Memorial Day Weekend 2012

Memorial Day Weekend was a blast.  Clint took Friday off so we had an extra long weekend.  We spent the first two days at Grammy and Grandpa's house.  We swam a ton.  Even Beau loved it!  It was funny because Sawyer didn't miss a beat with the older Aichele boys jokes.

We then headed to the lake for two days.  The lake was beautiful and relaxing this year.  I hardly ever get pictures of the lake because I always feel like my hands are full with babies.  We did have a nice relaxing weekend.

May 2012

May was a very busy, but fun month.  Mother's Day was very simple this year.  Unfortunately all I wanted was a picture of me with my boys.  They both refused to cooperate.  In fact they were such stinkers about it that I lost my temper and put them both in time out.  Lovely.  After that the boys were quickly put down for a nap and Clint and I had a nice long relaxing lunch.  He had made the most delicious quiche for me. 

We ended Mother's Day weekend with a hike.  Unfortunately after nap they were still stinkers so I was stuck carrying my 40 lb baby.

We kept the garden small this year.  We had strawberries, asparagus, lettuce, spinach, snow peas, collards, and a bunch of herbs.  We left one bed completely empty which ended up being the boys favorite place to play.

Clint and I love the Tall Grass Prairie outside of Pawhuska.  We both feel like it is so relaxing and fresh.  We had a picnic out there one afternoon.  We just love it.

The boys and I spent a morning at the Tulsa Zoo.  They both had such a good time.  We sure did miss dad though.

Both my boys love bugs and going on bug hunts.  I just love how they always have to be touching each other.  So sweet.

The park, just a short walk from the house, had tons of blackberries.  We went twice to pick them and made several delicious blackberry cobblers.

At the same park we were able to feed the extremely aggressive geese.  I think it traumatized my boys.

We finally got around to having our annual fried chicken picnic.  Always a favorite around our house.  It's was delicious, but probably a good thing we only do it once a year.

We brought home even more of Clint's old TMNT's from when he was young.  These boys have had some much fun with them.

We also had Sawyer's end of the year presentation at school.  He loves music and sings for us all the time.  He was a little shy at the show, but Beau made up for it by "cuttin' a rug" the entire time.

Spring Campout 2012

by Clint

Before we knew it, spring arrived and it was time for our spring campout. We heard great things about Green Leaf State Park, so we decided to give it a try. After a small dispute about our camping organizational system, we were on our way. The park was big and full complete with a nice lake. After looking around, we found a secluded spot with plenty of room. Sawyer and Beau helped set up the tent then ate a big snack of cheese puffs complete with mutagenic orange cheese product. Next was the lake.

After swimming, the crew was ready for cave mans and hot dogs. The night was complete with s'mores and stories.

Sawyer and Beau invented a new game, throw the pacie. This went on for a long time followed by intervals of crying, laughing, and singing. By the time the boys decided to sleep, mom and dad were exhausted. We actually had a small storm, so we rain tested the Meadowland. Our wake up call at 6:30am was Beau screaming because he saw dad and wanted to cuddle. We had rain in the morning so we set up the Shadehouse.

Breakfast was eggs, leftover potatos, pancakes, and coffee. The boys decided to play in the water faucet.

We finished our adventure with a hike, fishing, and lunch.

Sawyer is definitely a fisherman. He can also identify different species of bugs, turtles, fish, birds, and other critters. Beau also likes animals of all kinds. They are both avid outdoorsmen. Our Spring 2012 campout was one for the books. We are blessed to have two perfect boys that like to get out and have fun.

Star Student

Sawyer was Star Student at school in May.  We were so proud of him (although he was the last student to receive the award).  He loved the affirmation.  He has had a great year at school.  His teachers, Ms. Jo and Ms. Valerie was wonderful.  He started the school year very shy and typically a wall flower.  By the end of the year he had totally come out of his shell. 

His speech was delayed enough that he qualified for free speech through the school district.  Not something to be proud of, but I am so proud of the leaps and bounds he made at speech.  His teacher Ms. Joy was excellent and he loved her.  Initially she said he would probably need weekly speech until he was eight, but by the end of the year he was doing so well she is recommending just once a month maintenance sessions.  He tried so hard and totally nailed it.

