Family night at Chick-fil-a

Tonight the boys & I met Carol & Ryan at Chick-fil-a for dinner. We didn't realize it was family night and they had a lot going on - the CFA cow visited, a face painter and balloon artist. Eli was awesome with the Cow Mascot giving him high fives and following him around, Cole wasn't too happy and started fussing when he got close and Ryan didn't like the Cow either. Cole & Ryan kept tabs on the cow to make sure he didn't get too close to us again. We let the boys play in the play area a bit and then headed to the airport for some sandbox time and watching planes land and take off. A super fun night!

Keeping cool on a HOT weekend

Oh my, has it been hot around here?! This weekend was the hottest I remember in a while so that meant early activities and lazy afternoons. Keeping the boys busy inside was a challenge!

Friday night, we had family movie night and had fun watching 'Gnomeo and Juliet'. After the boys went to bed, I did some sewing - managing to get a baby blanket made that night for a special little girl I'll meet this year - while Tim caught up on his "man tv".

Saturday morning, Tim went on a bike ride while I took the boys to the Y. I did a semi-quick swim in the indoor pool before taking them to the outdoor pool to play their little hearts out. And play they did! Cole used to be scared to get down in the pool and now he's trying to jump off the edge by himself. We stayed out there for close to an hour and a half and the boys were pooped. Cole even fell asleep on the short drive home, I can't remember the last time he did that. After lunch, we got them down for naps and enjoyed some quiet time to watch the day's stage of the Tour. The afternoon we just hung out around the house playing inside, outside, on the porch - just taking the play show wherever it wanted to go to be happy.

This morning, we decided to do a family bike ride early. We rode around the neighborhood and went to the lake to feed the ducks. The boys love to feed the ducks. It's so sad right now because not too many folks come out there with the heat and the ducks are super hungry, plus the water is very low in the lake. During naps, I did some more sewing - making a toddler blanket for an upcoming birthday - and Tim just hung out. We, again, stayed close to home and endured the heat best we could. By the boy's bedtime tonight, we were ready! They got their usual case of the Sunday night crazies and it was fueled by being inside quite a bit. Thankfully we made it through and start the busy roller coaster of another week tomorrow. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Seriously! In Tim's truck going to pick up the boys Friday afternoon.

Ready to get in the pool.

Break / Snack time.

Cheese!

Eli is crazy when it comes to jumping in the pool.

He just goes for it! His confidence from swim lessons definitely shows.

Asleep on the drive home, still holding his drink and snacks.

Ready to ride Sunday morning - snacks in hand.

Eli & Daddy ready to ride.

Today's duck friends. This area is usually covered in water. The lake level is so low.

Attempt at family self portrait.

Pool Party

Tonight Eli & I went to a pool party to celebrate the 4th birthday of a friend and classmate of his John. It was all of Eli's classmates and they were crazy crazy crazy! It was a lot of fun and was especially great to see all the Moms. (By the way, Cole had some great hang out time with Daddy tonight so he had fun too!)

Best photo of the gang in the pool

and on the step

This picture cracked me up because the boys kept showing each other (and me!) their colored tongues from the cake icing.

Eli and Ryan running around after the party

Mommy's Birthday Weekend

What a great weekend! The boys did such a great job celebrating my birthday. Saturday morning, I woke up to gifts and cards before going to a class at the Y with my friend Kara. An awesome start to the day - gifts and a workout! When I got back from the Y, we hung out for a bit and then Carol & Ryan and Mike & Mary stopped by to say hi and wish me a Happy Birthday. Cole started falling apart while they were here so our plans of going to Chick-fil-a for lunch changed. Tim & Eli went to Chick-fil-a to grab us lunch while Cole napped. After lunch, everyone wanted to go with me to Joann's and Target. The boys decided to "keep it real" for me and act a little bonkers at the stores. No giving Mommy too much special treatment for her birthday! Eli napped late, Cole wanted none of it and then it was time for dinner. Tim grilled shrimp for me and we enjoyed a nice dinner.

Sunday morning, Tim had arranged for a baby sitter for the boys so we went on a road bike ride together. It was so nice to be out there together AND I rode great! I even beat Tim up this one long hill (always my goal but never reached until now!!). I told him that I channeled my inner Thomas Voeckler to beat him up the hill. BTW, we are LOVING the Tour de France being on tv. After our ride, we took the boys to Umstead to hike. We chose a short loop so they'd hike on their own feet. That worked great for Eli but Cole wasn't happy so he ended up Ergo'd on my back. The weather was perfect and it was so nice to be out in the woods as a family. Lunch and got the boys down for naps and then I went to Babies R Us with some great friends expecting their first baby and helped them navigate the "need", "might be nice" and "absolutely don't need" items to finish off their registry. It's amazing the things you learn in the first few years that you don't realize you know until you share it with someone!

