"THE" Summer Day!

It was just one of those fabulous days.... following a not so fabulous day on Friday. I think I was just tired! Thank goodness we started the weekend off so well! We got up Saturday morning and decided to go to the Marietta Square Farmer's Market. I dont know why we haven't spent more time there..it was just so great! It was a quick drive there and both the kids seemed to enjoy it! There were tons of stands set up selling vegetables, fruits, bread, meat, soap, plants..just about anything! We got some tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, bread, potatoes (fun fingerlings, blue potatoes and new potatoes) and peaches!

Jack doing one of his silly voices!

Jack was fishing for leaves in the fountain!

We played in the square for a little while too before heading back for a birthday party at the pool! Lots of friends and fun! Jack wanted to jump in with no floaties to Daddy and had the best time.

We came home and took naps and then headed back to the pool for another birthday party (this one was more for adults and had live music!) It was really fun! TONS of kids down there too! Jack spent a ton of time jumping off the side. He wanted to do it all by himself with no one there to catch him (I was close enough to get to him if he needed me) So he did it once and thought it was so fun that he did it about 50 more times. He would jump off and yell, "Hey everybody! Boys and Girls! Watch out...Heeeeeeeere I COME!" Then he would swim to the side and get out and go again! His poor little toes are rubbed raw from making that cycle! It was so fun! Lucy really enjoyed her pool time too!
We got the kids to sleep (neither of them made a peep when we put them down! I think they were WORN out) and then we grilled out. It was a FANTASTIC summer dinner! Thanks to Southern Living this month (I think they called it a "4th of July Feast") We had chicken kabobs (chicken, mushrooms, squash and onions with a smoky barbeque rub), homemade white bbq sauce and a hot bacon and green bean potato salad! It was delicious! Followed that up with some butter pecan frozen yogurt with fresh peaches and blueberries! YUMMY!

Daddy had to go to work this morning, so Jack and I played on the slip n slide with the neighbors while Lucy took her morning nap. We filled up the bird feeders and watered all the plants! We had a yummy lunch and are about to go down for naps! Back to the pool this afternoon!

It has been so fun!! I even finished a few of my "patriotic summer" projects! A new wreath and pillow covers! We will hope for more fun weekends just like this!

And here are just a few more pictures from the last week!

This is becoming a habit... deciding to run through the hose in our undies!

 

Playing water guns with a neighbor

Mr. Cool!

Anna and Jack having so much fun dancing with ribbons!

Why? Why? Why?

A few weeks ago, a friend asked me if Jack had started asking "Why?" all the time. I said, "No, not really anything out of the ordinary." It seems kids go through this stage of asking why all the time. I remember some other friends that had kids that did this. I thought that wouldnt really bother me...they are learning all the time, right?! We weren't there yet...
Well....................... now we are...and it does.  Let me say that maybe it's just today. It's just one of those days where my patience isn't EXACTLY where it should be. I think I am a little tired from the week and from Daddy working lots at night this week. Maybe other days it won't seem like "Why?" is always hanging around. Jack has probably said "Why?" a hundred times today. "Why is the pig happy in the book? Why can't Mommy reach the books I put behind the headboard of my bed? Why should I stop banging the door with a bat? Why does the ghost have a teddy bear? Why are we going to run errands? WHY? WHY? WHY? And most responses do not satisfy. It generates another "Why?" Anyway, Jack wasn't being the best listener this morning and finally after about 10 chances... he got in trouble. (I think this had something to do with my patience level today) He was sent to time out after being popped on the leg (I think that makes us feel better than saying "Spank")  He, as usual, got very upset when he got in trouble (this is a good thing in my opinion since at least it is effective).  Then I start the "Why?" with him...Why are you in trouble? Why weren't you listening? (We are big on him understanding why he is in trouble and why we need to say sorry) Well, then I start the "Why?" in my head... Why did Jack get in trouble? Why do I feel guilty about it? Why didnt I take him outside to play this morning? Is his energy confined here inside while sister is napping? Was it my fault he was not listening? Wow.... and then the loop begins? Why am I not being patient?
Whew...it wears me out writing it.
We pulled it together and ended up successfully running some errands this afternoon (with both kids holding it together while I looked for patriotic decorations for new pillow covers and a wreath) I can only imagine how exciting that was for them. Jack did enjoy it and did a great job just walking with me through the stores. We did touch several things and we did end up at each register with a few items that I had to whisper to the cashier that we were not going to purchase today. Jack had picked them up and said "But I love this, I want to keep it!" and it came along the journey with us... Hopefully he wont remember. HOWEVER, he did talk all about the yellow flower he got for Daddy and couldnt wait to give it to him (Uh-oh that was an item that we "did not purchase" today) So...we did get a yellow flower at our next destination. Now...will he remember it again?

It's just one of the days I want to remember.... remember all the good and the bad. I am thankful for today..I am thankful for the two beautiful exhausting children we have! I try to enjoy every minute with them...and right now... I am thankful they are both asleep!

