July Phone Pics

July phone pics on the first day of August?  I'm on fire!!

Don't worry, I've got a couple posts lined up that are over a year late, so that should offset how current this post is.  

The first week of July was Patriotic thanks to the Fourth of July holiday!  We started the weekend by watching cartoons from Thomas's new teepee, complete with red and blue lights strung inside it (not pictured).  

We spent Saturday over at my brother's house swimming, playing, and cooking out and somehow my camera didn't make it out to take a single picture!  Probably because I was in the pool catching my little girl who just wants to jump in over and over and over.  And over.

Thomas was Patriotic for church on Sunday in his red and blue plaid jonjon.  

Then he helped his Daddy and Poppy install a new garage door opener.  His job, I think, was holding the ladder, maybe?

Nothing says 'merica like two kids in the back of a red pickup truck.

We shot our fireworks on the 3rd of July over at my oldest brother's house.  Thomas was not a fan of the loud noises.  He felt much safer behind the safety of his hands.

But Mimi convinced him to be brave and hold a sparkler with her.

He enjoyed doing that until it got boring...  (Or maybe he was just getting sleepy.)

Katie Wynn was really brave and did lots of sparklers all by herself!

She also convinced her older cousin, Bren, to let her drive her car and I think it might've been the highlight of her month.  

I didn't get worried until I looked over and saw that Bren had hopped out and left Katie Wynn and Thomas on their own.  I think they used my brother's fence as a brake.

The actual fourth of July had rain in the forecast, but this guy was ready for it.  Dirt covered face and all.

When it was time to get dressed later that day, I walked in on him wearing his Daddy's boots.  As soon as he saw me he said, "Take my picture, Mama?"  He's learning.  :)

I lost count of how many popsicles Katie Wynn ate during the month of July.  It was hot and popsicles were necessary!

Selfies.

For some reason, Matt got out the trumpet he played in the high school band and did some practicing.  I guess because we need more noise in the house?  Thomas discovered the trumpet the next morning.  Thank goodness I found him before he rubbed the tub of salve everywhere.

The kids also found their winter accessories.  Just looking at these pictures makes me sweat.

Speaking of sweating, we went to the zoo one Saturday morning.  Good grief it was hot there!

I paid for the kids to feed the giraffes and naturally, they were too terrified to do it.  So I went up to feed the giraffes and holy cow, I was not prepared for that long black tongue to come out that far!!  Maybe the kids were right to be terrified.

Since we got so hot at the zoo, we got out last year's car wash when we got home so the kids could play in the water. 

Matt also gave each of the kids their first golf lesson.  I'm sure he wouldn't be sad if they took an interest in the game.

Our niece, Bren, had a surprise party at a swimming pool and we were glad to help her celebrate.

I took the kids for donuts one morning and, after taking their pictures, I'm wondering - is this the face I make when biting into a sprinkle donut??

They got to lick the beaters one day and Thomas was so proud of himself for "not getting dirty."  

I have so many random pictures from this month!  Here are me and Katie Wynn having lunch at McDonald's.  She had asked me if one day I would pick her up from school for lunch and then take her back, so one day I did!

Thomas - first with socks as mittens and then post-bath with slicked back hair.  I tried to get him to put his hands on his face and scream a la Macauley Caulkin in Home Alone, but he wouldn't do it.  

More Thomas - showing off his deep love for bandaids and - probably the sweetest picture of the month - singing the blessing before dinner.

Katie Wynn still naps on her trundle on the weekends.  Whatever it takes.

We think she may be a future hurdler, based on the way she plays in the sprinklers.

The book of the month has been this one of Thomas's that is all about trucks.  We are all learning so much!

This past weekend we had dinner with some of our good friends.  It's a good thing all of our kids go to school together since they all had their faces painted!  Might've been weird if it had only been one of them.  :)

The best thing for the kids about having dinner at friends' houses is all the cool new toys.  The best part for me is that I make mental notes to tell Santa Claus.  How cool is this ride-on horse?  When the kids go up and down like it's galloping, it actually goes!  It can be steered with the handles. And, rumor has it, they make a unicorn version of it...

