Hot spot

Playgrounds make them happy...really, really Happy. I could force them to go bra shopping with me for 3 hours and they would be absolutely miserable... but they'd suffer through it if I promised to take them to a playground afterwards. That's how much joy they get out of being able to climb, run, slide, swing, and just explore.

Holding handzzzz

They are napping in Oak's room. David Tre is on the floor. Through the monitor I heard him tell his brother, "Hold my hand Oakley." And Oakley said "Okay!" And here they sleep... hand in hand. Oh my heart is so full.

Sleepless in Sunbury

I'm blogging at 4am because I've been awake since 2:45 when Oak started crying and calling for me. I waited for him to fall back asleep which sometimes happens (not as often as I'd like). He never gave up so I went in and snuggled him, hugged him, kissed him and said "you need to sleep" and he replied "get your pillow and lay down". That meant get my spare pillow out of his closet and lie down on his bedroom floor next to his crib so we can hold hands through the railings. I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE doing this with him. The problem is last night we did this for like Three Hours. I laid there on the floor with one arm up holding his chubby little hand through the crib slats, while he carried on conversations with Mickey Mouse and had a one-sided argument with his brother (who was sleeping in the next room). For Three Hours. He finally dozed off after 4am and I ninja snuck out of there. Back to tonight...we do it all again. Lucky for me he fell asleep faster this time...I was only in there 45 min. I ninja crawled out of the room, cussed at the door hinge that creaks, listened for any crying (silence) and felt like a lucky-ass Mary Poppins! Before going back to my awesome bed I checked on David Tre who was quietly sleeping (awww) and, to my unfortunate surprise, drenched in pee. So it was another 30 min or so helping my bigger boy get cleaned up and back to a dry warm bed. Now I'm freaking wide awake. Remember this Crystal when you're sad the boys are away at college and you're soaking up 4+ consecutive hours of beauty sleep.

Sweet dribbles

Here's a late night peek into Oak's personality. He insisted on holding the basketball while I rocked him before bedtime and so he fell asleep clutching it. Then when I moved him into his bed he held it tighter and fell back asleep like this.

Fish stories

He went fishing with Daddy this evening and now they're walking back home from the pond. Oakley says they caught 159 fish.

Your pad or mine?

I kinda can't wait to show him when he's older that he used to love playing with mommy's stash of feminine pads.

Our Kindergartner!

It's Monkey's first day of Kindergarten... can you believe? He was so terrific this morning... he made his bed, brushed his teeth, let me fix his hair without fussing or whining. My sweet hubby even woke up early to make Davey Tre pancakes for his first day of school. There were no tears when we said goodbye in the gym... and baby brother even gave him a big hug and kiss in there. I bet that doesn't happen for too many years before Davey realizes there's a cool factor at stake. Right before he and his classmates walked down the hall, I kissed him and said "Buddy, I'll be here to pick you up after school." Davey looked at me and asked "Mommy, could you please stay at the school the whole time I'm here and wait for me?" I said "Yes sweetheart, I'll be here the whole time, waiting right outside the school for you." He looked more reassured and walked (so bravely) in line out of the gym and down the hall and he was gone. I didn't cry until just now.

** Edit By Dave **   His pics were on the news tonight too!

Last day of summer break

Tomorrow this cutie pie is going to be a kindergartner! He and his daddy and I are all excited and feeling confident that he'll do great!

At the pool with my poos

Last few days of our pool-filled mornings before school starts.

Eat up little man

Dinnertime! Oak likes tomatoes... along with almost every other food he tries.

His first tuxedo

Monkey got to walk in his first wedding. Our neighbors, Beverly and Jeff, got married and asked Davey to walk down the aisle carrying a sign that read "too late to run... here she comes!" It was so cute and it had the desired affect. When all the guests, and the groom, saw Davey walking down the aisle with the sign, they all chuckled and loved it! And Monkey did awesome... had the best behavior at the ceremony and reception!

Exploring woodlands

Today the boys took their Noni and PaPa on a walk through one of the county preserves near our house to explore paths and see wild animals. They scoped out different native trees (like oaks!) and spotted chipmunks, turtles, and waterbugs. Here the four of them are climbing stairs to a wildlife viewing blind overlooking a big pond.

Bedtime Funny Faces

After reading 'What Pet Should We Get' and the Mickey Mouse book (both Oak choices), I tried to find a video of meteor showers and there was a request for a picture.  Here is our silly pic!

The only time they're still and quiet

They just fell asleep. We read a Batman book ( picked by Oak ) and a chameleon book ( picked by Davey Tre ) and I sang a few songs and they were Out. They're so snuggly it's hard for me to leave now.

Baseball, horses, and more in Louisville

We drove just a short three hours and 20 minutes south to Louisville KY where we met Belinda for a few days of sightseeing and fun. We packed a lot in and the boys really had a good time!

Downtown Louisville... we'd just arrived and Oaks wanted to see the water fountain up close.
But he realized he got wet being this close and didn't like it anymore.

On their way to the pool!

The hotel pool was definitely one of the highlights of the trip for these two boys.

King of the playground!

Louisville is so pretty

Their first time on a merry-go-round. Davey was brave and wanted it to spin fast. Oak was frozen.
He held onto those two poles tightly and stood very still while it spun around...
not quite sure if he was a fan of it.

Seeing the Louisville Slugger baseball bat museum

Discovering chocolate ice cream is awesome

When headed to the pool, the elevators never come fast enough

They're running now to make up lost time at the elevator

Standing on the balcony of "Millionaires Row" at Churchill Downs...
it's impressive!

Inside the Louisville Slugger museum

This is going to be Trouble in 15 years.
They're playing on a kids' exhibit in the Kentucky Science Museum.

Exploring more of the science museum

Back in the pool! 

Vacationing wears a diva out.