Three Men and a Mommy

C's 3rd birthday party!

2012-02-13T13:02:00.000-08:00

C is still in his mermaid and princess phase. He also really really really likes a TV show on Nick Jr. called Bubble Guppies. For his third birthday party, he requested a Bubble Guppies party, which also satisified his desire for a mermaid party. Nick Junior had some printable Bubble Guppies party supplies and clever ideas on their website, which was very helpful for quickly pulling things together for a birthday party just a few weeks after Christmas!

Daddy A dropped C and P off at school and headed back home to prep for the party. When school was over, C and his classmates (and their families) headed down the street to our house for sandwiches on goldfish shaped bread, goldfish, vegetable "sea snacks", and Bubble Guppies cupcakes.

C and P had Bubble Guppies shirts made by Sew Glitzy Studio. Elizabeth, who runs the shop, was able to get the shirts to our house in time for the party (even though I was way behind in my planning and ordered them later than I would have liked), and they looked great! The appliques were well done, and she was so pleasant. I would use her again in a heartbeat! (She didn't ask me to say any of this; I was just that impressed with the service and the product.)

C had a blast at his party, and I think his friends all had fun, too. He is such a special boy, and I'm so glad he enjoyed his special day!

Art Show!

2012-02-13T12:49:00.000-08:00

One of the really cool features of P's LeapPad is the ability to upload the pictures he takes and the art he creates with the LeapPad to our computer. It's a paper-free way to document his artistic style over time! P helped me choose some of his artwork from December and early January, and we've decided to host a virtual art show on the blog. P provides some insight into each picture.

"This is just where I wrote my name. I needed to write it so I could put it into my LeapPad book I was writin' about me. I used red a'cause red's my favorite color."

"I call this 'Train'. A'cause I drawed a train here. Trains are somethin' I really like. When I grow up I will marry Morgan and be a train driver AND a Daddy. Those will be my two jobs."

"This is a boat train. It's red 'cause red is still my favorite color."

"This is a worm that got burned by a volcano. He's black 'cause the hot lava burned him. He used to be red. Now he is black but don't worry. When he goes to the hospital they will fix him an' he will heal and be red again. He's gonna be okay."

"This is Mommy. Well, it's Mommy's face. That's all though. I didn't draw her body."

"This is the worm. See? He's all better so he's red again."

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you enjoyed P's virtual art show!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-24T12:34:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know my wishes are late. (Based on our calendar for January, February, and the start of March, I'm doing pretty well to get this posted today, thankyoueversomuch.) I do hope you're having a great start to 2012 and that you have a wonderful year!

On New Year's Eve we went to "Gracias" for dinner, and the boys wore their fireworks t-shirts. (This is the best picture I got of the boys together. P was a bit disappointed with this choice of photo because Bowie, his "baby girl octopus" isn't looking at the camera. Sorry, buddy, Now maybe you can get a slight sense of what taking your picture is like!)

That night, we put the boys to bed and hosted a party for the 5th through 8th graders from our church. We had one last year, and it was a hit! Everyone arrives at eight, our boys are asleep, and then we do a short Bible study, hang out, watch the ball drop, watch a movie, and go to sleep. This year we added "Story Time with Kay Kay" (our next door neighbor) and noisemakers/poppers on her driveway at midnight. She invited us over, we watched the ball drop through her living room window, she came out and celebrated with us, and P and C were able to sleep through it.

Remember how I said that our boys went to sleep before the older kids' party started? Well, this year, P did not fall asleep before the "big kids" arrived... so I allowed him to get back out of bed for a few Wii games and story time on the condition that he go straight to sleep when I said it was time to go.

Our party guests were gracious and welcomed P right into their game of "Let's Dance 3". P went to bed just like he was supposed to when it was time (despite the noisy visitors!), and then Sunday morning we all got up, got ready, and walked to church for breakfast and the service.

Our 2012 is off to a great (and busy) start!

Shark Attack!

2012-01-24T12:20:00.000-08:00

I hope the title of this post didn't alarm you! I just wanted to showcase C's love of costumes. (This is the shark costume P wore this past Halloween. Now C wears it around the house. And to the store. And anywhere else we'll let him wear it. Which is a lot of places.)

A Family Trip to Sagebrush Steakhouse {captured by P on camera}

2012-01-24T12:18:00.000-08:00

P's "Important Things and Places"

2012-01-24T12:15:00.000-08:00

P not only took pictures of his family and friends, he also took lots of photos around our house. These are just a few of his "important things".

This is the Christmas pillowcase I made for P this past Christmas. He chose the fabric because it had a train.

This photo captures the boys' upstairs toy shelf and P's new Lego sorter.

My parents bought P a toy kitchen right before he turned two (when C was born). I'm not surprised it made it into P's photo gallery, because the boys both cook up all kinds of food in the kitchen! Cupcakes are the current specialty, but soup is usually a popular item too.

P made sure to capture his room in a photo as well. The "important" part, anyway - you can't see his bed, but you can see his "other stuff" and the "place on the floor where the tiny legos get spreaded out" when he's building.

P took this photo for C. It's his favorite blanket. Aunt Chris made it for him when he was born, and he loves it! P explained that he thought C would want a photo of his important things, too. I love how considerate my boys are of one another... well, when they aren't wrestling each other to the ground. They really do love each other, and I love watching their relationship grow and develop!

I'm enjoying P's LeapPad camera as much as he is! It gives me an opportunity to look at things through his ~~eyes~~ camera lens and "see what he sees".

"Some of my Friends" {a guest post by P}

2012-01-18T11:43:00.000-08:00

"This year I got a LeapPad for Christmas. I like it so much! An' one thing 'bout it is that it has a camera. So I was practicin' pictures an' I took some of my friends. Here they are, an' I'll tell you 'bout them!

These are me. I pushed the button, and that's how you get a picture of yourself. I took four.

This is Tiffany. I said, 'Say Cheese! I'm takin' your picture please!'

This is Mommy. I took it so we'd have a picture of her at our house.

I took Poppa Fred when we were at the house. My house, not his house. He lives not with me, so I needed a picture.

In this one I got Tiffany and John and Tucker. It's a picture of their whole fam'ly together. An' maybe if they want they can copy it and put it up on the wall at their house.

An' I took Grandma and C's picture so I would have their pictures, too. I wanted C's picture even though he lives with me 'cause if we are on a trip I still could see what he looks like.

This is Chelsea. She was babysittin' an' I said, 'I have a camera. I can take your picture,' She said I could and she smiled.

An' that's some of my pictures I took. Have a good day!"

Is it Halloween?

2012-01-18T11:26:00.000-08:00

What's better than playing with your new Christmas gifts? Playing with your new Christmas gifts while wearing your Halloween costume! (And getting your older brother to wear the costume you were afraid to wear in October!)

Christmas Day 2011!

2012-01-18T11:22:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas was wonderful!

The boys woke up and went downstairs to find that Santa had jostled our gate in front of the fireplace when he entered. P was especially amused.

We had fun visiting with family. Aunt Tiffany helped C open some gifts. One of his favorites was "Cinnalella". He loved on her and carried her around the house. He's in a mermaid phase right now, so before long he asked me to make her a "mermaid costume".

I helped P open some gifts...

...but (as you'd expect) he was able to do most of his own present opening.

P asked for some Squinkies for Christmas. Santa left some Cars themed Squinkies in his stocking, and some Little Mermaid ones in C's stocking. As you can see from this photo, those suckers are TINY!

We were truly blessed this Christmas not with only gifts, but also - and more importantly - with time with family and friends. I hope each of you were as blessed as our family was!

Christmas Eve

2012-01-01T19:17:00.000-08:00

We had a busy day on Christmas Eve! The boys wrote letters to Santa to leave with his cookies and milk.

We headed to church, and when we got home the boys put on their pjs and headed outside to leave reindeer food (which P had made at school) on the front lawn.

P and C carefully selected some of the cookies they had decorated to leave for Santa on his cookie plate.

We carried everything downstairs and laid it on the window ledge closest to the fireplace.

P and C drifted off to sleep within 15 minutes of being put to bed, and were rested for Christmas morning!

Biltmore House at Christmastime

2012-01-01T19:03:00.000-08:00

While my sister and brother-in-law and parents were visiting, we took a day trip to see the Biltmore at Christmastime. Admittedly, the boys weren't as crazy about the "castle" as they were about the taffy they were eating while some of us were wine tasting... but it was still a fun day!

Christmas cookie decorating

2012-01-01T18:54:00.000-08:00

The boys were eager to help Grandma Paige, Aunt Tiffany and I decorate cookies for Christmas this year!

At the start of the activity, the boys were wearing t-shirts...

...but we quickly realized that red icing and white shirts was quite a risk!

We had a blast decorating! (I love things clean and orderly, but I don't mind a mess if it's for a good reason. Fun is a GREAT reason for lots of messes!)

a ride on The Polar Express

2012-01-01T18:48:00.000-08:00

This year our family has joined a dinner club with several other families with preschool aged children. In December, our hosts took the kids for a ride on The Polar Express!

The kids wore their pajamas to dinner, and after they decorated sugar cookies and ate them for dessert, the kids got into seats on the "train" and listened as Pastor Sally read Chris Van Allsburg's Christmas classic.

While they were "riding," hot chocolate was served!

The house was next to a park with Christmas lights, and the kids went to the porch and looked out at the "North Pole" on their "train ride". As we left at the end of a wonderful night of fellowship with friends, C pointed to the decorations and said, "Mommy, do you see the North Pole? It's SO bee-u-ful!" It was adorable!

Parents' Week at dance class

2012-01-01T13:28:00.000-08:00

The studio where P takes dance encourages parents to wait for their children in the lobby or away from the studio altogether. In the youngest classes, we only see our kids dance twice a year - at the recital in May, and at Parents' Week in December, when we are invited into the studio to watch a typical class. Only parents are expected to attend, so we got a sitter for C and Daddy A and I headed to the studio with P the weekend before Christmas Eve.

As you might imagine, P really enjoys this "train dance".

The students showed us some fancy footwork at the barre.

There was some creative movement in the circle, and then we saw how flexible everyone was!

P was worn out and ready to lay down when Ms. Melody said it was time to stretch out!

Once of the benefits of dance class is strengthening motor skills and coordination. Before students in our state go to Kindergarten, they are supposed to be able to skip. P demonstrated his jumping and skipping skills.

Ms. Melody ended class with a Christmas treat. Everyone was excited about that!

Here's P making his "cheese face"and showing off his red Santa slap bracelet from Ms. Melody!

We are all excited about the recital in May!

P's school nativity

2012-01-01T12:42:00.000-08:00

The four year old classes at our preschool put on a nativity play for their parents and the three year old classes in mid-December. They also took the show on the road to a local nursing home. I was able to see the production when I took my class to see it (minus C, who was home sick... poor thing!).

P was a sheep, and he had no problem telling me during the play that he didn't like sheep, and he was hopeful that he would snag the cow mask for the nursing home production later in the week!

He also didn't open his mouth much during the carol portion of the production... he told me later that it was because he "didn't like singin'". (Now, he sings all the time around the house, but I guess that's different!)

It was a joy to watch the presentation, and you could see all of the hard work that went into the play!

a visit to Oak Hill

2012-01-01T12:32:00.000-08:00

We were able to make it to West Virginia for a very short - one night - visit in early December. We fit in some visits around the kitchen table, and P had a chance to watch "Frosty the Snowman" on Friday evening. I can remember laying on the floor and watching television with my cousins at Grandmere's house when we were little, and I thought about that while he watched the movie.

P has always liked the stories about trains in Grandmere's book cabinet, and this visit he asked her to read to him several times. The book he selected was a collection of short stories about trains, and he stood or sat with her and listened eagerly to the book, even though it was geared toward older readers and had very few pictures. I enjoyed listening to Grandmere read to him.

We had to leave after lunch on Saturday afternoon, but we were able to see Aunt Becky before we left. I was so glad she came out to Grandmere's and we had a chance to visit! The boys were overtired from playing in the last bit of snow in the yard from a previous snowfall, so they weren't the best company - and they were asleep not long after we hit the road. I am hopeful that the weather won't keep us away until spring this year.

