Last week

I reckon since this week is about over, it's time to get last week's recap out of draft mode.

Last week was looooong. Paul had three games and had to go scout a game another night, which meant he was gone for four bed times, which meant the boys didn't really see him during the week. I know a lot of people have it worse, but we miss him when he isn't here and it definitely makes my days with the boys long and challenging.

Gray got to go with me to their first conference game lastt Monday night. It was against Mt. Tabor (their biggest rival aside from West) at Mt. Tabor but the Raiders pulled off a 1-0 win. 

We busted out some fall pjs thanks to the cooler temps. 

Gray on the left, a little older than Walker is on the right. Both equally cute and sweet. Insert a million heart eyes.

The temps might have been chilly at night but during the day we got to enjoy dinner on the "porch". Gray enjoys taking his shirt off at random times.

We marveled at this sunset leaving Awana Wednesday night. 

Which led to this conversation with Gray...

Me: "Look at that beautiful sunset God painted for us to enjoy."

Gray: "But did he get paint on his clothes?"

Me: "I don't think so buddy and even if he did, it comes out in the washer."

Gray: "When we go to heaven can we take Sophie with us?" (Sophie is our dog, aka Gray's BFF)

Me: "Yes buddy."

Gray: "Will the mean king (Pharoah) be there?"

Me: "I don't know buddy, he acted very ugly."

Gray: "I think he will be in Nineveh!"

My heart smiled and laughed at the same time. He is so smart and his little brain is just constantly thinking about all of these things he's earning and trying to piece them together. The questions are going to start getting tough and I pray I am ready to answer them in the right/best way. 

Thursday morning Walker had his 15 month well check. He is closer to 16 months at this point but we had to reschedule with a new doctor after ours got a new job, which I am still pouting about. But I think I'm going to like Dr. Brown just as good as we liked Dr. Bill and she is already in love with Walker, so that helps too ;) Hoping to do an updated post on Walker soon.

Meanwhile Gray was busy as school leaving about community helpers and hanging out with a police officer and going to art class. To say he is loving school is an understatement!

Friday was soccer day! Paul had a rare Friday night game so a sweet parent took over as coach. Gray wasn't happy about it one bit, but when his best buddies showed up to watch him he quickly forgot about it.

Saturday was spent running errands, I tutored and we had a few couples from our new Bible Fellowship class over that night. It was all fun and games until one of them was used the term "middle aged" to describe someone in their mid to late THIRTIES. I about died! But we are loving getting to know these YOUNG, newly married couples.

We enjoyed church and just hanging around the house on Sunday, soaking up some quality family time before another busy week started.

It's looking like a rainy weekend here but you won't hear me complain one bit because that might mean Daddy gets to be home all weekend instead of being in Raleigh for games all day and night tomorrow. Rain is a good thang, y'all!

Happy weekend!

Weekly Recap

This week flew by thanks to Labor Day and being super busy.

Tuesday while Gray was at school Walker and I played at home and finished unpacking from the beach. Then we went to the playground and to Y before picking brother up from school. Some mornings it's hard having Gray at preschool by 8:00 but I do like that he is there four hours because although I miss him, it actually seems long enough to be productive and spend some good quality time with Walker man.

Daddy was home from practice in time to eat dinner and play for a few before Walker went to bed. If Gray has a nap we don't put him down until around 9:00 because he is still awake in his bed until at least 10:00. It's crazy I know. But he is happy in his bed and he just seems to not be needing as much sleep these days. After Walker went to bed Daddy helped Gray finish up his first homework assignment. 

The women's Bible study started back at my church this week. I've been going since Gray was three months old and I honestly couldn't imagine life without it. It gives me a structured study that helps me stay in the Word daily, it's time with friends-my age and older ladies with so much wisdom, and it's two hours away from the boys to get refreshed and for them to get social interaction and even a little Bible lesson. The study I am doing for the next six weeks is called Seamless, by Angie Smith. I just finished the first week and I love it already!

Both boys took a long nap and as much as I felt like I needed to do around the house, I did this instead...

Wednesday night Awana started back at church. This year Gray is in the 3 year old Cubbies program. They do very structured Bible lessons and even memorize a Scripture verse each week. They even had child care for Walker while brother was in Awana which meant I got an hour and a half of down time in the lobby talking to some awesome mom friends. While we were at church Paul's team was busy getting a 3-0 win...Go Raiders! They are off to a good start this season but conference games start on Monday and things will start getting tough. 

Thursday Gray had music class at school. This is right up his alley so he was so excited to tell me all about it. I am so happy with his preschool already. He is learning a lot and having so much fun and his teachers are awesome! The main teacher sends an email EVERY DAY the students are there giving details of their day and what they did. When I picked him up Thursday Mrs. Andrews, his assistant teacher, told me she had a funny story to tell me as she was putting Gray into the car. Apparently he had some business to take care of in the bathroom and when he came out he shouted, "that was the biggest stinky OF MY LIFE! And it was GREEN!" Oh. My. Word. I almost died y'all. And Gray was looking at us the whole time like, "what's the big deal?!". 

