Melissa's Birthday Dinner #1!

My Birthday is today! 

I have officially decided to ignore laundry, housework and my general to do list! I'm focusing on playing with our boys, relaxing and doing fun stuff on the computer for a change. Later today, Jonathan and I are having dinner out without the boys and tomorrow we're getting together with my family. I actually got to start celebrating a whole week ago! Last weekend, I had an early birthday dinner with Grandpa Ron, Dao, Aunt Laura and Uncle Drew. 

We had a great time visiting with everyone. I actually see Dao several times a week at the Fitness Center and Ron there every once in a while as well. It had been a little while since we had seen Aunt Laura and Uncle Drew though, so it was nice to hear how they have been doing. 

Caleb was in clingy mode so he rotated between laps. He got some good time with Grandpa!

Snuggling with Mommy. The poor thing fell asleep about two minutes from the restaurant so he wasn't in the best mood. He was well behaved though, just extra clingy! 

Laura and Dao

Drew and Laura

Jonathan and Aaron

Caleb helped me open my presents! A Starbucks gift card (most of which is already gone!) and a heart monitor for exercising! 

The waiter brought me out a dessert since we were celebrating my birthday. Between Aaron and Caleb I only got a few bites. Everyone got a kick out of my little birdies! 

I had a great time celebrating my birthday early! Thanks Ron, Dao, Laura and Drew for helping kick off my birthday, give me my caffeine fix for the new school year, and give me more tools to keep working to lose weight!

Family Fun

I started my teacher in-service days this week, which means summer is officially over! I think we're all ready to get back to PeeWee school even though we've had a great summer. 

Here are a few things we've been doing as summer winds down. 

Jonathan built a big fort as we were moving some furniture around. 

Please excuse the lack of pants on Caleb...that's been our normal while potty training!

Aaron peeking out

Aaron laying down just like Mommy

We moved the ball pit to the living room for something different to play with downstairs. Both boys love it and the Mickey Mouse chair!

Aaron moved the chair to this location, any guesses as to what he was trying to do? Yep, the little monster is already trying to be a climber! 

Chillin'

Caleb being silly in the ball pit

Tongue sticking out as usual

Two brothers playing, it kind of looks like Aaron was trying to bite in this picture, but I promise he wasn't! 

He does, however, enjoy biting the balls! 

Caleb has begun to enjoy taking pictures with my camera. I occasionally give him some time to try it out. The other day we were taking turns with it. He was actually in a sweet mood and smiled for me : )

Isn't he handsome? He looks so big to me here! 

Caleb got a good picture of his brother!

As you can see, we haven't really been doing all that much, but we've been having fun and that's all that matters! I've got one more week of in-service days and then the boys will start back as well!

Beach Day

What a beautiful day to enjoy the beach! This morning we gathered up our beach gear, packed a picnic lunch and joined Thomas and his family down in Galveston to celebrate Kristen's birthday! 

Caleb and Eli LOVE spending time together. We got set up before they arrived and Caleb kept asking where Eli was. When we saw them walking toward us, we pointed them out to Caleb and both boys started running toward each other. It was super cute! 

It's hard to narrow down our pictures and videos from the day, so here they are!

Exploring the water first thing. 

They were supposed to be shooting water, but figured out sticking their pump guns in the sand would produce mud...boys will be boys! 

It took Aaron and Hannah Joy a little while to warm up to the water. 

Clearly it didn't take Aaron too long to decide he loved the sand! 

Aaron having fun getting messy! 

Eli and Thomas taking a snack break

Kristen and Eli built a sand castle later in the morning...and then two godzillas attacked : )

Lunch Time! 

Two big boys and their daddies playing in the water

Aaron spent forever playing with this bucket and stick! 

Digging

Like I said...forever!

One last run out in the water before it was time to clean up and head home. 

Letting the babies have some fun

The end of a very fun beach day. 

We had such a great time in Galveston! Thanks Thomas, Kristen, Eli and Hannah Joy for inviting us to spend the day with you!

Weekend with Daddy

While Mommy is away, the boys will play! 

Last weekend I had the chance to get away and enjoy some much needed girl time with friends while my boys spent some time together. I came home relaxed and rested and heard about all the fun they had while I was away! I'm so lucky that Jonathan enjoys being with the boys and that I don't have to worry when he's in charge! 

Jonathan took them to the park on Saturday morning to get out for a while. 

His eyes in this picture just crack me up! 

Aaron's first time to play on the big playground! 

I usually separate the boys at lunch for this reason...but it's cute to see how much they love each other : ) 

Disclaimer: I had nothing to do with the outfits selected for my boys while I was gone! I simply appreciate that they were dressed and wearing shoes while out in public : )

New Word!

Aaron said a new word today! We were playing with beach balls today and he said "ball" several times! And, of course, he says it super cute! He emphasizes the b sound and gets excited as he finishes the word!

Love watching and hearing Aaron pick up new things!

What We've Been Up To...

I recently realized that my posts have really slowed down this summer. It's not that we haven't been busy, there just hasn't been much that was worthy of it's own post. So, as we enter the last few weeks of summer fun...here's what we've been up to! 

At the beginning of summer, Caleb and I made a few batches of play dough. I bought some ABC cookie cutters and he's been enjoying telling me which letters he stamps. 

Having the playhouse upstairs has been a big blessing between all the rain and then heat we've had this summer (not to mention those lovely mosquitos). The boys spend a lot of time playing together there and on the little slide we moved upstairs. 

 During the afternoons, there's usually a battle for resting in Mommy's lap. One day last week I happened to have my phone nearby and captured a sweet brotherly moment.

I LOVE seeing Caleb's arm wrapped around Aaron. He does this often, especially when Aaron is upset. It is so sweet! 

Front view of my sweet boys. 

 We recently moved Aaron to the booster chair. He's doing great in it and I love not having that huge high chair in my way all the time!

Caleb and I have spent a lot of time at Palm beach or the swimming pool this summer. I never get good pictures because I'm terrified of dropping my camera in the water. While we were at Palm Beach today, I decided to chance it and take some pictures with my phone. 

Eating lunch, please forgive the open mouth, I couldn't get him to smile! 

Smiling because he was being a stinker and burying his friend's leg! 

These three spent a while digging in the sand today. 

Still burying her foot. 

Walking over to the splash pad for one last play time before we changed for the day.  I love that both big kids grabbed the wagon without being told!  

Playing in the splash pad. 

He has a lot of fun at the bigger water areas at Palm Beach too, but I was too afraid to bring anything electronic to those areas!

The boys have fun on their "bikes" as we call them. Again, it's too hot to do much outside, so we have fun in the house!

I know this last picture is extremely blurry, but you get a brief glimpse of one of Aaron's cute expressions. Love this silly goof!

So...that's what we've been up to! We spend most weekday mornings at the gym, run an errand or two when needed, and then have fun playing inside! We have a few more weeks of this fun routine and then back to school we'll go!