Backyard Pool

Legacy Community Center is across the lake from our house. We view it from most windows in our house. It's a huge reason we moved to our neighborhood, because of the pool, fitness classes, etc, however we haven't been as often as we intended, but tonight we decided to get over there.
Paxton developed an interesting fear of Lifeguards. Why? We are not exactly sure, but it made going to pools with lifeguards difficult because Pax wouldn't swim and he spent many birthday parties watching his friends swim :(. The fear of lifeguards is no more! I asked Paxton why the fear of lifeguards disappeared and he answered "because life changes mom!" He's so right about that!
So tonight we ventured to the indoor pool as a family. We haven't been doing many family activities and we are needing it. We always feel more connected and tonight hit the jackpot. We had fun.
Bennett ventured out in the water past his knees, which is big for him! He spent most of his time playing catch in the water with Bob or I or watching the bucket dump over water, he found that to be hilarious every time.
Paxton's swimming skills are really
improving, he's latest tricks are going to the bottom of the pool, and double summersaults underwater. Today, first of the time, he could touch the bottom of the "big pool!"
Bob and I hoe to spend time with both boys teaching them good swim skills.
The boys loved the pool and we will be back soon!

Holy Trains Batman!

Bennett is a lover of trains. He loves his "magnetic trains," watching real trains, riding trains, and reading about trains. When he's not sleeping in the bottom bunk with Paxton then he's cozied up in his own bed under a train comforter. The other night the boys found every train in the house to "make a really long train!"
These moments are my favorite because it's everyday life. It's also documenting how P and B play together.

*In the second picture I love how Bennett is looking at Paxton. The boys said they are holding their arms up like they are pulling on a train whistle.







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Monkey Bars!!!

The swing set was caught by some gusts of wind and snapped and blew over a few times leaving the swing set in bad shape. Bob spent President's Day weekend repairing it. Right after the swing set was repaired, Paxton went across the money bars by himself. He was so "proud of himself because he's only 4!"



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Pictures of life I love

CHEF!!!

These boys love to cook.
Paxton asked to make vegetable soup the other night which included only green vegetables (celery, broccoli, asparagus). He cut all the veggies while Bennett put the veggies in the bowl. Pax ate the soup and Bennett didn't want to try it! Just yesterday Paxton was teaching Bennett to use his knives. They used celery to practice cutting. The boys really do love to cook! Below are pictures of our Chefs!!












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Pax and Papa

Paxton and Papa watching the Super Bowl together.



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The Bixler's are our Neighbors

The Bixler's move into our neighborhood just down the street and the kids are instant buddies playing together often after school and on the weekends.




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The Bixler's, our NEIGHBORS

The Bixler's move into our neighborhood a few doors down and Paxton and Lincoln are instant buds, playing together almost everyday!

Monster Jam

We took the boys to Sprint Center to see Monster Jam 2016.  We purchased seats on the 2nd level two rows back from the front hoping we would be able to see everything and our seats didn't disappoint.  The boys put in their ear plugs and didn't miss a beat of the show.  Bennett was especially animated and didn't take his eyes of the show the entire time.

Ever since Monster Jam the boys have hosted their own Monster Jam in our living room.  They use cooking sheets leaned up against the gray poof and piles of blankets for ramps.  They get small cars and attempt to crush them.  Bob and I sit in our "seats" and watch the Monster Jam show with Monster Trucks they have named Zombie, Crustacean, Monster Mutt and Grave Digger.  If you asked Bennett his favorite monster truck he would answer Grave Digger!!  Bennett carries a monster truck with him wherever he goes!  It's definitely the new thing in our house and it's quite entertaining!!

May

May was a crazy GOOD month for us! On May 7th we closed on our new house and said goodbye to 1341 SE Dalton Drive. It was bittersweet to leave a house Paxton and Bennett spent the first years of their lives and a place where we have many memories! The weeks leading up to the move were super stressful and busy making final decision on the house and repairs to the ceilings in our old house. But we made it, barely, and moving to a brand new house is a good problem to have!

May also included a natural disaster training for Bob in Emmetsburg, MD at the Internation Fire Academy. He spent 12 days at his training and spent time traveling around Baltimore and D.C. 

Summer started the day before Bob returned from his training and it is a slice of heaven. Uninterrupted time with the boys, Bob, family and friends is what makes me the most fulfilled. There is no rushing, no schedules and time to play!

Bennett also turned 2 in May! We celebrated his love for trains! I am going to do another post about B's birthday and who he is at 2!

Easter

Easter for us this year means dying eggs (mostly blue for P) and died hands too. Bennett screamed with joy over Easter egg dying it's his thing. Easter Egg Hunt at church and monthly mission for our family, making door hangers for hospital patients. Neighborhood Easter egg hunt, church (Happy Resirection Day) brunch with Mom and Don's side of the family, slide for B (huge hit!) and new scooter for P. All in one weekend. Boom!;)

Girrrls Night

I A great night out for 2 charity events school supplies for needy kids and autism. The company was just as good.

Today, it's about right now.

I'm super behind on blogging. I am going to accept that I missed a few months of blogging and start fresh today. 

Today was one of those great days. A day when Paxton walked miles at the zoo to find a train station without complaining, Paxton voluntarily put B's shoes on him while teaching him how, Bennett went on the train at the zoo bravely (he digs trains from a distance but riding them is a different story) and he clung to me the entire time-the kind of snuggles that I dream of and on our "framily walk," as P would say, the boys picked 30 dandelions for me and handed them to me with real, genuine love. It was one of those days that parenthood goes the way you plan and hope. I'm so grateful for these days, it's my "fravorite!" 

Pictures below are of the zoo and then a picnic in Paxton's room in the new house.