gracie and Wiley

We think Gracie and Wiley have a very cool and unusual story of how they came into this world. When I was pregnant with Gracie, the due date was August 15th, we were admitted to the hospital on July 26th, and were to be induced on July 27th. At 12:04 A.M. on July 28th Gracie Addison was born! Well a couple of months later we got a little surprise. We were pregnant with baby #2, and the due date would be August 15th! On my weekly appointment with Wiley, I had been having some contractions but didn't really think it was anything. We went to the Dr on July 26th, and sure enough my Dr. sent us upstairs to be admitted, to induce the next morning, July 27th, just like she had done with Gracie. We get registered and go to our room, which happens to be the same room we had with Gracie. We were about 45 minutes until midnight, and I was determined that my kids would not have the same birthday, I wanted them each to have their own special day. I pushed like there was no tomorrow (sorry for that image) At 11:13 P.M. Wiley Dane was born! So one day out of the year, Gracie and Wiley are the same age! We think that is pretty awesome!

Happy 3rd Birthday Lady Bug!

Gracie,

Oh my! I really can't believe we are celebrating your 3rd birthday! It is a little sad, I must say, even though you are so fun at this age! You are so beyond your 3 years, it is crazy! You are into Princesses, and you love dressing up as them. We are a perfect Mommy/daughter match! You are my ideal daughter and I am very thankful that you are my only girl. You are such a girly girl, and then you can turn right around and be dressed up as Spiderman and playing with all boy stuff. I love it! You are an animal lover and have this love for horses that is so close to my heart since I was the same way as a little girl! You are a lot like me in many ways. You love shopping, you know what is cute to wear, and you even match what juice cup matches your outfit for the day! (don't even want to think what you will be like as a teenager right now!) You are our first baby and we were so thrilled when we found out about you, although it doesn't seem like its been that long ago. I remember the morning like it was yesterday when I found out I was pregnant, it was right before your Daddy and I were leaving for work, we said we wouldn't tell anyone just yet but I told your Nanny first, then Emily and Bobbie Jo from LES, then I just told everyone! Deep down I wanted a little girl and you are way more than anything I could have expected! Happy Birthday Grace, we are so proud of you and you are the best big sister the boys could ask for, and we know you are the best daughter we could ever dream of! We love you so much! Try to take it slower on growing up on us, OK! Happy Birthday Lady Bug!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Happy 2nd Birthday Monkey!

Wiley,

I can't believe you are 2 years old today! It seems like only yesterday we went for a check up and your Daddy told me to take a bag "just in case" we were put in the hospital. Of course I didn't, and what happened? We were admitted, and the funny thing is, exactly a year ago on that day, we were admitted to the hospital to have Gracie!! Wild, right? Seems like only yesterday, I was in so much pain when my epidural did not work and I was feeling it all! You were so worth the pain though! You are such a great, sweet, loving, fun little guy! Your love for sports, CARS, and Spiderman just makes you that much cuter! I love that you are a Mommy's boy, but love to play rough things with your Daddy! I love that you have to have your Braves or Tennessee hat on before you do anything! I love that you still have a little baby in you and have to have Bink-Bink (blankey) and "Monk-Monk" before you can go to sleep! I love it that you are a Mommy's boy until Nanny comes around and you seem to forget I am around! I love your love for Crocs! I love that you can't be away from Gracie and will get upset if you are! When we ask you your name, you say it is"ME BINGHAM!" You are so loving and I hope you always stay that way. You love to help Mommy do things, and carry the "heavy" things for me like the laundry baskets. You will say, "I help you Mommy" I think my favorite thing about you is your smile and those huge brown eyes and long eyelashes, it just melts my heart when you look at me! We love you so much, you are the best! We hope every birthday gets better and better for you. Always know that you are so loved and have a brother and sister that are absolutely crazy over you! Happy 2nd birthday Monkey!!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Oops!

Gracie just came in the living room and told me, "Mommy, that fish in my bedroom is a BAD swimmer, wanna come see?" The way she said it was so funny, Bobby and I cracked up! Poor Dory the fish!

More Party Pics

My sister in law, Kellie, got some cute pictures. These are just a few of my favorites! More pictures to come, I am still going through them!

Thanks to Bobby and my brother Scott for filling so many water balloons up, they tried to keep up with the kids busting them so quick!

It killed me sticking candles in these cakes, I was told to suck it up and go for it.Playing with the guys in the water.
Extra helping hands.

A couple of Cheetos faces!

