September Recap

Somehow September already seems like a blur. We kicked it off with a long weekend trip to Nanny and Papa's over Labor Day weekend. The weather couldn't have been more perfect for our last little trip to the beach.

Nanny and Papa had a wedding to go to on Saturday so we spent the day in Wilmington at my cousin's. The boys had the best time with Cole and Ruby and my aunt was there visiting too. I think the best part of the whole day was that Gray rode a bike for the first time with no training wheels! He really wanted to get on Cole's bike, which was too big since he is two years older than Gray, but since he was so determined we let him anyway and he just took off almost like he'd been doing it forever! It was one of the happiest, most proud moments of my mommy career yet. :)

Sunday we spent all day on Papa's little boat and at the beach. Gray didn't have as much luck with fishing as he did last time, but we got to follow a family of dolphins for a long time and that almost made up for it!

Doritos on the boat has become Walker's favorite tradition!

Then Sunday evening Paul and I headed back to Wilmington for a date night while the boys hung with Nanny and Papa. We finally made it to Circa 1922, a restaurant downtown that Paul has wanted to take me to since we were dating. It did not disappoint, but the one-on-one time with my man was even better!

The week after Labor Day all kinds of fun things started for the boys. Gray was in his second year as a Cubbie in the Awana program at church and Walker got to start Awana for the first time as a Puggle, and with his BFF Emmett too, which made it even better. Awana is an amazing program and our boys are learning so much about the Bible already.

Both boys started soccer too! Gray in his third season and Walker's very first (Soccer Tots). I can't even handle my boys in their soccer uniforms!

Daddy tried to stop by on his way to his own practice and games as much as he could.

Gray scored his first ever goal at his second "game" of the season. Daddy is coaching Gray's team again, which is just the best ever!

Preschool was in full swing for Gray and he was loving it and already learning so much!

Grandparents Day at preschool

The weather was finally starting to get cooler and we were so excited about some fall events starting. The boys and I probably ate lunch outside 4 out of 5 days every single week in September.

Our first time at the Bethabara Park Apple Festival-so much fun!!

First of a few trips to the pumpkin patch.

It's been a looooong couple of months without Daddy home much, but as I type this we are only a week or two away from his soccer season being over. PRAISE JESUS!!!!!

October post coming soon!

August Happenings

August was such a blur! Mostly because soccer season was well under way which meant Paul was gone A LOT. He had try outs twice a day for several days and then when the team was chosen, they traveled to camps and scrimmages quite a bit. It made for some long days but a very quick month.

August brought about some challenging brother moments, so the sweet ones HAD to be captured.

A sweet husband who hides notes for me while he's gone makes soccer season a tad bit better.

The first Sunday in six weeks we were all at church together!

Gray continued swim lessons and we spent every other minute possible at the pool. He improved every single time he got in the water. He is swimming very well under the water for pretty good distances. He continues to prove himself fearless, jumping off the diving board and doing FLIPS off the side of the pool and even the diving board.

We made it to another Dash game on one of Paul's evenings off. The boys love Bolt and I love these "I'm just here for the snacks" shirts I got on clearance for $3! They could not be more perfect for our always eating boys!

Squeezing in some yard work. I have the cutest landscapers around! ;)

Thanking God for His grace during this particular evening. The witching hour is still a thing around our house most nights and I usually dread doing the bedtime routine by myself.

We spent a lot of days dirty and sweaty in the August heat and humidity.

And dreaming about cooler days...

We spent the last of Paul's days (or partial days) off checking some things off of our summer bucket list, like the Greensboro Children's Museum and the Tanglewood water park.

My handsome little boys ready for church.

I got to spend a long morning catching up with my good friend Renna, who is on bed rest with sweet baby girl number three.

The boys and I cheered Daddy's team into third place at the Forsyth Cup.

And then, just like that-my big boy started preschool for the last time. This year he is going Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He wasn't the least bit nervous or hesitant about the first day and even told me "he didn't need me to walk him in". 

Here we are almost halfway through September. The saying is so true..."the days are long but the months and years are short!" That gives me motivation to try to keep up with at least one post a month-I'll need these for the sake of my memory!

July Happenings-a picture overload!

July was a crazy busy month for us! The last few days of June/first few days of July we headed to Nanny and Papa's for five days. Gray had his first real fishing experience, which was a huge success. He caught a total of seven, one being a baby shark.

This boy.

We spent a day in Wilmington visiting the train museum and wandering around downtown.

And we spent a lot of time on the beach.

We met my cousin and her family for a day at the beach. Gray loved surfing and playing with Cole. Walker loved hanging in the tide pools and playing with Ruby.

We spent July 4th hanging with family and eating all the food. My mom stayed with Walker that night and we took Gray to see the fireworks for the first time.

My Pinterest inspired, super easy July 4th dessert.

That Thursday we were back on the road again, this time to Raleigh for three nights. Paul and his dad got selected to coach the Men's Clash of the Carolina's game. You can only be selected to coach this team one time in your coaching career and of course many high school coaches will never get the opportunity. So it was a huge honor for Paul and SO special to get to do it with his dad, especially since he just retired and this was the last ever high school game he coached. Paul was busy a lot the first two days we were there and things were quite stressful with the boys. We were all in one hotel room and since the boys have never slept in the bed with us, this made things interesting. Walker was TICKED about sleeping in his pack n play right next to our bed. Besides the sleeping conditions, we had a great time. The day of the game was crazy, miserably hot. My sweet mom ended up taking the boys early in to the game so I could actually watch it. It was a close game but North Carolina won 4-3!

At the banquet the night before the big game.

The hottest soccer game I have ever sat through...but all worth it and so excited for a WIN for NC!!

Lots of family came to support the Hicks coaches.

We got home from that big weekend on a Sunday afternoon and Paul started his Reagan soccer camp first thing the next morning. It was an exhausting week for all.

Friday morning we were back on the road to spend five nights at the beach with my side of the family. We had the best week!

We met a family from KENYA and became instant BFFs ;)

Mugger and her beach bums

Up extra early for a sunrise donut breakfast

9:00 a.m. and mad because he was out of snacks 

Gray became best friends with the lifeguard, Ryan. He was so sweet to talk to Gray every day and let him sit in the stand,

So special to be on the beach with our most precious Gram!

Cousins. Love these boys so, so much!!

Date night with my main man!

Paul traveled working soccer camps and with his soccer team a ton the rest of July. We missed him and it made for a lot of long, challenging days. Soccer season is now in full swing and Paul will be swamped and gone a lot with coaching until November.

Somehow we are already halfway through August. Preschool is about to start for Gray and I have to say, I am ready for some routine and will welcome fall and the cooler temps.

Maybe I'll get an August update posted halfway through September ;)