Baby in a Bucket

I'm not exactly sure how Noah managed, but yesterday I came out of the bedroom to find him squatting down inside an old Christmas popcorn tin. I swear he looked like a contortionist the way he was nestled down inside that thing.

I was laughing so hard and then he started laughing. I asked him if I could take his picture (which he LOVES), so I ran to get the camera. Over and over he would sit down inside the bucket and then get out to look at the picture.

He was so funny! I had actually set that old thing out to be thrown away. Who knew it could be so fun!

Luke's Many Characters

One of Luke's favorite things to do is dress up in costumes. He has a chest full of them: fireman, doctor, police man, Spiderman, Batman, Transformer, race car driver and more.

Yesterday Luke started his day as a fireman. If you ask him, he will tell you that he is the "amb-ee-lance" driver and that the other fireman follow him in the big red trucks. We have a fire station at the end of our neighborhood and have been on a couple of tours, so Luke really knows what he's talking about.

Later that afternoon, Luke decided he wanted to be a chef. So, he got out his chef hat, apron and real menu the hostess at Chili's gave him. He took my order and went right in to the toy room where he whipped me up a delicious meal in his play kitchen and grill.

If I had to guess what Luke would be when he grows up a chef is definitely one of the careers I would name. With his creativity and imagine there really is no telling though. He really is so much fun!!

Sunny Sundays in the Pool

It was another hot sunny Sunday in Wylie Texas. After I got a couple of relaxing ho urs in the pool while the boys were napping, Luke, Noah and Donovin decided it was their turn. All three boys spent the enter afternoon and early evening swimming in the pool, sliding down the water slide and running through the sprinkler in the yard

They always have so much fun and are getting quite the tan!! I jokingly call Luke my little "brownie" now because he's so dark! And I have to say that Noah isn't far behind! You can certainly tell they have Cuban in their blood!!

Everyone has come inside and are hungrily awaiting BBQ beef sandwiches and french fries for dinner. Doesn't get much better than a Sunday afternoon like this!!.

Just a Lazy Morning Reading the Paper

I don't know why Luke and Noah insist on reading the paper each day. They are so funny as they sit on the couch, divide up the pages, and sit there like they are reading them. I'm not sure if they are looking at the pictures of if it's because it makes them feel grown up, but they will stay entertained for quite a while...Even have conversations about what they are "reading" and trade papers when they are done. As with so much of what they do, it just tickles me to see them interacting and playing together. There's nothing like the bond between brothers!

Our First Cantaloupes!!

This has to be one of the most anticipated harvests to date!! Today we picked two big, beautiful cantaloupes from our garden!

For weeks now we have been watching as these teenie-tiny little green balls have grown from the size of a quarter, to a golf ball, to a base-ball, and finally to a real cantaloupe-sized sphere.

But that wasn't the end of the process. Then, we had to wait as they turned from a bright green with a super-smooth rind, to more of a tan color with a rough rind. Finally, shades of peachy-orange started to show through as the remaining green faded. We knew the time was close!

Not wanting to pick it too soon, I researched on the Internet how we would know the exact best time to harvest. It said that when pressure is applied to the stem, it should "slip" off with ease. So, we tried that a couple of days ago, but nothing happened, so we waited. This morning, we tried it again and low and behold, they came right off the vine!

Now, a couple of more days of ripening in the house and we should have some perfectly sweet and juicy, home-grown cantaloupe to eat. MmmmMmmm!!

This garden is the best family experience!! I can't wait for the fall to plant our second crop!!

Mr. Potato Head

Mr. Potato Head...a classic toy...one that never seems to go out of style.

Recently, Noah discovered Luke's potato head cubby and has been having so much fun making funny faces and bodies with it. We actually have two potato heads and seeing his brother play with it has re-sparked Luke's interest too.

Yesterday Noah kept bringing new creations out to show me, so I decided to take a few pics. He loves seeing himself in pictures and thought the potato head in the picture with him was so funny.

