Cheesing it in the bathtub!

A couple months ago Hooper went to Nana and Papa's for the weekend and came home knowing how to smile for the camera. If you know my mom, you're not surprised. She takes more pictures than I ever thought about taking. She's captured our lives on film and I'm so proud! Anyhow both she and I smile with our eyes closed and apparently this trait got passed down to Hooper too. Bless his heart! He was in a picture mood one day in the bathtub and I just couldn't resist grabbing as many as I could!
Even William joined in on the fun. He says "cheese" when he sees the camera and it's soo cute!

Yes, we even take baths with our tools.

If you look up the word "cute" you'll see this picture next to it, I promise, ha!

This is the best laundry I've ever seen! Agree?

After bath time these boys feel GOOD!

(pictures taken July 15, 2009)

Tool belts, lawn mowing and cars.

Check out these BIG beautiful blue eyes! I LOVE them so much! The latest fashion accessory...a tool belt..full of tools!Daddy's mowing the yard (hence the upside down swimming pool in the back ground), and Hooper was going from window to window watching him. Also a favorite fashion piece, his "tool" shirt. He loves pointing to all the different tools on it. In fact the other day Dee was dressing him in it and Hooper would not let him put it on for wanting to look at it. So Dee finally gave up and after a while here came Hoop coming down the hall, shirt in hand ready for Dee to finally dress him. I'm not sure why there are not pants, but oh well, he LOVES the shirt.

William loves to wear the goggles and looks so cute in them.

Now Dee has moved to the side of the house mowing so Hooper had to move windows. It's much more comfortable to watch his daddy while sitting in his car. Love the smile! He definitely got it from his Nana and me!

Very interesting way to sit in his car, but hey what ever floats your boat, right?

(taken July 2009)

Frog FUN!

Back in June a poor little toad frog didn't know what he was getting into when he decided to take a dip in our pool. Boy was he in for a rude awakening when Hooper and William discovered him! Actually it was quiet funny how it happened. After breakfast one morning I decided we would go outside to play before it got too hot. As I was preparing the boys (breakfast, hats, sunscreen etc) I looked outside and saw that the water in the pool was moving. Of course I feared the worst...snake or rat. Oh my! But I put on my big girl panties and marched outside to see what had invaded my babies swimming pool. Much to my relief (kind of) it was a toad frog. Mind you I still wouldn't touch it and thought the boys would enjoy it. THANKFULLY Nana and Papa were coming for a visit that day, so by the time the boys were ready to head outside, they were here to help me with my friendly visitor. Scared of frogs...not those two, so I knew God was once again looking out for me by sending them on this very day! Dirty diapers and puke, I can handle. Frogs..no thank you! The frog didn't bother Nana a bit!
Hooper really didn't want to touch it but really enjoyed letting Papa play with it and looking at it in HIS hands.

This poor, poor frog. I think he was rethinking his decision about taking a dip in this resort pool, ha!

Ok so the boys wouldn't touch it with their hands but a laddle and spatula was just what the doctor ordered. Soup ah la frog, anyone?

William would flip it around like it was a pancake. Oh this frog was definitely looking for a noose at this point!

"Mess...mess"

When Hooper gets quiet, you had better go check on him. This was taken July 7 so I was still trying to get adjusted to having 2 (3 counting William) boys. When I went to check on him, this is what I found. He had opened the closet with all my cake decorating tools in it and had a blast. Unfortunately he had the most fun with the bowl of powdered sugar. But look how happy he is! And, no he didn't get in trouble for this, he was just too cute to punish. Oh that smile and those eyes get him out of more trouble, ha! I grabbed the vacuum cleaner and he kept saying "mess, mess." Hey at least he knows he made a mess. Now if he'll just clean up after himself, ha!
Have I ever mentioned that it is NEVER boring around here!

New fun...coloring

These pictures were taken back in April but in trying to blog everything I can't leave them out. Nana and Papa found this table and chairs and thankfully decided Hooper needed it. It's been a HUGE hit at our house, especially when it comes to our new found fun...coloring. The bad news is majority of the coloring happens on the table and chairs, not the color sheets as you see here. Oh well one can't stop the creative process of art, right? Look how determined he is.

Even William loves a good coloring sheet.

I smell an artist in the making

Brotherly LOVE

Have I mentioned how much Hooper LOVES, and I do mean LOVES his brother? Well God has answered many prayers about Hooper not being jealous of Neyland and falling in love with him instead and we are so thankful! We have to constantly watch him because he's always kissing, hugging, swinging etc him. It's so sweet!~After playing outside one morning Hooper and William were wet from the pool so I stripped them at the door to dry them off. Well before they made it to get diapers reapplied they had to run and check on Neyland. How precious is this?
Then they had to play in his rocking chair for a minute or two...naked.

Hooper always wants us to put Neyland on the floor so he can play with him. This boy needs some serious chap stick after all this kissing!

And yes, we ARE brainwashing this child with Tennessee already!

Hooper's teaching him about all the different tools.

He just doesn't understand why Neyland doesn't want to hold them.

Love, love, love this child!

Notice Dee's hand...we're always having to play referee. Hoop just wants to love Neyland a little too much some time.

I guess his hand needed worked on, ha!

My boys! I'm so blessed!

(pictures taken July 14&19, 2009)

Beach Ball + Sprinkler = FUN!

Hooper's wonderful Uncle Chris and Laura gave him this sprinkler beach ball for his birthday (pictures to come, I promise) and he has had more fun with it this summer. Thanks again Chris and Laura. I try to keep hats on him to protect that beautiful head of his. He of course uses the hat to protect him from the spraying water. Smart boy!
What's a boy without a baseball bat?

William is mesmerized by it as well. He doesn't run from it as much as Hooper. He'll just stand there letting the water spray him as Hooper runs around it squealing, ha!

He has to mow the yard with his mower daily, and it looks like he's checking the shubbery to see if it needs a trim...or "watering" ha.

Check out Hoop's tongue trying to "catch" the sprinkles.

Hours of watering fun!

Boys, sprinkers and summer. What a great combination!