for Sam today

My sweet, crazy, independent, creative and gentle three-year-old boy!

Look at what kind of adventure you found for yourself today:

I am so "in like" with you these days... you are equally clever and silly, gentle and rambunctious, a free-spirit that still needs his momma close by!

Above all, though - I am proud of my boys and their social energy. They have so many sweet friends to play with, and I love to see them all together!

trampoline

Here's what we do all day...

Hamp practices his tricks and Sam just giggles!

worn out

With the nicer weather, the boys have been playing SO hard! They jump on the trampoline all day, and then ride their bike or scooter or tricycle all over town. They play at the park with friends until dark, then play some more in the bathtub and the playroom! So it's no surprise that eventually, they just collapse...I guess sometimes, there's just too much adventure!

warmer weather

What a beautiful weekend... it's finally feeling a little like spring! In fact, we spent yesterday watching the High School baseball game and playing at the park... and today we hit the links! The boys were so excited to get back into the game and "swing some sticks" as Jason likes to say...

Oh, and they dressed themselves today... in matching shirts no less. That was not my idea!

(but they sure do look cute anyway!)

the egg drop

So, Hamp's recent kindergarten science lesson was associated with dropping an egg off the roof of the school and hypothesizing about what might protect the egg from breaking! (how fun!)

First, the boys worked on protecting the egg - Hamp and dad decided to put the egg in a bag of sugar, wrap it in towels and bubble wrap, then tightly tape it in a cardboard box - then they decorated the box!

And Friday morning, everyone gathered around to watch their Teacher and their Principal (!) drop packages off the roof - and anxiously await to see if their egg made it!

Hamp runs over to retrieve his box - post drop...

... then he waits with all his friends to see the verdict...

... looks good!!! (these guys were pretty proud!)

The whole kindergarten shows off their science projects...

easter eggs

We enjoyed taking time last weekend to color some eggs...

... and the boys loved all the Easter treats from grandparents!

The Easter Bunny hid several eggs all through the house...

... and the boys were thrilled to find them all with treats inside!

This Time Last Week... Top 10

Alright... today is the last day to wax nostalgic about last week's unbelievable vacation. So to sum up all of the greatness I present to you:

my TOP 10 FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT THE CRUISE

(in no particular order!)

#10 - CELEBRATING DADO

Of course... the whole reason for the trip was for Dado's 60th birthday! I don't think there could be any better way to celebrate than taking your whole family on a cruise! So thank you Dado, for turning 60 and including all of us!

#9 - THE RIDE

Just to top it all off, Dado decided to take us to the port in style! What a cool surprise...

#8 - THE ROCK WALL

Once on the boat, there was so much to do! But my favorite thing was climbing the wall...

#7 - PUTT PUTT

This makes the list because Hamp & Sam played every day... sometimes twice! They thought it was so amazing that there was mini-golf available on the ship, anytime they wanted!

#6 - WATERMELON

I think the boys ate their weight in watermelon last week... in Colorado we only get good watermelon in July/August and the boys talk about it all winter long. So they were thrilled to have it at every meal!

#5 - DINNER

My favorite time of day was when we all met for dinner - the food was abundant and delicious, the conversations were always fun and interesting, and above all the service was remarkable. June was great with the kids, and Ronald had lots of stories and tricks to keep up entertained!

#4 - MARVIN'S CREATIONS

The ship had great service all around... but the boys particularly enjoyed seeing our room attendant everyday and eagerly awaited the creative "towel animals" found in our room each night!

#3 - THE BALCONY

Ahhhh... it was at times relaxing, fun, exciting and even a little scary (especially at night!) but always nice to sit with family and watch the Caribbean waters go by!
#2 - THE WEATHER

Normally, this would not have been my favorite part of the trip. However, since this is what our front yard looked like yesterday: ... then this is the sight and the feel that I am missing the most!!!

#1 - THE NEWS

The trip was truly amazing - so many wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.

But there is one part of the trip that will last for generations...

CONGRATULATIONS ALEC & JEI!!!

TWO new family members due out this fall!!!

This Time Last Week... Day 5

Cozumel, Mexico

Another beautiful day... another great adventure! While brother, J and I were out logging some more time underwater, Hamp and Sam went with Aunt J, Mojo and Dado on their own underwater adventure!

This Time Last Week... Day 4

Georgetown, Grand Cayman

This is no April Fool... this time last week Hamp and Sam were having the adventure of a lifetime! Check out the pirate ship they boarded in Grand Cayman:

The pirates aboard the ship even got Hamp and friends to scrub the deck! (now why won't he do that for me at home??? Perhaps I should don an eye patch and bandana?) Meanwhile... Sam overcame the scurrvy pirates, saved the damsel in distress and steered the boat to safe ground. But the kids weren't the only ones having fun on the pirate ship! Check out the birthday boy - he doesn't just "walk the plank"... oh, no... he does a back flip!
But then there were more adventures happening just around the corner... Here we are for the adventure of OUR lifetime... something that we didn't even dream we could be doing prior to this past December! But low and behold, we are SCUBA certified and ready for our first real dive in fish-laden, Caribbean waters! It was everything we hoped it would be... and so amazing to a part of an underwater world! Thanks to my brother for hanging with us beginners and making it a really awesome day!