The One About the Anniversary Surprise

   I haven't posted much lately, because we have been confined indoors due to the rain.  We get out between showers, play in the mud puddles, come in and take a bath, and then watch the rain fall again.  We are all getting so sick of it.  The sun is shining today, so hopefully it stays that way throughout the daytime. 
    This Memorial Day weekend was Ewing's Funfest.  It was a busy weekend for us, and we managed to go out more than we have in years.  I went out Thursday night with my brother's girlfriend and my sister.  Let me tell you, I am way too old to be doing shots.  I only did one, but that with the beers and kids getting up at 6:00 a.m. did not make for a fun Friday morning.  On Friday night, we went out with my friend Angie and her husband, who were back for the weekend.  A couple other classmates were back too, so it ended up being a 1998 mini-class reunion.  Still dragging from the night before, I left at 11:30, but Ernie managed to party it up until nearly 4:00 a.m.  On Saturday night we went out again with our friend Greg and his girlfriend. 
    On Sunday morning, Ewing had their first Bubby's 5k race to raise money for cancer.  It was so much fun.  They had over 175 people registered, music, door prizes, etc...  I ran the 5k, and will add that I set a personal record.  Not sure how after all those nights out drinking, but I did.  I told Ernie that he has to run with me next year.  :)  In the afternoon we went to the golf course for the ping pong ball drop and hole-in-one contest.  It was misting, but not full-on raining.  The kids loved it!  Asher just kept screaming bloody murder when the plane flew over head.  Then he would hear a golf cart and scream "Airplane!  It's coming!!"  I mean, SCREAM!!  He just loved that airplane.  Gavin buddied up with his friend Michael and they decided their strategy would be to go together to get as many balls as they could.  It was funny.  It reminded me how he is not my little baby anymore.  He took off with his friends like a big boy.  At one point, I looked over and there were 3 of them standing with their arms around each other.  I wish I had my camera out there. 
   We came home and met Grandma Lois, who was going to watch the boys so we could go out for our anniversary.  I knew we were going out to eat, but I had no idea HOW we were going to get there.  Ernie rented a limo!!  A LIMO!  I was shocked!  He actually planned something in advance.  The limo was fun, although it would have been more fun to do with some friends.  But we can do that some other time.  It was nice to be able to drink on the way (Wow...I really sound like an alcoholic in this post).  We cruised Ewing for a little bit, which was fun.  The windows were dark, so no one could see who was in the limo.  Then we went to Stanton to the Uptown, which was wonderful.  

 

The One About the Short Haircuts

     I knew I had to do it soon.  The boys both have so much hair.  Gavin, especially.  His hair is just sooo thick.  He gets so hot in the summer.   I knew it would be hard on me, as I have cried every time I have cut Gavin's hair short.  Mostly because it just makes him look so much older.  I like Asher's hair short, but I still think Gavin is meant to have longer hair.  We'll grow it back out in the fall. 

 

    I had to include these pictures of Asher, because I think he looks so much like Ernie in them.  The facial expressions in these pictures are just mirror images of Ernie.  Especially the movement of his eyebrows.

The One About the Mud Puddles

There's nothing I can do.  I can't keep them locked inside, and they just can't help but play in the puddles.  So until the water dries up, we will continue to take multiple baths per day.  :)  On the plus side, it does make for some cute pictures. 

The One About the Sprinkler

     Happy Mother's Day.  We had an absolutely beautiful weekend, and spent as much time outside as we could.  Ernie was in the field all weekend, so the boys and I took walks, bike rides, and played at the park.  I got my first sunburn of the season.  We also received a very nice bird feeder from Grandma Lois.  The boys are having so much fun watching birds eat from it. 

     The highlight of the weekend was the sprinkler.  Gavin has been asking to run in the sprinkler for two weeks, and it was finally warm enough today.  You should have heard the laughter coming from the boys.  It was truly the most wonderful sound in the world;  the perfect gift for Mother's Day. 

Look at that soggy diaper:  :)

Then of course, while the boys were soaked, they had to try out the slide.

The One About the Air Freshener

I took the boys out to ride with Ernie in the tractor yesterday.  Gavin wanted to ride with Uncle Travis, but after awhile changed his mind.  "Travis's tractor is really hot.  He doesn't have a air freshener."  :) 
   In other news, Asher used his first past-tense verb.  (I realize this is probably only an important milestone to me, being such a grammar nerd).  It will be no surprise when I tell you what it is.  "I tootED!"   He also has said a couple of longer sentences lately, "I want to ride in tractor." and "I want Blues Clues on."  Ernie took him out to the farm last night while Gavin and I went to graduation, and Ernie said, "That kid NEVER shuts up."  One guess as to where my boys get their nonstop chatter.

                    Asher waiting for his turn to ride with Daddy in the tractor.  He was so excited, screaming and clapping his hands when he saw the tractor pop over the hill.

The One About the Time-Out Spot

    Asher has started his Terrible Two Tantrums.  Lately when he doesn't get his way, he stomps his feet and yells, "No!  No!  No!"  Needless to say, he has been spending some quality time on the Time-Out mat.  This is a circular mat that I ordered when Gavin was two years old.  Well apparently, Asher thinks it is "his" personal seat, b/c the other night Gavin had to go to time-out, and Asher ran over to the mat hysterical, yelling, "I sit!  I sit!" trying to pull the mat out from under Gavin.  :) 
    Tonight, I left the bathroom for a second while the boys were in the tub and came back to a flood on the floor (that's what I get for trying to do an errand while they are in the tub).  When Daddy got home, Gavin was telling him all about the mess.  Ernie told Gavin that if the floor got too wet, then it would cave in, and Dodie would kick us out of the house.  He told Gavin that he and Asher would have to live out in their treehouse playground in the yard.  Gavin's response to this:  "That's a great idea, Daddy.  We can live there.  Then we'll order food from the bar, and you can go get it for us." 

The One About the Easter Bunnies

     In a true Easter miracle, Ernie found a nest of baby bunnies in our front yard tonight while he was mowing.  There were 6 in total.  Sadly, it was after Asher went to bed so he didn't get to see them yet.  Gavin was pretty excited. 

Gavin, sporting his new blue eyepatch.

Here is a pic of the boys with their Easter baskets from this morning.