Welcome Summer

Crazies

I needed an up to date picture of the boys for a project...

silly me thought I could quickly snap one...

David was a champ, trying to defuse the drama. Xan was MIA.

Luca ended up splotchy and snotty--

apparently it was torture.

These will have to do, cause I don't think they'll

be excited to try again any time soon!

Still love 'em like crazy.

Aging

Xan has entered the world of awkward smiles.  Oh, it makes me laugh.

 

And I have entered the world of wrinkles.  Oh my.

 

(photo credit: Xan)

David

I realize that David often gets left out of my posts.  Completely unintentional, of course.  

It's just that he's at school during the day and when he gets home, 

it's homework time, playtime, dinner time, shower time, reading time, and bedtime.  

The last think I'm thinking about during those times is taking pictures.  

Honestly, I'm still getting used to taking pictures regularly..of any subject.  

For memories sake, I wanted to record of my favorite David stories from this year.  

I got a call from his teacher one evening. 

She wanted to let me know about a little incident that had happened at recess.  

A group of boys were playing, and one of them said a bad word-- the "s" word in fact.  David overheard someone say,

"you shouldn't say the "s" word".  

To which David said, "I'm not allowed to say that word, but I can spell it for you"..which he did.  

The lunch monitor got involved, and the incident was relayed to his teacher.  

After getting off the phone, I went to talk to David.  

Honestly, I didn't think he knew the "s" word.  

I couldn't think of a time where he would've heard it.  

As soon as I said we needed to talk, he was in tears. 

He immediately confessed that he had spelled the "su" word at recess.  

A little confused, I asked him to spell it for me.  

"S.H.U.T. U.P."  

I had to suppress a smile.  

Then I remembered the lunch monitor...

I was pretty sure he had spelled it for her...but when I asked David about it, 

he said, "yeah, she asked me to spell it for her, but after I said S.H.

she said okay, okay, you can stop now." 

Smile.  

May that be the only "s" word you know for a long time, my boy.

I have yet to have a successful season with my peonies.  

Some creature likes to nip them off right before they bloom.  

I think it might be a squirrel...last summer I happen to see one 

dashing along the top of the fence 

with a rose (in full bloom) in between it's teeth.  

It looked like it was off to woo it's lady squirrel.  It was hilarious.  

Anyway, this year my peonies have more buds than ever, 

and I'm hoping that they all won't get whisked away.

The other night the boys and I were weeding my flower beds.
I happened to notice that several of my peony buds had the tops bitten off.
This was new garden pest.

Then I saw this guy.
He smiled at me, and sure enough he had the top of a peony bud in his mouth.
Every time I turned my back he went running to sneak another bite.
And I've caught him with azalea blooms in his mouth, and several of my iris buds as well.  

He's a stinker, this one.

countdown...

till summer vacation, and the pool opening, and reading, and the beach...
we practiced a little today

messy

I realize this has more to do with my mothering than my baby.

But this guy has a messy face all the time. Seriously, he's one of "those" kids--which means I'm one of "those" moms.

It's possible that allowing him to eat cookies before 10am may be contributing to the problem.

four

he's been anticipating this day for months, and yesterday, he FINALLY "got" 4

what a wonderful day--presents, a trip to our favorite bakery, time spent at the "big airport"...otherwise known as Gravely Point

it was beautiful outside--perfect to watch the planes coming and going

tree climbing, ball throwing, parachute man launching

my boys

there was a visit to Nana's house, lego sets built, and then to top it off, a little party complete with cake, ice cream, more presents, and some family

all together an awesome day

Alexander Vincent, you are one of a kind. You are a light-- a bright spot in our family. You are passionate about life--I love when you share your excitement with us--in your incredulous way. Your smile melts me, and I laugh when you laugh--even when I shouldn't. I love you to pieces. Don't "get" 5 too soon.