Introducing...

Owen Alexander

 We got to go see Baby Owen tonight.  He has two very proud little cousins who cannot wait to play with him. 

1st Grade, 1st Grade

Wednesday, August 10th, was Will's 1st day of 1st grade. 

  How Does She Printable

1st Grade Here I Come!!!

Ready for Mommy to go on to her school.

Walker's First Day

August 9th was Walker's first day back to Ms. Karen's.  She kept Will from the time he was a baby until he was three.  She kept Walker until he was about 6 months old.  When she called me over the summer and ask if I'd be interested in her keeping Walker again I was very excited.  With the LLC closing we were looking for someone to keep him.  The good part is Ms. Karen also keeps a couple of other kids from the LLC and my niece Alexa. 

Ms. Karen and Walker

And look at the beautiful flowers my nieces, Mollie, Macy and Maggie, sent me to school.  Aren't they beautiful!  They smelled so good!!  Definantly brightened up the first few days of getting back in school mode.

Open House

The Monday before school started was Will's Open House.  He got to meet his teacher, see his room, locker desk, etc.  We are very happy that Will got Mrs. Marcy for 1st Grade.

Shannon then took us all to eat at the Marina.  The boys love to eat at the floating restaurant.

And then they have to feed the ducks and turtles.  I don't think our leftovers made it home.

                                     Beautiful view!

Will & Walker's Day

Every year (for the past several years) the day before school starts (or the day before I have to go back to school)  the boys get to pick whatever they want to do for the day.  This year we had to have W&W's Day on Saturday.  They wanted to go fishing but it was supposed to rain so we made other plans.  Very low key day.  We started our day off at their favorite breakfast place, Cracker Barrell for some biscuits and gravy!

 Our next stop was to get the boys Halloween costumes.  We didn't intentionally go to the store for that reason, but the boys found what they wanted and had to have them.  I can't tell the store because that might give away their costume and no pictures until Halloween.

Then we caught a Saturday matinee of SMURFS!  While we were waiting for the movie to start the boys played in the game room.  Shannon and I also played a little airhockey.  I took a commanding lead but then lost at the end. 

Then it was MOVIE TIME!!!

Be SMURFY!!!

Movie essentials- popcorn and drink.

Then we came home and rested and the boys played, played, and played some more.  Not our typical W & W Day but they had tons of fun!  We ended our day by going to the boys favorite (or at least Will's favorite) restaurant - MEXICAN!

On Monday, while Mommy was at school, Shannon took the boys fishing with their Uncle Seth and cousin Alexa.  They had so much fun and I hate that I missed it (except for the actual fishing part - not my favorite).  They had to tell me every detail from the minute I stepped in the door.  However we have no pictures.  Something about trying to fish with a 3,4,and 6 year old that kept them too busy to take any pictures, even if they would have remembered the camera. 

A Quick Catch Up

On Saturday I hosted a brunch baby shower for Baby Owen (due at the end of August).  I attempted my first diaper cake and it didn't turn out too bad.

The food table with all the goodies.

Aunt Jenn and Big Sister Alexa opening gifts for Baby Owen.

Sunday afternoon Will went school shopping.  He's just like his Momma - loves new school supplies!

Since Walker didn't need school supplies he got some new jammies.  Walker would wear "jammies" 24/7 if I'd let him.  As soon as we walk in the door he says "Can I put on my jammies?"

Monday afternoon Walker helped Papa with a little yard mowing.

Vacation Time

This past week we got to go to Gulf Shores and stayed at Gulf Shore Plantation Resort.  We had a great time! We arrived early Monday morning and returned home Friday night.  Here are a few (okay, ALOT) of pictures.

Monday we took the boys to see USS Alabama Battleship.  They got to tour the battleship (which was very cool), a submarine and see tons of aircraft.

We stopped in one of our favorite places to eat, Lamberts.  Walker LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the throwed rolls.  After catching one, a few minutes later I saw him turned around, clapping his hands, going "Roll, Roll!" to the waiter.

We spent plenty of time on the beach.  The boys built sand castles and motes, looked for sea shells (Will's favorite), and ran in and out of the water.  One day we even got to see several dolphins playing.  Walker would go in the ocean as long as someone was holding his hand, but Will loved to get out there and see what he could find. 

No naps during the day really wore the boys out!  This was what I turned around and found one night on the way to eat!

LuLu's another favorite of ours.  Will ate crab claws for the first time and LOVED them!  The boys enjoyed watching the barge go up the inlet and all the boats.  Another favorite place of ours is a little hole-in-the-wall called Old World Bakery and Pizza.  It's a tiny little place that seats about 20 people and is constantly busy.  The pizza and breadsticks are GREAT!!!

The only incident of this trip was Walker rubbing his hand along the boardwalk and getting a hand FULL of splinters.  Shannon had to go to the closest store, which happened to be Dollar General, and get a sewing kit and peroxide to "perform surgery" and remove them. 

The boys also loved playing in the pool.  There were seven pools on the property but the one in front of our room(see below) was Walker's favorite because it started at 1ft and went to 5ft.  Both of the boys could play and have fun!

We also got to go on the Cold Mil Fleet Dolphin Tour.  (Thanks for the recommendation Kim).   Luckily we had the camcorder because my camera battery went dead after only a few pics. The dolphins were so cool surfing and flipping. 

When we go to the beach I always try to get at least one good picture of the boys.  I think I got a few pretty good ones, but thought I'd share a few outtakes as well.  This section of the post could go on and on.  I took over 1000 pictures on our vacation.  As the saying goes you have to take a lot to get a few good ones.  These pictures have one or the other not looking, eyes closed, eyes squinted, acting silly (case in point Walker's monkey pose) or my favorite - the fake smile.  Surprisingly Walker was the culprit of the fake smile this trip, it's usually Will.  Enjoy!