Rockets and Cream

Huntsville, Alabama is famous for training all of the American astronauts in their space and rocket center. (that was pretty much all I knew about this town before we moved here!) This past year we've had a membership and have taken advantage of it on several occassions! Saturday, they had an even called Rocket and Cream in which families could come, the kids could build a rocket, shoot it off and then celebrate with some yummy icecream. Our whole family was going to head out, but unfortunately Dan ended up getting sick so he wasn't able to come. Davis was already so excited that I could not disappoint him on this one, so being the crazy mother that I am, I took my boys out to do it during afternoon naptime. :)

I helped Davis build this rocket which would later get an engine put in it! I didn't realize how high tech it would be, I guess I just figured we'd make toilet paper roll rockets or something?!

One of Davis's favorite parts was riding on the bus to the field where we shot off the rockets. No carseat, no seatbelts, he really felt like it was such a treat! And, the staff was AMAZING. Picture me: 2 babies and a big double stroller, during naptime. Davis was definately one of the youngest rocket scientists. :) Several people saw I needed help and just found ways to assist me. I later found out that the main lady who had been helping me was the director of the center. If they ever need some references to how wonderful they are, I could GLOW about them all.

Aaah. Icecream. I'm so glad Mommy's were able to participate in the icecream sundaes also. As for Isaac... he enjoyed his applesauce. :) We assured him that someday he could share in our treat.

Below is a short video of Davis's rocket being shot off. These counselors helping him were just a small example of the kindness we recieved! He was able to push the button that sent his rocket flying at least a couple hundred feet in the air. Not every 2 1/2 year old gets to do that!

All in all, the boys did great, they both fell asleep on the way home, but then I was able to put them to bed for some good naps late in the afternoon. They were superstars!

A Moment We've all Been Waiting for!

Drum roll........ Isaac is CRAWLING!! Officially! The past few days he has been taking one little crawl and then falling, but today he started to really crawl, for real!! Thankfully, he isn't too quick yet, but I think even this morning he is enjoying his new found freedom of being able to reach a lot more things! I think I am about to become busier...

Great job Isaac! We love you!

Happy Father's Day 2009

We spent Father's Day weekend in Chattanooga, Tennessee! We had such a wonderful time as this was the first time for us to travel on a vacation just as a family since Isaac has been born. We've been to visit lots of wonderful people, but not traveled somewhere just us. I think we are already ready for our next time away -- the boys were super troupers, and we all enjoyed every moment! We did a lot of different things, but I am going to leave some just in pictures for you to see! I couldn't help but post a lot of pics, there were just so many fun ones to show you!

Breakfast in bed father's day morning. We love you dada!!

We took a train ride.. Davis was thrilled!! This is basically the only picture that shows that we were on a train, so here is Davis with Conductor Jeff. He was a lot of fun and took good care of all of his passengers.

Davis couldn't wait to ride the carousel at Coolidge Park.

Isaac absolutely loved the water area. Even when this shot up really tall and we picked him up so fast, he was just giggling away. His personality has just been shining through!!

This weekend wouldn't have been complete without Davis's first taste of a snowcone! He loved his rainbow flavored one, especially after he had just asked for something cold and sweet. :) Walking up, I was thinking that it would be true for the Isaac as it is for lots of 2nd kids, that they would get sweets way earlier then their older sibling, thankfully the nice man was happy to give us some shaved ice with no syrup. Isaac loved it!

Happy Daddy's Day, Dan!

We love you!!!

Football

Davis and Dan had a great adventure to see the Tennessee Valley Tigers play football. One of Dan's coworkers plays on this womens football team so they headed on out in Dan's "bee" (volkswagon) as Davis calls it. I just love this picture of them! Davis was thrilled to sit up front with Daddy.

However, Davis was very confused. He kept asking if he was going to see Aubie and the marching band. I think we are going to have to take him in the fall for a game in Auburn. He only made it for less then an hour at this game, so that is probably what we could expect in Auburn also!! Maybe we'll have to wait for A-day....

What Joe Brooks Must've Looked Like as a Baby

File this one under "Disturbingly Cute".

