WOLF - PACK!!

Wolfpack boys! I love this picture because it captures so much of their personalities. Oh how I love my boys!!

Saturday Fun

Such a fun day! This morning I went on a bike ride with my friend Jenny - her 1st road ride EVER and it was in preparation for her 1st triathlon. I'm so excited to be doing it with her. When I got back, we were hanging around the house and invited Eli's buddy, Ryan over to play. They had fun outside and had a picnic lunch together (again LOVE the table!!). Then Daddy went on a bike ride and the boys & I played in the back yard. We had fun throwing / catching baseball, kicking the soccer ball and playing on the swing set. The boys wanted to wash their truck so I let them have fun. They started off really washing the truck and then three buckets of water later, they were soaking wet and had lots of fun. 

Eli, Ryan, Cole 

Polly want a cracker - the boys' love climbing on the hanging bar and acting like a parrot. They literally call it "Polly want a cracker".

Baseball boy - Uncle Jeff will be so proud!

Starting to wash their truck - all nice and neat.

Then "work" turned into play!

I love Cole's face in this picture 

and in this one. 

Enjoying Mommy's Birthday Present

Picnic lunch after church - I got a picnic table for my birthday! I have wanted one for a while and we finally made it happen. (And I got the 1st season of Downton Abbey - great surprise Daddy!!)

My Biking Boys

It's no secret that we are a biking house....Tim & I started as a biking couple and now the boys are getting the biking bug. YAY!! When Eli turned 4, he got his blue bike. Now that he's about to be 6, he's due for a larger bike. Tim & I had been looking online and at the bike store for what to get him. As luck would have it, Tim ran into a friend of ours the other night at Umstead and found out he has one of the bikes we had been looking at - used and for a good price. SOLD! So last night, Tim and Eli went over to his house to try it out and bring it home. Apparently it was a funny sight to see Eli get his first experience with hand brakes instead of coaster brakes. A little test ride and bike was his. So today Eli wanted to try out his "new" red bike and Cole was more than happy to try out the blue bike. Since he has been riding the Strider bike, we tried it with him with on training wheels. He was a little scared and wanted Tim to be touching him the entire time. But soon, very soon, he'll be flying down the road just like his brother! I can never take enough pictures of my bike crazy boys. Enjoy!

First try on big boy bike

Eli taking a fast turn - boys got skills!

Drink break - it's hard work learning to ride

Daddy put on the training wheels so Cole could get used to the bike. 

Happy!

He cracks me up with no shirt on.

My Biking Boys!!

Eli was so sweet encouraging Cole riding.

Practicing high fives on his new wheels

Love that face!!

Celebrating my Mom's Mom-aversary

Today is the Anniversary of when my Mom became a Mom. Yes, that is also known as my birthday. Not too many folks know the story of me & my Mom and how we "grew up" together. You see, my Mom was pretty young when she had me. She gave up a LOT to have me. She gave up a LOT to keep me. And I'm eternally grateful that she did. Everyone has decisions to make and choices in life. My Mom, thankfully, chose life and she chose me. Most folks who know me know that I'm a Christian and I'm very much pro-life. I cannot tell someone what to do with their life and their body but I am an example of "choosing life". 

Now that I'm a Mother, I have NO idea how my Mom did it - and how she put up with me growing up. I didn't appreciate as I was growing up how much Mom did for us. She always made sure we had what we needed and would not do things for herself. She made sure we had good memories and that we ALWAYS felt special, especially on our birthdays (ever wondered where I get it? Now you know!!). Kids can be mean and harsh as they grow up. I know I said and did mean things as a girl growing up but my Mom's example is my guiding beacon of the type of Mom I want to be and that I try to be. I see that being a Mother requires ongoing sacrifices and always keeping in mind what is best for your child. I know my Mom always made decisions with that in mind. Life was different "back then" and culture has changed so my challenges with the boys will be different but I will always do what I think is best for them. Mom & Dad also made sure to help me grow into a good person (at least I think so!). They didn't shelter me from the harsh reality of the world and life, they prepared me for it. They gave me a solid foundation to grow into an independent woman. THAT is something I very much appreciate and want to do for Eli and Cole. My goal is not to foster little boys that always need their Momma; it's to help them grow into strong young men (who also love their Momma!!). 

Mom, I know you read the blog and are probably surprised by this post but please know that you are my Hero. You are such a giving person - to your family and those around you - and still, to this day, put others before yourself. I hope that I've made you proud because you sure have made me proud! I love you with all my heart and am very thankful for all you have done and do all the time for us. I'm proud that you're my Mom and proud that you're the boys' Grandma! 

Baby me =)

Some old school polaroids! Me with my Grandpa, Grandma and Mom. I was kinda cute huh?! 

My 1st birthday (I still have my Raggedy Ann doll!)

Our little King of the Mountains

It's Tour time (Tour de France - we LOVE July) and we've been watching it every day. Eli has been very interested and has learned what all the jerseys mean. White = Best Young Rider. Green = Best Sprinter. Yellow = Overall Leader. White with Red Polka Dots = King of the Mountains / Best Climber. In our case, it means our own Little King of the Mountains. Allow me to introduce.....

Eli, our little King of the Mountains (and technically he could be awarded Best Young Rider as well)

He was excited to wear Daddy's jersey. With a small modification (thank you binder clip), it "fit" him enough to ride in it. 

The boy is a great rider and a great climber. Wish I had his standing climbing skills. 

Must be in the Feed Zone

Action shot!

Fits him perfectly

Eli and Cole ready to go ride around the lake with Daddy. Apparently Eli got props on his jersey and his riding from folks around the lake. 

Cole.......the party machine

Two birthday parties in one day......Cole can handle it! This morning we celebrated Cullen's 4th birthday at a splash pool and then this afternoon we celebrated Harper's birthday at her house with a great inflatable water slide. I'm telling you, it's pathetic how social my 4 year old is compared to me!! 

Running around the splash park 

Cole had fun running in and out of the fountain section

And standing inside of it - his face was great here, hard to see but he was definitely happy!

Playing with Luke

More fountain action

Under the mushroom with Will

Silly

Cole had so much fun celebrating Cullen's birthday. Sorry no pictures of the birthday boy. 

At Harper's party - 1st trip down the slide, he was kinda tentative about it

Slam dunk!

Water basketball - wasketball? 

As he kept going down, 

he got braver 

and more silly - a backwards slide!

Inside.....testing out Harper's trampoline

Sweet Birthday Girl!

Love Harper's monocle in this shot - birthday girl pirate!