A Walk to Remember

Living in town now, we often take walks.  Last night, Steve had to work late, and Avery's baseball game was cancelled because the fields were too wet.  So, after supper, we decided to walk to visit Grandma and Grandpa Grinstead.  As we approached the post office, I noticed that Silas had put his hand on Avery's shoulder.  They walked that way for two blocks.  It made my heart skip with joy.  I don't think I'll ever forget the way I felt when I saw this:

I know that my children "need" me, and I often worry that I'm not there for them individually enough, because I'm always so busy taking care of their collective needs.  But seeing Silas' affection towards his brother was a great reassurance to me that they also meet one another's needs.  How special to have the love of a brother (or sister!)

Grandma's house proved to be as fun as ever.  It was a beautiful night and we played outside for a couple of hours.  Here are just a few pictures of our fun (I had to use my phone camera, so they aren't the best!):

Monkeys in the tree!

Chaille wanted to try too!

The sandbox was fun for ALL! :O)

So sweet to see them all playing together!!

The slide was a hit too.  They took turns...

Even Chaille had a blast!  She's in love with it and says "slide."

More fun in the trees!  They also played baseball and hit balls onto grandma's roof to watch them roll off.  They ate mulberries off of the tress, and stomped them as well (they now have PURPLE feet!)

It was a fun, playful, and relaxing day.  We all had a great time!

Busy Summer Already

I really thought that when summer began, things would slow down for us significantly.  So far, that has been far from the truth!  We've been very busy!!!  Yesterday we had a non-stop kind of day.  I'll let you look at Avery's to-do list for yesterday:

He brought me this list in the morning.  He said "I knew it would be a busy day, so I made a list so that I could keep it all straight."  Cute. 

Our first stop of the day was to the dentist.  All 3 boys had cleanings, and all 3 were cavity free.  Avery said that the dentist told him he had one "warning" spot.  So when I asked her she clarified... He has one spot on his tooth that was "worn" she told him.  Basically something he is doing is wearing away the edge of the tooth.  He thought he was in trouble ;o)  He had a tooth pulled because the adult tooth had broken through behind it. Check out his new smile:

After the dentist, we were able to have lunch with my mom.  We went to McAllister's and then headed home for a quick nap.  We got home a little before two and were back out the door at 3:45.  My van has new tires, and one of them already had a screw in it. :o(  So we took the van to the tire place, and then had a picnic at the ball park before baseball.  It was a fun evening, even though we got sprinkled on a little.  Here are some pictures from our evening:

The kids just LOVE sack lunches!

Avery picked the picnic table the closest to the play set.  Nolan didn't want to stay in his seat to eat.  I think he ate more during the baseball game then he did at the picnic.

Nolan and Chaille sat under a big umbrella with me while it rained!

Silas watched a little of the game.  He mostly played at the park, since we were on the diamond closest to the play set.

Avery played third base last night.

I'm going to go backwards in time here to Monday night.  We didn't have plans Monday evening, and it was nice to just have an evening at home.  Nolan asked if he could help me water plants while Steve mowed grass.  It was too cute to pass up pictures:

Chaille LOVES water and dirt, so she wanted in on the watering deal!

And she learned that water + dirt = mud!

I played in the grass with them and Chaille kept crawing up on me!

This was the view from my perspective!  I thought it was funny.  She was RIGHT in my face!

Silas decided he wanted to help too!  He actually watered flowers, where Nolan watered the dirt.

Watching Daddy mow grass.

Wish I could read the thoughts behind those eyes.  The hello kitty sticker is from her doctor's visit.  It was her first time to actually WANT a sticker.  She's growing so fast!!!

After the mowing was done, the boys decided to race their trucks up the walk.

Ready, set...

Time for a bath.  See the square where her hello kitty sticker was?  She was filthy!

At bedtime Monday night, Nolan had some trouble at bedtime.  We weren't sure if he was sick or just upset about something.  So, we let him watch a movie while the other boys went on to sleep.  I'm not sure who enjoyed this arrangement more, Nolan or Daddy?  They sure are buddies!!

Chaille's ENT visit

Chaille had to see an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist this morning for her persistant ear infections.  She has only had 3 total so far, but the double ear infection she had lasted for 6 weeks!  :O(  So, after having a hearing test, and finding that she has fluid in her ears, the doctor has deemed it necessary to put tubes in to give her relief.  So, next Thursday she is scheduled to have her tubes put in.  We had a very long wait at the doctors office.  I exhausted all of my options for entertaining her.  I took a few pictures too:

Sitting in the big girl chair.  Notice mommy's pink thumb in the picture.  I had to help her stay upright!

