More Charlotte

Elsa and Jan, FYI, if you want any of these pictures just click on them and when they come up, right click and save as in your picture file. ;)

Visit to Charlotte

We went up to Charlotte to visit with some of our closest friends. Elsa and Ryan, with their little girl Macy, and Derek and January, with their daughters Lauren and Emily. We had a good time and the kids had a blast playing. Macy says on guard!! And Lauren made the cupcakes ALL by herself, you can see that the kids enjoyed them!!!

REDNECK CAMPING

So, when you can't get time to go camping for a whole weekend what do you do down south? Why you put the tent right in your front yard! YEEHAW! The boys love it though. In fact if one our cars breaks down we may just set it up and use it as a toy! It's all about making it fun for the kids right??? Ha ha!

Soccer

Ben is doing really well in soccer and picking the game up quickly. He is a true defenseman, wonder where he gets that from?? Sam is adjusting to life at the soccer field. He gets out there on breaks and after the games. They have started letting him practice with the team, he thinks he is soo cool when the scrimmage.

Ben's birthday

We had a great day of playing golf and other games with cousins and friends. It was at Mimi's so they had plenty of room to wear themselves out. These are Ben's favorite friends besides his cousins, of course. This is Abby and Jacob. Abby is as tough as these boys which is why she and Ben get along so well together.
This is Sam's buddy Micah. These two can get into some trouble together. This is their second year of school together and they rule the roost in their classroom.

OLYMPICS 2020

We are sooooooo going to the Olympics in 2020. The only thing we need is for them to induct the sport of Backyard Trampoline Ghetto Hockey.
I'm not even kidding. To say that the boys are obsessed with hockey is such an understatement that it's not even funny. So, the way you play this game is get your bike helmet on (this would be your hockey helmet), grab your hockey stick (we have one, so Sam usually plays with a bat--oh and for indoor hockey, a backscratcher), get a puck (we try to discourage the real puck so they play with a chuck-a-puck or a ball, sometimes even a golf ball). Then before you play, you must grab the hose and completely soak the trampoline. Explanation: It has to be slippery like the ice. All I can say is thank goodness we have a trampoline with a net, which by the way means there is an endless opportunity for scoring. And before it all goes down? Sam: "Let's, play, HOCKEY!!" After every goal is scored you must go through the whole song that is played at the Columbus Cottonmouths hockey game....duh da nah nuh, HEY! da nuh na nuh, etc., Go Snakes, Go Snakes, Go Snakes, GO!

Can you feel me people? It's a hoot!

Catch up!

Hi everyone!! I've been sooooo lame at this lately and I truly apologize. I was looking at my sister's blog today and thought how great it was to catch up with her without even talking to her soooo......I decided that I could probably do that too! It's not all about pictures, right? There are so many great things that happen in our life that don't get captured on film. So I will do better and if I don't have a photo I will at least put it into words. So, I will do a quick run down now!


SAM
Sam is our creative child. He tells me something new and interesting every day and I wonder where his make-believe friends are hiding. I'm sure they will come out one day. He does not see things one-dimensional. An object is always three more things than it actually is. For instance, Kraft cheese is also sponge-bob, and my legs when laid back on the couch are a train track, but whenever he tells us these things, it's always, (get your deep voice ready) "mom, it's kinda like a ______". I will forever remember those words even if I can't remember the specifics, and love the fact that my child sees more to things than only what they really are. For instance, I picked him up from school the other day and he told me that he and Micah(BFF) climbed a rocket ship and went into outer space. I'm thinking how cool!! So the next day I asked him if he went again and he looked at me like I was crazy and said no! Like I was supposed to know that those things only happen on Tuesday???? Another funny was me waking up the other morning with Sam at my bedside, because my sweet, wonderful husband gave me a "sleep-in" until 8:30 (people, that is LATE) with his Woody cowboy hat, his Superman cape, underwear only and a wooden back scratcher telling me he was the witch in the Wizard of OZ. Nothing about him said Wicked witch of the West OR the Good witch of the East, but if he can come up with it, then I say go for it!!! Do you see what I mean?? Sam is on his on island but still the cuddliest guy that will NEVER speak to you unless you have been in his immediate world in the previous 24 hours. Shy??? Full of himself?? Defiant?? Rude??? WE HAVE NO IDEA!!! He just doesn't like to speak to people that aren't in his immediate circle. Even if MIMI comes back after a week he will shun her as well! Needless to say, I will not be leaving him for a while, for I don't want to be dissed.

