Mid-Summer Classics

Halfway through summer, it's easy to understand how it's flown by so fast -- we've been busy!  From playdates with friends, visits to H2O'brien Pool and the splash park, trips to the park and celebrating birthday parties, it's been a jam-packed couple of months.  Here's a summer break breakdown so far:

PARKER DAYS:
This year, Parker Days didn't disappoint.  This year, we were smart and bought TJ a four-day ride pass.  While he couldn't use it Thursday night because it was pouring rain -- and we mean pouring -- he definitely got his money's worth the remaining three days.  He met up with so many friends... Jack, Asher, Caleb P., Caleb G., Braden, Jameson, Keira, he was one popular guy.  Little Frankie still wasn't a huge fan of the rides, he was more of a play games, eat food kinda guy, but that worked for him!  The boys were each in the parade this year again.  TJ & Mommy walked with RATCo, while Frankie dressed up as a super hero and walked with his school.  Apparently, Frankie was quite the schmoozer... handing out water, shaking hands and waving to the crowd. Saturday night, after a quick downpour, Mommy and TJ returned to ride more rides while Daddy and Frankie stayed home.  We stopped by the KYGO booth (Mommy's favorite country station), and TJ sang their jingle.  He was so cute, the workers gave him a family four-pack to see the premiere of Inside Out before it hit theaters.  He was so excited!  TJ picked his friend, Caleb, as a guest, and Mommy and Daddy took the boys while Frankie stayed home with Grandma.  It was such a great time!  The movie was so good... we even went back and paid to watch it! :)

CAMP GRANDPA
The boys have spent a lot time at Grandma & Grandpa's this summer.  Whether it's a quick weekend with Mommy & Daddy or an extended stay while Mommy and Daddy work, the boys have enjoyed their time in Buena Vista.  Activities included: Fishing, S'more making, Landscaping, Western watching, Parade going, Evening walking, the list goes on and on.  We spent FIBArk in Salida, riding rides and going to the parade; 4th of July in BV and Salida - attending the parade, then going to the courthouse in Salida to watch fireworks shoot off S Mountain; time on the lake in Pa's boat fishing and eating Ding Dongs and Twinkies.  So many wonderful memories were made there this summer, it's so fun looking back on those good times.

SPORTING GUYS
TJ and Frankie both spent the summer attending gymnastics.  Frankie really loves the tumble track and playing on the rings.  TJ has decided after four years, he's ready to move on.  This is his last month at 20 Mile Athletic Center, and he's moving on to Tae Kwon Do.  TJ spent the summer playing soccer with his friend Caleb.  Daddy was the coach.  He also just finished his first tee-ball season with Caleb and Braden. 

MOVIE TIME
We've spent a lot of time in the air conditioned theaters this summer.  In addition to Inside Out, which TJ saw twice, we've checked out Minions and Ant-Man to name a few.  Little Frankie is into those crazy yellow guys, we decided to take a chance and take him to his first movie a little sooner than TJ went to his first.  Much to our surprise, Frankie was awesome in the theater.  He sat through the whole thing, just mesmerized.  (It could've been a food coma from the Icee, M&Ms and popcorn).  He loved it!  The next weekend, while TJ & Daddy went to Ant-Man, Mommy & Frankie saw Inside Out.  And while Frankie didn't love it as much as Minions, he is still singing "Bing Bong Bing Bong!"  We also enjoyed a fun family night at Parker's Movies in the Park.  We watched Back to the Future II, and had a great time with friends.  The boys did pass out on the blankets, so we were glad we only had to walk a few blocks home.

There have been so many other little moments that have added up to big fun this summer.  Just today, we had a great day with Grandpa & Grandma at Casa Bonita!  (You've gotta go at least once a year if you're a Coloradoan!)  As the summer winds down, we definitely are not!  We're heading to Southern California in a week to visit family, friends and take a trip to Legoland!  We can't wait!

That's a Wrap!

 The month of May (yes, we're a little behind) wrapped up in a big way.  TJ graduated from Junior Kindergarten and is now on to the real deal!

The continuation ceremony at PCK was simple and sweet.  TJ sat and waited patiently while the other classes were awarded their certificates.  One by one, the children crossed the stage, and all were quiet.  That was, except for the time TJ saw a cute girl walk by to get her certificate.  That was when he said, "Oh, I like her."  Later that day, when we were on our way to dinner to celebrate, Mommy asked TJ if he knew the girl since she was in a different class.  He said, "No I've never seen her before."  My little Lethario.

Back to the ceremony: TJ was so proud to walk across the stage and receive his JK certificate.  He was all smiles as he shook Ms. Pacheco's hand and turned to the audience.  After the ceremony, we returned to his classroom for a class party.  The gifts from the teachers were so sweet, and the class even made a yearbook for their friends, writing little messages.  TJ received a lot of "I like him" and "He's funny" comments - go figure.

We were so sad to say goodbye to his teachers.  Ms. Pacheco and Ms. Schaffer were so wonderful, and TJ was very lucky to have such a great classroom!   Every kid got along and were great friends.  We're so excited what the next year brings.

We celebrated TJ's continuation with Grandma & Grandpa at Perfect Landing.  The boys love the restaurant at Centennial Airport because you can see all the planes landing and taking off.  The food is great, too, so it was a win-win for everyone!

A week after school ended, TJ was hard at work for Tech Week -- the final week of rehearsals and prep for RATCo's production of "Charlotte's Web."  The MouseCo had prepared a special skit based on the book "Otis," and they were absolutely perfect getting the show started each night.  TJ was also one of the spiders who appeared at the end of the story.  They had four performances in three days, and to say he was tired, would be an understatement.  But he was so proud of himself... and so were we!

Frankie on the Double!

We can't believe our little monkey is two!  The past few years have flown by, and it's so much seeing this little person become who he is.

So, who is Frankie?  He's crazy!  He's talkative, ornery, spunky, sweet, fiesty, smart, coordinated, loving and so much fun!  Frankie definitely looks up to his big brother.  He is always doing everything TJ does, and the two are quite a pair!  He's talking up a storm... having conversations, and using three word sentences.  His new favorite word is "why," so, of course we're loving that.  He loves to eat pancakes, pizza, and pretzels.  Frankie loves to dance -- he is always singing to "Uptown Funk," "Happy," and "Shake it Off."  He loves watching "Paw Patrol," and "Super Wings," and he's really into dragons after seeing "How to Train Your Dragon."

Since he's such a Paw Patrol fan, we decided to throw him a birthday party with his favorite rescue pups.  The perfect place, of course, was Chuck E. Cheese's!  He had a great time with Grandma, Pa, Aunt G and all our friends.  Frankie even met his new friend Roman, and they hit it off! 

Mommy was able to take Frankie's actual birthday off, and we had a fun-packed day walking to the park, playing outside, going to our favorite Italian restaurant for dinner (he had pizza), and then we topped it off with ice cream! 

We are so lucky to have this little tornado in our lives, and we've had the best two years watching him grow and become the best of friends with his big brother!