Sometimes...

You just don't ask....

But I will add an ** and say that:

A-he was at Mimi and Pop Pop's;

B-he did this to himself;

C-he did tape this onto his hair; and

D-he could breathe!!!

Sam's New Bed...

We try to be fair and even and all of that fun stuff with our boys.... and I would think it's harder with two of the same sex than if we had one of each!? Maybe? Mostly because you end up with a lot of duplicates....

But ever since Jake got his new bed, Sam has been asking for a bunk bed too.  When we originally purchased his furniture (when we were pregnant with Jake), our plan was to buy the full-sized bed that went with his furniture at a later date and bunking them one day.... PERFECT IDEA.... except that they don't make his furniture in his color anymore --- yes, they have it in light wood and dark cherry, but not black... really.... SOOOOO.... Mimi and Pop found this great bed that will work perfectly.  Sam's 'nice' bed will go in the basement until he is tired of this one, and once again we have two happy boys! Whew.... except that Sam now wants to convert his airplane room into a pirate ship room.... and Jake wants to convert his jungle room (that we JUST finished) into an aquarium room.... not gonna happen!!!! I told them that we can re-decorate when we move into a new house..... Lord only knows when THAT will be!!!!!! And we already have the stuff and the plan to re-decorate their bathroom into an aquarium anyway!!!! ;-)

Here they are... ready to help mommy and daddy put the bed together...

Daddy is working away...

Two BIG helpers...

The finished product...

I still need to move the airplane over a smidge... so that it doesn't look like it's crashing into his bed!!!

Sam LOVES to draw and CREATE all kinds of things... it's perfect during 'quiet time' (since he long ago gave up naps, I haven't given up on 'me-time'!!!) for him to color and draw and create! Give that kids some scissors, tape, glue, crayons, pencils, etc, and he is off and away!!!!

So the desk part is just perfect for him and his creativity! We just have to get it all situated and get him some bins and all of that fun stuff!!! He's beyond excited!!!

What to do on a Record-Breaking day for HEAT?

Picking Blueberries sounds like a winner....

Until I learned that the heat index was 110 degrees that day... and we went at 11 am... WELL...... they were excited to go at least!!!

There were goats to feed and pet...

And a couple of hairy cows...

I know - gross... but it was part of the experience - so who am I to censor the COMPLETE experience!?!?

And they enjoyed picking the blueberries...

For about 10 minutes...

Then they were HOT...

and ready to go home!!!!! ;-)

But it was a good hour of (hot) fun for $4!!! I call it a win!!!!

Stone Mountain

We went to see Stone Mountain and the Laser Show recently. I forgot that the boys had never seen Stone (or SNOW as Jake kept calling it) Mountain up close! They were so excited, and could NOT wait to get out of the car when we got into the park.  We got there pretty early (considering that the Laser Show doesn't start until 9:30!) because I had a party to photograph for a few hours... so BJ was solo with the (excited) kids!!!! They enjoyed climbing on the rocks around the lake and walking around the little 'town' area so much, that BJ didn't need to do anything else with them! They even loved playing on the lawn once they got the stuff out to save us a spot!!!  But by the time I was done and able to join them, they were SO READY for the laser show!!!!  They were a trip!!!!

See? Daddy became a jungle gym to 'pass the time'...

Empty water bottles became interesting toys...

Get ready.... it's about the start!!!!!!

They loved the show.... when they played "The Devil Went Down to GA," we spent the next two songs answering questions about the Devil..... once they were satisfied that he can't come into their house without permission, and that they have to be nice to each other to 'beat' the devil, then they were able to concentrate again!!!!  Once we got back to the car, Sam was asleep before we even got out of the park.  Jake didn't stop talking until we were over halfway home, so therefore he didn't fall asleep til then either! ;-) They did so good, though, and enjoyed it so much!!!!!  We have now promised to take them back and ride the train and climb the mountain and all of that fun stuff.... yay.... ;-)

Summer, Summer, Summertime.... Part Deux...

