Rascal

First thing this morning I climbed (hurled) out of my crib.  My parents have no idea how I did it.  Maybe they should have come and gotten me when I first woke up… At breakfast I climbed out of my high chair.  They best be glad I didn't get seriously hurt.  Now I am going up and down the stairs by myself.  You can't catch me!

Baby Henry!

Monday afternoon we loaded up the suburban and headed for a crazy quick trip to Boone.  I couldn't wait another day to meet our sweet new cousin 'Baby' Henry Lewis!  Everyone wanted a turn to hold him and he was such a good sport.  We cannot wait to watch him grow old and teach him how to play baseball, lots of fun potty words and ninja warrior moves.  ;)

Nash loves him a baby.

Baby Henry rocking his older cousins elephant onesie.

Sweet Jacksy loves everyone.  Holding a baby is not top on his list of things to do in the mountains though.

I could hold a baby all day long.  Especially when I see just how big my 'baby' already is…wahhhh.

Rainy weekend goodness

We had a lot of plans for this 'spring' weekend.  It turned out to be a chilly rainy one, but a chilly rainy weekend is better than no weekend at all.  

Friday was soccer practice/scrimmage.  It starts at 5:00.  We start getting ready around 3:00, not kidding.  We are still late.  I jokingly said I burn around 2,000 calories getting on socks, shin guards and cleats.  I should be skinny by now.  Friday night I went to a friends house for some appetizers and drinks and we made 'busy bags' and exchanged them.  Basically they are Ziploc bags with easy stuff to keep your kids busy.  My boys used them all Saturday afternoon in about 10 minutes.  Success.  :)  

Early Saturday morning I got to hang out with this guy.  He loves his one-on-one mama time and must know he can only get it if he wakes up before everyone else...

Jackson had a tee-ball game at 9:00am.  He was able to get it all in before the rain came in.  Go Indians.  

We headed over to my brother's neighborhood for the 'Spring Fling.'  The rain was coming down.  And nothing is more fun than a bouncy house with a basketball goal in the rain!

Charlie did not have to go in to work at all on Saturday.  I was going to try and sneak over to the mall to get some new sandals all by myself.  My trusty shopping buddy got word of this and wasn't about to let that happen.  He is the best kid ever when he gets every single thing he wants done exactly his way.  And he knows that will happen when it is just us two. :)  Saturday evening Charlie and I went out to eat at Squids with some friends and then hit up a new bar, The Strowd for a birthday celebration.  It is in the former Player's spot downtown…  It is looking a lot cleaner these days with operating bathrooms, but don't worry they still have a DJ. 

Sunday we hosted a neighborhood cookout.  Charlie took the older boys to church and I drank massive amounts of coffee and cleaned the house.  Our backyard was a swamp so we moved everything up to the driveway and street.  The sun finally came out right around 5:00 and the hot dogs were on point.  

And cupcakes.  Cupcakes were demolished.  It was a good weekend.

Indians!

Baseball is back in full effect around here.  We have bats and balls and bases thrown all around our front yard.  The backyard has currently been taken over by Greta.  After wiping butts all day long I am not going to scoop up dog poop.  That's a daddy duty. (Get it?)  So you have been warned.  This Spring Jackson is playing Coach Pitch / Tee-ball through South Durham Little League.  We have really had a great experience with them.  His team is the Indians and he has the hottest assistant coach around.

Game day cheese.  He picked out the new cleats.  The sales guy measured his foot and said these are your 2 options bud.  Perfectly simple black ones or bright neon yellow ones.  There was no going back.  

First base is his favorite position because everyone has to throw the ball to you!  He also enjoys working on a hard chill in the dug out.

According to him, he is the second best hitter on the team.  :) 

You know, just toddling around in my big bros throw back outfit cheering him on.

He wants to play realllllyyyy bad.  If you come to watch Jackson's game you better bring your glove and be ready to play with Nash, because that is what you are going to be doing.

Day Date

The Durham Bulls had an 11:00 am game today.  It was a sunny 68 degrees, perfect baseball day.  Jackson had school and Theo needed a nap and Nash needed some one on one time.  It was his dream morning.  Only child, baseball, pizza, mountain dew and ice cream.  I had a blast.  So did he, even though he would never admit it.

My stud.  My punk.  He knows it.  He owns it.

Go Bulls.

11 months!

Ain't nobody got time for this sticker picture nonsense mom!

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, oh my goodness, Theo is 11 months.  WTF? Whoops, sorry this is a blog for my kids to read later in life.  But they will laugh and think wow our mom is a dork.  And I am cool with that.  Or not cool?!  But really I can't believe this happy, loud, busy boy is almost one years old.  That makes me sad, but happy he can drink real milk soon! So in no particular order I present… 

Theo's Top Ten

1 - Dog Food - I don't get it.  I licked a piece the other day to see if I was missing out on something.  Nope it is as disgusting as it smells.
2 - Step 2 Push Around Buggy - Our neighbor gave us this push car.  I can buckle Theo up and cruise down the cul-de-sac over and over while the other boys do their scooters.  Theo just laughs.
3 - Balls - And he is pretty good at throwing them.  And he can now stand with one and take some steps.  I am so excited...
4 - Paci - This is also on my top ten list.  I can't believe I didn't use one with Jackson or Nash.  My apologies to them and to myself.
5 - Mom - Because I usually have the paci and the food and the milk and the ball and I will pick him up on command over and over.  My right bicep is on point.
6 - Playskool Poppin' Pals Pop Up - This has been a hit with all the bros.  But Theo is particularly fond of it and loves a good clapping after he successfully gets them all down.
7 - Greta - petting her, stepping on her paws and feeding her from his high chair.  Greta has figured out where to sit at dinner time.
8 - Potty - playing in it, putting things in it, opening and closing it.  Yep disgusting.
9 - Dirt - It is fun to be outside and dig in the dirt.  Especially when you are 11 months and don't have a care in the world about being dirty or tracking it in or worrying that it may not actually be dirt…
10 - Bath time - Theo still loves the bath.  I am excited and terrified to see him at the pool this summer.

