Rainy Days

Ready to venture out to Spanish class. Although it looks like nighttime out the window, it was only 2:30pm.

Pony rides & all kinds of bouncy fun at the Spot Festival

I know we were begging for rain, but did it really have to come all at once?? I think we've already had over 15 inches since Monday & it is not expected to stop anytime soon. Schools have already been cancelled for tomorrow. I'm crossing my fingers that the library remains open for story hour or I may really be pulling my hair out by the time John returns to town tomorrow night : ) Luckily we had a break in it Tuesday morning to be able to get out for the preschool class at Halyburton Park. Filson had fun hiking on the nature trail looking for animal tracks & making a racoon puppet. Today we headed out in the downpour for an afternoon of Spanish class & the Children's Museum.

We did have a sunny weekend. After soccer on Saturday, we headed to the annual Spot Festival in Hampstead, an event to celebrate the spot fish that is caught in the Carolinas at this time of year as they make their run south. Filson was able to play on all the fun festival rides & I was able to stuff myself with fried spot, fried hushpuppies & french fries. Lil Peanut must have been in heaven! That night John grilled ribs & we had friends over for a big dinner, so we all went to bed stuffed & tired that night!

Pics of the Boys

I can tell summer is over, as we're back in the routine and out the door to an activity every morning. It's nice that it makes the boys easily ready for an afternoon nap & our days pass by quickly. Just wish the summer weather was over as well! (Although I'll be biting my tongue come spring when I'm complaining that I can't wait for it to get hot out!) It has been "cool" enough to get outside & play this week, so I can't complain.
Filson started a Spanish class yesterday that is held in a room at the Children's Museum. He'll probably learn more in 10 wks than I learned in 2 yrs (or was it 4?) with Senora Campbell : ) Ian & I will spend the time he's in class to play at the museum. It was fun to have him alone & let him call the shots since Big Brother is usually leading the way!

The boys at the gym last week, Filson in the red shirt ready to sprint down the long trampoline

At a pool party Friday for their friend Ella's 3rd birthday party

Looks like Ian's sugar high has already kicked in

Ian grocery shopping at the Children's Museum

When I dressed Ian, Filson walked in the room & laughed "That's a work shirt, mom. Is Boo going to work?" Here he is preparing for his future as a bus driver.

Birthday Party

This morning we celebrated our friend Elle's 1st birthday at Wrightsville Beach Park. It was somewhat cool this morning, it finally feels nice again to spend some time outside!

Ian with the ladies
Patiently waiting

Proud of the finished product

Fish Face

And the best fish of all, the party favors the boys got to bring home. Poor little fishy, they didn't stop carrying him around the house & staring at him all day!

The Weekend

Filson recently got rainboots, so I bought Ian some "new to him" ones on Friday so he can keep up with Big Bro
Ian doesn't let go of those clubs without a fight

Rockin' the Rainboots

Lil Fil with the Big Dinos

Having fun at the Cunningham Playground

Vada laughing at Filson for thinking he can cross that bridge without crashing

Showing off the tomato he picked

Bursting with excitement

Warming up

Team Huddle

Boo escaping from the backpack to get in on the action

Playing his own game of soccer

Filson in Action

On Friday, after the boys finished running around outside playing in their underwear & rainboots, we dropped them off at Giggles & John & I had dinner at the beach to celebrate 5 years of wedded bliss!! We enjoyed it & the kids had a blast & were worn out by the time we picked them up.

Saturday morning Filson came into our room at 6:30am with his shin guards in his hands telling us he was ready to go to soccer. Yes, the day had finally arrived for him to start his soccer league, but we had to explain that nobody would be on the field for another 2.5hrs, so he could relax & eat some breakfast first. He loved it & discovered his friend that lives near us was on his same team, so he was not ready to leave when it was over.

Luckily, we had a trip to Raleigh to look forward to, so he quickly changed his mood when he realized we were headed for a sleepover with Vada! We headed to downtown Raleigh & spent a couple hours at BugFest, which was a really neat event they have with many booths set up outside, as well as free admission to the Museum of Natural Sciences. It was amazing to see all the activities & information they provided & the massive crowd of people that it brought in. I wasn't as interested in petting the flying hissing cockroach as Filson was, but it was definitely a great event for kids!

We went back to Patrick & Anna Leigh's house & hung out before John & I headed out to see Garrison Keilor's Prairie Home Companion show in Cary. It was held at a newly renovated outdoor amphitheatre & was very entertaining. Anna Leigh so generously took in an extra 2 kids for the night, so John & I were able to spend 2 childless nights this weekend....what a treat ; ) It was a great weekend & we had a blast with the Cunningham's, as always!!

Random Pics

Filson with the big kids on a very fun day out on the boat Saturday
Boo thought he needed shades, even though they were the size of his face

Filson & Courtland being little scientists at the Museum on Thursday

John & his toy The boys love helping their Dad