Christmas pictures

2011-12-13T12:26:00.000-08:00

SPOILER ALERT: Some of these photos made the cut for our 2011 Christmas card. Read on only if you're okay with a sneak preview of what's headed to your mailbox!

One of our friends from church was kind enough to agree to take some pictures of our family during the Christmas season. I was hoping to get a few shots for our Christmas card, and I thought maybe I would get larger prints of some photos to hang in our living room as well.

Sherry wanted to get a photo of the entire family. So we tried... but some of us don't seem too happy about it! (That's actually because some of us - ahem, P and C - don't love standing still for photos.)

Once we got to some more casual shots, P and C ~~were more cooperative~~ didn't realize they were being photographed.

This Christmas it is really enjoyable to watch as both of the boys are thrilled with all of the decorations and special events of the season. Here, P shows off his favorite ornament.

With a tree full of decorations, it was hard for either of them to settle on just one favorite.

We had better luck with a family photo when the tree was providing a distraction of sorts.

C finally decided that the angel was his favorite decoration on the tree... at least for the moment!

I love the expression of wonder and amazement on C's face in this picture.

We have spent lots of time around our tree as a family this month. (And no, we don't always get someone to photograph it. :) )

I hope you and your families are enjoying preparing for Christmas as much as we are!

preschool PJ and cookie party

2011-12-13T12:10:00.000-08:00

Last week at school the boys' preschool held their annual PJ and cookie parties. The kids (and teachers) wear their pajamas to school, and the classes head to the fellowship hall to hear a Christmas story and then each student gets to decorate - and then eat - a cookie.

The parties are held in groups of three classes. It just so happened that P's class was one of the classes that had their party during the same time slot that C and I were scheduled to attend, so the three of us got to attend together!

I tried to take a class picture in front of the Christmas tree. Trying to get six two and a half and three year olds to look at the camera at the same time makes taking a picture of P and C together look easy. Sigh. At least everyone is in the picture. C is wearing his Christmas pjs, but he didn't forget to wear his ~~school uniform~~ princess skirt, too.

C was very invested in his cookie decorating. His cookie was deliberately iced and sprinkled before he dug into his glass of milk and snack.

P was more, ahem, rapid in his decorating. He was ready to get to the eating. :)

And the milk. Milk and cookies... what a combo!

One of the best perks of my job is that it allows me to enjoy special activities like this one with my boys. I am so blessed to be able to work where they go to school!

From our family to yours...

2011-12-13T11:44:00.000-08:00

Grandma Hen and Granddaddy Rooster visit

2011-12-13T11:42:00.000-08:00

We were lucky enough to have Grandma Hen and Granddaddy Rooster come to our house and celebrate Thanksgiving with us. We had a delicious turkey dinner and lots of time for fun and fellowship.

Grandma Hen brought a kit to make and decorate a gingerbread house, and the boys were thrilled to work on that project. (They didn't mind munching on a few decorations as they were working, either!)

The day after Thanksgiving, the boys were ready to start celebrating Christmas! We had already made plans to exchange Christmas gifts with Daddy A's side of the family on that day, and the boys were in full agreement.

All of the gifts were a hit. P especially enjoyed his Transformers' fire station - loudly proclaiming, "Hey, this is just what I wanted!" as he unwrapped it - and did a great job of sharing it with his brother!

C was especially excited to open a new Dora game for his Leapster.

As soon as he had his game open, he went and got his Leapster and started to play.

I was pleased to see that they boys also enjoyed giving the gifts that they had chosen for their grandparents.

They were excited to see Granddaddy's and Grandma's reactions to their presents.

The present opening schedule - deemed "early Christmas" by P - was so popular with our households that we plan to make it an annual tradition. I hope your holiday season has started off wonderfully as well!

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving!

2011-12-13T11:24:00.000-08:00

C gets ready for Thanksgiving, preschool style

2011-12-13T11:17:00.000-08:00

I know I'm late posting about Thanksgiving, but please indulge me here. Before we celebrated the holiday at home, C did a little research in the classroom.

(The pink skirt C's wearing is from the dramatic play center. He usually puts it on as soon as he arrives at school and doesn't take it off until it's time to go home... I told you he was in a princess phase!)

More Dollywood fun!

2011-12-13T11:12:00.000-08:00

Before heading back home, we hit Dollywood for some more fun. We did several of our favorite rides again, including the cars.

We made sure to stop and feed the ducks.

C had to get in a thrill ride (I think this is Dollywood's version of the Scrambler).

After a fun-filled Saturday, we loaded up in the car and came home. We had a great trip!

Ripley's Aquarium and Gatlinburg

2011-12-12T13:38:00.000-08:00

Last summer, while we were at Dollywood, we saw a brochure for Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg. When we saw that the aquarium featured a "Penguin Playhouse," we knew it was just the place for Grandma Paige! Once P realized that there was a walk-through shark tunnel, he was hooked, too.

So in November the aquarium was on our list of stops. There were lots of neat things to see.

You could even climb up into a cylinder to get a view from "inside" some of the fishtanks.

P posed as a "sea divin' guy".

Both of the boys enjoyed looking up at the sharks as we walked through the tunnel, and P was especially enthralled. Here is a photo of the view above our heads as we walked.

There were areas for petting stingrays and a smaller touch tank for checking out some horseshoe crabs.

Of course we spent some of our time outside looking at the penguins.

When it was time for one of the penguins to head somewhere else in the aquarium, they turned him loose and let him walk through the crowd! They asked that no one touch the penguins, but we were lucky enough to have one walk right past us.

When we left the aquarium, we decided to do a little shopping in Gatlinburg. While we were checking out the fudge shop, P climbed into this sleigh and asked me to take his picture. I was happy to oblige, of course!

C fell asleep in the stroller, but P was wide awake. We passed a large candy store, and P asked to make one of those tubes of colored sugar... you know the ones - like a pixy stick on steroids. Now, if this photo doesn't just scream "vacation" to a four year old, I don't know what does! :)

P was not allowed to eat the entire candy stick at once (actually, don't remind him about it, because he forgot about it and I threw it away before he had eaten much of it at all), and we headed to dinner at an Italian retaurant before heading back to our hotel. We had a wonderful day!

Dollywood!

2011-12-12T13:00:00.000-08:00

While we were in Pigeon Forge, we took advantage of our season passes and spent some time at Dollywood!

The first thing we did after we arrived was head for the Polar Express ride. P and C stopped outside the entrance for a photo with the train conductor.

We made sure to stop and see Santa and Mrs. Claus as well, since they had a workshop set up inside the park. Both of the boys were happy to see the couple, but I am finding it more and more difficult to get them to both look at the camera at the same time!

P and C requested a chance to drive "the cars," so we made sure to fit that in to our day too!

I was thrilled to see C happily wear his fuzzy bear hat and mittens. I have a feeling that before long both of the boys will be reluctant to wear things that I choose for them!

We kicked off the Christmas season early on our vacation, and we had a great time!

Christmas at Dixie Stampede

2011-11-28T14:45:00.000-08:00

Wednesday night, we arrived in Pigeon Forge and dropped our luggage of in our hotel room. I dressed P and C in some (coordinating, of course!) Christmas outfits, and we headed out the door for dinner at Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede.

When we arrived we took some time to visit with the horses. I love this picture of my dad and C. C was loving the animals, and then he saw a ~~hostess~~ "princess" in a gold dress and had to stop and flirt with her! C is in a MAJOR princess phase right now. I don't think I've mentioned it on the blog yet, but he definitely appreciates the beauty of a princess or a mermaid... he loves his Dora mermaid bathtub toy and Playtex princess sippy cup. I'm sure it will pass on its own, so I'm not too worried. For now, I'm enjoying C's proclamations of things that are "soooo booful" (so beautiful). It melts my heart when I hear, "Oh my gosh! Mommy - you are SO booful, Mommy!"

We enjoyed the music during the pre-show before heading into the arena for the North and South Pole competition. We were on the North Pole side, and P was a bit disappointed. The North Pole's color was green, and not only is red his favorite color, he has been anti-green for a good year now.

Daddy A was chosen to compete for the North Pole in the horseshoe portion of the evening. He received a medal, which I offered to P. P declined, because the ribbon was green. As you can tell from the above photo, C had no qualms about wearing a "green" medal.

We enjoyed the meal and the show just as much as we did last year!

Christmas Place draft

2011-11-28T14:24:00.000-08:00

Over Veterans' Day weekend, Grandma Paige and Poppa Fred took us back to the Inn at Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The hotel is Christmas-themed year round, and when we arrived in our suite we noticed the familiar tree right away. (C is convinced this is Grandma's Christmas tree, and that we were at Grandma's house when we saw it...)

Santa left some gifts for P and C under the tree the first night we were there, and the boys discovered them when they awoke on Thursday morning.

P and C also had a chance to visit with Santa before breakfast on Thursday. Neither of the boys is intimidated by Santa this year, so it's fun to watch them interact with him. P is making his signature "cheese face" in this picture.

The boys discovered the fountain in the shopping center across the street from our hotel while we were waiting for our table at lunch one day. They both enjoyed throwing coins into the water. C kept exclaiming, "I need moneys, Mommy!" Seems like someone is starting that refrain a little early... and I have a feeling a penny or two isn't going to seem so wonderful in about ten years... I'll definitely enjoy this stage while it lasts!

We had lots of fun adventures in Tennessee... stay tuned!

Halloween night

2011-11-25T11:41:00.000-08:00

As we were leaving school a few days before Halloween, P asked me if he could be a Bubble Guppy for Halloween. (Bubble Guppies is a preschool show about some merboys and mergirls who go to school underwater and have a grouper fish for a teacher. Both of the boys have caught the Bubble Guppies bug.)

P pointed out that he had worn his shark costume "manyer times", and that he planned to wear it "manyer other times" too. He did wear it to multiple other functions, and I think it might fit him a while longer, and it could definitely be passed down to C at some point. I explained that they didn't sell Bubble Guppies costumes, and he replied, "Well, you could just sew me one." I get really excited when the boys ask to wear something I've made, so I thought about it. P asked if he could call Grandma Hen and see if she had any "tail fabric" I could use.

I relented. P planned out costumes - complete with colored hair spray - for himself and C.

And on Halloween night, I took Nonny and Gil trick or treating.

When we stopped at church for the Trunk or Treat, the (mer)boys ran into Bumblebee.

We did go to a few houses, and between that and the church Trunk or Treat, the boys came home with bags FULL of candy. They considered their Halloween a huge success!

C's first school party

2011-11-25T11:30:00.000-08:00

Halloween was the first event that C celebrated with a school party. I was fortunate to have Grandma Hen visiting - she came to school with C and I on Monday and then she and Daddy A helped prepare for and host P's class party at our house on Tuesday. I loved having an extra set of hands to help me out!

We did pumpkin printing in the art center during our regularly scheduled center time.

We headed out for recess about half an hour early and some of the students' parents came in and decorated the room and set up for our party. They brought baked goods and treat bags. One family brought pumpkin masks, markers, and glitter glue. The project was a big hit with everyone in the class!

C would "hide" behind his mask, say, "Where's C?" and then pop out and shout, "Boo!" He was thrilled to "scare" me over and over. I loved seeing everyone have fun at our first classroom holiday event!

Halloween fun at dance class

2011-11-25T11:00:00.000-08:00

Grandma Hen came for a visit at the end of October. She and I took P to dance class the last Saturday in October. The students were allowed to wear a Halloween costume to class and there were some treats.

I mostly put this picture in the blog post so you could see the shark fin and tail on P's costume. Grandma Hen took it before class started, while P, Jack, and Madison were playing on the mats.

This year I remembered to bring my camera to dance class so I was able to snap a group photo. They all look so cute in their costumes!

I'm so glad P is enjoying dance so much this year! C is chomping at the bit for his "turn to dance". It will be here before we know it!

