Catching up...

Surely I'm not the only one with a million pictures on my camera phone? That tells the stories of day-to-day life... right???? Please????

Well, since I've been depriving the blog for a few weeks, I have a build-up (again) of pictures that warrant sharing!!!! So here we go with the camera phone back-up-of-pictures....

First, though... an update on school - Sam loves it (I'm not surprised - he's a creature of habit... once he gets into a routine, he is GREAT!).  Jake likes school... he just won't admit it.  Or he just likes hanging out with mommy better!? He doesn't cry, but he has been known to throw himself onto the floor in an effort to not go.  That never works. ;-) He is adjusting to going three days in a row!!!!  He really liked having a 'home day' in between his school days!!! hahaha!!! I usually get, "Do I have to go to school today, AGAIN???? AWWWWW MAN!!!!" But I think he likes it - he just won't admit it!!!!

OK - now, for pictures....

Jake wearing his bookback to the bus stop - because the big kids do... he's not in school yet, here...

Jake and I kept pretty busy those few weeks it was just the two of us... we visited Nanny a lot... which she loved too!!!!

Sam and his creativity... LOVE it!!! These were made from his 3D glasses he got at the World of Coke during his visit with Opa and Ernie...

I took Jake for ice cream...

We visited Sam at school for lunch (a few times ;-)...

Sam using his dad's shoe horn to get his tennis shoes on... imitation... :-)

Jake and I went to the grocery store... a lot...

He played trains (a lot)...

We babysat Emma...

See? More trains...

We painted pottery for a good cause (Children's Healthcare of Atlanta)...

Cutie...

We went to FroYoLo... at least it's better for you than REAL ice cream!?

Mimi and Pop Pop went on vacation...

They thought this was the coolest thing - maybe we can go next time!?!?

More cutie...

More cutie playtime...

Silly cutie playtime...

Cutie...

More FroYoLo...

Mimi and Pop came home... bearing prizes...

More FroYoLo (we had to introduce Mimi and Pop Pop... they are now hooked too)

Spiderman suit only comes off to eat and sleep (only because we have spiderman jammies)...

Captain America's prize...

Ready to walk to the bus stop...

Sam too... he can web with the best of them!

Jake's 2nd day of school... he wasn't a fan of going... he thought he should have a day off in between - like last year!!!!!

Yes, they still hang out in their undies... and Stormie isn't any less modest...

BJ's lost coffee cup.... he left it on my bumper one morning - it made it halfway out of the neighborhood before it met it's fate... he called me THREE TIMES to remind me to get it... the third time being as I was walking out the door.  Oops...

Sam and Jake's other prize... Croc tennis shoes... they are AWESOME!!!!

OK - think the blog is up to speed on those random pictures laying around!!!!!

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!!!!!

Our Summer (so far).....

I have acquired the 'random backup of pictures' on my phone again!!! So, it kinda goes through what we've been up to this summer!  Here we go....

I'm not sure what he's doing, but he's cute doing whatever it is...

We needed water on the deck for their pool.  BJ hadn't fixed the faucet out back yet.  This is looking into the house from the garage...

And from the deck toward the garage.... the faucet is fixed now!

Again, I'm not sure, but he's kinda funny!!!

The boys (well, Jake went the first night, but decided he'd rather hang out with mommy the rest of the week) went to a Sports Camp at a friend's church.  Sam at least, LOVED it!!!! He played football, soccer, games, (he says he played basketball and is really good at it.  But he never actually played that one!?), and he learned about Jesus, Saul and Paul! These pics are from the last night when a stunt guy came and performed.  They BOTH LOVED it... uh. oh......

We've been to the park and played in the water... Gwinnett County is really into their parks.  I am so glad!!!

Jake put on BJ's work shirt, and these were his words (no prompting AT ALL from us)... "I'm a MAN. I'm going to WORK!" Doubt he'll be that excited when the day actually comes!!!!

Sam went to another Vacation Bible Camp.  And again, he had a blast! He played, made new friends, and learned about King David, Samson and Jesus...

I love this pic because I kinda hear the 'Jaws' theme song with Jake back there...

See?

But Sam was the one who 'bit'.... as usual....

It's his favorite shirt.... mmmmmm.....

This is Samson's hair from VBC...

We've also been to numerous parties for friends!

And we've done A LOT of swimming!!!!!!

They are BOTH doing SO GOOD with their swimming! They are both swimming by themselves; diving under water; jumping off the side; playing; and they are CONFIDENT in the water!!!!! Heck, they're jumping off the side of the pool and swimming to the steps without me even in the water!!!!!!  THAT makes for an awesome summer right there!!!!!! Of course, nothing will do but for mommy to still get in the water and play with them!!!!!

Summer has been wonderful... I'm so sad that it's so short now that Sam will start Kindergarten! :-( We will most definitely be making the most of the next half!!!! Stay tuned.....