Roomtime

Each day Davis has some roomtime. It is basically time for him to play alone in his room for awhile and for me to take a shower, or get some chores done around the house. We set a timer and he knows he needs to stay in his room and play. Well, when I went to get him from his room yesterday, this is what I found:

This is our first time he has even tried to color on the wall, but needless to say, he now knows that he is not allowed to do it. Thank you Crayola for washable markers!! It was so easy to get off the wall. :)

Friends!

Last week we headed to B'ham to visit with some of my very best friends, Ginny and Tricia. We don't see each other too often, but it is always so much fun to reconnect and catch up. This was the first visit we have had with all of our munchkins. It made for tons of activity and fun for us to see our kiddos interacting and having fun together!Davis, Rosie and Evan! (Isaac was peacefully sleeping... thankfully!)
Evan just loved Rosie so much. Here he is giving her a snuggle!

Lunchtime was the most contained we had all of the kids. What fun! While it was great to have the kids together, us girls have a beach trip planned for the fall, so we are looking forward to the break, and time to truly reconnect, kidless! (thanks to Daddy's and Grandparents!)

How Marriage is Like Remodeling a Bathroom

The Idea: You've finally decided to take the plunge. It's an idea that's been rolling around in your head for awhile now, but it is time for you to commit. Your excitement of what can be overrides your fear of not having a clue of what you are doing.

Demolition: Your excitement continues to grow as you begin to deconstruct the "old" so that you can start over.

Preparation: You accumulate a bunch of stuff that you feel is "required" for your journey. Half of it, you don't really need.

Reality: You are now knee-deep into your commitment. You pause for a second and look around and all you see is utter chaos and destruction. How could you have been so stupid to get yourself into this mess? What were you thinking? You are a sad, lonely human being. Your options: break down and cry, call in a professional to fix your mess, or keep pressing on.

Reconcile: You decide to press on. You must now go out and get more stuff in order to patch up the mistakes that you've made.

Hope: You change your tactics. You realize that the "old way" isn't going to help you through this. You make notes that will help you to refocus yourself (see the "during" picture). You still don't know what you are doing, but things are starting to look better. You begin thinking about random philosophical allegories that would look good on a blog.

Clean Up: The hard work is done (for now). But the remnants of your past trials lay in piles all around you. You must pick up the pieces and move on.

Amazement: You're done! You realize now that the happiness that you had hoped for from the beginning can only come through a lot of hard work. A complex hormone is released in your brain that makes you forget about the "Reality" stage.

Our Wise Little Man

During Isaac's morning nap, Davis and I were out playing in the backyard.
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We were just kinda splashing in the little pool without "really" getting wet when I asked him. "Davis, what do you want to be when you grow up?" To which he replied, "A wise man."

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Davis was given a wonderful book called God's Wisdom for Little Boys which goes through character traits that are very important to have in his life. (and ours!)
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This is the prayer at the end of the book which we pray with Davis:
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Dear God above, for this I pray
To be a godly man someday.
Make me a man who loves You true,
A man of wisdom who pleases You.
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Our 2 1/2 year old little man is such a joy, and is already so obedient and honoring to his parents and everyone that he meets. We know he IS growing up to be a wise man.

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When asked this evening during a walk we took as a family, he replied the same. I'm so proud. :)

Sister Time!

For the past couple months, Anne and I had been planning for some sister time, which happened this past weekend! Even living just a couple hours apart, it is hard to get together unless it is planned out far in advance. Life gets busy fast!

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Anne has taken up the hobby of sewing adorable little baby/toddler clothes! She made Davis's first birthday outfit and also a couple others for the boys. So, we decided we'd make the boys matching outfits as our project for the weekend.

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Friday we headed to Hobby Lobby to pick out fabric and get started. It was so much fun! I don't think I have the time right now to pick it up as a hobby, but maybe when the kiddos are a little bit older I'll follow in my sister's footsteps!

Davis and Isaac loved having Aunt Annie around, and they both helped out in their own ways. They were both fascinated by the sewing machine and watching the needle go up and down.
Here Isaac is in an outfit Anne made. Davis has a blue striped outfit just like it, so they are now ready for the 4th of July!

It is very hard to get these monkeys to sit still for pictures these days! Here are the finished products of their adorable outfits!
Thanks for coming to visit and for teaching me, Anne!