Evan in Mommy's Heels ...What a ham!

4th of July

The 4th of July started with a short walk down to the neighborhood HOA parade around the traffic circle and duck pond.

Daddy and E get settled to watch the festivities.

E and Hayden enjoy the parade and a little
candy tossed to them from some children participants.

The most patriotic neighborhood dog - hilarious!

That afternoon we headed to our friend's house, the Amezcua's,
to try out their new pool.
Daddy and Hayden so enjoyed the pool time
together.

Ally, David, Mia, Hayden, and Rob watch fireworks
from the Suburban roof - what a way to end such a fun
filled day!

Splash Ground Fun

My sweet friend Shelly came to town for a visit with her girls, Sydney and Lauren. We enjoyed pizza and then a trip to local splash grounds. It was great seeing them. I miss Shelly so much!! (If you read this Shel - come home!!)

Evan tries to figure out what these water covered steps are all about.

Hayden and Sydney share something important.

Hayden doesn't seem to appreciate the water spraying his face straight up from the ground but keeps going back for more.

Cute little congregation

Hayden Swim Lesson Scrapbook Page

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Happy Boy!

I was able to grab some "authentically happy Hayden" pics in the backyard last weekend. These are the smiles that I LOVE to see!

Lovin' brother..

"Someone's Been Walking In My Crocs!"

This is something you might hear Hayden say these days. He can never find them where he left them. You see, Evan LOVES them. He slips them on at any opportunity. One day he put them on (though WAY too big) and sported them around the house most of the day.

These Crocs are too big!

These Crocs are just right!

Steve and I went and bought Evan his very first pair of
Crocs. We even got him decked out with a monkey
and Superman Jibbitz. (how fitting for little E.)
Alas, he still favors his brother's Crocs.

Hayden's Preschool Year End Program

I am very behind in posting this one! I had to edit the video to clip it down enough to post which took some time.
Anyhow, Hayden's preschool program was about Creation and they were adorable singing their hearts out about all the wonderful things God has made.

Below is video of the program titled "Before the World Began". I trimmed down to the highlights.

This is Hayden and one of his favorite preschool friends, Tommy. (He even has a stuffed bear named Tommy that he named at Tommy's birthday party at Build-a-Bear. Tommy named his bear Hayden - so sweet!)

Frustrating, Sad, Funny, Surrender.....

Those are just a few of the words I would use to describe this scene of young siblings. My camera was handy Friday afternoon for a very different purpose (stay tuned this week for a posting I think I will call "Someone's Been Walking in My Crocs"). Please, no fear, I most always intervene in the midst of a raging baby and a very frustrated older brother. However, that afternoon I figured I might as well capture a little bit o' real life for display. It is a special peek of the reality that many of us blogging mommies prefer to keep secret from those that may stumble upon our page :-) I hope that for any that may have had a tough week with a screaming child or children that perhaps this may bring you a bit of comedic relief or at least comfort to know that you share the same boat with what is every other Mommy on the planet!

Hayden wonders if I am collecting evidence for when Daddy gets home.


Raging baby gets what he wants but is still furious with the effort he
had to put forth to get it.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for our beautiful sons.
Thank you for entrusting us with the responsibility of raising them.
Thank you for the grace You have given me in the mistakes
I have made and will continue to make as I Mother these precious boys.
Please help me to be "slow to anger" Psalm 103:8 just as You are
when I find myself losing patience with my sons at times.
May we always seek your guidance to teach them to grow into
the men that we pray will know You and love You.
May I always find joy even during challenging times of parenthood.

Amen.

Little E and My Gym - The Best Investment Ever!!

From the great recommendation of friends, I enrolled Little E and I at a Mommy and Me program at a local My Gym. Wow! - There could not have been a more perfect way to expend the incredible amount of energy inside my little man and also get some quality just "E and me" time.

E is scouting out his next activity.
Little E posing at the end of the trampoline in his oh so cheesy smile that he often sports when he knows a camera is pointed in his direction.
Evan gets ready to hang all by myself from the bar just to prove he is the real life "monkey mess" we endearingly call him from time to time. (that name affectionately given by Aunt La La)


Ta da! He could not be happier...

E and His Sandbox Love Affair

Evan loves the sand table. He would play in it most of the day if he could. You would think it would get old but it doesn't. He loves it so much in fact that he feels a need to climb up on to the table so he can be closer to his beloved sand.

It all starts with innocent fun. He scoops up the sand and dumps it back in the box.

Sandy little boy hand.

I gotta get in there!
Working my way up.

What, what is so funny?
I love the feel of sand on my face!
So fun, oh what incredible fun!
I gotta save some up in my shorts. (Mommy dumped out what seemed like a whole bucket full of sand from his changing table when I went to change him afterward. He had sand in places I don't even care to mention!)

I just love to get these hands nice and dirty!