Summer

So much to do, so little time to blog. At the beginning of the summer, I was a little nervous about how I was going to keep the boys busy, but we seem to be doing okay!
They have both had swimming lessons...the instructors were AMAZING! They had a money-back guarantee that your kiddos would be swimming at the end of the week. Seth had some experience, but Zane wouldn't even get his face wet before we went. He ended the week jumping off the diving board and SWIMMING to the teachers! That was a lot of fun to watch (but oh, so hot outside!).

We had a "Chandler Family Reunion" at Lake Brownwood. The boys both caught their first fish (or two). This was such a fun trip for them...so many "firsts"... first fish, first "smore", first time to stay in a cabin...

Slip 'n Slide...this is the best $10 I think I've ever spent! This kept them busy for hours (and made them tired at night...heehee!).
Of course...the sprinkler! This is a pic of the Jedi's using their lightsabers in a battle with Count Dooku... (don't laugh...this is serious stuff, folks...ha!)

Trip to the Space Center. The lighting in this picture is terrible, but what FUN we had! They had George Lucas' personal collection on display. Bobby was off of work and we took all three of our kids and Kai with us. I played tour guide for the boys. We got to go to "Padawan Training" where you go into a dark tent and crawl around avoiding laser beams. We climbed an Indiana Jones obstacle course and fought the stormtroopers in a black lit room with air soft guns. Oh yeah, and saw some space stuff.
Bobby took care of Quinn. When she got tired, he found a quiet corner, rocked her to sleep, and sat on the ground for an hour and a half while she slept. ~Parent Award~~We've done other things too, but isn't it more fun to look at pics?!
Quinn got her first "hair trim" today...stay tuned for a post on that!

Zane and Seth-isms

Last week, I made Zane run errands with me while Seth and Quinn stayed home with my parents. Zane wasn't very happy about it so it was a quiet ride. (Ahhhhh!) After a few minutes, I guess he had gotten over it because he sighed, shook his head, looked out the window and said, "Mama, (pause) ... I was BORN to drive a car...."
I can't say that I'm surprised. Zane is our "wild card".

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Recently, Seth asked me to open his can of Sprite for him. While I was opening it, he smiled and said, "It's like you're my butler, Mom, except I don't even have to pay you!!"

(REALLY?! Must be watching too much Batman.)

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When I am REALLY thirsty, I tell Bobby that I want a "big-fat, nasty Coke". I have no idea how this started, but over time, I've shortened it to "fat-nasty". As in, "Get me a 'fat nasty' please." I thought this was our own personal joke until Zane came in from outside recently and said, "Mama, can I have a nasty apple juice?" HAHA. It took me a minute to realize what on earth he wanted.

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This morning, Zane said to me, "Mama, I love you but I kinda love Daddy the most."
~sigh~ I suppose that's okay because maybe,... just maybe, I'll be the one by next week.

Kindergarten

Today was Seth's last day of Kindergarten. Here are some pics of the final Kindergarten events:


Seth's Graduation:

Posing for daddy!
Family photo op!


Here comes trouble: Seth and his cousin, Kai.
Last day festivities:
Zane has become so much a part of the group, the little girl in the pink asked him to sign her yearbook..haha! He wasn't supposed to be at the party (strict no-sibling rules) but the teacher personally invited him the day before. He thinks he is big stuff!
Quinn TRIED to sleep through the party in her sling. She was all dressed up in her pink party tutu, but not in the party mood. The audacity of Kindergarten scheduling a party during her naptime! :)

End of School Year

This is the last week of school for Seth. I will be so sad for Seth to leave his teacher. She has been the absolute best. We couldn't have picked anyone better for him!
Since I used to BE a teacher, I know that the end of the year is a good time to show appreciation for putting up with our kiddos for 10 whole months! Seth is fairly well behaved, but I know that kids are a hard job...even when they're your own! This brings us to the end-of-the-year gift. ~sigh~
What to get? Nothing too cliche' like a mug, NOTHING with apples on it (seriously, just because we majored in Elem. Ed. does not mean we love apples and country decor), and nothing too "cheap". I decided on something "fun". We did this for Seth's preschool teachers a few years back and it seemed to be a big hit. We filled a gift bag with summer essentials: chocolate :), a fresh colored nail polish, a "trashy" magazine, a Sonic gift certificate, sunscreen, etc. We'll also include a note from Seth and I telling her how much we loved having her.

Hoop it up!!

So my sister, Erin came into town this weekend. She brought with her a weighted hula hoop. Seems like these weighted hula hoops are all the rage these days in the fitness world. Erin goes to a hoop group on Monday nights and has learned/is learning all kind of tricks with hers. "Hoop fever" can be quite contagious. We had so much fun playing with them in the backyard and as a bonus, they are supposed to work your core and whittle your waist. After such fun, I REALLY want one too!
Here's a video of Erin (showing off :) and Seth (Seth has been hooping in school and is quite good!).

Quinn

Is it wrong to use your blog to show off pictures of your baby girl? :)

M.I.A.

It's hard to keep up with a blog and keep up with life right now! I am doing good these days to get Seth's lunch made, his clothes for school clean, both boys baseball uniforms clean and Bobby's dry cleaning ready!
Baseball season is ending and I haven't even really written much about it. I didn't get to go to very many games, but between my dad and Bobby, the boys have had a good time.
Quinn continues to grow. She had her two month shots this past Wednesday. She is starting to chunk up weighing in at 12 pounds! That puts her in the 50-75th percent range for her age.
Seth is finishing Kindergarten and we are so proud of him. His teacher told me yesterday that he only missed one question on the End of Year Math test. On the Reading test, Kindergartners don't test higher than a level 16 and he read that level as "easy". What a smart boy!
Here are some pics from the last month or so:

"Q" onesie by Macy, Bow by Jenifer at bowkadots.com. Love them both!!