Fun, Food, Friends, & Fellowship

For the past 2 out of 3 years (last year I was enormously pregnant with G) we have celebrated Memorial Day with a huge picnic. My childhood friend, Courtney & the Bieber family invite tons of family and friends to celebrate this special holiday! We enjoy yummy food, talk with ones we haven't seen in years, & let the little ones play.
This year we had our 3 wild ones + Grandma, Shannie, & Adalyn - our caravan (as Will put it) was complete! (minus Uncle Mark who is overseas and Poppy who had to work).
Our 2 big boys started the day on the huge water slip n' slide! I do believe Huds had the most fun of all! - looking like a muddy, drowned rat at the end!





Gray and Ad spent their time on the blanket, pulling, tugging, and admiring each other.





Babies enjoyed bits of watermelon, graham crackers, and macaroni & cheese.





Big boys enjoyed hot dogs & watermelon.



What a fun, relaxing day to spend celebrating our freedom!
And we will NOT forget the real reason for this day! We love you Uncle Mark!

Livin' the Hard Life

Summer has officially began in the Daniels' home. The blow-up pool has been brought out, 2 baby pools (one for Gray and one for Ad) have been purchased, rafts have been found, patio umbrella has been put up - we are ready!
Life around here can be pretty tough...........











a cool refreshing bottle of milk.......



Funniest quote of the day from C: "Mom, I'm a fish like you - Dad's a sand crab!"
Yes you are Big C!





Finishing the day with some of Daddy's chocolate milk shakes.





But, I wouldn't trade it for anything!

How Did This Happen???

It seems overnight that Graydon has become a toddler. From Baby G to crawling G, and now to cruising G. He races to follow after big brother and our poor bunny, Rockstar. He's in the bathroom, Hudson's room, dining room with fingers in the cabinets or even better - the bunny's cage.
He thinks he's big! He will now crawl across the backyard, towards the football field (while Daddy's playing flagfootball), or along the sidelines at big brother C's baseball games.
He takes baths with the other boys, eats off everyone's plates, and plays amongst superhero toys, trains, dinosaurs, and tries to attack Clayton's Legos.
He's either happy or mad - and he lets you know it! His screams and grunts let you know he's NOT happy!
He loves attention - being talked to or rolling a ball back and forth with Mommy/Daddy or brothers. He loves sitting at the table with the family at mealtime and getting snacks from Mommy & Daddy's plates. He loves his swing and many times drops his head to sleep. He loves to explore and look back to grin - just to make sure you're watching.
He hates strangers and being passed to anyone (even if for a second). He hates the church nursery and still cries. Many times I go to pick him up and he's in Grandma/Poppy's 2-yr-old classroom. He doesn't like a sippy cup and loves his bottle! He's not a cuddling baby - he wants down. Much like Big Brother C - he wants to be big and move around.

How did this happen??? I'm not sure.....
Here are some snapshots of our Baby G in motion!

Oh yes - did I mention - that he can also climb stairs???







this is his "bottom-in-the air, grass crawl"



in action..........

Today We Celebrate Law Day!

As of today, May 26, 2011 our city has declared this day, Law Day. We are to celebrate why we love the law, why we must abide our city's laws, and remember what we hold sacred - our freedom.
This is all in celebration of our Big C!



A few weeks ago, his teacher called me to inform me that Clayton had won a "Law Day" poster contest. The topic of this contest was "John Adams: from Boston to Guantanamo." Sounds a bit much for a Kindergartener to take on, but we sat at the computer and looked at possible things that Big C could draw to fit the topic. He was to draw a first draft at home and then take that drawing to school. At school, he would use his drawing to complete a poster to enter into this contest. Clayton's drawing was entered and chosen from Kindergarten students throughout the county/city and was given a 1st place honor! To be honest - we were shocked! Proud, but still shocked!
Once we heard the news, we were invited to a "Law Day" event to celebrate this honor. So today, Will picked up Clayton and me at school (remember he's with me for the next 6 days) and we headed downtown to the Old Courthouse. We arrived there to find many judges, attorneys, influential members of our community, and law day posters covering the walls.
We took a seat beside Mrs. Young (Clayton's kindergarten teacher) and found Clayton's spot in the front row with the other recipients. This was way formal - and we were way out of our league!
Through this event, lawyers spoke, gave awards to notable members of the bar, etc., but the sweetest moment was when......





