Lake House

We headed out of town as soon as I could leave work on Friday, July 5th (Moppy's birthday!) for the Grenada Lake House.  Moppy and Poppy, Gay and Bobby, and Grace and Eleanor were there when we arrived... as were Mimi's props for the water fun to be had...

Yes, a pool and slip n' slide!! 

And....... 250 water balloons.  Oh my. 

About 30 seconds of hellos and hugs were in the books before these kiddos marched out to the grass with the water hose.  This little guy manned the hose to fill up the pool.

Avery didn't care about the hose - she couldn't get her bathing suit on fast enough.  Here she goes!

Eleanor and GG had to leave later that night (thus no bathing suit available) - but she wasn't far behind Avery...

... even Uncle Bobby joined in on the fun... 

Happy Birthday dear Moppy!! Happy Birthday to you!

After watching the amazing sunset on the deck, we all crashed (except for Avery. She was the last one asleep and the first one awake. Figures.) then enjoyed a lazy morning with coffee on the porch.  There's nothing better than quiet time with Moppy and Poppy! 

Here is Moppy reading to Avery - while Avery tells Mop how to do it... this is hilarious.  These two were cut from the same cloth...

Still donning our PJs, we couldn't pass up a ride on the boat!

Somebody's silly.

Avery was loving the ride and got a little excited... she can't help herself but move/dance/jump/squeal when she is excited or having fun... (notice my firm grip on her arm)

I finally had to say, "Avery, you must sit your bottom down on the seat or the boat will stop to let you off." And this is what I got.  For two seconds. 

 Little buddy loved the ride but didn't want to get too far from my side (which is perfectly fine with me!) ...

We made a move from the aft to the bow for a little more adventure...  and somebody was still talking...

Next time, we'll change from our PJs ;-)

And what is the Fourth of July weekend without......

Birthdays, Princesses, Superheros, 4th of July... aq1w

For my birthday, Mom asked me what I wanted to do - she offered to come down and keep the kids while Bruce and I went out to a nice dinner... but I told her I just wanted to be with the kids!  So the whole gang headed out to Anjou and we had a fabulous dinner!  I was initially nervous about taking all the kids to a nice place, but they did great!





On the 4th, some great friends were so kind to invite us to their neighborhood pool to swim and cook out.  We had a blast!

While the adults enjoyed dinner, Dora entertained the little ones... I guess I'll have to start saying "Vaminos!" instead of "it's time to go now"... (if you're not the parent of a toddler, Dora is an explorer who speaks English and Spanish and teaches us new words each episode...)

Bruce coordinates and runs all the summer camps at FBCJ.  Each week, there is a themed camp for preschoolers to 6th graders - he has done this for the past several summers, and it is a huge, fun program!  Last week was Superhero and Princess Camp for 3-6 year olds... Silas and Avery aren't quite 3, but we let them go for a few hours on one of the days... cutest things you've ever seen!

Silas had fun swinging on the ropes and jumping all around the gym...

While Avery was pampered at Princess camp.  Miss Teen MS came and the girls couldn't get enough!

Yes, Avery, you are a princess!

This picture was on Instagram and Facebook last week, but I couldn't resist posting it again. Silas was so upset about "my gasses, my gasses" on the way to the shoe store (yes, I am THAT mom who brought her toddler into the shoe store barefooted - cause none would go on his feet)...  Anyway, I told him I couldn't find the lens in the car but would "fix" them when we arrived. This didn't work.  I finally told him, "Don't worry little buddy, your Mimi wears hers like that all the time."  And he was fine with that.

Aaaaannnndddd:  Our life these days (no wonder books upon books have been written about the potty feat)...  We may not be winning that race... but how about this for encouragement in brotherly love?

Silasandavery-anisms

Silas and Avery are 33 months old and growing way to quickly!  Here are a few things Silas and Avery are saying these days:

Avery:  "Silas, ohhhhhhh Silas, where arrrree you??"
Silas:  "Where's sissy?"  "Avery?"

When I get home from work, both of them run up and hug my legs, "Mommy, Mommy, you're home!!... I not do it..."  Hmmm, kiddos, what, pray tell, did you not do?

They are so sweet to each other (when they aren't fighting or hitting or bossing...) - for example, the first words out of each of their mouths are "Where's Avery?"  and "Silas?"  Both are so very concerned about where the other is and what they are doing.

We've been talking about little Charlotte inside GG's tummy and Eleanor's new little sister coming in a few months... Avery is all into it and truly thinks she is having a baby.  She says "baby in my belly"... uh oh, we must get this straight!

We are now not only into Mickey Mouse and Sophia and Doc McStuffins, but we've added Dora to the list. Credit the new disposable sippy cups from WalMart with that, Nickelodeon (genius marketing strategy). Silas still doesn't really care about television (yay!), but Miss Avery could watch the princesses all day.

We love playing outside on our bikes, the park and the slide, and ice cream.  The potty, not so much.  Oh well, our goal is to conquer that feat this summer... sometime.

Avery "I'm a princess. I'm a princess."  Yes, darling, you are. And don't you let anyone EVER tell you otherwise!

Little Leftie

Before bedtime each night, Silas and I read a book about a little bear named Corduroy playing baseball.  All Silas wants to do in the yard is play "beese-ball"...

Twins Take the Splash Pad, 2013

While I was gone on the FBCJ Student Choir Tour, Bruce's parents flew in for the week to help with Silas and Avery.  Of course, they all had a blast!  Like last year, they tackled the splash pad at Renaissance... only this year, two-year-old style! 

Formulating the plan of attack:

Ready, set... beverage in hand... go!  Silas isn't so sure.... either that, or Avery jumped the gun. (Both of which are highly likely.)

Miss Bossy Delegation:

What fun!

Happy Memorial Day! 

Summertime!

Last Saturday afternoon we loaded up and headed north to Mimi and Papaw's house for the afternoon.  Here we are taking a ride and watching Papaw clean his fish...

And the princess twirling ... isn't that what all princesses do next to the garden?

Pretty girls.

This is what summertime is all about.

Warning:  Babies in birthday suit alert.  

 Avery and the sprinkler. No captions needed.

My sweet little buddy watering the flowers...

Avery wanted to help.  Way to improvise, sister.  Albeit with Eleanor's boot...

Of course, when dirt is wet (i.e., mud), one must make mud pie.

Happy girl!!