Hot, Hot, Hot!

It has just been plain hot here in SC since we have returned from NY. We have been bouncing from the lake to the pool with squirt guns in between! Today we took the boys to the Panthers football practice in Charlotte today (pics to come) and we could barely stand for five minutes without sweat dripping down... well, everywhere! After naps, we took the boys to the YMCA pool where they had an absolute blast. Landon could not get up the stairs fast enough to take another turn down the water slide. Even Chase went down a few times. I asked Chase today how old he will be in April and he tells me five. But I can see with his "I can do anything that Landon can do" attitude, he really believes that he is 2 going on 5.

And finally, after tucking Chase in tonight, I was walking out the door and told him that I loved him. He told me that he loves me "older" with his million-dollar-smile. Sometimes he is just plain edible!

Wow! What a vacation!

I don't even know where to begin! We had such a great time in WNY visiting with friends and family. We started off at the "long hair Grandma's" house (as Landon would say it) and then down to East Aurora with Grandma Sandy. Thank you everyone for your wonderful hospitality - we really, truly had a blast! Here are just a few pics which barely capture all of the fun we had!

Toddler Time?

I took the boys over to Toddler Time (which is a time set up for 3-5 year olds) at our local library. We were in luck yesterday - a policeman was coming in to talk to the kids and answer questions they may have had. After a few silly songs and books, the officer wandered in, in what seemed like street clothes (except for his belt full of "gadgets"). He pulled up a chair and looked all the kids straight in the eye. After a brief introduction, he began something like this, "Have you heard of jail before? It's not a fun place to be. Does anyone know what our job is?" Silence and stares. "Our job is to chase down bad people and when we catch them they go to jail. Do you think that they have tv's in jail? Nintendo's? Can they play outside? Would you want to go to jail?" More silence and quick shakes of heads from the children. "And we have dogs on our force too. Do you know what their job is? They have these incredible noses that can sniff out drugs. You don't ever want to do drugs - they are bad for you. You can go to jail for doing drugs. I am going to show you my taser, and pass around my handcuffs..." We left shortly after that.

Fourth of July!

Fruit Smoothy Mustache

Walking/riding to the parade

Aunt Heather's pool party!

Fourth of July in Tega Cay, South Carolina is quite a celebration. Not only is it our country's birthday, it is also the birthday of our beautiful city,Tega Cay - we celebrated it's 27th birthday this year. They kicked it off with a parade and ended with fireworks from the clubhouse. We put our kids to bed watched from our porch. All around us the skies were lit up with all sorts of fireworks courtesy of the neighbors (they are legal down here in South Carolina). Each neighbor seemingly trying to be bigger... better... and while enjoying the the show from all around... I knew exactly where the hose was... just in case I needed to spray down my roof!

Melts my heart...

"I ah you mommy" said Chase.
"What buddy?" I say.
He repeats, "I ah you mommy."
You love me?
Yes.

Southern boy

We went to the pool today after our morning errands. We were all playing in the big pool when Chase jumped out, lips purple, and said he was cold and wanted to go home. Our temps "dipped" to about 84 degrees today along with a nice breeze. I think I have a true southern boy on my hands - I may have to break out the winter coat when we go up to NY this summer.

I Jump High!

And so I am realizing rather quickly how different Chase's personality is from Landon. Landon was/is always so cautious...watching, absorbing his surroundings before he joins into a group or takes the "plunge" into any activity. Chase reminds me often of how daring and risky he is. He loves to sit in the rocking chairs on the front porch, lean to one side on the arm of the chair so the other side lifts off of the ground, only to quickly lean back to the other side to set the chair back down just-in-time. Tonight we took a walk to the park and the boys were playing. Chase was running through the tunnels and Landon was climbing... until he fell off a ladder. As we were tending to Landon, Chase took a running leap, and did a free fall from about a 4 foot drop. I even heard his little body hit the ground. He was definitely hurt and upset, and as I picked him up from the ground, brushed him off, and did a quick examination, making sure that there was nothing broken, he declared through his tears, "I jump high!"

A lake, a boat, and two spotters?

Andy and I have been anxious to get out to ski and wakeboard with the boys on board. So, yesterday after many jumps off the boat and a brief football throwing session, we decided to give it a try. I went overboard first and with review mirror in place, along with Landon in the passenger seat and Chase on Andy's lap, it was a success! I taught Landon the hand signals and told him that most importantly, tell daddy if mommy falls! Things were good. Then Andy's turn. I admit I was a bit nervous about driving the boat, watching the boys, and oh yeah, making sure Andy wasn't being pulled through the water by his ankle, but again, we had fun and Andy got his wakeboarding fix in for this weekend anyway!

