Visits

Grampa Chuck and Gramma Mary came to visit this weekend.  What fun we had!  Drew got tons of extra attention and snuggles, and Evan was thrilled to have more playmates and partners in crime. 

One thing Evan completely refuses to do is take a photo with his brother and anyone else.  He'll take as many photos as we'd like with just Drew, but when it comes time to pose with someone else, he flatly refuses.  We thought we had him in the shot below, which we set up very covertly and tried to sneak the shot in.  Mr. Smarty realized what we were up to though and dove behind Grampa at the last second - you can just see his hair and shadow in the background.  We'll keep trying! 

Moving Up Day

Evan's moving up!  It's transition time at school, and the kids have been spending time with their teachers-to-be over the last couple weeks as they get ready to graduate to the next class.  This is a big one for Evan - he'll be leaving the "baby" wing of school and moving to the "big kid side."  He's incredibly excited, though you can tell he's sad to leave his old teacher.  Ms. Felicia has been fantastic to Evan for 2 years now.  She was in the other baby room when Evan was a tiny infant, and got to spend time with Felicia there, and we were ecstatic when she got her own class of 1-2 year olds this past year.  She's been there to teach Evan counting, his colors, and the alphabet.  She's helped him with making friends, sharing, following rules, having a routine, and potty training.  Together they've sung countless songs, and read hundreds of books, and colored and painted on nearly every surface imaginable.  We were incredibly lucky to have Ms. Felicia as a teacher, and will miss her dearly.  Evan put together a very nice card to help tell Ms. Felicia how much she means and thank her for helping to create the foundation for most everything else he's going to learn in life.  Happily, she's just down the hall if he needs a quick visit and we're hoping possible Drew will get to be in Ms. Felicia's class next year too! 

Ms. Felicia and Evan, 2011

Felicia and Keri's classes of 1-2 yearolds
enjoy morning snack.

Thanks to Ms. Keri too for all the time spent with Evan!

Evan' showing off his card for
Ms. Felicia.  The inside was covered
in every sticker Evan could find in
the house.  He was very proud
of his creation.

The Boys

This is so very us!  Evan's distracted, Mike's telling Evan to may attention, Drew is staring intently at Evan wanting whatever he has, and Ernie's sticking his tongue out.  And mommy's behind the camera.  A true moment in our lives... unposed!

Baby Face

Drew's full of new expressions!  He's got a huge smile and giggle, a surprise look, a worry/confusion furrowed brow, a look of adoration for his big brother, and the saddest sad face ever.  Here are a couple examples:

Love My Carseat

Maybe the title's not exactly accurate.  It should be "Love My Carseat Toys But Hate the Carseat Unless Someone's Bouncing Me In It Or The Car Is Moving."  Drew's not exactly a fan of being strapped in, so we have to endure a moment of screaming until we can pick up the seat and bounce it on our arm & hip.  However, the addition of a football and baseball to his carseat seem to have helped matters.  Evan loved these, and Drew does too. He watches them bounce and swing, and he smiles and laughs at them.  It's good for a few moments of distraction, which is all that's needed.

Party Time

We went to a fun birthday party for our friend Matthew today!  He turns 2 in a couple weeks, and it was a great day for a party.  While the weather was well over 100 degrees, the party was at the Greenlee Spray Park.  All the kids (and some adults) showed up in water-wear and had a blast running through the permanent sprinklers and water jets.  Cold grapes, watermelon, and juice were perfect for the weather, but of course nothing tops a gigantic Elmo cupcake-cake.  Happy Birthday, Matthew! 

The balloon sang Happy Birthday!

Mmmm - frosting!

Evan and Caleb taking a break

Super Caleb!

Drew Tracking Toys

He's just over 2 months old, and Drew's vision has really improved.  He's definitely tracking items now.  Amazing how fast he grows!

Helper

Evan loves to help!  We'll take advantage while we can.

Photo Shoot

While the big boys were out playing in the yard, mommy and Drew enjoyed some quiet time to play and nap, have some tummy time, and of course take some more photos.  Even Ernie got in on the action!  I also realized that Drew has found the purpose of his thumb and is constantly on the hunt for it.  Let's hope he outgrows that one quickly! 

Matching

All Evan wants to wear these days is either a Lightening McQueen or CavMan shirts.  Luckily he has multiples of each, 6 Lightnings and 3 CavMans, to choose from or I'd be doing a single-shirt load of laundry each night!  Trying to get him into something else, anything else, is a complete nightmare, complete with tears and screams and running down the stairs naked sobbing for the other parent to please please please let him wear what he wants.  He's definitely got a stubborn 3year old streak going on, and after one or two of those morning incidents, we're all much happier if he wears what he wants.  There is one exception to the uniform however - if Evan has an outfit that matches Drew.  A couple days ago they wore the same shirt to school, and today Evan suggested it himself!  He saw Drew wearing a baseball glove and ball shirt and abandoned the hunt for a clean CavMan to get out his shirt with a baseball glove and ball on it.  Hurrah! 

