7/3 - New hair cut!

I'm finally getting in a rhythm of having the boys back. I was able to have a few playdates too this week which was great. In the first pictures, you can see Blaise and Eli playing in the pool in the backyard. Aiden eventually got in the water but he preferred being out of the pool

Aiden cracks me up with how serious he his sometimes. He does thoroughly enjoy the tv show Super Why and he's actually learning the sounds of the letters.

We got to skype with Brad at the beginning of the week since he pulled in to port in Spain. The kids loved "seeing" daddy again. We also skyped with Grandma Jo. The boys decided to color for Grandma Jo went means Eli kept trying to eat marker and Aiden was actually drawing things.

They were happy to see Grandma Jo and talk with her. Aiden was trying to show her how well he can jump and then they also had a wrestling match with blankets on the kitchen floor for her to watch.

Towards the end of the day they were getting pretty goofy and discovered this game for themselves; Eli crawling under Aiden's legs. They both thought it was hysterical.  

We had another play date on Thursday evening with 3 girls. The boys had fun and especially liked the chocolate chip cookie they got for dessert. 

While the boys were in daycare on Friday, I decided to get my hair cut. Really cut. Short. Short for me at least. Stephanie met me at the salon and I showed Terry (the man cutting my hair) some pictures of styles I liked. I started cutting away. After he cut it, he blow dried it, and then used a straight iron on it to smooth some things out. 

I like it! I need to play around with it some more and find the right products that work for me.

I don't know why this first picture is a littler blurry but you can still see my new hair cut.

Yesterday, we did a few errands in the morning to get groceries and a straight iron for my hair. The boys thoroughly enjoyed hummus yesterday for lunch and ate about 1/2 the container! 

Crystal came over last night and we met at Chick-fil-a for dinner and then came back to my house to put the boys down and then play Wii. 

Eli found the kazoo the other night and has been carrying it around for a few days now. 

Aiden was enjoying his cars and playing with them last night. 

We went to church this morning. I was surprised we made it to the early service because little Aiden didn't go to bed until 10:45pm last night. I was shocked. Eli and Aiden decided to dance around the living room while I was getting their lunch ready. Eli has adopted Aiden's one-legged dance move.

Aiden was running around and showing me how he can hop on one leg!

Eli went in to the kitchen to show me the camera and wanted me to take a picture of us. He absolutely cracks me up. He's trying so hard to talk and I can make 2-3 words but normally I have to ask him to show me what he's talking about.

 We have no 4th of July plans yet. We'll be going back to church tonight to start the summer Sports Camp for Aiden's age. I don't know how he's gonna stay awake after going to bed over 3 hours late last night and then not napping at all today. After Eli wakes up I'm gonna take the boys outside to play in the pool and do haircuts. We'll shower quickly and then we'll be off to church again. Happy 4th of July everybody. And oh yeah, Happy Belated Birthday Bradley. We love and miss you. Can't wait to celebrate our birthdays when you get home!

6/28 - More pics from vacation

Here are the pictures that I took at my dad's house when I went to go pick up the boys. Eli likes all the stuffed animals and skeletons. Here he was playing with a duck and a ram's head skull.

Eli wanting to take a picture with me so he can look on the screen. This is one of the few pictures where he doesn't have his cheesy smile.

Aiden then decided he wanted to get in on the picture action and came over. The boys were so happy to see me and I was very happy to see them as well.

Nana came over one morning and played legos with Eli. Eli really liked the animals to push around. Aiden didn't really want to build anything for me but I hear he has some building skills.

Aiden had a good time watching Super Why or Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (his 2 favorite shows).

Eli has an obsession with Ring Around The Rosy song.  Whenever he hears that tune, he starts dancing around and tries to yell "ashes, ashes." It too cute. You can see the sequence of pictures of Eli doing his dance and having some fun. He actually found this red ball that plays different tunes and he started dancing when his song played.

I really have no words for this new facial expression he has started doing. It's pretty funny to watch but I have no idea why he does it.

There haven't been many pictures of Aiden. I'm not sure if he was just in the "toy room" (the room where I sleep at that has tons of toys in it from my sisters' boys) or if he was not doing anything I found interesting with the camera. I did take Aiden to the movies as I mentioned in a post before. He loved it. He really like his big bowl of popcorn. You can see in this first picture that he was telling Bronco "no" and wouldn't let him get near his popcorn.

I did make him share with Eli and then they fought over seats for a few minutes until they both settled down. You can see in the first picture that Aiden is on his potty and in the second picture he's on the steps because Eli kicked him off. 

Popcorn wasn't enough of a snack for Eli so I gave him some Combos. I looked over at him and that little booger had 3 combos stacked on top of each other.

We tried to get some pictures of Nana and the boys so she could have a new Facebook picture but you never know if kids will actually participate in pictures.

We then tried to get both boys to take a picture with Nana. That was a real task. Although I cut part of her head off, it's the best picture.

 Little Aiden and Nana. They have a special bond but I'm hoping she'll have one with Eli too eventually.

Eskimo kisses.

Aiden mastered a puzzle at Nana's house and she brought it over with her so he could show me. He loves this puzzle and does it really well and doesn't need any help.

I asked the boys to give Papa some final kisses before we left. Eli happily followed directions (he pretty fond of papa). I think it helped that Papa probably had mango left over on his mustache. :)

Aiden wanted to give Papa some loving.

Aiden didn't want to get his picture taken with Eli and Papa. He was pouting but Eli's face cracks me. It looks like he is wondering why Aiden doesn't want his picture taken.

This next one is the best one I got of all of them.

We are adjusting to life back at home. These pictures were taken on Sunday. The boys were enjoying a banana in the morning.

Eli is just starting to eat bananas with the peel still on it. This picture makes me smile. He so concerned that his banana ran out.

Now he's happy again because I took more peel off.

And finally, here is Aiden enjoying his banana.

We are getting settled back in to a routine and we are having fun and enjoying each other. The break has been great for all of us. I am so blessed.