Birthdays

The boys birthdays are just 3 weeks apart, so we decided that we would combine their parties this year (and probably every year, it was so much easier!!). We still ended up doing 2 parties, because we had so much family in town around their birthdays there was no way we could combine both sides of our family.

We decided to do one party closer to Avery's birthday and the other closer to Jack's. I think it worked out pretty well. We had the Westover party on Avery's birthday, they were both spoiled with presents and with all the cousins they got to play with. Both Mike and Michelle's families were in town at that time for a reunion. The boys cousin Seth had a birthday close to theirs so we threw him in the party mix too! : )

Avery's main present this year was a bike! He's been riding around on his little trike that we got him a couple years ago, but he's been much too tall for it for quite a while. So we re-gifted it to Jack :) So, they both got bikes for their birthday. The day we gave it to them it was pouring rain outside so Andy pulled his car out of the garage and we let them ride their bikes inside. I think they like them, though it's been too hot to get outside and enjoy them very much so far this summer.

We had the second party on Jack's birthday. (I love when their birthdays land on the weekend, makes picking a night for the party that much easier!). By the time it was party time again all the family from both sides were gone, we missed them, but it did make for one of the quietest family gatherings I've been to in a long time! One of the little gifts we got for Jack was a Mystery Machine (the boys LOVE Scooby Doo and play it whenever they are with cousins), sadly it was broken and in the trash within a day and a half! Seems like that is the case a lot!

The boys loved having parties, picking the theme and having cousins over. They love living close to family that we get to play with so often (even if everyone is leaving!!).

I can't believe they're both so old! We love our boys, if only they'd stay little a while longer!

Outdoorsy stuff (May 2011)

We've attempted gardens before, with very little luck. So we were very excited to try again, in a real yard and real garden area. Instead of planters on a deck, 5 gallon buckets, or rocky soil!

So we built our very own raised bed garden. Yay us! Thank goodness my Brother-in-law was working at our house that day though, our electric drill was not quite powerful enough to get screws all the way into our pieces of wood! The biggest job of all was hauling all the dirt that we had delivered to the back yard, NOT fun!

But then the real fun began! My parents went to Jamesport to buy plants for their garden so we had them pick some up for us as well. We got tomatoes, jalapenos, and bell peppers. 2 varieties of each plant.

I have loved watching the plants and veggies grow. I already have big plans for adding at least one more raised bed next year and several more vegetable types! We're excited to be able to use our home grown produce!

We also planted some berry bushes and are excited to have those produce berries in the next couple years!

For an early Father's Day gift (and because I didn't want to pick it out myself and accidentally get the wrong thing!!) we got Andy a basketball hoop. He's been wanting one, and I think he enjoys it. When the weather isn't too ridiculously hot, that is. The boys like to play with Daddy too.

Andy also brought home a Trampoline one day after work, the boys have gotten many hours of enjoyment from it! The cousins and other friends like it when they come to visit too, as long as their parents don't think it's going to smash their bones! :) (you know who you are!!)

 We love having a yard that we can do what we want, it's been so much fun!

Our graduate (May 2011)

When we bought our house we had to pick a new preschool for Avery, he was sad to leave his school, but quickly made new friends here in town. He's such a quick learner and great at remembering things, he loved preschool!

At the end of the school year they even had a graduation ceremony, it was adorable! We ordered his cap and gown, complete with 2011 tassel, about a month in advance. When we got it it was the most adorable mini outfit EVER. Lucky for us we get to keep it...because everyone needs a miniature cap and gown hanging around : )

The night of graduation we went a little early so the kids could get their official pictures taken and practice their performance. Grandma Westover and Sammie, and Gramma Joleen and Grandpa Rob all came with us to support Avery. There was actually quite the crown at the event.

 

 We just can't believe he's getting so old. In just about 3 1/2 weeks he'll start Kindergarten, but we're not talking about that now I get choked up just thinking about it!For now we're pretending we have a little bit more time before that happens! Please don't tell me I'll be at his High School Graduation before I know it, I may just go into hysterics...it's the pregnancy hormones, promise!

Various ways to spend a nap time....

Nap time is always an unpredictable time in our household.  Unfortunately, there is not always as much sleep happening as we would like.  I think it says a lot about our boys, however, how they choose to spend that time when not sleeping.  Here are a couple examples that have happened in the last couple days.

Avery:
Today Avery chose to match and fold socks during his nap time.  Who does that... really?  Strange... but helpful.


Jack:
The other day, Jack took the mattress off his bed (a regular occurrence, which earlier this week prompted Kizzie to tie his mattress to his bed frame) and proceeded to get his head stuck between the slats.  He got his head stuck in the slats a few days ago as well.  In other words, he does not seem to be learning.  I guess it also says a lot about Kizzie... that she paused to take a picture before helping him out.... :-)



Obviously, our boys may be different, but I think we love them more because of it!
By Andy

Easter (April 2011)

I know...finally. I have so much to blog about, I made a list of all the posts I want to do and I'm not sure if that made it seem more manageable or more overwhelming! So, here we go...

Once upon a time...just kidding. Easter wasn't THAT long ago was it?! I guess it must be, because even these pictures aren't jogging my memory!
The boys got matching telescopes in their baskets this year. Jack was still sporting his black eye, but pulling it off really well...?

 Later in the day we had dinner at Andy's parents house followed my a candy hunt.

 No eggs were involved, the kids were just fine with that! The boys had so much fun finding all the candy, some "hiding spots" were more obvious than others! We love them in their plaid shirts and smiley faces.

The Saturday before Easter we had to go to walmart for something quickly so we just loaded the boys up in their jammies because we were literally picking up 2 things. Lucky us, the one time I've taken the boys out in mismatched clothes/jammies they get their picture taken with the cardboard Easter Bunny. Yay. Good thing their smiles are so cute, you almost don't notice how uncoordinated their clothes are!! (the pictures is being silly and not uploading...I'll get it on here soon.)