A Whole Handful

Our Coleman Joe is turning FIVE today!  We are having a blast celebrating this week with family and friends.  Here's a look back at Coleman on his birthdays (or close to them).

2007, 1 day old

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Back to Preschool

Yesterday was Open House at the preschool for Coleman and Jonathan.  We were glad to see our friends and to be back in the place we love so much!  Jonathan has Ms. Christel this year.  When we walked in the room, he was super excited!  He loved the slide and the pretending area.  He was really jazzed when he saw all the trucks and bulldozers she has.  Here they are together.

We told Ms. Christel we'd, "See you tomoyo!" and then we headed down the hall to our sweet Ms. Stephanie.  Coleman is really excited to finally be one of the Big Kids at the school.  He has nine boys and three girls in his class.  We'll be taking lots of treats to Ms. Stephanie this year!  Here they are together.

We stopped at the sign for our annual photo.

And then we headed to our very favorite special day lunch spot - The Collegiate!

Last night I got backpacks ready, emergency clothes packed, and all those forms filled out.  There was still seemingly a ton to do this morning, and I realized how much I have enjoyed our laid back summer routine each day!  We made it out the door right on time, and even had a minute to grab those first day pictures on the porch.

Little Big Man put on his new red shoes all by himself, I'll have you know.  He was super pumped when we picked them out the other day.  I showed them to him and he said, "WOW!  They're super cool awesome!"

We took our first day blueberry muffins to our teachers and made pictures with them again today.  I was a little worried about what Jonathan would do when I left, but he gave me a big hug and kiss and then said, "Bye-bye Mommy!  I wuv you!  See ya wader!"  And he was off to play!

Coleman and Ms. Stephanie made a picture this morning too.

So this is new this year.  I do not have to walk inside to pick anyone up!  Here's Coleman coming out to the car with Ms. Louise.  The note in his folder said his favorite thing today was swinging on the playground.

And here is Mr. Big himself.  Ms. Christel hollered to me that he had a great day!  He thought he was something else walking out with Ms. Louise.  He got in the car and gave me a huge hug. 

We are so very thankful for our school and the teachers that love our boys each day.  We can't wait to see what this year brings!

First Grade

Archer Academy opened for the 2012-2013 school year on August 6.  Andrew posed for our traditional first day of school shot on the front porch.

He wanted to make a silly picture too.

We are off to a great start this year!  It seems we both learned a LOT during Kindergarten.  One day during that first week, while he was practicing handwriting he said, "Man!  I just LOVE this first grade stuff!"  Stay tuned this year for our adventures. We're sure to have plenty!

Brent's Birthday

Brent had the day off for his birthday this year, which made a fun birthday breakfast possible.  He got the red plate and even a fun hat!

It turned out to be a very busy day, but that night we celebrated with his gifts.  The boys each made a card for him, and they were so very proud of their work. 

Once again, most of the family pitched in and got him tickets to a home ballgame at Georgia Tech this fall.  We'll be heading to see the Jackets take on Virginia this time.  You might notice there are four tickets this year.  Since Coleman will be five, he'll get to go.  We are all very excited!

He also got a nice new shirt and a new toy for his newest passion. 

Speaking of the grill, here's a picture of some YUMMY pineapple he grilled a few weeks ago.  It was incredible.

Happy Birthday to our favorite husband and daddy.  We think you're the best!

Lake Burton 2012

This year we headed out to the lake for vacation.  However, we didn't head to Hartwell.  Our dock was not in the water, so we couldn't see how that would have been much fun.  So this year we tried out Lake Burton in the mountains.  It was beautiful.  The water was clear and cool.  The mountains gave a beautiful backdrop wherever you looked.  We loved it.  Here are the pictures from our days over there.

The boys did some reclining in front of the TV when we weren't out in the boat.

 

 

As soon as we arrived,  Andrew located his bed.  There was a twin bed in the basement that he loved.   

