Awesome August ~ Part 1 {2018}

With lots of back to school fun activities, August turned out to be a pretty fun month.  These are some of my favorite posts because they document those little moments of life that I never want to forget, but I know they will get lost in the chaos of life.  I love this crazy crew of mine!

They love their shades. 

I got to meet my sweet and amazing blog friend, Kiki, when her and her hubby were passing through on their way home from Florida.  She resides in the Charlotte area close to where we used to live. 

Our neighborhood pool had some fun waterslides for the back to school bash. 

Evan showed Mattox how to go down the waterslide properly.  Haha! 

I love these boys. 

I had bought this little kickboard float at the dollar store, and the boys liked using it on the waterslides until they busted it.  Haha! 

Mommy and Grayson try out the slide. 

We arrived early to the party and had the slides to ourselves for a while.  This one was nice and comfy for lounging on. 

The babies love playing with their daddy. 

Sadly, we had to say goodbye to the carboat float that Evan has enjoyed since he was a baby.  Pretty long life for a cheap water float, and all of the boys have loved it. Brody finally did it in trying to squeeze his big legs through the small holes meant for toddlers. 

The little boys love to "help" me in the kitchen so it is quite difficult to get anything done.  

Brody had a successful first day back to school and came home with his self-portrait of himself as a Dalek from Doctor Who.  He also threw the Dalek's a big party with himself as their leader.  Yes, they are the most evil beings in the universe.  Haha!  He was pretty exhausted after school and passed out in the car on the way to dinner. 

We celebrated back to school with kids' night at Mellow Mushroom. 

Making their own pizzas is always a hit.  I love it because I don't have to deal with the mess.  

Brody drew another masterpiece of some space shuttles launching into space. 

I love those faces! 

Just riding some lions and horses. 

My cute cowboy and pirate.  These boys love to dress up. 

My Superman pirate and cowboy eating breakfast. 

Yes, Mattox put his chair on my bed.  Sigh.  I try to keep my room as a sacred adult space, but it doesn't always happen. 

Just hanging out at the park while big brother practices soccer. 

Explorer Mattox. 

Daddy rescued Grayson from some fireants.  He did get some bites on his hand. 

Brody used the water from his water bottle to cool them off. 

I think this is one for the high school yearbook with big brother's undies on his head. 

Daddy set up the little water sprinkler for the boys. 

Grayson was soaked. 

Brody's school posted some pictures with him in them reading. 

I made some homemade chocolate chip banana bread.  I was trying to read, and Evan, Grayson and Mattox wanted to hang out with me. I sure loved Grayson's adorable little curls before his hair was cut. 

Mattox is the cutest little chef.  I just love him! 

Being at home with these boys is such a blessing.  I am so thankful I don't miss these daily moments. 

Playing in his little house.  He thinks the spyglass is a microphone. 

This boy is just always pretending.  He loves being a cowboy and a pirate.  Definitely more pictures for his high school yearbook. 

And fishing.  I am glad we have lots of pretend play toys for him because he uses them all the time. 

Awe, Grayson was loving on his big brother in the bed. 

Back to School 2018 {6th and 2nd Grades}

Although technically it was still summer, the big boys had to pack up and head back to school in August.  They were both pretty excited about another school year.  Evan was heading into the 6th grade and his first year of middle school, and Brody was beginning second grade.  I can't believe we already have a middle schooler and seeing Brody progress so much in his reading and writing abilities has really been amazing.  I guess it is just us as parents who will always see our children as babies.  We did all the usual back to school prep and shopping to be ready for the first day.  For elementary age kids these days, they really take a lot of the fun out of shopping for school supplies since they want very specific items that the teacher will compile and divide up with the whole class.  There is no need to buy special pencils, folders, etc. when you don't even know that your child will end up with them.  Sigh.  We did go the easy route with Brody this year and just ordered his supplies through the school.  Evan does get to pick his own supplies now, but he really did not need much.  At least we don't need to buy hand sanitizer, tissues and all those miscellaneous supplies anymore that are requested in elementary school.  Haha!  Here are the customary back to school pictures:

Our first middle schooler!  Evan wanted all Underarmor gear this year since that is the popular brand for boys these days.  