Gracie and Wiley's Birthday Party

On Sunday, we celebrated Gracie's 3rd and Wiley's 2nd birthdays with one big party. Gracie chose to have a princess party, which was not a surprise to us at all, and Wiley had a baseball party. Cinderella was going to come, however she went on vacation to Key West, so we missed her! The kids had a great time playing with family and friends and loved their gifts! We had hamburgers, hot dogs, and BBQ from Calhouns. The best part of the party was the yummy cakes from Carly's Cakes! She did an awesome job and really made their party special. Everyone kept going on and on about how great they looked! Thanks everyone who came for your gifts and for making another year special!

Uncle Scott, Aunt Ronda, Matt, Dillon and the kids.

Papaw Bob and Grace.

My cute nephew Dillon and his cute girlfriend Krysten with Gage. Gage loves these two!

Matthew, Krysten, Dillon with Gage, Leslie with Wiley, her adorable boyfriend Nathan, and Gracie with her best bud, Lindsay

Another Family picture...check out the mohawk my nephew Matt's sporting these days!

Nanny helping Wiley blow out his candles.

Rylee Kate, Gracie, Tucker and Wiley having a hot dog!

Lindsay and Gracie, I wish Lindsay was my neighbor....!

Opening presents...

I swear I had clothes on my kids when the party started!
Gracie loved all of her dress up outfits, this flapper dress was too cute!
A new Beauty and the Beast tea set.

Wiley thought it was so funny when Uncle Scott beat on his belly.

Wiley's cake was perfect and just like I pictured it!

Gracie's cake was so cute, I loved it! Perfect for a Princess!

I think this year the kids were much more into their party and gifts, it gets more and more fun every year. They LOVED everything they got so THANK YOU!! They are going from one thing to the next!

A big Thank You to....

Nanny (My Mom) for the Snow White Dress, Flapper Dress, Barn for horses, a Paint your own Dream Horse, and a Horse shirt for Gracie. A Lightning McQueen pit crew dress up outfit, CARS mini cars, Colts Football, Smokies hat and tickets to see the Smokies play next Friday night, and a baseball for Wiley

Nanny Margaret and Haul (or Nanny with white hair as Grace says!) for the new Jammies for Wiley and Grace. We love jammies around here!

Uncle Larry, Aunt Wendy, Lindsay and Leslie for a new camera for Gracie and Tonka pals and Lightning car for Wiley.

Aunt Kellie and Logan for the Tinkerbell remote control flying fairy, we just about have it figured out, and color change hot wheels. I'm not sure who likes them better, Wiley or Daddy!

Uncle Scott and Aunt Ronda for a camera/camcorder for Grace and a Bounce Back Tonka truck.

Papaw Bob for money, we will be making a trip to Toys R Us this week for sure!

Tucker and Rylee Kate for the cool swing and plates/cups!

Michelle and Blake for the gift cards!

Gracie got a TinkerBell dress with shoes, a new Cinderella dress, a Belle tea set, and a set of Cinderella play set of characters from her Daddy and me and Wiley got an Atlanta Braves bat/ball/glove, a new TN football, a Braves and Mets baseball (Wiley loves balls, can you tell?) a Lightning McQueen ball you jump and bounce on and a black Spiderman costume!

Later Sunday night Gracie said she was "thinking about all her surprises."

Happy party day Gracie and Wiley, we love you so much and you deserve all the love you get!

Vero Beach

If you go to Disney World, we highly recommend taking a relaxing trip after running around the theme parks, and going to Disney's Vero Beach Resort. It is awesome! The beach was beautiful, and so relaxing. We saw sea turtles coming in (it was nesting season and Vero Beach is a sea turtle hot spot) We saw sting rays jumping out of the water, and dolphins early in the morning splashing around. The kids had a blast, and so did we, I could honestly live at the beach and never get tired of it. I would love to just go outside my house and go sit by the ocean and read my People magazine, have my Ipod set to Jimmy Buffet and Kenny Chesney songs all day long.

I love this picture of Grace and her Dad, in my opinion, Grace was the cutest babe on the beach in her little striped and polka dotted bathing suit, before we headed down to the beach, she said, "Do I look cute Momma?"

Getting ready to write her name in the sand.

The reason my son is laughing so hard is because he just threw sand ALL over his sister!

Looking out at the water before we went and ate.

Our Resort

Disney's Vero Beach is made for kids, they had a mini golf place on the property.

Gracie posing in the sand.

The Mickey Mouse shaped pool. Too fun!

Mickey's pirate ship water slide. They had a blast playing on this.

Don't let this girly girl fool you, she LOVES Spiderman and we had a water fight after dinner. Grace came out the winner!

Wiley getting ready to attack!

Gracie going after Nanny.

Love this face!

I had to frame this one of Gage!

One happy boy!

Loving the drool!

Too cute!

Gage is a beach bum!

Gage LOVED the beach, Bobby called him "Crocodile Chunk-ee" because of his hat and his little belly!