Noah and Luke must have played with those potato heads for a good hour before they decided to put them away. I love it when the boys find something they can play together!

Made in the Shade with Ice-cold Lemonade

One of Luke's neighborhood buddies, Jonathan, came over the other day to play. The boys stayed inside and played the Wii for quite a while, but true to the nature of a boy, they soon grew restless and wanted to go outside.

I'm so thankful we have a nice big covered patio and a swing set fort with picnic table underneath that provides them with a few places to escape from the direct heat of the sun.

I tried to keep the boys cool and hydrated with Popsicles and a pitcher of ice-cold lemonade. They thought it was so neat I made them their own little pitcher and cups to pour in to. I'm not sure how much actually made it in to Noah's mouth, but I know he had fun drinking it...and that it cooled him off as it ran down his shirt and shorts!

Like Father, Like Son

Even though it's been over 100 degrees five days this week, Luke insists on putting on jeans, a belt, and a white tank top every morning...just like his dad. He is obsessed with having pockets for his wallet, cell phone, keys and other items just like Leo does every morning when he gets ready.

The other morning I tried explaining that it was just too hot for jeans, but he insisted that he dress just like daddy. So, while they were out on the patio, I snapped a couple of pictures of them together.

It's so cute to see Luke imitating his daddy. He wants to be a grown up so badly. It's actually kind of scary. I always tease him and tell him not to grow up too fast on me...but that no matter how big he gets, he'll always be my little boy.

Flipping Out with Daddy!

I have to give credit where credit is due...Leo is really a fun daddy!! I don't know how he manages to do this, but he can flip Luke and Noah over his head and ever so controled, land them flat on their feet. This is no easy task when you consider Luke is 60 pounds!!

The other evening, after Leo got home from work, the boys begged and begged to keep playing. They wrestled, flipped, and played chase until Leo couldn't go any longer!

It's so funny to watch boys play. I used to get scared that someone was going to get hurt, but I've learned to let that go most of the time. I know that rowdy horse-playing is the way boys show their affection. And I LOVE that Leo is such an affectionate dad.

I know that these are the times our boys will remember when they are grown and have children of their own.

Father's Day 2010

We had a great time spending Father's Day with Leo and Dad (Papaw)! It was a simple day, just visiting at our house and playing Wii with the boys. Yes, Luke had Papaw and Memaw and Leo playing Wii with him!! Honestly, I'm not sure who was having more fun!

In honor of Father's day, I made several of Leo and Dad's favorite foods. For snacks we had shrimp cocktail, deviled eggs, fresh cantaloupe and watermelon, and a cucumber, tomato and onion salad with veggies fresh from our garden. For dinner we feasted on rib-eye steaks, garlic potatoes and asparagus on the grill! We were so full that I think the only person who finished their dinner was Leo (not surprisingly!)

By the time dinner was done, it was 8:00 and time to give the boys tubbies and in bed. It really was a wonderful day visiting with family...exactly what Father's Day should be.

Wii!!!

Well, we finally broke down and got the boys a Wii for their birthdays! For months now, Luke and Noah have been going next door to play with our neighbors. They practically beg to go the minute Leo gets home from work...and there's always a tantrum when it's time to go home.

So now we have our own. Luke is glued to it! I mean he can literally play it all day. Normally, this might bother me, but with five 100 degree days in our forecast this week, I'm grateful for an indoor activity that will keep the boys busy!

This Saturday when Lil' Luke was here, I snapped a few pictures of the boys. They really had a great time playing...and even chose the Wii above swimming in the pool!!

A Mess during Tubby Time

Oh no! Yesterday I heard Leo and Luke frantically calling me from the bathroom. There was a strange terror in their voices, so I pretty much ran in there to find them both staring with squenched up faces, pointing to the bathtub. There...on the edge was a big, long, piece of poop...specially made by Noah.

Apparently, he had crawled up the side of the tub to turn on the water in the sink...a no-no that we're trying to teach him not to do. On this day I was actually happy that he had managed to make his plop in a place that was easily wipe-able...and not in the actual water, where we would have to scoop and hope it stayed in one solid piece.

