They Make me Smile :-)

As I was Saying....

in an earlier post, the boys want to do everything that Chris does. They are particularly all about Chris's cammies right now (probably because they actually aren't used to seeing Chris in them too much - he used to change at work at Parris Island - and now he is wearing them home here), so when he walks through the door, they want his cover, boots, etc. So, Chris humored the boys the other night and let Jake try them on :-) Cole, of course, then wanted to - and we gave it a shot with the pants, but .... he just had to stick with the cover!

I love the saluting :-)

He's so big!
Trying to get the pants on Cole.... unsuccessfully.
BUT this works :-)

Just another night at our house....

Happy (late) Father's Day ...

Sometimes you just need to let the pictures tell the story ....

It's the "little" things ... like ...

falling asleep on your lunch break ....

a happy husband about to deep fry some avocado egg rolls with his new deep fryer (he may be looking tough, but he was happy, trust me) ....
helping Mommy make mashed potatoes (and licking the beaters) ....
playing QUIETLY (even if for only 3 minutes) ....
turning around from vacuuming and seeing this (haha) ....
eating popsicles on the way to the pool ....
LIFE is made up of the "little" things ....

Entertainment.

The boys provide me with so much entertainment :-) Here are a couple of videos why ...

In his Shoes....

I'm telling you, Jake and Cole watch EVERYTHING that Chris does and they take it all in. They want to be just like him.... Sheer CUTENESS right here!

Playgrounds Galore!

If there is an outdoor OR especially indoor playground in the Columbus/Ft. Benning area, I guarantee we have found it :-) Last week alone, we went to 3 indoor playgrounds and our very own outdoor playground on the one morning that it was in the 80s (before 10am). We have a Monkey Joe's (which is like Island Playground back in the Beaufort area) about 3 miles from our house! It's wonderful ... and we've been meeting a friend there on Mondays. Let me just say, I knew Jake loved bouncy houses .... but Cole almost makes me nervous, b/c he has NO FEAR. He just wants to be in the mix with the "big kids" .... the older, the better. So, I myself get a pretty good workout, too, while at Monkey Joe's :-)

Cole figuring out what his next move is going to be ....

"Yep, I can do this Mom... no sweat"


And he did....
Jake and his friend Christopher playing a video game (well, pretending).
Of course Cole needs in on the action....
Cole is ready to race Lightning McQueen ...
Yep, I was thinking it was about time to shift gears, too Cole baby :-)
Jake heading up to the big slide


Playing together ...
NEXT playground is at the church we've been going to here, Cascade Hills. We really, really, really like this church, so we're pretty bummed we are only going to be here for a few more months. It's a great fit for us! They have a Military Moms group that meets on Wednesday mornings at their indoor playground in their facility, so we have been going to that and making new friends and of course the boys LOVE it!

Playing basketball....
Here's a picture of some of the play area....

On to the next playground .... Pirate Playground on base. Amazingness (come on Marine Corps...get with it) ;-) This is Jake playing "American Gladiators" ....
I'm not sure if this is a dance floor or what, but Cole especially loved all of the colors!
Heading up the stairs for the pirate ship and all the planks and slides....
AND last but not least, our very own "backyard" playground. The boys have been legitimately playing together a lot more in the past month. Jake was all about going down the slide with Cole, and even though Cole kind of wanted to do it himself, he was a good sport :-)



Here is Cole (and Jake) at Monkey Joe's climbing up the stairs for the BIG slide!! I had to cut this short, but Cole does make it all the way up there! The only bummer is I pretty much have to go, too, b/c all the 6-year old girls want to slide down with him - and Cole doesn't want that - and it's not really that safe, b/c even though they don't mean to grab his neck, they do, so I know they are just trying to be nice, but I pretty much have to follow him up and slide down with/next to him. Cole loves it, though. I'm not sure why I ever thought he would stay in the "2 and under" area!!!!!!!