#fourboys

I don't really get this hashtag thing, but I'm seeing it everywhere.  I believe it has to do with Instagram and making pictures searchable.  More techie friends, am I right?

Just yesterday, while I was doing homework with Philip, Daniel, William, and John thought it was a good idea to slide down the slide in our small, plastic baby pool.  John fell out half-way down.  Luckily, he only busted a lip.  It was a bad cut but thankfully the inside of the lip heals quickly and by itself.

And then this happened.

It happened after dinner while all four ran around outside.  It's funny because we don't usually go outside after dinner.  The boys discovered that they could see in the dining room window from outside so they were taking turns going back and forth inside and out and waving at each other.  Somewhere along the way, William and Daniel got in a lightsaber battle.  William's lightsaber either slipped or was thrown (you decide); thus, leaving Daniel with three stitches!

All reports from his father, who took him to the ER, were that he was a perfect patient.  The doctors wanted to tie him down but Daddy had faith that he could do it.  And he did!

Here's hoping it's our last trip to the ER with #fourboys, but I'm not so sure!

Some Party Pics

Friday night, the siblings and I hosted an engagement party for Elizabeth and David.

MD flew in from Baltimore and Daniel and Karen drove in from Hattiesburg.  It was fun to have everyone together for a night!

I failed to take any pictures of Elizabeth and her friends, but she had quite a showing of her Mobile buddies.

The party was great and I loved having MD to visit with all weekend.

Looking forward to the wedding in October!

Another First Day

These two started today.

PK-4 for William...

and Mom's Day Out for John.  A first school experience for this guy.

The morning couldn't have been more fitting for this mom of four.  I got up early...fixed their back-to-school breakfast of choice...banana nut muffins and smoothies...fixed four lunches.  As I went to pack said lunches, I realized that I never bought John a lunch box.  Drop two off at SPS, head home for a quick shower, and head to Target to get sweet baby John his very own lunch box.

William was excited...John was crying, "no go to school."

Then we get there.  William is clinging to me...a little nervous...but does okay.  John walks in his classroom happily with a look of "I got this" on his baby face!

So what did this mama do with four hours of peace and quiet?  Some work at the church.  Some work at home.  An errand with GranGran and then lunch.  Sweet GranGran has been my impromptu Mom's Day Out for almost eight years.  She's been my extra set of hands and adult conversation at Chick-Fil-A.  I'm not sure I could have made it to this point in motherhood without her.

But we've made it and we had to celebrate!  I treated her to lunch at Little House Midtown...a far cry from Chick-Fil-A.  We had a delicious salad, but as lunch was ending, sweet GranGran said, "I miss the boys." And like that it was time to get them.  All reports were good!  Growing up too fast.

It's That Time Again...

We've been getting ready...

and here we are.  The first day of school for my two big boys.  1st and 2nd grade.

I have no pictures from the school because both were so big and adamant that they go through carpool and not have their mom walk them in.  Made me sad and thrilled (at the same time) that we are growing up!

O Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities

and especially St. Paul's Episcopal School and Westminster Early Childhood Center, 

that they may be lively centers for

sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom;

and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find

you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our

Lord. Amen.

Let's Bake a Cake!

Last night we had a taste testing for Elizabeth's engagement party.  Chris and I wanted to have a chance to grill a beef tenderloin (something we've never done before) and I wanted Susan to taste the potatoes before we finalized the menu.  So, we invited GranGran, PopPop, Susan, Rob, and Campbell over for dinner.

I realized at the last minute that we did not have dessert.  I had seen this recipe for a loaf cake that children can fix themselves on the blog teacheatlove.blogspot.com.  We decided to give it a try.

Daniel read the directions...

Everyone else pitched in to help.

yes...it got a little messy!

why can't I have a lick yet???

It was delicious!!  Love little boys in the kitchen!

My Entrepreneurs

Forgot to mention that we had a lemonade stand last week.

It's been on the boys' summer to do list since May.  We may have picked the hottest day.

drinking up the potential dollars

The neighbors were generous!  The boys made $4.36.  Each got a dollar bill.  They were thrilled.

artistic they are not!

They asked if they could do it again the next day.  I gently explained that the neighbors might not be so generous!!

Beat This Summer

Summer is ending and I'm getting a little nostalgic.  Yes, we have had our moments and I don't think this house has been properly cleaned in months...but I have enjoyed the uninterrupted time with my sweet boys.

In keeping with last year's post, I hope I'll always remember...

• Legos, legos, and more legos.  Somedays all they did.
• flag football...practice and games...many nights spent driving to CUMC...the smiles on Philip and Daniel's face when they played the game...the frustration of their younger brothers whose sleep was cut short!
• reading...loads of books...Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire...and the usuals...Curious George especially...knowing if I was reading to one, the others would find their way to my lap
• a new interest in superheros for William...Batman especially
• bike rides...the realization that three can ride independently...getting big too fast
• potty training...no more diapers...and the humor a six and seven year old showed with all the potty words and nudity around here
• an almost week at the beach...with Daddy...uninterrupted time together
• trips to the grocery store (or anywhere) with all four...all the comments...you have your hands full...no girls?...etc.
• trips to visit Dee in the hospital and trying desperately to get four to behave there...fights over who gets to push the elevator buttons
• a trip to Lake Martin and all out, day long fun...the elephant that stole the show...the megladon cake...William taking his job of docking the "boat" seriously
• a diagnosis...watching my boys shine during some tough days
• braces...how did that happen so fast??
• middle of the night snuggles with JohnJohn...frustration from his Mama and yet loving his sweet self in the middle of the night
• our garden...the produce it provided...the fun of watering it and tending to it
• lunches out with GranGran and sometimes Susan and Campbell
• Daniel making his own PB&J sandwiches...both big boys fixing their own drinks...independence!!
• our first sleepover with the Davidson peeps
• there must be more....

Such a joy to be a mom!  Wonderful memories with four sweet boys.  School here we come!