Chase's "Shonshine" Mountain Introduction

Chase got to see his "big kid" preschool today for an orientation.  I was wondering how this would go because his old preschool is also his Sunday school - so he's very familiar and comfortable there - and I wasn't sure if he'd be too keen on walking into unfamiliar surroundings in the name of "preschool".  We've been talking it up for months now that Sunshine Mountain is his "big kid" school, but I still pictured him putting up a little (or perhaps large) protest when we finally got there that this indeed was not his preschool.  But lo and behold, the boy walked right in and made himself at home.  He confidently introduced himself to his new teacher as Chase Ryan Boyd (he tells everyone his entire name when anyone asks him; formalities are evidently important to him), and then away he went to happily play in his new digs.  I can't wait to post future blogs about his adventures at Sunshine Mountain (or Shonshine Mountain, as Chase would say).  He'll also be going to school with his future wife, Carys Galassi, and that should make for some fun stories to share.  Until then, here are some pictures of his introduction to Shonshine Mountain.

Cole's Lego Invention

Cole was particularly proud of his Lego invention that he built this morning and wanted to blog about it, so HERE it is.  (I especially like Cole's use of the word "minion".  Where does he learn these things??)

Hey Cole, There's A Tiny. . .

. . .frog on your nose!

Could this be any cuter?

I'll admit it, boys CAN be pretty adorable. 

Hair Cuts

I thought it would be kind of funny to take pictures of the little boys during their haircuts for blogging purposes...because they don't really enjoy this process of grooming...and who doesn't want to remember these good times for all of eternity.  Seriously, these are usually the kinds of experiences that I have to laugh about, or else I might cry my eyes out.  You've been there, right?  When your kids are illogically freaking out about something, and you're just sure that all eyes are on you, and you're so upset about it that you feel your face turn red and your feet and armpits start to sweat?  You've been there.  Please say you have.  Needless to say, it's been a bit stressful from time to time getting haircuts, because generally speaking, Chase and Caden pretty much hate it.  So of course, I took my camera with me today for documentation purposes so I could regale my readers (and my future self) with a funny blog post of our harrowing haircut experience, and guess what???  They were just delightful and cooperative little boys.  Who knew!  I couldn't believe it.  So here are some photos documenting a rather uniquely pleasant experience at the beauty salon.

Caden's up first!  I gave his stylist strict instructions not to bring the hair dryer anywhere near him. Caden then followed it up with his own strict reminder for her, "Do not use the hair dryer for me."

Chase went next.  He took it like a champ, which is a bit outside his usual M.O.  (He did tell her several times that she was hurting him, but I assure you, she wasn't.)

While the little boys were occupied, Cole spent his time building a Lego masterpiece, of course!

Look at the finished product...isn't Caden so handsome!

Chase's facial expression says it all...a sort of quiet delirium sets in now that it's over!

Here is the price tag for two haircuts for a four year old and a two year old.  I thought I would include this in my documentation.  Cole is big enough at 6 to get his haircut at the cheap-ola place with his dad.  Isn't 40 bones a bit spendy for two tiny heads of hair?  But totally worth it for the airplane seats, TV's, play area, and endless suckers.

Because the boys did so splendidly fantastic, we rewarded ourselves with Jamba Juices.

I hope that this wonderfully peaceful and non-eventful trip to the salon is a sign of the times for future endeavors such as these.  It's so much better to leave with pride in my heart and my head held high because of my super behaved boys.  (As opposed to my pride swallowed, my head hung in shame, and my feet and armpits all sweaty.)  Thank you, boys, for a great job today!!!

