The Boys

Daddy calls this one "Pig-pen"

The Boys together

Speaking of the boys, this evening we had an open house at Carter's preschool.  After we got home I was having a quiet moment with him and I said "I'm going to really miss you when you go to preschool."  

He told me "I'm not going to miss you at all.  Don't worry, I'll send pictures."

I'll take that as a good sign.

Pool Day!

The biggest perk of our new neighborhood?  The pool, of course!  We have been visiting the pool quite frequently this summer.  It has been fun to watch the kids blossoming in the water, Carter in particular has gotten much more brave.  Ava loves to kick and splash around, and with her floaties on she will swim to the deep end of the pool and back.  Dawson does not particularly enjoy the pool.  He will go in the baby pool, but it is not heated and I'm a wimp.  I usually encourage him to play near the big pool.  He sits and scoops water, sprinkles the pool with the watering can, and tries to use the squirt guns.

Walking down to the pool with our stroller loaded with towels, toys and lunch!

Dawson is wearing my sunglasses upside down.

Carter's latest pool trick:  He puts the ring into the water, then runs and jumps into it.  He dosen't need to wear his floaties because he is in the shallow end, so he goes all the way under.  Believe me, even a month ago this kid would not put his head into the water for anything, so this was a big deal.

Splash!

Big smile!  Proud of his accomplishment, as he should be!

Browns Training Camp

Carter boy visited Browns Training Camp this weekend with his Daddy and Grandbo.  Here are the pictures:

From my understanding, everyone had a good time.  The poor boy was so exhausted though, he wanted to go to bed as soon as he got home.  Which happened to be 6:30 in the evening.  I asked him "Hey Carter, how did it go?"  

His response was "fine, can I go to bed now?"

Our Week in Pictures {and stories too, of course}

My littlest helper.  Lately Dawson will get the broom out of the close and move the dirt around for me.  Thanks baby boy!  The necklace really sets off your pajama ensemble as well.

Ava has been a wonderful helper.  On this particular day I opened the dishwasher to begin unloading it and became distracted and walked away.  When I returned Ava had unloaded at least half of the dishwasher onto the island and was wiping all the water off the dishes.  Thank you so much!

This morning she also came to me and let me know that she had cleaned up her room without any help.  Sure enough, when I went to check her bedroom she had "made" her bed and put all her night time books away on the shelf.

Ava has also been very interested in cooking lately.  She loves to be kept busy stirring, measuring, dumping and cutting.   

This week Carter's soccer league has began at the YMCA.  He always looks forward to soccer nights.  On Monday I took the three kids to the field by myself because Mike was still suffering from the plague.  Carter was on the field and I was busy playing memory with Ava, scribbling with Dawson and reading books to both of them. I felt HORRIBLE when Carter came over and said "MOM, did you see me score a goal?"

No, I had not.  I wasn't paying a bit of attention, and Carter scored his first goal in a game.  I told him how great it was and how proud of him I was, and he really didn't care. 

On Wednesday Carter had soccer again, but this time Mike was feeling better and able to join us.  On the way to soccer we brought Carter's friend Danny because his sister was sick, and his Dad wasn't home from work yet.  Anyways, it was hilarious to hear Carter and Danny in the backseat having conversations with each other.  It began with Carter bragging about how he had learned to blow his nose, continued with both of the boys practicing blowing their nose and ended with a rhyme-off.  Hilarious.

After soccer on Wednesday we took the kids out for ice cream after soccer.  While Dawson loves ice cream at home, he will not eat it at the store.  We've tried it in a cone, in a bowl but either way, nope.  Finally we ate all the ice cream out of his cone and gave it to him, and then he decided to eat the cone.  What a little weirdo!

My Kidlets

Here are some pictures of my little kidlets.  We've just been hanging out and playing, enjoying our summer.  

Ava was teaching Dawson ballet.  

Dawson taking a picture of me, taking a picture of him.  Kids are such little imitators.

Carter was very proud of the picture of a praying mantis that he drew.  He is pumping his fist in the air saying "I ripped it!"

This is a semi-old story, so pardon me grandparents if you have heard it before.  Carter has been having difficulty using an appropriate volume of voice.  He will start yelling and shouting for no reason.  So we have been discussing inside voices quite often.  But recently Mike said to Carter "Why are you yelling at me, I'm right here."

