It's ALWAYS Good To Be Prepared...

It's always good to be prepared....

For snow-skiing or swimming,

Or getting attacked by (adorable) bears....

Or bear-dragon hybrid mixes...

Or (a little rough) brotherly love!



A Day in the Life...

So I am blogging about a day in our life... our summer life that is while I am at home all day, each day with my precious boys.  I should video the whole day instead, to get the "true" picture, but for the meantime this will have to do!  

Tuesday, June 28th

6:50     Cole wakes up with a big smile most days - not today, he's hungry and impatient.  He gets a quick diaper change and bottle - all better.  He is on a 7-7 schedule and most days follows it.

7:30     Grady wakes up and gets in the shower.  I love that Grady showers and we don't have to mess with bath time for a 45 pound 4 year old and an infant.  No shower for Mommy... no time unless I get one during nap time.  A shower with hair washed and blow-dried is an extra special treat!  

7:30     I put Cole in his bouncy seat and start a load of laundry.  I turn cartoons on - Disney Junior - Little Einstein - and we all say goodbye to Richard. 

8:00     I talk to Cole while folding some clothes from yesterday and then put them away.  Yesterday Grady and I made made blueberry muffins.  I heat some up for breakfast and G tells me he doesn't want muffins again.... cereal it is (oh so healthy Frosted Flakes) and a side of raspberries and small glass of orange juice.  Grady watches and eats off and on for the next 45 minutes or so.  Usually this would be getting dressed time but this morning we have a swim lesson so G stays in his boxers.  

8:25     Time to switch Cole's position - I put him on his activity mat and he starts to happily kick and hit the animals.  I get a cup of coffee and reheat the muffins from earlier.

8:30     Cole goes down for a nap and I water the potted plants out back and put the umbrella up, gonna be 100 here today.  TV goes off.    

8:45     Play time with Grady!  He chooses to have me read Winnie the Pooh, a favorite lately and I get some good snuggles.  He then goes to color with washable markers at the table for a while.  During this time, I unload the dishwasher and clean up breakfast dishes.  

9:50     Cole wakes up with a poopy diaper, which makes it even more fun to change and then gets bottle #2 for the day.  Actually, I am happy to have poopy diapers at home instead of while we are out and about.... much easier!  I burp him and tell Grady into his suit for swimming.  I put dogs up, shut down house, pack spare clothes for Cole, extra formula and a bottle (forgot yesterday and had to stop at Target to buy bottle, formula and bottled water).  I check G and he is naked, running around the house.  Some "gentle" redirecting and suit is on.  Off to the pool we go!  Cole is crying in his carrier/car because he hates one or the other, or both.  Grady sings him a made up song....super sweet but unsuccessful.  We ignore him and drive.

10:30     Swim lessons go well, Grady does fantastic and listens really well.  Grady continues to swim on his own.  Cole happily watches the other kids swim.  I rock him and he falls asleep at about 11:15.  Cole sleeps laying down in the stroller and I get in the pool for a while to swim with Grady.  Forget the sunscreen, get burned. 

12:15     Cole wakes up, we leave pool and come home for lunch.  Cole is hungry, but I put him on the ground to stretch anyway and make Grady lunch.  Milk, carrots, pickle, salami sandwich, and yogurt.  I then get Cole a bottle ready.

12:45     Diaper change, bottle #3 for Cole and burping.  Playtime on mat. 

1:30     Cole goes down for nap.  Grady plays with fridge magnets.

1:45     Grady goes down for nap.  I eat some leftover spaghetti and then clean up lunch dishes and wash bottles.  I download pictures from iPhone and camera memory card.  I fast forward through Days of Our Lives, (my favorite soap I started watching in high school - 20 years ago) and then turn on the laptop so I can blog a little while watching.   I fold clothes from dryer.  Wow - good naps today - both kids still asleep at 4:00, this rarely happens!  Dinner prep - we are having steak tonight so today is easy... just sides!  I prep mushrooms, broccoli and wash and cut potatoes for smashed red potatoes. 

4:25     Cole wakes up and gets a diaper change and bottle #4.  Grady wakes up (long nap today, not typical except for swimming days wear him out) and I get him juice and a small snack.  Grady and I play on the floor with Cole - tummy-time.

5:30     I put Cole in the swing for a little nap(thank goodness he loves the swing, unlike Brother) so that I can get dinner going.  I cook dinner and Grady helps me make brownies.  Richard gets home and he cooks the steaks.  

6:15     We eat dinner and I wash dishes and clean the table.  Richard, Grady and I play Hi Ho Cherry-O a few times.  Cole wakes up and we all play on the floor together.  Grady eats a brownie.  Grady asks for more and I say no.  He pouts and stomps around for a minute and I ignore him.  Fit is over, he moves on.

7:30     I change Cole's diaper and put Cole in his pajamas and he gets his 5th and final bottle.  G feeds the dogs.  Grady gets in his pajamas, with a little fit.  Cole gets burped by Richard, rocked a little and put to bed at 8:00.  (We do bath every other night for Cole - tonight was a skipped night)     

8:00     Grady takes his Zyrtec and gets his teeth brushed.  He selects another LONG Winnie the Pooh story and we snuggle and read.  I give kisses and put Grady to bed.   
8:30     I usually plop myself down on the couch and check my email and Facebook, read blogs, and play with pictures on the computer or blog some.  Sometimes dessert and/or wine is involved.  Richard and I catch up on shows, or watch the Rangers.  Sometimes I call mom and dad.    
11:00     Bedtime!      


