Simple Sweet Saturday

Last Saturday was fun and simple.  We had a great family day.  We took the boys to ride their bikes and scooters at the park.  They worked up quiet the appetite so we took them to chic fil a.  They were doing a fundraiser for people with special needs so the boys got to see horses and dunk a guy in the dunk tank.  After that we drove to the same farm we went to a few years ago to pick strawberries.  It is never crowded and always quiet.  When we are done picking you weigh your strawberries and they have a little market.  We got some fresh “snaps” as my Grandma would say.  I love to buy local but do not do it often enough.  Unfortunately I am enticed by the convenience of the grocery store being behind my street and whenever I am near a farmers market or stand I have no cash on me.  Pretty lame excuse, I know, like I forget all about ATM machines these days.  Anyways, we picked lots of yummy strawberries.  Enough to eat off of for a week and freeze some too.  We headed home for late naps.  The boys had lots of fun.  They had been asking to pick strawberries for a few weeks now.  I’m glad I didn’t miss my window of opportunity and it was still pickin’ season. 

The boys each picked me a flower at the park.  Then they took them all back from me.  Rude little boogers! hasn’t there mom ever taught them it is not cool to be an Indian giver.

The big boys could ride forever so sometimes Easton just needs a little thumb sucking break with his Daddy.

Gavin loved doing this but wasn’t very gentle with them.  He did great trying to find the big deep red ones and not pick anything else.

Bradley and Daddy worked together and filled their basket the quickest.

Then there was Easton who never had any strawberries in his basket because they were all over his face :)

 

“Hey boys, show us your strawberries you picked!”  Easton and Gavin look so unimpressed.  Brad always jokes at these moments and likes to think of what they might actually be thinking!

There we go Easton, that is much better!

When we told Gavin to show us his strawberries, meaning pick up the basket, he began to tell us about the strawberries instead.  He said “these are all my strawberries and I picked them” while waving his hands over them as if it were some kind of magic trick.  My sweet silly boy!

 

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.