the "eyes" have it!

Got a cool picture of T this afternoon...

and thought I'd try to duplicate with WY

(the moving subject proved more difficult!)

Roomie Visit

We were blessed today with a visit with Catherine Wolfe Maxwell, my college roommate of four years.  The last time we got together was nearly a year ago in Atlanta (June 2010)Catherine's family will be in Cashiers for the Memorial Day weekend and following week, so we were able to coordinate a visit at Horizon on the front-end of their vacation!  Sometimes it's hard to believe we are the mothers of two children...and even then, how fast our little ones are growing.  Here were are pictured on the deck with Thompson (5), Anne Bradley (3.5), William (18 mos) and Benjamin (15 mos).

Farewell Nativity

Today marked Thompson's final day at Nativity Preschool, his "home away from home" the past four years.  Thompson has had an incredible experience at Nativity, learning and growing in Christ all while preparing for Kindergarten.  To conclude this hallmark year, there was a special blessing for both Pre-K classes.  Mamere, Papere, Annie and Poppy were able to join us for this special occasion.  We are so proud of the young boy Thompson has become and know he will excel as a Kindergartner at Avery's Creek Elementary School.

Thompson's Class - "Sunshine Kids"

Team Training Wheels takes on the Tsali 12-Hour

This past weekend, Bobby competed in his first mountain bike race: the 12-hour ride at Tsali (located outside Bryson City, NC).  He teamed up with Herb Freeman, Matt Fraser and John Kelley to create the 4-man team Training Wheels.  In twelve hours (11 am-11 pm), they completed 11 11-mile laps, placing 14th of the 28 teams in the Base/Women Division.

The guys were super excited about their efforts...as well they should be!  Their lap times were 51.75 (M) - 58.72 (J) - 66.48 (H) - 67.91 (B) - 53.21 (M) - 63.10 (J) - 73.64 (H) - 71.30 (B) - 53.95 (M) - 63.94 (J) - 71.30 (H).  Bobby rode the 4th and 8th laps, posting personal bests as his goal was to beat 75.00, which he rode a couple weeks ago at Tsali in preparation for the race.

They are already talking about the 2012 race - and to be honest, I'm looking forward to it as well!  Thompson and William also joing in the fun as best they knew how.  T made sure anyone who was willing to listen knew he "lost his training wheels" and if they would give him a few minutes, he'd showcase his riding skills.

 

  

 

Things to Remember

I know I've blogged recently about different things Thompson and William have done and/or accomplished recently.  However, there still seems to be so many other blog-worthy things I've forgotten. So...

Thompson's tenure at Nativity Preschool is drawing to a close with only a week to go.  We are headed to his Spring Program this evening.  It's hard to believe he'll start Kindergarten in the fall!  He is full of funny anecdotes and thoughts, so to highlight a few of the more recent ones...

• After getting dressed Mother's Day morning, I told him he looked handsome, and he said, " I look like a million bucks". My response, "Yes you do". To which he responds, "Daddy told me so."
• After watching Bobby put on his sport coat for church, Thompson said, "Daddy, you have on your work coat."
• Yesterday he was curious what would happen if everyone in the world died at the same time.  The question caught me off guard and of course the first thing I thought is that Jesus must be back!

As for William...he's working on more teeth. He'd been holding steady at 8 for a long time and now his first year top molars are through.  It took over a month, and the bottom two are bulging and about to breakthrough. He's finally got some hair, and blondish at that!  His complexion is definitely from the my genes as he is already tanning from playing outside.  I often look at his hands, think they are dirty, only to realize it is his skin browning.  Lucky fella!  Not surprisingly, he's learning more words and their corresponding signs; and starting to put words together to form 2-3 word sentences.  Like his brother, he's beginning to distinguish between the various types of vehicles and construction equipment (dump truck, bulldozer, garbage truck, school bus, fire truck {aka nee-nah nee-nah}, tractor, etc.)  He loves being outside.  Doesn't like returning inside.  Is getting better about having his diaper changed.  Dislikes getting his teeth brushed.  Likes to hide things behind his head/neck when riding in the car and giggles when you ask him where things have gone.  Loves his milk.  Has learned how to climb up on the barstool and into his booster chair.  Remembers far more than we give him credit for...and so much more!

Gardening 101

This summer I'm undertaking a garden.  And not just one, but two!  I know, what am I thinking?!  Anyways, I tilled out the lower portion of our back hill for the traditional garden about a month or so ago.  I initially planted spinach and broccoli.  Last week I sowed argula and cherry tomato seeds, and this past weekend I added the following plants: squash (x2), cucumber (x1), cherry tomatoes (x2), heirloom tomatoes (x2), and zucchini (x2).