Clayton's name was called and he stepped forward to show his work!..



He was absolutely adorable!

After the ceremony was over, we were able to celebrate at an up-scale local restaurant downtown on the square.



Lunch was complete with cheesecake drizzled in chocolate sauce - Clayton's favorite!



It was such a special day - I'm sure none of us will forget!

Wordless Wednesday: Gray's One of the Boys!

Top 10 Reasons Why I love Having Big C at My School

As many of you know, Big C's kindergarten year ended last week. With county school system not getting out until June 3rd - I thought it would be the easiest on everyone if I was able to take Big C to school with me. These last days are filled with dance parties, field trips, walks to the park, and just plain fun! So, I followed the rules by the book, filled out an enrollment packet for Clayton and enrolled him into public school!
I have to say - 2 days in - and I'm loving it!

Top 10 Reasons why I love Big C at school with me........

10) To have a dance partner at the primary school dance party today!



9) To have an extra lunch buddy - yes Clayton has been eating with the Kindergarten teachers the last 2 days.

8) To have early morning chats in the car on the way to school - a great start to my morning!

7) To let him join in these last days of fun! Lampkin Park on Thursday and Kentucky Down Under on Friday - just to name 2.

6) To let Clayton get some much-needed (NOT) spoiling from my assistant Barbara, Miss Kim, and Mrs. Ashley.

5) To have a chance to reschedule my First Steps kiddos so that I can come home with my C after school each day.

4) To keep Clayton occupied and busy, while still learning.

3) To watch over Clayton and take a "sneak peek" next door to see what he's up to!



2) To gain all the information from Miss Kim that C "forgets" during the day - favorite things, funny moments, special memories.

1) Getting to spend these extra days watching him grow and interact with peers - a side I NEVER have gotten to see until now!

Wrapping up Kindergarten - A Fun Celebration!

Grateful for a compassionate principal, I was able to spend the day with my Big C on his last day of Kindergarten. FCA has been a huge chapter in Clayton's little life. He has spent the past two years there - meeting friends, learning to read, memorizing scripture, gaining tons of knowledge, and learning the ways of Jesus. Next year may mean a new chapter - a new school, who knows??? but for right now, we are cherishing these sweet moments.

Cleaning desks, packing up, and completing Friday's spelling test in shaving cream were just a few of the last day activities.





Each child received one "classroom award." Clayton was given the "Laffy Taffy" award (of couse) - for always keeping the class laughing. For bringing light and laughter to any situation!



After a quick morning in the classroom, we headed to Chapel/Assembly where Kindergarten awards were given. Clayton received awards in Reading and Bible from Mrs. Young.





Mr. White (principal) presented Clayton with his 1st place ribbon and certificate for winning the Law Day poster contest for Kindergarten. We've been told that Clayton's drawing competed with Kindergarteners across the district - we will be attending a small ceremony at the county's courthouse (I will share more details then - when I know them) next Thursday.



After awards....... (and picking up Little H), it was on to the park - Poppy's park to be exact!









The boys had a great time playing and goofing off.



Even Aunt Shannie/Ad were there to play (and sleep).



What a great way to wrap up the year!

What's next for Big C - 10 more days of Kindergarten at Mommy's school! Dance parties, Kentucky Down Under, Lampkin Park, Field Day - more end-of-the-year fun!

Wordless Wednesday: C & H are growing beans

In full bloom.........

Today was filled with cold winds and cloudy skies. But, thanks to our friend Corey, it was still a working night at the Daniels' house. We had mentioned to Corey (at church yesterday) that we were needing some mulch for our landscaping and guess what??? He piled it in our driveway this afternoon - talk about quick service! Kidding aside - we were truly thankful! A pile of mulch for $20 - super savings!!!



But the mulch couldn't stay piled in our driveway - so we (Will) began digging away. The kids enjoyed jumping and riding toys on this huge pile of dirt!



I stood back, gave direction, and snapped pictures of our landscape transformation.
The little boys had "worked" so hard...



that a McDonalds break was a necessity!



Clayton even took to hacking or "shoveling" the mulch.



I would have to say - Husband did pretty good for a cool night after a long day at work.

~ ~ ~

In other news.........guess what I managed to accomplish this afternoon????



Oh goodness! I'm pretty sure I now need a coupon organizer like those ladies on Extreme Couponing!