Stingrays hockey excitement

When you go to a Stingray's hockey game with your best friend and his Dad.... then add catching and winning a t-shirt, you have one HAPPY guy!

On my way back to the office....

And I suddenly got distracted....

Hmmmm... best distraction and reason for a shortened day...

This picture looks like it would be the normal "let's take a picture" photo....

In reality.... this is much more common below! Usually you have to take about 40 pictures to get one good one like above. Most look like this below... me trying to get them together, on my lap and then an attempt to get them to look at the camera and smile....

I was so happy to join them in the fun on a random work day. There are some things that work can wait for.... this would have been one of them!

Twin LOVE

Each day I am more and more amazed at the bond these two continue to develop!

Before going to bed last night, I went in to check on them.... they were so happy to be right next to each other. Tyler was hugging Thomas and had his head right in his hair. Every time I think maybe they are getting too big to fit in the crib together, I am proved wrong. There is plenty of snuggling room and that is how they like it!

The COK-SM art walk...

Juliette and I had a very special Mommy-Daughter evening. The two of us headed to the school's annual art walk. For $2 you can purchase your child's special art work as a fundraiser for the school. I love when a school finds something like this that draws everyone out. 

Before we headed to the school Juliette was insistent on bringing our little digital camera. She "needed" to take pictures of everyone's art work. It was so cute because she likes to walk around with something that may look like a phone. She knows that is a very long way off but it is cute to see her with it in her hand.

So here is the photographer in the hallway of her classroom taking of a picture of her artwork. Hers is Buckwheat on the bottom in the pink. I sure think that was worth $2 😍

How about the beautiful pot of flowers Juliette created as well for sale? This will be perfect to brighten up my office desk.

And then here is Trippy's art work! He painted a stone and named him "Blue Tiger." He was SO very proud of his friendly tiger made out of a rock. I treasure all of these gifts from these young sweet children. These are more precious than silver or gold. 

Juliette was more excited than anything to show me her name on the wall outside for being a "Math Master!" They are having weekly time tests on multiplication facts. Students must be able to complete 100 facts in 5 minutes.... she was ready to go and boy did she rock it!

I was so proud of her!

And when there are the occasional days that all parents go through when you wonder if anything you are doing is right.... in the hallway after reading this I knew that something I am doing is right...

Meet Primrose

We have a new member of the extended family! Tessa got a puppy in which she, Juliette, Tripp and I all went to Florence to pick her up. It was such a special day! The kids could not be more excited.

Prim is 10 weeks old and was so excited to meet her new family! Juliette loves to tell everyone that she is half Juliette's dog and half Tessa's dog. Okay, we'll go with it 😉

The night before as you can see the children were SO excited! Juliette insisted on bringing Prim's "Igloo" home for the evening. When I came to check on them this is what I found....  all of her animals packed into the Igloo...





Her owner was just lovely and you could tell how much she LOVED these two puppies in the litter. There were only two so yes, they were VERY special to her.

Juliette stayed at Tessa's house because... "Mommy, Tessa definitely needs my help!..."

She claims to be an expert in almost all things so we will just add "dog whisperer" to her resume. However after seeing Prim all snug in her bed that evening, she does look to be SO happy and relaxed!

We all look forward to years of enjoyment with her!

They promise that they are HUGE helpers

These little guys are SO cute and they just keep getting cuter! My little scholar is all ready for school below! He loves to wear his book bag around the house and say, "Mommy school." 

He likes to transport some luggage to school with him as well as the book bag... These are his chosen items.

Thomas likes to join the fun as well with his book bag!

Thomas loves to say, "Bye-bye Mommy!" as he pretends to take off to school.

 

And Lord love that sweet dog. No wonder Gypsy has nervous tendencies. The little people can't seem to "help" them enough! Poor Gypsy cannot ever drink her water or eat her food in peace. 

The new thing Thomas and Tyler love is to bring them their water and food bowls. Tyler likes to take it a step further and "help" her eat! I know for a fact that she does not consider it "helping" but never the less she is always good natured and a sweet sport.

Tyler looked at me and said, "Look Mama help!"

It is so cute because they are both becoming so vocal. Thomas is the bigger talker and says more words. He is also the baby that speaks more Spanish words. Tyler likes to say his English words but understand ALL of Adi and Labinia's Spanish.

Tyler is QUICK! He is quiet and that makes him even trickier! He can now unlock the deadbolts on the doors and we had to change the baby handles on the regular doors as he figured those out as well. He is fiercely independent which you see means that you cannot take your eyes off of this little guy!

And then there is Thomas, still the more demanding and needy twin. He prefers to stay close and doesn't want you out of his site.... 

They are both so amazing to watch develop and interact more and more each day!