Blast From The Past - My Auntie, My Friend

It is crazy hard for me to believe that 8 years have flown by since I said goodbye to my dear Aunt Darlene, but that's exactly what has happened...8 years have gone by in the blink of an eye.  I wish I could say that I still think about her every single and solitary day, but truthfully with the busyness of my life, sometimes I don't.  But I do think of her very often, and when I do, I remember what an important person she was to me.  She really, really loved me.  She cared about me, she listened to me, she built me up, she championed me.   I was very special to her and she was very, very special to me.  I loved her.  Alot.  I miss her.  Alot.  I wish so much that she could see me be a mom and know my boys.  I know she would get a kick out of my babies and the crazy shenanigans I find myself in with the three of them.  Of course she knew Chaddy, (since Chad and I have known each other since the dawn of time practically), and she loved him too.  She was always rooting for him over the many, many, many other boys I brought around.  (Okay, not many many many, but maybe more than a couple.)  I'm so glad that we were able to tell her that we were getting married before she wouldn't have been able to understand.  She ferociously battled  breast cancer for 12 years, and I am serious when I say ferociously.  She fought it with a vengeance.  So much so that she lived 12 years after she was only given a 6 month prognosis.  I miss her like crazy and will always, always think about her with the fondest memories.

Thank you for being my auntie and my friend, Auntie Darling! Miss you and love you so much!

Anderson Island

We are so lucky that our Welch friends have a beautiful home on Anderson Island that they invite us to stay at every summer.  Here are some highlights of our island adventure - 2010.

Cole's favorite thing in the world to do is fish.  Even at the island, a place where he can do a multitude of other activities, he wants to fish morning, noon and night.

When I say that Cole would fish morning, noon, and night, I really literally mean that.  Here he is hitting the lake first thing in the morning...thus the pjs.  A man doesn't have time to change into the appropriate attire when the fish are biting.

We visited the fire department for a safety expo.  There were a lot of things to see, such as firefighters and fire trucks and ambulances, and even a car being pryed open by the jaws of life.  But the boys were happiest about the man-sized pops they got to consume.  Nothing smacks of safety like a healthy carbonated beverage.

Chris has an awesome boat, and we had a lot of fun tearing it up!  Shanna wasn't able to partake in the water sports this year because of an injury, otherwise you would see some pictures of my girl ON THE RIP!

We ate super delicious food.  (It's so sad to have to come back to the real world and resume my regular diet of twigs, berries, and Diet Coke.  If only I could eat like a queen every day!)

And we had a wonderful time just hanging around with our friends.

Thank you, Welch Family, for a wonderful weekend!  We love you!
And a BIG thank you to Grampa and Gramma for watching the little boys.  We love you too!  (This year was different than years past because Carter and Cole are now old enough to play without constant adult supervision.  This afforded Shanna and I a lot of time to ourselves, which was splendid!!!  SPLENDID!!!  We read, we floated in the lake, and we watched RPattz.  I wish I had some pictures to show you of these girly things, but sadly, I don't.  You'll just have to take my word for it that it was simply and truly delightful!!!  DELIGHTFUL!!!)

Blogger Blues

I've got to say, I've got the Blogger blues.  The reason being that I try very hard to make my blog look pretty and professional and beautiful and lovely and perfectly symmetrical.  And rest assured, when I'm looking at it on my own monitor, it does.  However, when I look at it using Chad's computer, sometimes it looks all crazy and outta whack and disorganized and disproportionate and back to crazy again.  Has anyone else noticed this with their own blogs?  Kinda frustrating, no?  So I just wanted to let my dear and wonderful followers, readers, and lurkers (Kara, come out of hiding and follow me already!) know that if my blog is looking all crazy on your monitor, it's Blogger's fault.  It's supposed to be a thing of beauty, and if you can't see that, you'll just have to take my word for it.


PS.  While I was taking the time to type this little diddy about my "blogger blues", Caden was in the bathroom quietly pouring shampoo all over the toilet and floor.  Now I have the "I have to go clean the bathroom blues".  CURSES!

History Was Made

My dad and Chad's mom share the same birthday.  How cute is that!  (Chad and I also have similar sounding middle names - Eugene and Janine.  Nancy and I both feel that these little similarities are signs that Chad and I were meant to be!)  So I must start this post by saying Happy Birthday to our Poppy and our Gramma.

