Layla

Layla came over a few times to play with the boys!  We love having her over!  She jumps in and plays just like one of the boys.  Ty taught her how to do a "flip" (summersault) and she was really good at it!  I love her cheesy smile when I get the camera out!

At the Lake with Joe and Holly

Our neighbors Joe and Holly invited us to the lake on their brand new boat.  We were very excited because we all enjoy time out on the water- we could have stayed all day!  We went to church and I had planned for Mark to get a nap before we went to the lake- that didn't happen, so we packed up and headed out.  We drove around for a while admiring all the beautiful houses on Lake Spivey.  Some of them were incredible.  AJ got to drive and look at all the gages with Joe.  Then we found a good spot to anchor and we jumped in.  AJ loved jumping off the front of the boat, but it was a little high, so Ty wanted to sit and slide in instead.  Mark was great- he loved floating around and talking to Holly.  Then I noticed his head nodding off and I knew he was extreamly tired.  On the ride back to the dock, he just couldn't stay awake. :-)  We had so much fun!

Changing the oil

The boys helped Dadda change the oil in my car today.  They are learning everyday!

Date Night- AJ

Tonight was AJ's turn.  When I tucked him last night after going out with Ty, he wanted to know when his turn was going to be.  I knew I wanted to take him to a movie, because he loves them and I love to hear his genuine giggle at humorous animation.  His choice for dinner was of course Chick-fil-A, he held my phone and was my personal navigator telling me each turn (because we went to the one in Fayetteville).  At dinner, we talked about the advantages of being the oldest; getting to do everything first and being a role model.  He got a CFA sandwich because "it has more flavor than the nuggets" and he also told me he likes Nana and Papa's lemonade better because it doesn't have things floating in it (pulp).  I have learned that he has a very particular pallet and can distinguish flavors very well.  We talked about different sports that he might play next year (we're thinking of trying something new) and I asked him if he wanted to try soccer.  His response was, "Do they get a trophy for playing soccor?"  We went to see Rio 2 and it was a cute story with tons of comedy.  He laughed a lot; we shared a popcorn and he held my hand :-)  Towards the end of the movie, he leaned over and asked me, "Are we going to go get ice cream, because Ty told me he had ice cream"  Of course I said yes.  I asked him where he wanted to go and he chose Brusters.  We had been their recently and he liked their orange sherbet, so that was his choice.  He thought it was really cool that he got to stay out late, we got home around 10:00pm.  He held my hand everywhere we went, and I think he really enjoyed some time away from his brothers.  He said, "Sometimes Mark acts like a chimpanzee and Ty acts like a headbanger" (because he bangs on stuff).  I just agreed.  I loved our one on one time.

Date Night- Ty

Before school was out, I told Jeff that I wanted to have 2 individual date nights with the older boys.  Tonight we made the first one happen!  I intentionally wanted Ty to go first (because AJ goes first in everything).  When I asked Ty if he wanted to go on a date with me he said, "Not today, because I'm too young" and I told him he was too young to date other girls, but Mom was different.  Then he said "but you're already married".  I don't think he understood what we were going to do, so I explained and he agreed.  His choice for dinner; Zaxby's because "they have the best sauce".  I grabbed his hand when we were walking in and he said "we don't have to hold hands, were not in a parking lot".  I told him I just wanted to hold his hand.  Ty said a sweet prayer at dinner and thanked God for "going on a date with mom"  He wanted a sandwich and they put the sauce on their chicken sandwiches.  Ty made such a mess on his shirt; everytime he would take a bite, sauce would drip out the end of his sandwich.  I let him taste my coke and he thought that was cool.   I asked him if he had ever tasted it before and he said, "yeah, I just did".
He wanted to play putt-putt golf, but they were closed, so I told him we could either go to a park or to an arcade.  Before I left the house I threw a ball in the car.  At dinner he chose to go to an arcade, but as he was getting in the car he noticed the ball and said, "you should have told me you brought a ball".  So to the park we went.  I found one we hadn't been to and Ty played on the playground a little bit then we got on a baseball field to kick and throw the ball around.  He loved it!  He loved running around and he kept telling me to back up because he was going to kick it far.  I let him "drive" around the parking lot before we headed to Dairy Queen.  He asked for a cookie dough blizzard, but turns out, he didn't want the cookie dough, so I ate it and he ate the ice cream.
It was so nice to have time with him where it was really all about him.  Ty is so sweet, funny, and well behaved and I am blessed to be his mom.  We had a fun date night!  

Weekend with Chloe

Colleen's daughter Chloe came to spend a weekend with us!  She is just a few months older than Mark and we all had so much fun with her!  The boys loved playing with her; Mark liked having a play mate around, he called her "Co-Bee" and the older boys were very sweet to her, especially Ty.  He would show her where the toys were and put on "Dora" for her because that is her favorite show.  I loved having a little girl around and Chloe let me do lots of different hair styles with her hair; I even painted her nails!

We did a lot of swiming with Chloe and she loved the pool!

We celebrated July 4th at Nash Farm.  Chloe and all the boys loved the fireworks.  They just watched in amazement!

Chloe came to church with us on Sunday before heading home.