Last Days of Summer

WARNING- I WROTE THIS WEEKS AGO AND NEVER POSTED> SO JUST REWIND WHEN I REFER TO TIMING :) Well here I am, in my last week of summer break before the school year begins. I am always sad to see summer end, but this summer it is more than that. Probably because I know I am ready to stay home with the boys. I am ready to give up spending my days with teenagers to spend it with my toddlers. Ready to give up a second income and start coupon clipping. So, you may hear of some changes coming soon. We just had some visitors- Oma and Inky left today. They spent a few days here before Inky goes back to college. It was fun, as always, and this time we took a quick girls trip to Asheville....the first time I had been away from Greyson for a night! Daddy held down the fort and had a great, productive 24 hours :) He planted plants, did the laundry...he was Mr. Mom for the day! Other than that we have just been soaking up the sun with play dates, and parks, bike rides and bbqs. Lots of Popsicles, pool time, and pinterest projects. We are all ready for the heat to be replaced by crisp fall weather....so here are a few (or a lot) of pics of our last days of summer!!!

And here is how I feel leaving my boys to go back to work...

South Seas Resort @ Captiva Island, Florida

South Seas has a special place in my heart. Not only did Jeff grow up on this beach, but we were also engaged here. I am so thankful that we have the opportunity to return to this very spot every summer. I know that this place will become an important place for our boys, as they remember summers and 4th of Julys spent with family year after year. We hadn't been in 2 years- since the summer of 2010, a very sad summer for me. Last year we were unable to make it down with Greyson having just been born a few months earlier as well as my sisters graduation from high school in late May. So it was time to return to South Seas, and relax in the sun and let the boys play in the sand! First of all we flew, thank goodness- I was not looking forward to a 12 hour drive, even in our new swagger wagon honda odyssey aka the vandge-rover. Travel went as good as one could expect with a 3 year old and a 1 year old in a tantrum phase. We arrived with a stocked fridge, thanks to Mimi and Papa, and were ready for the week. Little did Jeff or I know, it would be anything but relaxing! The boys shared a bedroom, which they have never done before. It went ok at first, then we realized mornings were the issue, because when 1 was up, he woke up the other....even if at 4am. The resort had daily fun kid activities planned...even for our little ones. So every morning at 9am we went down to Skullys, aka Skully's Cross bones, as Connor referred to it, to join the other toddler tots with the activity of the day. As you will see in the pictures....we did bubbles, musical parade, finger painting, and sand castles. The rest of our mornings were spent at the pool with our afternoons spent at the beach, right outside of our condo door. Mimi and Papa were in a condo as well, and Oma came to visit for a few days. We had other visitors as well, my high school friends Jaime and Erin with her boys came for an afternoon. Also my friend from college, Tammy and her fiancé Derek and their little boy, Dylan, came and spent the 4th of July with us. Don't get me wrong we did get a little time for ourselves. We were able to enjoy the pool-sans kiddo- and a fruity beverage. We also walked the beach, saw some sunsets, and even had a date night dinner to the oh so yummy Bubble Room. Most importantly, the boys had a blast! They loved the pool and couldn't wait to get in it every day. By the end of the week, they were both jumping off the sides with little help. They weren't as fond of the beach...at least Connor was not. He tolerated it in small doses but didn't like the seaweed or the waves (which he called fountains). Greyson wanted to drink the salt water and he loved playing in the sand. I always enjoy every minute of being down there, and I can't wait to go back again next year. Enjoy just a few of the 500+ pics we took!

