Summer Rumpus

The weather is beginning to be warm and although we do not have major summer plans we are already starting to do some fun summer activities.  We have also said good-bye to school for Gavin and Bradley just has two more weeks. Here is just an update since Mothers Day and what a bit of our May has looked like. 

I find we are needing a lot more baths.  I used to get away with skipping some nights but they are getting filthy every day.  Like dirt in nails, sand in hair, sweaty ice cream stained skin kind of filthy. Yep, I think we’ll have a bath :)

The wild rumpus that happens after bath.  They all did a naked jumping dance party in Bradley’s bed.  These silly boys.  I don’t know what it is about running around naked that is so freeing and makes you so giddy?! I guess I wouldn’t know since I don’t do it! 

Last Friday, Bradley and I went with our Hart friends to see bull riding in Carthage.  It was a late show time so Brad stayed home with the boys since he was cleaning out his guy cave anyways. 

I know this isn’t a good picture but this is how cool he thought this experience was.  He was mesmerized at each and every bull getting buck and throwing the cowboy off.  This was a “Did you see that?!” expression.

On Saturday our friends Kim and LoPaca visited us while they house hunted.  They are moving here in July from New Mexico.  She left her three boys at home with their grandparents only to have three other boys climbing all over her.  I warned her she should have picked another place to stay, haha!

We had a BBQ that night with them and the Harts.  Bradley go to hang out with Carter and Wyatt that night after going to a party for a girl at school at the fun gym.  He still has a full social calendar at times, more than me. 

**Photos by Bradley** I can not believe how tired I looked.  Awful.

They saw lots of houses and I even took Kimmy on a tour of Bradley’s school in anticipation of her oldest son going there.  They left Monday afternoon to fly back.  I’m so glad we got to hang out with them. 

Here they are after another bath session.  Bradley wanted to help get E ready for bed. 

 

Summer evening treats.

On Thursday I stopped in early to get Gavin from school on his last day.  Easton found the play area and was having so much fun.  Too bad we are not sending him next year.  Gavin took a picture with his teachers and gave them a hug until they meet again in September.  He got a cool summer gift from the party moms and ran off.  Schools out for the summer!

On my Thursday night bible study group we had a mini farewell to our friend Jenny in the pink.  She is off to her hometown Tennessee where she will be able to enjoy many Titans home games. She was so surprised and happy with seeing all her favorites.

Other than that our summer nights just look like this above and below.  Easton can’t get enough of his helmet and puts it on whenever it is in his sight.  Bradley was hammering nails into the gravel and was telling his little brothers, “This is what they did to Jesus. Can you believe that! They put these nails in his body.”  I love hearing these blessings phrases that shows what is really in there heart.  It keeps me grounded to these three little loves and our father above!

    

Cheers to the beginning of summer! I have the chalkboard full of stuff for us to do for summer with boxes to check of.  A “Summer Fun” list that I must have seen on Pinterest.  Hopefully I can be a fun cool mommy and do all of them and even more.  Things like going camping, going to the lake, making chalk paint, water gun and balloon fights, going to the pool, going to summer movies. Let the summer rumpus roll on…

Mother’s Day ~ 2013

I had a wonderful Mother’s Day this year.  It was simple but I am very thankful.  The boys each trickled into bed as they woke up and Brad made sure they said Happy Mother’s Day to me.  I didn’t really remind anyone so I am glad he thought of it. Brad made me breakfast before church.  Spinach & feta egg white omelet.  Yum!

 

After church we went to Chili’s for lunch.  All the brunch spots were booked up but this was perfect for us.  They have lots of stuff to color and it is more kid friendly.  I have never taken the boys to a fancy brunch before.  I think I secretly know what would happen so I don’t dare.

 

 

After that Brad took us to a spot so I could get a picture with my handsome little boys. My three babies.

Of course they gave their best fake smiles and were over it before it even started. 

 

Throughout the day when they wouldn’t want to share or would fight, I would say to Bradley “Come on, It’s Mothers Day!” and he would reply with a “ughhhh, you know you can’t use that tomorrow” as he did whatever it was I asked of him begrudgingly. It’s only up from here right? Goodness gracious.

 

This little turkey gave his only good snapshot when the rest of us were looking bad.

 

We did a little walking and exploring of course because that’s what boys do best.

Minus a few more handprints this is all my handmade treasures the boys made for me this Mother’s Day.  I think I am going to just cut them down and put them into my Project Life book. One of Bradley’s papers said “I love my mom.  My mom does my laundry.  My mom cooks for me.  My mom took me to a zoo.  My mom makes cookies.” I could have about just died at that first line because everyone in this house knows how much I loathe laundry!! Haha! So, guess where this paper is now?  Hanging in the laundry room as a reminder to me along with a paper plate sunshine that he made a long time ago.  That helps me to stay cheery every time I open the laundry closet. 

