Aunt Stacie

Aunt Stacie came in to visit this weekend and the boys were so excited (me too!). We really have not seen her in a while so they loved just playing. The boys were really into dressing up this weekend.

Gaines is really in to these new overalls and of course Will wanted to wear some as well. Seriously, Gaines has worn these 4 days in a row.

I think they were blasting off

Poor Aunt Stacie, they were literally on top of her all weekend.

Super Hero Pose

Love!

Summer Week 10

August kicks off with Garrick being out of town a LOT this month. I'm sure the boys will really be tired of me after this month - Nonni and Poppy are even leaving me for about 9 days! 

Sunday, Garrick left for Chattanooga for work and the boys and I burned some energy outside before getting ready for bed. They wanted to play in the water table. As I am getting the hose from the side of the house I turn around and see Gaines with his pants down on the back patio and Will with only a diaper on and both yelling they had to pee. I see Gaines make a great fountain off the side of the patio and Will just watching in awe. I just thought to myself, "this is my life - this is it." 

Monday, we were out the door pretty early and headed to the Zoo with our church's Play Group. I was really kind of dreading it because of the heat but it turned out to be a great trip. It was fun hanging out with some new friends.

This was half of our zoo crew

boys checking out a tree - they were very intrigued by this stump. We see a wasp's nest on the side and I tell them not to touch and Will of course sticks his hand right into it. Luckily, nothing happened. He will be the death of me.

Love this! Phoebe Armstrong & Will plotting

Who cares about the giraffes - can I have another penny to send around this thing?

 Crazy boys after naptime! We headed to Chic-fil-a to meet some friends to eat and play since Daddy was gone and had quite an eventful evening. The kids had a blast playing until Gaines and another little girl crashed head on into each other. He got a terrible goose egg. I called the doctor and he thought it was ok in the big scheme of things but it looks terrible. Gaines was fine after the initial shock and wanted to stay and play.

 Tuesday, we were supposed to go play at Hayes's house but I was a little worried about leaving Gaines at his My Gym class with his head and Will was not wanting any part of anything this morning. I am praying Will is getting sick because he is being unbearable. Will and I stayed and watched Gaines's class. Gaines loves it! They start out with saying their name and answering a question. This week was name your favorite drink. Gaines said, "Apple Juice." It is so interesting watching him. He is not disruptive in class but his teachers have to ask him a few times before he gets in the circle or whatever they are asking. He just pretty much disregards them until he is ready to come. They told all the kids to put glue on their bellies and lay in the red circle. Gaines was the last child to the circle and then they all had to wait for him to "apply" his glue to his belly and lay down. Dear Lord, give me patience! They learned to do forward rolls and flips on the bar today. This is so good for his coordination!

Gaines would not nap today so I made him play in his room and this is what he came into the playroom wearing:

"This is my underwear costume"

Wednesday, we went to the Y and then to the grocery store. I never go on Wednesdays to the grocery store and it was crazy busy because of senior citizen day! Luckily, we ran into Mimi and Papa Jim and they helped me entertain the boys and came over for lunch.

Thursday, we went BACK to Brentwood to our last My Gym class of the summer, got haircuts, and met Nonni at the Puffy Muffin for lunch. Will was a nightmare and I thought I was literally going to have to sit on top of him at the restaurant. I do not know why we keep trying to eat out with him right now. We had a really rough afternoon with Gaines and he got pretty much everything taken away from him so we just stayed in Thursday night. Garrick left today for a conference.

Friday, we had Pool Day at Sarah-Beth's house with the MJ gals. It was so much fun! The weather was perfect - overcast and not hot at all. The boys played and played. On a swimming side note, Gaines would not practice any of his swim lessons at all. Totally freaked out. Really debating on what to do with him next summer.

Look at all these boys! Lydia is the only girl and missing from the pic.

Gaines talking Baby Talk to Lydia - the only sister he will probably ever have!

Look at these boys!

Checking out the dog next door 

Horray for popsicles!!!

