This is the way we wash the kids

Oh my...did they take a ride down the laundry shoot?!?

House guests and birthdays

Happy Memorial Day! Big thanks to all the men and women that allow me and my family to live freely. 

Bob and Mika came to have a sleep over this weekend and brought baby Jackson to boot! He's so cute and the boys had so much fun singing to him and making funny faces to get him to smile. 

Today is Dawn's bday (woohoo big 4-2) so we gathered at her pool to have lunch and swim. Nana so graciously and without being asked (wink, wink) got her friend Chris to make Dawn's favorite cake. Happy bday, big sis!!

Then, I took the boys to meet Jammy and Grandy at the mall of Georgia so they could go to Athens for 2 whole sleepovers! Life is good :0)

1st T-ball, then real B-ball

Yesterday was the boys' first T-ball game and, wow, we're they excited! Of course, it wouldn't have been a true McVenture if I had remembered the snacks I had promised...or their balls they were supposed to bring...or even their gloves for that matter!! We got about 3 miles away from the house and Reed says, "hey, what about our gloves?!?"  Thanks for keeping us in check, buddy!

I'd like to introduce, The Hulk-a-maniacs! We are the green team and the boys couldn't be happier with the team color. (I think it was their favorite part!). This is a YMCA league and they play 3 innings where everyone bats and then rotates. They can get people out at a base if they get the ball there in time, however, Reed was not a fan of getting 'out'. He started with the alligator tears, so we (I) let him stay on the base. Tough love will come later! The best part was the base running. We had quite a few batters that would pass the runners on base in front of them. Reed was the only one, I think, that did it all 3 times he batted!  It was quite a sight to behold.

Later that day (after tennis and the pool) we went to Milton High school (more like university that place is so monstrous) to watch the Milton eagles take on Roswell hornets in the state championships for baseball. It was soooooo crowded but somehow we scored great seats next to the fence. Roswell won the first game and Milton won the 2nd game so a third tie breaking game will be played on Monday. I saw a bunch of old coaches at the game that were there when I was in school. I'm pretty sure they have retired for the most part. 

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Let the pool times roll

Just a little sign that summer has officially started! Happy hour by the pool; gotta soak it all up while we can. Here's to a happy, fun, sunburn-free summer. Let the good times roll!

Watch out 1st grade

There will be two crazy first graders coming down the pipeline of the 2013-2014 school year! I could sit here and bore you with the proverbial, "time flies" or "they're getting so big" or "where did my babies go". That's what a nice, normal, coddling mom would say on Facebook...but me, you ask?!? I say "one down and 12 to go! Fly little birdies, FLY!!!" 

No braves, so a-bowling we will go

We bought tickets to go to the Gwinette Braves game today. Apparently, you can buy lawn tickets and sit in the grass on blankets and such. Perfect for a couple of antsy little boys! Alas, the rain has taken the wind from our sails so we had to find a suitable indoor activity. The Tuttle's are some seasoned bowlers and showed us the proper Brunswick Lanes etiquette. Bowl on, kiddos!

Strawberry Fun

With strawberry season in full swing, we headed up to Calhoun, Ga for a strawberry festival in the sticks. From jump houses to bean bag toss, BBq to deep fried Oreos (no, they did not indulge in that redneck dessert), we picked 2 big buckets of the glossy, red, sweet delicacies and then mingled with the kinfolk. 

Kindergarten Graduation Part Deux

Today was Nolan's turn to take the leap from Kindergarten to First Grade. They did a special performance wearing sunglasses and singing songs to the tune of "who let the dogs out" except they replaced the words with "who let the A out, Ah, ah, ah, ah" and on and on. Then, awards were given out and their sweet teacher gave everyone their own special award.  Nolan was awarded with the 'cooperation' award which means that he gets along with everyone in the class and is polite. He then was the only boy student in his class to get the PE award! This one didn't surprise us at all. Way to go, buddy!  He then got to fill himself to the brim with doughnuts, muffins, cookie cake, juice box, and nerds. (And they wonder why childhood obesity exists in this country!)  After all of the festivities, he got to check out of school early with me, only to run some errands and go to lunch with our buddy, Lorin. Watch out first grade...there's 2 more sheriffs in town!

Kindergarten Graduation Part One

The boys had their first ever field day today and got to participate in all sorts of activities. We came for the last half hour to watch them run a relay race and bean bag toss. Reed's 4x100 team came in first! 

After field "hour", Reed's class had their awards ceremony and graduation. Ms. Drennan is his main teacher and Mrs. Eisenhower and Mrs. Durman are the assistants and we couldn't have chosen a better team for this crazy group of kids. They gave 'star' awards to all the kids and then had a few categories where just a few kids were chosen. Reed was the only boy recipient of the Art award, for the entire year! Holy Picasso! 

Then, they all celebrate with snacks and cupcakes while the room mom presented the teachers with a money tree with all the kids photos tied on. It was so cute!

Lastly, Reed talked me in to checking him out for the day to have some special time together. Too bad he had to tag along on some boring errands and then yardwork! Ha! That'll teach him!! 

One more down!

Reed has had the most wiggly tooth in his head for the past several days. I thought for sure when I got back from Omaha, it would have been gone, but it was still hanging by a string. That is, until today at school. Bye-bye front tooth!

Omaha

Yesterday, we laid to rest the monarch of the Omaha Schimenti family. She was a genuine spirit, mother, grandmother, etc. It was a hard pill to swallow but it brought together the most amazing family on the face of the earth. 

Muffins for Moms

Monday, the boys school had a 'muffins for moms' in the morning. Reed was home sick from school that day so it was just Nolan and me. He was so excited that I came to hang out with him, and after a cookie, muffin, and doughnut hole, he still asked for more! I swear, this kid has quite the growing appetite these days. 

Together again

Sunday started off cloudy and ended up sad. Omaha got a little smaller that day when my sweet grandmother passed away in the night. Details of her passing are still unknown (to me) but I'm hoping she saw her Prince Charming who has been waiting for the past 2 1/2 years and now they're back together again. She'll be sorely missed by all 11 kids, 11 daughter and sons in laws, 21 grandkids and 18 great grandkids. We love you Nonnie, and we'll think of you often!

Crazy birthday weekend

This weekend was rainy, wet, gloomy and looking like it would have been a weekend that we were trapped inside due to weather. Thank goodness for birthday parties and the parents that planned them to be indoors!! Not only did the boys go to PLAY for Charlie's party, they also got to go to Sky Zone for a school chum's bday. This place is full of trampolines and the boys jumped, jumped, jumped until they couldn't jump no more! (Or until it was time for cake!). Then, they went to a neighbor's bday party in the 'hood to search for buried treasure, put on tattoos, and eat more cake. Lastly, it was time to go to family dinner where we celebrated Wil's 9th bday with nana's amazing spaghetti, loads of cousins, and yes, more cake. (It's no wonder reed had to stay home sick from school today and spent most of his day on the loo!). When it rains, it pours!!