Fun Father's Day Weekend

The Leonards REALLY enjoyed being home this weekend! It was great! We started the weekend with a fun low country boil with great friends! There were TEN ....yes 10 kids there! All of them sat at the table to eat their dinner, and I am pretty sure every one of them got dessert! Now here is the big part of this story.......... by 8:30, ALL 10 kids were asleep! I am still amazed by that! Multiple kids in each room and all asleep! Jack went to sleep in a sleeping bag on the floor! It was so fun to hang out with friends and just sit around and talk!
Saturday, we hung around the house and then went to Aunt Jennifer's for cake and ice cream that afternoon! We were celebrating Father's Day, Nunno's Birthday AND Nunno's Retirement! She has two weeks to go! Isn't that awesome??!! It was especially fun to see Jack and Anna play together! They had a really fun time .... in a big box!
Yesterday, we spent Father's Day doing exactly what Daddy wanted to do (or more like eating what Daddy wanted!) We had french toast, bacon and watermelon for breakfast. Lunch was BLT's, pasta salad and chips....and for dinner (after the kids were asleep) we grilled filets, asparagus and baked potatoes! It was a fun day of eating! We finished the night with a good bottle of wine from Napa!
Besides eating... we went to church (Jack got to sing in the front with his Spirit Week friends) and we went to the pool for the afternoon! It was a fun day!
Jack really enjoyed Spirit Week last week. It was the first year he was old enough to attend! I got to volunteer on Friday in the Crafts Room (wow...I have not been that worn out in awhile!) He had fun and sings all the Spirit Week songs all the time! We were really happy he was able to go. It kind of created a logistical nightmare for us since it was from 9-12. Dropping off and picking him up was tough, but it worked out with some help from Poppa and neighbors! I think we will plan a little better if he goes next year!
A few Jack stories:
*Jack was singing (or chanting) his Spirit Week songs VERY loudly in the tub this week..."GROW IN FACE! CHANGE THE WORDS!!!" (Grow in Faith! Change the World!) We did help him get the words right!
*Jack went to get a "tissue" to wipe a boo boo off and trailed the toilet paper all the way to the living room...it didnt exactly tear off. He said, "I'm sorry...it's too much many!"
*Jack put Steven and I down for a nap Saturday morning. He read us two books (it's too cute to listen to him read his books. He will do it by memory and not miss any words!) covered us with a blanket and kissed us good night. Then he asked if we wanted a "little sip of water", and went to fill up a construction cone with pretend water. He closed the door and said we would go to the zoo after naps.
*During lunch with Poppa on Thursday at IHOP....Jack organized all the jelly jars by flavor in a tiered holder. He told Poppa they weren't in order. Then he stopped a waitress walking by their table to ask her "Do you have a bathroom?" because he needed to wash his hands.

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Happy baby girl in her highchair!

A little timid in the front of the church!

Jack at Spirit Week!

Nunno and all FIVE babies!

Lucy and Jake (cousins 2 weeks apart)

Jack and Anna looking at the deer in Jenn and John's backyard!

FUN IN A BOX!

Daddy and his babies! Nunno made their fun shirts!

Good times at the River!

Last week was so great having Aunt Mimi and Great Granny here! They were a HUGE help watching Lucy for us since her nanny was on vacation! She was a sweet girl and behaved so well for them! They really had a great time together! They got to pick Jack up from school every day too and helped with laundry and dinner each night! That was just so awesome and it meant a lot to have them here with us! The kids really loved it!
We had another great weekend at Mimi and Papa's on Sapelo River! It is such an amazing setting and we always have such a great time....and great food! It's hard to describe how beautiful the view is on the river. It is something that Steven and I grew up loving and is such a treat to have a place like that to visit with family! We hope Jack and Lucy love it like we do!
We got in town LATE Thursday night (Well, actually early Friday morning..around 1:30am). The kids did great! They slept in the car and got right in bed when we got there. It was nice to wake up there Friday morning! We went crabbing (we caught about 6 blue crabs and 4 stone crabs), played in the river, sat on the porch, and hung out on the dock! The day ended with my ALL time favorite meal! Frank made homemade fried shrimp (shrimp he caught), hushpuppies, Judy's red rice, and homemade cole slaw (he uses dill pickles in it!) It is an amazing meal and I ate until I couldnt eat anymore! Saturday was more of the same except with lots of family to celebrate Mimi's birthday! Everyone played in the river and enjoyed time together! We grilled out hamburgers and hotdogs and had birthday cake! Last night we sat on the bluff with a glass of wine in the amazing breeze after the kids went to sleep! It was heavenly!
We came back to a very HOT Atlanta tonight. No river breeze here! Jack starts Spirit Week tomorrow (Vacation Bible School). I hope he will really enjoy it! It should be a fun week!

A few things:
Lucy is rocking on her hands and knees all the time! She is ready to go! It is so funny to watch! Jack gets beside her and does it too! He laughs and then shows her how to crawl. She still absolutely LOVES Jack. She goes crazy when he gets near her or talks to her. She is just so excited when he plays with her! Lucy seems to be doing so much better with other people the last couple of weeks! That makes us so happy!
Jack is really making us laugh these days. It is so funny the things he comes up with...the other day on the way home from school he said, "Hey Mommy! Guess what?!" So many little phrases he comes up with! Today he said, "Hey! I've got an idea! How about Daddy goes in the hammock and I get in the hammock, and you take a picture of us together?!" (I thought that was a fabulous idea!) He loves to negotiate with us on everything! In the car today on the way home he was trying to talk us into "one more movie" on the way home! He is such a sweetheart!

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AND A LITTLE COMPARISON.....

2011 River Baby

2010 River Baby