Nonni watched the boys Friday night where I could go celebrate Sarah-Beth's birthday and Saturday Aunt Stacie came into town. Summer is quickly coming to an end.  

Girls Night Out - TWICE!

This week I have had TWO nights with the girls and it has been great!

On Tuesday night a group of gals from the neighborhood and random other connections went to Suzy's House of Yum in Nashville. We had a great group and the food was great. I think Sheree, Amy, and I sampled everything on the menu. 

Shannon, Christy, Sheree, and Amy

On Friday night Nonni watched the boys and a few of us went out to celebrate Sarah-Beth's birthday at Jonathan's by our house. It was so much fun hanging out catching up with girls that I have known since middle school and high school.

Claire Hennessey Hacker, Sarah-Beth Belcher Blevins, Suzanne Northern Wheeler, Cristen Woosley Davis, and me

In honor of SB's birthday and true Flashback Friday!
Prom 1995 - Our Freshman Year

Out of Gaines's Mouth This Week

I still have not figured out how to keep up with the things that come out of Gaines's mouth and especially the context so I am just going to try the best I can. Some of it is just too good to forget.

We have been going to the YMCA quite a bit over the last week or so and I have been doing classes with some of my girlfriends. On Thursday, we went in the afternoon for the first time and I just walked while the boys were in the play area. I was so proud of my sweat after walking for about 45 minutes until I walked in to pick up boys and Gaines says, "Mom, that was a short class." First of all, how does he even have a concept of time?!?! Second, how does he know that was so much shorter? Lastly, how about some moral support first born?!?!

At Sarah-Beth's house on Friday their dog Barley was outside and going crazy when we all arrived for Pool Day. SB was yelling and trying to get him in the house and all the boys were sitting on the steps waiting for the dog to be put up. After she finally got him in the house Gaines sighs and says, "I wish that dog had never been born." WHAT?!?! Where would he have even heard that? I never get a straight answer out of him. His favorite thing to respond with when he thinks he is in trouble or did something he shouldn't he says, "NOTHING" in this sing-song voice.

Watching the dog and SB

Wheeling & Dealing with Nonni

Gaines's First Garage Sale adventure with Nonni written by Nonni:

I was so excited to take Gaines on his first Treasure Hunting trip!  The morning started at 6:30am, and Gaines was ready with his money, backpack and his special “Poppy” look alike shirt Nonni purchased on her last Treasure hunting adventure.  We had breakfast in the car, and within 10 minutes we found our first garage sale and it happened to be young man selling his stuff.  He was so excited to get out of the car, when we walked into the garage all the mom’s and grandmother’s just thought he was the cutest thing ever.  Especially his Nonni. 

The first item was a real skeleton sword that he bought (staying at Nonni’s).  I told him to ask the young guy how much he wanted for it, he did and proceeded to tell him he only had 5 dollars.  He took 2.00 for his first purchase and he counted his one’s and gave it to him.  He said, Nonni let’s get something else!!!!  So, he found the big box of cars for Will and purchased a Spiderman alarm clock (that we later found out didn’t work) we were disappointed.  When we left, he said “I love you, Nonni!”  Love it…… 

We got in the car, took our picture with our first purchase and he said “let’s go to some more!”  The next stop he was getting into talking to everyone (imagine that) and told the lady we would be back for a sleepover.  I thought she was going to fall out of her chair.  So, we found 4 others, went to McDonald’s and came home and had a picnic lunch and unloaded all of his treasures.  We spent 10.00 and he was loaded up, I need to bring him more often.   After lunch, Gaines decided to use all my curlers to create himself a skateboarding outfit.  Love his imagination, too cute!! 

We had a blast and can’t wait to take Will next time.

I went in to Gaines's room at 6:14am and he was sitting up in his bed waiting and said, "Mommy, I want to wear that blue shirt with the flowers on it that Nonni got me that looks like the beach."

His Haul
Seriously, this stuff better not end up at my house.

