It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Sure, before having kids it may have been the holiday season, but back-to-school takes the honors now. Ben had his first day of Pre-K today. He was such a trooper.

Daddy walking him in to school.
He was all smiles when I came to pick him up, as was I for having had a chance to get the million little things done that have been waiting all summer - a success all around!

Beach Bums

We took our annual beach trip last week. Despite an unexpected tropical storm, we had a great time. It's fun to go back year after year and see how the boys' reactions to everything change over time. Ben LOVED the ocean this year. He wanted to jump big waves, build sand castles, and look for seashells. His favorite thing was going out one night after dark with Daddy to look for crabs. They took flashlights, his new crab net, and a bucket and caught 5 crabs. Ben reported back to me that they had run into some folks who had "only seen 2 all night. That means I'm 'specialer' than they are." He then realized that wasn't very nice and retracted by saying, "Actually, we're all special." Noah, for all his water-lovin' self, did NOT love the ocean. The sand was fun, but I think the loudness and vastness of the water was a bit overwhelming for him. He kept saying, "No like it, ocean. No like it, ocean." Hopefully next year he'll feel differently.
A relaxing lunch on the balcony.

We took the boys to play miniature golf one afternoon - Noah's first time.

He was in to it at first.

But soon found that playing around on the green was more fun than trying to get the ball into the hole.

And eventually resorted to all-out silliness.

Noah at 2

I thought I'd take some time to capture some thoughts about our "baby" boy at 2 years of age. The baby book has long been abandoned, so this has become my notebook for such memories.

Noah is a larger than life kid. He is, no doubt, a very spirited child. He can fill up the room with his laughter, and make the same room shudder with his piercing screams of anger (as in, any higher and it would be a dog whistle). He is an all-or-nothing kind of boy. Always has been.

His only mode of self transport is running - not sure he knows how to walk. He cannot get anywhere fast enough (trying to keep up with big brother, no doubt).

He is a true water baby. Loves to swim, splash, bathe, soak, you name it. It will be so fun to see him at the beach this year.

His language is growing, growing! He is like a little parrot, repeating the last two words of whatever sentence he hears. Some favorite phrases these days are, "day-go" (there you go), "duv-u" (love you), and (oh melt my heart!) "Ben," said with the UTMOST sweetness.

He could live on cheese. Enough said.

He remains a champion sleeper. Seriously, enough said.

Noah can be a crazy kid. He's the one in the grocery store grabbing everything off the shelves, the one in the airplane screaming to get down and run, the one in the restaurant clamoring for food ... and, honestly, we wouldn't have him any other way. That same gregarious energy is what makes him the best hug giver (when he hugs you, you know you've been hugged), what gives him that irresistably contagious giggle, and what simply makes him our "Nu-saur." You are so loved, dear boy.

Bravos

We took the boys to a Braves game a couple of weeks ago. Ben's been a few times already this year, but this was Noah's first game of the season. It was HOT, but we had a good time for the 4 innings that we were able to hang in there.

We got there early enough to spend some time in the kids' zone.

Noah loved all the sights and sounds of the big league.

Ben got a chance to score a run.

Heading for home (now, why wouldn't he do this for t-ball?).

And, of course, monkey see ...

monkey do.

Summertime in Michigan

I am ridiculously late in getting these posted, but we had a great trip to Michigan to visit my family the end of July. As usual, we spent a lot of time playing with cousins, enjoying the outdoors, and just RELAXING.

A major draw this year was cousin Austin's "motor," a battery-powered four-wheeler that the boys spent hours riding (thanks, Austin, for being such a good sharer)!

Giving Austin a ride. In true Ben fashion, he would only be the driver, not the passenger.

Noah had to get in on the action, and then, Lord help us ...


Another favorite is Papa's big collection of tractors. Daddy gave MANY tractor rides, which he enjoyed as much as the kids (big surprise).
The weather was beautiful. One day we had a picnic and ...

got in a round of miniature golf.
Another plus is that it's always fun to be reunited with Novalee.

Our last day in Michigan was Noah's 2nd birthday. We spent the day with lots of cousins playing at the Upper Peninsula Children's Museum, a fabulous place with tons for the kiddos to explore. Noah and Auntie Pam look at a giant snake.

Taking potty training to a whole new level.
Given his behavior on the flight to Michigan, maybe this is what we should consider for future air travel with Noah.

Ben, Austin, and Kaylin picking apples.

"Roar!"

Auntie Cheryl shows Noah a live turtle.

Ben and his cousins spent a lot of time on stage - a flair for the dramatic, you might say.

I think he was having to dance to get in to the princess's castle (the plot was rich).

It was a dazzling performance.

After coming home and taking a short rest, we had a pizza party for the two birthday kiddos, Kaylin (who turned 6 the next day) and Noah.

Yummy strawberry shortcake - a July birthday bonus.

Happy birthday, sweet Noah!

Bowl-A-Rama

With Daddy and Noah in Columbus today, Ben and I had a chance to do some not-so-fun-with-a-1-year-old activities. First, Ben started a week-long camp at school, which he absolutely loved. He met a lot of new friends, and (you may not know this) in the world of 3 and 4-year-olds, who can pick up whom (and I mean literally lift off the ground) is a matter of serious bragging rights and elite social status. We got reports all last school year about who could pick Ben up and whom he could lift. Well, today, the most exciting part of camp was that "there was a girl there who could pick me up ... AND WALK!!!" For him, it was a great first day.

After camp, he and I went home to bake oatmeal cookies, which he's been dying to do since seeing it done on Sesame Street. Then we headed to the bowling alley for Ben's first foray into the game. He was intrigued by it all -- the shoes, the noises, the rows and rows of alleys. So funny to see things through a 4-year-old's lens. It was beyond cute to watch him barely be able to lift the 6-pound ball, waddle up to the line with it, crouch down, and send it off with as much gusto as he could muster ...

The crouch was key.The ball rolled in unbelievably sloooooow motion down the entire alley, taking FOREVER to get to the end, and once even completely stopping midway. Just when I thought it was going to be the longest game in the history of bowling ...
We devised a new method - the ramp. Like a walker for bowling! Gotta love it. Once we found this, in combination with the gutter bumpers, kid had mad skillz.

Fun-filled 4th Weekend

On Friday, Jess took the day off and we headed down to Centennial Olympic Park to play in the Fountain of Rings. I'm not sure we've ever seen Noah laugh as much as he did running through those fountains. Summer at its best ...

This went on for about an hour. So fun!

Ben, with goggles, was not quite as adventurous, but he had a blast too.

The next day, the 4th, we played at the pool all morning and spent the afternoon and evening in downtown Decatur. There's a sweet little Pied Piper Parade that we take Ben, and now Noah, to every year. You wouldn't know it by these faces, but the boys were actually really excited for the parade to start.

Waiting for candy to be tossed their way.

After the parade, we staked out a spot on the lawn to wait for the fireworks. We had a picnic dinner and listened to the concert on the square.

The boys had fun hanging out with Uncle Joseph while we waited (and waited and waited) for darkness to fall.

We also met up with our friends Chad and Leah and their 4 beautiful girls.

Ben and Mary Catherine danced and danced,

and Noah and Sarah Frances giggled and giggled.

Noah tried to hang in there for the fireworks to start, but he grew increasingly weary. This was the first year we kept the boys up and we weren't sure what their reaction would be ...

Ben's face lit up - he absolutely loved them!Noah was intrigued at first, but then fatigue took over and he had had enough. A very happy 4th it was, though.

The next day, my birthday, was a great cap-off to the holiday weekend with some pampering and lots of time spent with my favorite guys. Nothing sweeter in the world.