A little comparison of all of Evan's previous first day of school pictures.  I can't believe we completed elementary school!

We went to tour the school and find his classes a few weeks before since we wouldn't be able to walk him into school on the first day.  He was really excited about trying band.  

We were just hanging out in the halls, and Brody didn't want to be seen with us so he pouted in the corner.  Haha! 

Brody's silly faces on the first day of school. 

Super excited for 2nd grade. 

He's ready for another year of school. 

Just a peek at how much he has changed since he started school in 2016. 

Brody enjoyed finding his classroom on meet the teacher night.  

Walking the red "carpet" on the first day. 

We did get a few more pictures on the first day of Brody since we could still walk with him. 

The school has a different theme every year, and this year's was all about "Wonder" with quotes from the book painted on the walls. 

Brody found his desk and started his word search right away. 

This year, we should have a third child venturing off to school.  Since Mattie turned 5 in June, I have been sad that she wouldn't be here to start kindergarten.  I wonder what she would have looked like, what she would have worn, what kind of bookbag she would have wanted, and how excited she would have been.  We still miss all of those milestones we should be celebrating with our beautiful baby girl.  We love you, Mattie! 

Jolly July {2018} ~ Part II

The second half of our July was spent finishing up most of our summer break with more family fun, a visit to the doctor, and a fun family outing to the bowling alley.

All of the boys love the coke machine.  Ha!  Grayson likes wearing big brother's shoes. He has lots of big shoes to fill. 

Grayson can climb up into the playplace all by himself now.  More to love about Chick-fil-a. 

I did another painting class with my church ladies and loved making this wood art with oil based paint.  Oil paint is not as easy to paint with.  Yes, that is Evan riding in his little brother's car.  Sigh. 

My sweet boys playing together outside.  Well, all except one.  Brody was probably inside playing video games.  Sigh. 

These boys like this little corner of my bedroom. 

Hanging out in the waiting room at Mattox's ENT office. Grayson enjoys this little table and chairs just his size. 

There aren't a lot of toys so he contents himself with arranging these little chairs. 

Brody and Mattox were not so easily entertained. 

But they all liked the doctor's cool chair. 

And the doctor's really awesome dog, a Wheaten terrier named Vegas. He helps calm the younger patients sitting with them in the chair.  Mattox loves him! 

Yay for ice cream cones! 

Lunch at one of Evan's favorites...Buffalo Wild Wings.  He loves hot wings.  The younger boys love the yummy mac and cheese. 

And a fun family outing to the bowling alley.  

Grayson was throwing a little fit when he couldn't have a ball and had to wait his turn so Daddy pretended to step on him. 

Mattox and Grayson loved using the dinosaur ball helper. 

Bowling is so fun for these boys and their daddy. 

Even Grayson got a turn. 

Daddy and Evan bowl like professionals. 

Brody wanted to bowl like a big kid too.  

Big brothers want to help Mattox. 

Mostly, Mommy watched, kept Grayson safe, and took the pictures. 

High fives and fist bumps from Daddy. 

The little boys took a break to play on the dinosaur.  It made a cool slide. 

Go Brody! 

Back to bowling. 

They liked to help push their dinosaur back in position. 

Grayson looked so cute enjoying his lunch at home, and the pirate and cowboy returned one more time.  Mattox was sitting on his pirate ship toy.  Ha! 

And a few fun memes for the month.  Apparently, I belong in Iceland because I am hard to get to know.  Haha!  I am an introvert after all.  Yep, that is the only yacht I will ever own.  I thought of my friend Natalie when I saw the Old Navy flag shirt one.  Haha!