The Boys of Summer Have Gone...

…back to school!
Onward to 3^rd grade and pre-school! It’s so rewarding and sad all at the same time. Truly bittersweet. We spent the summer having so much fun, I barely realized we were getting closer to another milestone. That my little boys were growing up. I look back at pictures from the beginning of summer and I can’t believe how all of them have changed in such a short period of time. 

Just before the summer officially started, we snuck in a quick trip to the beach. It was mine and Joey’s 11^th anniversary and we wanted to share it with the boys. The weather was great, the boys played on the beach non stop. Joey spent most of his time trying to beat my all Guinness book of world record shark's tooth. Much to his dismay. We all had a great time.

When school was out, we kicked the summer off with yet another trip to the beach with Mandy and her family in June to celebrate Father's Day. Wow. It looked like fun if you were watching us from a distance, but it was not so relaxing for us that had to partake in the festivities! The kids had soooooooooooooooo much fun but with 3 babies all around 6 months old, in addition to two 3 year olds and an 8 year old….it.was.a.job. Good times. We think next year might be a little easier for us. "might" being the key word here. Oh, and of course Joey still didn't come close in the shark's tooth contest.

The boys getting ready to give Joey his Father's Day gift...the shirt they made says, "This Dad Deserves A Pat On The Back."

and here's Joey giving some really bad dance lessons to the kiddos...

and here's us attempting to go out to eat with all these crazy kids...

 
The girls even managed to have the quickest night out ever!

No sooner did we get home, Liam went back to Myrtle Beach with Denise and Cole for Cole’s birthday. They stayed for one night and went to his first water park. We met them on their way back, threw Liam and his luggage in the car, and headed up to Topsail Beach, NC!!!

The beach, 3 times in one week!

We rented a beach house with Krista, Russell, Kyle and Dylan, Gary, Christopher, Mamaw and Mom. The boys were so good. I am always so amazed at how well they get along and how much they love each other. They’re like brothers and it’s so heartwarming. They played out on the beach practically the entire time we were there with only a few breaks to come inside and play with Lego’s and Beyblade on the pool table. Even Grayden hung with the big boys most of the time. I got a glimpse into the future when the boys will care less about hanging with their uncool parents.

Mamaw was able to walk down to the beach and put her feet in the ocean, what a treat!
 

We got a few family photos...

The main reason why we went there was so that we could witness Russell’s “change of command” at Camp Lejeune. It was very cool and the boys seemed fascinated. My favorite part of it was when Russell spoke in front of the crowd and made the comment about Krista, how she’s always there for him taking care of the boys when he’s gone, etc. etc. “It might have taken a few extra glasses of wine to get through it, but she always supported him.”

The time came to leave but we were so excited that the Boyce boys were coming home with us! I had a great time with them, they built a fort to sleep in and played constantly.

 

It looked like a Star Wars convention in our house!

 

 The first morning I wanted to take all the boys on a walk around the neighborhood but I wanted to prepare them for how hot and humid it was outside. The heat in the south is different than the heat in the dessert but Kyle was convinced it was worse in the desert. I’ll never forget the seriousness on his face when we got back in the house, completely drenched in sweat. “Aunt Stephy, I see what you mean about the humidity.” I barely got them out of the house to play again.

The rest of the summer was spent working on our “to do” list which I will post about soon.

Liam and Grayden had chores every morning when we were home and they did a great job. They got dressed, brushed their teeth and hair, made their beds, unloaded the dishwasher (yay!), fed the pets, took out the recyclables on Tuesdays, and cleaned up their toys! It was so sweet watching them work together. They'd race (of course) to see who could finish first.

We spent many days and nights in the hood having cookouts with Mandy and family and Bill and his kids.

We celebrated Grayden's 4th birthday with a football party!!! Gavin cried when we sang "Happy Birthday."

We squeezed in one more trip up to Camp Lejeune to visit the Boyce’s before school started. The boys picked up right where they left off. On our last day, we went to the beach and let the boys swim in the ocean one last time. 

Our trip included some late night shopping with Aunt Krista...

On their last official day of summer I took the boys to a playground. You would’ve thought I took them to the dentist. They stayed right by my side and wanted to leave. Ugh! See how thrilled they look?

It was a great summer but it flew by and now Liam is in the 3^rd grade at Heathwood. He didn’t really get excited about going back until the night before when he started talking about what kids he did and didn’t want in his class. I drove him to school and walked him in, he was so nervous, but put on a brave face….until it turned beet red. I wanted to hug him so bad but I refrained, as hard as it was. The teacher told him to go “pop” his balloon on the smart board as a way for her to keep up with who was there. He half listened to her and had to turn around halfway to the board and ask her again what he was suppose to do.  He was so cute and innocent, it was all I could do not to go help him. I hope his 3^rd grade year is as great as mine was. I had an incredible teacher that made a lasting impression on me. I’ll never forget Ms. Santiago, she was the best teacher in all my years of school. She had long, beautiful hair and I’ll probably always remember the smell of her perfume. Funny how those things stick with you. She believed in me. Thanks Ms. Santiago!!!!  =) I hope my boys are blessed to have a teacher as great as her. 

Grayden was not as excited to get back to school but it wasn’t as much of an adjustment for him (or me) because it was the same classroom and teacher as last year. But in my heart, I know it’s technically Pre-school and it just means he’s growing up.

I call this one, "Tears in my Cereal bowl."

 

So, now we’re getting use to getting back to the grind and looking forward to new adventures this year brings.

Is anyone else feeling this post is getting a bit novel-ish? On that note, I think I’m done.  It’s a school night. Chow baby.