Nolan Meets Thomas

Nolan has had a thing for trains for the past few years.  We see one and he screams STOP!  We hear one and he yells SHHHH LISTEN!  Last year when Thomas came to town we tried to buy tickets, but we did realize how crazy busy it would be.  All tickets were sold out by the time we decided to go.  This year we did not take things by chance.  Thomas was today....we bought tickets in May :)  Grandmommy treated Nolan to the best birthday present ever! 

 When we first arrived, Nolan was so overwhelmed.  Some kids freak when they are at their mecca, and other stand back and take it all in first.  He was the latter of the two. 

 

Once Nolan got his Toby tattoo, he started to show is usual excitement :)

 

 

And we could not leave out James....he obviously got a James tattoo :)

 

 We visited the gift shop, Lego/train table station, and then went to stand in line.  Whoever decided that #1 this was a good event to do in the summer time and #2 standing in the sun for 20 minutes with screaming children everywhere was a good idea is a crazy person. 

 

 When we finally were able to file out of the line and walk to our passenger car, we all felt much better.  I think just the idea of being in AC for a bit perked everyone up!

 

Brad and Grandmommy being goofy.  All of us decided that we would love for train transportation to come back to popularity. So relaxing and fun!

 

 Elise took most of the pictures, so I wanted to make sure everyone knew that she was indeed with us on our trip.

 

 Nolan looked out the window the entire trip.  The only time he spoke was to tell us when another car was coming up, more tracks were spotted, and ding ding gate were flashing.

 

 

I could not believe the number of people standing in line to "meet Thomas" and "Sir Topin Hat.  Mama doesn't do long lines, heat, or crazy people.  So, we walked to the front of the Thomas line, waved and said hi to Thomas from behind the chains, took a pic and called it a day!  It worked for Nolan, so that's all that matters :)

Roller Over...er

Last week, James rolled over for the very first time!  He rolled from his back to his belly which typically is the harder of the two rolling options.  He has done it a few times since, but is not really what I would call a roller over...er.  I just wanted to make sure I documented this fun tidbit.  Here is a pic I took RIGHT after it happened. 

I feel kinda bad.  I have Nolan's very first rolled caught on video.  I could tell it was going to happen, so I grabbed the camera.  Poor James...he is always going to have an older brother to contend with.  Oh well, at least he will have a pic to show his kids of his first roll.  Ahhhh, life of the second born.

Nolan Turns 4!!!!

Hard to believe that the little boy who first stole my heart is now four years old.  Nolan has turned into the funniest, most kind hearted, most clever, annoying, loving, and smartest little man.  Yep, I said annoying. I may be his mother, but I'm not blind ;)  We did a low key birthday for Boo this year.  He had a blowout third birthday, so we thought we would wait until 5 to do another big friend fest. Here he is on his actual birthday.  We did a little cake and opened presents.  His one and only wish was to go ride go karts with his dad.  So we did :)

 

 That Saturday we took Nolan and two friends to the movies.  He loves Chase and Alex and it was sooooooooooooooooo cute to see them all together outside of school.  Nolan wanted to see Disney's Planes, so of course I got him an appropriate outfit :)

 

 

Here are the boys before things got started.  They did such a great job paying attention.  Naturally, there was some talking going on, but nothing as bad as the 2 year old near the front screaming for 30 minutes.  As you can tell, Brad was not nearly excited as the 4 year olds ;)

 

 

A few days after his birthday, Nolan was watching Special Agent Oso and learned how to make a THANK YOU note.  So, we made one of our own.  I think he did pretty good for a kid who just turned 4 :)

 

 

Just a few stats from his doctor visit:

-43 inches (90%)

-42 pounds (90%)

-right ear infection...random

-communicates better than average 4 year old

-writes better than average 4 year old

-surprised that he can already spell and write his name, mom, dad, zoo, James

VAN!!!!

My sweet boys.  Let me tell you how your mom became the owner of something she swore she would never own.

 

I love the two of you.  But you cost lots of money.  Daddy and I thought and thought while baby James was cooking about how we were going to afford to send you BOTH to daycare at the same time.  We decided to sell daddy's big truck and use the extra money to get mom a new car.  Dad would drive Mommy's old car for a bit, but eventually sell it to get the cash to pay for a big chunk of daycare.  So, when James was about a month old we bought this.............

 

Isn't she pretty?  It was my very first brand new car.  We looked all over the place for a 4 door car with a big enough back seat for the two of you.  After many weekends and test drives later, we decided to buy new and get a MAZDA 6.  I loved it.  It was FAST and sporty and cool and not momish.  I LOVED it for about two weeks.  Then I loved it.  After that, I liked it.  Then I went on that trip to TX and drove a Dodge Grand Caravan for a week.  Finally, I hated it.  Reason?  I underestimated how annoying it was to first open the door for Nolan, walk around to the other side to put James in, walk back to the other side to make sure Nolan was buckled and shut the door, and finally walk back to the other side so that I could get in.  Do that times two to get back out of the car.  When I saw how easy it was to push a button, Nolan climbs in, James clicks in, and I get in, I was sold.  I called your daddy.  He said a few choice words about how I wasn't allowed to change my mind.  I said I don't care.  He said only if they gave us exactly what we needed to pay off the car.  And well.........................

 

 

I did it!  I was able to talk your daddy into it and things have been dreamy ever since.  Isn't she pretty?  So, that is the story of how your mom became a van owner after years and years and years of saying no way.  One of the best decisions I have ever made.

Summer Trip to TX 2013

Most important thing to note is that I packed all clothing for Nolan, James and myself in this one bag.  I was so darn impressed with myself.  I use to get lots of flack when we would go on family vacations for always packing too much.  I have come a long way ;)

 

 

To say this trip was put together at the last minute is an understatement.  Elise and I wanted to surprise mom like we did two summers ago, but with the new baby the surprise element had to go.  We decided on the last week of June because that is what fit into every one's schedules.  Driving was a must as James had not yet had his two month shots yet, and I was just not comfortable putting him on one of the germiest objects there is...an air plane.  Once we decided we were going to rent a van and drive the 12 hour stint, we thought it might be a good idea to invite a few more people.......

Enter...Grandmommy and Aunt Pam :)  We had a lovely drive down.  James was a wonderful travel baby and Nolan was a great traveling toddler...thanks to Aunt Pam and her bag of tricks! 

 

 Uncle Patrick and his nephew James Patrick.  They are going to be great buds just like Patrick and Nolan!

 

 James and the JOOVY.  This thing has gotten some mileage.  Well worth the money and the kids love it.  Nolan even slept in it this trip...yes at almost 4.  He was suppose to sleep with me, but the first night was hell on Earth.  I had no idea that he kicked, turned, tossed and talked in his sleep.  I could not do that for a solid week.

 

 It is hard to believe that just last year Nolan was freaked out by the pool.  He would NOT go in without an adult GLUED to him.  This summer he just took to it...jumping in by himself and swimming alone.  For the second year in a row, someone has had to jump in after him.  I guess he got a little too comfortable...as did the rest of us.  He went right under.  Luckily Aunt Pam saved the day.  She jumped right in and scooped him up in seconds! 

 

 

 I don't play around with sunburn! 

 

 Baby James stayed in the shaded the entire trip.  I didn't think his 7 week old self could handle the TX sun.

 

 Not even two months old and he is already standing....hehehe :)

 

 We had a terrible bike incident.  The darn thing just snapped in half as Nolan was riding down the street.  A busted knee, shoulder, face and call to manufacturer later and we have a brand new SCOOTER that he LOVES!

 

I thought I would close with this.  While Nolan and Patrick are about 10 years off in years, they are about the same age in goofiness ;)