July 18, 2012

Concrete Slab No More

We are excited to share a few photos of our new outdoor space. Over the last few weeks we had a deck and paver patio with fire pit installed. Our detached garage and our back door being our main thoroughfare posed a challenge for the layout. But I think it came out perfect and exactly what we needed!We are so thrilled to finally enjoy being outside again. And I am secretly excited more about the many s'mores that are going to be made this fall! Anyone who has seen me go through my 2 pregnancies knows that I was a sucker for a s'more....and would resort to nutella and fluff to make mine at home, but not anymore :) There is a lot more work to be done....we still have to do some landscaping (the straw will hopefully be grass in the fall), and they are coming out to stain the deck next week. We want to get some more seating options for the fire pit and we have to figure out where to put the boy' sandbox...so this is just a start to what will eventually be, but we are happy that our concrete square of a patio is finally gone! Here are a few pics!

I forgot to take a "before" picture!

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ISR Finale

Both boys finished up their ISR (Infant Swimming Rescue) lessons with Ms. Janet at the end of June. Thank goodness, because I was tired of the daily commitment and the drive to Concord. All in all, we are very happy with the results. Here are both boys in their final lessons. I am happy to report that while in FL at the beach for a week, neither Connor nor Greyson used any type of floatie! YAY!!!

Summer Visitors

Oma and Inky came to visit to help out with the boys. Daycare was transitioning to summer camp, but I still wasn't out of school for the year, so they came up to babysit. The boys had lots of fun spending some QT with them. Here is a run down of all the fun that was had: Presents for no reason, Greyson't 1st real haircut, Discovery Place Kids, Davidson Concert on the Green, Kanapolis Splash Pad, going to the pool. I think that sums it up....but what a wonderful week, we were so happy to have their help! Here are some pics...

Greyson's shaggy do before his haircut- terrible pic, but just had to see this kid's hair. Also featured here is his new 4-wheeler courtesy of Oma & Inky

Grey after his haircut- what a little boy is looks like now

He was happy as can be watching Mickey as Oma snipped his locks

At the pool enjoying his favorite oranges

visiting the kanapolis splash pad

More of their ISR Swim lessons

Inky loves her some baby Grey

Greyson's 15 Month Check Up

Greyson is walking, chattering, and more interactive than ever. He is also throwing temper tantrums, and flailing...something Connor definitely did not do at this age. When we went in for his check up we were given the same stats that he has been maintaining all along. Grey weighed in at 21 lbs 2 oz- the 8th%; his height was 30 3/4 inches- the 50th%; and his head was in the 50th% as well. Doc thinks he is built to be lean- and little peanut of a guy! Here are some new photos of just Grey-and a few of him acting up! I must say when I took the photos of his tantrum he came over to me, and pushed my iPhone out of the way and then turned his back to me as he screamed. Two minutes later, as he tried to flail, he fell in between 2 chairs and got a bloody mouth. LOVELY!! We are learning how to cope with such a "spirited" child. In fact, Grey got his first lollypop as he was starting to fuss at a restaurant...that seemed to do the trick! Looks like we might be having to fill a lot of cavities.

The infamous Tantrum of all tantrums!

Baby yoga? No, maybe baby gymnastics. When he does this he wants to do a forward roll!

He is always crossing those little feet. I love it!

Grey is a good eater....I hope it sticks!!

His first lollypop!

Father's Day 2012

Happy Father's Day!!! I don't think I ever really appreciated this holiday until 1) my husband became the father of our children and 2) I lost my own father when he passed away almost 2 years ago. SO, I want to THANK my husband for being the ROCK of this family, he is my partner, best friend, amazing father...he supports us, is patient with us, and can always make us laugh. I want to wish my father-in-law Bob, Papa, a Happy Father's Day too- I know that Jeff learned a lot about being an amazing father from watching you. You are the most patient person I have ever met!! The boys, especially Connor, adore you! Lastly, I send a little prayer up to my own father, whom I miss every day. We love you Pops and wish you were here to see your grandsons grow. So anyways, here are a few pics....had to post a couple to show that it is IMPOSSIBLE to get a good shot of everyone looking at the same time!!

This is as good as it gets!

Connor being a ham- showing his gummy bear- I guess I shouldn't have given him that until AFTER he took the picture!

Greyson starting to get cranky- TYPICAL!