What We're Up to this Summer Part 1

I am loving my summertime with my boys! Teaching is truly the best of both worlds; I get to have the career that I love, and I also get to have a lot of downtime to enjoy my family. As we all know I take a zillion pictures, and I truly don't even post half of them! Here are just a few things we've been up to lately:

On one of my last days of maternity leave in May, my mom and Bridget accompanied us to a local pottery place. I wanted to get Hunter's footprints just like we'd done when Holden was a baby. Holden picked out a cool train box to paint and took his painting very seriously. Hunter slept through the entire trip and paint on his feet!

Memorial Day:

Dad and I took the boys to the parade. Jay was working overtime and I thought it would be fun to take both of them. Ummm...let's just say Hunter was NOT a fan of the 90 degree heat index with major humidity and blazing sun! Nor did he appreciate the drums and sirens. Oops! Sorry, little guy! To top it off, I made him wear a cute little boat hat that he detested. He kept turning his little head and then would get stuck in his hat. Dad and I took turns standing under the one lone tree in our vicinity with him. Holden LOVED everything about the parade and actually told me to take pictures of things. :)

After the parade experience, Grammy and Papa offered to watch Hunter in the good old AC while I took Holden to the pool. We had a great time for all of about 10 minutes before they had to clear it for imminent weather. I thought it would rain a little and clear up, so we sat under a big umbrella to wait it out. Once the wind started blowing so hard the trees were bent, and it was lightning and thundering, I realized we'd have to throw the towel in. At least we were already wet?!

Summer always brings the Fun Run. This is Holden's third year participating. He is so grown up this year! He gets the concept of running the track rather than looking at rocks, walking over to the grass, etc. Our first night there, he insisted on running practice laps with Daddy. Poor guy, it was soooo hot that he was beet red and sweaty by the time the actual run began

We enjoy seeing lots of our friends on Fridays for the run! Bridget and Ryan bring Natalie, Kara and Gary bring little Corinne, and the Cunninghams run, too. I love the picture of Annie with baby Chase in the Baby Bjorn; they needed to shade his head so they improvised with an adult Cubs hat. Wrong team, but still funny. :)

Daddy loves his hammock time in the backyard with the boys! He and Holden even did nap time out there one day...although Holden eventually had to head to his room because it was just too exciting outside to fall asleep. :)

Holden spends lots of time in the sandbox.

Daddy enjoyed Cardinals opening day with Hunter while Holden was napping. Hunter wore the lucky onesie that Holden wore as a baby, and it brought them a win again! Yeah!

When Holden got up he joined in with his Cardinals attire. I love Hunter's expression in this picture!

Crack me up at Holden's cheesy smile!

Baby smiles are plentiful these days, and we eat them up! Sooo sweet!

Love me a happy baby!

Hunter likes chillin' in his crib...

Holden likes spending time with neighbors...

Holden shares his stories and knowledge with his brother...

And sometimes they have differences of opinions...but similar outfits...

And I can't get enough photo ops of sweet baby parts. Dimples on tiny hands, the way his hair whorls on the back of his head, chubby little arms, the baby butt, little legs sticking out like a frog, baby feet.....so in love with this baby!

Part II coming soon...cousins, S'mores, Discovery Museum, the pool (without a thunderstorm!), baseball games, etc. Life is never dull around here.