Gymboree with Kevin

It is our second week at Gymboree and Kevin is having a ball! I always did music classes with Griffin since that was more his interest, well climbing and dancing is more Kevin's interest. He is like wrestling an alligator! So even though it is his second week he has mastered everything in the place...He is so much more outgoing than Griffin, I love how they are both so different! I also love having this one on one time with my baby! I look forward to it each week, he is a gem!

"I Want to be a Teacher"

This week Griffin has been on a new kick. He wants to be a teacher. He loves school and he is beginning to read everything. Today he came down to the basement to tell me he was reading to the kids upstairs. I was a bit perplexed so I went upstairs and there he was reading to his trains. Later in the day he and Kevin were getting ready to have a bath and he was sitting on my bed with Kevin showing him the book and telling him to "sit on his name!" in a very stern voice. This is what his teacher says to the children in class at circle time. Of course Griffin is glued to his name and NEVER moves!
Well later in the day we had a bedtime battle and I told him that maybe his "friends" would like to hear a story. So, he lined up Blue, Clifford, Mickey, Wishbone, a couple of bears and of course Lamby and "played teacher". I had to capture this...it is precious! I told him I was a teacher before he was born and he didn't believe me!

By the way Kevin is doing fine...into everything...he will be my next blog when i capture him being mischievous!

Griffin is growing up

Just had to share a couple of pictures of this past week. The first one is of Griffin as he goes off to his 2nd year at school. He goes 3 mornings a week. After he went 2 days I told him on the 3rd day that we were going to school again...he said "Oh WOW, I love school!" He is my son, I always liked school! Of course I dressed him in the 1st picture, however this morning when I was out the 2nd picture HE dressed himself and he was so PROUD. FYI, he was wearing a striped shirt inside out and checkered shorts. At least it was all blue! When I got home he asked, "Are you proud Mommy?" Obviously I was so proud a I had to take a picture and share it on the blog! He is a hoot.

Labor Day was Busy!

What a busy weekend we had! But it was great to end the summer in so many ways! We had a great time at a 1st birthday party for our friend Catherine (Chrissy's daughter), went to the beach, the circus, and of course barbequed! Fun weekend had by all. Here are some pics, I think my favorite is Kevin experiencing corn on the cob!! The one of Griffin sleeping explains how active we were!!

Sunday Sobriety

picking up bottle caps??
Playing in the basement
setting out the spread!



A long standing tradition in our family has been Sunday Sobriety. We all meet up (the Birns, Parkes' and Barfields) for a night to catch up before the work week starts. We have no idea how long this has been going on but it is a nice night with family where we all touch base and see one another and catch up on the past week or the week ahead. The children play and see one another, the adults have some beverages and eat a nice dinner...whether we grill or order out it just matters that we are together! It is hard to do it every week with all of our schedules but we try to make it happen! Here are some pictures of our most recent Sunday Sobriety (don't ask how we came up with the name?!)

Tyler Turns Ten, Kevin Consumes Cake

These pictures are too fun not to post! We had a great time at my sisters for dinner and cake. Kevin really enjoyed the cake and I had to share these pictures. I guess his 2nd birthday will have to be a red velvet cake! Thanks Helen and Rob!

COUSINS!

We are so fortunate living close (8 minutes) to my sister's children Tyler and Ian. Tyler will be 10 tomorrow!! Time flies...however it helps me soak up all my minutes with Griffin and Kevin because I realize how fast time goes. Ian will be 7 next month. There is an age gap (9 years with Kevin and Tyler) but you would never know it. The 4 of them are so fun to watch. I had Tyler and Ian over this week and even though there are age gaps you would never know it by looking at these pictures. I had to share them. I love that our boys can be close by to one another, that was one thing we always missed out on being so far from our cousins who were in England!! Tyler and Ian feel like my own somehow...so they will be on this blog quite a bit! Enjoy