Weekend Recap

What a great, busy, fun weekend! Just a few highlights . . .


Dinner with the Sandersons:
We invited the Sandersons (Robyn, Karen, and Aiden) over for dinner on Saturday night. Their little boy, Aiden, is one of Quinn's best buddies. Quinn LOVES him! Their energy level and personalities are almost identical!!! They had such a great time chasing each other, tagging each other, crashing into each other, etc. They were sweating by the end of the night!!! Fun times!

**Getting together with friends who have boys Quinn's age is wonderful for me as a Mommy. It always shows me that my wild and rowdy boy is completely normal!!! :-)


Those crazy boys had the best time!!!



Hey guys! Look here and smile! Um, okay . . .



Holden is usually right in the middle of the action (esp. at home with Quinn); however, I think that he realized that he was out of his league around Quinn and Aiden! He stayed pretty close to the toy corner, played, and watched the action (probably taking notes for the future!).




Guess who's teething . . . can't you tell from the soaked shirt!!! All four molars have broken through at once!!!



Old Friends:
Yesterday, I got together with 3 friends from home for lunch. Kelly - I've known my whole life, Pam - I've known since 2nd grade, and Christa - I've known since 4th grade . . . so needless to say, we're old friends! The last time we were all together was 6 years ago at one of my/Brant's wedding showers. It was great seeing everyone and catching up. Pam and Christa still live in the area where we all grew up, so they filled us in on all of the news from the homefront. We all admitted that we've let too much time go by and that we want to do better! We are going to try to get together every other month or so going forward. Great to see those girls!!!

The Bean Bag Room

The boys LOVE playing in our playroom, which Quinn affectionately calls the Bean Bag Room. Why is it called the bean bag room and not the playroom or the bonus room? Because he loves to jump on and play on . . .



I also LOVE when they play in the bean bag room (which is daily!). I have always been a bit of a neat freak (a control issue that motherhood is helping me correct greatly!). The bean bag room is one room where the boys can PLAY, PLAY, PLAY with tons of toys and make a big mess, and I can breathe easy knowing that the room contains no valuables and that it will not seen by anyone who happens to drop by! They can run, make a "big crash" with tons of trucks and tractors, build elaborate train tracks, etc., and Mommy's nerves will survive!!! :-)

Our latest bean bag room adventure . . .


Playing in the Thomas the Train tent:








To infinity and beyond!!!



Daddy's future foosball buddy!



Holden must be thinking: Oh man, I just can't reach! What do you see out there, Quinn?



Quinn: hugging Buzz Lightyear while watching Toy Story 2 (he LOVES that movie!)



Holden: REALLY hugging his buddy (a NCSU teddy bear) while watching Toy Story 2

Holden has just discovered giving hugs and kisses. Needless to say, he loves it! When he hugs someone/something, he REALLY gets into it! Notice that he is about to tip over! Ladies watch out!!!

Crafty Inspiration

My posts are usually about the boys; however, I decided to do something a little different today.

My good friend, Maridith, has started a crafting blog called "The Procrastinator Crafter" (the link is in the right-hand column of this blog). She documents being crafty on a budget. I check the blog daily, and it has inspired me to get crafting!

Now, please understand, I am no where as crafty as Maridith (she made her mother-in-law a cocktail dress and made an Easter centerpiece out of a twig!). But, I can do some basic sewing and painting. I am also on a tight decorating budget; I have completed 4 projects, and I have spent only $6! In other words . . . don't have high expectations when you view my end results!!! Maybe my projects will inspire someone else out there to get creative and get crafting, much as Maridith's projects have inspired me!


Project #1: Pillows for the 2 extra chairs in the dining room

I have been pillow shopping for our dining room ever since we bought our house (almost 4 years ago). I had not been able to find exactly what I wanted (or if I did find what I wanted, I refused to pay for it!). I had this extra fabric (from a chair and pillows in our master bedroom). I decided to make 2 pillows (notice the square design . . . that's the extent of my sewing skills!) and stencil the letter "S" on them. I already had the black paint, but I did need to buy the letter. I had to buy the entire alphabet (only $6, but still!). If anyone out there would like a letter, let me know. I'm giving Maridith the "F"!


*I think that it still needs something. Maybe I'll buy a little trim or rickrack and outline the "S"?


Project #2: Picture hanger

There was a space on one of our kitchen walls that has always puzzled me. While looking in our attic (and praying to find something good!), I can across an old wire picture/card holder. I decided to clean it up, hang it with ribbon (that I already had), and add some pictures of my boys.




Project #3: The collage

I have had a picture collage in our foyer for over 3 years. It has been full of pictures. I decided to use fabric (from our master bedroom) in some of the openings, along with some new photos. It gives our wall a little more color (this is probably my favorite project!).




