Daddy's Boys

The other day I got stuck at the salon a few minutes late, so Matt saved the day as usual and rounded up the boys to head to school to pick up Dryden.  Walking Dryden to school in the morning is a lot of fun, I really enjoy the time with the boys.  Generally not any hotter than 85' at the time, it's a nice walk.  Walking to the school to pick Dryden up in the afternoon....temperatures closer to 110'...is a completely different story!  But circumstances what they were, Matt and the boys headed out to brave the heat to rescue Dryden.  By the time I made it home, this is what I found....

....half-naked on my bed sitting directly in front of the fan.  They sat there with the fan on high for at least 15 minutes...then they were ready to go go go go again. 

Matt has been working with Dryden to help him learn to ride his bike....we took the training wheels off just the other day....and then we put them back on about a half hour later.  Dryden needs to spend some more time practicing balancing before we take them off again.  Matt is being so patient!  The whole family is asking Santa for bikes this Christmas so we can enjoy the winter weather outside....a couple more months, I'm sure Dryden will get it soon!  And of course Cohen is eager to have his chance too!

Caden and I enjoyed the action from underneath the shade!!!

Back To School!!

This morning Dryden woke up with the jitters.  He was absolutely excited to go back to school...and he couldn't wait to be a first-grader...but he also realized that his best buddies from kindergarten were not going to be at the playground waiting to reunite with him!  Although our recent move has been a fantastic step in the right direction for our family, it does mean that we are in an entirely different school district, and Dryden will be starting the new year at a new school.  But he really is such a tough little trooper...takes after his Daddy.

After barely touching his Cinnamon Toast Crunch (usually his breakfast of choice) becuase his "tummy felt funny", we decided we would walk to school.  Afterall, it wasn't even 90' yet!  The jitters really began to settle in across Dryden's face....main cause for distress: Daddy was running late at the hospital and Dryden was needing an extra special tough-guy to tough guy kind of hug.  I suggested as we walked that Dryden talk to Daddy on the phone.  Relief set in as Daddy promised he was rushing to meet us at the school.  Isn't it perfect how a simple dose of 'father's love' can do the trick every time??  Anyway, it was a beautiful little walk.  We fall more in love with our new neighborhood every day.  I felt like I was part of a Hallmark movie set several years back when EVERYONE walked or rode thier bikes with their kids to school...I probably would have felt more out of place had I decided to drive!!  Incredibly, Matt arrived at the school just a few minutes after we had.  The look on Dryden's face was priceless as he watched his Daddy hurry to meet up with us in front of the school. 

A few hugs and kisses...not too many of course I'd hate to embarrass the little guy...a brief moment on the  playground...and then the bell sounded.  I felt like I was in the midst of an army of children scurrying to form rank!  With little effort we helped Dryden find the line designated for his class...and then that was it.  Suddenly I felt like I needed a dose of "tough-guy" stuff.  Don't cry...Don't be silly...He'll be fine...Don't cry...

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As for the other two, life as usual: a morning snack and plenty of water......

....which for anyone who speaks 'ALI' directly translates into fresh pretzels from Auntie Annes at the local splash pad!  Tough day....I know:)

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And then back to the school to see how the little man fared his first day of first grade....

SUCCESS!!!

A mother's prayer has been answered....and Dryden is already looking forward to tomorrow!!

A Look Back At The Summer....

Well, the summer is over. Dryden is back to school on Monday.  First grade....unbelievable!!  This summer has been another one to remember...lots of memories made...lots of time spent as a family. 

We had a lot of fun visiting family.....

Having family visit us....

Playing "Super-heros", one of our family favorites...

And endless days of playing with toys...

Dryden and Cohen have become the masters of combining legos, blocks, stuffed animals, and random household items to create the ultimate setting for their ever-growing collection of super-hero action figures.  Meanwhile, Caden has been happy to assume the role as 'Godzilla'.....self-appointed.  Somehow the building of a superfort- only to watch it be destroyed- never seems to lose it's appeal.  Matt and I love to sit back and watch it all...and we love to join in on the pillow fights that inevitably follow the destruction.  Boys will be boys!!!

And our boys are getting HUGE!!!!!

It amazes me how much the boys change from year to year, month to month, and even day to day.  I wish I could capture every smile and record every laugh.  I don't want to miss a minute of any of it!

Welcome Home Sweethearts!!

The weekend flew by....when Sunday morning rolled around Mommy and Daddy were VERY excited to head over to Grandma and Grandpa Andrus' home to pick up the boys.  We couldn't wait to hear all about "Camp Grandma" and all the fun they had!!  They had so much to tell us....swimming....tents...Grandpa's special 'Mickey Mouse' pancakes....Happy Meals....and a very special 'field trip' to a specialty petshop......

Introducing........Spiderman(naturally)

and Bubba...of course.
The boys really had such a wonderful time!  They are already talking about next time!  Thanks again Grandma and Grandpa...for the special memories...all the fun....all the love...and for just being YOU!!!!!

Summer Splashes!!

Friday morning the boys and I made plans to meet some friends at the local splash pad...Daddy worked at the hospital Thursday night and we were sure he would appreciate a few hours of peace and quiet to catch a little shut-eye before the weekend started!  The weather was surprisingly tolerable for the last week of July....except for the insufferable blanket of humidity that has been lingering for the past several days!  Truly, though, the temperature was well below 100...okay that IS an exageration...but it proved to be a really great time.  The boys were thrilled to be outside for a while before the sun was too high, and the water must have been refreshing!  Our little men definately could have been fish in another lifetime, they can't get enough summer splashes!!