School Starts...

the first day for students is tomorrow here in my district, but teachers started Monday July 29, 2013, so Cole did too!

The 4th of July was a BOOM! I mean...

Playing in puddles on the 4th

BUST!!! It has been terrible weather and very strange weather. Yesterday's high was 73 and rainy! ALL day it rained and it still has not stopped. We did not have any "real" plans except for picking up KK and Brad from the airport! Yay! They are home. We had debated going to AL and we had discussed having the Purkey's over to our land to watch Mt. Juliet's fireworks from there, but nothing panned out. Casey decided to work on the 4th since it was on a Thursday and take Friday off instead. He originally said he was not going to go to AL because he had to much to do around the house, which is VERY true! but I knew he would end up going, rain or shine, and he did. Before he left he gave me a piece of paper that had the next 4 weeks on it and what was getting done when. He said he thought that would make me feel better. He goal is to have the market on the house August 5th, it was the 1st, but since that is on a Thursday he bumped it to the 5th. I just cross my fingers and pray that it is! Cole and I just hung out and watched movies most of the 4th. We went out for a little bit when there was a break in the rain to play in some puddles, then we went to go get KK and Brad. Everything was on time, which surprised me since they had SO many different connections and flew for 27hrs to get home. As soon as Cole and I were walking across from the parking garage to baggage claim I spotted my mom coming out of the doors. We were down a little bit from her. I said "Cole there is KK" he said "where? mommy, where?" he spotted her and wanted down. I yelled "mom" she looked our way and Cole started running to her. I know that was the best thing she could have seen at that moment in time. He jumped up in her arms and just hugged her neck. It was SO sweet. Brad was inside waiting for the luggage, so they went in to surprise him. Cole jumped into his arms and was a super "hugger and cuddlier". It was SO sweet! Cole was so happy. I mean two of his most favorite people in the world have been gone for 3 weeks and 2 days.
The next morning we got an invite to go to Chuck E Cheese with our neighbor Gray. It was a little over whelming and stimulating for us all, but I think he loved it. Cole was just hoping around from one thing to the next. Every hour Chuck E comes out to some music holding a sign that says follow me for free tickets. Cole did not like him. He was good staying within a good distance from him. Gray LOVED him and got up and danced with him. They danced to "if your happy and you know it", then Chuck E made in rain tickets. Cole grabbed a few tickets since they were a good ways away from Chuck E.

Our morning breakfast spot for the summer-mommy's bed

Besides getting a little restless we had a good weekend.

Met Papa for yogurt after swimming

Yay!! They are home!

First Chuck E Cheese visit with Gray.

Gray loved Chuck E

Cole in his happy  place eating Mac N Cheese

Totally Loving Summer

Mini photo session from June 14th. A local photographer,
Jenni Hosey, was doing these to raise money for the
Oklahoma disaster relief after the devastating tornado
a few weeks ago. They turned out cute!

So we have made it to July, it's hard to believe. Now that we go back to school so early; when July hits I get a little sad that it is almost over. I am so grateful for a job that gives me the opportunity to enjoy this time off for rest and lots of family time. Although it is getting less and less. I am going to enjoy everyday that I have. We have not had any "real" plans for the majority of the summer, but some how everyday has filled up with things to do. Almost too much! I feel like I am not able to do some things that I had planned to do, but oh well this is more fun and more important. We are making memories! The zoo has been on our weekly outings, usually a friend play date with some one, and of course the pool. We have been lucky to have lots of pool dates this summer. Cole is a big fan of the pool and I can tell each time we go he gets a little more brave about being in the water.

