Pop and SweetHart, Part 1

They came to see us!  We went to meet Pop and SweetHart at the airport.  They boys (and I) were so happy to see them.  Finally, they had a flight with no delays, and no overnights in Atlanta.  

 We had to fairly quickly introduce Pop and SweetHart into the world of Frozen!  Both boys have seen it so many times, when they watch it they say all of the lines and act out the parts.  C even gets a hammer or pliers to work with the guys getting the ice and a scooter to scoot down the hall when the horses are riding fast!  A very interactive experience.  Pop and SweetHart were not disappointed.

 C saw Pop shaving and then felt the need to shave himself and everybody else with his toy razor. 

 The boys started swim lessons.  The wonderful school they have been going to also has a pool and offers swim lessons in the summer.  We had never done swim lessons before, there has been uncertainty over the last few summers, so this was the perfect time to do it!  The boys were happy to see their friends and teachers at school and to learn to swim.  They did very well, and C started calling his swim clothes "swim lessons."

 Swim lessons had tired the boys out!  They were tired (and cranky) most mornings after lessons, so we kept it simple and made sure to get a rest in.  Even H, who doesn't nap hardly ever anymore, fell asleep at rest time. 

After supper dress up?  C found the shoes that our neighbor, Evelyn, left at our house and got out several dress up hats to go with it and ran up and down the hall.  

 Duck, duck, goose.  H wanted to play the game and neither SweetHart or I really wanted to play with them.  They got out all of their animals to play along, and before too long, SweetHart was in the game, having a blast! 

 Press Here is a great, great book!  We read it at the library story time a couple of weeks ago, and then SweetHart picked it up for them from the library.  Such a fun, fun, interactive book. 

The library has a science theme this summer and has science "expericents" (experiments) every Friday.  SweetHart took H to this one, and when they got back they showed me and C how to do it.  H is all excited about doing experiments now! 

Roly Park

We took a little trip over to Kiroli Park (the boys call it Roly Park).  I'd taken H when he was a baby, but haven't been in several years.  Now there are three full playgrounds instead of just the one that I knew about.  They had a great time, and were so sweaty and tired by the time we left.

 H found a neat stick that had all sorts of holes in it.  We had a very in depth conversation about who made the holes and what was in there now.

 I had brought Lunchables for a picnic lunch at the park.  H found a little "shady house" for us to eat in.  It was the perfect little pick-me-up. Their lunches came with a little bottle of water and a flavor packet.  H called it his "experiment drink."  The library is having a science theme this summer, I'm thinking H is going to like it; science books and experiments.  Right up his alley!

"Look!  I'm a pirate!"

Snapshots

 DeeDee and her little girl McKenzie were in town one afternoon so we had a little after school visit at PawPaw and Missy's house.  They had fun playing together, and the next day after school the boys asked if we could go again. 

 Friday Night movie night and popcorn.  The boys and Tatum get excited to watch the popcorn come out and try to catch it!

 Summer time!!  The pool has come out!  Last years green pool had a few holes in it, so we have since upgraded to a bigger one.  H decided he needed his magnifying glass so he could look for the holes in the pool, and then he started looking for tiny bugs too.

 We went to a fun BBQ where they had good food, friends, and a tire swing for the kids, water balloons, and sprinklers!  The boys were an absolute mess by the time we left, but they had soooooo much fun!

 An Eskamoe's (ice cream place) opened up right by our house.  We just had to try it out!  The boys enjoyed their sundaes, but were excited to know that they had snowcones.  I'm thinking we will need to revisit again soon!

 Enjoying the pretty flowers at Nanny's.  Cheesy smiles.

 The first week of summer ended up filled with a lot of rain!  The boys played outside anyway.  Riding and splashing through puddles, swimming in the rain, blowing bubbles.  A little rain can't stop us!

Horton has taken it upon himself to be Tatum's personal groomer.  Tatum somewhat willingly accepts the gesture.

Three!!!

 This little one is three (3!!!) now!   I simply cannot believe it!  

C is a fun-loving, silly, likes to make you laugh, little boy!  He likes balls, sports, vehicles, and all things boy! 

 He requested chocolate cake, purple icing and blue and green sprinkles for his birthday. 

 

 The boys swam in the pool, C requested the "batman gargles." (Blue and black goggles)

 We did a movie and popcorn that night, and the movie he requested was (no surprise here) Frozen!! (He watches at least some part of it at least once a day).  But it was good all over again.

My sleeping baby!  Two was pretty good for him!  He has seemed older than two to me for awhile, but everyone thinks he looks young, short and stocky makes him look younger, I guess.  

How I love this sweet boy!  His snuggles, his love of pretty shirts (printed shirts), cozy pants and grandfathers, his jokes, his smiles... all things that make him his lovable self! 

Snapshots

 This was Tatum after I took him for a run.  He seems to enjoy it while we are running, but he is worn out when we get home! 

 Sick babies again!  Lots of sickness this year!  It was strep throat two weeks ago and the stomach bug this week.  Hopefully next year will be a little healthier.

 Charge!

He makes Monday afternoons with a sick brother look good!
(and then he got sick the next day...)

 H drew me a picture of sunflowers and then put pipe cleaner "earrings" on the sides.

Very creative!

Brothers!  

I caught them like this at bathtime, chatting about their lives and splashing water on the wall in rhythm.

They sure do love each other (when they are not fighting...).

Prep Center Graduation

 The school year has almost officially come to a close.  It has been a pretty good year, and the boys school has been wonderful for our little family.  Lots of lessons learned, friends made, and memories created. 

H had his PreK graduation on Friday.  His class has been practicing for weeks, and they took a little field trip to the Municipal Center where the graduation took place to practice.  He was so excited and could tell me everyone's lines and exactly what everyone was to be doing.  

 

 H and his "best friend" Sidney.  Getting ready to go on with their Letter Friends.

 I knew that H's line was "M is for Microphone,"  but I didn't realize he would be leading the prayer, the pledge of allegiance and "My Country 'Tis of Thee" with his buddy Marley.  I had thought they would all be doing that together, but it was just H and Marley!  I would have been terrified at that age, but he seemed to have no problem!

 Leading the opening of the graduation.  I missed some of it because I didn't know he would be doing it!

 The kids left after they sang a few fun songs to get their cap and gown on while the families watched a slideshow of pictures from the school year.

 H and his teacher, Miss Laura.  She was a great teacher for him this year, and he loves her!

 

 PawPaw and Missy, Daddy, Mary Ann, Mama and brother all came to see H graduate.

 C wanted a picture with H too!  They are holding his diploma.

Me and my boys!  

I'm pretty proud of how we have all grown this year!  

 

Mother's Day

 This was C's present from school, in a handprint painted bag.

(They smile so much better for other people than for me...)

 This was from H, along with a handprint flower.  His people no longer have stick legs or arms. 

We enjoyed church that morning and a barbecue with friends and then went visiting neighbors and families with roses.

 A fun afternoon visit with Missy.

A visit to Nanny too! 

A long distance visit with SweetHart while she opened our box of Mother's Day goodies that we sent.  (I love technology!)

 So happy to be a mama to these two boys!  I'm glad to be their mama, to be able to watch them grow, to love on them, to help them become their best little selves, and to help them to know their Heavenly Father and their Savior.  They make me happy, fill my days with love, surprises, joy, silliness, and sometimes some less than pleasant things, but I wouldn't change a thing!  

Happy Mother's Day to all of the mamas!  It is a big job!