A cool 94.4 degrees

I was getting my running shoes laced up yesterday after being out on the lake and knew that it was hot out. How hot exactly? 94.4 degrees in the shade. But for SC, that is actually considered cool when there isn't a ton of humidity. So, I took my jog anyway and surprisingly, there were many others who also thought it wasn't so bad.

More Maui pics

Luau

Scenic pics

Make a boat competition

Thought I would post a few more pics from our trip last month. I was just looking through them again and thinking how great a trip it was!

I have spent the majority of these past few days policing Landon and Chase. It begins first thing in the morning when they argue over which show to watch (this is mostly Chase). Then goes on to what to have for breakfast. I have learned to never, ever, give either boy anything different for breakfast or the crying/whining will begin right then.

Then Landon... "Look what I have Chase" and then runs away. Then Chase... "Whaaaaaaa!!!!!!" Then he runs in and points and says something like "Nandon". And it goes on and on. Taking toys, teasing, running away, more teasing, more taking....

Today, I decided that maybe (just maybe) they would be little angels for me while I went to get my violin tuned up and ready to go for the one moment that I may get in the next 18 years to play. So I took them into the the music store which has a ton of fun little gadgets including $500 dollar violins that are dangling off of the wall at just the right height that little 2 and 4 year olds can reach (a money maker perhaps?). So as I am talking with the very nice man-behind-the-counter, the boys were plucking away at what I thought was a keyboard in the back. But as I wandered to the back, I realized that there was no keyboard... they were swinging the violins back and forth on their hangers and plucking on the cello strings that was sitting on the floor. We left quickly but not before Landon chased Chase to where he tripped and hit his head on the floor.

But I am leaving you with a picture of the two of them at a moment in time that they could be sweet to each other.

Meet me in St. Louie!

Chasey Chase!

Da boys...

Landon at the zoo

Joey, me, Gretch

Danny, me, Gretch

Race car exhibit

Scott AFB festival

The boys (all three) and I flew out to St. Louis to see my sister and her family - we had a great time! We made a visit to the Science Museum, the Zoo, Long Acre Park, Scott Airforce Base festival, dinner with the adults (Joey included!) and played on her very awesome blow up water slide! The boys were great on the flight - phew! The pilot even let Landon look in the cockpit before we seated ourselves. Instead of commenting on how very cool all of the lights, meters, and cockpit "gadgets" looked, he walked up and said, "Hi. I Landon and I am four." Then turned and walked out.

Ice cream anyone?

Landon has an ice cream cone t-shirt - the only thing he wanted from Folly Beach. The ice cream cone is pictured from his chin to his waist and is made of that shiny, plasticky stuff that our strawberry shortcake t-shirts were made of when we were young. A few days ago, Chase ran up to Landon, grabbed at the ice cream cone, and then made a crunching sound with his mouth as though he is really eating the ice cream cone, all the while grinning at Landon. Landon screamed and yelled at him. And Chase runs away silently smiling... only to come back for more... and so it goes on.

Cracked open?

The other night Landon, Chase, and I were eating dinner at the table and Landon was pondering how he was once a baby and how he was born. Just as I was about to tell him all about the stork that delivers babies... he said in a knowingly tone "You just cracked open, right mommy?" My reply... "Right."

Runner boy?

Every now and again, Landon gets the itch to run. This time it had to be in my running shoes even though it caused a few clumsy falls... Landon would not give up my kicks!

Chase...

Maui Baby!

Having fun in the ultra soft sand!
bridge that was held together with cable and a wooden plank

we searched for a long while to find this place!

Amazing sunsets!

Andy swimming in the rainforest - the water was crystal clear!

Our picnic dinner

Amazing trail along the coast - we ran it every day!

Just stepped off the plane and into our resort!

Pinch me... I am in Maui (well, not as I write but these thoughts come from our trip (sans kids) a few weeks ago). Andy won a trip through his work and although I hesitated about leaving the kids for that long as well as travel that far away... it was an amazing time and I am so glad that we went! Andy was able to celebrate his accomplishments and mingle with his co-workers (including the president of Verizon Business) all the while we enjoyed the most amazing scenery - Maui is truly a magical place! More info. and pics to come...

Spring Break!

I think I get more excited now about spring break than ever before! Perhaps it is the vacations that we can actually plan now that we are both working full time and have a little extra cash to actually stay on the beach and not 15 min. from it. The boys had a blast and I have to say, this was the first year that we could all actually relax and feel well rested. We also had great company! Although the temps were a bit chilly, we still had a great time and managed to come back with a tan!