Gearing up for July...wait....it's July!

So this will be a 2 part post....so get ready for some reading. I started to update just before the 4th of July weekend. Here is what I had written:

My high school friend Brett had brain surgery to remove a brain tumor this week. It went well, but they were not able to get all of the tumor. Further tests are being run and treatment options are being discussed. Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers.

We had our last 2 days of swimming lessons this week. The boys have definitely made progress over the last 3 weeks and while they aren't Michael Phelps yet, they do actually like the water now:) We'll probably do another session of lessons once school starts back....we have some traveling to do!

Both nights after swimming lessons we went out to eat with Pop....BeBe was out of town for work, so we figured the abandoned folks should stick together! I'm not sure if Pop will want to do it again though....

Wednesday night, Parker had a ROUGH night. He told Pop that he didn't like him anymore because he was mean. He refused to eat...pizza! When I got up to take Carson to the bathroom, Parker ran from the table in the restaurant to the bathroom door--screaming and crying like crazy! I heard the screams from the bathroom and then realized, "Holy $*#!...that's my kid!" I briefly thought about letting him scream, but then knew I had to own him and brought him in the bathroom where I could at least muffle the screams. After we finished eating, we ran into some friends, Lynn, Farah, Eric and their boys. Parker gave them the same treatment- and screamed, "Roll my window up RIGHT NOW!!!'' as I tried to get him to wave goodbye. Sorry guys...at least you know it wasn't personal!

To follow up on that dinner disaster... Parker fell asleep as we pulled in the neighborhood....got out of car and staggered to the patio furniture, where he slept for about 5 minutes as I unloaded the car.



Poor guy. I tried to just put him in bed and then put a pull-up on him as he slept, but it completely backfired. He woke up screaming...."Mama!! I want my love-love!! Now!! I want it!!" As I tried to get Carson dressed in the other room (hoping he would just go back to sleep), he walked down stairs screaming-came back upstairs where I was and told me that he was out of bed because he wanted me to hold him! What?!?!?!? Poor Carson just laid down in bed and covered up and said, "Mama, can we take a bath in the morning?"

This week we got to eat lunch with some old friends, the Pfitzers. Loved seeing them:) Kat was one of my softball pitchers from a few years ago...and now plays competitive volleyball...and she's a senior! Geez...I'm getting old!

We spent the weekend in Chattanooga watching Tyler play ball and to celebrate an early birthday with my mom. We spent Friday and Saturday at the ballpark. After the games finished up on Saturday, we headed to Jen's where the boys slept about 4 hours! Catching up I guess! When everyone woke up, we got ready and went out to eat dinner downtown and watch fireworks. The kids really enjoyed it. We also got to meet Tyler's girlfriend this weekend- hopefully our crazy crew didn't scare her off!

Coloring, not watching the ball games:)





We spent the 4th hanging out...eating and swimming at BeBe and Pop's house. Brad and Aaron got the pool volleyball set out (not sure who won?!) and we all ate some homemade ice cream. The fireworks display that night was quite impressive in our neighborhood. I had bought some sparklers for the boys...which Carson loved and kept wanting to do more and more and more! Parker...not so much. I guess they scared him:( We ended up on the sidewalk watching the neighbors shoot off their "party packs" and some big time-like major fireworks...so big that the debris was hitting us all the way on our sidewalk!

Sparklers!!





Ok....now that I'm caught up from what I was going to post from 2 weeks ago...here's what we've been up to this past week!

Monday the boys and I packed up and headed to Illinois with mom. Mom drove the whole way...while I climbed in the back to help potty (in water bottles:) ), get blankets, change movies, pick up dropped crayons, break up fights...you get the picture. 12 hours, 5 movies and 176 "Are we there yets?" later...we arrived at mom's around midnight. The boys stayed asleep as I transferred them inside (thank you LORD!) and actually stayed asleep all night!

We had a great, relaxing week (relative to what may be relaxing to you...3 year old twin boys only allow so much relaxation after all!) We got to hang out with mom and Granny/GGma. The boys enjoyed playing in the kiddie pool, blow bubbles, play tee ball (Parker may be a lefty!!) and baggo, riding tricycles and they could actually reach the pedals! The boys also found they could open the refrigerator in the garage and get a "drink." They are completely crazy over Lipton Green Tea! It was absolutely incredible how they would chug that stuff down...and stalk anyone who had one. It was definitely the find of the week for them!

We also got to hang out at my friend Holly's house and the boys really took to her parents, Paul and Theresa. I think they used the potty 20 times! Theresa decided that they really liked the guest towels and that's why they kept going...we don't have those here in Alabama Theresa! I made them use the hand towel on the rack! The boys keep talking about jumping all over Holly and how she and Paul colored with them:) It's so incredible to be able to see your children play in the same house you played in when you were little..and to share time with such important people. I am so grateful to have such true friends in Holly and her fam-even living hundreds of miles away...when I'm with them, I feel like I never left:*)

We wrapped up the week with some dinner at Moncial's with our cousin Kim, Aunt Sherry and Uncle Roger (Mom and Granny too!)--Carson had his moment of terror that night...also refusing to eat....pizza. What's up with that?!?! These are NOT MY children refusing pizza! After several trips to the bathroom and the loss of BIG JUNE....gasp...I know....I had to do it....he was absolutely horrible that night!...we survived the outing. The pizza was fantastic....but, geez...10 hours is a long way to drive for pizza!

Parker loves "that sticky stuff" --Salt Water Taffy



Teachin' GGma about the Aquadoodle



Teaching Grandma Sue about the Aquadoodle



GGma...We pee-peed in your bushes again!



Coloring with Grandma Sue



Playing with toys at GGma's house--notice all the CARS!!



Saturday morning we headed to the airport and Granny came along to help. We arrived in plenty of time (I'm always nervous about that). As we head through security, the 47 CARS cars that Parker chose to bring, gets scanned and re-scanned. The lady finally asks if it's mine...and tells me that there is so much metal in the bag that they can't see anything else in there. I think, "metal?..I wonder what she's talking about?" Then I think...CARS!! I'm carrying about 10 pounds of them, of course that's the problem! They re-run the bag of cars and my carry-on bag and determine that it is, in fact, safe for all that metal to be on the plane:) We then proceed up the escalator, where Parker almost rolls down the steps. He slipped and was laying with his head pointed down, feet up. I caught him with my leg and one arm...the other arm is holding the bag with all those dang cars! He's yelling, "Mama help!" Granny's saying, "Oh my God Meggie...get him." Carson is saying, "We're going up, up, up, mama!" Finally I get the bags set down on the stair and get Parker on his feet.....weeeew...crisis averted!

The boys were fantastic on the flight and we even got a, "I didn't even know they were there" comment! Go us! With Granny's help we made it through the Atlanta airport, on the tram, and to baggage claim where we met.....drum roll please....DADDY, who by the way had been home all week for the first time in MONTHS! Tell me how that works!?!?! Granny held on to Carson and I kept hold on Parker and we made it home! Thanks GGma for all your help!

Gearing up for another fun week....our annual Aranda/Douglas adventure sets sail this year to Anna Maria Island, Florida...stay tuned for all the fun details:)