Summer Week 5

Another non-stop week for the Odom boys and their Mommy! VBS and swim lessons have taken up the majority of this week. We did manage to pack in some different activities as well. 

Thursday night we celebrated Aunt Judy's birthday. We started a tradition about 5 years ago that all the women in the family get together for dinner and gifts (of course) for each of our birthdays. It has been a great way to make time to see each other and I love that the boys get to have this relationship with my Great-Aunt and Cousin (who I call "Aunt").

While we were having some birthday dessert in the dining room for Aunt Judy and the boys were busy and content in the living room working on their "vehicle." I love seeing them playing together!

Me, Will, Mimi, Aunt Judy, Aunt Nita, Nonni, and Gaines

Practicing our floating in the bathtub. This was the conversation: Gaines says, "Will, you blow bubbles this way. We are not rolling on our back - this is a new thing. I am the teacher."

After swim lessons on Thursday, we finally got to my childhood friend Dani for lunch. She is VERY pregnant with her first baby and we have not seen each other in ages. The boys were WILD - these pics should sum up this eventful lunch date.

Will Odom - 25 months

Swim Lessons Week 2

We had out second week of swim lessons this week and it went much better than the first week. Gaines and Will both did not cry except for drop-off the first day. Will still said as soon as we turned on the road, "No Swim, No Swim Gaines, No Swim." Finally Gaines looked and him and said, " Will, we can't swim, we have to go to swim lessons."

They still worked with Will on Sleeping Fish and rolling and floating on his back. He finally got it by the end of the week and did not dead man float as long. He went off almost all week without a life jacket.

Gaines they started with blowing bubbles and kicking. He did pretty good but still not great. I think we need one more week with him but financially that is going to have to wait until next summer. It was so less stressful this week without the screaming and crying. 

On the last day, both Will and Gaines went to the bottom of the pool with a teacher to get a ring.

Gaines would look for me and give me a thumbs up! Major improvement from the first week.

So proud of their swimming shirts!

Vacation Bible School

Another "First" for the Summer, Gaines is old enough to participate in our church's VBS. It is Sunday through Wednesday from 5:30-8pm and I also signed up to teach with Tatum the 4 year olds. This was the most stressful week I have had in a while! Garrick brought Gaines the first night where I could do what I needed to in my class and it was chaos. I really thought Garrick was not going to leave Gaines with me being right there! You dropped the 3-5 year olds off in the gym with the bouncy houses and it appeared that you just left them even though there were teachers in there as well. Gaines did ok in there but did not participate in the bouncing. He kept telling Tatum that he was trying to decide which one to jump in. The theme was "Dive in with God." The music was so good and Gaines would come home singing the songs and doing the sign language.

Tatum and I ended up with 59 4 and 5 year olds along with 4 other teachers. It was a nightmare but we made it through the week and the kids had fun and I loved getting to know so many of our church children. Next year, I am reminding myself to sign up for 2nd grade!!!

Gaines said he loved it even though he did not like being dropped off each night. I tried to sneak pictures when I could but with 59 kids of my own this was not often.

First Night - He looks so big!

Sneaking a picture of Gaines eating dinner

Will was so upset each night that we left him and he had to stay home. On tuesday night he got to go and stay in the nursery and he was so excited until he realized he was not going with Gaines. He calmed down and started playing pretty quickly.

Gaines and his neighbor buddy William 

Wednesday night program for the parents. Gaines did not stand up or sing the entire time. The only child not standing.

Kenny and Tim

Garrick and I had a date night downtown for the Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw concert. Mom and Dad watched the boys and we were so excited to get a night out! We met up with Sarah-Beth, Chris, Tatum, Herby and Friends for a little tailgate and then the show. It was so Hot! This is the third time Garrick and I have seen both Kenny and Tim and it is always a good show. This means a lot coming from me since I hate concerts! We had a great time and it even cooled off once we went into the show. Grant got us into The Stage afterwards. It was a LONG day but so much fun!

Christy, Tatum, and Sarah-Beth

Summer Week 4

This week has been a whirlwind! I think i have said that every week so far this summer. School really will be here before we know it (yaaay!). 

Monday we just chilled and unpacked from vacation. The boys had their sunscreen incident as mentioned in a previous post! 

Tuesday we headed to Brentwood for Haircuts and Gaines's first class at My Gym. 

Haircuts!

My Gym is a gym for kids and focuses on coordination exercises (which we need the practice), games, and listening. All the classes are geared towards a specific age group. He is old enough to be dropped off at class! He was so excited and had no hesitation, "Bye Mommy" and "Will, you are not old enough" is all I heard all morning. Will did not like leaving. He kept saying, "I play with Gaines." He ended up enjoying some alone time with Mommy.

 We made an afternoon trip to the library after naps to return our books and get our prize for the summer reading program. Sam Clark's Tree was finished in the library and we took a little picture in Memory of our little buddy.

Tuesday Night, I had Book Club ( a little 50 Shades of Gray action) and Mamaw came to visit us for a few days!

Wednesday Mamaw watched the boys and I went to have breakfast with Lindsay at Pfunky Griddle in Nashville. We had so much fun catching up and the boys had a blast with Mamaw. 

