Miss Christy

Yesterday the boys got to spend time with Miss Christy!  Miss Christy was an AWESOME daycare provider.  Seriously to this day I still shake my head in amazement.  Jay went to Christy's from the time he was 3 until he started second grade and Nick went from the time he was born until he was 3.  It really rocked Nick's world when he didn't go to Miss Christy's anymore.  But here we are nearly five years later and it feels like a lifetime ago when I was making the drive to Miss Christy's everyday.  I am so thankful for the wonderful care she gave my boys.

Brotherly Love

This is Jay's best buddy, A with his brother, E.  Much to Jay's delight the boys live in our neighborhood now.  Tonight A called Jay and asked him to come swim in the lake at his house.  On his way out the door Jay asked Nick to tag along.  Nick looked at me with big eyes, almost as if to say, "Did that just happen?"  Nick didn't miss a beat (in case his brother changed his mind) and my boys were off to swim with A & E and later when they were done they came back our way to play some 2 on 2 basketball.  Now that's what I call brotherly love. 

Family, friends and dogs

The other night the boys went four wheeling and got a little muddy, even dad.  Jay loved it.  He's still talking about how his dad hit a mud puddle at full speed and got mud everywhere.  It's hard to see but Mike has speckles of dirt all over his face.

Nick and Cole sound asleep in Nick's bed.  I like Cole like this - asleep and quiet.  Let's just say he's still all puppy. 

                                                            Jay and his girl, Copper.

                                         Jay and Lukie on the lazy river at the pool.  So cute.

Jay and Curtis went to a fellowship of Christian athletes camp last week.  They won these goofy hats.  Both boys loved the camp.  Nick and I would pick them up most days and there was always stories to be told. 

Fourth of July

 Is it possible to have an absolute perfect fourth of July?  In my case we did.  I woke up yesterday morning to a gorgeous day.  It was sunny, 70 some degrees with a nice breeze, not a cloud in the sky.  We started the day off with our subdivision parade.  I don't want to be biased but if awards were being given out yesterday for being the most festive surely my kids would have won that award.  Check out their outfits and Mike rigged up the flags on Nick's four wheeler.  I thought they looked awesome. 

 Lauren and Luke came out and participated in the parade too and had a ball.  Next year my sister and I said we'll have to pack lunches because after the parade the kids played and Lauren and Luke did not want to go home.  I'm pleased to report that their fears of my dogs have finally passed!  Whew. 

 My boys and their dogs.  This was Cole's first Fourth of July.  He was crazy, as usual.

 Here's our funny man of the family.  My mom and I get such a kick out of Luke and maybe it's because my boys and my mom's older grandsons are older now but hearing Luke talk in his little 3 year old voice and what comes out of that mouth cracks us up.  And Luke loves his older boys cousins, especially Jay (see picture below)

 Nick's rockin flags.  I thought it was a genius idea on Mike's part.  Very festive on a beautiful fourth of july day.

 Here's Laura and I!  She got herself all decked out for the parade festivities.

Two of my favorite people, my momma and sister.  Fourth of July was awesome this year.  I spent it with the people who mean the most to me - my family and Ausili's.  I realized I never took any pictures of Jay, Nick or Curtis last night.  They played with sparklers, we had a big fish fry and they roasted smores.  It was such a nice day and I'm truly thankful.  I'll try to remember this fourth of july in years to come when the boys are older and probably (hopefully) moved out of the house and things are a little quieter around here.  Although it's often hoppin around my house I know this is a short time in my life and before I know it, it will be over which is bittersweet to me. 

The benefits of a lake

My boys have spent a lot of time at the beach this summer and for those of you who don't know me and read my blog just for the fun of it, let me tell you this beach I'm referring to is nothing fancy.  In fact it's the opposite of fancy but my boys seem to enjoy it just the same.  They are boys!  Nick enjoyed building a sand castle the other day and this summer they have loved fishing.  They fish everyday (so far, no frog catchings unlike last year where we enjoyed a lot of frog legs for eatin).  Most days they come home with fish.  Their goal is to catch enough fish to have a big fish fry with friends in August.  Somehow I think Mike and I will be taking a trip to Sam's to supplement.  I've been told many times that where we live is a great place to raise a family and I'd have to agree. We have access to a lake for swimming, playing in the sand and fishing and for my boys, that is some good, free entertainment. 

The city boy and the country boy

My boys are country boys to their core.  They get testy when you take them into "the city."  Last year I remember Jay was rather worked up when we left his dog in the city with his nana.  Never mind the fact that his nana was taking excellent care of his dog.  He worried because Copper was being exposed to city life.  Nick is just as bad, probably worse than Jay.  Last week he was talking to boys in my sisters "city neighborhood."  The boys were commenting at how scratched up Nick's legs were and why was he bleeding, did he know he was bleeding?  Nick has no filter but he stayed calm and somewhat polite but I could tell he was thinking, "City Slickers" and sure enough the minute we got in the car I got to hear all about the city slicker boys who were afraid of a little blood.  So despite Jay and Nick's aversion to city life, Jay has been charmed by city life lately.  He and Curtis have spent a lot of time together at camps in "the city."  Jay has gotten to experience the advantages of city life.  He's been treated to Meat Heads, Orange Leaf (something new to him) and he and Curtis have experienced a whole level of Xbox.  On the flip side, Curtis LOVES coming out to the country.  He brings his boots every time and gets muddy at froggie island, goes swimming in the lake (in his shorts I might add) and lights fires with the boys.  Thankfully Curtis has not developed the more disgusting habits of my children which I won't name in my blog.  I enjoy seeing the friendship between Curtis the city boy and Jay the country boy. 

Boy time fun

 Both boys wrapped up a basketball camp yesterday.  They really enjoyed it, especially Nick.  It was his first basketball camp so it was new to him and he learned he has some nice moves on the court.  Ha!  This week Curtis came over and spent the night and the boys did none other than play at the beach and they buried each other in the sand. 

                                Here's Nick with a few of his friends that went to camp together. 

And here's Jay.  Jay is funny these days.  This is a big deal, folks.  Jay was not my child I could joke around with but this year he's become a jokester.  The only negative side to his jokes is it will sometimes border on disrespect so I've had many, many conversations with him about joking around with him but then stopping when I give him the "disrespect" look and let him know he's gone too far.   But when he puts on pink heart shaped sun glasses and busts the move above I can do nothing but laugh.  Even Curtis, his oldest friend, commented that he is enjoying the new and improved jokester Jay.  Curtis said Jay even belly laughed during a movie, Curtis' exact words were, "I've never seen Jay belly laugh over a movie before!"  LOL.  Keep laughing and making us laugh, Jay.  It's a great quality to have in life.