We had a short visit to the Children's Museum Saturday morning.  

Why was it a short visit?  Because shortly after ringing up his groceries, Thomas had a major meltdown and we had to get. out. of. there.  You better believe I was sweating by the time we made it to the car with him screaming.  

The last picture I took in July was this one of my boys.  If you get Thomas from his crib after his nap, you better get your arms ready to pick up a lot of extras.  You'll need to get Thomas, two pacis, three bunny rabbits, one elmo, and one blanket.  A boy's gotta have his stuff, ya know? 

I'll leave you with this picture - a teaser of an exciting post that is to come.  Ideally sooner rather than later.  This is the kids glued to watching some painters work outside at our house.  What are they painting?  The framing of our new screened-in porch!  That's exciting, right?  Sadly, half of that framing has been pulled off and is in a big pile as I type this.  We've had a lot of steps backwards in this project, but hopefully it'll be worth the wait when it's finally complete.  More to come.

June Phone Pics

Let's keep moving right along and talk about what happened in June.  The first two weeks of the month, Katie Wynn had her first ever swim lessons!  They were from 3 to 4pm, Monday through Thursday for two weeks in a row.  My mom graciously took her to them since we were at work.  The first day, I sat at my desk at 2:45 and just prayed that Mom would be able to pry Katie Wynn off of her and be able to get away (parents/grandparents can not stay for the lessons).  I waited until 3:05 before sending a text to ask if it was a successful drop off.  I honestly thought it would be a screaming cry fest and that her lessons would last one day.  

To my surprise, my Mom said that she was able to easily leave her.  And later that afternoon, she couldn't stop talking about the fun she had!  If you read my last post about us being at the lake, these lessons are why she was so brave jumping off the boat.  She absolutely LOVED getting to go to lessons and was so sad when they were over.  I was able to pick her up a couple of times so I could see her and after the last lesson, parents were invited to see their new skills.  I am so PROUD at how well she did and how brave she has been jumping in and swimming with her head under.  I watched with my own eyes her wanting to be first in line to do each skill - going down the slide, jumping off the diving board, and swimming to the teacher.

Now, she wasn't brave for EVERYthing in June.  We tried to participate in our town's Small Fry Tri (a "triathlon" for kids) and even after we talked it up all week, she and Thomas both said no way to actually doing it.  The triathlon was a short run, and then a bike ride, and then another short run through the firemen's water hoses.  Sounds so fun, right?  The races went by ages so Thomas and the other 2 year olds were first.

When it came time to start, I think there were 6 two-year-olds at the starting line but Thomas wouldn't even let Matt put him down.  After all the others took off, Matt put him down and tried to run off, but you can see below how well that went.

Katie Wynn didn't even make it that far with her group.  So we stood there and held our kids while all the others had fun doing the race.  After all the age groups were done, Katie Wynn said she'd try it.  Her sweet friend, Addi Clare, lined up on the course with her and they rode their bikes together.  I also caught this sweet hug between her and Thomas - I'm sure one of them was being forced to apologize to the other one but it's still a sweet moment, right?

During Katie Wynn's second week of swim lessons, we also had our church's Vacation Bible School at night.  Just like her lessons, it was Monday through Thursday.  It was in the evening from 5 to 7 so I was able to volunteer and help with the first graders while KW and Thomas went to their own classes.  I'll be honest - school/work, swimming lessons, and VBS all in one week was tough.  By the end of it, we all felt a little like this:

That picture above is a good segue to what I'm realizing from scrolling through my June pictures: a lot of the month was spent naked.  

When my kids are grown up they will no doubt hate me for these pictures, but these below are some of my favorites.  After an evening of playing in the dirt pile, we stripped them down to get ready for a bath.  Which one teeteed in the grass?  Not the one you'd think.  :)

We went swimming one Saturday morning so that Katie Wynn could practice all her new skills, but the sun was just too bright for pictures.

