This past Sunday night, Christopher went to spend the night with Grammie and Pop. We have talked about the kids getting to do this now that we live closer, but we haven't had the time yet. On Friday, Christopher heard that Grammie was going to be in town and hang out with Sophie while he and I went to shop for school supplies and he took it upon himself to go and pack a bag so he could go home with her. We all met for lunch and he asked if he could go spend the night with her, but it really wasn't the best day. She had just spent the week watching my niece while her little brother was born and I wanted to make sure Grammie had some time to rest and catch up on her own life. We talked and decided that Sunday would be a great day. His bag was still sitting by the door ready to go.

We often meet my parents after church for lunch and so we did that again this weekend. He didn't want to stop and eat, he wanted to go straight to the lake. We convinced him otherwise and even though he didn't eat anything, we survived a meal out. He went to the back of the van, got his bag, went and got his booster seat and pretty much said, "See ya later!" and off they went. He had the most incredible time and it was exactly what he needed. Our lives have been so crazy these last several months that he seriously needed some one on one time with someone. He and Pop headed straight to the shop and built a wooden logging truck. He LOVES to work in the shop and has made more trucks out of wood than I ever thought possible. They also pulled out Pop's old train and put that together, went fishing, played marbles and I can't even remember everything else he did. He was in heaven! (Sophie and I had a great afternoon together too, she had the chance to go with her brother, but really wanted some Mommy time.)

Grammie and I decided to meet in Auburn on Monday and we could visit my sister, Anne Morgan and new baby Jason and I could pick up Christopher there. My sister wrote a great post and got great photos of the day and so you can see it here. It's way better than what I would add, especially since it has photos! Hope you are enjoying the rest of your summer. Our is coming to an end very quickly and I can't believe that Christopher starts kindergarten on Monday! I'm really nervous for him. I think the fact he is so shy and I end being concerned overshadows any feelings of sadness that he is growing up too fast. A week ago we realized that he has TWO loose teeth! It's too much too fast.

Now I'm off to watch a movie with the two cute kids that have been driving me crazy while typing this and won't leave me alone until I come and join them.

I apologize for not posting here lately. It has been the busiest summer I have ever had, and I'm pretty sure that means EVER. Like, I wasn't even this busy when I was a kid. But I don't mind. I like being busy. Between moving (three separate trips) from there to here, Brandon graduating, hanging with friends, going to the lake, trip to Nashville and a new baby, we now have less than two weeks before school starts and I'm wondering what I was thinking back in the spring when I wondered what in the world we were going to do from May to August!

Moving on. I called my sis-in-law several months ago to see if the kids and I could come and visit for a week this summer and she jumped at the chance. We have not been to visit them in Nashville in at least 3 years, so we were very excited to go see our cousins. Again, I didn't have my camera, because I couldn't find it after the move, and so all I have are photos from my phone. We had a fabulous time and I think it was the fastest 5 days any of us have ever experienced. (And considering how fast the last couple months have gone, they flew by!) We arrived on Monday afternoon and the kids couldn't decide if they wanted to swim or play with their cousins' toys first. We did both. My brother was so sweet and made an effort to come home from work earlier so we could see him too. (His hours are as ridiculous as Brandon's, which is probably why Caroline loved the idea of company... another adult to talk to and kids to entertain your own. That's why I like it!)

On Tuesday we decided to go to see a train display and Christopher was in little boy heaven! Poor Sophie on the other hand was in toddler hell. It was as hot as that outside and with only about 7 hours of sleep the night before she lost it about 8 minutes after we arrived and didn't stop for about 30 or 40 minutes. We were all sweating, but had taken the time to pack lunches and it was beautiful outside and hated to leave 10 minutes after we got there. (too many numbers thrown at you?) We found a creek, took our shoes off and stuck our feet in to cool off. It seemed to do the trick. Along with a snack. Then we walked around to find the "lions" and the "castle' that were there. We walked back down to where the trains were, found a shady spot by a huge sprinkler (that I made Sophie run through) and had lunch. Of course she had to wet her pants and may or may not have finished up in the flower bed under a tree and then may or may not have walked back to the car with only a t-shirt, flip flops and a bare bottom. We spent the rest of the day playing inside or in the pool. 

On Wednesday, we got a sitter and Caroline and I took Sophie with us to get pedicures. She was adorable and sat perfectly still. And if perfect Sophie fashion she told the woman working on her hands and feet exactly what she needed to do. Let's just say I got a few looks from the woman. After a trip to Target for more pool floats we picked up lunch and went home to check on the boys. Rest of the afternoon was spent in the pool. Two of Caroline's friends came over with their kids to swim and it was so nice to meet them. Sophie and Drake were passed out by 5:00 and I had to wake her up at 6:30 to eat, go potty and then put her to bed at 7:30.


On Thursday we stayed home and swam and played some more. Sophie learned how to do front and back flips under the water and even I got dizzy just watching her. When Kyle got home we went out for some of the most delicious pizza! Back at the house we played in the driveway, the kids rode bikes and they all played hockey. Christopher and Sophie had never seen hockey before and kept getting it confused with baseball and golf. I was just glad that nothing and no one was broken. It was so hot that instead of trying to wrestle the kids with showers or deal with putting suits on sweaty bodies we'd let them go skinny dipping in the pool. It was hilarious! My kids had never done that before and were totally confused and then found a new kind of freedom. I just hope they don't try this every time we go swimming! The funniest part was when my brother walked out to the pool with his suit on, Sophie yelled at him, "Hey! You can't get in until you take your shorts off!" He just looked at her and said, "Not. Gonna. Happen." I about wet my pants because she could not figure out why he wanted to keep his clothes on.




We loaded up Friday morning and hit the road around 10:30. Sophie was asleep before 11:00 and Christopher was out by 11:20. He woke up after an hour and Sophie slept for 3 hours! They were exhausted, but it was totally worth it! We have had the most fun summer and I'm a little sad to see it coming to an end.

My little sister had her second baby yesterday morning. I am over the moon excited about being near family for once and not having to travel hours and plan weekends to visit with family for once. We have never been too far, but to be in the same town, or close enough for day visits, is awesome!

The kids and I went to go meet Jason in the afternoon and he was so cute and so tiny! Sophie kept wanting to pet his head and Christopher just liked looking at him. I took photos with my phone, but haven't taken the time to download any of them yet, so I copied this one from my sister's blog.



I am looking forward to spending the first year of his life with him and getting to know him and watch him grow. And knowing there won't be any of the "stranger" stuff happening with the little nieces and nephews is great too!

I'll be back later with more updates on our summer and hopefully some photos too. We have been on the go for the last 2 months and I still haven't unpacked because even when we have been in town we have been too busy. School starts in less than two weeks and I can't believe it!