Summer has been super fun, and I love having my boys home to 'play with' everyday!  I had posted pictures a while back from our first half of summer... now we are onto our second half!!! We've definitely gotten into a pretty good groove of having different plans for each day!!! That is a MUST with these two boys around!!! It makes me sad that school starts in less than three weeks.... is the sadness from not wanting summer to end, or not wanting Sam to start Kindergarten???? Well..... we won't think about that quite yet!!!!

Of course no summer isn't complete without staying with Mimi and Pop Pop for awhile!!! And all of the fun things that they can think of to do!!!! Here they are in the Zodiac - this visit was while BJ and I were on our cruise...

They tubed too... Sam is still a little sketchy about the tube, so when I got this pic, I was ecstatic! Then Mimi told me that he would only tube behind the Zodiac... well - it's the small victories!!!

These kids LOVE them some popcorn and a movie... Stormie too!!!

We had stair built off of our deck... I know - who builds a house with a deck and no stairs???? Our builder - that's who! Crazy!!! AND we had our backyard fenced in!!! It is like heaven already!!!!! :-)

We go to the pool almost everyday... and one of the best parts is riding in any seat that they want without a seat belt! I know - it's still breaking the law, but it's the little enjoyments in life!!! I'm an outlaw mom now!!!

Well, I encourage sitting in a seat at least... AFTER a quick pic!!!

Jake CANNOT WAIT until Halloween!!! He wants to be spider man soooo bad!!!! So why wait???

And here's Captain America!!!!

Pirates is a favorite game at our house! And I have the two cutest pirates!!!

Goofy-time!!!!!

And we had the artist that helped Jake with his Auction pieces that will benefit CHOA to come back and have an art day (with pieces for mommy to keep!) They had an absolute blast, and we got some great stuff to hang in our playroom!!!!

Here's Sam's self-portrait...

And Jake's self-portrait...

Sam's art clipper/hanger...

And Jake's....

Kim (the artist) brought me a picture of each of Jake's auction pieces...

I love them - but pictures will be all I get.... the starting bid will be $700...

Nope... that wasn't a typo!!!! I hope someone is willing to pay that much for them --- we shall see!!! I'll keep you posted!!! And have I mentioned that some of my photography pieces will be in the auction too??? Those, I have no idea what they're planning on starting the bidding at!?!? Mmmmmm..... if my work goes for $700 --- I'll be signing autographs on certain days... to be determined!!! HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

We have more summer excitement ahead... more pictures coming too!!!!!

July 4th... Better Late Than Never...

We went to the lake for the 4th of July this year.... they always have two sets of fireworks that we can take the boat to and watch from the water!  Plus, we love to go hang out with Mimi and Pop Pop and the family!!!!!

As usual, there's no shortage of yummy stuff to eat!

Sam said he was NOT going to smile... I think he had bitten his tounge and the popsicle was "medicine."

Relaxing a little between swims... Sam may be a little less vocal (ok, A LOT less vocal) about things, but he loves to be close, and he loves his family!!!

Emma didn't understand why we needed a rest...

Morning iPad time...

Good thing we have a few now!!!!

Can we go swim in the lake now? How about now? Can we now?

On our way to the fireworks... yep.... I've STILL got it!!!! I can put a baby out... but Emma feels she should be held ALL the time!!!!! ;-) So somebody had to do it!!!!

The fireworks from the boat... they weren't great pics - I took the tripod and everything!!! Hahaha!!!! The boat wouldn't sit still!!!!! ;-)

When we got home, we blazed through SIX boxes of sparklers!!!

Obviously, I made them take a picture before they could start, and cooperation was at a minimum...

Jake at 90 mph... Sam, not so sure about the burning sparkler and keeping his distance... he burned his hand pretty bad last year, so he wasn't so into them this year!?

Jake had no problems! He did all the sparklers but just a few!!!

Being the 'mean' parents we are, we made Sam do one just to show him that they won't hurt him!!!

Yep... it looked like we were torturing him!

But he got OK enough to smile for me! I call that a win!

And that was our 4th of July - better late than never!!!! ;-)