The Boys in Action!

Wanted to share a few videos of the boys.
Connor loves playing the drum (and also likes to say he is playing the violin too...where do kids come up with this stuff, really a violin??)....so here he is jamming on his drum and twirling his drum sticks...



Greyson is quite the little chatterbox these days. But right when you get the camera out, he stops!!! Of course, right? Oh well....here is what we got while he is talking with his Auntie Katie.....



Connor is OBSESSED with his ABCs...and that is putting it mildly. He is quizzing us constantly...so here is in the bathtub with his ABCs...he is even more proficient since shooting this little video, naming all kinds of things that start with the different letters. This video is a little long, just want to warn you....

Florida Trip

Just after Memorial Day we set out on our trip to Florida. This was our first big trip with 2 kids....and we decided to drive. We had a bunch of plans and things along our way, but the main event and destination was Venice for my sister's graduation.
So Tuesday we left the house at 5am. Hoping an early start would allow the boys more time to sleep in the car. That idea went quickly out the window, as both were wide awake. The drive wasn't terribly awful...although mommy had to sit in the back seat between 2 carseats just to make sure both kids were happy. Connor did not sleep the entire 10 hour car ride....but he was a good traveler staying busy with snacks and an ipad. Greyson had his moments...but he did great too!
We arrived in Orlando by mid afternoon, put Connor down for a quick nap and then got ready to go to dinner at our friend's, the McCully's, house. It was great to see them, and their little girl Emma who is just a few weeks older than Connor's. On Wednesday we headed to SeaWorld, where Christine and Emma also met us for a few hours. Connor LOVED SeaWorld (despite a few toddler melt downs and some rainy weather). He especially liked Shamu and the dolphins. We actually got to feed the dolphins too! Greyson was a trooper, sleeping his way through most of SeaWorld.
Thursday we headed on down to Sarasota for my father's veteran's memorial service. It was a small and tasteful event. Only my father's immediate brothers and sisters came. The cemetery provided a nice service and my Uncle Ronnie said a few words of remembrance. They played Taps on the trumpet in his honor, and I was presented with a flag. After the service we went and visited my Aunt Bonnie and spent some time with her. For dinner we spent a quiet night at mom's house and then met up with my friend Erin and her 2 boys for ice cream.
Friday we were able to sneak off to the beach for a hour. Connor had a sudden aversion to sand....so he spent most of that hour on the blanket or being held. He did not want to go in the water either. I think had we had more time, he would have warmed up to it and would have been splashing and playing just as he did last summer at the beach. Friday night was Katie's graduation. She had a pre-commencement ceremony dinner at a Japanese steakhouse. All her friends and family were there to celebrate with her. After that we went and snapped a few pictures of her with her nephews because they were not going to attend the graduation ceremony. It started late and it was just not the place to have 2 young kids. So Jeff stayed with them. Katie did her thing, and graduated from VENICE HIGH SCHOOL...and will attend Stetson in the fall. We are all so proud of her and excited about her future years at Jeff and I's alma mater!
Saturday we headed back to Orlando with a few stops in Tampa. We visited Tammy and Derek and baby Dylan. He is just 6 weeks younger than Greyson. We also met up with Katie and Brett and their little Grace, who is 9 months. So many friends having babies! It is wonderful!! I just wish we lived closer so that we could really spend time with them all!
Once we got back to Orlando we headed to Katie's graduation party that Dad, Andrea, and Uncle Scott had planned for her. A pool party and good food was a great way to spend our last night in Florida with family! We got up early Sunday and headed right back here to the CLT. It was a whirlwind of a trip....and honestly, we were tired by the time we got home....but it was well worth it. And we certainly got to do everything we had set out to do...for the most part! Connor and Greyson were so adaptable...both had their schedules turned upside down and inside out, but they just went with the flow and as long as they got a little nap her or there, they were fine!
That was our main trip for the summer...and as I told all our family down there...we wouldn't be seeing them for Christmas, as the Doehne family will be staying home in NC for the first Christmas ever. So not sure when we will head down again...may not be until sometime in 2012...but we'll see.
We have a lot of pictures to share...so enjoy!!!