Dearest Jax & Colt,

I promise we do a lot more than just float around...yet, again, I have pictures to share of y'all from a water-themed playdate this week.  Our friends introduced us to a new (to us) water park and it was just perfect for the both of you with one side being shallow and calm and the other side having deeper water and bigger slides. 

We arrived a few minutes before the park actually opened.  Simply looking without playing was a true test of your patience, Jax.

Here are you & Charlotte anxious to be the first ones in the water!

I was a bit nervous to have the camera out so I only captured a few pics of you boys and your total love of all things water...

Thank God for sunscreen!

Free Family Fun

Dearest Water Babies,

Tonight (by ‘night’, I mean 6:30) we went to a swim party at a local pool hosted by a friend.  More important than all the fun we had while there, I want you to know why we were there.  My friend rented out the entire facility and invited over 50 people simply out of the goodness of her heart.  See, a few years ago she was unemployed and her husband lost his job.  They were barely getting by when they were invited to a party at this same pool.  She shared we me tonight how much that outing meant to her as they didn’t have any money to do things together as a family.  That free trip to the pool was one of their happiest memories during a low time in their lives.  Now both she and her husband are employed and they’ve decided to make this a yearly event.  I love their intent and I think a lot can be learned from their thoughtfulness.  We proudly swam around with them tonight and I look forward to doing so again summer after summer!

Jax, look at you swimming away!  You may not swim very far, but you are the cutest little fish while you're at it!

When you weren't swimming, you were getting a kick out of controlling the water pressure...

...or using your muscles to cover the various fountains! 

Colt, you were also a big fan of the fountains  : )

Really, you were just happy with everything!!!

1 day, 3 pools

Dearest Colt & Jax,

Yesterday's adventure must've been sponsored by the letter S because it was all about swimming, sunshine, and smiles!

Pool #1 was at a water park.  The park hosts a library storytime and then lets everyone use their kid's zone for free for about a half hour.  And a half hour was about all I could handle as I was a bit stressed trying to keep up with the two of you.  I was so thankful that we went with friends so I had some extra sets of eyes. 

Jax, I was super impressed (and a little bit nervous) by the way you just jumped in and went for it! 

Despite your concerned expression and your left hand clutched to the side, I promise you enjoyed this! 

I lost track of the number of trips you made down this slide.

Can you see why I was a bit stressed?  Keeping up with you in the crowds was tricky.  I think it's time to buy you some neon pink swimming shorts and maybe a matching hat  ; )

You boys look so very different from each other right now - even down to your skin tone!

Pool #2:  We knew that 30 minutes wasn't enough.  So, in keeping with tradition, we kept the swim fun going at Michelle and Laura's neighborhood pool.

Again, Jax, you jumped right in!

Grady was so polite to let you borrow his goggles and I had to snap this goofy shot of you  : )

Colt, you even developed your own swimming style!

Pool #3 was our community pool.  When Daddy got home from work, he had this great idea that we would take y'all swimming to wear you out.  He figured that a later bedtime combined with extra tired boys would result in sleeping in the following morning. 

We started in the "tad pool" (Jax, I don't know why you call it that, but it's cute!).

This time, we went prepared with a swim shirt and a flotation device for you, Mr. Colton.

That duck proved fun for all when we moved to the big pool -

As fun as the day was, Daddy's plan did not work.  Actually, Jax, you stayed awake until nearly 10:00!!!  And guess who still woke up before 7am?  C'est la Vie!

Indoor Fun

Dearest Jackson & Colton,

We headed inside for this week's playgroup and went to play at a local rec center.  They host children's playtime once a week and fill one of their gymnasiums with all sorts of fun like tumbling mats, basketball hoops, a bounce house, bicycles, and a parachute.  You boys took advantage of it all! 

Jax, I couldn't even keep up with you as you ran from toy to toy. 

Here, I captured you mid-jump inside the bounce house

Later, I saw you zoom past on a little motorcycle

Colt, you were on an independent mission as you were speed crawling all over the gym.  Of course, I was always right behind you (with camera in hand).

Not intimidated at all by the bigger kids!

You preferred crawling on top of the parachute inside of under it!

You used the tumbling mats for their exact purpose  :  )

You boys sure make being a stay-at-home mommy appealing!