Gaines's Skate boarding gear

Fannilow

On Saturday night, Daphne and Rob (my brother and sister-in-law) came into town to go the Barry Mannilow concert - yes, you read that right. Daphne is 36 and a huge Barry fan - I don't think she necessarily fits the demographics for this show. It was great to hang out since we had not seen them since literally Christmas. That may be the longest we have ever gone before without a visit. 

We had dinner before the concert at a new restaurant Downtown, The Southern. It was really good and then picked up tickets at Will Call. My girlfriend Liz's husband works for Barry Mannilow and got us 7th Row Seats!

Dinner

Daph so excited about her 7th row ticket and new Barry shirt

Our hook-up, Chris, looking so professional in his concert attire.

Favorite quote from Barry for the evening:
"I was the Justin Beiber of my era."

Our Fun Faces!

On Sunday morning Aunt Daph and Uncle Rob stopped by to see the boys.

Summer Week 9

Summer is flying by!

On Monday, please make note that I went to the YMCA and worked out - might be the first this summer. The boys actually had a great time in the play area which made it better. 

Tuesday was a marathon day. We went to Hayes's house to play with his new play set that he got for his 2nd birthday. With all their trees in the backyard there was enough shade to where we could actually stay outside without melting for about 30 minutes. I love watching the boys play. I know I say that all the time but it really is so fun to watch them interact with friends and hear them call each other by name. Will stayed with Hayes while I dropped Gaines off at his My Gym class. He thinks he is so big! He runs in and says, "Bye Mom!" and has to give me a few huge hugs and kisses for the crowd. 

Will and Hayes love sitting in this chair together

Gaines at My Gym

After our My Gym class, we went to lunch with Nonni at Chipolte. We headed home and Will got about an hour nap before we went to Hallee's Bubble Birthday Party. It was so HOT in the middle of the afternoon but the kids LOVED the water and bubble party. Most of the kids at the party were from our neighborhood, church, school, and Bible study. 

This picture captures the party perfectly!

The Mommies! 

On Wednesday, we met Sarah-Beth and crew at the Y and did a Sculpt Class that all I can say is that I survived. I had texted SB and asked her if she thought this would be an ok class to do since I just started working out again and she said I quote, "Sure, easy just do 5lb weights." Let me tell you this class kicked my rear but I really enjoyed it in a love, hate sort of way! What made it worse is we promised the kids to go to Pump-It-Up afterwards. I couldn't even lift the boys off the inflatables! We ended our morning having lunch at Panera with just the boys and me. They were so good today. I love mornings like this when I enjoy them and don't yell 24-7.

Daddy's Home!

As I am writing this I am thinking, we are ONLY to Thursday and I feel like we have done a million things! I needed to keep the boys out of the house for a while where our house could get cleaned so we headed to Yoga at the Y and then we had a little time to kill so we went for a picnic at the park. Gaines enjoyed gazing at the trees and the boys ran and collected a LOT of sticks!

Friday, Gaines was soooo excited! He finally got to play with Ezra and we were going to his house in Lebanon. We talked the entire way there about how this was his best friend and there was no reason to be shy and as soon as we walked in he was hugging my leg and not speaking. It is always so awkward!  He finally warmed up and they started playing. The boys loved their backyard and they had a real tree house! I did not get a pic but it was pretty neat and their first real trampoline experience. Gaines had so much fun. Will, on the other hand, was terrible. He kept telling Ezra all the toys were "MINE!" and throwing a fit if he could not have a snack every 5 seconds, throwing toys across the room, etc. He has always been really good around other people and we were only blessed with his evil side but now it is starting to show up here and there. Makes me a little worried about school.

Gaines: "Mom, let's take a pic."

 Saturday, Will got some alone time with Mommy and Daddy while Gaines got to go with Nonni for his first yard sale experience (more on that in a different post). Luckily, Gaines left before Will got up. Will got to watch soccer instead of cartoons, went to Panera for a bagel, and played ball with Daddy in the back yard. I don't think he even realized Gaines was gone until about 11:30am and he said, "Gaines sleep?"

SUMMER, SUMMER, SUMMERTIME!!!