A short visit with Nana

On the way home from our trip to NC, Derek and I really wanted to stop for a visit with Nana. We suprised her and spent about an hour hanging out. The boys both talked with Nana and Aidan could even say her name. It was good to see her. She seemed in good spirits and said we were her second surprise visit that week...Uncle Wil had come by too!
Here are some of the best pictures from our visit.

Our Spring trip to NC

This past weekend we made the trek north to Goldsboro, NC (just east of Raleigh) to visit with Grandaddy Wayne, Abuelita, Aunt Roxie, Uncle Jim and baby Hilton. We had so much fun! Roxie lives next door to her dear friend Carla. Carla's daughter, Ansely, is Hatcher's age so they hung out as much as they could...and did they have a blast! Friday we hung out and spent the day with Baby Hilton; and Hatcher and Aidan had fun hanging out with Ansley. Saturday we took in the airshow - and got to see the Blue Angels take to the sky, and celebrated Jim's birthday with some food, family and fun. Derek and I were even able to hang out late after the kids were down. We really had a great time. Thank you so much Jim and Roxie for hosting us. You have a beautiful home. Can't wait to come back and see everyone! Once again, too many photos - so I created a montage. Enjoy!

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We painted Hatcher and Aidan's "treehouse"

Hatcher was all over the map when we asked him what color we should paint his tree house. First it was yellow - like our house, then it was red, then it was blue. So Derek and I opted to just go to the store and look at some colors. We had talked about doing a blue-grey or deeper red...but wasn't sure what would work. We showed Hatcher the samples we narrowed down and he chose the blue combo option. We all love it. Hatcher and Aidan both helped us paint it. Hatcher did a good bit of rolling on the far side and they both helped paint the door, windows and trim. You can't see in these pictures; but, the door and windows are a medium gray - different enough from the bright, crisp white trim. We didn't have time to finish the floors - which will also be the gray, and it looks like rain tomorrow. Maybe next week! Thanks again Marma and P'Bo. The boys will use this for years to come.

What a great Easter!

We hope you all had a wonderful Easter. The weather here in Atlanta was lovely...for a change. And we were able to get a lot of outdoor time. The Easter bunny made a stop by our house and the kids woke to a gift basket and eggs hidden all over the place. After some family time and a nap, we headed down to the annual Berkeley Lake Easter Egg Hunt, where the Easter bunny stops by for pictures. Hatcher couldn't wait to see him this year. The first thing he asked him was, "how did you get all those eggs in our house and hop out before I got up?" Aidan wasn't the least bit interested him again this year. The Riley family also made the city's egg hunt and Madison and Hatcher hung out together for a while. She even shared her candy necklace with him. Then it was back home where we hosted dinner for Derek's parents, Ben, my Mom and Tom and his two kids - Katie and Chris. Derek, P'Bo and Hatcher went back down to the lake before dinner and went fishing. P'Bo caught 3 fish and was the talk of the lake that day. Hatcher really enjoyed it...Derek and he will likely be heading down again soon. It was a lot of fun and nice to have everyone over.

Finally - the swing set is here!

The rain kept postponing the installation of our swing set - which we purchased the beginning of March. The boys seemed to understand that the rain, and subsequent muddy mess, were holding up the arrival of our playground. Well, thanks to several days of sunshine and some overdue corrective work from our landscaper, the playground is here and the kids are loving it! So below are some photos of before - when the landscaper got his bobcat stuck in the mud, and then the progress that followed in the past several days. That is weeks after the initial "ground breaking." Derek and I were probably more ready for the playground to get installed than the boys - because it meant that the mud pit was covered and we wouldn't have to take our dogs out on leashes in our fenced in, huge backyard.

When I picked up the boys today, Hatcher asked if his playground had arrived. I told him we would have to see when we got home. So - of course, he jumped out of the car the minute we got in the garage, and ran inside to look out the window. That is when the screaming began. It was super cute. Aidan's excitement followed Hatcher's as I carried him inside. The pictures below tell it all.

So, first a shot of the mud pit. Notice the bobcat - stuck and left abandoned in the mud.



The landscapers came out in 30 degree weather - when it was snowing to finish the job after almost 2 weeks of waiting to let the dirt dry out.



The finished area - ready for the swing set installation...can't wait!



We purchased our swing set from Mighty Swings. From start to finish, these guys had it installed and cemented in the ground in under 2 hours! Can't beat that!




The boys enjoying their first time on their very own playground. They were out there as long as we let them - which was until bath time. I am sure I will be out there all day tomorrow...pending the rain!

Rain rain go away...so we can play some soccer

With all the rain we have been having, soccer keeps getting cancelled. So finally, this past Sunday, we were able to take part in a practice. There were only about half of the usual kids in attendance, partly because it was the beginning of spring break for our area and school district. And...it was in fact drizzling most of the afternoon - even while we were on the field. But, all in all, Hatcher had a great time and so did Aidan. The best part of the hour was when Coach Vince told Hatcher he won best personality award for the day. He was full of these super cute one liners during the whole class. It was fun to watch them all have fun!

Notes I don't want to forget - ever!

Hatcher is really having more adult-like conversations lately - before I get too far out and forget them, here are just a few:

Tonight he told us - "life should be perfect!" as he was jumping around on the mound of pillows from our bed - Love the spirit in that little guy!

Almost half the kids in his class are having siblings (2nd or 3rd) - mostly baby brothers I should add - and so Hatcher has been telling everyone at school he too is having another baby brother and that he will have to prepare for and take care of him in 2 weeks. Simmer down now...they are merely rumors. No bun in the oven at this house!

We were in the car over the weekend and Hatcher told Derek and I that when he gets bigger (older), he won't need his Mommy and Daddy and that he will take care of his own babies. I nearly shed tears. Derek quickly responded very PC - with - that is right Hatcher, when you get older you won't need us like you do today; but, know that we will always be there for you - no matter what.

He corrects us all the time and if we forget where we left something - he seems to always know where it can be found.

I hope to load more pictures soon - I have some from soccer this past Sunday, our mud pit - awaiting the new swing set, and more. In the meantime - here are a few.

Here are two of the best photos I could get of the boys the morning of Spring picture day at school. You may see these outfits again for Easter. They looked so handsome - Hatcher even asked to use my hair gel to fix his hair - he knew it was picture day!





The picture below is of the giant sign the kids in Hatcher's class made for him when he had surgery for his second set of ear tubes. We hung it in his room since he was so excited about it. Each of the kids and both teachers put their hand prints on the sign and signed their names. It was really sweet and when Hatcher and I went to pick up Aidan from school that day - Hatcher's classmates all ran up to him and hugged him. How come adults can't react like that after a day of being out of the office sick? LOL