Life Lesson #378294

Dearest Jackson,

During our prayers we always say, “Thank you for making me healthy and strong.”  Well, now we’ve added, “And thank you for keeping me safe.” because an angel of God certainly had their hand on you yesterday.  I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to blog about this but I am because 1) I want you to see how curious you were at three years old and 2) I want you to learn from this in case you have curious little boys of your own.    

So, yesterday afternoon you were watching tv on the couch and I wanted to distract you.  I grabbed the mailbox keys and asked if you wanted to come with me to get the mail.  You said you’d rather watch tv – and this wasn’t a battle worth fighting – so I simply picked up Colton and headed outside to the mailbox.  We were only gone for a minute or two but, as soon as we opened the front door, I heard you awkwardly crying.  I quickly made my way back to the tv room where you were on the same spot on the couch.  However, instead of watching tv, you were clutching your neck and your face was pale and your lips were blue.  Adrenaline surged through my body quickly as I scooped you up and tried to figure out what had happened.  When you removed your hands from around your neck, there was a puffy red line and you then informed me that you had put your neck through the window shade’s cords.  I consoled you as we held on ice-pack on your “boo boo” and talked about why we never ever mess with those cords! 

I then called your daddy and proceeded to sob to him on the phone as the emotions and scary thoughts all hit me at the same time.  The “What if…?” scenarios were just too much so your dad came home from work and we went to Home Depot where we bought new – safer – window treatments. 

Just like the time you touched the hot stove, today you’ve made sure to give me safety reminders.  “We don’t put our body parts in the cords.” you’ve lectured numerous times today.  Other than a burn mark around your neck, you seem fine but this is a lesson that will stick with me forever.  

Happy Father's Day!

Dearest Colton & Jackson,

Today you're helping me celebrate Daddy as it's Father's Day.  We let him sleep in (all the way to 7:45!), made him breakfast, and then woke him up with kisses and presents.  While I know he feels blessed to have you as sons, you're also lucky to have him as your dad.

I know you may not remember these early days, so let me tell you - your dad is a hands-on father.  He changes your diapers, gives your baths, pushes your swings, reads your books, and orchestrates your adventures!  He is your playground and you are his mid-day smile.  He is your professor and you are his inquisitive pupils.  He is your tickle monster and you are his encouragers. 
During this morning's sermon, our pastor asked us to write down our life mission as well as our vision and goals.  One of mine is that you grow into amazing fathers and I know that it's a likely event considering the awesome example you have right here in your very own home.

Down on the farm

Dearest Colton & Jackson,

We took advantage of the "cooler" (read: 85 degrees) weather on Friday morning and drove down to the farm.  While this wasn't the first time for either of you, I just enjoy visiting because I think it's so neat to have a farm in the middle of the suburbs!  Colton, your second visit was filled with finger sucking.  You and that pointer finger of yours have a special relationship and I pray it ends as soon as you're done teething.  Jax, your umpteenth visit was filled with fake smiles.  After only a week of summer vacation, I think you're already tired of the mommarazzi. 

Jumping, Sliding, and Swimming - Oh My!

Dearest Jackson & Colton,

You boys are lucky that I work at a school with a lot of other young moms.  We get together frequently and summer playdates are our favorite!  Amy & Luke kicked off the summer fun and hosted a large group of us in their backyard.  There were two pools, a water table, a ball pit, a bubble station, and even a bounce house.  This is one of those times that I was having so much fun that I barely remembered pictures.  Trust me, you both had a blast!

Safe & Sound Walk Around

Dearest Jax & Colton,

You know that I love you, right?  I love you so much that I let you hog the chair as we surfed the web together.  I love you so much that I shared in your excitement when you saw a website advertising a fire safety town.  I love you so much that I invited your favorite buddies, Brody & Kate, to come with us.  I love you so much that I didn't freak out when I discovered that this place is 30 minutes away!  I love you so much that I would drive there and back again and again just to watch you run wild and have a blast!

They had constructed the cutest little town that was just your size.

Inside, there was a neat fire truck that you were allowed to explore.

Whatever you choose to do when you grow up - whether it be firefighting, accounting, engineering, or maybe even teaching - just know that I love you so much!