November Daze

We've had an insanely busy month this November. I've been working hard to organize the Winter Parade for Will's elementary school. I remember the Halloween Parade at Hazelwood Elementary in Ohio. Each class paraded around the school grounds, dressed in their Halloween costumes. Not at Will's school. We're talking full-blown, parade-permitting, beauty-queen-waving, characters-from-area-sports-team-getting, marching-band including, full-out float parade. I'm excited about Thanksgiving just to get a break from it all.

This weekend, however, we took a bit of a break prematurely. And it was fun. On Saturday, our wonderful friend, Kim, took family pictures of us at the Ann Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, a place we love to go to to picnic and play. We had a great time. Here are a few photos from the Greenway plus a few others.

Here we are in front of one of the log cabins at the Greenway.


And here, I've noticed that Will has some yuck in his nose. Yes I'm picking my son's nose. And yes, Kim decided this would be a good shot. (Thank you, Kim! I actually like this picture a lot!)


Nick has decided that Steve should no longer speak. This is what he does when he decides this. The direct approach. I'm not knocking it. Maybe I should try this myself next time Steve bugs me.


Fun in the leaves.


Another contender for the distinguished title of "Christmas Card Photo."


Here are a couple of photos of the boys goofing off in front of the house.

Nick just learned to ride his bike without training wheels. He just needs to learn to use the brakes. I guess four-year-olds are like that, moving ahead heedless of the need to stop!


Here's Will, showing off on his scooter.


And, no, no helmets in either picture. I'm sorry. Judge me if you must. I'm not a stickler when it comes to the scooter and/or they are riding in the driveway.

Will we ever stop raking? We've had a lot of fun in the leaves, though. Some of you probably know that Nick had outpatient surgery to repair the umbilical hernia he has had since birth. You'll notice the state of his navel one month post-surgery.


Night, night, Nick!


We've been on a picture-taking frenzy, so I'll try to get back to blogging soon. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Will's and Nick's First Piano Recital

Will Turns 7!

It's time to celebrate Will. Thank you in advance for taking a minute to share some special memories with me. Here's my sweet baby, just a few days old.


And at 4 weeks.


And at about three months. This was his first time in the Exersaucer and he was propped up with about four blankets!


Will was close to eight months old. How I love a naked baby picture!


He took his first bike ride with us at about eight months old. The helmet would barely stay in place on his head. Usually, we put a ball cap underneath to keep the helmet from slipping down over his eyes.


At Myrtle Beach when he was about 11 months old. Gram and Grand-Daddy were helping him walk.


This is one of my all-time favorites, from the same beach trip.


He wasn't too sure about his cake at his first birthday party. Later, he screamed until we took it away!


Laughing on a fire engine, right before he turned two.


And really, who DOESN'T cook naked?


Blissed out with cat love! Will and Sun Sun have always been friends.


Three-year-old cowboy pirates must carry a glow-in-the-dark circus sword. Everyone knows that!


Petting a cow at four.


Turning 5. Will's army party was the best ever!


With Jack. Jack and Will have been friends since birth. How we all love Jack.


On his first day of kindergarten: camo shorts, light up shoes, buzz cut. His fashion choices embarrass him now! I still think he looked precious, but I guess that's my job, as his doting mother, to admire him at every phase of life.


Will has decided that he no longer enjoys having his picture taken. So from the time he turned six, I have a lot of pictures that look like this:


And this:


I've learned to employ the art of compromise to capture whatever I can with my camera. We were both happy this day-I got to practice taking action shots. He got to jump off of a boulder!


And a sure way to get a smile is to take a picture of him with a friend he loves. Here he is with Luke.


It doesn't matter what face he chooses to make into the camera. All I see is my Will-wonderful, insightful-beyond-his-years Will. I feel lucky to know this kid, let alone be his mom. Happy Birthday, Godfrey. I love you.

Rock-n-Roll Day

The boys were having some fun this morning, playing one of their favorite games, Rock Band. Not a game for Wii or Nintendo DS, this is a game that includes getting dressed up, listening to music and playing along on the instruments you'll find in various corners of our house. Today, the boys were dressing up with a Slash-from-G-N-R theme, thus the preoccupation with nose rings!

Rock on, Nick!


Why the blanket, you might ask? Will decided this was the best way to recreate Slash's curly hair, in lieu of a mop. No matter that the blanket is made of worn, white flannel. Imagination is grand thing!


Perfecting their sneers.


And on a sweeter note, they both started piano lessons today with their lovely teacher Ms. Elizabeth. Nick said his lesson was "awesome!" They both did great!

NIck Turns Four!

I thought I'd take you down memory lane with some pictures from the past four years-the years Nick has been with us.

Newborn Nick sleeping on Steve's chest.


Will and Nick share a newborn bonding moment. This might be their first "kiss" picture. I've since made them take a zillion more. Will is beginning to refuse to do them! He should have put his foot down two years ago. You'll see why later in this post!


Nick at three months.


And at about six months.


And right around 8 months.


His first Easter.


Playing on the slip-n-slide just before his first birthday. He loved to drink the water as it squirted up!


Getting one of his first haircuts from our friend, My.


Sampling cake on his first birthday.


Nick at two, Uptown Charlotte.


Here is a sequence that shows Nick's true mischievous personality and the reason Will should have called a halt to "kiss" pictures years ago! They were supposed to be giving each other a kiss when Nick decided to slip Will some tongue.


Look at Nick's expression. He's starting to crack up!


And he's completely without remorse for completely grossing his big brother out.


The joy of running through the sprinkler when you're barely two.


Here is one of my favorites of Nick at three. This was taken just a couple months ago. Note the mischief in the turn of this lip. He always has a plan!


And in his hand, you'll see a piece of one of his blankies. We had to downsize because I was getting tired of getting hit with blankets. The week of downsizing was a hard one for us both.


Here he is being brave at the dentist...his first visit at three years old.


And pictures I took today, on the eve of his fourth birthday. A precious pout.


And a dirty hand. The best kind when you're four.


Nick learned to swim this summer. Here he is, just this afternoon, being the crazy monkey he has always been.




Nick went to bed this evening crying because he wants to stay three forever. And little boy, I wish you could, too. Oh, how I wish you could stay three forever. Happy birthday sweet Nick-a-Moo. I love you.