Katie Wynn and I spent some time playing on Mimi and Poppy's playground.

And, because my cute kiddos are a part of Mint Tulip's marketing, the rest of the month was spent posing in clothes that Mom and I had done for them.  :)

It's a bonus when your clothes match your toys.  :)

Getting ready for the fourth of July!

Here's one last picture that Thomas will eventually hate me for...he just loves wearing his sister's shoes!

The biggest event in the month of June was Thomas's second birthday party!  I'll be back with pictures from it next.

May Phone Pics

How am I supposed to remember what we did in May?  That was months ago!  I think this is officially the latest I've been on posting my monthly phone pictures.  Hopefully the pictures themselves will jog my memory on what we did.

Early in the month, the kids got a new-to-them playhouse.  Some friends of ours from church were ready to get rid of it and graciously gave it to us for free!  Thomas and Katie Wynn love playing in it.  The first day we had it, Katie Wynn wanted to know if we could put a fridge in it for them.  :)

I had help in the kitchen making a caramel cake.  Mostly my help just wanted to lick the beaters.  (These pictures remind me that I need to make this cake again...it was super yummy!)

Beautiful weather plus a new dress called for some early evening twirls.

Mother's Day was in May and it was a great weekend!  I can't remember all the details but I do know that Matt spoiled me with breakfast in bed and lots of "me" time to sit and read my book.  My kiddos were pretty good to me too, even if they weren't the most cooperative for pictures after church.

This was my view that afternoon after we'd all had a nice little nap.  All my favorite people in sight just past my book, and what you can't see is that Lolli was curled up in my lap too.

So many of Katie Wynn's buddies from school have gotten new baby siblings this spring so we have tried to be helpful by making dinners for their families or entertaining the bigger siblings. One of her best friends (and the cutest little guy!), Steele, came with us out to the golf course one day to play and eat dinner.  

Sitting on top of the plaque that's in honor of my grandfather.

I like this picture of Thomas because it looks like the flag from the background is in his hand too.  :)

But I like this one even more cause you can see his sweet face.

Here is Thomas loving on one of those new baby siblings.  This one is our friend Mason's baby brother, William.  We had dinner with them one night and Thomas looooved getting to pet William's head and hold his hands while Matt held him.

When we came home from the beach, Katie Wynn had a mean fever virus.  Her temperature would spike to 104 but, thankfully, would go down with ibuprofen.  We made a trip to the weekend clinic that Saturday morning and all her vitals checked out fine.  Poor girl spent most of that day sound asleep.  Here she is passed out after the doctor visit.  Notice her sucker down on the floor...I know she doesn't feel well when she doesn't even have the energy to eat candy!

Thomas gave me sweet smiles after church.  His sister was in a cute matching dress but she was being a bullfrog and wouldn't take a picture.  The plants behind him have really grown since that picture was taken!

Matt traveled for most of one week during May so we spent a couple of nights over at my parents' house.  The kids love to play on Mimi's and Poppy's bed after bath time.  On this night, they hid in the pillows and Katie Wynn told me that that was their kingdom and she was the King and Thomas was the Queen.  :)

Thomas got another haircut in May.  He's had quite a few trims but this was just his second time going to a hair salon to get it done.  Here's the funny thing about Thomas - he will freak out if you try to sit him up on a booster seat.  He will freak out if you try to put a hair cape on him.  He will freak out if you try to wear a hair cape while holding him.  But, if you just sit in the chair and hold him in your lap, he'll be quiet as a mouse and still as a rock for his haircut.  You just get covered in hair in the process. 

Katie Wynn and Elmo helped in the Mint Tulip sewing room one afternoon.  They had front row seats to all the embroidery action.

One afternoon the power in our neighborhood went out so we met up with our friend Addi Clare at a neighborhood park.  We tried to get milkshakes from Sonic but their power was out too.  That's when we learned the whole town was without it!  That wouldn't have been too bad if it hadn't been SO hot outside and we got even sweatier running around on the playground.  The power ended up being out for 8 hours - well past bedtime - so it was a long evening of hot, still air.  

