Swimming with Friends

Rachel and Rylee Ann

Bradley and Carson

Trenty with papa's hat

The other day, we met up with some friends at Gege's pool. We had such a good time swimming together. Rachel and the other ittle girl, Rylee Ann, both swim like fish so they had a blast! Bradley and the other little boy, Carson, didn't acknowledge each other for the longest time, but at the end they really enjoyed playing together. Carson is almost 3, and he enjoyed copying Bradley and playing his games, which Bradley loved! Trent spent his usual 3o minutes in/around the pool and spent the rest of the time riding around with Gege and Papa or playing at their house.

Greasers

Trent has sunscreen on his lip from chewing on a sunscreen bottle.

We try to grease up with sunscreen before we get to the pool...this is the result! Crazy hair, greasy skin, (hopefully) well-protected kids!

Rachel's riding lesson

Barney

Rachel and Barney

Rachel riding Barney by herself!

(Ashley-her instructor)

Rachel is really enjoying her horse lessons. She's progressed from learning just the parts of the horse to actually controlling the horse and kicking him to get him going. This week she trotted and told the horse where to go with her reins. Ashley (her instructor) also made up a few games where Rachel could practice her coordination by holding a paper towel under her legs and dropping a potato in a bucket. The object was to ride the horse as close to the bucket as possible, hold the reins in one hand and throw the potato with the other hand. Rachel had so much fun and is really doing so well. She's not afraid at all! Her instructor is so creative and good with Rachel too.

Trenty loves waffles!

Look at my teeth!!
what?

YUM!! These big chompers help me chew!

Trent's such a good eater...he eats a variety of foods and enjoys himself while he does it. The other morning, he was chowing down on his waffles and I just thought he looked pretty darn cute doing it. He's such a sweet little stinker!!

Brother Bonding behind the wheel

my precious boys
their sweet little rear view

Bradley loves driving the jeep...and Trenty loves riding. We buckle him in and make Bradley go slow, and Bradley obliges. It's really cute watching them ride around. I know the boys will be riding/driving each other around alot one day. They look so cute on the jeep together!

Rachel loses her 2nd tooth!

Our sweet girl lost her 2nd tooth Sunday night. She was so excited and couldn't wait to go to bed and see what the Tooth Fairy would bring. She put her tooth in a plastic baggie on her nightstand along with a glass of water for the TF to dip her wings in. However, after some rumbling thunder and rain, the TF was afraid to go into Rachel's room too early. And, the Tooth Fairy watched some tv, fell asleep and FORGOT to visit! I cannot even tell you how upset Rachel was when she woke up the next morning to see that the TF had not come. It was really pitiful. She was holding her glass with (clear) water in it and holding her tooth in the baggie. She said, "the tooth fairy didn't bring me nothing." Tears were flowing. I felt terrible!!!!!!! I knew the TF felt terrible as well and had just gotten very busy and totally forgotten to visit. I told Rachel the TF would definitely visit the next night and that I was so sorry the TF had forgotten or been too busy to visit.

So, that day, Rachel decided she would draw a picture and write the TF a note because she wanted to keep the tooth. Thankfully, the TF DID visit the next night, left a whopping $3.00 and an apology note. She also dipped her wings in the water and they were a dark pink/reddish color. Rachel was much happier when she woke up and found her special prize. And, the TF read the note and left her tooth. I hope the TF will do better in the future...it's not fun seeing our little girl so sad.

My little tough guy

Nick was playing around with Bradley's hair tonight and created this awesome, tough mohawk. We all thought it was funny and cute on our tough boy. He's really so sweet and sensitive and his feelings/emotions are always right on the surface (good or bad). He reminds me of someone, but I can't put my finger on who. (haha!) Right now he's currently obsessed with Rachel's bike. He loves riding it and is really good at it. He just got on it one day and started riding...hardly any apprehension at all. I guess we know what to get him for his birthday! :) He's so naturally agile and athletic, just like Nick. (thank goodness!)

Yesterday, I hurt Bradley's sensitive little feelings...

Trenty's been sick all week with a fever, which lo and behold was actually strep. Unfortunately, I waited 3 days to take him to the dr., so the poor baby has been suffering all this time. Anyway, I put Trent down for a nap yesterday and told R & B what I was doing and NOT to go into the boy's room. I thought they both were listening, but apparently not. As soon as I left Trent in his crib, fussing a little, I walked into the laundry room to start a load of laundry. 2 seconds later, I hear footsteps in the hallway that end at the boy's room. And then I hear the door open. I looked over and sure enough, Bradley's opening the door to his room. I ran over, closed the door quickly and then start yelling at him: "what are you doing?" "get away from the door!!" "he's trying to sleep..." Yell, Yell, Yell!!! Bradley takes off crying for the den and sits in the chair, bawling his eyes out. I finish my load of laundry and take some deep breaths. Perhaps I did overreact a little bit. So, I go in to talk to Bradley, who has huge tears and a pitiful cry that makes your heart break. He's really pitiful when his feelings have been hurt. I hug him and talk to him, explaining that when Trent's going to take a nap, he CANNOT go into their room. Blah, blah, blah, this is all stuff he's heard a million times before. And, usually he's very good about not going into the room. But, for some reason, my instructions didn't register yesterday. Anyway, through his tears, Bradley says, "I'm just a little boy...I don't know better." It was absolutely pitiful, and hilarious and cute all at the same time. He was right, he IS just a little boy, who makes mistakes and doesn't always listen. He DOES know better, but he didn't mean to interrupt Trent's nap. And, I did overreact a little bit. But, hey, I'm human, I'm a mom, I'm tired sometimes and silly things do sometimes make me snap. Bradley and I hugged and talked and made up and felt better. It's hard to be tough all the time...for anyone.