Fall Festival

2011-11-25T10:52:00.000-08:00

Man, oh, man... it is probably a very good thing that C isn't a girl. Remember when I said that his shark costume was too small? Well, we traded that costume for an octopus costume in a bigger size (because (a) there were no bigger shark costumes left, and (b) C originally wanted to be an octopus but settled on a shark since I was afraid that the octopus costume, which only came in bigger sizes, would be too big).

When the octopus costume arrived, C opened it and exclaimed, "It's my octopus!" He carried it all over the house. He put it to "sleep" at the foot of his bed. He WOULD NOT put it on.

I didn't push the issue, but eventually the day of our church's Fall Festival arrived. I tried to get C to put on his octopus costume. I calmly stated that it was time to get dressed. I suggested he help me get his costume on his body. I told him to put his costume on. I tried to bribe him to put it on. He cried. I suggested he wear a Halloween t-shirt to the festival. He begged for a costume.

I went downstairs to the closet in the guest bedroom and got out some old Halloween costumes. I offered Elmo (P's costume two years ago), Swiper the Fox (P's costume last year), and Boots the Monkey (C's costume last year). C went back and forth. He would start to get a costume on, then take it back off. Some he "didn't yike", and others "scared" him.

Just as I was ready to wrestle him into a shirt and pants so we coul get to the festival, C settled on Boots. Seriously, if he were a girl would there have been 20 more costume changes? And an argument about hair? He's only two, people!

P happily wore his shark costume again. C later told Daddy A he was scared of his octopus because of the octopus in The Little Mermaid. I had to take the Swiper costume and the octopus costume out of his bedroom.

As you can see from the above photo, most of C's Boots costume didn't stay on either... but C, P, and Colby had fun at the festival playing games, climbing the inflatable slide, and going on a hayride around the church, and family fun was the ultimate goal. Costume drama aside, it was a pretty relaxed afternoon and evening.

P's last soccer game (of the season)

2011-11-25T10:10:00.000-08:00

I know you've seen quite a few soccer posts now, so I'll just hit the highlights of this game for you. (This would have been P's second to last game, except he ended up getting sick and missing the game the following Tuesday... so it was P's last game. He did get his medal after the last game, but we still need to connect with his coach to pick up his soccer pictures. It's on my to do list this week.)

P had a great attitude. He listened to Coach S.

C asked if he could please have some face paint like the soccer team. Coach S obliged. C was pleased as punch.

P's team played against his friend Grace's team. It was Grace's birthday. He posed for a photo and gave Grace a birthday hug and good wishes.

We went to McDonald's (P's choice) to celebrate his hard work and the fun we've had this season!

Foothills Corn Maze - a field trip

2011-11-25T10:00:00.000-08:00

Since I am working at the boys' preschool this year, I can't make it to any of P's class field trips that are on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday... which, so far, is all of them. Fortunately, Daddy A has been able to go on all of this year's trips. (We did host a class party at our place and I have volunteered in P's classroom, so I don't miss out on all the fun!)

One Friday in October, P's class headed to Foothills Corn Maze. Daddy A and P both said it was a BLAST! P was pleased to discover that red was the color chosen for students to wear that day, since red is his favorite color. Not only did he wear a red shirt, he also wore a red coat.

P's group headed into the corn maze. The guide let the group decide which way to turn about every fourth time there was a decision to make. That worked out well, because the kids had a great time getting "lost" and "finding" their way out of the maze.

Everyone made it out just fine, and they were on to the next event.

Time for a hayride!

There were hands-on learning activities. The kids got to see and touch cotton and corn, and learn about how things grow. Last stop was the pumpkin patch!

After choosing a pumpkin, everyone had a chance to decorate their produce.

P had a chance to "drive" the hay tractor, and the kids all enjoyed being out in the fresh air.

After I got home from school and reunited with C, our family of four headed out for lunch at "Gracias," a local Mexican restaurant. I got to hear all about P and Daddy A's trip. It was a great way to spend my Friday afternoon!

Galaxy pictures

2011-11-25T09:52:00.000-08:00

You knew soccer season wouldn't go by without a chance to purchase team pictures, didn't you? Even though we did buy some soccer pictures, we snapped a few with our own camera as well.

A group shot

and another pre game photo of P and Colby made the cut for the blog.

P ran "super speedy" and played the majority of the game. He even got right back up and went on playing after a player on the other team pushed him down. I was really proud of his effort!

At the end of the game, the teams lined up for high fives.

Hard work and good sportsmanship! What else could a mother ask for?

The Great Pumpkin Patch

2011-11-24T18:00:00.000-08:00

While they were visiting over the holiday weekend, Grandma Paige and Poppa Fred took us to the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad.

We rode a train out to the Great Pumpkin Patch!

There were so many activities we could have stayed all day (except that we had to take the train back on time)!

There was an apple picking game.

P was a big fan of the corn table.

We took a hayride. We found out that C's costume was about six inches too short, which is at least one of the reasons that he didn't want to wear it when we went to Tweetsie Railroad.

When we came back from the hayride, P and C discovered the inflatable slide.

The slide was followed by tattoos. (I may have posted this first tattoo picture because you can see one of P's Great Pumpkin tennis shoes. I really really really like those shoes. We got them half off last fall for both boys. C outgrew his, but P wore his for the second October in a row. I bet they won't fit P next year, but they might fit C.)

The trick or treat area was inside a building and was tented so that it actually appeared dark and the trick or treaters could go door to door for candy. The theming was excellent, and it gave the boys a chance to practice saying "Thank you!" for their treats before Halloween night. C even kicked it up a notch and said, "Trick or treat, please!" when he asked for his treats.

Somehow we convinced to boys to put down their bags of freshly gathered treats and choose their pumpkins from the patch.

They even posed for a photo for me and were both looking in the general direction of the camera!When we met the Peanuts gang, P was not feeling a photo op. He sat that one out, but C was happy to pose.

We had just enough time to grab a quick lunch and catch the train back to "town". This trip was definitely a highlight of our fall season!

Columbus Day weekend

2011-11-24T17:00:00.000-08:00

Columbus Day weekend we had a visit from Grandma Paige and Poppa Fred. We enjoyed seeing family and spending time together. The boys loved hanging out with some of their grandparents showing them some of their favorite weekend activities.

We made sure there was time for playing outside

and art at the dining room table.

C even showed us where he stashes his "pap paps". (You know, the ones he's only supposed to have at naptime and bedtime!)

Ricardo the Great

2011-11-24T12:47:00.000-08:00

The first Wednesday night in October (I know, I know, I'm a little late posting!) our church's Wednesday night program was led by a Christian magician. There were several opportunities for volunteers from the audience, and the magician tried to let all of the kids who were watching have a turn on stage.

When it was P's turn to be an assistant, he was so excited he was shaking! It was adorable - he literally could not hold still.

Rick put three bandannas into his "magic" box, and asked P to say the magic words so that they could turn the bandannas into an American flag.

On the first attempt, Rick "accidentally" dropped the blue bandanna.

P thought the results were HILARIOUS! They tried again...

...but the flag still wasn't right. P was almost doubled over in laughter at one point.

P said the magic words one more time...

...and Rick produced an American flag!

C stayed in the nursery during the show. (I was skeptical about his ability to sit still for the duration of the program.) He was excited about petting Rick's dove and rabbit at the end of the evening, though!

All four of us had a great time - it was a magical evening! (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

some more soccer

2011-11-24T12:44:00.000-08:00

I'm going to be honest here and admit that I haven't blogged in so long I can't really wrap my head around where I left off... which is my own fault, I know! The soccer season has been over for almost a month now, but these pictures are from one of P's earlier games.

Before the game, P's coach offered face paint to the players. P and his "bes' friend" Colby posed for a pre-game photo.

At this point in the season, P was starting to get more excited about soccer and was working on "runnin' super speedy" after the ball. We saw lots of improvement throughout the season, and he had more and more fun at each game. Win win!

Tweetsie's Ghost Train

2011-10-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

If you've read this blog for long, it's probably not a secret that we have season passes to Tweetsie Railroad. In the fall, Tweetsie is replaced by the Ghost Train (at night) for a Halloween ~~bash~~ monster mash. (Sorry - I couldn't resist!) Although the train ride itself is only recommended for ages eight and up, there are other attractions at the park that are labeled as "okay for all ages". This year we decided to give it a go.

When we arrived, P changed into his Halloween costume. We brought C's shark costume too, but he flat refused to put it on. (More on that story in a few posts... how's that for a teaser?)

So the four of us - three humans (one in a Halloween tee) and a shark, headed into ~~the park~~ a long line to get into the park when it opened.

C was relatively content during the wait. He hung out in the stroller and played with his pumpkin light.

Upon entering the park, we took in the Halloween show at the Tweetsie Palace Saloon. It was well done. The show was full of puppetry and black light effects, and there were "dancin' sketletons". C in particular liked the show... and the snacks that were paired with the event.

After taking in a show, we headed to the spooky maze... which wasn't! (Well, it was a bit for the boys, but I am the world's biggest wuss, and I wasn't scared... definitely okay for all ages!) It was perfect for our boys. P went through it half a dozen times. Then the boys took turns being a bat.

Several of the shops and stands throughout the park were open for trick-or-treating. P's costume was a hit with the staff.

We took a break to warm up in the gift shop, and the boys took a "ride" on the train.

After warming up a bit, P and Daddy A headed for the Tilt-A-Whirl, but C's little finger were icy cold, so he and I headed back to the Palace Saloon to take in the show a second time. It made for a very late night for this crew, but we went straight to bed when we got home and no one was late for church the next day, so it worked out. :)

Happy (early) Halloween!

baking brownies

2011-10-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

A couple of Friday nights ago, my friend Amanda came over so we could bake brownies for a Service League event. We figured it would be more fun to do it together, so she brought a pizza and after we all ate we got to work. It wasn't long after we started that we realized there were two willing helpers in the kitchen...

...and at the dining room table.

Hey, someone had to make sure the brownies were safe before we put them out on the table for public consumption!

P's first soccer game

2011-10-15T11:59:00.000-07:00

P's team had their first soccer game at the end of September. He was very excited when it was time to leave for the field. He loved his "shiny shorts" Grandma Hen sent, and I thought the uniform might be his favorite part of game nights, but on our way down the stairs and out the door, he asked, "Mommy, are you and C comin' to watch me?" and when I replied in the affirmative he exclaimed, "Well, okay! I want someone to come and watch me every time I play!".

When we arrived at the field, P received his shirt (clearly the printers took their time this year) and changed into full uniform.

He posed for a photo with his "bes' friend" Colby. P kept making strange faces for the camera, but when I asked him to smile he explained, "I have to keep my face like this, because I have my mouthguard in and this is the way it makes my face look."

I didn't get a great shot because of where I was standing and where the sun was in the sky, but I did the best I could to get the whole team on camera.

I was very proud of P. We were lucky enough to draw the earliest (5:30pm) games for the entire season, but since he has pretty much outgrown his nap that is still late for him. He's the youngest on his team, because technically the youngest age bracket for city soccer is 5 - 6 year olds, but we squeezed him in there anyway because ~~we're rebels~~ he liked soccer camp so much this summer. Despite the evening game times and his young age, he was out there running after the ball! (He's number 8.)

Remember that mouthguard I mentioned a couple of paragraphs ago? Yup, that one. P really really really doesn't like it. Every time he came off the field for water, half time, Gatorade, or to sub out, it wasn't in his mouth. We had this exact conversation at least four times the night of the first game:

Me: Where's your mouthguard?

P: I don't know... (looks down at shoes)

Me: Well, you have to wear it to play soccer. That's one of the rules, and it's to keep you safe. I have an extra one. Do you need me to open it, or do you think you can find the one you already have?

P: (devilish grin) It's in my pants. 'Cause I don't like to wear it. It feels funny.

Me: What do you mean it's in your pants? Your soccer shorts don't have pockets... (cue P reaching down INTO the front of his soccer shorts/underwear and retrieving his mouthguard) P, that's gross! Don't put that... (the mouthguard is back in P's mouth) ...back in your mouth! Listen, buddy, I know you aren't used to wearing a mouthguard, but you need to keep it in your mouth when you're on the field.

