Swim

The boys are loving the water! We spent hours in the pool while in Jonesboro for Paw-Paw-Paw's memorial service. Liam surprised us by jumping in and wanting to go unassisted with his "shark" life vest. He was so proud. Ben also completed the "Snorkel Challenge" - putting his head underwater ten times - and he got a snorkel. He starts swim lessons tomorrow. We have talked a lot about how you don't wear your "shark" to swim lessons!

Brothers

Little kids holding hands is the sweetest thing!

Just a few things

With my sister's move out of the country, came the distribution of many of their worldly possessions. My sister and her family choose to give away, loan or dispose of things they didn't want to put in storage. We are the proud recipients of many such items!
Here are just a few...
The piano our great aunt bought us when we started to learn to play (many many years ago). Liam is stink'n cute sitting at it. Makes him look so tiny.

The Rudolph slippers that Rob bought for Riley when he was in kindergarten and they were having pajama day. Ben was THRILLED. He wore them the entire day - even for his nap. (Yes, he covers his head with his blanket if he is trying to fall asleep in the light.)

Play time

Waiting for the door to open. I had them put their socks on at the house because I can't stop them once we are in the building. Off go their shoes and they in the maze.




About ten times through this huge maze and they are ready for a nap.

Meet Good Dog

This is Good Dog. He is a very good dog and we love him very much. Good Dog has come to live with us and we couldn't be happier. As I said, he is a very Good Dog.

Bitter Sweet

Goodbyes are hard. But, when you know how hard someone has worked and how much they want to begin their life in a new place, a new adventure, you just do it. You say goodbye. You hug. And, you wish them well. You just do it.





My sister and her kids left today for Saudi Arabia. They are going to join her husband/their dad, who has been there since March. They are off on the "The Great Adventure". They will have amazing experiences. They are living their dream. It has been VERY hard to get to today. Amy has worked her butt off. I couldn't be happier for them. It is bitter sweet.

In other news, we had two really cool visitors at our house today. A huge tractor and dump truck fixing up our backyard - preparing a space for the little project that Rob is working on.

Those were some happy happy boys.

Love little feet in big people shoes. Here is Ben eating his lunch at his little table.

This is what I found when I opened the drawer to get a bowl this morning. I love living with children. They have a way of brightening every day.

Two + Two = Four

I had four kiddos this morning and several errands that needed to be run. My car tags expire this month. I could have gone to the DMV on several occasions with just Liam. But, it seemed so much easier when I had four kids. I love having a 10 year old in tow. Lots of things are more convenient. Riley watched the kids in the car. I was in and out of there in 3 minutes. If I'd taken Liam inside, I'd have been sweating before it was over. My baby is wiggly and fast.

Next, we headed to get groceries. I don't like taking one child to get groceries but four seemed like a breeze. It was actually fun. (Thanks to Poppy.)

Here, Riley is telling Ben that he is breaking the rules. He shouldn't be riding on the side of the cart and he really needs to get on the rack below the little kids.... uh, no thanks! We went with two carts instead.

Back at the car with all our loot. Poppy sent each kid with money for a "special treat"! We spent a good amount of time on the toy rows and I got all my groceries. Everyone was quite pleased when we left. Thanks, Poppy!

We did two more quick stops and then headed home to unload and play in the jump house. We sure are going to miss those two.

Eight and counting

May 23, 2002 I married my best friend. Rob and I were married in the chapel at our favorite "park" with thirteen people in attendance. It was a perfect day.

I know that today is the 24th of May and on every day of May preceding the 23rd, I thought about our upcoming anniversary. But apparently, on the 23rd I was having O'So Much Fun that I forgot about the happy event that started this whole ball of fun rolling...

So, Happy Anniversary to Us and to many, many more.

Day O'Fun

Ben started his day at the house of pancakes with his daddy. Liam and I picked up Maggie and we all headed back to the house to begin our Day O'Fun.
First, we started out with a little jumping. We threw in 100 balls just to add a little extra punch to the jump.

Next, we headed for a bike ride. Liam and Maggie in the adventure ship and Ben on his bike. I took this photo when we passed a mirrored building on the university campus.

This is my newest favorite photo of the boys with their cousin. They love putting their feet in the fountain. There was another family there at the same time trying to take family pictures. I think we were a bad influence on their little boy.... oops.

Mr. Happy! When Liam is feeling good he is so much fun!

There was a brief intermission, from which we had to wake the boys, in order to get going on the afternoon/evening O'Fun. We have season passes to a local water park and it is going to be fun-fun-fun!
Liam loved standing on the fountains that spray up from the floor and then moving his foot so the water comes up. He did this for a good hour and squealed in delight each time.

Ben loved the waterfall because he could slip behind it from the side. He was quite proud of himself for going back there. He did great all day.

We spent time in the lazy river, the wave pool and the little kid area. Rob took Ben on some of the larger slides. After we had been there for THREE hours, we discovered a "big slide" for the little kids. And, they LOVED it. Liam went down this slide about 20 times. With mom.

And, with dad.

Riley, Maggie and my sister joined us for the day. My parents even came for a little while. Here is Riley (tolerating) sliding with Ben who is loving it! After a few runs with the little kids, Riley was off to the really big slides again.

We left the park at 8pm. That was a full day O'Fun.

Paw-Paw-Paw

In Loving Memory.
Thomas Miles O'Connor, better known in our house as Paw-Paw-Paw died yesterday while taking a morning nap. He will be missed by many - particularly our two boys.

This photo was taken within moments of meeting Ben for the first time. That was in February, 2007. Ben loved Rob's Granddaddy instantly but we all struggled with what this next generation would call their great-grandparents. On a later visit, when Ben was talking quite a bit more, Thomas took the naming situation into his own hands. He said, "Ben, what do you call that man?", pointing to Rob's father. Ben replied, "Paw-Paw". "Well, then you will call me Paw-Paw-Paw". And, that was it.

This photo was not taken the first time Paw-Paw-Paw met Liam, but perhaps the second. Liam was (and still is) shy to meet new people. To say that he clung to me even from the very beginning would be an understatement. But, here he is, sitting happily with his Paw-Paw-Paw. Perhaps it is because they shared the gift of being cantankerous. Of course, they are both looking super happy and cute in this photo.

We are so blessed that Ben and Liam have had the opportunity to know and love their Paw-Paw-Paw. We are praying for Rob's grandmother as she is currently in the hospital but will be returning to the nursing home where she lived with Thomas. May she be at peace, knowing that he is healed.

PDF

We haven't had a PDF (Play Date Friday) in way too long. This one was last minute so we felt lucky to get three families together at the park. It was a new park for us and it was very cool. There was a jungle gym, a large pond with geese and a pier, a huge tunnel, and lots of space to run and play. We had a great time and it was so good to see our friends.




I even got this sweet picture of me with my boys! Thanks, Amy!

A world of fun

Giant maze. Ball Pit. Arcade. I did it all. So did the boys. Good times.

Graduation

Today was (almost*) the last day of school. They finished the year with a sweet graduation ceremony. The children sang and played instruments. They each walked and got their diploma for Pre-K. Ben will be returning to this school for a second year of Pre-K in the fall. We are so glad he will have another opportunity to experience this kind and rewarding environment. What an awesome place to learn and grow.

Cutest Graduate in the Class!

Ben is on the second row, far right. He made faces when he saw me hold up the camera.

Ben's amazing teacher, Ms. Angie. We love Ms. Angie. What a heart for 4-5 year olds.

Grammy and Poppy with Ben.


*Friday will be a snow makeup day. So that is the official last day of school.