Hello!

Have you met my father? Holy cow.

GREAT-ful

Thank you Great-Grandpa Howard for letting us run wild in Chicago. We are very lucky to be able to spend time with you. We hope, now that you've recovered, we'll be invited back. Don't forget ... we get some of that mischievous DNA from you.
With love,

(most of) your Great-Grands

We are Family

So it is nearly August and I have posted nothing all summer ...

Summer has brought much needed family time - for our family of four - as well as time with the rest of our family all over the place. In June I headed south with the minis for some G&G M time while Mr. Right went on an annual golf trip. The entire trip was spent hopping from pool to beach to Frenchie's to pool to pool to pool. The weather was perfect, the water refreshing and the grands and their minis had lots of bonding time -- being fish.

In July we made our annual trek to Highlands for Cullasaja Kids Camp and family time with Mr. Right's side of the family. Cousin-fest 2009 -- Part One -- left my 2 minis with a major hangover (when we arrived home). What do you mean rules, Mommy? I thought we just ran wild and ate sugar all day long? The boys had a blast with their cousins and tried so hard to be all grown up like they are (in #1 and #2's minds). They also had a blast with Grandma & Pops -- lots more swimming, cart rides, boat cruises, exploring and #1's favorite - time at the driving range and his first "real" golf lesson. The icing on the cake was topping out the trip with a dozen simultaneous fireworks shows around the city of Atlanta from the 47th floor balcony. Mommy nearly had a heart attack with visions of a mini tumbling over the side, but the boys loved it. There are no incriminating photos since we took the camera without a CF card. Smart.

And finally, we spent a few days in Chicago on a very special trip to see the boys only living great-grandparent. My grandfather. My sister and her family, my parents, me and the little boys and my Uncle all descended on Great Grandpa Howard ... and we overwhelmed him in all of 30 minutes. Cousin-fest 2009 -- Part Two -- was an equal blast, with equal hang-over. Three boys - 4 1/2 yrs., 3 1/2 yrs., 2 yrs. and A GIRL, 8 months put 7 adults to shame in about an hour. Equal meltdowns were had by all grown ups and children on day two. And things were in good rhythm by day three ... just in time for us to go our separate ways the following day. :(

Here are the highlights...

Why Every Man Should Have A Daughter

(Ev & JoJo)

Graduation - Round 1

I thought you only had a few significant graduation ceremonies in your lifetime - all which began at High School. Wrong. Today you graduate from Pre-Kindergarten ... and holy cow the tears. Most tears were from the adults, although there were a few kiddos too. Here is our most handsome graduate - ready to bust out of the only school he has known since he was 6 months old. I wonder how quickly he will wrap his new teachers around his finger?

The graduation theme was "When I Grow Up" which was incredibly sweet and telling. #1 and his two buddies were astronauts and they did a skit where they showed off their ability to yell "BLAST OFF!!!" at number 10 - and in a church nonetheless. There were also Firefighters, a Veterinarian, a Postal Carrier, Ballerinas, Police Officers, a Business Man and my personal favorite ... A Dad. It was very sweet to look at what being grown up means to a group of 3 and 4 year olds.

Dance Party

Seriously, who wouldn't have an evening Dance Party when they turn out like this? Here's your reminder to Rock On!! Pants, of course, are optional.

"Shewww"

Are guns and shooters and swords and objects for jousting embedded in the combination of X and Y chromosomes? We're on vacation, trying to enjoy a little family QT. This afternoon, #1 and his Daddy went to the driving range to hit balls while #2 napped and I worked. #2 woke up before the other boys were back home, so we went down to the dock and drove a little remote controlled boat around the lake. #2 is zooming this thing back and forth, spinning it in circles and getting a little frustrated when the boat didn't go in the exact direction he was expecting. All of a sudden he points the remote control, and it's long antenna, at the boat and says, "Sheww! Sheww! ShewwT!" Translation: Bang, Bang! You're dead.