Carter said "But Dad, this is how everyone talks in Pittsburgh."  

Boy that kid is right.  Pretty funny if you have ever spent any time at all around my Mom's family.

Beautiful Wedding

This weekend we went to visit Meme and Bob-Bob's house and also attend a wedding of a friend of mine, Amber.

She looked gorgeous, the ceremony was very touching and the kids had a ball!

Cassie, Amber and me

A wedding with cotton candy, an ice cream bar and cupcakes?  The kids liked. A lot!

SUGAR!

A bounce house for the KIDS to enjoy.  But that didn't stop two older kids from joining in on the action.  For the sake of the kids, of course.

I'm so happy we had a chance to see old friends and spend some time together.  It was a great evening, and even then we choose to leave dockie doodle at home he also had a great time.  I heard that he climbed to the top of the tallest slide in the world {according to Riley} at least 15 times!  

Backyard Babies

I was so tickled to look out the back window and see Dawson and Carter wearing matching camo hats.

Of course, we can't take a picture of the boys without a matching girls picture. 

My little foodie

Recently we finished our summer reading program and they earned the reward of a free book {yeah!} and a kids meal at McDonalds {boo}.  I was thinking about just throwing away the kids meal coupons, but of course the librarian made a big deal about them to the kids.  Once Carter knows about potential junk food, he will not let it go, so off for fast food we went.  At the drive thru window Carter picked a cheeseburger and I was waiting for Ava to make a choice.  I offered her the options of a cheeseburger, hamburger and chicken nuggets.  She kept saying no, no, I don't want that.  Finally she told me "Mom, that's all junk.  I can't eat that food.  Just get me a salad."

I thought that was hilarious, so of course I ordered her a salad.  She wanted lettuce with no tomatoes, so that's what she got!  

Five Fever

Lately a certain little boy in our house has caught birthday fever.  He has been heard on several occasions running through the house yelling 


"I'm going to be FIVE
I'm going to be FIVE
I'm going to be FIVE"


Which is really pretty cute.  But now the begging has begun and it goes a little something like this:

• Mom, now that I'm almost five I need an iphone.
• Mom, do you have any heavy machinery?  Now that I'm almost five I need heavy machinery like an ATV.
• Mom now that I'm almost five I need a pocket knife to kill the big snakes in the woods.  They are so big they will eat your face off, Mom.

By the way, the answer was NO on all counts.  

Vacation Wrap-up

What a busy, fun, exciting week we've had.  On Wednesday we dropped the kids off at Meme and Bob-Bob's house and went down to Cincinnati to visit friends and go to the Summerland concert.  We had a blast!  Dinner, drinks and 90's music, what more could we ask for?  Meme, thank you so much for taking good care of my kiddos for the night.  I think you earn the Meme of the year award for taking care of all five kids for close to 24 hours.  Keep in mind this also included a little stinker who refused to take a nap!  I also said to him "Dawson, be a good boy for Meme" to which he replied "uh uh."  In case you were curious "uh uh" is Dawson speak for NO."  

The concert was great, the sushi was delicious and the company was the  best!

Now onto a tale of two brothers.

Cautious Carter at the Pool: refuses to put his head in the water, does not want to remove his safety gear {puddle jumpers} and walks the entire time so he will stay safe.

Daring Dawson at the pool:  obsessed with the diving board, throws a fit when we take him off the diving board, and takes off running at random times to try to outwit the adults and get to the diving board.  Um hello, you are 19 months old!  No diving boards for you until you can swim!

As you probably gathered, we spent some time at the pool with Meme and the cousins before returning home.  We also had a BBQ at our home with some of Mike's friends from high school and today we rested.  

Cleveland Zoo

On Monday we gathered our crew and made the trek up to the Cleveland Zoo. This was a very memorable trip for me, for many reasons.  This is where Mike and I got engaged {yeah!} and this was the first trip where Dawson was genuinely interested in looking at the animals.  You could tell the instant when Dawson saw an animal because he began squealing and laughing.

Daddy and Dawson checking out the elephants.

By gauging the volume of his squeals and the amount of hair he pulled out of Mike's head, the giraffes and Lemurs were a big hit with him.

Pure Ava

Ava's favorite animal at the zoo was also the giraffe.  Except she calls them ja-raff-ees.

Our zoo treats: little stuffed animals with a lollipop

Carter's favorite animal at the zoo was the wolves.