Katie Wynn's teacher at school paints the cutest wooden door signs, so we bought a couple watermelons from her for Mimi's front door.  They make her house look perfect for summer!

Matt's parents arrived at the end of the month to help celebrate Thomas's birthday.  To welcome them, Katie Wynn painted a sign.  I lightly drew the star and letters with pencil and she did all the painting.  Not bad for a three year old, right?!

I'll be back with June phone pics soon!  (Hopefully.)

April Phone Pics

On the last day of May, let's talk about April!  How have I let a whole month go by without blogging?  That's what happens when you're living abundantly, I guess.  No time for sitting at a computer!

April brought warmer weather so we spent an afternoon at the playground.  This adventure taught me two things - one, that Katie Wynn is scared of heights.  She absolutely hates walking across the bridge you can see through (pictured below) and keeps a death grip on the rail. 

And two - that my adventurous little boy from last summer is suddenly timid about going down slides.  I think he'll warm up to them as the summer goes on, but on this particular day, he would not go down them!

And, as long as there are NO other kids on the playground, my shy little girl will slide all day long now!

Monkey see, monkey do.

We spent some time on Mimi and Poppy's playset too.  You can tell from all of these pictures that Thomas spent most of April in his sister's old rain boots.  He has his own but prefers these, thank goodness they were unisex!  (And no, he didn't not go down the slide below willingly, I had to pull him down.)

During the month, Matt, Wyatt, and I - along with our Sunday School class - cooked and served a meal to around 160 homeless men at the Memphis Union Mission.  I hesitate to say it was a fun night since we were serving those in less than ideal circumstances, but we really did have an enjoyable evening with our friends and working to help others.

In April I got to spend a day of one on one time with each of my kiddos.  For Katie Wynn, our date started at the dentist's office.  This was her second visit and we talked it up ALL week long before her Friday morning appointment.  She was going to be SO good and then, as a treat for good behavior, we were going to get our nails done!  She was perfect that morning - did such a good job scrubbing her teeth - and was even somewhat smiley in the waiting room.

Everything went downhill when they called her name to go back.  I'm recounting this story not to embarrass her but for my own memory.  She crawled up my chest and started crying immediately.  I could not peel her off me so I sat on the chair with her.  Without going into all the horrible details, let me just say there was lots of screaming, two tightly sealed lips, me and four helpers holding her down, lots of sweating from me, and sticky fluoride all over both of us.  I was mortified at her behavior.

But - and this is the part I really want to remember - she was so upset when we left because I told her she'd have to go back to school instead of getting her nails done since she did not behave well.  She had been looking forward to getting polish on her nails for SO long and just couldn't stand the thought of not getting them done.  I told her the only way we could still go would be if she apologized to the dentist for the way she acted.  Her first question was if she could do it over the phone, to which I replied no.  But she said she would do it.  I drove her back to the dentist office and we told the receptionist - who was terrified when she saw us come back in! - we'd like to see the dentist again and we sat and waited.  When the dentist came out, Katie Wynn did such a a good job!  She audibly said she was sorry for the way she acted during her appointment - this is HUGE for her (not so much the apology as the speaking-loud-enough-for-a-stranger-to-hear part).  I was a proud and happy Mama and so...we got our nails done!  We also went out for pizza afterwards and when she woke up from her nap, she got to drink "coffee like Poppy" (juice in a coffee cup).  

My day date with Thomas was less dramatic.  I took him to get a haircut - small drama over the cape but once we ditched that, he was golden - and then we had lunch (he paid!) (but with my credit card!) and went shopping at Old Navy.  He was such a perfect angel and sweet shopper that I didn't even notice when I left my purse in the dressing room.  Thank goodness the employee that found it turned it in with nothing missing! 

Like his Daddy, he can only shop for so long before being worn out!

