We're back!! 

Sorry for the long delay in posting. We were enjoying the last few weeks of summer before school started. Also, Graham was only napping for an hour each day, so it was hard to get anything done...and posting pics is not high on my list when the house looks like a tornado went through it!

Cal started school at the end of August. He is at a new school this year in the K4 class. There are 11 boys in the class (poor teachers!), and he LOVES it. He asks everyday if he can go to school. He is making quite the impression on the teachers with his love for firetrucks and dressing like a fireman. He wore his fireman rain jacket to school one day. His teacher happened to be unloading the car pool line and he was so excited to show her his jacket. She looked at me and said 'Who would have guessed you have a fireman rain jacket!' They also have a fire pole on the playground, so I am pretty sure he is happy boy everyday at recess!!

September 2: We celebrated Doug's birthday by hanging at home and watching the Clemson game. Doug wanted a low key birthday, and a restful Labor Day weekend. We tried to deliver!!

Doug enjoying his new camping chair and the boys hanging out in theirs!

September 3: We went hiking! We first hiked at King Creek Falls and then over to Spnauger Falls in Oconee County. Callen enjoyed walking in the water at the base of the falls. Graham wanted to play too, but the water was quite chilly for him!

King Creek Falls

Hiking the rocks to get down to the falls

Family pic on the bridge

Graham getting to do his first 'hiking' on his own. He loved the freedom

Spnauger Falls

My big boy and me

September 4: For Labor Day, my family met at McPherson Park to play on the playground and putt putt course. We have been wanting to take Cal here for a long time. He lasted about 9 holes before he was ready to play on the playground!

Cal and Papa

September 5: Cal gets sent home with lots of papers and reminders at his new school. Since we don't have a nice 'command center' in our kitchen where I can quickly look at papers and flyers, I have been wanting to hang clipboards for each boy and Doug and me. Cal and I spent the afternoon painting names on each clipboard as well as spray painting them with chalkboard paint. It was a fun and quick little project that I hope will get papers off the counter and make us a little organized as well. 

September 6: We took a quick trip to the Children's Museum that afternoon to get out of the house (after Graham wakes up from a nap until Doug gets home in the evening is crazy time at the house! I have to get the boys outside or go somewhere to keep my sanity!) Now that Graham is mobile, the museum is so much fun for him. He was enjoying dressing up in the construction area, and was pushing the wheelbarrow of bricks around the exhibit. 

September 7: Boys being boys. These boys love each other so much, but also fight all the time!

By the smiles on their faces in this pic, I'm pretty sure they are playing...but who knows!

September 8: Now that Callen is in school Monday-Thursday, Friday is our only day to play. I am trying to take him somewhere fun or let him choose the activity for that day. This week we went to Poinsett Bridge Heritage Preserve. What a beautiful and serene place. We were the only ones there on a chilly morning (thank goodness I threw in longsleeves!), and the boys had a blast. They were running, jumping, and climbing on everything. They also collected rocks and were enjoying throwing them in the water. I am going to be sure to head back there as the leaves start to change colors.

Look at me mom...I'm way up high

2 boys getting into trouble 

So peaceful

Just the 3 of us

 

I am making NO promises, but maybe...just maybe...I can get back on a better routine of posting pics. We have a little bit better of a schedule, and I'm trying to get myself better organized so I feel like I can take the time to spend posting pics. Have a great week, and thanks for checking in!

July 22-28

Cal had camp this past week, so we spent the mornings playing and exploring before he headed off to camp each afternoon at the Children's Theatre. It's a good thing we have been getting out early in the day because it has been so hot in the afternoons...all we I want to do is stay inside! (These boys would live outside if we let them!)

July 22: We stayed around the house most of the day but had a happy hour that evening. We haven't done a happy hour with the boys in a while...and G loved it! He used his new champagne flute from his birthday, and was loving his happy hour drink..aka smoothie!

July 23: Cal's VBS wrapped up at church, and some of the kids put on a little performance for everyone. I'm proud of Cal for getting up there and singing along as best he could...especially since he was running the halls each night during the song portion, and not following along!!!

July 24: We checked out a new park that is part of the Park Hop. It was super hot, and there was no shade, so we did not last too long. We will definitely revisit this one in the fall though.