The cutest meerkats ever

Enjoying his zoo treat.

Thank you Carter, Ava and Dawson.  We had such a great time with our little family at the zoo.  After it was all over and everyone had passed out on the way home, your Dad and I both remarked how well behaved you all were.  We stayed at the zoo until 3 o'clock!  Everyone was obviously exhausted towards the end, but you kept it together.  What a fun day with my favorite people in the whole world.  

Vacation FAIL

This week Mike is on vacation and we are going to be visiting some nearby attractions like the Cleveland Zoo.  Today we went to a local attraction park called Sluggers and Putters.  When we arrived we were excited to take a crack at some miniature golf and ice cream to top it off.

As you can imagine miniature golf with three kids under the age of four was not easy.  Mike and I were having fun and Carter was really getting into the spirit but he had a wicked swing and the golf balls were going everywhere.  Ava was done golfing by the second hole and Dawson was just Dawson.  He is so determined, and he didn't like it when I wouldn't let him run off by himself.

We made it to the 11th hole when I heard Carter crying.  He was only about two feet away from me, so I gave him a big hug.  When he looked up I saw this:

a great big black eye

Poor kid.  Fun is over and we went into emergency mode instead gathering ice and giving hugs and kisses.  

Remember that really wicked swing that I mentioned?  Well the ball ricocheted off a statue and came back and hit him just under the eye.

I'm so sorry this happened Carter.  I really never imagined you could hurt yourself so bad just playing some miniature golf.

Major vacation FAIL.

We still picked up some ice cream, as you can see Ava with her GINORMOUS shaved ice.  That was size small!

Poor Carter boy, if you have a chance say a little prayer for our little guy.

Fourth of July Fun

We had a wonderful fourth of July spent with our cousins, Aunt Fishy and Meme and Bob Bob.

In the morning we spent some time at the pool.

Riley helped me make a delicious flag cake.

We also got the water slide out for awhile in the afternoon.

Carter taking the plunge.

See this little grin?  He was making trying to escape to the top of the hill, but he was caught in the act.  Sorry buddy, not going to happen without Mom or Dad.

It was so wonderful to see Aunt Margie and the cousins for almost an entire week, and Meme and Bob Bob too.  I know we are going to miss them, Dawson spent quite a bit of time yesterday asking for Bob bob and fishy.  Luckily we still have a little more time with the cousins before the summer is out.  

Swim Class Pictures

Thanks Aunt Margie for taking pictures of our swim class this week.

Family

Fireworks!

We rode the rides at the community festival until it was time for fireworks, then walked down to a spot right in front of our van which was a perfect viewing spot for  the fireworks. 

At this point the kids were exhausted and needed to keep moving or else they were going to fall asleep. So a little pre-fireworks wrestling kept everyone happy and awake.  Ava also treated us with a little dancing.

Silly, tired baby.

the baby photo bomb

Eagerly anticipating.....

FIREWORKS!!

I was excited to see how Dawson would react to the fireworks.  After the fireworks started he stopped dead in his tracks, pointed at them and said very seriously "boom boom."  From that point on he was entranced and stared at the fireworks while sitting in Mike's lap.  He was even waving at the boom-booms!  Ava was a little scared that they were coming our way, but after sitting in my lap she was quite happy.  What a fun, exciting, exhausting day!

Community Celebration

Saturday night we took everyone to a community celebration for some rides, sugar {apparently Margie was having withdraws, just check her facebook page} and fireworks.

Our Red, White and Blue Sweeties

Batman Rides

Sliding down the slide

The Little Wheel

It was so cute to watch Ava and Carter ride this together.  They were sitting together having little conversations, laughing and smiling at the world.

Dawson and his be be

Although you may find a tiny be be lying around our house, do NOT give it to Dawson.  He will carry it around the house for days on end, crying every time it drops into a toy or on the floor, go to sleep with the be be and wake up in the morning looking for the be be.  Like I said, do not give Dawson a be be.

The dragon ride

This was Ava's favorite ride and Carter came off declaring "I hated that thing!"

But later on, it was the only ride that he wanted to go on again and he also said it was his favorite.  Go figure.

Hey Mom, when can I ride one of those things?

carnivals are serious business, yo

Ahh, dreaming about the day when we can enter the beer tent while allowing our children to explore to their hearts content.