And back onto the field my mouthguard-wearing soccer player would go.

C saw our good friend Amanda when we entered the soccer complex and had sweet-talked her into hanging out with him before I even had P in his new shirt. The game she was watching was right next to ours (the fields shared a sideline) so she and C split their time watching two different games.

Of course, when the game was over, the teams showed good sportsmanship and high-fived. I'd tell you what the score was, except they don't keep score for the youngest division because "it doesn't matter". Um, okay. They pay referrees, but I guess that's just to keep things fair between the teams. If they had kept score, the kids wouldn't have had to do it themselves. :) We wouldn't have been the winning team, but everyone had a good time.

P's coach gave every team member a little bottled water and a package of two brownies with orange icing. P shared his treat and gave one of the brownies to C.

The boys decided that since it was "fair" because they both had a snack, it should be eaten right away. They were both finished with their brownies before we loaded them in their car seats. We all had a good time, which is nice, because there are several more games to go this season!

Apple Hill Orchard, field trip style

2011-09-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

Monday the three year old classes at our preschool took a field trip to a local apple orchard. Daddy A drove C to the orchard and also acted as our photographer.

Our tour started with a demonstration on how apples are washed and sorted. Then we headed to the room where apple cider is made.

There was a quick stop to learn about bees and honey, and then it was time for apple and cider tasting! C said that "eatin' apples" was his favorite part of the trip.

While we waited for the tractor to come and take us on our hayride through the orchard, Daddy A snapped some photos of C and his classmates "measuring" themselves. We have pictures of both of our boys for the last couple of years in front of this apple, and it's really fun to see how the boys grow and change from year to year when we compare the annual photos.

We even managed to get a class photo, which was no small feat!

Everyone climbed onto the covered wagon for a hayride.

Several of the boys in my class chose this as their favorite part of the trip.

Before we knew it, it was time to head back to school! Our family has participated in several group trips to this apple orchard, and we've never been disappointed. P was sorry his class didn't go on this trip (Don't worry; his class is going to a corn maze in October.) and we are already planning a family visit to the orchard next month. It was a great way to start off our school week!

Historic Morganton Festival

2011-09-20T15:54:00.000-07:00

The weekend after school started was the annual festival in town. Friday after school (and naps!) we headed downtown for the festivities.

We headed to the kids' area first, in hopes of beatng some of the crowds. We bought the boys bracelets for unlimited rides and they got right to ~~work~~ play! P wanted to start with a train ride. He was disappointed that the engine was full, but settled for a ride in Annie, one of the coaches.

He wanted to ride again right away, but there was a rather long line so we convinced him to hit some other rides instead.

As we walked through the rides, we ran into "The King" from Burger King. He was passing out coupons for free icees at the restaurant and cardboard Burger King crowns. C kept calling his crown "my pincess (princess)". It was adorable! I didn't want to encourage the mistake though, so Daddy A and I tried to get him to call it a "prince" instead, but it wouldn't stick. For the rest of the night he was either wearing his "pincess" or exclaiming, "Oh no! My pincess! Get it!" because it had fallen off of his head.

P ran into a friend from his 2010 - 2011 preschool class and swim lessons this summer. They had a joyful reunion in the bouncy house area.

P and C bounced and climbed until it was dark outside.

As we walked among the vendors, I saw a place selling adorable knit hats. I decided to buy one for C. I was just sure he would want an Elmo hat, but he kept asking for Cookie Monster. He wore it until it was time for bed. The boys got their light up bubble guns from the Oak Leaf Festival out and had a blast with them again.

Friday night when it was time for bed, P kept saying that he wanted a hat, too. The only reason I hadn't bought him one was because I didn't think he would wear it, so I decided to wait and see if he was still interested the next day. Saturday morning he woke up and announced that he really wanted a cow hat from the vendor. After his dance class and a quick lunch, we headed back to the festival and bought him a cow hat. C decided that he wanted an Elmo hat after all, and the seller was nice enough to let C switch hats.

Then P proceeded to change his mind about which hat he wanted... he saw a Rosie (one of Thomas the Tank Engine's friends) the Train hat. It was the only one left, and it was very feminine, so we explained that he couldn't have that hat. He threw a fit and announced that he no longer wanted the cow hat (yes, the one he had loved until he saw the Rosie hat). Since I had already paid for the hat, and the seller told me that he couldn't do refunds, C ended up with a Cookie Monster hat and and Elmo hat. Sigh. At least he likes and wears both of them.

Our next stop was the kids' art area. Both boys settled in and created several "ocean-themed" crafts.

Near the art area an animal rescue station had set up shop with their information and brought some owls and a turtle. The boys stopped and gave the turtle some love.

We had a blast, but after two weekends of festivals, we were ready for a rest!

a day of firsts

2011-09-20T15:19:00.000-07:00

If you follow along regularly, you may have noticed my short absence from this blog. Just recently, school started for P, C, and for me! P actually started right after we got back from my sister's wedding, but September 7th was the big day for my class (and since C is in my class, it was his first day as well!).

Daddy A was such a good sport - I printed "First Day of Pre-K" signs and asked him to try to get some photos of the boys holding them for their scrapbooks. I was impressed with the results, because it is not easy to get these two boys to stand still at the same time for a picture.

He was able to get some shots in front of our house

and some in front of the boys' school.

Daddy A even got the bell tower in the background of some of the pictures. We have a picture of Daddy A by the church bell from his first day of preschool, and now the boys will have a similar picture from their school.

C was very excited to start school... until I left Wednesday morning. Daddy A said when it was time to leave, C was still a bit apprehensive. P did a great job reassuring his little brother, and in no time C was smiling again.

The smile stayed on his face all morning!

Of course, it probably didn't hurt that I put out the train tracks for our welcome activity the first day. :) Hey, my class is almost all boys... I figured trains would be a hit!

After P and Daddy A helped C settle in, they headed downstairs to P's class. P posed for a shot by his classroom door. The peach colored boy cutout with a red speech bubble by P's left elbow is his self portrait. His artwork is "saying" that P "likes the cars" at preschool this year.

Daddy A stepped into P's room for a few minutes and P showed off his puzzle skills.

All three of us are settled into our school routine, and we're having a great time and learning lots of new things!

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine

2011-09-08T11:05:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning we took a trip to the exhibition coal mine, just as P had hoped. We got there, browsed in the gift shop, and still had a little time before we had to catch our train for the tour of the mine. We decided to check out the children's museum on the property.

The children's museum was great! They rotate exhibits every several months, and the exhibit while we were there was all about one of my favorite children's book authors, Jan Brett. There were sketches of her illustrations and framed paintings throughout the museum. There were also a variety of hands on activities.

C posed in a cutout of one of her book covers.

He loved playing in the gingerbread house. P had just read Hansel and Gretel at Grandmere's house, and he said this house reminded him of the witch's house made out of candy from that story.

There was a science and math area with different brainteasers and puzzles. The boys took turns trying to see themselves from different angles in a large mirror.

The pink "light hat" that P bought at the mine last year bit the dust about a month and a half ago. P planned to get a new "light hat" as his souvenir at the mine this year, and he was somewhat worried that all of the pink hats would be gone "if other people like pink and they buyed every one". I am happy to report that there were several pink hats available for purchase.

Last year C chose a white hat, and his still works... but I left it at home in North Carolina. C wanted an orange hat this year, and has been calling it his "orange" ever since he placed it on his head in the store.

He wasn't interested in wearing it when we first settled in for our tour, but once he realized we were headed into a dark mine, he put it back on.

P posed beside the mine train when our tour was concluded.

Daddy A asked if it was okay for P to sit in the driver's seat for a photo. We were given the go ahead, and P was happy to oblige!

While P was "driving," C ran into the corner of a picnic table at full speed. He got a small cut on the left side of his forehead. We calmed him down and washed it 0ff... I wish I could say that I don't expect anything like that to happen again, but that wouldn't be true. C tends to do everything with lots of passion and energy, and safety isn't always his, ahem, first priority.

Grandmere has a miniature train made out of coal at her house. It is a souvenir from Cass Scenic Railroad. P loves to hold the train, and he wanted to look for his own train made of coal. He has been waiting since we bought it for a chance to take it to preschool for show and share. His day is Monday, and since last Monday was Labor Day, he'll have to wait until next Monday! I'm sure he'll tell his teachers and classmates all about his trip to the coal mine!

Oak Leaf Festival

2011-09-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

When we arrived in Oak Hill, we decided to head out Friday night to check out the kids' area at the Oak Leaf Festival. P had been asking about the possibility of visiting the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine while we were in West Virginia, so we thought the boys could play at the Festival Friday night, and then head to the mine on Saturday and leave Sunday open for some family time.

The train rides this year were similar to last year's, although there was a different train this year. The boys took a train ride with Grandma Paige and Poppa Fred as soon as we arrived uptown.

After the train ride, P was ready to play on the inflatables. He started with the "popsicle" course. I lifted him up the first time, and then had him try to enter on his own for the second go round. He was successful and climbed and jumped like a champ.

C headed over to a simple slide. At first he was tentative and preferred to jump around at the bottom of the slide. He eventually worked up the courage to go down the slide. After his first trip down, some older boys came over and were bouncing down the slide in a seated position. C immediately began to mimic them, and for the rest of the night he bounced down the slide over and over.

The boys were very thirsty - and sweaty - after jumping all evening, so Daddy A saved the day and walked to Wendy's. He returned with fruit punch and my Aunt Diana!

After getting hydrated, P and C went right back to bouncing.

My Uncle John showed up right before the light parade started. We chatted with him for a bit.

P asked to buy a "special treat". He selected a light up bubble gun, and of course C wanted one as well.

We watched the rest of the light parade from where we were standing and then headed back to Grandmere's house. The boys blew bubbles all the way to the car.

P was very excited to have attended "a other late night party!" When I tucked him into bed, he exclaimed, "Wait! We didn't see the band yet!" I explained that there was no band at this late night party. P's answer was, "Oh. Poppa Fred's late night party {my sister's wedding} had a band, but this is just a plain one. Okay."

And on that note, the boys drifted off to dreamland.

Grandmere's house

2011-09-08T05:32:00.000-07:00

Labor Day weekend we headed to West Virginia to visit my relatives. We stayed at Grandmere's house. P showcased his amazing memory by talking about the train books Grandmere has at her house while we were on the way there... and we hadn't visited in a year!

As soon as we were settled in, P opened the book cabinet and created a reading nook for himself behind the recliner.

My parents delivered the gifts John and Tiffany had bought for the boys as a thank you for being ring bearers in their wedding. (In all the craziness of the wedding weekend, the presents were misplaced!) When Tiffany asked Chase what he wanted, all he said was, "a turtle". She found a motorized turtle drawing toy, and it was a hit! C loves to draw pictures with it,and he also loves to turn it on and dance around to the music it plays.

Table fellowship is one of my favorite parts of visiting Grandmere. Even if we're not eating a big meal, I love to gather around her kitchen table and sit and visit.

I am so glad we got in to visit Grandmere. We are going to try to get in again before another year passes!

C goes to the dentist

2011-09-07T12:18:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday C was scheduled for his first visit to the dentist. P had a cleaning, and the plan was for C to "tag along" to that appointment and then have a few minutes to experience the dentist's office so he would be ready for a full cleaning in six months.

I think things went as planned.

P showed C what to do. He climbed right in to the dentist's chair and let Mrs. Kristy get to work.

He was happy to pose for a photo.

Then Kristy showed the boys a set of teeth. C had a chance to practice brushing the false teeth.

When P was finished seeing the dentist, C got a turn to take a ride in the dentist's chair.

C stayed jovial throughout the visit. When P got to pick out a pencil, a toothbrush, and some stickers to take home, C got to select some stickers as well. Everyone left in a good mood, so I guess we'll be ready for full cleanings for P and C in the spring!

