I have more pictures, but they'll have to wait. It's story time!
Okay, so a few nights ago, Andy was not home (of course) and Dakota nosed her way through the screen door and came in the house unexpectedly. She was excited to explore and happy to see the boys, so she was all over the place, panting and jumping. The boys freaked out (she's a big dog). Carson started screaming, and Spencer kept yelling, "The dog's in the house!" I grabbed her just in time for her face-to-face confrontation with the cat. There was a lot of hissing and growling (on the cat's part). I wrapped myself around the piano to keep Dakota from dragging me down the hall. I wasn't sure how long I could hang on that way. I really didn't see the whole thing ending pleasantly. However, my guardian angels are no slouches, and somehow I got Dakota to calm down just long enough to be distracted and let me lead her back outside. Phew!! That was close!
Earlier that day, Spencer's friends decided to put on their swimming suits and play on a Slip & Slide. I told him it was almost time for dinner, but he could join them afterward. Of course, he was not very happy. He went back out and I thought no more about it. Later I sent Andy to go find him and bring him home for dinner. Apparently Spencer had decided that he would improvise and join his friends after all. He stripped down to his underwear in someone's backyard and was traversing the neighborhood with his water gun! After a scolding and a brief lecture about modesty, we set about to find his clothes. We had to knock on a couple of doors and ask if they had seen my son strip in their backyard. Another boy had brought them back and left them on our front porch. Sheesh! After that experience and then the dog thing the same night, I was wiped out!
Here's another one for you. Tonight the kids wanted to go for a walk with the dog. Carson was lagging behind quite a bit, so we stopped to wait. Suddenly he held one finger way up in the air and yelled,"I found someping! I found someping!" "What is it?" I asked. He didn't answer, so I sent Spencer to figure it out. Perhaps it was a bug or some other amazing discovery. Just as Spencer got a close-up view, Carson yelled, "A nose thing!" Ewwww!
And now for a heart warming one. Spencer went to his cousin's birthday party yesterday and came home with a few marvelous treasures (Chuck E. Cheese). One was a swirly straw. Carson was playing with it while Spencer was in the tub. When he got out, Carson had broken it. He was quite upset, especially when I told him it was beyond repair. Later, when I was getting Carson into bed, he thoughtfully said, "I broke Spencer's new straw."
"Yes," I said.
"He's sad."
"Yes, he's sad. What do you think you could say to him?"
"Sowy."
I called Spencer to come in. Carson said, "Sowy, Spencer" in a very repentant way. I could see Spencer's heart melt like butter. He threw his arms around his little brother and said, "That's okay!" They are so sweet. Spencer is an amazing little boy.
That's a fake tattoo on his cheek, in case you were wondering....
Spencer got one on his arm.
After we ride the train, we have to eat at this burger place that has a train theme. These outside tables are fun (if it's not raining), and they also have a model train inside that runs around the ceiling.
We happened to park right by "Spencer Auto Sales!"
Let's just hope he doesn't actually grow up to be a car salesman! ;)
We took her for a little hike today. Unfortunately it was Memorial Day, so there were lots of other people with dogs. She gets SOOO excited when she sees anything that breathes. Poor Andy got quite a workout! Dakota had a great time though!
This is not my favorite picture of myself, but it's one of the few of me and the dog.
She liked to get in the stream and drink. Andy wants to take her fishing when she gets a little more under control.
Nothin' like a man and his dawg.... He's been making her a deluxe doggy dwelling tonight. She will be a pampered pooch! The boys are still a little nervous around her (she is pretty much a horse to them), but they love her. They have to go down and tell her goodnight and she is their first thought when they wake up. They get their little folding chairs and sit by the screen door to watch her in the daytime. I'm sure as time goes by, everyone will get used to each other.
This summer is already starting off with big changes. Spencer finally decided to lose his training wheels. Andy said it took less than five minutes for him to take off. Now I struggle to keep up with him!
And so Carson inherited the little bike with training wheels. He thinks he is sooo big now! It's gonna be a busy summer! (And yes, Carson does typically wear his helmet--he was just showing me his big bike for the picture.)
This is a major bed head!!
I don't know what kind of acrobatics he was doing the night before!
Do you like the horns??
You'll have to trust me that the cake tasted delicious even though it looked like a disaster. It was called "Feathery Fudge Cake." Mmmm! I will do that one again! Carson thought it was pretty good too. He gets very serious about eating cake.
No little boy party is complete without a cool fake tattoo. They were trying to show them off, but if they could see their tattoos, I couldn't. Oh well. You can see the fire truck on my dad's head. He didn't realize until too late that it was more than just a sticker. I sent him home with a little baby oil to remove it!
The morning of the birthday, we went to the fire station with Andy's parents. (We spread out the fun and have two parties on two different days.) Carson wore his birthday hat (as desired) to the event.
We watched a little show about fire safety. This picture kind of gives me the willies because my boys look like they're in a courtroom. I hope they're the plaintiffs!
The fireman who gave us the tour was very good with the kids. Carson trusted him instantly and reached up to hold his hand.
We have a new fire station here in town. They have quite a spacious living area with several of these big leather recliners in front of an enormous flat-screen TV. These guys look so small in those big chairs!
They got up in the trucks and pushed some buttons, including turning on the flashing lights.
Carson didn't say much, but he was having a great time.
Our firefighter friend was going to let the kids try on some gear, but they got called to a medical emergency. So we watched them drive off and when we were almost home, there they were! The emergency was just down the street from our house!
This was the second time blowing out the candle. He did a much better job this time.
Walkie talkies and a tunnel to play in--cool!! Unfortunately, Spencer can't hear anything Carson says because he doesn't understand that he has to hold down the button when he talks!
There's my little fire chief. He's a hero every day!
Look out ladies!! He hates his bowtie, but he sure looks good in it! He forgot he was wearing it about 10 minutes later.
Shockingly handsome, aren't they?? Poor Spencer crashed at school, if you're wondering what happened to his head. He and his friends were having a race, and one boy gave Spencer a little shove to help him "go faster." Obviously that wasn't a winning strategy!
Not only is he a pretty boy, he's a rugged outdoorsman too! Look at this crocodile hunter....
Hah! Got him! Just don't hang it on my wall for a trophy.