My parents got new neighbors!  A mama fox found shelter under the porch of a house down the street and had her babies there.  It's pretty odd since they live in the middle of town.  How did the fox get there?  We became obsessed about "going the long way" to Mimi's house so we could look to see if the babies were out.  We got to see them on several occasions!

We had a big Mint Tulip trunk show during April and have been busy working on orders ever since.  My sweeties wanted to pose with one of my signs after the party.  Who am I to say no??

I had to teach Katie Wynn about the "front tuck" when her t-shirt was longer than her shorts!

Two things about Katie Wynn that are so grown up to me - she is starting to color more in the lines now and she and her Daddy read their first "chapter book" together.  I don't know that it really had chapters, but it took them several nights to read it all!

We went to our friend Henry's birthday party and Thomas thought the big balloons were hilarious!

After the party, we went out for tacos and chips and dip.

To wrap this up, here are some of my favorite pictures of the kids together during the month.

Snuggling together after a shower.

Riding shotgun in shades (don't worry, we just went around the corner!).

Wearing new shoes!

Selfie at lunch after church.

Hanging out with the best big sister after bath!

Watching tv with Daddy.

Swinging with Mimi.

I'll leave you with these two pictures.  This is what I found in my entry hall one day when I rounded the corner.  She does love being a good helper.  :)  Now I just need to teach her that the last step is throwing the old diaper away instead of just slinging it across the floor!

March Phone Pics

You would think after the train trip posts and Easter pictures and golf coursing and puddle jumping, there wouldn't be much left to show for March.  But you'd be wrong.

March showed up with the flu, and it targeted my sweet baby boy.  Doesn't that sad face just break your heart?  He couldn't even stay awake long enough to get to the doctor.

After just one round of medicine, he was back to being his silly self again!  We had a good day together at home and I loved the extra one-on-one time.

My girl and I got some quality time together too, at a tea party fundraiser.  We didn't win any of our items at the silent auction, but we had fun dressing up and doing crafts.

Here is last year's tea party picture (on the left) compared to this year's.  Katie Wynn is still just as shy as can be!

Later that same day, our buddy Gus and his mama, Sarah, came to visit and we took a trip to the zoo.  The weather was perfect for it and the kids loved being outside!

I am stocking up on photos of these two for their wedding slideshow. :)

Thomas knows how to enjoy a day outside!  This boy just kicked back and relaxed while I pulled him to all the animal exhibits.  It wasn't until close to time to leave that Katie Wynn and Gus started pulling the wagon for me.  Why didn't I think of that sooner??  Sarah and I were able to stroll and chat and enjoy the day.

If I remember correctly, that weekend had great weather for both Saturday and Sunday.  After church, Katie Wynn picked out her play clothes and then asked if I could dress Thomas to match her.  Of course I could!

From looking back at my pictures for the month, we spent a lot of time outside playing.

Poppy had some extra help...or extra weight...with his load of dirt.

Thomas enjoyed an oreo and getting to try on his new flip flops.

I took lots of pj pictures during the month of March...probably because the Easter Bunny and I both brought the kids new ones.

Passed out!

Possibly Thomas's longest nap ever!

Sleeping with her mittens on.

Katie Wynn and her bunny family!  All three are named Easter Bunny.  Thomas has a set of three grey ones that are all named Bunny Foo Foo.  

One morning Daddy used the flash of the camera to wake us up.  Sometimes I get all the snuggles.  :)

The Easter Bunny also brought new battery-operated toothbrushes!  We did LOTS of dry brushing in March!

For me, March is always important because it's my birthday month!  This year, we joined some friends of ours for dinner and a night at an Escape Room.  Basically, you are all "locked" in a room (in our case, Sherlock Holmes' office) given a scenario and some clues, and you have one hour to try to figure out how to get out.  We did it with 15 minutes to spare!  Not only did we get to add our team name to the board (the Ides of March), but we had the best time for the week!  Such a fun night.  :)

Chris and I share a birthday on...you guessed it, the Ides of March!

With just six days left in April, I guess another set of monthly phone pics will be coming soon!