Summer trip to NJ

Had a great trip to NJ to see our friends/family. While visiting we had a couple of firsts: Gavin went bowling for the first time, Cooper was a great "older" cousin to Gavin and AJ jumped off the side of the pool and went completely under water. Granted the first time was because I bribed him with the purchase of a new train, but after that we couldn't get him to stop jumping and playing in the water! We had such a great time with Uncle Dan, Aunt Heather and Baby Gavin that the boys slept the entire 3 hour ride home! We can't wait to go back again soon and play some more and to see our new cousin that is soon to arrive! Thanks again Uncle Dan, Aunt Heather and Gavin for a great weekend, miss you already. Daddy, AJ and Cooper picking out the perfect ball.

Cooper and daddy watching them "score!"

Uncle Dan and Gavin watching his first attempt at bowling.

Cooper being such a big boy sharing with "baby" Gavin.

AJ swimming around the pool. He is such a fish now in the water.

Cooper watering Aunt Heather's flowers. He is going to be quite the landscaper!

AJ willing to jump in because Uncle Dan and Baby Gavin were jumping too and to get a train.

Baby Gavin jumping off of the water fall into the pool.

Well if Baby Gavin can do it, so can AJ!

Daddy throwing AJ!

And again Daddy!!

Cooper jumping in for his train also!

Such handsome men!

AJ floating, another thing he wouldn't do a week before!

AJ and Cooper with their bribes for jumping in the water while visiting Uncle Dan.

So much for my dining room table!! (At least until we get a bigger train table!)

Bouncy Fun!

Here are some pictures from our play day at the "bouncy place." Cooper and his slide.

My future basketball star! Hey so far he has the height.

AJ climbing up the big slide.

WOW, he made it to the top on the first try!

And down he comes! This would happen many more times.

And Cooper goes down!! Seriously should I be encouraging this!

Singing in the rain...

I don't know about you, but I remember as a kid on a hot summer day playing in the rain. Lately we have been having horrible thunderstorms but a couple of weeks ago we had a nice easy rain shower in the middle of the day. Tony and I were sitting on the front porch talking with the boys and we asked them if they wanted to go and play in the rain...of course Cooper said yes and off he went. AJ, the more reserved child decided he would just sit and watch Cooper. Cooper had a blast and I think played, jumped, danced and just was silly for at least 10 minutes before he decided he was done. Now anytime it starts to rain, he asks if he can go play in it, but unfortunately we haven't had another nice calm rain since this one. Hopefully again soon.

Projects

My friend Heather told me about a great program that Lowes offers every other Saturday. Lowes gives each child an apron and a pair of goggles and then a project to put together. After they have completed their project the child gets a patch to put on their apron and a certificate. Home Depot also does this the first Saturday of each month but they get pins for their completed projects. The first project was a little diffucult, so thank goodness Mr. Drake was there to help because I am not a carpenter by any means. The second project was a little more at my level, so the boys did a lot of it themselves. I have to say that both AJ and Cooper are very good at hammering and not smashing my fingers in the process! The boys have really enjoyed these projects. Here are a few pictures of my little carpenters at work. Aren't they so cute in their little aprons!

AJ really focusing on hammering in the nail to his helicopter project.

Both boys wondering why mommy brought them and not daddy!

AJ with his completed second project. The boys did end up painting this one as well but I hadn't taken a picture yet.