July 25: We headed out early today and did 5 parks on the Park Hop (the Park Hop program ends this week, so we are trying to get in as many as possible before it's over). My favorite time of day, and probably the boys' too, is when daddy rolls in the driveway. Everyone is outside to meet Doug! Cal's new favorite thing is to ride his tricycle over to Doug's car, but Graham has to be riding in the bucket of it!

July 26: We finally made it to the Curious George exhibit at the Upcountry History Museum. It was a cute traveling exhibit that brought the favorite storybooks to life. The boys enjoyed themselves, and it was a nice break from the heat.

Cal weighing his food

Graham playing a little crazy golf

Cal helping Curious George wash the windows

July 27: Doug was changing a light bulb in the boys' room, and Graham climbed up onto the step stool with Doug. This is what he did over and over!

July 28: Cal finished his Pete the Cat themed camp at the Children's Theatre. They put on a little 5 minute performance at the end where they acted out the book Pete the Cat, I Love My White Shoes. It was really cute, and Cal actually performed this time!!!

July 15-21

What a busy week! Cal had Vacation Bible School each night this week. Doug literally walked in the door each night, I handed Graham to him, and off Callen and I went to VBS. I was able (with Cal's permission!) to work in his classroom each night. It was a fun time, and Cal loved it!

July 15: I had my first triathlon in almost 10 years that morning, so we kept it low key that day and spent the late afternoon at the pool. Both Cal and Graham love being in the water. Graham has a new trick of walking over to the ladder where Cal is standing, and pushing him in. He laughs and laughs!

 July 16: We finally joined our church, and had the boys baptized. We've been going there almost 6 years, but never have joined. The baptism itself was a mess. Graham was everywhere, he cried when Pastor Mollie took him from me, and Callen wanted no part of water going on his head. We all survived, and the boys are now baptized!

July 17: I took the boys near downtown to watch a building being torn down. They both sat on a bench for about 10 minutes and watched everything going on. Then it was down on the ground to run around in the grass! As we were leaving, I was packing up our stuff and turned around to see Callen walking Graham down the path. He made sure he was holding his brother's hand and not letting Graham get away! Too sweet!

July 18: Graham is enjoying wearing Callen's sunglasses these days.

July 19: The theme of VBS is Hero Central. We have our very own super hero!

July 20: Graham is a CLIMBER! We can't leave him alone or even turn our backs for 30 seconds. I was washing dishes, and turned around to find this...

July 21: Once again...G is enjoying Callen's sunglasses and old dapper hat!

 

Graham Turns One!!!!

Graham seems to always be called 'Big Eyes,' so what better theme for a birthday party for him than big (googly) eyes?! I made big eyes out of plastic plates and paper, and we taped them on the windows and mirror in the kitchen. The giant 'G' on the mantle was covered in googly eyes. We also placed eyes on drink containers, and made Graham's smash cake covered in eyes as well as the cake pops.

I love using pictures from the year to help decorate. This year I turned pictures of Graham into Polaroid pictures through PicMonkey and hung them from the mantle and mirror in the kitchen. Going along with the Polaroid theme, we made a photo booth for everyone to dress up and take pictures with Graham in a homemade Polaroid (aka foam board cut to look like a Polaroid!)

Inder...Please move this thing!

Grandmom...I'm not going to look at the camera. You smile big for me

My daddy is so silly!

What? I have to be in here with Ber and Mar?

Papa...I'm getting good at this. Let me help you hold the frame

Seriously, mom? You are crazy!

Nana and Oupa...I'm not even going to look. I am so embarrassed today!

The smash cake with Graham was fun (def more fun than his brother who just touched his fingers to it a few times). I thought Graham was going to dive into the cake as much as he loves food. Nope! He was a little unsure of it, and didn't care to eat the icing (this is not my child! Publix icing...all day long I will eat that stuff!). He kept putting his finger back in the cake and taking a small bite of the icing, but as you can see from the rest of his body, he put more on him than in his mouth!

Opening presents was pretty much mom opening them. He found the Cozy Coupe and gas tank on the front porch before we started opening gifts, so it was pretty much over at that point. He wanted to play with the car, or walk with his walker.

It was a wonderful day! And even better was that we were able to be together to celebrate Grandmom's 94th birthday!!

 

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate Graham's special day. He is such a special little boy; and so lucky to have such wonderful family in his life. We are thankful everyday for him, and can't wait to see what the future holds for him. He is one loved little guy!

Happy Birthday, Little Buddy!