Sooo...who does Sam look like??? Me, I say "titi", Mick's sister, Carrie Ann, is a dead ringer, BUT at the same time, pictures of my aunt Beth as a baby are so eerie because you think it is Sam. In fact my boss thought that and couldn't get it out of his head for two days, and neither could I!!!! It is crazy. Sam the one that will ALWAYS keep us guessing.


BEN
Ben is a very smart kid. I know that all parents say that but I think I should say that Ben is a very literal kid. Things are what they are, and he has to get to the bottom of it all. For instance, Dedge, you'll remember, we were staying at a hotel and Ben was pretty small just talking for maybe a year, if that. So, we had a chef come over to the table, with chef hat on and Ben asked him, "are you the muffin man?" Now, mind you Shrek was pretty big at this time but he is a very literal and serious child. I think he is wise beyond his years and frankly it scares me that he may pass me in maturity at any moment!! He is obsessed with Carson and video games, although he is a very gentle child and realizes that Gracie needs her time too, since they did grow up together, but they are kind of giggly and weird when they hug now!!!
Well..when we rarely go to a girl's birthday from his school, all the parents will comment, here's Ben, the little stud. And the girls shyly run up to him and it is a weird awkardness that I don't remember from pre-school, but he is apparently a stud in his school.
He is very good at soccer. When the other kids learn that he has just turned 5 and they are shorter than him, they are astonished and ready to teach him all their tricks. He is OBSESSED with hockey. The jury is still out on this though. Mick is hoping by taking him golfing this summer that we can get around it by that and keep going with soccer. But on Ben's wish list are playing, soccer, hockey, baseball, basketball, and football????? Anyone else have this problem?? He is full of energy and is always wanting Mick or me to play something with him. Which is turning Sam into a "poor" sport. Not sure what to do about that but any suggestions would be helpful. Sam will sit down or kick the grass and pretend he doesn't want to play??? I'm REALLY trying to figure this one out!!! help me people! I guess he wants to do things as well as Ben and gets mad or frustrated when he can't or when Mick and I try to help him but, like I said, we aren't sure about this one.
Ben LOVES his brother. They are best friends and genuinely enjoy playing with each other which is so nice. Now, don't get me wrong, they can fight with the best of them but for the most part they are very sweet to each other.
Ben is really into his responsibility chart and loves to help with everything. He chooses three jobs every week and is very excited to do the tasks. They are small things, some behaviors like no teasing, saying please and thank you, etc. but there are jobs like make the bed, clean your room, take care of the pets. He has so much fun with these things. He wanted to have the job of taking out the trash, because that is something Daddy does. He idolizes his daddy. When it's hockey time around the house, they put on socks so they can slide and pretend skate, grab whatever will suffice for a hockey stick and play hockey. Ben is ALWAYS Daddy and Sam is Ryan. Sam NEVER gets to be daddy. Maybe one day though.

MICK
Mick just got off of vacation and didn't want to go back to work. I think if we could swing it he would stay home full time. He does an incredible job with the boys. They are always out riding bikes, at the park, playing basketball, playing woofle golf in the front yard, it is always something. And of course the boys eat it up. He is so helpful cleaning the house, he is even starting to cook dinners some nights. Which is so helpful because we all know how the 5:30-6:30 terrible time is and if dinner is made when I come home, then I get to play with the kids and read and not have to put them off until dinner is ready. I have caught him watching Mr. Mom on TNT a few times and laughed, and he says, well, that's me. So funny! I better not come home to the ladies' poker games in the middle of the day. I also caught him looking up recipes on foodnetwork, I sure hope he tries out that lobster pie recipe. HEE HEE!
Needless to say, he takes a huge amount of stress off of me because I know how well my kids are taken care of and don't have to go to daycare. I love and appreciate him sooo much. Oh, he can be grumpy still but I know I hit the jackpot in the husband lotto!