Humpty Dumpty

Guess what rhyme the kids learned in school this week?  This art project was so clever, and it really made me laugh!

Happiest Baby on the Block

At 5 1/2 weeks, (about a week ago) Drew started to really focus on our faces and interact a little.  He's been smiling and giving us the occasional coo since then.  It's quite a welcome change from the earsplitting cries.  I so love a happy baby!!  Here's some baby love for you: a short :30 one and a long 3:30 one, as I know the grandparents especially will say a short video of a handsome and happy baby just won't do!

Go Brewers

It's the All-Star Break, and Evan was thrilled to watch his "Bernie Brewers" test out their skills in the Home Run Derby last night.  He played right along with them, hitting every ball "over the right field fence."   The difference was that for each hit, Evan ran the bases around the room.  I don't know where he gets the energy. 

Today both he and Drew wore their Brewers gear to school in honor of the Brewers All Star selections.  Before school, Evan took some time to hang out with Drew and tell him all about Bernie Brewer and hitting the ball over the right field fence.  He also shared with Drew a secret: that we're going to Milwaukee later this summer and going to go see Bernie Brewer in person, and watch the Sausages race.  Pure joy! 

Green Eggs...

Sunday morning went something like this:

Evan: "What's for breakfast, mommy?"
Me: "Hmm... eggs?"
Evan: "Green eggs and ham, mommy?"
Me: "Well actually... do you like green eggs and ham?"
Evan: "No, Sam."
Me: "Would you eat them in a boat? In a car? On a train?"
Evan: "Ok! I like them, Sam I Am!"

He was amazed when I actually did make green eggs and ham.  He even tried them and declared he did like them!  Then he decided he wasn't that hungry.  Oh well - they were quite delicious.

Sleepy Snuggly

The best part about having a tiny baby in the house is the snuggles, hands down.  I love the moment when he's done eating and falls asleep in my arms, then I hoist him up on my shoulder.  His spindly legs curl under, his baby tush fits just right in my hand, his warm soft head tucks in to the crook of my neck, and his arm drapes down my shoulder.  Then he sighs a content happy sigh and falls into a deep sleep.  I could hold him there forever... if my arm didn't go to sleep! 

Kids

All the kids hanging out together, for a fleeting moment!

Bath Time

"Mommy, I super dirty," declared Evan tonight.  Yep - that's what happens when you play hard!  Between the paint at school, mulch from the playground, grass from the yard, and sunscreen, a bath at the end of the day is usually a good idea.  Both boys got baths tonight, together for the first time.  Evan was very helpful as he carefully poured warm water over Drew's belly, and didn't splash or get any in his eyes at all.  Drew loves the bath; he just smiles and smiles as he floats in the warmth.  Then it was time to get wrapped up in a snuggly clean towel, listen to a story, and float off to dreamland.  All clean!

Happy 4th of July!

Ah, the 4th of July.  It's the mid-marker of summer, one of the best times around.  Perfect for picnics, parades, pool time, and parties.  We still celebrated all day!  Charlottesville has no parade, the vicious storms cut the pool time short, our grilling/picnic was rained out, and the fireworks weather left a lot to be desired (drizzly & humid).  However, we still had a blast (haha) making American-themed foods, got in a little pool time before the thunder, and spent the evening with Hunts lighting our own fireworks, laughing, and all around having a good time.  Happy 4th to you!

American Flag waffles with Egg stars
for breakfast

Sparkler Pops: marshmallows & fruit
rollups, with glitter sprinkles for dessert

Peach Picking

The weather is hot hot hot out!  We decided to spend the morning wandering through the shade of the peach orchard in search of some sweet fruit.  It was still hot, but there was a nice breeze blowing up on Carter Mountain.  We strolled through the orchard (Drew in his stroller and Evan in the wagon, or should I say in and out and in and out of the wagon), climbed the trees, ate peaches in the orchard, snacked on strawberry ice cream, and got peach donuts for tomorrow's breakfast.  Both boys, and both adults, were completely wiped after a great morning. 

Of course, mommy packed everything we could possibly need for both boys, including the entire camera bag... minus the camera battery!  It was left recharging in the kitchen.  D'oh!  Luckily I had my phone with me, so I got a couple snaps to share.  I guess this is just a good excuse to go again!  Yum! 

Surveying Charlottesville from
atop Carter Mountain

Drew's dreaming of the day he can
eat a peach too!

Daddy showing Evan how to
find a ripe peach

Mommy: "Yummers!" 
Evan: "No, it's not yummy, Mommy; it's delicious!"