Tiffany's Wedding Weekend {Sunday brunch}

2011-09-07T12:10:00.000-07:00

Before we headed home on Sunday, we had brunch at the the Boars Head Inn in Charlottesville. Although we were sad to leave family, we were glad to leave with full bellies and happy hearts.

C loved the ring bearer pillow. We brought it to brunch to return to Tiffany and John, and he was disappointed to let it go. C also used the pillow to rest his head throughout brunch. I guess he was still recovering from his late night Saturday!

P needed some pictures of his family for school on Monday, but he was NOT in the mood to take any group photos. He was happy to pose solo, though.

Daddy A managed to slip in a shot of the two of them.

C discovered the wooden swing on the grounds,

and the rest of the kids in attendance weren't far behind!

It was a pleasant end to our fun-filled whirlwind weekend!

Tiffany's Wedding Weekend {the big day}

2011-09-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

I am so happy for my sister and her husband, John! They are in love and happy together, and I know they will treat each other well and have a joy-filled marriage. I am so excited to officially welcome John to the family as my brother and the boys' uncle, although he's already been serving in that capacity for some time. :)

There are so many things we enjoyed about the ceremony and reception, but I will just hit some of the highlights in pictures here.

P and C were the ringbearers, and P took his job of "watching out" for Bella, the flower girl, very seriously. All three of the kids in the ceremony walked down the aisle and did a great job.

When we arrived at the reception, there were a few more wedding photos to take. P, C, and John's niece Emma were ready to help hold up the bride's train.

Finally C could wait no longer. He grabbed a cookie from the treat table and dug in! I think we managed to get all of the "official" wedding photos before we took a bite, so the tuxedo is probably clean in the pictures.

Tiffany and John wowed everyone with their dance moves.

My sister and my dad danced to "Sweet Baby James," one of my favorite James Taylor songs. In fact, I almost chose it for my father-daughter dance. My dad used to sing it to us when we were kids, and now I sing that song to my boys!

I don't often like to have my picture taken, but I'm trying to get better about that because I do like to have pictures for posterity... or something.

The boys were so excited when Tiffany came by their table to say hi.

P and Emma hit the dance floor and didn't stop! When we were done eating, I asked P if he would dance with me. He responded, "No, thanks, Mommy. I want to dance with Emma. Will you help me find her?" Sigh. Is he growing up that fast? Later I came and tried to dance with both of them, and Emma welcomed me. P stopped dancing and explained, "Mom, a dance is really only for two people." Oh well. I had fun watching him dance, and a grabbed a few dances with Daddy A and my dad.

I couldn't cut in on Emma, but apparently Aunt Tiffany is an acceptable dance partner.

I thought the boys would stay on the dance floor all night...

...but they took a break so Tiffany and John could cut the wedding cake.

The cake was delicious, and the boys headed home for bed. P especially enjoyed the "late night party" and the band. Daddy A and I stayed until the reception ended and saw Tiffany and John off with sparklers. It was a phenomenal party!

Tiffany's Wedding Weekend {Saturday morning}

2011-09-07T11:50:00.000-07:00

While the bridesmaids were with TIffany getting ready for the wedding ceremony, Daddy A, Ashley, and the boys were out cruising through the local shops. Even a William and Mary grad can understand how they got caught up in the scenery and showed some UVA pride.

It's a good thing I think P and C look cute in just about anything, because they clearly aren't supporting my alma mater in these pictures!

Tiffany's Wedding Weekend {the rehearsal dinner}

2011-09-07T11:48:00.000-07:00

Tiffany and John had their rehearsal dinner at Ash Lawn-Highland, and it was a blast!

Since it was outdoors there was some room for the boys to run and play. P and C started a game of cornhole.

We had a chance to visit with some out of town family.

C eventually grew tired of the traditional rules for cornhole, and adapted the game accordingly.

The food was delicious, the company was wonderful, and everyone's excitement was building by the end of the evening. We were so glad to be a part of Tiffany's special weekend!

Charlottesville

2011-09-07T11:45:00.000-07:00

The last weekend in August our family headed here

for my sister's wedding. She and John had the ceremony in the chapel at UVA.

We arrived Thursday night in time for a delicious dinner at the Flaming Wok, and Friday while I was hanging out with my sister and some of her bridesmaids, Daddy A and Ashley took P and C on a sightseeing tour.

The first stop was the rotunda, and the boys took the obligatory photo.

Lunch was a stop at the Mellow Mushroom.

Poppa Fred joined the group for lunch.

The boys headed back to the hotel for rest time, and when that was over Grandma Hen arrived.

After the boys played in the hotel for a bit, it was time to head to the chapel for wedding rehearsal...

The Toothpick Incident

2011-09-06T14:42:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it on the blog yet, but I have taken a (very) part time job at the boys' preschool this year. I will be teaching a three day a week half day preschool class. C is actually in my class, and P is scheduled to be at school from 9:00 to 1:00 every day this year, so I won't have to miss time with the boys that I wasn't already scheduled to miss, but it will allow me to get my "teaching fix" in a Christian environment, which I am very excited about, and as an added bonus gives me a discount on preschool tuition. So... two weeks ago today I was at work having an inservice and getting my room ready. Daddy A was helping me change bulletin board paper and reach high things and whatnot, and we got a call from Chelsea, who was babysitting.

Chelsea said she was very sorry to bother us, but P had a toothpick stuck in his knee and she couldn't get it out. Daddy A headed home to remedy the situation, and within three minutes my phone was ringing. He couldn't get the toothpick out either, so I headed home. After looking things over, we decided to take P to the ER... this happened minutes before 5:00PM, and it was now just after 5:00PM, so the doctor's office was closed. Chelsea agreed to stay with C and we were off.

We texted a picture of P's knee to an ER doctor who attends our church and is a good friend.

Unfortunately, he wasn't on duty, but the doctor who did treat us was very nice and did a great job. P had calmed down once no one was pulling on the toothpick, and as we waited for the doctor P asked Daddy A to take another picture of his knee.

While we waited for the doctor, the story about the toothpick began to unfold. We knew from Chelsea that the boys were playing trains downstairs and P tripped over the edge of his train table and fell onto his knees, landing on a blue pillow that usually resides on our couch but had fallen to the floor. While we were talking, I asked Daddy A where the toothpick would have come from. P piped up and said, "Gracias" (our favorite local Mexican restaurant). I pointed out that we had eaten there two days before and that didn't explain a toothpick being downstairs, and P piped up again. "I taked a toothpick from there and Daddy sayed I needed to throw it in the trash and I knowed he sayed that because toothpicks are dangerous. But I wanted to keep the toothpick so I pushed it down into the pillow downstairs because pillows are soft and I knowed if I putted it in a pillow I could keep it and it would be soft and it wouldn't hurt anybody... oh and I putted two in there and so I need you to find the other one and GET IT OUT 'CAUSE I DON'T LIKE TOOTHPICKS ANYMORE 'CAUSE I AM SCARED OF THEM!"

I have to give my boy some props... he applied logic. It just didn't work out so well for him.

The doctor came by, decided to x-ray P's knee, and put some topical numbing gel on his knee. P waited and remained pretty calm.

The pharmacist came by and brought stickers. She asked P if he was allergic to any medicine and he said he wasn't. Then he amended, "Wait - I am allergic to shot medicine."

We waited some more for the gel to kick in, and the ER doctor returned. He was unable to remove the toothpick, so he had to numb the knee a lot more with multiple shots. P was very upset and cried that he had said he didn't want any shots, but he did not try to stop them from giving him the shots. They brought in two nurses in case he needed to be restrained, but P took the phrase "man up" to a whole new level. Once his knee was good and numb, the doctor widened the puncture wound just a bit with a scalpel and then he was able to extract the toothpick.

P wanted another picture.

We told P he could choose whatever he wanted for dinner, and he asked for "Chick-a-lay," so we headed over there for some nuggets.

P proudly wore one of his new stickers.

I think Chelsea was more scarred by the whole event than P was... she did exactly what I would have done in that situation, though, and handled everything so well! She gently tried to get the toothpick out of P's knee, and when she couldn't she carried him upstairs and gave him a popsicle. Then she tried one more time once he was calm. When that didn't work she called Daddy A. She stayed calm and watched C while we took care of P, and I was so grateful for her help! (She also happens to be Colby's sister, and Colby rushed over with a Happy Napper for P when he heard the news. P's "bes' friend" arrived with the gift shortly after we returned from dinner. I think that sped up P's recovery!)

The next morning, P went to meet his teachers and told them all about his adventure. He even asked me to bring the pictures on my phone to help him tell his story. We did get rid of the second toothpick in the couch pillow, but I am slightly concerned since P's fear of toothpicks seems to have been short lived!

High School lake party kickoff

2011-09-06T11:40:00.000-07:00

After our trip to the middle school pool party, the boys and I headed to the Corns' lake house for the high school kickoff event.

P jumped into the water and went swimming right away. C eventually warmed up to the idea of cool lake water, but not until he had been at the lake for about an hour.

P also tried his hand at tubing, and he really enjoyed it. His original plan was to ride with Mommy or Daddy, but at the last minute he asked if Chelsea could take him instead. She was willing, and she was very paitent with him. P can't wait to go tubing again!

P and C hopped right into this group photo. Sometimes I think they forget they aren't "big kids" themselves! This group was happy to welcome them (they actually invited the boys to be in their picture), and shortly after the photo op it was time for us to head home. After a day at the pool and the lake, everyone in our family slept very well!

Middle School pool party kickoff

2011-09-06T11:35:00.000-07:00

Youth Group is one of Daddy A's main responsibilities at church, and one of the perks for our PKs is that they often get to tag along on special events for the "big kids". We try not to abuse the privilege, and I want to say that our middle schoolers and our high schoolers are very patient with P and C and are great role models for our boys.

We did stop in at the kickoff events for the new school year. Our first stop was at the Davis house for the middle school pool party. P was a HUGE fan of the waterslide!

As you can see, he didn't really need anyone at the bottom of the slide. After his first couple of trips down the slide, he was swimming to the ladder and climbing out of the pool unassisted. I guess those swim lessons this summer are paying off!

While P was climbing and sliding (and climbing and sliding and climbing and sliding and climbing and sliding...), C was hanging out poolside and playing a little basketball.

And what was I doing? Well, I stopped counting trips to the bathroom after ten (gotta love potty training!) and hung out with my boys, the middle schoolers, and even fit in some adult conversations with some of the other parents. It was an enjoyable afternoon!

Let's Celebrate!

2011-09-06T11:30:00.000-07:00

For the past few years, our Presbytery has held a Christian Education event called "Let's Celebrate!" It is in August and our church hosts the event. This is the first year I've attended. In all honesty, I probably would have missed it this year to take P to his first dance class of the year, except that I've joined our church's liturgical dance group and we helped with one of the morning workshops. I'm really glad that we are blessed with good friends who can help out with our kids' special activities and that it worked out for me to go, because I had a great time!

Can you tell that I'm the oldest dancer? And by "the oldest", I mean by a lot... but I'm lucky that none of these ladies mind!

Grandma Hen and Granddaddy Rooster visit

2011-09-06T11:25:00.000-07:00

We had a blast with Grandma Hen and Granddaddy Rooster when they visited mid-August. We always have a great time when family visits, and each visit has some special highlights.

This visit we celebrated my birthday at one of my favorite restuarants. Granddaddy found a cicada outside and P and C each took a turn holding the bug before we released it outside. C particularly enjoyed that activity.

We stopped at Toys R Us and P finally decided what to buy with the gift card he got for his birthday. He chose a kit that had the parts for a wooden train. After gluing the pieces together, you could decorate the train with paint and stickers. He loved building and decorating his train!

The boys and I also went to the Science Center with Grandma Hen one afternoon, and we went to see The Smurfs in the "fee-uh-ter" as a special treat. Of course, time with family is the most special treat of all!

Dollywood!

2011-09-06T11:20:00.000-07:00

My birthday fell on the last day of Challenger Camp and VBS this year, so we celebrated as a family the next day. That Saturday, we headed to Dollywood to get in one more visit with some friends before the summer was over!

