*note: the pictures look grainy for some reason - will figure this out, sorry.
Jacob turned 8! He had a sleep over party but since the weather wasn't cooperative, we moved it to the living room ( see below). His first sleep over party was a huge success, complete with junk food, party games, and many good friends. And of course, the homemade cake that mommy slaved over for hours. NOT!! Thank you Harris Teeter. Happy birthday my sweet boy. You have been keeping us jumping for eight years now and we're ready for another eight. But please remember that we're only getting older too so be nice.
Oh, and dad had a birthday in May too - the big 40. As is his custom, he took this birthday with all the grace and calm of a man too old to get worked up about such things anymore. We celebrated him with an apple tree which he and Gavin planted in the backyard. Since this time, some sort of critter has eaten the two little apples that were beginning to grow but dad is very pleased with his apple tree and it's promise of apples to come. Gavin was especially excited to help his dad plant, always our helper boy.
Grandpa came to visit for Jacob's birthday! We loved having grandpa here to help us celebrate and...
put up a new unit for our garage door! It now opens and we are very, very appreciative.
Second grade came to a close. Here's Jacob coming off his bus on the last day of school. His first year riding the bus was a RAGING success. This boy loves to ride the school bus and I loved our little ritual of walking up to meet him and talking about his day as we walked back. "How was your day?" " Did you like your lunch?" " What did you and so and so do during recess?" The best part about it is that you were usually so busy talking that you never noticed I had grabbed hold of your hand half way down. So happily I would listen, holding your hand until we reached the house and you darted off to throw down your book bag and play the afternoon away.
Brad and Jacob spent the week together at Cub Scout Summer Camp. Brad taught archery and over the course of the week, Jacob got pretty good. Now, this sport makes me very, very nervous but I try to remember that I'm a nervous Nelly and that these sorts of things are "fun". But frankly all I could keep thinking about was the 1,001 ways it could all go wrong. Very, very wrong. It didn't and our big boy had a super time at camp. I can't remember what Gavin and I did during this time but I'm almost positive it involved lots of arts and crafts and a trip or two to the ice cream shop to make our time "special" as he likes to say. After all, those left behind must make their own fun and nothing is more fun than ice cream.
We made two visits to Uncle Coli's and Aunt Sharon's house in Charlotte. Uncle Coli is loved, loved, loved by you both. To date, your favorite thing to do at their house is to run and jump on the air matress while he pushes you down into fits of hysterical, bordering on psychotic laughter. Our second visit was my personal favorite because we got to meet your new cousin, baby Sam. Jacob and Gavin ( I know, I keep changing from addressing the kids directly to referring to them by their names. But since this is my blog, I can do whatever I want) were happy to visit their little cousin and at the same time a bit ambivilent as to what the future would hold for their relationship with their favorite uncle. During a visit to Papa and Nana's, Jacob shared with Nana that he was certain that Uncle Coli would forget all about him now that he has his own boy. Tear a hole in my soul why don't you boy. But sleep deprived and delirious Uncle Coli pulled it out and spent much of our visit coloring and playing Legos with the kids. Way to go Uncle Coli, you rock out loud!
You can see Aunt Sharon's belly poking out in the corner of this picture. We had no idea then that baby Sam would be so perfect and yummy. I can't wait for him to grow a bit bigger and join his cousins in the matress game. And ice cream eating.....
A wet and weary but happy Jacob. Leaves and other nature type goodies have been collected by the bag fulls by the brothers. Our garage is a compost heap.
And Gavin's summer? Practically a mirror image of Jacob's. Little man would NEVER admit to this but he loves and copies ( much to Jacob's displeasure) everything his older brother does. When Jacob draws, he draws. When Jacob plays Legos, Gavin is right behind him, usually left to forage for the discarded pieces. At the beginning of the summer, Jacob's little minion really irked him, following him to friends houses and copying his drawings. But now, he's quite at home having Gavin attached at the hip, even though he abuses this powerful position more than we'd like ( and OMG he drives us crazy with it!). Gavin is like a four year old caught in an eight year old's life. And he wouldn't have it any other way. So, preschool starts back up next week for Gav and he's really looking forward to it. We just hope that he can remember how to play with other four year olds.
The summer has been a pretty old fashioned one full of trips to the pool, playing outside with neighborhood kids, drawing, playing with Legos, and lots and lots of brain crushing squabbling. Here's a moment of peaceful arts and crafting. Ahhhh, so lovely. And then SOMEONE took SOMEONE'S colored blue salt and all hell broke loose.
Here's a picture of the family being forced to smile during a Japanese style dinner one night. Another of my "Ooo, wouldn't THIS be fun!" ideas for our summer. Jacob was the most vocal: "Why can't we just eat at the table like everyone else?", but the others were mostly on board. We ended up having fun and even made it to British food night ( fish and chips, quite nice!) and I planned and bought for a Russian meal but never got around to making it. Cabbage intimidates me.