It's always a busy day at our house.  I remember when I thought I was busy with one.... Heck, I remember when I thought I was busy with none -- ha!  Life is busy and crazy and messy and fun and sometimes stressful but I wouldn't have it any other way!  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE being home with my boys.... summer is pure heaven!!!                            

      

Date Night ... Long Overdue ... WAHOO!!!

So Saturday night Richard and I had our first date since sweet Cole was born. Neither of us had really noticed because we've been so busy that we hadn't been out alone in almost 4 months... Until Richard reminded me we had a Groupon Coupon we needed to use sometime to Kirby's Steakhouse..... Perfect! Grammy Elaine came over to babysit and we decided to go see a movie too and make a whole evening of it! The movie was funny and dinner was delicious! Mostly, it was just nice to eat a meal slowly, without a baby in one arm, and be able to have grown-up talk! Ha! I'm not gonna lie, I missed my boys. But, I loved spending time with my hubby and having a mommy break for a few hours!  Love you babe!!!  Here's to many more.... hint, hint!

Not a better way to spend a beautiful summer day...

Today we headed to the Dallas Arboretum with the Vaughn Family to take advantage of our season passes, have a picnic lunch, get some energy out, have fun with friends and enjoy the sunshine... and we accomplished all five and then some!  It was beautiful today (any day in June in Dallas is beautiful if it's not over 100) and pretty empty.  The kids got to run free and that's what they did!  I was able to catch some pictures, with a little help from Michelle!  :) 

Brody and Grady, sweet boys!

Cole happy as he can be NOT in the carrier, just free in the stroller 

( refer to previous post about how much he hates his carrier....

I think we solved the problem!)

What a great picture of these 3 cuties!

Speaking of cuties...

Cole was just as happy as he could be today, being carried around in my Moby Wrap

(have I mentioned before how awesome it is?)

He also enjoyed getting to stretch out on the blanket when the other

kiddos were playing in the Texas houses!

 Red cheeks.... this kid didn't lose steam until the last 5 minutes or so!

We LOVE the Vaughns!

My loves!

The freaky squirrel that wouldn't leave us alone...

One of my new favorite pics!

And a close runner up... YUCK!

The funny thing is Cole never spits up!

I couldn't think of a better way to spend a beautiful summer day! 

BEAUTIFUL COCOA BEACH

So last week we went on our annual end-of-school year vacation to my parents beach condo in Cocoa Beach, Florida.  Have I mentioned before how much we adore my parents?  Well, we do and we had the most wonderful time -- as usual!  I'll try to do my best to recap the trip through the pictures below.... sorry, there are a bunch and they are not in order!  

Here's the group of us getting ready to go to breakfast at the club.

 Notice Grady is attached to his best buddy, Uncle Craig!

Cole's first plane ride, he was perfect

Sunrise we woke up to each morning

Cole woke up early, so we took a walk

And had a bottle and played on the balcony

Grady really boogie-boarded this time!  Can you see his giant smile? 

He also swam a bunch in the ocean and jumped into high waves, fearless child!

Chasing the seagulls

Building sandcastles and squashing them 

Mimi snuggling with sweet Cole

This was his set-up each day to keep him out of the sun and wind

He would nap every day out there with us.... big yawn!

Cousin Julie, always smiling!

Or playing with G

My sweet baby

G loved digging big holes in the sand

And making sand castles with help from Uncle Craig and Jules

Mimi plays with Grady, and he loves that the most about her!

My little beach baby

BIG hole!

I'm sorry, but have you ever seen anything so stinkin' cute?!?

My little fish, swimming across the pool! 

Now if we can just learn to breathe...

He did learn to float, turn summer saults and dive!!!

Daddy is such a good sport!

Daddy with his 2 favorite boys!

Ice cream and Uncle Craig, Grady's 2 favorite things...

Grady loves his Papa.... Papa loves to tickle and wrestle with G!!!

He's a pretty good snuggler too...

Especially after the coffee table got in the way of his head... OUCH!!!

Papa trying to calm down sweet Cole, he was tired!

"Uncle Craig, don't leave!"

Sleeping on Mimi... bless these two, both had stinky colds!

Making "boy-scout" donuts - YUM!

Look at those chubby legs!

A napping house....

Grady's first golf lesson and he did fabulous!  Thanks Papa!!! 

The boys hit balls on the driving range while G had his lesson and then Papa, Richard, Craig and Julie headed out for 18 holes!

Out to dinner with the gang!

We had a table outside right on the water.

It was a super night with great food and drinks!

Mimi and Papa, married 43 years I think?

The two best parents EVER!!!

Eating bacon wrapped scallops, yummo

Good Lord, look at his face!

Cute Cole looking super stylish in his sandals, white linen shirt and plaid shorts!

My little man...

I could look at this all day long...

What a wonderful week!  It always goes by way too fast...  Thanks to Mimi and Papa for being the very best hosts, as usual.  Good time, yummy food, great company and beautiful views.  Can't ask for a better vacation than that!  Thank you Craig for driving up from Miami for a few days.... Grady adores you and loved each second! 

Thanks to mom and dad for another fantastic beach vacation!!!