Catching up

Everytime I take a break from the blog I take a moment to look back on past posts and realize how important it is to write here.  All the details I forget when I fail to write them down are lost and that is sad.  So no resolutions for future posts but certainly more of an attempt....it is the digital age and it should be easier, right?

The boys are both getting so big. When I look at Cole I can hardly believe I am the mother of a nearly six-and-three-quarter year old (as of February 6th).  Cole is learning fractions this year...and as I mentioned growing up quickly.  He's entered the stage that a simple 6 is not enough!  First it was 6 and a half...and today he asks, "mom, when will I be 6 3/4?"!  He is reading so incredible right now...level 12 benchmark in the first grade. He loves playing his Wii- Super Mario cart specifically but most of all loves hanging out with his lil bro.  The companionship and brotherhood between those two constantly amazes me. 

Brooksy is quickly slipping into little boy mode.  He makes me laugh every day...even when i don't want to.  He has the most amazing ability to change the mood from something serious into something that is giggly and fun.  He is becoming so independent and yet, somehow always needing me in just the right way.  He is going to be a great big brother.  We had preschool orientation last week, yikes!, and I know that he is ready...so ready. 

So it's been a while

wow so much has happened since the last I wrote. I've a million times over whether this should be the end of the blog.  Do I need to write about our lives?  Is Facebook enough? The truth is that I haven't even been FBing that much!  I think I'm just trying to be present and somehow writing takes away from that?  I know others NEED to write to digest their lives.  For me it almost seems to distract me. It gives me an enormous guilt trip, if I haven't done it. So I've just let go for the last few months.  However, in my usual fashion I eventually break down, revisit the idea and in the end decide that I like to look back at the blog. It helps me to remember the little things.  Today I needed to look back while writing an entry in Cole's most recent photo album.  What did we do last winter?  I have the photographs but was there anything that I didn't pick up the camera for?  So anyway...here I am.  Months later, trips later, the start of a school year later!

First grade is going great for Cole. His teacher, Mrs. Bekenstein loves him and we like her too!  She is the mom of three, so she just gets it!  There is less homework and a whole lot less pressure on Cole. He is doing well there and is reading like a champ. We practice his words of the week spelling bee style.  It's fun to have a little one in school.  Cole lost his first tooth and also visited the ER for the first time (took a fall and resulted in 3 stiches) all in the same week.  We are gearing up for the upcoming Holidays and of course, the boys are super excited!

Brooksie turned 3 last month! Wow has time flown. He is such a big boy these days. Today he refused to use a sippy cup, he wanted a big boy cup instead. How could I refuse him?  He is acting so much like a big boy these days. He didn't like the idea of using the potty very much at first so we gave it a break for a week or two.  When we revisited, he took on the project like a champ and has been dry ever since.  We are keeping our fingers crossed that the night time string of dry diapers really does mean no more diapers.  Its funny to me that there seems to be a switch inside of kids that as it changes from 2 to 3 an independence button is clicked on.  Brooks no longer wants help with many of the things that he used to rely on me for.  "by myself" has become his personal motto :)  I'm okay with it...as long as I still get to read books to him each night and he still wants me to sing him the ABC's before bed :)

This week...

Potty training and much praise from teachers... Read our headlines from today :)

Back to school

Wow...a summer gone! Cole proudly moved on to another year of school and never looked back this morning. When asked about his day in the afternoon he said he loved it! The best part? Recess! Figures :). Mostly due to the fact that he was able to play with kids from last years class. Me? I felt like I needed to throw up all day! Can't figure out if it's because I miss him so much or I just hate change...regardless... Onward we go!

One Fab Weekend

It's been a busy summer and we're still trying to make the best of it! Last weekend we headed to J-town to take Cole and Brooks to Idlewild, an amusement park not far from there. Just days before, Cole got to go there and Hershey Park, where he rode his very first roller coasters. I hear that he said "Awesome" as he got off!  This from the little boy that up till that moment was deathly afraid of most rides :) My Little Man is growing up.  So anyway, we took the boys to Idlewild with Scott, Allison and Quinn.  What a fun day!  The rides are geared toward young kids and were even fun for the adults.  We also got to visit the 9/11 Memorial in Shanksville, PA on our way home. I'm amazed that in the past 10 years we haven't made it there. It's beautiful. A totally different experience than the other 9/11 Memorials. Quiet...reflective and of course, a tear jerker. 

This past weekend we started our Saturday with a trip to Hollin Farms in Delaplane, VA to pick peaches. We also picked raspberries and blackberries. It was a hot, sweaty but delicious experience.  We picked some of the largest (big as grapefruits) peaches I have even seen.  After our furit picking, we headed over to Mac and Margie's for a family BBQ and pool party. The boys played to their heart's content in the water and mom and dad had fun too.

On Sunday, the boys and I were baptized. This is something that has haunted me for my entire life and I feel an amazing sense of relief to finally check it off my life list. While I totally respect my parents for not choosing to baptize me as a child, it has also been a source of distress for me as an adult. I didn't want my boys to ever feel that way. We have made a church home of a local Methodist Church and I absolutely love their services. Craig is often skeptical but coming from a Catholic past, I guess I understand.  This is no Catholic mass :)  It is uplifting and fun and best of all I understand the scripture...most of the time.

Overall this was one of my favorite weekends we've had in a long time. Good, quality family time and not spending a lot of money....my kinda fun!

Beach Beauties

not the bathing suit kind but the more adorable type...two handsome little boys as sand rakers for Pap and Susan's wedding. My heart swells with love for them as I think back to how cute they were (and are!).  Great job guys...I really do think we should hire you out!

Bittersweet Endings

Summer vacation is here!!!  Best of all this means we have a first grader :)  We are so proud of you, Cole Harper. To celebrate we attended Herndon Live on Friday night. This is the fourth week in a row that we have been on Friday night to watch the live music in downtown Herndon. I LOVE doing this with the boys. It gives us a chance to slow down and spend some time with them.  We also rewarded Cole with a snowcone machine, which has proven to be a lot of fun. 

We're now into the swing of planning for a big wedding! So happy for the upcoming nuptials of Pap and Susan!