I think the most exciting part of the whole week happened on Friday evening. Gray had his first official soccer practice! Last year he did a Soccer Tots program but it was more just running around, two year old chaos and they barely even touched a ball. This year, it's all business! ;) Gray was so excited that he didn't nap and was dressed in his uniform approximately two hours before practice started. As busy as Paul is with his high school team, he wasn't going to miss the opportunity to coach Gray's first soccer team. There are six boys on the U-4 teams and they have a 30 minute "practice" followed by a 30 minute "game". The kids listened so well and stayed focused better than I could have imagined. And I couldn't get enough of my big boy in his uniform.

This picture, this reality-it's like a dream come true! Be still my heart.

Coach Daddy!

Walker was such a good boy at practice and I'm pretty sure he had as much fun as the boys on the team.

Saturday was filled with a birthday party, tutoring, grocery shopping, cooking, playing with neighbors and enjoying FALL weather!! 

This morning was our first day in our new Bible Fellowship class. We have been so excited about it and just could hardly wait. And then Paul got his first ever migraine that put him in the bed for over 24 hours. He rarely gets sick or has regular headaches and he was in bad shape. He missed church and the first day in our new class and we had to cancel plans for friends to come over for dinner. He still isn't 100% but is hopefully going to be well enough in the morning to work and coach Reagan's first conference game tomorrow night. Our BF class was awesome! We had a good crowd for the first week and I can't wait to be a part of these young married couples' lives. 

Here's to a great week ahead!

Last week and Labor Day Weekend

We kicked off last week with a trip to the Y followed by a playground date with my good friend Abbie and her boys. It was hot y'all! I have always been a summer girl but by this time I'm over the heat and humidity and ready to welcome fall. That afternoon we met my friend Ashley and her girls for an ice-cream date at Chick-fil-a. I never turn down time with friends if we can help it. Plus, Chick-fil-a always makes a Monday a little more bearable.

Walker and Sophie

This was Walker's first time holding the ice cream cone-he was in heaven!

Tuesday I dropped Gray off in the car line at preschool. One of the safety patrol students from the day school helped get him out of the car and walked him in. It was way harder for me than walking him in on the first day. He just seemed so big and so grown up and independent. Walker and I went back home and played for a while, then ran errands before my body pump class at the Y. It gets over at 11:45 which is perfect timing to go straight to pick up Gray. Our big boy was  "star of the day" at school which meant a lot of cool things. He got to be line leader, lead a prayer, sit in the rocking chair during snack, help the teacher during calendar, choose the book for one of the group times and he was most excited about wearing a special star around his neck all day.

Gray kept his nap streak going until Thursday when he was just too wound up from a big day at school. Most of the excitement came from celebrating his friend Evelyn's birthday with juice and cupcakes. But his first trip to the school library was a big hit too. A friend of ours was at the church/school for some reason that day and caught Gray in line going back to his class from the library.

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Here is Gray devouring a cupcake in honor of Evelyn turning FOUR!

Walker was a bit of a mess last week. Teeth numbers 13 and 14 have been hanging out right under the skin for the longest time and one finally broke through. He already has his four baby molars but these sharp teeth have been his biggest complaint yet. He is usually my champion sleeper but didn't nap very well last week and was very fussy and clingy. Still cute as ever though, not that anyone would doubt.

Bless those little scraped up knees and legs.

It's amazing how easy he falls asleep in the car without big brother ;)

Friday morning we took Daddy to work so we'd be able to pick him up right when he got off and hit the road for the beach. The boys were the best travelers yet on this trip and I was expecting the worst after our last trip/vacation was cut short from us all being sick, making for the longest and loudest ride home ever. 

It was a quick weekend but such a good one. Nanny and Papa (Paul's parents) drove up Saturday and stayed for one night. Being with our whole immediate family was so special. I had my doubts about Walker loving the beach this year but he proved me wrong. He was such a trooper and a happy boy the whole time, until it came to sleeping somewhere that was not his bead. But other than that, both boys were so happy and well behaved and we just had the best time. I was pretty slack on my picture taking and didn't manage to get any of my mom and Gram with the boys but at least we have the memories!

Gray woke up earlier than normal every morning-he was SO excited! We enjoyed playing on the beach early and watching the sunrise.

Papa was the best hole digger!

This boy loves his Nanny!

True story-Paul and I fell in love over all you can eat crab legs on a beach retreat with our old Bible Fellowship class. We had just started dating a couple weeks before and he loved that I didn't hold back and could put away some food. We celebrated with a date night back to same exact place. Seven years later, I am still so excited that he chose me!

Gray and cousin Bryan

My brother tried to get some good pics of the four cousins but this was about as good as it got.

We had to hit up the Berry Patch for homemade ice cream on the way home!