JMU Roomie Weekend Year 3

A few years ago, some of my roommates from JMU all started meeting in Maryland for a "reunion". It has since become an annual event!

We got together again this weekend to see how much the kids had grown and to catch up on each others lives. It is amazing that whenever we get together, it is just like we saw each other the day before!

Also, we realized this year that we roomed with each other for the first time SEVENTEEN years ago! When did we get that old!?

I have a TON of photos to go through and will post those later!

Home Run!!!

Brody likes to play T-Ball, by himself, in the front yard. He hits the ball off the T and then runs the bases in the cul-de-sac. He is getting pretty quick, too! He does this A LOT. funny.

Teddy Bear Tea

Brody and Seth had their Teddy Bear Tea at school. Brody just amazed me, how old he is, and how well adjusted he is. He just walked right into his room (NONE of the kids from his class last year are in his this year!) and he started making friends. He was such a good listener, helped clean up toys, put his trash away, used good manners, and everything I would have expected from him. I was so proud of him!





Seth also had his first day at school. The kids were all so cute. He was SO excited to finally be going to school. He wanted to go all last year and had a hard time understanding that he wasn't big enough yet. Well, now he is! He did such a good job and enjoyed every minute.







I can't believe both of them will be in preschool next year! Time is FLYING! *sigh*

Little Cowpokes

I was in Texas earlier this week for work and brought the boys some kids cowboy hats. Too cute, huh?

Cul-de-sac Party!

We decided to throw an "end of summer" party with our neighbors across the street. We invited everyone from our cul-de-sac and it ended up being a great time. We have such awesome neighbors! We all know how fortunate we are to have people we like and trust all living together. There were over 18 kids all hanging out and playing, and then they enjoyed an outside movie in one yard while all the adults went to another to enjoy the peace and quiet!!!

The Bad with the Good

I was looking back through photos tonight and came across a tantrum that Seth had one night while we were trying to get him to eat dinner.

I am glad I take photos of things like this, as it is so easy to forget all of the stages and things you go through with kids. These trying moments are actually ones that I will remember fondly. The bad moments are such a part of being a parent, and it makes the good moments just THAT MUCH more special!

These photos break my heart (especially the middle row, all the way to the right)... but you will be glad to know that we stuck by our guns and he ate the spaghetti. :O)

Trick Or Treat! *What?! In August?!*

Yep. You read right. I am prepared for Halloween! Each year, I seem to buy the costumes a little earlier, as I have a hard time finding the sizes that I need in the costumes that the boys want when we get closer to Halloween! They seem to be much cheaper if I order now then if I wait for late September or October.

Well, their costumes came in today and they couldn't wait to try them on...

The Akers Hurdlers

Another Olympic event, brought to you from our family room!

Play Ball!

We went to our first Tides game last night (yes, Busch Gardens the day before and a trip to the beach that morning! We are CRAZY!) and the kids weren't too impressed with the actual baseball part.



The 3 dollar cup of colored ice (sno cone) was highly revered,



but NOTHING TOPPED the running of the bases after the game. Check it out>>>

Beach Bums ... Again!

We were so excited to have Kurt's sister and her family come to visit again this past weekend! We had a CRAZY busy weekend!

We spent a LONG day at Busch Gardens on Saturday (forgot my camera!), had a slow-moving morning on Sunday and then went to the beach in the afternoon. The kids (and adults) had a great time in the water and playing in the sand.

Dining at La Caputo Pizzeria

Our friends Rynn and Dave invited us over a day at the pool and then for some pizza. But Rynn and Dave do things a little differently. They went to Italy to go to culinary school, so they don't just order Papa Johns. Oh no. They make their own, with their own ingredients that they grow themselves. The kids had fun choosing what they wanted on their pizzas and we enjoyed meeting Dave and Rynn's first baby boy, Giovanni.

Thanks guys! We had a great time and the pizza was FANTASTIC! And your little Giovanni is ADORABLE! He takes after his parents!

Representing the USA on the Vault - It's Brody and Seth Akers!

We are engrossed in the Olympics at our home. Brody has been taking gymnastics for a few months now, so the gymnastics have been a favorite at our house. Here we are, having our own version of the vault event. You all let me know. Which of my boys, judging on creativity, difficulty, and execution, do you think put it all out there on the line and deserves the gold? ;) I just can't decide! It is a good thing the athletes moms aren't judges at the Olympics.

Who knows, maybe one day when my kids actually DO get the gold and silver at the Olympics, I will look back at this video and see where it all started. ;)

Don't You Have a Waffle Popper?

Kids are so fun. Brody kept telling me that he wanted to use the waffle popper. We had a whole long drawn out search for what it was he was talking about. Finally I figured it out. Do you know what a "waffle popper" is? It's a toaster. Cute, huh?

And Then There Were Two (wheels, that is)

Guess What! No more tricycles for the Akers Boys! Seth was SO OVER the little tricycle that we had for him. He always wanted to ride Brody's bike and wanted nothing to do with the little trike. Besides, it seemed to fall over on him a lot.

So... he has graduated to a 2 wheeler with training wheels. We all (yes, all 4 of us) went out riding on our bikes in the neighborhood tonight. He is much better at this bike than he was on the tricycle, and you can just see how proud he is! I am so happy for him. He loves being just like his big brother.

And yes, Seth picked the Harley Davidson Biker Looking Helmet himself. It seems appropriate for him somehow.

My Beach Babes

Since we had NOTHING on our calendar today (*gasp*), we decided to go on out to the beach at First Landing State Park for a couple of hours. The Bay water is warmer and the surf is much calmer, so the little kids can enjoy it so much more.

Its kind of shocking to see the big ships out in the water. The kids think they are cool.

We built sand castles, and of course, stomped all over them. We found shells and a jellyfish. We enjoyed lunch and juice and just really had a wonderful family day.

Brody Prayer

I get such a kick out of our kids prayers. We used to say a standard prayer at dinner time and at bedtime, but now we have started telling the kids to say whatever they want to God. We get some fantastic prayers! Seth has even started thanking God for things, like his dinner and for his family.

Brody gets pretty creative... here was a dinner blessing the other night.

Thank You God for all the things
The things that God made are hot
but if you put them in the refrigerator
with some popcorn
they will be warm.
Amen.

I told Kurt I am going to have to keep a piece of paper at the table so I can write down these prayers when they happen. I don't ever want to forget them!

Poor Pa Chuck!

Pa Chuck (my dad) was supposed to have heart surgery next week. He has been waiting to have it for quite a while now and just isn't feeling well at all until they give him a new pacemaker.

We just found out today that they have to postpone the surgery, as he has developed shingles. NO FUN! We are just sick that he has to endure such a miserable virus and also postpone the surgery that he needs so much!

Here is a message to you, Pa Chuck, from Seth (and all of us!). We can't wait until we can see you again and give you a big hug!

Bowled Over By Cute Shoes

Bowling shoes on adults: not so much
Bowling shoes on kids: precious

Look at the determination on Aunt Suz's face! Impressive. No wonder she won.

Seth and I tied with the same score. What does that say about my bowling skils? Oh, and we also had the bumper guards up. It was a sad display, I tell ya.