Fun at the Children's Museum

On Friday the boys and I decided to try out the Marbles Children's Museum in Raleigh. We had a blast. There were so many fun dress up and imaginative play areas that Parker loved. Fire Fighters were of course his favorite. Both boys made pretty cute ones if you ask me. They had a great pirate ship to play in, a water area, large legos, REAL tools, and many other cool areas to play. I think I had as much fun as they did. We will definitely have to go back soon.

Firefighter in training!

Hey everybody! Where's the fire?

Cole enjoying crawling through the bridge we built out of legos.

Yikes!

Preschool here we come!!!

In the words of Parker "I'm old enough to go to preschool today".

And he's right. Today was Parker's first day of preschool. He did so well. He walked right into his classroom and put his things in his cubby. He went to coloring at the table and we said goodbye. Amazingly no tears but he knew I'd be back after the playground:)

Now how did mommy keep from crying, because believe me it was tough. Well he did great for one and then my good friend Tricia kept me busy with a little shopping and then some fantastic pedicures. Then it was time to pick him up. He said he had fun and wants to go back to play with the hook and ladder truck and go on the other playground.

What fun things to look forward to.

We had lunch with daddy too which was great.

Ready for school

Check out that hot wheels bookbag

Cole hanging with the ladies for shopping and pedicures.

He thought the chair was silly when in vibrated.

This is how I found Parker when I checked in on him at nap time (after school).

Check out the book he wanted with him. For anyone getting your child ready to transition to preschool this is a fabulous book!

Thanks Gigi for the crayon popsicles in celebration of starting preschool.

YUM!

We are Blessed!!!

Wally and I had a wonderful opportunity 2 weekends ago to get away for the weekend to celebrate our anniversary - lucky #7!!! We went to Myrtle Beach while Gigi and Poppy watched the kids here at the house for us. Oh yes I said a child free weekend. What did we do you ask? Well we stayed at a hotel on the beach, went to the pool, had drinks in the lazy river, went to the beach and had wonderful dinners out. It was so relaxing and just what we needed. Man is it great when the biggest thing you worry about that day is whether you can find a chair by the pool and where you want to eat dinner.

Us at Joe's Crab Shack. We really enjoyed it. The crab legs were great!

Enough said!

Here are some great pics of the boys!!!

This hair just makes me LAUGH!

Cole and Copper enjoying some floor time.

Who let the lion in?

The boys playing together in Cole's room. They are such buddies.

I couldn't ask for better kids!


Father's Day this year turned into a weekend of fun. We went down to the water slides in Emerald Isle first then headed to the camper for naps. It was then that the ocean air easily convinced us we should stay the weekend. We enjoyed playing in the pool, riding the golf cart and walking the dock. Hard to leave but we had to get back as we hosted a cookout for the Dad's (Wally, Poppy, and Granddad). It started pouring so our cookout came indoors. Wally cooked some AWESOME Mahi and we enjoyed everyone's company.

There are some wonderful Dad's in our family, inclusding you honey!!! You are fantastic!

The boys riding the Whale at the waterslides in EI.

Yep, that's Parker going down the water slide ALL BY HIMSELF. This is a pretty big water slide and it took a little convincing for mom to agree to it (basically Wally and Parker saying come on mom it'll be OK). And it was. He probably rode that waterslide 30 times.

We had a lot of fun!

Our new toy. I found this cool blow up barrel at Target for $20. When I saw it I could not pass it up. Let's just say Wally and I even took a few turns rolling around the yard. The people walking their dogs were definitely getting a kick out of us as they walked by.


BLUEBERRY PICKING!!!

Gigi, Poppy, Parker, Cole and I went blueberry picking last Friday. It was our first official time and it was a lot of fun. Quite a bit easier than strawberry picking too. It was great filling the buckets and our bellies as we picked. We went early that morning but it still got hot very quickly. Can't wait to go back.

Parker finding some blueberries.

Guess these are not going to make it to the bucket!

Man look at all those blueberries! Scary thing is that we've all almost eaten all of them in a week. Guess it's time to go back.

Nothing like a good ol' popsicle to cool you off.

What we've been up to!

Well we've been busy these past few weeks so I apologize for the lack of posting. Here are a few pics to show what we've been having fun doing.

Parker finished gymanstics.

We have been doing a mommy and me class (though daddy's do it too) for the past year and we have all really enjoyed it. Parker really liked the medal he got on the last day of class.

Cole enjoying his first biter biscuit. We have to be VERY cautious with these though as this kid already has 4 teeth and is currently cutting his 5th. He can easily get huge chunks off of these things, but he likes them.

Parker has enjoyed the garden we planted this year. We are growing tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, eggplant, cilantro, basil, okra, cayenne peppers and banana peppers. Here he is having a great time picking off some ready to eat cherry tomatoes. YUM!!!

These two really are great together. Parker loves looking at books with Cole and as you can see Cole is eager to see what Parker has for him.

Aunt Cindy and Uncle Jason came down for a visit over Memorial Day weekend. We had a great time catching up with them and enjoying some fun festivities. This was the first time they met Cole which was quite fun too. You can see Cole took to them quite easily.

We've definitely been out and enjoying the sun. Cole enjoys his float and really likes chewing on Parker's pool rings

Parker enjoying a boat ride.

Cole on his first boat ride.

We had a great time riding out to an island and letting the kids play in the sand and water as well as grilling hotdogs out there with friends.

We LOVE summertime!!!

Daddy and Cole enjoying a snuggle under the umbrella.

Parker showing off a cool little fish that his friend Gus brought him in a bucket.

The boys all just love picking up these fish after Mr. Ryan catches them in a cast net for them.

Happy 9th Birthday Boys!!!

It is hard to believe that these boys are 9 already. They can be lazy like old men yet still wrestle each other and race around the yard like puppies.

We hope to have many more years with you both.

You are both truely a wonderful part of our family.

Copper

Hurley

Aren't we cute?

Parker, wearing his hat like daddy!

My favorite way!

Yea, they get to take baths together. This is so much easier. I love this bath seat for Cole. It allows me to have my hands free for both. They are enjoying each others company too. Gotta love it though, we had to clear the tub 5 minutes in the first night though because Cole decided to poop in the tub. YUCK! He has only done this on one other occassion in his 8 months of baths. The next night Parker told Cole 3 times not to poop in the tub. It was quite funny and Cole listened, thank goodness.

Lovin the bath with his brother

Two peas in a pod

Strawberry pickin!!

My dad (Poppy), Parker, Cole and I went strawberry picking on Friday as we do each year.

We had alot of fun filling our buckets and of course eating strawberries along the way.

Not sure this strawberry is making it to the bucket.

Nope! These strawberries were great and we ALL enjoyed some as we picked

Poppy and Parker looking for strawberries

Look at how many we have so far

The strawberry pickin crew!

Can't wait til next season!