Calling daddy on her princess "cell phone."

Snack time.  She spied her cheerios in my purse, and HAD to have them, despite the sign in the room that said no food or drink.  And, I was tired of trying to hold her down, so YES, she is sitting on the floor of the doctor's office... EWW...

Despite the long wait, she was very good.  The doctor came in several times to tell us what a good patient she was!

Memorial Day Weekend

We had an incredibly busy, and fun Memorial Day Weekend.  Friday was Avery's last day of school and his Field Day.  Then, on Saturday, we went down to Grandma and Grandpa Frye's so that Steve could mow hay.  The kids and I played outside all day, and they enjoyed playing in the dirt around a tree where Grandma had recently tilled up the dirt.  It was soft, and even Chaille was burying herself in the dirt!  It was so much fun to watch.  I forgot my camera, or I surely would have captured the moment when the four kids, Steve and I, and Grandma and Grandpa Frye all had popcicles together!  I'm sure there aren't too many children these days blessed with the opportunity to sit and eat popcicles with their Great-Grandparents!!!  Here is the one picture I did take that day, with my phone.  Nolan and Chaille were enjoying the dirt:

On Sunday, Steve and I took the kids down to Ceraland, where mom and dad were camping.  We spent the whole day there, and the boys even spent the night there.  Monday, Steve went to bail the hay while the kids and I went back to the campground.  I finally remembered my camera on Monday.  Here are some pictures from our fun at the campground:

Nolan was making a motor for his truck.  Chaille found a stick! :O)

Nolan didn't sleep very well for Grandma, so he layed down to play!

He was really cute though, and it reminded me so much of lazy days I had when I was a kid.

Silas loved the recliner chairs!

Avery was teasing Silas, trying to get him to get out of the chair so that he could nab it!

Nolan decided to try his hand at photography.  I deleted LOTS of photos and videos that he took (they cluttered my memory card!)  But he took a pretty good one of Papaw relaxing!

Another Nolan photo.  I thought it was so cute that his little finger was in the way!

Chaille LOVED the pool!  She had a blast cooling off from such a hot weekend!

Grandma enjoyed playing with the kids all weekend!

Avery was so grown up in the pool.  He went down the water slide on his own over and over again!

Silas loved the pool too.  After flipping upside down going down the slide the first trip, he decided to just play in the water or wait for mom to go down the slide with him!  We had a lot of fun playing tag in the water together too!

Nolan had a ball!  He got more and more brave in the water the more he played!

After we left the campgrounds, we headed to Randy and Deb's for an evening cook-out.  I must have been really excited and in a hurry, because I was using "excessive speed" as the county sheriff politely put it ;O)  Thankfully he let me off with a warning!  Whew!!  Anyway, the kids enjoyed more time in the water, as Grandpa Randy had set up the kiddie pool at the end of the slide!  We enjoyed a great holiday weekend!  I took a couple of pictures from Randy and Deb's:

Avery and Grandpa Randy!  Two really great smiles!

Silas and Grandma Debbie.  More happy faces!

I LOVE this picture of Silas. I love to see all of my children laughing!

After the busy weekend, Silas had just one last school function to attend.  His "end of year picnic" was at the park.  It was a pitch-in lunch and 3 hours of playing with his friends.  He really enjoyed himself and the chance to be the center of his mom's attention for a while.  After we left the park, I took him to buy some new boots (just like the old ones, only less dirty and not falling apart!)  And we also stopped and got him an ice cream cone.  Thank you, Grandma Debbie, for keeping the other 3 children so that Silas and I could have this special day!!!  Here are some pictures from Silas' picnic:

Telling mom stories about his friends!

Silas and his buddy, Chad.

Silas' favorite "friend" from school, Shrader.  Silas was embarassed to get his picture with her, so she and I chased him and she held him while I took the picture.  Can't you tell how "upset" Silas is by the smile on his face?!?

Silas and Shrader played for a long time.  They tied on their race down the slide!

"Hi Mom!"

A little "break" to chat with Leland.

Leland, Isaiah, and Silas talking boy talk...

Silas, Brady, and Walker riding the horse swings.  I failed to get a picture of Silas swinging his hat over his head saying "ride-on cowboy!" :OP

Ms. Liza, Silas, and Ms. Sam.  He loved his teachers this year!

Boy this post has been long and has included LOTS of pictures.  Last night, as I was showing Steve the pictures from Silas' day, Silas came down from bed.  He was having trouble sleeping.  So, we all looked at the pictures together and then played around with the camera.  We took a self-portrait before sending him back up to bed: