Durham Bulls Game

We decided to go to a Durham Bulls game this past Friday night.  It was SO SO fun.  We have this great place so close to us-- we need to go there more often! We talked about going to a game and then checked the schedule and there was on Friday night so it all worked out! And it turned out some of our friends all wanted to go too, so we ended up having a really fun group!

I took the boys to the pool Friday afternoon to wear them out so Andy would take a nap before the game-- I figured it would be better for all if he was well-rested!

The game started at 7 so we got there early to get some food and drinks and to get situated in our seats.

 We bought the cheapest tickets they had and we were three rows off the field-- not bad!

With sweet Virginia!

Our seats were over by the bull pen-- the guys in the pen caught a fly ball and then were going to throw it up to the stands.  I stood up with Andy in my arms and waved at them-- they tossed the ball up to us, and the lady in front us stood up and caught it right before it hit my hands.  The guys all boo'd her (I felt bad!) and so the guys threw us another one-- yay!

The boys were excited...

I had such a fun time with these sweet friends!

I wasn't sure how Andy would like the game-- weird things set him off these days (sigh). But he actually really loved it! In the beginning, a plane flew over and dropped two guys who parachuted in...that scared the tar out of Andy.  But after that, he loved it and was soooo happy the whole time!

Part of the reason the boys had so much fun was because of the older kids who were with us. Andy was loving sitting with the big kids and Cal talked NON STOP to Jack-- and Jack talked to him too! It was hilarious to watch them talking to each other! Made me happy...

Every Friday they have a huge fireworks show that we stayed to watch.  I wasn't sure how Andy would do (again)... so Andy sat in Eddie's lap facing away from the fireworks and Eddie covered his ears.  Sounds lame, but it was a tear free event, so we were thrilled! 

Cal followed the older kids' lead and covered his ears-- but he loved the show.

By the time we left to go home, it was late... Cal passed out as soon as we got in the car!

Because Andy took a nap, he was able to chat our ears off the entire ride home (just goes to show you what happens when that kid naps!).  We were home by 11:00 and the kids both went straight to bed and slept through the night-- ahhhh!!!

It was the perfect way to spend a summer evening! And, it was supposed to be raining, which it didn't, and it was over cast so it was nice and cool.  Perfect!

 

Photo Dump

I take a lot of pictures. A lot. Here are some just from the past week...since we've been home from our trip:

Selfies...

 Poor Hank...

He is so loved...

Clean boys fresh out of the shower!...

Caught them watching a movie like this...

Again....Hank is a good good dog. 

Excited about adding another boy to this mix...

My loves...

He won those medals for being the world's worst sleeper!

They were band-aiding each other...

 

 Momma got some new sneakers!

Andy spent a while building the perfect track...

...and then Hank came and helped...

Reading to each other...

The boys love Mr. Keith!

The newest pic of one of the pups....

 

Little Fish

My frustration level with Andy is high this summer.  Last summer, he was starting to swim and had no fear.  When we went to Mexico, he loved the water and swam constantly.  This summer, he got it in his head that he didn't like swimming...and so he didn't do it.  At all.  I finally gave in a put the puddle jumpers on him (I am against them for many reasons, the main reason is kids tend to forget when they are not wearing them and then jump in-- Andy has done this twice and it was terrifying).  He loved the floaties and it gave him all kinds of confidence- which is what I wanted. But he had zero desire to swim without them. 

I have begged/pleaded/rationalized getting him to try swimming with them off and he refused...

Until yesterday. I got in the water and held on to his swimsuit while he swam around.  I started letting go and he was swimming on his own.  I pointed that out to him, fully expecting him to freak out, but instead he asked to go further and try again.  So, our afternoon started off like this:

{video isn't uploading....! ugh!}

 

I literally had about 12 other moms and lifeguards all standing around cheering for him-- these people could feel my frustrations! So once he started getting confident, I would back up more and more and he would swim farther and farther. 

He realllly wanted to go off the diving board, so I told him he had to take the swim test (swimming the length of the deep end).  We headed over to the lap lanes and he tried it, but got water in his nose.  We tried again and he got 3/4 through and Cal jumped in and splashed water in his face... but that was enough for him to go off the diving board and down the slide!

We went to the deep end and he immediately went down the slide.  He loooooved it...until the very last turn, he flipped onto his back somehow and banged his head.  It scared him enough that he didn't want to go near the side.  But he was allll about the diving board.

He got right up on the board and threw himself off the end with zero hesitation.  He came up from his jump grinning ear to ear and swam confidently over to the ladder.

{video isn't uploading....! ugh!}

He started getting pretty confident and was doing tricks off the board.  He loved it! He would have stayed there until the pool closed if I would have let him. 

We had to take Eddie to his car and soon there after, I looked back and saw this... all that swimming did him in!

We went to the pool today and Andy walked right down the steps into the deep water and sank.  Yes. I said that.  I ran down to him with a lifeguard right behind me.  I jumped in and he was in full blown panic mode.  It appeared he had forgotten how to swim over night.  So I got in the big pool to work with him some more...and he froze up (literally the water was really cold because of all the rain this week!) and started sinking. 

He really wanted to go off the board again today, but I wasn't going to let him unless he could show me he could swim.  Finally he swam a little bit and begged to go off the board.  He did, and swam to the ladder great.  The next time he went off, he swam for about 3 seconds and then froze (I think scared to go under water...?-- totally ironic since he was just under water from the board...?) and I had to jump in and get him.  Now, I am fine with having to grab him a few times, but I won't let it become a habit that I have to jump in every single time he is going off the board-- that isn't happening! So we left the deep end and will try again later.

He was up a TON last night (we thought for sure he would sleep like a log) so I think he was really tired today.  We will see how he does! But he is getting better and gaining confidence! I am proud!

 

 

#carriedaway: week 27

Week 27:

 Day 204: Rest time.

 Day 205: just said goodbye to these clowns...and cried.  Love them. #bvibound

 Day 206: we made it!!!

 Day 207: treetop fun

 Day 208: got dropped on a deserted island with just this guy and a cooler.  It wasn't bad at all.

 Day 209: happy clams

 Day 210: soaking it all in!

 

Bruce

I think we might be crazy.

 Meet Bruce.  The newest member of the Williamson family! I know I posted pics of him earlier-- but the pups were wayyyy little and didn't move at all.  These guys now are certainly moving! They are super playful and fun and FULL of energy!

And, in about 2 weeks (11 more sleeps!), this ball of fur (or a sibling) will be coming to our house!

We have been debating the subject of a second dog for a while now... we have heard that the older dog helps train the newer dog; the newer dog brings out the puppy in the older dog; and, the newer dog helps fill that void of the older dog when he passes.  Now. If you know me, you know that the day Hank leaves us, it is going to be unbelievably difficult and I am going to need a dear friend to come and pull me off of the floor.  Hank is very much a part of our family-- and many times, he is my favorite male in the house.  Kidding.  Not really.  But really I am...kinda.

So, we decided to get a sweet pup and we are super excited about it! We took the boys to visit the puppies this weekend and it was so awesome to get to see them all! We aren't sure yet which one is ours, but it is narrowed down to two-- we don't really care- we are falling in love with ALL of the puppies!

These puppies were SO excited when we walked up-- they ran at us ready to PLAY! They played hard for about 10 minutes and then one by one, they started looking like this:

They were flat worn out! They all started falling asleep around the kennel.  The boys thought it was great because they were easier to pet when they were tired...

We had to wake these two up before we left-- Bruce is either one of these two:

And, in case anyone is curious... Bruce was my Grandpa's name-- he and I were super close and I wanted to honor him somehow... and then the puppies were born on Father's Day so it made it crystal clear what we should name him!

Adding a little chaos to the house in a few weeks.......!

 

#carriedaway: week 26

Week 26:

 Day 197: may you always be able to make sweet Jane laugh...

 Day198: compare my throwback pic from earlier to this one taken this afternoon...of so glamorous!

 Day 199: two of my dates tonight before hitting the outlets. Really a wild and crazy Friday night! #haircutsneededforall

 Day 200 (!!): got up at 5:30 this morning for championship swim meet. What a fun and chaotic morning...proud of my shark!

 Day 201: heading to the banquet. He broke out his finest.

 Day 202: Cal was worried Andy was afraid of the storm today. He promised to always take care of him.

 Day203: set your goals high, Andy.