Summer Vacation

The boys and I have had a great summer swimming, going to Monkey Joe's and the Discovery Center, playing at the playground and in the backyard, feeding the ducks, traveling back and forth to Nanny and Paw Paw's. We look forward to the weekend when Brandon can join us in some fun outings. But Brandon has been working a lot and we've been trying to save money, so we haven't had a summer vacation. I talked Brandon in to taking off work on Friday and we had our summer "vaca" right here in Nashville. It was a great day!

We started out the day at Monkey Joe's (Aidan's new favorite place)

He runs from slide to slide...

to obstacle course and back to the slide.

After Monkey Joe's we had lunch at Otter's (Nashville's version of Abner's). Then home for naps. After naps, the boys went to Gran and Papa's house while Brandon and I went to dinner and a movie. Complete with popcorn and candy.

The New Adventures of July

July is only half over and this has been a month of adventures and firsts.

At the beginning of the month, Brody started sitting up alone. He's such a big boy.

Brody started off solid foods with some avocado.

The weekend before the forth, we went to Dunlap.

Aidan rode in his first parade on Papa's mule.

We started potty training boot camp. Aidan has done very well, although we are not quite to the stage of him initiating it himself. I've yet to venture out of the house without diapers.

We took Aidan to Jackie's for his first hair cut.

He sat in Daddy's lap and sat very still. He looks very handsome.

Our next adventure-- Bethany is bringing her boys into town this weekend. Aidan, Brody, and I are going to Collierville and we are all going to be there together for a whole week. We can't wait!!

Celebrating my husband

Brandon is such a wonderful, kind, patient, hands-on daddy. We have been blessed beyond measure to have him in our life. Happy Father's Day, Brandon!

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Bible Stories with Aidan

Spring Time

We've had a lot going on these past couple of weeks. Brandon and I celebrated our 5th Anniversary. Aidan turned 2 and we celebrated with a Bubbles and Buses party! Brandon had a birthday, too; the big 3-3. Here are a few pictures of our most recent fun times.

Look how big Brody is getting

Our little monkey

A fun day at the discovery center

Big B, little b, what begins with B

Bubbles, Buses, Birthday

B...b...B

Enjoying the sun with an outdoor picnic

Brody turned 4 months

Weighing in at 13 pounds

For Brandon's birthday, we went to the zoo with the boys

Aidan riding the hippo

Rain, Rain, Go Away!!

With all of these recent storms, old memories and fears have been dredged up from last years May 2nd flood. As of now, "they" are saying that the Cumberland will crest at 37 feet which is below flood level. I pray that these storms pass quickly and make way for dryer weather. I've got two little boys that want to spend their days outside. Not to mention, we've got a 2nd birthday party to plan. We are thinking warm, sunny thoughts.

Easter 2011

Aidan loves to juggle. Here he is juggling sand.

Brody enjoying a stroller ride.

Aidan loves to play outside.

Kona, Hawaii

How blessed I feel that we were able to go on vacation with my entire family; that Liam and Aidan got to spend a week together, that we were all "back at the house" with Mom and Dad again, that Steven and Brian joined in on the fun. When I was growing up I have so many memories of the family going to Disney World, The Smokey Mountains, Texas, California.... We weren't able to go many places in the past several years because the boys were very busy with football. But this year, we all went to Hawaii. And our family of 6 has grown to 11, with one on the way.

The plane ride. This was a bit of a concern for me going in. But I couldn't have asked for the boys to do any better. Aidan sat with Nanny and Paw Paw and was content as could be. He got to pull things out of the treasure bag and play with new toys and books. But all he really needed was his Paw Paw. Brody sat with Brandon and I and slept or ate the whole trip. He is such a happy, content baby.

Hawaii is paradise. Our condo was right on the water and we all could sit for hours and listen to the waves. The weather was perfect. We often went to the beach behind the condo and swam with the turtles, we snorkeled, the boys took surf lessons from the self proclaimed legend, we went to a luau. Don't get me wrong, vacationing now is much different from vacationing 3 years ago. Our beach trips in the past were spending 6 hours laying on the beach, deciding on a whim to go on an atv excursion or take out the catamaran. Now we spend 3 hours packing the beach bag to spend 1 hour on the beach and the boys fall asleep on the way home. But this is the time and season we are in and I'm embracing every moment.

I am truly grateful to my parents for making this trip happen. There were many wonderful memories made.