{pre} school

Today Parker had his last first day of preschool.

He is pretty big stuff this year.

This morning we walked into school...he didn't even hold my hand.  He walked right up.  He held open the door for his mom.  And, he knew just what to do.

We love our preschool.  We love the teachers.  We love the other kids and their parents.  And so, when I walked Parker into his class today and bent down to give him a hug, here's what he had to say: "It's okay, Mom.  I just want to go play with my friends."

And, I knew he'd be ok.  I've read a lot of blog posts recently written by other moms about how nervous their kids were about school {and about how nervous those same moms were on the first day}.

 

{One of Parker's best friends in preschool...who just happens to be the teacher's son...was peeking out at Parker before school started.  Love these kids.}

But not Parker.  He's my big guy.  Ready to take on the world of preschool.

This Momma, however, drove on to work as a blubbery mess.  Maybe it's because I realized that this will be his very last first day walking into preschool.  Maybe it's because he's now in the oldest of the preschool classes.  Maybe it's because he was so brave and didn't need his Mom to hold his hand or walk him in on the first day.  Whatever it is, I just lost it.

What made me suck it up?  {Besides the fact that I was headed into work.}  The moment Brandon and I pulled in to pick him up.

Parker had a wonderful day at school.  Yep, he's got this.  He's rockin' preschool this year.

Brothers

This was the first {real} day of our week.  And, as I sit here, watching the DNC, {finally} eating my dinner of yogurt, grapes, and granola, I'm running all of the events of this week through my head.  I keep catching myself saying, "Oh, and don't forget to do this..." or, "Oh yes, I need to do that on Thursday..."  For a four day week, this one packs a lot of punch.

But, as I think about this week, my mind keeps wandering to something I realized today.  Today, after Parker repeatedly said that he wanted Andrew to go with him to gymnastics, that he didn't want Andrew to stay home and that he didn't want to go someplace without his brother.  Yep, I realized this: My boys, these sweet brothers, are never apart.

{Parker had his legs up on the chair and Andrew kept climbing up on them and then Parker's legs would fall and they would laugh and laugh and laugh!}

Sure, Brandon and I head our separate ways in the morning and go to work, while the boys {together} go to daycare.  When Brandon and I have a date night, the boys go {together} to grandma's house.  The boys snuggle {together} every night while they watch a 'show' before they go off to bed.  They are always together.

I've never known the concept of 'brothers'.  I had a sister.  And, then along came my younger half-siblings...my poor younger brother being the only boy.  Then, my sister and I got a step-brother.  I've never known brothers.  I've never witnessed a 'brotherly bond' before. 

Until now.

These boys are in love.  

Now, don't get me wrong.  They have their moments.  Parker likes to hoard the toys so Andrew can't get them.  Andrew loves to waller on his brother, sometimes so much that Parker gets mad.  But, aren't all of those moments part of this bond?

I love it that they are always together.  I know that because, in these early years, they have always been together, that they will always be close.  They'll always protect each other.  They will always respect each other.  As brothers.

{They love to get all of their stuffed animals on our bed and snuggle up to watch movies.}

So, while this week they will have a few moments of time when they are apart - Parker will go off to preschool and Andrew will start doing his 'own thing' at daycare and every Tuesday night when Parker goes to gymnastics, Andrew will go to Story Time at the Library - I know that this is growth and it is something they need to strengthen their bond.  But, oh man, do I love these brothers together.  In my mind and my heart, they are like puzzle pieces that fit together just right.  They are amazingly perfect for each other.  They are brothers.

Friday Phone Dump and {finally} Taking a Breather

Whew!  Does anyone else think August just flew by at like 100 mph?!  Or as Parker would say - "It was off like stinky socks!"

Yep, that it was.  

It's already Labor Day Weekend.  And, in honor of our annual Labor Day Weekend ritual of "taking a breather", we have absolutely no plans for this weekend.  Sure, we have haircuts tomorrow, I'd like to buy some fall flowers, I'll probably end up cleaning the house, we may do a little shopping, but definite plans: we have none.

It feels good.

Why does it feel so good to take a breather?

Because we've been going nonstop for a couple of weeks now and we need to slow it down....I think we'll go about 30 mph this weekend.  Instead of 100.

Here's to our Labor Day breather!  What do you have planned?

{Parker starts his 2nd year of preschool next week, gymnastics, and has his first soccer game of the season and we are so so so excited!  And, my sweet Andrew has some new tricks up his sleeve! Stay tuned!}

This is my very first Friday Phone Dump.  I think it's the first one because, normally, I have my Canon up in everyone's faces trying to get the best pics.  I haven't even had time for that...so, our memories from the past two weeks are stuck in my phone.  And, now I'm dumping them in the blog. I love my iPhone.

Oh yes.  The famous 'Chicks Dig Me' shirt.  Parker loved this shirt.  Now Andrew loves it...especially with no pants on.  Luckily the chicks do dig him...with or without his pants.

I {finally} had time to get all of Parker's school work from last year organized into a binder.  Thanks to my friend, Julie {who gave me this idea}, Parker work is now preserved in a three ring binder with cover sheets to protect it.  He is so smart and his schoolwork proves it!

First soccer practice!

We buried St. Joseph in our front yard.  I think it's a Catholic thing.  He is going to help us sell our house.  If it happens next week, Brandon said we will convert.  We do have someone looking at it...

We do this run every year and this year it ended up being on a Saturday morning when we didn't have the boys with us!  So, I got to run it without a jogging stroller {much easier}.  Great job, girls!

