expert triker

I've come up with this genius idea to take Eli's trike with us on walks.  He (and the trike) ride in the stroller until we get to a side road that is really flat, then he rides, and rides, and rides until his little legs give out.  I know soon enough he'll become a bike rider and Isaac will be on that trike!

 And Isaac has decided that diapers may be optional.  Funny how kids are so different- Eli never really tried to pull his diaper down.  Looks like the kid will be in a onesie for diaper safety!

summer's here

And these boys loooove to play in the water..... even in our own backyard!  I scored this inflatable ring sprinkler thing at dollar general on clearance last fall and it has now been worth the $2 I paid for it.  

two cold boys getting warm.  it's hot outside but the water is c-o-l-d and they're playing in the shade so i don't have to sunscreen them up. :)

and this is how two boys rest after water play while mommy fixes lunch.  those are their spots- eli on the futon and isaac in the brown chair. 

the best park ever

Cookeville has a new city splash park that just opened up a month ago and it is FUN, FUN, FUN!  I met a friend there last week and the boys alternated between playing in the water and scarfing every snack I brought. But that's what playing in the water does to a person- makes you hungry!  We got there about 9:30 and it didn't really get cowded until about 10:30 so I know when we're always going. :)

fearless Isaac LOVES to play in the water

Eli followed Isaac around the.whole.time! And I couldn't get him to stand still long enough for an up close pic!

beautiful park

two starving boys. and the water was COLD! so Isaac's lips are a nice shade of blue. 

If any of you want to come visit- be sure to bring your swimsuits!

matt has a green thumb

So Matt has not one but TWO gardens this year (okay, well I guess 3 if you count the herb garden)...a potato patch and everything else.  They are huge, they are beautiful, they are healthy!  Definitely a green thumb gardener is tending these plants.  

Here's the potato/sweet potato garden (and a token grape vine)

honey bees (technically not a garden, but sort of i suppose since they require tending)

the BIG garden out in our front pasture...I think the rows are 75 feet

broccoli (already eaten some- YUM!)

corn and green beans (took this picture last week and now they're like 4 times that big)

green pepper

squash

Not pictured but also planted are cucumbers, tomatoes, sunflowers, and zucchini.  And guess what-- in June he's going to plant pumpkins!!! Yay for fall pumpkin picking at our house!  Proud of you Matt and all your hard work...you're a really good gardener. :)

i have a working camera again!!!!!

So $26 and amazon.com later I now have a new camera battery charger.  I'm not really a lose-stuff-kind-of-person so I am baffled as to where the battery charger went.  Matt said it'll show up now that I have a new one and he's probly right.  :)  So in honor of being able to take pictures again and the beautifully cool weather we've been having, here are some photos of our evening in the backyard around the fire. Enjoy!

I'm not really sure what Eli's doing with that hand, maybe an air fist bump, but I do know he was excited to build a fire with his daddy.  

Here's a serious Isaac pondering getting in on some stick action.  He mostly liked to throw little sticks in. 

Matt is skooling Eli on how to make a proper "Cox fire"

And Isaac in his true to 1.5 year old self, wandered around the yard quite a bit and even went over to say hi to the horsey.  

I also took a bunch of pictures of matt's garden which I will post about tomorrow.

picture of the day

This picture was taken about 3 weeks ago when my mom was visiting. I ordered a new charger for my camera battery so I'll actually be able to take pictures again soon.  

Enjoy this little cutie!

garrett turns 4

  A couple of weeks ago while my mom was visiting (thanks for watching isaac) we took Eli to Knoxville for Garrett's 4th (!!!) birthday at churck E cheese.  It was fun, fun, fun.  We went on a weeknight so the boys wouldn't be overwhelmed with people there was hardly anyone there.  We also took gluten free pizza for Eli and me. :

i think this is the best pic of matt and eli ever

i absolutely love this picture of garrett as he is very intently driving the monster truck

eli and his mad ski ball skills

two sweet friends :)

Thanks for inviting us to Garrett's special day Ian & Rachel!  We love you guys!

we have bees

Yes, my husband is now a bee keeper, and so far a very successful one.  I'll take a picture of the actual hive when I find the charger for my camera battery and can actually take pictures again.  It's kinda cool that we'll have honey next year!  Go Matt the bee man!

here he is showing off his "bee smoker"

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And here are the boys having a blast with a stroller-jet ride.  I love how daddies play differently than mommies.  Mommies are all like, "oh look, a pretty flower" and Daddies are like, "let's go FAST!"

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And here's Matt with his FIRST EVER 4 leaf clover.  The poor guy is 32 and has never found one before.  And that's coming from the wife who found like 3 in one day a few weeks ago. Kudos to you shug.