Project #4: A reading chair for the boys

Before:
A chair (I believe that it was my grandfather's - hope that it was okay to paint it!?!) that I have had for a couple of years, but have not used.




After:
I painted with left-over paint (from our master bathroom) and paint pens that I already had. I found a quote that I just LOVE (and that pretty much sums up my life these days!): Boy (noun): A noise with dirt on it!








It didn't take Holden long to try it out! One of my "noises with dirt on it"!

Brunch with the Bunny

I took the boys to another parks and rec activity this morning "Brunch with the Bunny". They did some arts and crafts, ate brunch, and got to meet the Easter Bunny himself! The boys had a great time!


Arts and Crafts (coloring and decorating Easter eggs):







Eating brunch (pancakes, apples, cheese and juice):







Quinn never ceases to amaze me. He was the first kid (by far!) to get out of his seat and run to hug the Easter bunny!




If you look closely (and use the reflection in the mirror), you can see Quinn introducing Holden to the Easter Bunny. Quinn went up to Holden, placed his hand on Holden's shoulder, and said "This is my baby brother Holden"! Quinn is always so proud to introduce Holden to others . . . and to stake his claim as the big brother! Too sweet!!!



The official photo shoot with the Easter Bunny:

Last Saturday's Free Entertainment!

The boys are watching Daddy mow the grass (on the BIG tractor!). They followed him from window to window and door to door for the entire mowing experience! Nice, free, easy entertainment!!!

Preschool Sports, Part 3 (the conclusion)

Today was part 3 of Quinn's Preschool Sports class.

Quinn did a much better job today. He stayed with his group (other than a few times of checking with me to see if the class was over!), listened to his teachers, and participated well. He did not show an enormous amount of enthusiasm (much like last week), but he did stick with it and focus more today. I was very proud of him! When the class was over, he was THRILLED to thank his teacher and leave with me and Holden!

I have thought a lot about his reaction to the class (both last week and today), and I think that I have it somewhat figured out. He loves to run and play and be active. But, this class setting required a lot of standing around, waiting your turn, and repetition. I watched Quinn closely and noticed that he didn't mind waiting his turn and taking his turn (the first couple of times), but after that he was done and ready to move on to something else. The repetition seemed to be a little much for him at this age (probably because of his short attention span!). For example, he would stand in line and take his turn shooting the basketball. But after 2 or 3 times of that, he was ready to do something else! Oh well, we gave it shot (the class cost $3 a class, worth it for the experience)!


Warm-up time:







Football time:







Basketball time:








Quinn walking towards me to ask "Are we all done?" "Is it time to go?" I answered, "Not yet . . . go on and have some fun". He slowly walked back and joined the group!



Holden crawling out onto the court to get INTO the action!



The final huddle to review today's class. After this huddle, Quinn ran up to me and asked "Are we all done?" "Is it time to go?" With a BIG smile on his face! Who knows?

Happy Spring!

Today is the first official day of spring . . . so "Happy Spring" everyone!

It's a little chilly today, but yesterday was beautiful! We went outside to play after naptime, and the boys enjoyed the sweet sunshine.


This is what I get when I say "Big Smiles"! Makes me laugh everytime! LOVE THESE CRAZY BOYS!!!




Quinn spent time drawing snakes with sidewalk chalk . . . the evidence is on his blue hands!




We have an old pusher toy for outside use. Holden refuses to use it!



He would rather "drive his car" (and have someone else do all the work - silly unmotivated boy)!





Welcome sweet spring!

Flashback Friday (a few hours early)

I am loving Facebook! This "social networking site" is allowing me to reconnect with friends that I grew up with (and shamefully have not spoken to in 10+ years). I accepted a new "friend" today, Quan Brinson. I was thrilled to find this picture in one of her albums.


Oh, sweet middle school! What a crazy, awkward, silly time!!! I mean really, who would go back and repeat middle school? Seriously, anyone? I doubt it! Just check out my hair!!!



E.E. Smith Middle School
Wildcats softball team
circa 1991
*I'm the second from the left in the back row . . . with the perm!

**I copied another picture from Quan's album, Mrs. Guy's 4th grade class photo. I'll save that one for next week. Oh, the 1980's!

The Park

Today was the first nice day after some really rainy/cold weather! We met Ms. Maridith and Wes at the park (Lawson was at preschool). The boys had a great time (other than Holden's little boo-boo . . . see below)!

The adventures of Holden:

Note the nice, new bump on the forehead! We were at the park for less than 5 minutes, and he bumped his head on one the climber steps! I was right there with him . . . talk about feeling awful!!! He cried for a little bit. It swelled up, and it's now a beautiful blue/purple color. Poor guy!



He did smile and laugh today, just couldn't get a picture of it!



The adventures of Quinn:







First time climbing a tree! Made me a little nervous, but he loved it!