P was very excited to find that he had grown enough to be "orange" on the Dollywood measuring chart, which meant that he was tall enough to ride some rollercoasters he couldn't ride earlier in the summer.

We all had a blast riding rides

and eating sweet treats.

Most of all, we enjoyed fun and fellowship with some good friends. Thanks for going with us Chelsea, and for meeting us there Lanny, Allyson, Rebecca, Jeremy, amd Derek!

Galactic Blast!

2011-09-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

Our church had a space themed VBS this summer. It was the same week as soccer camp, which made for some long - but fun filled - days! I was down in the Bible story area for the elementary school kids, but P was on the other end of the building in the preschool area.

C stayed for the beginning of Bible School each evening, but he headed home earlier than his older preschool buddies to get a good night's sleep. I didn't get many photos, but that's because we were all busy having fun! P and C are still singing the songs they learned and talking about Galileo the Gorilla.

closing day of Challenger Camp

2011-09-06T11:10:00.000-07:00

The final day of Challenger Soccer camp was a blast! (It was also almost a month ago, but hey, better late than never, right?) The kids taught their parents some of the games they had learned during their week at camp and there were some friendly "kids versus parents" challenges!

I couldn't let the campers get away without a group photo! Coach Rachel joined the staff and took over the coaching of P's team on Tuesday, but she was phenomenal and totally a part of the team from her first day. There was also a simple "ceremony" of sorts and each camper received an evaluation and a soccer poster. We will definitely be looking forward to this camp again next summer!

Challenger Camp {Coach Appreciation Day}

2011-08-14T11:04:00.000-07:00

Challenger Camp {Wacky Wednesday}

2011-08-14T11:03:00.001-07:00

Challenger Soccer Camp

2011-08-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

P started Challenger Soccer Camp this morning. This is his first experience with soccer, and he was very excited to don his new (used) shinguards and cleats (Thank you, Grandma Hen!) and head to the soccer complex.

P's friend from preschool, Riley, met him at the field. P was glad to see a familiar face!

I was very impressed with today's program. Coach Rosheen relates really well to her campers and P was very attentive. The program focuses not only on soccer skills, but also on respect and sportsmanship. Those are definitely life skills I want P to learn!

P worked extremely hard in very hot weather this morning. One of my hopes is that this camp will be an example of a fun way to be active and get exercise.

As you can see in the last picture, P changed into his camp t-shirt as soon as Coach Charlie gave it to him. He is already looking forward to tomorrow!

Boys' Weekend

2011-08-08T11:45:00.000-07:00

Late last night I got home from a Girls' Weekend at the beach with my sister and some of her other bridesmaids and friends. For the first time, P and C were with Daddy A all weekend without me. I was nervous, but I shouldn't have been. All three of my boys had a great time, and the house was clean when I got home! (Have I mentioned lately that I have an amazing husband?)

While my sister, friends, and I were relaxing on the beach, Daddy A and the boys were home playing in the backyard, weeding, chilling out together, and...

...taking a Saturday trip to Tweetsie for some summer fun and a Riders in the Sky concert!

Right away, they jumped on the train and headed into the wilderness.

They headed up to Miner's Mountain and panned for gold.

P got on stage with the Riders in the Sky.

Daddy A took the boys for a trip on the Ferris Wheel.

I was so excited to see P and C when they woke up this morning, and I will never forget how excited they were to see me, too! My weekend away was a blast, but I am glad to be home!

On the (Rail)Road Again

2011-08-08T11:36:00.000-07:00

Saturday before last we headed to Tweetsie for some summer fun.

It's usually a little cooler on the mountain than it is down here in Mo-Town, so I dressed the boys in matching hoodies. (You did remember I like to match their clothes, didn't you?) It turned out to actually be a day for record-breaking hot weather, but P wore his hood almost all day long. He explained, "This hood makes me cool, Mommy." (I don't know how that worked out, unless he was referring to his appearance, because that hood did look pretty fly...)

And, in typical younger brother fashion, monkey see, monkey do.

The Frisbee dogs were visiting Tweetsie, so after a quick train ride through the wilderness we headed to their show. I'm always amazed at the talented dogs and trainers, and I think it's great that most of the dogs are adopted from animal shelters.

Following the show, we took in some of the rides in the Country Fair section of the park.

We stopped in the Palace Saloon next for some refreshment, and of course took in the "dancin' girls" show. Poor C got so tuckered out that he fell asleep mid-bite!

C didn't even wake up for a photo op! P was excited to learn that Miss Samantha will be back at his dance studio this year, although she may not be teaching his class this time.

Our friend Anna was with us and the Deer Park was her request for the day. We were happy to oblige.

Once again there were some renegade baby goats! Those baby goats are just adorable. They get me every time. Well, they don't actually get me, they just walk around in the feeding area and eat your food and let you pet them and... you know what I mean.

After a fun-filled day, we were ready to head back home for a relaxing evening.

Wedding preview!

2011-08-04T06:04:00.000-07:00

SPOILER ALERT: This post will showcase just a touch of the awesome cuteness that P and C are in their tuxedos for my sister's wedding at the end of the month. If you want to wait and see it in person, don't read ahead! However, if you want a preview, read on.

Aunt Tiffany's wedding will be here before we know it! P and C's tuxedos arrived in the mail a couple of weeks ago, so one night last week Daddy A and I tried them on the boys and checked to see if any alterations needed to be made. Luckily, the pants needed to be hemmed, but there were no other (more difficult) alterations to handle.

Both of the boys were quite happy with their tuxes.

Parker hopped up on the bathroom stool so he could see himself in the mirror. He liked what he saw.

Lookin' pretty fly, P!

Our friend Mrs. Janet came to help with pinning for alterations. She even offered to take the pants home and hem them, which was a wonderful blessing!

My only complaint is that the shoes that go with the boys' tuxedos are LOUD. P and C were jumping and "dancing" around in the living room, and those things make more noise than P's tap shoes! My floors were unharmed, but I still think we'll just put the shoes out of reach until Tiffany's big day!

Sailing, Sailing... over the Coordinated Seas

2011-08-04T05:55:00.000-07:00

Those of you who see P and C in person or take a look at the pictures on my blog very often have probably noticed that I frequently match or coordinate their outfits. Yes, I do know they are not twins (and yes, people who don't know us ask me if they are more often than you'd think they would!)... but I have fun doing it and I will stop when they don't like it anymore. I figure I should seize the day while they don't mind since I have so much fun coordinating their clothes!

We are really good friends with a family in our church whose older daughter, Martha, is one of our main babysitters. A couple of years ago, she started putting the boys to bed in pajama tops and bottoms that didn't come home from the store together, creating a delightfully mismatched surprise for me to find the morning after Daddy A and I had been out. She teases me regularly abut how "matchy-matchy" the boys are. So you can imagine my surprise a few weeks ago when she saw a photo of the boys in which C was wearing a white sailor suit and excitedly asked me if it still fit him... because she had a dress that matched that outfit and she wanted them to match for church one Sunday.

Not one to pass up an opportunity for either
a) coordinating outfits between the boys or the boys and their friends (P wore madras pants with white and navy accents and a shirt with a sailboat that Sunday) or
b) documented proof that Martha does, in fact, like matchy-matchy outfits,
I readily agreed.

This, ladies and gentleman, was an idea that originated in the mind of the young woman in this photo... and aren't those two adorable?

Virginia Beach!

2011-07-12T18:57:00.000-07:00

Tuesday we headed to Virginia Beach with Grandma Hen.

P absolutely loved the entire experience!

He played in the water and jumped in the waves. Eventually he got braver and went to bigger waves... and sometimes those bigger waves knocked him down. He popped back up (most of the time) and went right back to jumping! Once or twice he stopped for kisses and cuddles, but then he was back in the water in no time at all!

C was content to play at the water's edge and dig in the sand like crazy.

He even made a new friend and introduced P to her. Then the three of them worked on a massive construction project.

We took frequent snack breaks, too, of course!

When it was time for lunch, we headed back toward Grandma Hen's house and stopped at a deli. I'm pretty sure I can re-create a beach in our backyard using the sand we brought back in our car! It was worth it, though, since all five of us had so much fun!

We finished up our visit with dinner out with Uncle Mike and his family, and after the boys went down tonight I convinced Grandma Hen to ~~help me with some sewing~~ do some sewing for me. I really appreciated her help! We have had a wonderful visit and are sad to leave tomorrow! (We are all anxious to get home and see Tat tomorrow, though!)

things are going swimmingly

2011-07-12T18:52:00.001-07:00

Monday night, we visited some of Grandma Hen and Granddaddy Rooster's neighbors and took a dip in their pool.

C is getting more and more comfy in the H2O!

P loves to go off of the "jumping board" (when Mommy or Daddy is there to catch him, of course!).

This was one of many fun water-related activities our family has enjoyed this summer!

fishing on Granddaddy Rooster's boat

2011-07-12T17:35:00.000-07:00

Following our week at Camp Hanover, we headed to Virginia Beach to spend some time with Grandma Hen and Granddaddy Rooster. P had been wanting to go fishing and spend some time on his granddaddy's boat, so we combined those activities on Monday morning.

Both P and C helped reel in some fish.

After the first couple of fish, C got impatient and wanted to reel the line in without waiting for the fish to bite!

As soon as C caught his first fish, he proclaimed, "I catch a fish! I touch it!"

When it was time to head in for lunch and naps, each of the boys took a turn helping Granddaddy drive the boat back to the dock.

We had a great time. Both the fishing and the boat more than met P's expectations! Thank you, Granddaddy Rooster!

Camp Hanover, part 7 {cookout night}

2011-07-12T17:24:00.000-07:00

At Camp Hanover, there are two scheduled dinner cookouts every week. When no one had invited either Pastor-in-Residence family to Saturday night's cookout by the end of breakfast Saturday, we decided that we would use an empty campsite to make our own group and cookout. I know I shouldn't brag, but I'm going to anyway. :) We had a creative and delicious meal.

I couldn't resist putting up this picture of P and his new friend. Her name is Rachel, but he calls her Herschel almost all of the time. We all thought it was adorable! She let us know that no one else can call her that - only "Carter" can. (It seems fair, since she mispronounces his name frequently, too.)

The men handled the majority of the cooking, while Anne and I worked on the fresh fruit, salad, and desserts. When the food was ready, we sat down to a great feast and some great fellowship.

Why am I so confident that our food was good? Bobby James came to our cookout and ATE OUR FOOD. That is some high praise, people! He was even heard calling other staff on the radio to come and eat!

The food was delicious, but from my point of view the fun of preparation and the wonderful fellowship was even better! Thanks Smith family!

Camp Hanover, part 6 {arts and crafts}

2011-07-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

As much as P and C love to paint, I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear that we visited arts and crafts more than once while we were at camp. One afternoon, I took a break and Daddy A headed to the arts and crafts pavilion with the boys.

It started innocently enough. The boys painted several pictures apiece.

Then a group of campers decided to be "warriors"... complete with war paint!

The other "warriors" helped P and C with their paint.

Then I arrived at arts and crafts, and P and C helped me with my war paint.

It was a fun afternoon at camp, but I hope this activity doesn't follow us home!

Camp Hanover, part 5 {the lake}

2011-07-12T16:54:00.000-07:00

We couldn't visit camp without stopping at the lake, especially since P has shared - multiple times - that he "loves loves loves lakes". We headed to the lake for some fun tubing one afternoon.

P had a blast! He tubed with Daddy A, and then he "swam" in the lake (while following the rules and keeping at least one hand on his tube at all times). Then he switched places with C and "swam" with me and took a ride on my tube.

It doesn't show in this picture, but C had a good time tubing, too. He stayed on a tube in either my lap or Daddy A's lap the whole time he was in the lake.

I love times like these! I am so blessed that we can spend time together as a family, and I will have fond memories when P and C are teenagers and I'm not cool enough to hang out with them. :) Maybe that won't happen to us... here's hoping!