ME
Work has been busy lately and I have had lots of video depos that have kept me even busier. I also picked up a side job of renting condos, thanks to my friend Jan, and am hoping to make some extra money that way. I try to do as much as I can at the boys' school. I hosted Ben's valentine day party, which was a HUGE success if I must say so, and on Thursday I will be hosting Sam's easter party. They light up and walk around proud as peacocks to have me there in their classes, so as long as I can skate out of work for an hour or so, I will continue to do it! Mick gets agitated sometimes when I sign up for all these parties or activies or reading, but I love it, he did however tell me that I could not be the soccer team mom, that I already have enough going on as it is! I think he doesn't like my crazy terrors around the house after the boys go to bed when I have waited too late to get it all straight and then he ends up having to help me! I love the weekends, especially if Mick is home with us. Most of our closest friends have moved away which is sad but it has left more time for Mick and I to continue to grow even tighter. We don't do much socially anymore just do things around the house. Last night we were making candles and we play a lot of cards. We do have family game times too where we play video putt putt, hockey table or Clue Jr.
Mimi has been a huge help for us, she continues to watch the boys when Mick is working. I know my bro and sis' are jealous, but move on back to Georgia I say!

We love you all and hopefully I can put some pictures up here soon for you all to see what we're looking like. I'm attaching one from last summer where Mick's softball team won the Fire/Police games and one of the guys gave the boys medals too! It was very sweet.

Field Trip to Stevie B's

We went on a field trip to Stevie B's with Ben's Pre-K class. They had lots of fun playing with the dough and making their own pizzas. They split in to two groups to do the tour. And of course they got to eat the pizzas they made. He has a very fun teacher and class.

Little Chefs

I know this looks dangerous but I was right there the whole time. Ben had been under the weather a bit so I let them each make their own chicken noodle soup. It's amazing that I can get them to eat pretty much anything as long as they have a hand in making it. Ben cooks with his class twice a week so he is getting pretty good.

Hiking Again

Finally got some one to take a picture with MOM in it, can you believe it?

How did Ben still have energy? He and Grace made it the WHOLE way!! In fact Ben led the pack with Carson and Isaac most of the day. I think Papaw was a little sore the next day but you'll have to ask him about that. That's if he didn't call you from his recliner that evening!

Mick and I should make an exercise tape for "awesome arms" it would be all about taking Sam on a 4.4 mile hike and carrying him most of the way!! We have some guns on us now!

My sister Becca with Carson, Isaac and Grace, we sure missed Lukers and Matt
for this day trip!

Family Hiking Trip

I think Pop Pop and Patti would be so proud of me for organizing a hike! We had so much fun up at their place in Tennessee and the boys talked about hiking with them all the time so I had to put something together. And I even took pictures, wait, am I Patti?
Our little hikers at the start, even Sparky and Lucy came

along for the hike. Lucy looked arthritic the next day

and I'm pretty sure that Sparky didn't get out of Becca's

bed (underneath the covers) the whole next day!

LUNCH TIME!! We crossed the creek all day which was their favorite part, by the end of the hike Isaac just starting stepping in it to "cool" off his feet.
Sam is still as cool in the woods as he is on the beach

MUD BOYS

Can anyone believe that after the boys make mud pies and have mud clop fights that I can actually get it out of their clothes now? Gina must be wearing off on me.

Musical Christmas with the Kempffers

Yes, he got his skates for Christmas but isn't this great bait for when

he gets a girlfriend?? Ha ha!!

Doctor in the house?
No, maybe a musician
Macy hitting the drums, Mick is EXCITED!!
Santa left good stuff!
Ben the skating drummer