Our New Nightly Norm...

pad pad pad...(the sound of little feet walking down the hall...)
"Mommy? Allen is hiding in my closet again."
--Thank you Drew, I'll be right there...

Allen-ism

I've been horrible at recording all the adorable things the boys say. They are so cute but half the time I have forgotten them an hour later. (I have a REALLY bad memory!!) So here is one that stuck from last night...
Allen - while sitting down for dinner...
"Daddy has somegetti, Drew has somegetti, Mommy has somegetti and I have somegetti! Yummy!"

Oh - and as our babysitter was leaving and saying goodbye to the boys the other day (she is off on vacation and then when she gets back we leave for Colorado so it will be a while before they see her again)
Drew - "Miss Lauren is our favorite baby sister! Oh, I mean babysitter!"
Allen - "I gonna miss Miss Lauren. She my BEST FRIEND!"

The Grand Canyon!

The boys enjoying the views at the Grand Canyon...

I'll post more photos, but this is one of my favorites from our quick trip to the canyon. The boys were great and very careful so we were able to stay much longer than we had anticipated!

It's Summer...

...and it's HOT! It quickly went from a mild May to a "seasonal" June and I had forgotten how much I dislike triple digit weather. Oh well...it's a dry heat, right?!

We have been busy the past few weeks - both boys are in swim lessons, Drew daily and Allen once a week. They are both making progress and I am very impressed with the focus on water safety at their swim school. I'm not looking for Michael Phelps - just wanting to make sure they know what to do if they should fall in a pool or get out over their heads. Drew is also in "summer school" at his preschool. It's a 2-week trial program they are running this year to see if parents and kids like it. He has enjoyed it and it's nice to have an outlet again for his energy and brains. He has started reading - currently he is working through the BOB Books and has mastered the first set. He is so proud of himself! He definitely is an intellectual child!

We have a wonderful babysitter, Lauren, who goes to school in Minnesota but luckily is home for holidays and summers. The boys absolutely love her and she has been providing me with some breaks during the week and a weekly night out for me & Patrick. This past weekend we slipped away for a night at The Boulders Resort just up the road. Patrick got to play golf and I spent some time at the spa and pool - fabulous relaxation! I think the boys had an even better time at home with Lauren than we did away!

A busy part of our lives centers around Allen. We are in the midst of potty training and it is...interesting. He shows me every day that he has a very different personality than his older brother! Some days are great, some are horrible, but most are just however he decides they will be. One minute he's all about the potty and the next he looks at you like you are crazy! We are on week 2 and I feel like it has been months. I keep telling myself that school doesn't start until August 23rd and surely he will decide by then that this is a good idea!

We have a busy few weeks coming up - a trip to the Grand Canyon (a first for all of us!), a visit from Nana & Grandaddy, preparations for all our travels in July - Colorado, Tennessee and a Caribbean cruise! Should I happen to actually capture any of our lives in photos I will attempt to post them!

Happy Summer!

Last Day of School

Today was Drew's last day of preschool for the year. A sad day for mommy on many levels! He only has one more year before we head off to Kindergarten - wow! He has had the same teachers since we moved to AZ and to say that I love them is an understatement. They are fabulous with the kids, he has learned so much - academically, socially, emotionally...I pray that Allen is blessed to have them as teachers next year. (I am also sad that summer is officially here, and so is the heat! So not only is Drew out of school, but it is increasingly more difficult for us to get out of the house! Let the fun begin!)


Mrs Parker & Mrs Fenton

On a side note, after school we went with some friends to McDonald's for lunch. Of course the kids wanted to play and run off their energy, which was fine. Until Allen decided to go up to the top of the play structure...and proceed to freak out wanting to come down. So what did mommy do? Climb to the top after him, of course! Those things are not meant for a 5'8" adult!!

And Happy Half Birthday to Drew!

Since Allen had his half birthday celebration, Drew needed one too! Last night we had half of a square cake (which we reminded him was just a rectangle cake, but he said that was fine - it was still half of a square!) and sang Happy 1/2 Birthday to Drew! They boys loved it again! Now we'll see if they remember it next year and this becomes a regular thing!

Legos!

Drew has officially "graduated" to the "big kid" Legos and he is thrilled. He got a starter set from Nana & Grandaddy on our trip to Disneyland and had to build everything when we got home. Today he built an alligator from a kit that came in the mail (Patrick joined the Lego Brick Master club for Drew...yeah right...) and was able to complete it by himself with very minimal input. Actually, only once did I have to step in and say that he had put something in the wrong place. He had already figured out that something was wrong and was trying to figure out what - I just stepped in to reduce frustration so he could continue. We are definitely proud of him and his building!

A Decade Later...

Ten years ago, on a very hot and humid day in Knoxville, I married an amazing man. I had no idea what the next decade would hold for us, but I knew if I was with him that life would be good. We have shared many laughs and tears as we have traveled through life, marriage, and parenthood together. We still do not know what the future holds, but I still know that with him by my side, I will be happy.
Happy Anniversary Patrick! I love you very much!

Mother's Day Tea

Yesterday was the annual Mother's Day Tea & Art Show at Drew's school. It was beyond precious! The kids put on a little show for the moms with adorable songs about mothers and how they love them. We then went to their rooms where they gave us gifts they had made for us. We had "tea" (fruit punch) and cookies in the courtyard and walked around looking at all the displayed artwork from each class. It was a wonderful day and provided precious memories!


The "Welcome" Archway - doesn't he look cute in his plaid shorts? He picked out his outfit (with some assistance) but wouldn't tuck in his shirt. Oh well - he looked adorable anyway!


Getting ready to sing! He was so excited!


My beautiful Mother's Day present - the flower pot is a metal box and his picture is a magnet. Around the box is a paper that says "If mother's were flowers, I'd pick you!" and has flowers made from his fingerprints. Those teachers sure do know how to make a mommy tear up!


Mommy & Drew!
(Notice my "corsage" on my wrist - he picked out each individual color and made it for me earlier in the week. He was so proud of it!)

Here are a couple of videos of the singing. I didn't get every song, and I was in the back so I could stand and not block other's view, but these are pretty cute! This is not his entire school - just some of the 4-year old classes.

When it's quiet...

...you never know what you might find! They boys were being very quiet this afternoon after lunch. I found them in Drew's room, laying on their backs in the middle of the little nest they had made, just talking! It was pretty sweet...a rare moment of brotherly love! :)