Camp Hanover, part 4 {the pool}

2011-07-12T16:44:00.000-07:00

It was pretty warm the week we were at camp, and we were living without air conditioning. The pool became a pretty popular place early on in the week.

C is still somewhat tentative around the water, although he is willing to get in if Daddy A or I is available to be in the pool with him.

Meanwhile, P is becoming quite a little fish! He gets more and more comfortable in the water every day. (I guess those swim lessons are paying off!)

Daddy A and I both love swimming, and we are glad that's an activity we can do as a family!

I look forward to many more summers at the pool with all three of my boys!

Camp Hanover, part 3 {the animals}

2011-07-12T14:40:00.000-07:00

Camp has always had quite the collection of creatures - Bentley the dog, of course, and your various bugs, snakes, and furry critters. :) Since Daddy A and I have been to camp, they have added goats and chickens to the mix. P and C loved visiting the animals every day - it was like having their own petting zoo! It was a great way to pass the time while Daddy A worked on morning devotions or Bible studies with small groups.

C got into the pen with the goats two different mornings, but the second time he did that a goat butted him in the leg. After the "goat hurt me" he was content to remain on the other side of the fence, but he was still conmfortable roaming with the goats when they were grazing in the field.

P loved to walk to the chicken coop and encourage the chickens to "bawk at me". C loved to watch them walk around the coop. Most mornings we saw several of the chickens lay their eggs, which P, C, and I all enjoyed.

P also liked counting and collecting the chickens' eggs in the morning.

C even had a chance to pet a chicken living in the "cowboy potty" (an old outhouse building converted to a chicken coop).

Knowing how much fun the boys had playing with and caring for the animals at camp makes me want to check and see if we can get some more pets of our own... I'm relatively certain we aren't zoned for goats, but I wonder if we can have chickens in the city limits. Does anyone who lives nearby know? Kidding, kidding! I'm pretty sure Daddy A doesn't want any goats or chickens. :)

Camp Hanover, part 2 {the mudslide}

2011-07-12T14:28:00.000-07:00

We couldn't head to Camp Hanover and skip a trip to the mudslide. A favorite among campers (particularly the younger males), this messy treat involves a man-made slide down the side of a small hill into - you guessed it - a big ol' honkin' pit of MUD.

Typically my boys don't like dirty hands, but when they are given permission they will happily make quite a mess.

P was a bit tentative at first,

but after a trip down the slide he was happily splashing away.

When the lifeguard asked him how he liked the mudslide, P happily shouted, "I'm dirty!"

C was a bit more subdued. He was worried about how "slipadee" (slippery) the mud was, so he stuck close to me or Daddy A the entire time, but he still enjoyed himself.

Watching my boys enjoy the mud (and playing in it with them) was worth every piece of nasty, muddy laundy. Their shoes were the only casualties - the rest came clean after four cycles in the washer!

Camp Hanover

2011-07-12T13:13:00.000-07:00

Daddy A used a week of continuing education this summer to be the Pastor-in-Residence at Camp Hanover. Camp is a very special place for us - Daddy A and I met while working there, and that's also where he proposed. We took P out there when he was just a couple of months old (before we moved to North Carolina) to meet some staff, but this was C's first visit.

I've always loved the simple beauty of camp. I can truly see God in the things he has created on camp's beautiful natural acreage.

I managed to stay "unplugged" from the phone and internet all week, and it was wonderful. Even though electronics are discouraged at camp, I did allow the boys to use their Leapsters once or twice on rainy afternoons during rest period. (They went all week without television, though, and didn't even ask for it!)

Another of my favorite things about camp when I was a counselor was forming new friendships. This time I made friends with another pastor's wife. Our families had a blast together!

Once again, I find myself grateful for this "place apart". It is truly one of God's great blessings!

Prince(ss) dance camp

2011-07-12T12:59:00.000-07:00

June 30th was P's last day of dance camp. Each dancer dressed as his or her favorite prince or princess. P chose Flynn Rider, since Tangled is his favorite movie.

I was still working on his costume (the vest part) the night before the tea party, but with help from a friend (and her serger) I managed to pull it off.

When the dancers entered the studio, they had a chance to pose with some princesses.

I tried to get a picture of Flynn and Rapunzel. There were three Rapunzels at the party, so it seems like that wouldn't be too hard, but it was actually a pretty daunting task.

I did manage to get a good group shot, though.

I spent most of the time enjoying watching P and his friends dance, but I did snag a few photos.

Here is P during the "shape dance":

This is the "open, shut song":

We rounded out the entertainment by watching the girls do "princess walks" with a wand and the boys "slay dragons" with foam swords. Then there were refreshments and it was back to life as P, rather than Flynn!

Camp Lake James

2011-07-12T12:55:00.000-07:00

While Daddy A was leading a mission trip, the boys and I were invited by some friends to spend the day at Camp Lake James.

The boys and their friend Greyson made it for several hours in the sun! We were surprised how long the three boys lasted.

There was time for swimming...

...and time for snacking.

P and C took the plunge into both the baby pool and the "big pool".

I took the boys out on the lake in a kayak. P said the lake was his favorite part, but we weren't there long before it was time for a delicious lunch at the canteen. That was followed by more swimming, a frozen treat, and a nap in the car on the way home (for the boys, of course, not me!). We all had a great time!

fun at Busch Gardens

2011-07-12T12:51:00.000-07:00

While we were in Fredericksburg, we took a day trip to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg to visit our Sesame Street friends again. The boys both had a BLAST this time. P mentioned before we left that Elmo was really for "little kids" and he was just going "for my bruver," but he sure did a good job of having fun for someone who was just tagging along!

Fredericksburg

2011-07-12T12:05:00.000-07:00

In my last post, you saw that I went to Fredericksburg for my sister's bridal shower. I took Daddy A and the boys along to see Grandma Paige, Poppa Fred, Tiffany, and John.

We all enjoyed ourselves. The boys had fun roughhousing with Poppa Fred and reading with Grandma Paige.

They enjoyed a trip to Chuck E. Cheese.

C was so worn out after climbing around the playplace at Chuck E. Cheese that he fell asleep in the stroller. (Apparently he didn't inherit my love of Target. I would be way too excited to sleep in that store!) We ran into my first grade teacher while we were shopping, which was a pleasant surprise.

It was a real blessing for me to spend Father's Day with my dad, one of the two best fathers I know. Of course, Daddy A is the other one. =) We went to Joe's Crab Shack so P could eat his new favorite food. (Leave it to my picky eater to decide that snow crab legs is one of the few foods he likes!)

Our last night, we made it out to Carl's - a Fredericksburg icon - for some DELICIOUS ice cream.

As usual, our visit to Fredericksburg didn't disappoint! Thanks Mom and Dad, for having us!

Tiffany's Fredericksburg bridal shower

2011-06-19T12:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had a bridal shower for my sister at a restaurant in Fredericksburg. It was lots of fun - there were some traditional games and prizes, as well as great company and a delicious lunch.

I wanted to share a few of the pictures.

Tiffany opening gifts...

...and posing with her ribbon bouquet.

I took a picture of my mom and Tiffany.

I also got a picture of Tiffany with some of her future in-laws. John's aunt, mom, and grandmother posed with the bride-to-be.

I posed with Tiffany and her friend (and one of her bridesmaids) Ali, who coordinated and helped give the shower. Tiffany and Ali have been friends since middle school.

Before we know it, Tiff and John's big day will be here. We're very excited for them!

A Fish in the Water

2011-06-19T09:52:00.000-07:00

School is out, and swim lessons have started. P is loving his swim lessons this summer. He's having so much fun and is so eager to learn more that we've decided to sign him up for the rest of the sessions this summer. (C isn't loving his lessons so much. He says he's cold and begs to get out of the pool the entire time... and I'm in the pool with him!) I've even considered looking into an annual membership at the indoor and outdoor pools so that we can keep P in lessons year round at a discount.

P loves his teachers. He says his favorite part of swim lessons is "jumpin' in the water" and his only complaint is that "they haven't taught me to swim yet so I can be a Turtle". (Right now he's in the Guppy group, but when he's ready he'll move up to the Turtles.)

I couldn't get wonderful pictures because I was trying to stay away from the pool deck and the swim classes, but here are a few shots to give you an idea of how much fun P is having (and how much fun I have watching him swim)!

Celebrate! Good Times

2011-06-19T09:19:00.000-07:00

The weekend we returned from Pigeon Forge was graduation weekend for our local high schools. Saturday night we headed back to Judge's Riverside Restaurant for a graduation party. The boys enjoyed hanging out by the river and P tried his hand at a game of horseshoes (with some assistance, of course!).

Daddy A snapped some photos of us hanging out by the water.

Then we headed to our friends' house for their annual Flag Day Fest! P made a flag to display and the boys had a great time with the sprinklers in the backyard. We were having so much fun we stayed out past the boys' bedtimes. For most of the party we were celebrating and not documenting events, but Daddy A took this picture of C with his phone just before we left.

I love it because it shows what a daredevil C is becoming... a careful daredevil, I guess, since he is wearing a helmet. It really captures his bravery. Take a bike built for an older, and therefore taller, child for a spin around a yard full of people after dark? Sure, why not? (I feel obligated to note, though, that C never got past the helmet-trying-on stage. His bed was calling.)

I love savoring these types of moments. I'm so glad that my boys are young enough to still think a party with Mom and Dad is tons of fun!

Dollywood!

2011-06-19T06:20:00.000-07:00

When P finished school, the four of us headed to Dollywood for a vacation. Daddy A arranged everything for us, and it was great! We had four days away from home to spend some time as a family.

When we arrived Tuesday afternoon, we started our time in the park with P's favorite ride when we went last November - the VeggieTales rollercoaster.

C had to wait in the stroller, because he's still a little too short to ride. As soon as we were finished riding, we headed to the Country Fair section of the park for some rides that both boys could enjoy.

P and C loved "driving" cars on the electric track. We visited those more than once!

P was more than happy to pose for a photo with a car outside the ride. In fact, he requested this picture.

Our second day in the park (and first full day in Pigeon Forge) we started the day as soon as the park opened. The boys gave hugs and high fives to the "pay extra to cut in line" mascot for Dollywood.

P wanted to give Daredevil Falls a try. He was just barely tall enough to ride, and this is his new favorite ride at Dollywood!

The boys played in some water areas, rode some rides, and each won a stuffed octopus at the "water pistol game". By lunchtime, C was worn out!

Some good friends of ours met us at Dollywood. They have had season passes for multiple years, so they gave us some park tips. The kids scarfed down lunch and then fed the ducks while the adults ate at a slightly more leisurely pace.

Wednesday was a full day in the park, and Thursday we were back in the splash pad. This was C's favorite spot in the park.

Thursday afternoon we went swimming at our condo and had "Cow Chikin" for dinner. Friday we packed up, checked out, and went back to Dollywood for a few hours before heading home. All four of us had a blast!

preschool - the year in review

2011-06-18T14:23:00.000-07:00

June 6th was P's last day of preschool. P has had a wonderful year, and our entire family has truly enjoyed our experiences with his school, and in particular, with his teachers, who have become our friends.

As I looked at his pictures from the last day of school, I decided to post some of the pictures we've taken throughout the school year. It was really neat for me to see how P has changed this year.

In October we hosted a Halloween party for P's class.

In December P and his class received a visit from Santa.

P shares a birthday with Dr. Seuss, and on his birthday the Cat in the Hat visited his classroom.

It was also Crazy Hat Day.

Look how much P and his classmates grew this year! Here he and his classmates are with Mrs. Heather on June 6th.

P has grown so much this year - not just in the physical ways you can see in these photos, but emotionally and academically as well. I am so proud of him!

Day Out with Thomas

2011-06-18T14:09:00.000-07:00

The first Saturday in June, we headed to Tweetsie Railroad because our favorite little blue engine was visiting the park.

Several of the families from P's class arranged to go to the park together and spend the day. P also asked for permission to bring along one of his friends from church, Colby.

We arrived around nine and had tickets to ride the nine thirty train. While we waited for the train to pull out of the station so we could score good spots in line, we headed to jail for a photo op.

