Boys adventure weekend

This past weekend, Tim and the boys headed down to Grandma & Grandpa N's for the weekend......without Mommy. As in boys weekend, Mommy home alone. It has been a LONG time since I've been alone in the house. We always had Belle here if I was ever by myself so this was the first weekend of no Belle and no family. It was quiet, parts relaxing and most of all, I realized that I don't miss whatsoever the time before kids. I missed Tim. I missed the boys and I missed us being a family. At times I felt it was too quiet and was most definitely excited to see them on Sunday afternoon.

While they were gone, I was a very exciting person. Physical therapy appointment, a run and some sewing and cleaning on Saturday. Sewing time with my friend Carol Sunday morning and then errands / chore time before the boys came home. Sadly, even being able to sleep as late as I wanted, I was awake before 6am each day and out of bed by 7am. I am a grown up!

So the boys weekend. They left out Friday night before 7pm and when I talked to Tim at 9:30pm, Eli was still jabbering away in the truck and Cole finally fell asleep. Saturday morning, Tim went on a bike ride with the boys hung out with Grandma & Grandpa. Apparently, the boys had a blast with them and were attached to them all weekend. Funniest thing, Tim said that Cole went into Grandma's room each morning when he woke up. I guess he woke up in a new place and went looking for someone. The rest of Saturday, it seems, was spent hanging out and playing outside.

Sunday was the BIG day. Tim and the boys went out on the boat with Tim's friend Preston and his family. The boys LOVED it. They talked non-stop to me about the boat ride - Eli has been calling it a two engine motor boat since the boat did have two engines. They rode to a spot, anchored and the boys got to play. Tim did great taking pictures. It was hard for me not to be there with them for the weekend. I never want to miss anything but desperately needed some down time. They spent half the day out, went back to Grandma & Grandpa's for lunch and then headed home.

Eli & Cole we so excited to see Mommy when they got home. Of course, Daddy was exhausted but overall the trip went well. Their first boys adventure weekend! And it seems like he'll try it again. A BIG thank you to Grandma & Grandpa for taking care of them all weekend and a BIG thank you to Preston & Maria for the boat adventure.

Puppy Jim and Monkey Jim, packed up and ready to go.

The goldfish pond is a magnet for the boys. Every single time!

Hanging with Grandma.

Which one is the true Buddha? Cole looks like he's poking his belly out to match his Buddha pal.

Fun throw and catch with Grandpa. I love Cole's face in this shot.

Grandpa and his boys.

Ice cream al fresco Saturday night.

Suited up and ready to go on the boat. My, don't they look cute?!!

Eli and Ray on the way out.

Ms. Maria and Thomas.

Daddy and Cole.

Mr. Preston telling Eli something cool.

Daddy self portrait with the boys.

Apparently on the way out, Cole kept asking for nappy nights so Tim took him below and let him catch a little cat nap.

My little explorers.

A shot of all four boys - Cole, Eli, Ray and Thomas. Hopefully they will have LOTS of adventures together.

Tim took this picture of pelicans for me. For those who don't know, pelicans and I don't get along too well. When I was training for the Ironman, we went out on the boat with Tim's parents so I could get some open water practice. A pelican "marked" me and thought I was a yummy seal snack. I was so worried that he would swoop down on me and knock me unconscious. So that never happened.....but it could have! Then the last time we went on the boat with Preston & Maria, a pelican started trailing us. They just seem to find me. And I don't like them one single bit!!

Cole loved the water and playing.

Eli the adventurer.

The boys had so much fun and played their little hearts out.

Cole fell asleep on the boat ride back. He even fell asleep with cheeze-its in his hand. That's one pooped little boy!

Boat loving Eli.

He was super proud that he caught his first fish. As soon as he got out of the truck on Sunday, he HAD to show me his fish. Fishy made the trek home in a plastic bag on ice. Then fishy spent the evening in a bowl, carried around the house by Eli. Now fishy resides in our freezer. Not sure how long he'll stay there but Eli checks on him regularly. I love that my boys are true boys.

Check it out - eating cheeze its with fishy in hand.

Thank you honey for the weekend off and thank you for taking pictures for me. Love you!