The drawing was out of control this summer. The kids probably did this more than any single activity which suited me just fine. They consulted with each other, shared stories about their pictures, and even took to drawing in the car. I can't say enough good things about the goodness of markers and paper; they saved the day, every day.
Above, Gavin drew pictures for my parents. The one at the top depicts them ( dad has silver hari says Gav) at their house with a couple of bikes in the garage. The one below it is also dad with two of their dogs and his computer ( on his face).
Ten-legged dog by Gav above and below is a Jacob creation with castle and bad guys and good guys jumping from parachutes and, and and, .....
This summer we acquired an eclectic guitar and a keyboard. So far, it's been REALLY LOUD. Jacob likes to pose with both items and make noise. Gav might well be our more serious musician and has been asking for guitar lessons. How do tiny, tiny hands fit onto a guitar, even a kids size one? My hope is that a friend of Gav's who is quite musically gifted with the piano will show him a few things and he'll get interested in that. I mean really, isn't piano so much easier? I don't think my plan will work.
We spent some time at the Eno River this summer getting very wet. Gavin discovered a special rock in the water he especially liked to sit on and Jacob tried REALLY, REALLY hard to catch a fish.
The Dinasour trail opened at The Museum of Life and Science this summer and we were first among their many eager visitors.
Many nights the boys would get ready for bed ( after the numerous threats and fights) and hang out in their room together doing "stuff". Stuff might include drawing, playing with action figures and the castle, looking at collection cards.... But inevitably, it ended with some sort of crazy squabble and some super tired and fried parents ordering children to bed. But, they always had fun while it lasted :)
The beach. We would go visit Papa and Nana and take a day to go to the beach. We found this cool spot in Atlantic beach which we loved and the kids would have fun collecting shells mostly and digging in the sand. Jacob loves to be in the water but Gav, being a bit more reserved, hangs by the edge watching his brother. During our beach excursions, Brad would have to hang back and work and we missed him. I'm hoping we can get one more trip in with the whole family before the weather turns.
Sweet baby Sam. We have a new cousin and he's the most adorable baby in the world, just ask his parents! We went for a visit to see him not long ago and the kids were mildly interested. After all, they had their awesome Uncle Coli there and everyone else is chicken liver in his presence. But I could have eaten that baby whole and still might. I am feeling so grateful to have him as part of our family and woo-hoo ... another boy to come and play with us!! Welcome to the family Sam. We love you already.
Jacob on the way to visit Sam for the first time. Interpret as you will.
We went to Papa and Nana's house in Kinston several times this summer. Papa's latest project is making his grass grow in spots where it doesn't want to anymore so the kids helped to transplant chunks of grass from the yard to bare spots. A tedious process but one Gavin was especially pleased to take part in. He's a good helper that boy.
I wish I could turn this picture properly but for some reason it won't. Our beloved old kitty, Lucy, passed away this summer. The kids were prepared as she was ill for some time but still, it's always hard when the time comes. They helped to dig her grave and find rocks to form an "L". We buried her next to her feline friend, Oliver, who has an "O" over his grave now. Jacob said that if we had two more cats who's names began with a "V" and an "E", ( and they died presumably), we could spell LOVE. Sometimes that boy is my heart. I'm really glad they could take part in saying goddbye to Lulu. She was a really sweet cat, one of our favorites. She also did a fine job as president of book club, right Brad?
Gav with the man he loves most in this world.
Tar Heel weiner.
I got bored this past week and painted our stairs red. I'm willing to bet they will be the one thing the kids remember about our little house when they are old and gray. " Remember those crazy #*!* red stairs we had in that house? What was wrong with her anyway?"
Brad put up a tree swing and that was usually where you could find the boys at any given time this summer.
Fish. We got fish. Why, you ask, when we already have too many alive things in the house wanting food and attention? Fish hardly eat anything and they don't care about you. I like the fish.
So, lots more went on this summer but I'm WAY too lazy and tired to think anymore about them. What was not pictured is the crazy day after day of just the three of us at home ALL SUMMER; the negotiating, bickering, time outs, and endless, endless preparation of snacks and meals. And did I mention the insanely frustrating application of sunblock day after sunny day? No. And that's because I'd like to try and forget those moments ( and there were aplenty) when we all got a little meaner and nuttier than we should have ( fine, mostly me). I think we did a spectacular job of being together all of the time for nearly three months and I will actually miss it... I think. Gavin starts his last year of preschool this week and Jacob begins third grade the following week. I'm going to miss our togetherness but in the words of Martha, it's a good thing.
No comments:
Post a Comment