Before we knew it, it was our turn to ride Thomas. P snagged a seat with Colby, and his friend Quinn snagged a seat in my lap. (Quinn and his family are moving this summer... we sure are going to miss them, but we also know this is the right move for their family!) C sat with Daddy A.

We got comfortable and set off for a train ride through the wilderness. We ran into some trouble, but Thomas saved the day.

When we got to Diamond Lil's, P couldn't wait to introduce his friends from school to Miss Ruby, but it ended up being her day off. The boys still enjoyed the show, and were more than happy to meet the girls after their performance.

We had a blast with Thomas and with our friends!

Youth Group Lake Party!

2011-05-31T12:45:00.000-07:00

Sunday afternoon, the Youth Group had a party at the Sharp family's lake house. We were invited to tag along, so after P and C woke up from their afternoon naps, we headed that way. We had a blast with our peeps:

When we arrived, Daddy A and most of the other partygoers were out on the lake tubing or riding a pontoon boat. Taylor was super nice and took P and C each out on the jet ski. They took their time and were careful, of course. I think P got up to about 18 miles an hour. I hadn't intended for C to go at all - truth be told, I assumed P was too young, but Taylor said he'd go slowly and P would be fine - but C so badly wanted to go, and Taylor said they'd be very slow, and he had on a lifejacket... so C got a short ride as well, but he cruised at roughly 1 mile an hour the whole time.

After singing a blessing (thanks to Youth Group functions, my boys sing virtually all of their blessings before meals, at home or on the road), we dug in to subs, chips, and cookies. Yum! Not the healthiest, but hey, it was a party.

The boys got in and out of the water a few times, as long as someone was willing to hold them. P finally got up the nerve to jump in the lake. He liked it. Then he told C it was his turn, counted to three, and, ahem, pushed C in. He wasn't being malicious, he was just excited. After that, C refused to get back into the lake until about 10 minutes before the end of the party, and then at the close of the party, it took us forever to get C out of the lake.

We headed out on the lake in the Corn family's pontoon boat. P kept his goggles on. He put them on his forehead like they are in this picture when we left the house. He pulled them down over his eyes whenever he was in the lake, and left them on his forehead otherwise until we arrived back home.

C's bad experience with "jumping" into the lake didn't cause his cautious behavior to extend to boats.

Mr. Will let us take a ride in the speedboat while he pulled some of the kids who were tubing. P said he wanted to ride in the speedboat but then we figured out that he wanted to ride on a tube. Mr. Will said he would definitely take him, but he had to think about whether today (Sunday) would be the day. (Sunday wasn't the day, but P was okay with that. Eventually.)

After our boat ride, P was back to "swimmin'" in the lake. He asked that no one "make me be holded" anymore and was dog paddling, jumping, and splashing like crazy. (I hope when he starts swim lessons in a few weeks he isn't discouraged without his life jacket, though.) Our whole family had a blast, and we are so glad we joined the Youth Group for this adventure.

P was quiet on the ride home, and I assumed he was tired. After a minute or two of silence, he said, "Mommy! Do you want to know what I'm doin'?" I replied in the affirmative, and he said, "I'm just sittin' back here thinkin' 'bout all the fun I had at the lake!" Thank you so much, Sharp family!

What do C and I do on Wednesday mornings while P is at school?

2011-05-31T12:14:00.000-07:00

We help fold the church newsletter!

We have a great time. Hanging out with an awesome group of ladies that attend First Pres is like a party! (Really, it is. Just look at these pictures. See how festive?) Okay, you got me. These pictures were taken last Wednesday, and we were having a party. Beth and Lori, who work in the church office, put together this awesome shindig to thank us for helping with the newsletter every other Wednesday.

But humor aside, C and I do enjoy our time folding the Spire Light. We chat, we label, and C takes inventory of the books in the church library and stamps the date on scrap paper with the book stamper (sans ink pad. I try to be relaxed about messes, but come on, we're not at home, here!).

I'm glad I can help, and to my fellow folders (both those pictured here and those in absentia), thanks for hanging out with C and me!

The Big Show

2011-05-31T12:00:00.000-07:00

Saturday May 21st arrived and it was time for The Big Show on The Big Stage. P had to get completely ready for his recital before we left the house. (That worked out better for pictures, too, since the lighting was better at home!) Once he was in complete costume (minus the ballet shoes), I put on his makeup. (Even though he's a boy, he got some lipstick and a little bronzer so his face would show up under the stage lights.)

He posed for a picture with Daddy A just before we walked out the door.

Miss Samantha was one of his backstage helpers. Peyton was the other one. She and I were in The Sound of Music and Oliver! together, and she switched with someone else so she could help with P's class. It was so nice of her! She took a picture with her phone while she and P were hanging out backstage. (I wasn't allowed to go backstage, so it was neat to get a glimpse of what was going on!) I was also thrilled to hear from multiple older students and adults backstage that P had wonderful behavior and was more than happy to share his Leapster with "the girls that I was sittin' with" (ie, the girls in his class). Way to go, P!

The recital was great, I never could get the videos of P's dances to upload to the blog, so you'll have to swing by the house if you want to see them, which I know is a longer drive for some of you all than others. :)

P had a big smile on his face the whole time and was singing and dancing along to all of his musical numbers. The finale to the show was Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana's "Hoedown Throwdown", and P is still dancing through the house and ~~singing~~ yelling "HOEDOWN THROWDOWN!" over and over. And over.

I love this picture of P right after he "winned" his trophy. He was thrilled to get "a ward", and he should be proud of himself for all the hard work he's put into dance this year. (He also mentioned that all of the "big girls" kept saying to him and Jack backstage, "Look at the boys! How cute!" and that he liked that. I could live without him liking attention from girls, but I guess it was going to happen eventually, right?)

Boo-in-ah was captured on film as she told P what a great job he'd done. P got to choose where we went to dinner, and we all went to "Pizza and Chips" (Subway) to celebrate with him.

At his request, P is signed up for dance camp this summer and then for lessons next year, starting at the end of August. (We did switch to Saturday morning classes so he could be with Jack, so we'll see how that pans out.) I was so proud of my Broomstick Buckaroo!

Grandma Hen and Boo-in-ah visit

2011-05-31T11:37:00.000-07:00

P had a dance recital the weekend before last, so Grandma Hen came and brought her friend Carole (Boo-in-ah). Friday we headed to Black Mountain for lunch with Aunt Florence before P's dress rehearsal.

Grandma and Carole kept up with C while Daddy A and I took P to dress rehearsal. They spent some time out back.

Unfortunately, C was a bit under the weather during their visit, but hopefully next time everyone will stay healthy! Daddy A and I both went to dress rehearsal because that was the night we were allowed to take still photos and videos. Unfortunately, I've been having trouble getting the videos to upload to blogger, so I may not be able to post them here!

We were so excited that Grandma Hen and Boo-in-ah came all the way to our house to spend some time with us and see P's recital. We know the drive can be long!

The Box

2011-05-31T11:18:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago today the boys received the suitcases Grandma Paige ordered for them. They loved them! P kept exclaiming over his suitcase that had sharks and his name! They each grabbed a suitcase and rolled it around the house for a bit. I called the boys to dinner, and after P was excused from the table, he noticed the box in which the suitcases had arrived.

He played in the box for close to 45 minutes. (Yes, he was supervised. I know those plastic packing thingies are in the box with him.)

Daddy A took some photos with his cell phone.

The box is still in our living room. I took the plastic packing material out, but the boys have both had a field day - several field days, I guess! - with the empty box. They use it as a jungle gym, a rollercoaster, a toy box, and a costume. I love watching them use their imaginations, and the box has held up surprisingly well, so I think I'll have many more opportunities to see their creative minds at work with this particular tool!

Chelsea's Sweet 16

2011-05-31T10:24:00.000-07:00

We left Ashley's party and headed to a nearby park to help Chelsea and her family and friends celebrate Chelsea's 16th birthday. As soon as we arrived, P was enthusiastically greeted by his friend - and Chelsea's younger brother - Colby.

They eagerly headed for the playground. Daddy A got a photo of Colby helping a ~~brother~~ friend out as they played a climbing-on-the-slide-and-playing-tag sort of game.

There was delicious food and lots of fun and fellowship. Unfortunately, the boys ran out of steam before we were able to get a piece of this:

It looks like it was delicious, though! We had a wonderful time at the party and loved being able to help Chelsea celebrate her milestone!

Ashley's birthday

2011-05-31T10:20:00.000-07:00

Our friend Ashley had her birthday at a local restaurant a couple of weeks ago. The restaurant is right on the river, so besides singing "Happy Birthday" and eating cupcakes, we all enjoyed relaxing by the water. Well, the boys started off just chilling out by the water...

...but before I could blink, that turned into running around on the lawn with their friend Grace.

Daddy A did manage to get all three of them to stop for a few seconds so he could snap a quick photo.

And then the kids were off and running again. We had a great time!

Tweetsie Railroad, 2011 edition

2011-05-31T10:13:00.000-07:00

Well, May is here (I'm a bit late posting this, as today is May 31!), and Tweetsie Railroad has re-opened its doors for the season. The second Friday in May we headed to Tweetsie after picking P up from school and having a quick lunch.

It was rainy, but the weather didn't dampen our spirits! The boys visited the face painting station. P got a James (a red train) on his right cheek, and C chose a pink snake for his right arm.

The boys took a spin on the boats

and the planes.

P rode the Tilt-a-Whirl for about 15 minutes. When Daddy A and I couldn't take it any more (Daddy A lasted longer than I did), P rode by himself for a few more minutes. All of us rode the Tweetsie Twister. These boys are pretty fearless when it comes to amusement park rides.

When we were ready to escape the rain, we headed to the Palace Saloon to see Diamond Lil and her can can girls. Now that Samantha, aka Miss Ruby, has been one of P's dance teachers for a year, he's even more excited about the show. He was telling other audience members before the show started that Miss Ruby was his dance teacher, and she was very nice, and that after the show he would "take [them] to meet her if [they] wanted". The show was cute, and both boys loved seeing Samantha. They felt so special when she came over to say hi to them right before the show!

We plan to return to Tweetsie this Saturday for a visit with a special little blue engine and his friend Sir Topham Hatt. Hopefully I'll get those pictures and a post up more quickly than I did these!

Aunt Tiffany's bridal shower and brunch in DC

2011-05-10T19:27:00.001-07:00

My sister's friends in DC threw her a bridal shower last weekend. I really wanted to go, and since it was a cookout for couples, Tiffany suggested that I come and bring the boys. (Daddy A and my dad were both out of town, so my mom and I were flying solo. Well, not solo, because there were two of us, but you know what I mean.) That's what I decided to do, so the four of us (P, C, my mom and I) spent Saturday night at a hotel in DC.

I could not have been more pleased with the boys' behavior. I was incredibly proud of both of them. They arrived at the party and settled right in at a table.

The boys posed with Aunt Tiffany.

C discovered the juice boxes in a drink tub where he could reach them unassisted. I discovered that he has a juice box problem.

He drank all five of the juice boxes pictured here. Yes, all five. Fortunately, he didn't get sick.

Tiffany's friend Morgan offered the boys some colored chalk and a chalkboard. P and John got to work creating a masterpiece.

My sister and I had our photo taken.

And in honor of Mother's Day (and just because we love her), we also took a photo with our amazing mom.

Tiffany posed with her friends. The Capitol is behind us and to your left. (You can't see it in this picture, but I promise, it's back there!)

Sunday morning when the boys woke up, I asked them if they had enjoyed Aunt Tiffany's party. They both said yes. When I asked them if they had a favorite part, C said his was the cupcakes. (He also told Tiffany happy birthday several times!)

P said his favorite part was helping Aunt Tiffany open all of her presents.

Sunday morning we got up and went to Aunt Tiffan'y place. The boys were happy to see Tiffany, John, and Tucker! We walked to brunch together and celebrated Mother's Day.

I had a blast visiting my family, and I was especially glad I got to spend some time with my sister! I'm so excited for her and for John as they prepare to get married in August!