All Pokemon, all the time

The boys have lately become super obsessed with the Pokemon. It's Pokemon in the morning, afternoon, night time and any other time when they aren't sleeping. They have been bugging and bugging and bugging us to take them to Target to get more and more and more. Finally, on the day after t he last day of school, I took them to make their big purchase. You would have thought they had just hit the lottery! Hopefully, these silly cards will only interst them for a little while, but their buddies are in on the action so who knows!

Behold! Ye mighty knights

Yesterday the boys used their last 'experience' ticket from their Christmas stockings to go to the Georgia Renaissance Festival. Seeing as they loved the Medival Times dinner show, I thought they would love this as well. Unfortunately for Nolan, he was not all that impressed. Upon entering the gates of the village, he saw loads of freaky people (mainly all tattooed up) and freaked out. He was absolutely crying his eyes out and immediately wanted to go home. Reed was enjoying himself and eventually, we got Nolan to find stuff he could get into. They have tons of shows and stages everywhere and we tried to hit as many as we could. Some were running around atop a spinning wheel, some were jumping in mud puddles with a comedic act, and others were juggling knives and fire. We got a big smile out of Nolan (finally) when we got on the Santa Maria boat swing. He definitely does not want to go back but Reed had a blast!

Second grade...done!

May 28, 2015 marks the day the boys legitimately finished their 2nd grade year at Arnold Mill Elementary school. They both received all 'O's (outstandings because apparently it's not 'fair to give numerical grades in this school...pfft) and are well on their way to third grade. Now, I can sit here all day and say, 'where has the time gone?' Or 'where are my babies?', but all I can really think is 'dear gawd, please let us get through these years relatively unscathed, and in as close to one piece as possible!!'  Time is definitely flying by but we are making the most of every day that we are given and teaching the boys to be the best -whatever-they can and want to be. 

When they got off the bus after school today, we had water balloons, water guns, ice cream sandwiches and other treats waiting for them, as well as a Goodloe ambush! (The Goodloe's finished school last week so they were excited to join our end of the year water fun!)

Awards and rewards

Today the boys had their awards ceremony and class picnic. If you ask me, it's just fun stuff to pass the time at school instead of doing work! (And the best part of the school year that I can remember!). Reed's class did a variety show beforehand. There were roller skaters, singers,dancers, and Reed and his crew doing an obstacle course. It was really cute as all the kids were really getting into it. Reed won several awards (mainly because Mrs. Havens THE most involved teacher we have come across to date), he won the award for 'going the longest mileage for morning miles'. Every morning she takes the kids outside to do laps around the playground and they keep track of how many they do. Reed did a total of 26 mikes over the course of the year! He also won 'furthest in math'. Usually, 2nd graders are doing multiplication tables and by the end of the year, the average kid is doing up to 6x. Reed had surpassed that and gotten up to division /3! Lastly, he won best joke teller. This kid loves to tell jokes and gets excited when 'this one makes sense!' Great job, Reed! We are so proud of all of your 2nd grade accomplishments!!

Nolan's teacher is as sweet as can be but she's had a lot of personal issues to deal with this year and unfortunately, I think the kids silently suffered. However, if you ask Nolan, he had a great 2nd grade year and is as happy as he ever was!  His teacher gave him the award for being the best 'right hand man' because he is always eager to help any way he can. Too true, buddy! We are so proud of the amazing second grader-rising 3rd grader you have become!

And then this happened after dinner...

 Two sopping wet boys playing basketball in the rain. And then I hosed them down with the garden hose. First outdoor shower of the summer...and they loved it!!

Naked dog and lake living

This past week, it was time for Polly to get her summer haircut! She was so happy to shed the weight of all that hair. 

Haha, she looks like a little bobble head!

Last night, the Goodloe's and VanGilders came with us to an outdoor movie in Roswell. We weren't quite all that prepared as to just how chilly the night was going to be and how much river effect the mist would have on us all. Thankfully, we had all seen the feature film (several times) so we left shortly after the movie started. We got to the park super early so the kids could play and they ran themselves ragged. (I thought I had a few pictures but it looks as if they were deleted. I'll keep looking!)

Today, the McIntyre's took us out on their first boat run of the summer. Oh how we looooooove the lake!  The boys got to go tubing, eat tons of food, and act crazy with Lorin's kids. I think they all had the best time. 

Off the grid

With the past few weeks being as busy as they have been, here's a recap of the last 22 McLure days...

Field day was a success at AMES

The picture above shows Reed's 'girlfriend', Ava. When I asked Reed how he knows she's his girlfriend, like, did you ask her? Tell her you liked her? Hold her hand? He said, 'No! I would never do that! Her friend told me.' And that's how it happens, apparently. 

Then, Rusty came to stay with us while the Tuttle's went out of town. The boys LoVE Russ and were very sad to see him go back home. 

 

Next, superheroes love to hang out together and save the day!

Nolan lost ANOtHER tooth! How many more does that kid have to lose!?!

While I was at the beach, 

Todd and Jammy/Grandy took the boys to a Silverbacks game. 

And lastly, twin teams are the best. 

With summer sneaking up on us, we'll have tons of more memorable times to share...I just hope I remember to document them!!

Weekend in a wink

These days as we work for the weekend, it seems that the weekends take longer to get here but fly by in a flash. Friday, Reed and Nolan had their buds over for a play date and Polly had a friend come stay with us for the day as well. This sweet pooch followed Polly and I home from a walk on Friday and the two got along as if they had known each other all along. (The boys named the dog 'Bobby'and he was as sweet as can be). They were all bummed when Bobby got out of our gate and 'hopefully' found his way home. 

I sat in my hammock and watched them play wall ball and gotcha for the afternoon. Too bad I was too comfortable and lazy to get up and serve myself a nice afternoon cocktail! That would have really rounded out a nice evening. 

Saturday was the boys last soccer game of the season. They won and their coach handed out medals as the end of the game. Until next season!!

Saturday afternoon, Dawn and Lorin and I went for our yearly Mother's Day pedicures and mimosas. It's been a time honored tradition for the past 3 years, and a dang good one at that!

Saturday evening we went to our friends, the Martin's house, for a cookout and to celebrate Ryan's first Communion. There were about 12 kids there all between the ages of 7-16 and they all played and played and played until we drug them away to go home to bed. They would have played a ton more if we didn't make them stop. They were tired and filthy at the end of the night. 

Lastly, Mother's Day was a huge success. The boys brought me flowers and coffe in bed and then helped make me breakfast. Then, Larry and Jemmay over to hang out for the day while I played tennis. Lastly, to cap off the weekend, we went to Dawn's house for family dinner. Again, the kids were running around nuts all evening and the boys were once again, filthy and sweaty. I wouldn't have had Mother's Day any other way!