All in all, it was a most wonderful birthday. I'm so lucky to have such a great Husband, wonderful boys, awesome family and thoughtful and amazing friends.

EARLY Saturday morning gifts - this one 'Gnomeo and Juliet" the movie.

Cole tried to hold my big present hostage.

Ahhhhh, love! My new GREEN Michael Kors purse. Amazing what Tim went through and the covert mission he had going on to get it.

Cutie Cole

My sweet Eli

Wonderful Hubs!

Cole versus Fudgesicle - I'll let you decide who won.

Cole studying up on his Monster Jam.

Bike ride with Tim Sunday morning.

Camelbak, check. Trekking poles, check. Eli's ready to hike!

My little hiker boy

Reading about trees with Daddy.

Cole in the Ergo - hiking the easy way....for him!

Grabbing a drink from Daddy's Camelbak

My boys

Eli's summit of the big rock

He climbed up there all by himself

After a while, Cole decided to hike on his own. Of course, we were almost finished!

Break right before the end

"I didn't do it"

That face!

Eli thought it was fun to get some water out of his Camelbak

and then spit it out everywhere.

the Royal Ball

Announcing King Eli.......Eli's class had their Royal Ball today and it was so cute seeing Eli in his crown and cape. I saw pictures from the actual ball and the boys and girls came in together, hand in hand (so cute!) and they even did some dancing!

Cole's 2 year check

This morning Cole had his 2 year well check (WOW! Is he really 2 already?!!). Everything looked great. Developmentally he's doing everything he should and more. He had a finger prick to take blood and check for anemia - no problems there. He did great for the finger prick and was fascinated by the red color going into the vial but he was not happy at all with me when he had to get his last Hep A shot. He screamed and was mad for a few minutes but a gummy treat made it all better. We'll go back for flu mist in the fall but he's now on annual well checks!!

Stats:

32-1/4 pounds = 90-95th percentile
35-5/8" tall = 75-90th percentile
Head 51 cm = 95th percentile

Our very healthy little boy!

Uncle time!

We had a great visit with Uncle Billy and Miss Niki (soon to be Aunt Niki!) this weekend. They stayed overnight after Cole's birthday party to spend some time with us and the boys. Saturday night, we ate part of Cole's cake before they went to The Pit for dinner. Apparently, they had seen The Pit in a show on tv and couldn't wait to go try the bbq - I'm not a pork bbq person but they said it was the best ever.

This morning we stayed close to home - well other than Tim & Billy taking the boys on a grocery store run. Eli & Cole were crazy and running everywhere. We forced them outside to play and mid morning, we all hopped in the back of Uncle Billy's truck to go feed ducks at the lake. This was the boys first ride in the back of a pick up truck! You can't do it these days but I remember spending many a Sunday afternoon riding in the back of my Dad's pickup truck just seeing where we'd end up. Yes, I grew up in the country and we found ways to entertain ourselves! We had fun feeding the ducks / geese at the lake - and boy, were they happy to see us. I guess between the 4th of July holiday and the heat, not too many people have been out there feeding them lately. We took a lot of bread and threw it all to them, other than a few bites by Eli! Quick ride home and we had lunch on the porch together. Then we had to say goodbye so Billy & Niki could make the trip home - when the boys were yelling (literally yelling) bye, Eli yelled bye to "Aunt Niki". So sweet!! We had so much fun seeing them (and now they understand the craziness at our house!!) and are thankful they made the trip up.

Once they left, we put the boys down for naps. And they took the best naps they've taken in months!! Two hours each. Woo hoo! I think the weekend, all the excitement and a few late nights finally caught up with them. After naps, we decided to have water play. Cole got a water wiggler for his birthday and we thought it'd be fun to try it out. Cole wanted nothing to do with it (yet) but Eli loved it. He ran through the water, tried to give his monster truck a bath and even tried to aim the "arms" at us.

We got the boys to bed at a decent time and are now enjoying some quiet before a busy week ahead. It was an awesome weekend. Celebrating our little Cole-man with friends and family..........perfection!!!

Uncle Billy tickle monster getting Eli.

Cole & Uncle Billy (funny, I remember when Billy was this age!)

Eli & Uncle Billy (and when he was this age!!)

Just what everyone needs, a Cole-in-a-box.

Loaded up in Uncle Billy's truck, headed to the lake.

Being silly.

Riding in the back of the truck is fun!

Walking down to the lake.

Baby ducks. We don't usually see this many baby ducks.

The gang

Our audience , our hungry audience

Feeding ducks - and feeding Eli

I love Eli's face here.

Uncle Billy loves his nephews.

Searching for turtles with Daddy.

Great picture of Uncle Billy & Miss Niki.

Silly Cole-man

Family pick up time

Safe in Daddy's lap

Water wiggler time

Washing his monster truck

Trying to get me wet

Having fun

Running around - Eli had a lot of fun with the water wiggler.