This guy has a passion for learning that is amazing.  The down side is he asks more questions than I could ever fathom.  I know this is part of the age and stage, but he is pretty obsessive with his question asking.  He knows all his letters and can write them all.  He can even spell several words and is starting to sound out words.  He is still obsessed with books but his heart belongs to cartoons.  This is a challenge in our house considering he is the offspring of the man who hates TV.

He is extremely obedient, rule conscious, kind and considerate.  He is extremely patient with his brother.  He is the best companion during the day and we have so much fun together.  He is still whiny, but he is really trying hard to work on it because "he is going to be four soon."  Sawyer continues to bless us daily and challenges us to be better people.

Our daily challenge though is getting dressed.  He will only wear OSU orange, red or blue (because those are Spiderman's colors).  He has three outfit that don't match whatsoever that he wears daily.  Each consist of a pair of basketball shorts and a long sleeves shirt that is more like a three quarter length sleeve shirt because his arms are so long.  I have tried everything, but if I interfere in his dressing my angel turns into a demon.  This is an area where I have had to swallow my pride and move on. 

After his awards ceremony we had a picnic in the park with daddy, then the boys and I got Cherry Berry. 

Beau - 18 Months

Wow, this precious little creature is suddenly a toddler.  Unfortunately I know what I am getting into this time around which makes me a little nervous.  Beau has the most amazing disposition.  He still has his "Beauments", but is over them in seconds.  Of course they are pretty loud an intense.  As soon as his episode is over, he is happy as can be.  He loves to hug and show affection.  Especially to all animals (bugs included), his brother, and his favorite books.  He is totally a daddy's boy.  This started at about 9 months old and hasn't changed.  He is crazy about his dad.  He is extremely attached to a specific OSU blankie.  It is funny that he is so into it, and the longest Beauments yet have been when OSU blankie needs to be washed.  His daddy calls him little piglet because he loves to play in the mud, hose, sprinkler, in fact anything that will demand a diaper change.  He talks a lot especially for his age, but is much better at making potty noises.  He has a deep voice and a cackle for a laugh.  We love his laugh and hear it all the time.

Out hearts are soooo full of love for this little guy.  He adds so much happiness and fun to our home.  We have loved the past 18 months with this hyper, laid back, super silly, emotional, physical, loveable little creature and are really looking forward to his little personality developing even more  (even though I not sure that little body can handle more personality). 

At his 18 month appointment he was 35 inches tall (off the charts) and 30 lbs (85th % -- thank goodness he is starting to slim down). 

Sunglasses, check.  Paci, check. OSU blankie, check.  Mardi Gras beads, check.  Beau is ready to go.  BTW he does this to himself everyday.

This is a typical Beau face.  He is always happy at home.  He can be pretty shy and tentative in public or crazy.  You never know.

He found this costume in the closet and had to be in it.

April 2012

Spring in Oklahoma is always beautiful.  For a month or two everything is very very green.  With these three boys in my life, we pretty much live outside if we can. 

On this particular bike ride, Sawyer crashed into a giant puddle.   Because we had such a warm winter, the bugs have been insane.  Pathfinder is a great place to sample the Oklahoma wild life.  Beau likes to try to hug every bug he sees.

This is Beau eating a snack of Nutella and strawberries.   This child has no shame when it comes to food.  You better believe there was not a drop left on his plate.  I guess he didn't realize he was wearing most of it. 

We spent a Saturday morning at Woolaroc and the mountain man camp.  We all love going out there.

We left one raised bed empty this year and it has been the best sand box for the boys.  They have now decided that it is more fun to play in the mud than anything else.

My compulsive reading started when I was seven.  I was slow to learn to read and the summer after second grade got mono from my older sister (who did in fact get it from kissing boys).  I was laying in bed one day and grabbed the book closest to me.  It was Little House on the Prairie.  In a matter of a few short weeks I went from never reading to completing the entire series.  These books shaped me so of course I had to go visit the Ingall's "little house on the prairie" only 30 minutes north of Bartlesville.  Clint was absolutely fascinated by Charles Ingall's pioneering spirit and is actually reading the book now!  We both loved visiting the place. My favorite part was seeing all the 7 and 8 year old little girls dressed up in their gingham and bonnets running around.  They were living my childhood dream.