This is the first time Noah has done this in 2 years, so I guess I'm lucky! I remember Luke doing this once too.

Oh the joys of parenting!!!

My Cool Little Dude

Luke has to be one of the most imaginative little kids ever! He's always dressing up and pretending to be something.

Today, despite the fact that it was almost 100 degrees out, he wanted to put on his batman jacket, Gap cap and sun glasses.

He kept asking if he looked cool like his daddy and giving me the thumbs up.

He's such a cutie and can be so funny sometimes!

Our Very First Tomato!!!

Today, after much patience and anticipation, we picked our very first tomato!! How nice that there was a perfectly ripe cucumber to go along with it!!

For weeks now we have been watching, what I thought was going to be a cherry tomato, grow and grow and grow in size...and then begin to slowly turn yellow, then orange, then bright red.

Luke and I were so excited to pick it today! And, boy was it tasty! We put it on a crustini of french bread with garlic infused oil and a slice of mozzarella cheese. MmmmMmmm!

We have several more tomatoes growing now and I can't wait to pick them too!

Growing our garden has been so much fun! I'm eagerly awaiting late August when we can plant our next round of Fall veggies!!

T-shirts and Tubby-time Fun

Granny and Gramps always find the neatest toys and things for the boys to do. Today we got a package in the mail with lots of beachy, summer-time shirts for the boys to wear around the house and LOTS of fun (and messy) tubby toys. Luke and Noah can now finger paint, color with crayons, or add fizzy color changing tablets to the bath water.

Last night the boys each chose a crayon color and turned our bathtub in to quite the work-of-art. Luke also chose one of the fizzy dinosaur eggs that made the water turn orange and smell fruity. When the egg had finished fizzing, a small plastic dinosaur was left behind. Where do they come up with this stuff!

We practically had to bribe the kids with dessert to get them out of the tub! But, not before wiping all the "pictures" off the walls.

Fun times!

Thank you Granny and Gramps for always thinking of the boys and making our everyday activities exciting!!

Weekend Fun in the Pool

This afternoon Luke invited a few of his good buddies over to play.

The three musketeers (Luke, Lil' Luke and Donovin) started out swimming in the pool for a couple of hours. Next they went next door to Donovin's house to play the Wii for a while. Now, they are back in our yard slipping down the water slide.

We're having BBQ beef sandwiches and french fries for dinner, at Luke's request. A classic Tx summer dinner.

After Lil' Luke goes home we'll give the boys tubbies and get them ready for bed. With as hard as these boys have played today, bed time is sure to be easy tonight!!

Little Man, Big Feet!

Noah woke up unusually early this morning...around 6:30. He was in his room saying "pee pee," "pee pee,". I thought he had wet through his diaper or taken his diaper off and wet his bed like he did the other day, so I went in to check on him and got him out of bed.

Leo was still sleeping, so I put Noah in bed with him and turned on cartoons while I went to take a quick shower. Leo got up and we all started to get ready. That's when I came out of the bathroom to find Noah standing in a pair of Leo's shoes. It was too cute not to take a picture. He clumsily tried to walk, but only made it a couple of step. He was very proud of himself though and said, "Cheeeeese" for the camera several times.

What a cutie!!

Vacation Bible School

Luke and Noah both attended Vacation Bible School at the First Baptist Church in Wylie this week. Since their normal babysitter was a teacher at VBS, my kids got to go along with her! What a blessing!

All week the boys learned about Jesus, memorized bible verses, made arts & crafts and played with new friends.

I only have pictures of Noah since Christy was his teacher. Luke came home everyday though and told me what a "great" day he had...and that's saying a lot from him!

Today was the last day and the boys brought home all their artwork and some cute games. This was definitely a great experience for both of them!!

Sweet Watermelon, Sweet Boys

There's not much sweeter on a hot summer day than a cold piece of fresh, ripe watermelon! Not much sweeter that is, unless you are talking about my boys.

