nothin'

I got nothin!  For this post, I mean.  I really wanted to catch up on the blog today, but I just don't have anything interesting going on in my life right now!  

Swim lessons are officially over now, which is just about the best news ever.  I'm pretty sure Andy learned nothing except that he really hates to get his face wet.  He really does love to swim and hang out at the pool.  We go almost everyday for fun (and for my sanity--it keeps them happy and wears them out.  win-win).

I had to go to work yesterday.  Usually this is about the time I start thinking about the things I want to do in my classroom and what I want to do differently with this class, but I am just not there yet.  I was extremely unproductive.  It was nice to hang out with adults all day, but I sure did miss my boys.  

Kevin and I leave for Vegas is less than 2 weeks!!!  I am so, so excited.  I love Las Vegas.  We always have the best time there.  

Oh, and I lost 1.5 pounds this week.  I realize that is a tiny number, but it is a start.  I am afraid I may have trouble fitting into some of my school clothes in the fall.  I have been bad this summer.  Time to get back on track!

Last, I just want to say that I love my children.  I do!  Even this week, when I have seriously questioned my abilities to tackle this great task of motherhood, I love them.  I love who they are right now, for better or for worse.  They make every day exciting.  I am so thankful for them.  And I am so thankful for the naps that they are taking right now, so that I could write this completely random post.

cookies

These were delivered to our house yesterday evening.  Kevin helped my sister-in-law's parents get some cabinet doors for their kitchen, and they are just the kind of people who go above and beyond with thank-yous.  They are the sweetest people, and we will certainly enjoy the yummy gift!

Thanks, Grammy and PaPa!

If you look closely, you will see that the middle cookie is a cabinet door, and the one on the far right says "baby cousin!"

little helpers

The other night, the boys helped me cook one of the many gourmet meals that I am constantly amazing my family with--English muffin pizzas.  This is one of mine and Kevin's favorite meals!  here are the boys making their pizzas:

At first, they didn't want sauce on their pizza, but after they piled on the cheese, they changed their little minds!  So, we had to start over.  But, they turned out super yummy!

summer fun

First of all, I'll update on swim lessons: they are not my favorite thing. Yesterday was worse than Monday, but today was better. Well, better after the initial meltdown that lasted from about the time he woke up until the time I walked him into the shallow end of the pool! His sweet teacher told him he could just play today--no swimming or going under. So he did get throught the "lesson" with no crying. Progress!!!


We hung out with my parents and brother and sister-in-law tonight. Here are a couple of pics from the fun:

These days, Leann either cannot think about food or is starving-no in between. This was her first plate tonight! I'm so not judging. I say eat when it feels good! I love you, Le!

Poppy says he's saving for a real pool... No kidding, Ben asked my mom if she had a pool for him, and she said no. So he tried to be resourceful. The dog bowl was fine with him! He sat in it for about 30 minutes!

Finally, here are a couple of pictures that I have taken of my boys at bedtime this past week. Sometimes they get so quiet and I wonder why. Well, apparently, sometimes, they need to accessorize before they get their beauty sleep!

swim lessons-day 1

UGH! Andy started swim lessons today. He likes to swim and does all the usual stuff-splashing kicking, floating-while we are in the neighborhood pool. He's never really been afraid of the water. However, Andy changed his outlook on water today. He cried the entire time. I sat on the opposite side of the pool, where he couldn't really see me, and I could still hear him. The lessons are an hour long, and at about minute 37, he spotted me and ran away from the teacher to get to me. He was in trouble for that, but when I sat him down to gently, lovingly (ha!) tell him that he would be returning to the pool with his teacher, he was shaking. I do not know what came over him, but I think he was truly terrified. Still, I made him get back in the water and do one more activity with his teacher. I wasn't sure if I should be furious with him or heartbroken for him. I know he has to learn to swim, and I cannot teach him. But is it okay for me to force him to "face his fear?" I think I'm right-just keep going, even if he is scared to death? The more he goes, the more he'll understand that he's fine????? I am feeling like a bad mom right now. When I put him to bed, we prayed especially that God would help him have courage to go under the water and not cry. I, myself, am praying that his sweet teacher will find enough patience to get through these next two weeks! Hopefully, I'll have happy reports tomorrow.

By the way, while he was "cleaning" his room this afternoon, Andy found a toy (that he has only had for a few weeks) and he said, "Mom! Look what I found! I have been looking for this for several years!" :)

favorite farm animals

This morning in the car, the boys were having a conversation about farm animals. It went something like this:

A: My favorite farm animal is a horse.
B: My favorite farm animal is a cow.
Mom: What do cows give us? What do they make for us?
A: Chicken!!! (pause...) No, wait, that comes from pigs.

Ha!

back from vacation!!!

Well, we made it home from our back-to-back vacations! We spent a few days in Galveston and then came home just long enough to get ready for a camping trip with the WHOLE family.


Galveston was great! This was the first time either of the boys had seen the ocean, and they were totally impressed. All the kids had a blast playing in the sand, collecting shells (then tossing them in the water), jumping in the waves, and just hanging out. Ben has no fear when it comes to water. He wanted to walk further and further into the waves alone! Someone had to be holding his had the whole time. I think Andy's favorite part was burying his feet and ankles with sand and then breaking free. We stayed at a house with a beautiful view of the Gulf (I know, it's just the Gulf, but it's still cool to sit on the porch and smell the ocean). We had a great time!

For the Fourth, we went camping in West, Texas. There is nothing in West, except the Czech Stop. Which we visited and spent $$$$ for lots of yummy kolaches! But, it is close to Hillsboro, so we did a little shopping. Mostly, we just hung out. This is the first time that all of mine and Kevin's family have traveled together, and it was just so fun! I took only 1 picture while we were camping:

This is my sweet neice, Mika Baylee. I love this picture for many reasons...first, she lost one of her baby earrings, so Lori put her own earring on Mika. So she had this big, heavy earring on one side of her head. Second, she loves her mac-and-cheese. She had it everywhere! Third, I think this picture tells a lot about her personality. She is very sweet, but is not one bit ashamed of flirting a little to get her way. She pretty much had every boy on the trip wrapped around her little finger!

And last, but certainly not least, I'M GOING TO BE AN AUNT (again) !!!!!

My baby brother and his wife are going to have a baby! I am just so excited I can hardly see straight. I know everyone probably already knew this news, but I wanted to say it anyway. Because I am SO excited!