As for garden numero dos, I had heard of straw bale gardening a couple years ago, and after talking to my friend Sheila Singleton, decided I'd give it a try.  She has had great success with it and confirmed it was super easy, just follow the directions. Here is the link to the article she gave me (and I had seen years ago). http://www.carolinacountry.com/cgardens/thismonth/march06guide/StrawBales3.06.pdf

Days 1-3 : Water bales thoroughly

Days 4-6 : Sprinkle the bales with 1⁄2 cup of ammonium nitrate (32-0-0) per bale per day, and water it well

Days 7–9: Cut back to 1⁄4 cup of ammonium nitrate per bale per day and continue to water it in well

Day 10: No more ammonium nitrate, but do add 1 cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer per bale and water it in well

Day 11: Transplant your plants into the bales; place the plant down to its first leaf and close the crack back together as best you can

So I bought two bales to give it a try. I guess you could say, I'm gardening and conducting a science experiment. I have placed one plant of each in the bales. One bale has zucchini, heirloom tomato and cumcumber and the other has squash and cherry tomato. I am hoping I'll be able to determine which method is easier and produces better fruit - in both quality and quantity. And then know which method to implement next summer. I'll keep you posted on the garden's progress.

3.5 miles

Now that the training wheels are gone (or "lost", according to T's vernacular), Thompson wants to spend as much time on his bike as possible.  As a special treat during during quiet time this afternoon, Herb took T to the Arboretum where he proudly rode 3.5 miles!  And according to Herb, told everyone he met "I lost my training wheels day before yesterday!"  I wonder where they are? (smile)

So Long Training Wheels

This afternoon Thompson said "so-long, farewell" to his bike's training wheels! He is so proud of this accomplishment...and we are too! It took a mere 4-5 days on the Strider for him to grasp the balance concept and everything just clicked today. Now to ride the CBL "loop" and then to the trails with daddy and Herb. So awesome!

our. real. family.

We've been blessed once again by the wonderful talent of our dear friend Jill Schwarzkopf of Realities Photography.  She tagged along with us at the Arboretum this afternoon where she captured moments of life and love in our family.  Click to ENJOY THE PICTURES! (event code: Jones)

Mother's Day

"Motherhood does not require, thankfully, perfection.

It simply requires commitment and humility."

With all of last week's traveling, we elected to stay in town this weekend.  Annie and Poppy drove down and treated us to Mother's Day brunch at Biltmore Forest Country Club.



Washington National Zoo Pictures

Washington, DC Trip

We're back home after a great (albeit short) family weekend trip to Washington, DC.  We loaded the boys in the car Friday morning, and after nine hours, arrived in Germantown, MD where our dear friends Sherry and Jeremy Howard and their boys Josh and Ben opened their home to us.  Saturday, we connected with Papere, Aunt G and Bart, and Bart's mom Anne for a day on the Mall.  We took the Metro to the Smithsonian stop and then headed for the Museum of Natural History before grabbing lunch.  Afterwards, William crashed in the stroller, which allowed everyone, especially all the boys, plenty of time at the Air and Space Museum.  Before departing the Mall, we walked to the Washington Monument where Thompson was able to see the White House and Lincoln Memorial.  En route home, we stopped in McLean, VA to meet and have dinner with Bart's sister Suzanne, her husband Seth and their 18-month old son Will.  The Howards were also able to join us for dinner at Pete's Apizza.  Before heading back to Germantown, we stopped at Seth and Suzanne's home, where everyone surprised me with a birthday cake! (even Thompson knew and was able to keep it a secret!)  Sunday, we headed to the National Zoo, where we spent all day.  The orangutans climbing a tower and navigating the wires overhead was probably the most fascinating thing we saw.  Bobby's childhood friend Johnny Frierson and his fiance Christina stopped by in the afternoon for a visit.  And Monday, we hit the road early, knowing we had 9 hours ahead of us back home.  All in all, a great trip.  Considering the distance, the boys did well and we are most appreciative of the Howards hospitality and Graham and Bart's traveling down from NYC to meet us.  Enjoy the pictures!

* riding the metro

* Graham, Avery, Thompson and William

* inside the Natural History Museum

* hanging out on the mall
* Papere and Thompson
* Papere and William playing peek-a-boo
* William
* Graham and Bart giving T his own "dog tags"
* T and WY with Capitol in the background

* T "Flying High" beside the Capitol with Aunt G
* Walking to the Washington Monument
* Graham, Papere and Thompson at the Washington Monument with the White House in the background
* Daddy and his boys alongside the Washington Monument
* T and WY at the base of the Washington Monument
* Thompson and the Washington Monument