It has actually been a cooler summer. Today is July 3rd and the high is 81. In the mornings it is in the 60's. It has been so nice. I will take the high 70's and 80's any day. The other day at the pool it was actually almost cool after being wet and then getting out of the pool. I couldn't believe it, TN is usually high 90's, maybe even 100 degrees in July with terrible humidity. Thank you God for this beautiful weather.
Cole's vocabulary has increased SO much! It really blows our mind the things he says and understands. We just look at each other and say "where did that come from?" or just laugh. It is really hard not to laugh some times. Like the other night he wanted a snack. I gave him a spoon of peanut butter (a fav). He went into the living room and came back within about 1-2 mins. Casey and I were in the kitchen and he walked in and said "Mom, that was so delicious!" we just laughed and said "it was SO delicious?" and he just smiled really big and shook his head yes. "Awesome" is another word that he has just started using. We were driving to the zoo and he said "mommy, the zoo is awesome". I said you think so? he just looked at me with that sweet smile and said "yeah". I LOVE IT!! and cherish these sweet little moments.
Another funny story was...Cole and I were in the car just driving along and Cole says "Mommy, daddy drives fast" I laughed and said he does? and he said "yeah, he drives really fast". I just laughed. I told Casey and he about fell out of his chair, he said how does he even know what fast is?? I think I figured out why he said it though, a few weeks later. Casey's air has gone out in his truck so he has the windows down all the time, interstate too! SO the other day I had the windows down and when we got going a little faster, Cole said "Mommy drives fast". So I guess the loud and hard wind means you drive fast?? I love to see his little mind at work. Cole is all about helping and independence. All day long I hear "Cole do it", "Cole help", and "Me do it". I am trying to find the balance in it. Like this morning I was folding clothes, I had folded about half of the clothes. I was doing it on the bed. Cole bounced over on the bed, messing up my piles and then said "Cole help, Cole do it". Well, how do you say no to that? I want him to know that he needs to help and fold clothes, but he is so little to be able to fold. So I gave him the task of finding mommy and daddy's underwear, which he referred to as "mommy's diaper and daddy's diaper". He was doing good, but then I was putting the folded clothes back in the laundry basket, folded, to take upstairs. He wanted to help and he mixed up the underwear he had just sorted and then mixed them with Casey's shirts that HAD been folded. :( Little life lessons I guess. We will figure it out. I want him to know that all to soon this will be his full responsibility to do!! I am not raising a man who thinks it is the women's job. His daddy knows that and so will he! His daddy had a great teacher (as well as me from my mom) and I want to make sure I do just as good a job.

Kids pic from Alabama cookout June 22

Enjoying his DVD player on a long trip

Sleeping in his "nest"

So this summer I have had Cole sleeping downstairs in our bed. His room is upstairs and it just gets SO hot. So in order to save money and not turn the air WAY down I have just had him take his nap in our room. He was watching a tv show and they were talking about birds and nest building, so that has been his thing. He takes all the pillows and makes a nest to sleep in! He is such a mess, but whatever works! This day I was doing laundry and washing out sheets, that is why there is no linens on any of the pillow cases! :)

This past week we went to the zoo with our new neighbors, Sarah and Gray. Gray and Cole are 3 weeks apart (Gray is March 19). It is always fun to watch these kiddos interact and have so much fun at the zoo. Gray introduced Cole to the carousel at the zoo. He seemed a little nervous at first, but it turned out to be a hit.

 We also ran into our friend, Annabelle. Cole and Annabelle were at Madison's Creators Kids school together from 4 months-13 months. She is such a little sweetheart.

I cant resist a good sleeping picture. I always love to watch this cutie sleep and see what kind of positions he gets into as well as how much stuff he will pull into his bed.

Cole is totally enjoying summer. As you see him all relaxed and laid back. I have a feeling that going back to school 5 days a week is going to be a rude awakening for the little guy. I have totally loved sleeping in and being lazy with him too!

We had a play date with Nicholas last week. Cole and Nicholas are 11 weeks apart. Cole's mom, Janet, and I have been friends since we were 5 years old. It is so fun to still be such good friends and now see our little ones growing up together.

Swim date with Ella. Ella lives in a subdivision that has a pool. It is so nice. They have a wonderful kiddie pool as well. Cole and I went one afternoon around 4pm and played until 8pm. It was wonderful and a good way to wear the kids out. Looking forward to more swim dates with Ella and Julia.

 We also enjoy Mrs. Sandy's pool every Wednesday. That is an outstanding date that we try to keep if at all possible. We really look forward to it every week.

This year we have been able to enjoy Aunt Tisha's pool. Aunt Tisha moved here in October from Atlanta. It has been so nice having her local and being able to hang out with her.