Catching Frogs

We have had so much fun the last few days catching frogs in the little pond on campus.  The sun has been out, and we've enjoyed taking long walks around campus, visiting with friends and just enjoying the sunshine.  Scott is like a small child whenever we get near the pond.  He pulls the net and bucket out from the basket under the stroller and heads down to the water to search for the biggest frog he can find.  Camden runs along the edge of the water squealing with delight, but as soon as Scott scoops one up in his net he comes screaming towards his mama and hides behind me (I'm always standing a good five yards away - I hate frogs!  Eeeeeek!)  Here are a few photos from yesterday evening when we stopped at the pond on our way to dinner in the dining hall.

Only two more days of finals and then summer is officially here (after graduation, meetings, parties etc...)!  Soon though!  YAY!!!!!!!

A Good Week

We've had a good week so far this week.  On Monday we had a little playdate with my other stay-at-home mommy friend on campus.  It's so fun to see Camden and his friends play together - learning to share, using their imagination, attempting to work out arguments.  It certainly isn't always easy, but they are getting much better.  On Tuesday we explored a new (to us) gymnastics place in Concord.  We went to the open gym at Flipz with my good friend Amy and her daughter.  I'm kicking myself for not discovering this place sooner!   Jumpy house, huge trampolines, gymnastics bars...everything you can imagine.  I paid $5 for Camden to run around in there for an hour and it may have been the best $5 I've ever spent!!!  Amy and I brought the kids to Chili's for lunch afterwards because kids ate FREE on Tuesday!  Such fun!!!
Today I brought Micah to a well-child check-up and left Camden with my parents for the morning.  I got to listen to MY music on the car (instead of Raffi and Sesame Street) and had fun showing Micah off to Dr. T!  She was soooo impressed by him physically, verbally and socially.  It's pretty exciting to see fast he's growing and how much he's learning recently.  Pulling himself up on everything, walking around holding just one of our fingers, repeating lots of sounds over and over.  He is in the 90%ile for both height and head circumference and 70%ile for weight. 

And amidst all this fun Camden has been potty training!!  He's doing an incredible job and it all was way easier than I expected.  He was ready and we are SO proud of him!!!

Here are some pictures from Flipz!

  A blur - this is what most of the photos from our time at Flipz looked like!  At least he got lots of exercise!

 Micah wanted to play too!

 Fun!

 Brothers...

 Camden was fearless!

Formal

I just can't resist sharing a few of these photos of the boys in our dorm from this past Saturday night.  It was the Spring Formal and these guys looked so handsome.  Scott helped them iron their shirts before the big night and I had fun snapping pictures and sharing the photos with all of their parents who couldn't be here in person.  Although I am super excited about moving into our new house, there are definitely certain aspects of dorm life that I will miss.  Next year will also be the first year that I am not officially connected to our school in any way.  :(  Doing my best to enjoy these last few weeks with these boys before the year is over.

 Haha!  I LOVE this one!

Pooh Sticks and Black Flies

I'm so depressed that the five day forecast looks like this:

We've actually been enjoying some beautiful sunny weather this last week.  We spent lots of time outside - playing on the playground, running around with friends and family, blowing a lot of bubbles and getting eaten alive by black flies.  Mother's Day through Father's Day is miserable in New Hampshire with swarms and swarms of black flies.  I literally have been unable to sleep the last couple of nights because all my bug bites are itching me so bad.  Grrrr.  One of the things I truly can't stand about summer.  For some reason ever since I was a little kid, I seem to be the only one the bugs actually bite and I get so itchy and bumpy and yucky...just not fair!  Oh well, I'm still glad summer/spring and sun are here (although the rain the next five days will give me a little respite and an excuse to stay indoors away from the black flies!).


A couple days ago we went for a walk with my mom down to the meadow and played on the swinging bridge.  Camden loves to play "Pooh Sticks" and we played until we couldn't stand the bugs anymore!  It's such a blessing living close to family.  Here are a few pictures of our time at the river...

 Budding trees - after this upcoming rain the leaves will all be out!

The black flies seemed to like Micah too.  He has his first-ever little bite on his face  :(

I happened to have my camera with me that night as we walked home from dinner in the dining hall.  I couldn't resist snapping this impromptu snuggle session on the baseball field!  My boys are cute!

Looking at an airplane

Mother's Day

Mom,
I just want to say thank you.  I think I've always had an appreciation for how you raised me and the relationship we've had, but since becoming a mother myself, I've really gained so much more respect for you.  I never realized how deep and strong a mother's love is for her child until I had my own sons to love.

I never realized how hard it must have been for you to have a toddler and a newborn and I somehow now forgive you for leaving me sleeping under the tree at the beach all those years ago.  :)  I never realized how painful it must have been to have your child yell at you, argue with you, think they are always right, until I had children of my own and I'm already dreading the moment they think they know it all.  I'm so thankful for the bond that we've always had.  The way we can make each other laugh like no one else in the world can.  The way people always think we're sisters.  The way we (used to) eat ice cream like it was our job.  The way you used to rub my back and sing me lullaby's  -  the same exact songs I now sing to Camden every night.  Thank you for all the sacrifices you made to give me the life that I've had.  I've always loved you, but I think I love you even more now that I'm a mom too.  I'm glad I have such a beautiful, strong, intelligent, passionate, giving person to model my life after.  Thank you for being the most amazing mother and grandmother.  I love you.

And to Mom A,

I couldn't be more thankful for the family that I have married into.  You, too, have set such a wonderful example for Scott and me to follow as we raise our boys.  Thank you for doing such an incredible job helping to shape Scott and make him the man he is today.  His strength of character, his work ethic, his compassion are all reflections of the incredible parents that both you and Dad A have been to him.  Thank you for making me feel like the daughter you always wanted (even though I now have to share that title with two wonderful sisters...!) and for being such a great grandmother to our children!  Love you and Happy Mothers Day!









Here are a few pictures of the amazing line of women that I am proud to call my family...
 
My Great Grandmother - Katherine Grey (My middle name and Micah's middle name are named after her!) with my Grandpa Gordon (my mom's father)...

My maternal great-grandmother, Eleanor, with her mom, Melanie, 1904...

 My Grandma Sylvia (my mom's mom) as a child with her mother, Eleanor...

My mom with her mom, Sylvia, in 1961...

Me and my mom...

My sister, Caren, Mom, Grandma Sylvia and me...

And me with my boys...I love being a Mommy!

Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful mothers in my life!

JillandKate

I know I've blogged about them before, but two very talented friends of mine from college just released another single on iTunes yesterday!  Jill and Kate have not only been touring around the world as Kelly Clarkson's backup singers for the last few(+) years, they are also a pop/acoustic/folk duo based out of Nashville.  Their voices blend beautifully and I honestly could listen to their music all day.  Their newest single is called Pop Song and when you go to buy that song, check out all their other amazing music - you won't be disappointed!  A few personal favorites: East Coast Bound (an oldie but goodie!), Guess I Better Move On, Bring You Back to Life, Finding My Own Way, Let Me Go...Ok, I could go on and on.  Just check them out and support my friends!  (They're name is JillandKate (with or without spaces...I think either way works!).
You can also read their awesome blog here.
Or become their Facebook fan here.
Also, the cover photo for this new single was taken by another extremely talented friend from Gordon, Todd - of Todd James Photography.  His photos are amazing!
Yay for having talented friends - I just live vicariously through their successes!