One of the perks of working on a college campus is that we get to go to all of the home football games, free of charge.  The first game was last Saturday - Go Braves!

Another perk?!  The wonderful students we get to work with!  This was their first day of school photo - we didn't have a chalk board.

And, last, but not least, we've had a special visitor at our house this week.  Miss Emme the dog has been staying with us while my in-laws are out of town.  We love Em and her silly personality.  

Happy Friday!  Enjoy your long weekend!

Flash Back Friday: Video

So, my phone told me the other day that I was running out of space.  That I couldn't take any more photos on my phone because I had already taken over 800 photos and videos on there and it just couldn't take any more.

I started going through the photos and videos and I stopped when I came across this one.

I love this video.



I was pregnant with Andrew when this was recorded.  Parker was still the only rider of the daddy horse and I love his little words and giggles.  "Whoa Horsey!"

"Down Horsey!"

I love Brandon's horse impersonation - one that I've seen a million times, but for some reason, in this video, it cracks me up.

I love it all.  The silly horse, the cute cowboy, the giggles, the tiny little boy voice that Parker has started to outgrow.  The way that horse throws him off but he just gets right back on and laughs...and he tells that horsey how it is! 

Something I love more: Now there are two riders of the daddy horse...two boys giggling with delight as the daddy horse bucks them off and throws them to the ground.  Two boys who climb right back up on that horse and between giggles they say, "More!  More!"  Video coming soon of my two little cowboys...

Happy Friday friends!

Best Buds

It's no secret that my little guys love their friends.  Every day Parker asks what kind of a 'day' it is going to be - a 'stay at home' day, a 'Sherry' day, a 'church' day, a 'swimming lesson' day...you get the picture.  I can see it in their eyes: They are desperately hoping that I'm going to say it's a 'friend' day...or an 'invite the neighbors over to play' day, or even a 'Sherry' day {when they get to play with some of their favorite friends}.

My boys love their buddies.  And, Caden and Mason, they just happen to be two of the very best buds of all.

You know those friends that, no matter how long it's been since you've seen them - a couple of weeks, a couple of months...or maybe even 6 months {eeek, where does the time go?!} - you start off right where you left off.  Those friends that make you laugh until your cheeks hurt.  Those friends that you call with the best of news {I can still remember calling Julie when I found out I was pregnant with both of my boys} and they are those friends that you call {or text} with the worst of news.  They are the friends that make you want the night to last forever and time to stand still because whenever you're together you are so content and happy in the moment.

Well, that's how we are with Caden and Mason's mom and dad...Justin and Julie.  So, you can see how my boys might choose Caden and Mason to be their very best buds.

These friends of ours live on the most beautiful farm.

{"C'mon, Andrew, don't you want to play in the water?"}

And, whenever we are out there, it's so serene and peaceful.

{Petey the Peacock lives out at the Hoffman farm.}

Especially when you can sit on the hammock with one of your very best friends and watch your boys squeal with laughter as they run through the sprinkler.

It's amazing.

Or, when you can try and try and try to talk your kids into gathering up their things to start to head home, but instead you find yourself thrown into the most adorable dance party you've ever seen.



Yep, that's the kid of 'best buds' we've got.  And, I love it that our friendship is carrying over to our kiddos and I know that they are going to be life long friends.  I can't wait to watch it all!

We love our sweet friends!

{And I can't wait to share these photos at their high school graduation parties and wedding receptions!}

**This beautiful farm that our friends own is currently for sale.  For more information about this country home and wonderful land, go here.

Meeting Reese Michele

Welcome to the family Reese!

The boys have a new cousin {and we get another niece}!

{Disclaimer: Disregard the woman in the pink shirt who had not showered that day...I was too excited to meet Reese!}

She is beautiful.  Congratulations to Dana, Joe, Morgan, and Avery...and Grandma and Papa too!

Another pretty girl - just like her sisters!

We can't wait to spoil her rotten!

The {not so} Terrible Two's

My little Andrew is quite possibly the sweetest little boy on earth.  He loves his brother {and follows him every where}, he loves his Momma, he REALLY loves his Daaaaaaad, and he even loves his dog.  He loves to watch movies {yes, I have a 21 month old that watches movies...sue me}.  He loves to play outside, to run, run, run, and run some more.  He loves the water and is so independent that it makes my heart melt.  He is growing so tall and so smart and he is starting to work his words together to actually communicate with all of us.

Little Bubba is just what every family needs - a little spunk with a little sweet. 

So, lately, as Andrew's personality is starting to blossom, I've been worried about the 'terrible two's'.  Parker never had a case of the 'terrible two's'...his was more like the 'sassy four's'.

Let me tell you - Andrew can screech and holler and {as my friend Kendra writes about here} he has his fair share of WAF's {wild ass fits}.  They are wild.  He can kick his feet like no other and he can cry and sob and produce real tears if that's what's going to get him what he wants.

I know.  You can't believe it.  Just wait for nap time.  You'll see.

Parker never did that.  I think it's a second child thing.  I'm sure I did it...in fact, I know I did. 

This worries me - that Andrew is going to be my 'wild child'.  But, you know what I think totally outweighs this....the fact that we can handle it.  Andrew may have some 'terrible two's' coming up, but I am ready.  I've got my super mom power that is telling me I can take Andrew's second year and make it work - make it the best year yet.  I love two year olds.  It's always been my favorite age.

{Don't you just want to smooch him!}

So, bring it on.  Bring on the {not so} terrible two's.  We're ready.