I also did not have to cook for dinner.  For some reason my Mother’s day involved a lot of food but I am so thankful I did not have to prepare any of it.  While it lasted it was amazing!!

I am so thankful that GOD gave me these three blessings to be a mother and I am thankful I get to share in the joy and journey with their wonderful daddy and my wonderful husband.  I feel like I should have more sentiment for this day but as I am completely exhausted from being, well, a mother today I am reminded of a movie I wasted an hour of my life watching for the second time!  It was called The Back Up Plan with Jennifer Lopez and a dad on a park bench was telling the soon to be father of twins what to expect of raising children.  He says “It is awful, awful, awful, awful! Then a small moment happens that is magical.  Then it’s awful again.”  It must have resonated with me because it is absolutely true and how I feel so often.  Through all the hard stuff I am grateful for the rewarding moments and wouldn’t change my job for anything in the world.

Thanks again boys for my special day.  Also, I hope all my Mommy friends reading this had a fab day too or if not you were able to find a magical moment on your day!

Ecclesiastes 11:5“As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) . All Rights Reserved.

Getting Caught Up

This is all from since we got back home from Virginia Beach to the day before Mother’s Day.  I never feel like I do a lot during the week or on the weekends but then I look at the pictures and somehow I have plenty to show for ourselves.  If I have not done anything else, at least this is one more week we are all alive and no broken bones.  Thank GOD that we have that going for us!

Bradley came down with strep throat and missed his first baseball practice the Monday after we got home.  By Wednesday he was better in time for team pictures.  I put one in my PL book but I do not feel the need to document these random kids twice.  He does not have anyone from his class on his team but there is a handful in the league he will play against. Here is my handsome ball player sporting his new number 14 for the Astro’s.

Gavin caught using real tools on his own.  He just helps himself to the tool bag. No big deal.

The weather has been really nice so we have been enjoying eating dinner on the back porch.  Only chips because it was Mexican night.

 

That was about all for that week, just baseball.  That Sunday we had a family going away party to go to for ‘Team Taylor’ our good Air Force friends that will be moving out to Las Vegas where we used to be stationed before NC.  Here is all the kids.  The military can make a lot of offspring that’s for sure. 

The ladies and Courtenay at the top right.

The three amigos.  Bradley and Wyatt will definitely miss James.

 

On Monday started Teacher Appreciation week.  A class mom asked for full participation for every day of the week.  They were seemingly small things but when you add my “over doing it” mind set it made for a hectic week.  It may even look small but it takes time to create these things with everything else I have to do. 

Tuesday for Gavin.

Tuesday for Bradley

Wednesday morning I woke up extra early and took Bradley and Alex with their bikes for “National Bike to School Day.”  They loved it so much.  Bradley even exclaimed “This is so awesome” as I drove by and snapped his picture. 

Wednesday for Bradley.

After that I got dolled up for a tea with my MOPS Steering Team Ladies.  We were treated for all our hard work this year.

We stopped by the park before naps that Wednesday too.

We always have time for mid week brownies or some sort of treat.

By that night I was totally like “Is it Friday and 5 o’clock somewhere?” No seriously, this is my Stawberita while packing lunches late at night.  Let’s just say it may have taken me a little longer but at this point I definitely lost steam in keeping track of Teacher Appreciation gifts.  We did them, just no documentation.

 

Thursday who knows what I was doing while Gavin was at preschool but can I say this little man is a monster to shop with these days.  I had to buy him this balloon just to shut him up in the Dollar Store.  Then we get in the car and he is al, look at me I am an adorable happy sweet boy. Whatever, Easton!

 

Bradley has done so well in school this year.  He was doing double addition in his head.  He used to have to mark dots and count them.  I couldn’t believe he was doing them in his head because I still do that! I have to look at the number on the paper and visualize dots ( yes, I completely realize I am an idiot.  I have lost so many brain cells parenting ) and I am pretty sure that is how he was getting his answers. He is already counting down the days until school is out and he will be a 1st grader!!

 

Friday evening we went to the park.  Here is Gavin kicking it to “I got twenty dollars in my pocket and I'm gonna pop some tags…”

  

Court & Me                                                Manda & Me

That night I hosted a going away party for Courtenay.  This one was a surprise and for just the gals.  I am mad at myself for forgetting my big camera and even with my phone I did not take pictures.  I had cute cupcakes and made tags with different sayings in each of them and even a little cupcake flag banner.  She took them all as momentos. 

  

Then on Saturday we just scootered around town.