We had Gramma's birthday celebration at the Frink's house.  I'm cheating a little with this picture, since it's actually from Mother's Day, but I didn't get a good one of Gramma and the kids from the birthday celebration and this one is too cute to keep to myself.   Thanks to the Frink Family for having us over!!!

Now this is the part where I tell you how history was made.  My parents were over playing poker for my dad's birthday.  We have played A LOT of poker in this house.  I have NEVER won.  And there is one HUGE reason for this.  Whenever it gets down to just myself and one other player, whoever said other player might be, quits playing.  Now you may think this voluntary disqualification by my adversaries is because I'm super good at poker and everyone knows that they have no chance at beating me.  But NO.  It's actually because no one thinks I'm good at poker at all, so there's no reason to continue on with the game if I'm the only opponent left.  Hurtful.  So the day finally came when it was just my dad and I as the final two players.  But instead of backing out on me, he stayed in the game...

I don't always dress like the Unibomber (the card player, not the criminal...well, either one really), but I could sense a big win coming my way and I needed to look the part. 

Guess what?  I WON!

I completely realize that this is not the most flattering picture of me, but the victory is too sweet to let a little vanity deter me from celebrating.  No mercy on your birthday, old man!  History was made!

S Is For Snake!

We find all types of interesting creatures in our backyard, and today Cole hit the jackpot with a snake!  He wanted to blog about it, so HERE it is.  At one point during the filming of Cole's documentary, he got a little too close to me with the snake, and in my haste to back away I tripped over the stair.  You'll know it when you see it.  What wasn't captured in the video was Chad laughing his booty off at me in the background.  Enjoy!

He's Little . . .

. . . but he's mighty.

(Yes, those are Happy Meal toys providing the inspiration for Chase's demonstration of massive brawn and strength.)

(Yes, that's slobber on his chin.  He's flexing so hard that he's drooling a little.  Work it, Chase!  Work it!)

(Yes, I find this display of might super cute.  I love this little, but mighty guy.)

July P365

Hello, Readers!  I'm now over half way through with my Project 365 for the year.  Although at times I struggle with finding creative pictures to take every day, I can already tell that I'm going to miss having this project next year.  Only five more months to go!

HERE are July's pictures for your enjoyment.

Life Is A Beach

Last week, the boys and I went to Salt Water State Park with the Edwards girls.  It was so much fun hanging out at the beach with these really adorable girly-girls.  I just loved them in their cute little dresses and swimsuits.  Of course, my boys were cute too, but it's just not the same as those who can wear frilly clothing and rock pink sunglasses!

Look at this little dumpling...don't you just want to eat her up with a spoon!

After spending the day with these little ladies, I'm tempted to revolve this entire post around the joys and wonderments of girls.  However, I'll try and refrain.  (Have I mentioned before that I wanted a girl-child to call my own?  Lets see...it's been almost 7 years since I had my first boy, and nearly 3 years since I had my last.  Any minute now I'm going to come to terms with this.  Any minute now.) 

Here is our story in pictures of our day at the beach.

Cole found this giant (dead) crab that he was so excited about that he had to show everyone on the beach its splendor.  And I do mean everyone on the beach.

Caden found a smaller (dead) crab.  Smaller, but still something to be proud of.

Cole spent the rest of the day admiring his majestic (dead) crab.  He had plans to take it home and eat it, and was none too happy when he realized that his crab would not be coming home with us. 

The only little snafu in our adventure was the sand in Chase's shoes, the seaweed on his feet, and the sharp pokies on the ground. The beach wasn't very smooth so he couldn't go barefoot, but Mr. Fancy Pants did NOT want sand in his shoes.  Oh, and lets not forget the trials and tribulations of traversing over seaweed. He was in a bit of a conundrum really.  I mean, it's very hard to enjoy the beach when you don't want any fragment of the beach to touch your feet!

Here he's mournfully pointing out how he's trapped and nearly paralyzed by all the surrounding seaweed.

Symantha saved the day by carrying him around the menacing seaweed. Thank you, Symantha!

Thank you to our Edwards friends for a fun-filled day!