 

Coleman decided he wanted a little bed too, so I made up the loveseat downstairs for him.  They both slept really well in their little beds.

I just loved Coleman at breakfast.  I'm not sure if you can fully appreciate his "fresh out of bed" hairstyle from this picture.

Papack and Gigi joined us, and Papack rented a pontoon for us so he didn't have to pull theirs over from Hartwell. It was great to just turn it in when we finished with it.  Here are the boys on our first morning out.

Jonathan got to enjoy his first soft drink. 

You can see he was not about to put it down.

Andrew figured out one of the very best things to do in a boat.

There were plenty of turns at boat driving this year.  Andrew will probably be driving completely by himself (in Papack or Brent's lap) next summer.  He did great. 

This was the year everyone took their sense of humor with them to the lake.  We were constantly cracking up at something one of the boys said or did.  Andrew even surprised himself with his driving skills.  One night he remarked, "Wow!  I can almost drive a whole boat by myself.  Maybe one day I'll even learn to tie my own shoes!"  He has since learned to do just that.

Coleman also got very good at navigation this year. 

On the first day out, he was driving with Brent.  Brent gave him landmarks to aim towards on the horizon.  He pointed toward a red house and told Coleman to steer straight toward that red house.  Brent later said Coleman steered everywhere BUT the red house.  After lots of verbal corrections and reminders, Coleman finally said, "Uh, Dad?  Can I please have my glasses?" 

From then on, we handed them over when it was his turn to drive.  The difference in his steering was astounding!

Jonathan even got turns at the wheel.  He's not ready for steering lessons yet, but he does love to drive.  Even with his eyes closed.

Of course there was plenty of clowning around.

We loved swimming in water that didn't feel like a bathtub.  It was cool when you first jumped in, but it sure felt refreshing when you got wet. 

This little fella gets the "Future Lifeguard" award.  Gigi doesn't swim, but she will get in the lake on a float with her lifejacket and tether herself to the boat.  The boys know she doesn't swim, and one of our big rules about the water is that you don't touch anyone else who is swimming.  Well, Gigi was floating in the lake with the rest of us, and a pretty big commotion started up.  Coleman had noticed that the valve on her float was undone and was trying his hardest to get on top of the float to push it back in.  Nevermind that he about knocked her off in the process.  He is constantly watching out for others.  So sweet!

Jonathan did a super job swimming with the noodle the first day.  The second day he figured out how to keep himself upright without the noodle.  He loved swimming all around independently.

You may have noticed the cute hats Gigi and I were wearing in an earlier picture.  They are the perfect sun hats.  They are not the perfect swim hats.  We were heading back to the house for lunch on Monday when I turned loose of my hat for just a second to help someone with something.  Well, that big floppy white hat flew right off my head.  Brent turned the boat around and Papack dove in to get it.  He caught it just as it was going down for the last time.  I think it is safe to say my hat may never be the same again.  But I was so thankful to have it back. After that, Coleman made sure I kept my hand on my hat the whole time we were in the boat!  Here's a picture of Papack bringing it back to the boat.

  There was a tube included in our boat rental.  Everyone had lots of fun riding it.  Except Gigi of course.  Now that would surely get it's own blog post!  Here's Coleman and Brent.

 

 Those two tricksters Andrew and Papack were next.  You can see Andrew trying to get Brent to go faster.

 

And then Papack told Andrew how to get across the wake. 

Jonathan even got a turn. 

Can you see his little hand waving?  He loved it!

And I rode with Andrew back to the house.

There were a couple of other funnies that we heard around the house.  Coleman was putting on his shark covered bathing suit one morning and said, "Boy!  The fishies sure are gonna be scared of me!"

And Jon Jon could not remember the word "porch."  He kept calling it the "pork chop."  We ate all our meals out there on the "pork chop." 

This was his favorite way to ride.  Propped up on his knees, looking out over the water, sucking his thumb and holding his ear. 

It was a great trip!