We've been playing outside on the patio and swimming in the pool every day when Noah wakes up from his nap. We have to eat a snack first though! If there's one thing a growing boy needs it's food...and lots of it! I'm actually a little frightened to think about just how much food these boys are going to need as they get older.

Noah and Luke both LOVE watermelon. It's the perfect snack to eat outside on a hot summer day. We buy at least one watermelon each week and go through it in a couple of days at the most. When we're all done eating and sticky from the mess, we just jump in the pool and rinse off. Such a refreshing way to spend the late afternoon hours until daddy gets home from work and I start cooking dinner.

The boys also LOVE to take pictures with our digital camera. Luke is actually not bad, so I let him snap a few shots yesterday. Noah can't take pictures yet, but he's really good at yelling, "CHEESE!" He'll actually walk around the house with other things saying "cheese" while he pretends to take pictures. Too cute...to sweet!!

A Package from Granny and Gramps

Today we received a surprise package of goodies from Granny and Gramps! Luke was especially excited to have one of the packages come directly to him, with HIS name on it!!

Inside were the cutest Destin/gator T-shirts that glow in the dark!! Both boys wanted to put them right on after their tubbies. And later that night when Luke went to bed he excited called for me to come to his room. There, in the dark, the gator on his shirt was glowing. He thought that was SO COOL!!!

Also in their package was some fizzy bath tablet that change the color of the bath water. The boys decided to mix the red and blue to make purple. Bath time last night was FUN!

Leo was delighted that he wasn't left out too...he got two T-Shirts...one from his favorite team the Fl Seminoles. Despite the fact that my little sis is Gator, Granny doesn't discriminate against any FL team.

I also received three super-cute summer dresses that I can wear as my belly gets bigger. It's SO HOT here right now that sun dresses are all I wear anyway, so these will be perfect ...either by themselves or over a swim suit.

Thank you Granny and Gramps for our goodies!!!

Chocolate Muffins on the Patio

Yesterday we rearranged the patio so that the boys' toys were under the shade of the roof. With temperatures reaching over 100 this weekend, I knew we had to make a space for them to play that was protected from the sun. Thankfully, our patio is big enough to fit several of their play toys and located directly under our two outside fans. It's still super-hot, but at least the sun isn't beating down on them.

I couldn't help but snap a few pictures of Luke and Noah eating their afternoon snack...chocolate, chocolate-chip muffins. Chocolate and 100 degree weather make for two chocolaty faces!! Super-messy, but super-cute!

Still, there is nothing I can do to convince my boys to stay inside where it's cool. They beg to be outside...and if I try to keep them in, they get fussy and in to big trouble! Something about little boys ...they just need to be outside with space to roam!

Fun Filling up the Pool!

The boys had a blast yesterday while we were filling up the pool. It was only 1-2 feet and Noah had absolutely no fear...face in the water, swimming on all fours, pushing down his brother...such fun!!! Today the pool is filled to a full 4 feet. And, while Luke will have fun, Noah is going to have to get used to not being able to touch. He has arm floaties and tubes to go around him, but he still clings to me...which is not exactly the relaxation I hope for. With the temperatures reaching 102 today, I have a feeling we will all be in the pool. Hopefully Noah will pick up on swimming as quickly as Luke did. By the end of his two-year old summer he was swimming like a fish!

Summer Fun on the Water Slide!!!

Luke and Noah have had SO MUCH FUN on the water slide these past two weekends! (And, so have all the neighbor kids!!)

Today when we drained the pool to readjust it, we decided to blow up the water slide for the boys to play in. Let me tel you, they didn't miss a beat!

Up the slide and down they went...over and over...with a quick stop at the top to aim the water gun at the poor people below.

Even Noah gets in on the fun in the wading pool at the bottom of the slide. It's the perfect depth for him...unlike the pool that still scares him a bit. He hasn't climbed to the top by himself yet, but he loves for daddy to place him about half way up and then let him go!

They boys are still out there now playing hard. Two things are for sure...they will be hungry and ready for a good night of sleep when they get done!!