Nature Circle - Learning about canoes

We met our church play group at the Nature Circle this morning and the theme was Canoes. Gaines loves getting all dressed up in his explorer gear. He had so much garb shoved in his pockets and vest. He even had on Garrick's name badge. Will of course is right there with him - Monkey see, Monkey Do.

Gaines sharing with the teacher during show & tell. I really thought Will was going to share and then he got scared and ran to me.



Our church friends Tanner, Gaines, Will, and Anniston showing off their projects.

Love this - they look like two old fishermen.

Will's Birthday Photo Shoot - Wiggles Style

We borrowed a Wiggles costume from our friend Hayes and I wanted to use some pics for decorations. Will totally got into his performance and his photo shoot. I love these pictures so much because this is just the Will we see at home and no one ever sees his real personality and this sums it up! His favorite Wiggles is Murray the guitarist.

Will's Fear of Everything

I have been meaning to post this for a while, Will is going through this stage where my animal loving little boy is petrified of all animals big to small. This makes me so sad because he used to love them so much. I am pretty sure I can pinpoint when this changed. Mel, if you are reading this don't feel bad! We were in Atlanta and Knox, Melissa's dog, came at Will I think just excited and truly scared him. From that point on he will have nothing to do with any animal even his cousin dogs. This picture below is us at the park today and he would not leave my lap to go play because there were birds flying around. I mean this fear is extreme. Even at the zoo with glass cages around he wants me to hold him or he pulls his legs up into the stroller to make sure they cannot get him. I am praying this is a phase but it seems to be getting worse not better.

6:02AM

This is what is happening at my house right now...HELP ME!!!

Garrick's 35th Birthday

This is how far Gaines got on his birthday craft for Daddy. Can we say attention span problem?

Happy 35th Birthday Daddy!

Dinner Downtown at Kane Prime celebrating!

Swimming Lessons

We just finished our first session of 8 classes with our new swim teacher Miss Erin. We decided to go a different direction from last summer and overall it is working much better. We have definitely had some highs and lows over the past 4 weeks. 

Week 1 consisted of A LOT of tears and pleading from both boys and the second lesson I actually stayed outside and the boys did much better. After that they said they would "do good" and I came back in to watch. 

Week 2 was GREAT! They both were excited and gaining confidence and courage. That would be the "happy" pictures below. Gaines was gliding all by himself and wanted to do it over and over again.

Week 3 - Will decided he loved the water and had no fear and Gaines was hot or miss. one day he would be fine and the next day he would just ignore his teacher or say "I can't do it."

Week 4 - Gaines went under way too long while he was not listening and I think he got scared again so this week was miserable. He would cry and plead all over again which made Will more fearful than he had been in weeks. Erin said that especially at his age they go through this but it makes for a really long lesson. 

Overall, they are working on rolling and resting on their backs, if they fall in or get to deep to lean back and rest, blowing bubbles, gliding to the steps or side of the pool, going under, and jumping in. It is interesting even in this this excel in opposite steps. Gaines does really well rolling to his back and floating and Will goes really well gliding to the steps he even kicks his feet naturally to get there. Will can hold his breathe for an unusually long time which is good and nerve racking at the same time. Gaines panics and Will is pretty calm.

Week 2: A turning point! They both had such a great lesson.

Gaines gliding to Miss Erin and Will thinking about it.

Aunt Nita's 86th birthday celebration

The women on the Gaines side have a family tradition to get together for our birthdays and tonight we celebrated my Great-Aunt's 86th birthday. I am so thankful that my boys get to have a relationship with the only real aunt I have had. Aunt Nita was always at everything special in my life birthdays, graduations, holidays and she is doing the same for my boys. She is 86 and look just like I remember her 25 years ago. She is as with it as ever!

1980
My favorite pic of Aunt Nita
Connie Hughey, DeeAnn Hughey, Me, Aunt Nita, Rusty, & Mom

1979
Baby Shower Aunt Nita hosted for Mom when she was pregnan

the boys and their Great-Great Aunt Nita
They act like she is 25!

Gaines cheesing it with "Aunt Judy" - technically 3rd cousin I think.

Nonni, Mimi, Aunt Nita, Judy & Christy