July

I like these monthly updates. We might just take this blog in a new direction...

Take a look at the highlights of last month. I'm all caught up!

 You think it was hot?

This was obviously the heat index. But still. Can we say hot?

We closed our blinds and turned off all the lights to keep the AC from running 24 hrs a day. Yuck!

 A sweet nap after swimming one day.

He carries Mr. Pegger (the guy in green) and Pirate Girl (the girl) everywhere.

He actually calls his right hand his "toy hand" refusing to eat or do anything that might get his hand dirty with it. You know, so he can always hold his toys with a clean hand. OCD much?

(and his left hand is his "lovey hand". It always holds his lovey when he's asleep.)

Someone help him.

 Headed to the pool one day. In their matching car seats!

J had outgrown his old one and was super excited to have his own arm rests and cup holders. 

Plus, they love the pool!

 Isn't he the sweetest? His little face just melts me.

 We love pirates.

(he was watching the muppet pirate movie at the time as well...)

 We also love policemen. And the Transportation Museum.

 I babysat Will and Ruby one night and these two were beyond excited for their popcorn and movie night once the littles went down.

Everyone was a little (lot) crazy at bath time/bedtime and when I threatened the big boys with going to bed if they didn't calm down, Will was thrilled. I think they might be close to a sleep over. When did they grow up?!

 Our neighbors got chickens. So we go down there almost every night just to visit them and do some "bocking".  

The boys love it! (and I soooo want chickens...)

 Before my brothers head back to college and my mom starts work again, we all went to dinner together!

There is this new restaurant downtown called Range. They make everything from scratch in their oversized, exposed kitchen. Their own ice cream, ketchup, sauces, hamburger buns.... It is totally our favorite place to eat.

This is their "Sweet Sweet Bacon" boozy milkshake. You read that correctly.
It's a bourbon and salted caramel ice cream shake with caramelized bacon. To die for.

Seriously, stop what you're doing, come visit us, eat here. It will change your life!

 Oh Jackson. You're destined for some pretty sweet hair.

(This is after a morning of sunscreen, swimming and napping.)

 Our partially dressed pirates headed to visit the chickens.

And we can't write about August and not talk about the Olympics.

We watched them every night. I love the Olympics!!!

Mable was truly inspired by the synchronized diving.

Next up - Jackson's birthday in August!  Can you believe he is two?!?

June

Oh June. You were one HOT month. 

 We did enjoy some treats. Donuts with sprinkles are the best!

 Sweet Jackson learned to pray. Melts our hearts.

 These boys love their jorts and boots. Precious.

 A dear friend got married to the love of her life.

So happy to be part of their special day!

 We went to an outdoor concert. This guy loved it.

And loved this chair that's just his size!

 We discovered the Museum of Transportation.

BIG hit with my boys!

 Sweet and fierce Jackson. Love him.

And now for a little trip. Matt and I were able to get away for a weekend. By ourselves!

We left the boys with my parents and high tailed it out of town.

 Can you tell we're excited?

We stayed in the historic Peabody hotel. It was just gorgeous. I love Memphis!

 We met one of my dear friends from college (Hi Nell!) and her husband at one of their favorite lunch places.
The burger and fries rocked my world.

 Then, the unthinkable happened. 

We wandered around in various antique shops. 

Like gypsies. Time had no hold on us.  It was glorious.

We concluded our last evening there on the gorgeous patio of a restaurant downtown.

We had the best time having complete conversations, sharing dreams, watching silly movies, laughing...

Traveling is so good for the soul sometimes.  It was the perfect way to close out June.

And bonus - our boys did GREAT without us! We talked on the phone a few times, but they were having the time of their lives with my family. They even rode a ferry. And threw rocks.

May

I'm so close to being all caught up! 

May was fun. It was busy. We spent a lot of time outside.

 Oh Jackson - you love doing everything that big brother does...

Dressing up is pretty big around here.

 I became an Independent Stylist for Stella & Dot jewelry.

It's so fun sharing such unique jewelry with friends old and new!

 Happy Mother's Day to me!

 We played outside. Every day.

 J loves to see himself on the phone pictures...

 My little chocolate monster. This kid is my child with his love for sweets.

 We watched these baby birds from eggs until they left the nest. So cool!

 G in his "end of school" program. It wasn't so much a program as a group of kids standing on the stage while music played in the background. They refused to sing. 

But they were so darn cute just standing there!

(G is in a mint green striped shirt on the second row just left of the center)

 My littlest. We enjoyed our Monday mornings together.

 A self portrait on one of our zoo trips...

We went like three times a week. No joke.
The hippos are always a hit.

Auburn in early May

The boys and I joined my mom and headed down to Alabama in early May. We were going down to visit family and move Adam home for the summer. Fun trip right? 

 Sweet Jackson. He was a much better road tripper this time than last. It helps to have the DVD players on the backs of the front seats too!

 Graham loves him some legos. We found this sticker book months ago and it is still one of his top 5.

 What could be better than several cups and a water hose? J loves the water hose.

 G and his Pirate. Swimming.

 We headed to AU to pack up Adam. Toddlers and packing/moving don't mix well. So I walked around campus. This was all I could get out of G on Samford lawn...

 Just walking around campus. Gosh they're cute. 

(This is right before G lost little policeman... so sad.)

 J is in a major hat phase.

 And look who drove over from Ft. Benning? G was thrilled of course.

Momma and her boys.

 And by mid afternoon they were a mess. A nap was necessary.

The Barnhouse. So many fun memories were made in that house!

(where I lived my Junior and Senior years at AU)

 Nana is the best book reader. I have the best memories of her bedtime stories...

 Sweet Mackenzie. She and G are the cutest second cousins ever. Two peas in a pod.
(just like me and my cousin, her dad, at that age!)

 Siblings. This picture is a miracle... 

When are y'all all in the same place at the same time and all dressed nice? Looking good.

And the drive home. Twice as full as the drive down... Excited for Adam to be home for the summer!

April 2012

 I found him like that - he got himself up in the chair with that blanket and piled it up. Love him.

 I know this picture is weird... I only included it because I had a pretty major ear clog that took up like a week of our life. I seriously feel for the hearing impaired - it was miserable. Even Matt was tired of me talking (complaining) about it. I was advised to try "ear candling" by several professionals and we did (see above.) Even after several candles I ended up at the doctor for it to be flushed. Such a weird experience for sure.

 Easter Egg hunt!

 We celebrated Easter Sunday with some friends at my parents' house. It was so much fun! And look at that face... just melts my heart.

 Sweet Will. Such a cutie.

 Look at these two. Sweet friends. I think this captures their personalities perfectly, ha!

 We played outside a lot this spring. I got the boys some buckets to just transfer water and/or dirt around in. Big hit. And also doubles as hats which is a bonus.

 Jackson loves him some books.

(And also I discovered Instagram. Be ready for more phone pictures.)

We love Chick-fil-A! That's the face of a child who just fell in love with lemonade.