Thursday we headed off to the dentist. This was Gaines's 2nd time going and Will's first. Their reward was a picnic at the park with Mamaw.

Friday was Pool Day at Tatum's House. Their new pool is amazing and the boys had a blast.

 We ended the week with Sesame Street Live with Nonni on Saturday morning. The boys enjoyed it but probably loved the popcorn at 10am the most! Will sat the entire time and just watched and Gaines enjoyed it for about an hour then was ready to go home. Will kept saying Elmo. Nonni and poppy watched the boys the rest of the day while Garrick and I headed downtown for the Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney concert.

The Dentist and Mamaw's Picnic

This morning we went to visit the dentist. I scheduled our appointments for when Mamaw was in town where I would have some extra hands since this was Will's first trip and Gaines's second time. I really did not know how either one of them would act. We promised them a picnic at the park afterwards if they did a good job. It was only 103 degrees so this was a big treat!

Trying to get a grandmother picture in the waiting room

Gaines did AWESOME! He sat in the big chair and he was very happy and excited and let her do a real cleaning.  He is just such a big boy. He is growing up so quickly!

There is lack of documentation on Will since he was screaming bloody murder! He watched Gaines and then when the hygienist mentioned Will being next he started screaming, "No turn! No turn!" He calmed down until the hygienist said to Gaines, "You are all done." Then Will lost it again! He ended up calming down and had a fluoride treatment in my lap. He loved getting a new Buzz Lightyear toothbrush!

After the dentist, we headed to Charlie Daniels Park for our picnic. It has become tradition when Mamaw is in town to picnic at the park. It was so hot but in the shade we actually enjoyed ourselves. Had a little food and played hide and go seek.

love this one!

Going on Vacation

Gaines and Will decided not to nap today. You know how I just love that! They are FINALLY starting to play together and it is usually some scenario that Gaines has dreamed up. Gaines decided that they were going on a plane trip to the beach (that would be my couch) for "Bacation" as Gaines refers to Vacation. Of course they had to pack their stuff  - as in ALL of their stuff. Gaines had emptied his pants and pajama drawer not to mention all the toys, blankets etc. he kept running back to his room saying, "Will, we need pajamas! We need clothes to change into! Don't forget the beach stuff!" so I just let them have at it. I was busy on the computer enjoying this time of not having to entertain them until...

I decided to turn around and they were both covered from head to toe in sunscreen. I was in shock-I mean covered! Sunscreen dripping off them, on to the carpet. I asked Gaines what they were doing and he answered, "putting on sunscreen for the beach of course." Well, what could I say? I just responded with let's get a bath next time remember grown-ups are the only ones allowed to put on sunscreen. Note to self: even if my kids have never done something like bothered lotion, sunscreen, or toothpaste before... There is always a first. I just finished Will's second bath and it is still not out of his hair!

Homeward Bound

Happy Official Father's Day Daddy!!!!

The car is packed after 7 days of fun. We left the beach at 8:30am and headed home.

Gaines has asked for one of the muscle shirts at a couple of stores that we have been too and i finally gave in. Not a big fan but these shirts are hysterical. Their farmer tans make it even better!

thanks Nonni for our cool suitcases

A little lunch experience with Will

Home sweet Home at 4:40pm! So glad to be home but had an unbelievable vacation with our family.

Sandestin Day 6

This is our last full day of vacation and I am worn out! We have had such a fun week but I'm ready for the fun to end! This morning Garrick was working and Nonni and Poppy came to get Gaines so Will and I had some alone time. He was NOT excited to find out his Big Bro had left him but he soon was fine with being the only child. He wanted to bring his "soc" ball with him when we left to go on our adventure.

We met up with Nonni, Poppy, and Gaines and tried to get a plan for this morning. Enjoyed making some wishes with Poppy's money at the Fountain.

This is a scary thought! They of course loved the Arcade. 

Will was a natural sitting at the bar waiting on a drink with his Daddy - don't think this is a good thing!

Our last vacation family pic

What a crew!

We headed off to the Marina for dinner with Garrick's co-workers families. I love the Marina. We ate there last year and had so much fun. The boys had so much fun playing with all the Big Kids and I was miserable. I know Garrick and I both are high-strung with our kids especially about safety and all the big kids were running all around the edge of the deck where the water was and of course Gaines and Will wanted right behind them. Then you add Nonni in the mix...it was not so much fun for us but the kids had a blast!

The view from the walking trail to the Marina

Watching the parrots at the Marina

You can tell from my face how much fun i was having. I would not let go of Will and Will did NOT want me to holding his hand. 

Feeding the fish with the Big Kids

Giving Kisses to the girls

Will right in the mix

Love this one! Will and Gaines thought Parks was the stuff. All the big kids were so sweet to the boys.

Getting ready for the Canon to be shot off.

The kids were getting a little anxious so I led "Ring Around the Rosey."
Look at Will's dramatic fall - legs over head every time.

Our View from Dinner

Blowing the girls kisses

I love this sweet, rotten boys so much cheesing with his Mommy!