*And if you are bored and your kids are finally asleep and you don't feel like picking up your disaster of a house, check out this cute chunk Jackson and this handsome nugget Nash at 11 months.*

Shel Silverstein

Every night the boys pick out 3 books to read before bed.  The current favorite is Shel Silverstein, Where the Sidewalk Ends.  I had forgotten just how awesome this collection of poems is.  For obvious reasons I give you Jackson's favorite poem.

Thumbs Poem

Oh, the thumb-sucker's thumb

May look wrinkled and wet

And withered, and white as the snow,

But the taste of a thumb is the sweetest taste yet

(As only we thumb-suckers know).

Birthday Daddy

Happiest of birthdays to my best friend!  He just happens to be my babies daddy, #1 sub maker, and ridiculously good looking!  This year the bros picked out a Boom Box Piñata and super cool matching Paw Patrol bracelets for their lucky daddy.  He also got tickets to The Price is Right…the traveling show is coming to Durham next week! Come on down…

Pre-lunch feast with family at Maggiano's.

Tonight we shall feast again with friends at Humble Pie.

He (ok, we) like to feast for birthdays and every days.

Nash's 1st Soccer Practice

Nash is finally old enough to play on his first soccer team!  I signed them both up for the 'Friday only league' through Rainbow Soccer.  Every Friday at 5:00 they have practice and a little scrimmage.  We are keeping it simple for as long as possible around here.  To my surprise Nash participated and had a great time.  He did not say a word or smile but he was digging it.  Jackson on the other hand was getting a little bored… tee-ball is his jam right now.  

Who loves soccer?!...

My little slow-pokes.

#1 fan!!

sshhh...

Just incase you had not heard, the Duke Blue Devils won the National Championship this year.  Now this is not a big deal in the Farris house hold.  But this is a huge deal in the Winslow house hold.  As many of you know, my dad went to Duke and I grew up a pretty serious Duke fan.  Then I went to UNC for college and tried to change my allegiances but that dark blue will always run through my blood. If you are a true fan then you understand.  Needless to say I was not sad about the results of Monday night's game.  And neither was our fair weather fan Jackson.  He pulls for winners.  He also pulls for Duke and Butler for obvious potty humor reasons.  So he had a 'Jackson' Day Off' and went to welcome the Blue Devils home, then to the baseball game and then asked if they could go to Kanki for dinner.  Yep this kid knows what is up, living the good life.  

Jackson's dad does not approve of this picture or any of this outing.  In fact he said he couldn't go.  I said you can tell him that.  And then you can come hang out with these crazy boys for the afternoon while I go!… Didn't happen.

And he actually fell asleep through the 'highlights and speeches.'  

Like mother like son.  He did bring me home some leftovers.

starbucks crack

Some days around 3:00 the boys and I are tired and crying. We need a drive.  Safely strapped in their carseats they usually all fall asleep.  I drive 20 minutes out of the way to a drive-thru Starbucks and pay way too much money for a really unhealthy caffeinated drink.  I sip and drive back super slow and listen to whatever I want on the radio.  They are well rested and I am well caffeinated.  It is glorious.



I really wish I made this video.  It is so great in every way.

Easter Blessings

He is Risen!  Happy Easter from the Farris Family.  

I spotted this little bunny at an Easter egg hunt!

He spotted a Peep and wasn't too sure about it.  They really aren't that good...

The Easter bunny came!  Snakes, growing alligators, shovels and sour gummy worms!

Hmmm, I got bubbles and some baby wash..??

Doing his best bunny face.  He made it through church for a good 30 minutes.  Then got to hang with mom outside.  I was getting a little stir crazy.

Family picture with everyone looking!

Farris Family post egg hunt.

Annual Easter Egg cracking at the the Farris Family luncheon.

shenanigans

We had a nice little (ok, seemed long) stay at home spring break week.  The weather was awesome and we stayed outside as much as possible.  I was reminded that I love these boys so much and I am so very lucky to be able to stay at home with them.  I was also reminded that they are going to need some summer day camp action or I am gonna need some summer day job action come June.

  

Come on mom, put the phone away.  Eat sand with me!

Digging for Dino fossils at the Life and Science Museum.

More egg hunting.  Nothing brings brothers together like an Easter egg hunt, especially if candy is involved.  Sike.   I almost threw all the candy out, instead I hid the good stuff, in my mouth.

Ball hard.  All day. Every day.  

Dyeing Easter eggs.  After I took this picture and looked away for 27 seconds Nash poured dye everywhere.  Everywhere.

It didn't seem to bother Jackson.  And he didn't want to share his dye.  And I didn't blame him.  

Looking out my front door about every evening around 7pm.  Love.

'It's OK Theo, Easter bunny is nice.' -Nash

'Well, Easter bunnies are kind of weird.' -Jackson

sculptors

My little gamer, Jackson, pulled out Cranium the other day.  I attempted to explain he wasn't really old enough to understand how to play it just yet.  He reminded me he is 4 years and 10 months and you have to try before you know if you can't do something.  He won.  We have been 'playing' an abridged Cranium all week.  Last night he got the 'sculptorade' category.
Jackson - 'Mom, your gonna want to do the sculpture.  The only thing I can really do is a weenie.'
Nash (rolled over laughing) -  'Yeah, we can do a weenie! Want to see my weenie?!'
Jackson - 'Well actually mom, I can also make a really good butt crack.'
Me (rolled over laughing) - 'Ok! I'll sculpt!'