Shooting Range

Ever since Jameson went to Texas he's been wanting a gun. I told him if he gets a gun, we both need to know how to shoot it. Then some friend's of ours, Devin and Heidi, called and found a Groupon for a shooting range. Devin knows all about guns and was able to teach us a few things. We had a double date taking down the bad guys and learning how to shoot for the first time. It was a blast!

Killing those zombies!

Even though Jameson won't admit it, I had a better shot. 

Side Note: I couldn't help but think afterwards how much Bryan would have enjoyed this Katie. When you guys come visit us we'll have to plan it!

4th of July

We started the morning out at our ward pancake breakfast. They hold it at a park so, of course, the kids just want to play. Which is also the reason I didn't get any pictures of Easton... he was too busy playing. 

Gavin was busy playing too, but I can manage getting a few pictures of him still. He sure loved those pancakes!

I love this sweet boy!

For the rest of the day we drove about an hour to my friend's house from school. I've been lucky enough to meet some really sweet ladies being in Pathway and it was a blast getting together. (Sorry didn't get pictures of them) 

We also did an impromptu photo shoot of the boys in their matching shirts grandma sent them. Easton only sat for so long before he was off playing again. 

Absolutely love this picture! It's getting printed and framed!

That night for the fireworks our friend's neighbors were putting on their own show so we just walked down the street to join the fun. For an on the side neighborhood show it was pretty legit, and as an added bonus didn't get stuck in any traffic. I didn't have my nice camera (I always forget it!) so I didn't get any fireworks pictures, but managed a few on my phone. 

Gavin was not a fan of the loud booms, so he just snuggled me, which I of course didn't mind!

It was a great 4th! God bless America and this great country we live in!

Swimming Lessons

Easton took swim lessons a few weeks ago. The University of North Georgia was offering 8- hour long sessions for $75. I'd never seen a price so good, so we signed up! 

I was actually surprised at how well Easton did and how well he listened. He is not one to sit still or pay attention, but he did really good. I think the peer influence helped having a whole class of kids his age.

They learned how to float on their backs, swim (assisted), blow bubbles in the water, bob under water, open their eyes under water, and a few other things. The lessons were seriously legit. The kids were "graded" at the end of the two weeks to see how much they learned and Easton passed! I just hope he keeps it up and remembers all this stuff for next summer!

 Easton and his class (he's in the middle)

swimming on his back

With one of his instructors (who looks like Larry Fitzgerald from the Arizona Cardinals!)

He got took take the class with one of his church friends Emery. I think they helped each other be excited about it and do a good job

The picture below I was trying to take of him holding his certificate he got, but he dropped it (go figure) and it got all wet

So proud of my little fishie and that he is more comfortable around the water!

A little about Easton

I can't believe how big my Easton has gotten. To think he was just a tiny thing almost 4 years ago is crazy. 

His latest obsession, (for an almost 4 year old boy) you probably guessed it... SUPERHEROES!

It all started with Spiderman, then one day daddy foung the Hulk movie on TV and the obsession grew a little more, then he found the Avengers DVD case one day and it was all over from there! Spiderman, Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Batman (Yes we mix Marvel and DC Comics over here)

Here he is in his Spidey shirt making Spidey fingers

Everyday he pretends to be a new superhero... here he's showing me his Hulk muscles. Its his first real big boy obsession (no more Curious George or Mickey Mouse) and proves to me that he is growing up. 

One day he couldn't decide which super hero he liked better, so he was Spiderman and Batman at the same time

 After taking his swim lessons he has been a little less hesitant around the water this summer (this is a before pic, he wouldn't even let the water splash him)

This is an after. Jumping in and out of the water and swimming all on his own (with his floatie)

Of course he is still all boy! Daddy texted me this picture while I was at school. I'm pretty sure this was his first real big boo-boo. 

He was racing daddy home when he tripped and face planted the sidewalk. Daddy tried to ice it and he said "No, I don't want my boo-boo to go away, I like my boo-boo." Yup, definitely all boy. 

He also loves to jump off the couch, punch the wall, steal toys from his little brother, and play outside. He loves to roll his cars down our somewhat slanted driveway. 

On the opposite side, Easton is the sweetest little boy there ever was! Literally. He loves to pick flowers and give them to the girls (Sister Missionaries really died over this one). He has to say "Hi" to literally everyone he sees. Walking from the car to the store, everyone inside the store, and every neighbor he sees outside. He is very social! He'll start talking to them like they understand everything and know exactly what is going on in his life. I am a translator everywhere we go. 

One day we were going through the drive-thru and picking up some food to bring to daddy at work. He told the lady at the drive-thru (he makes me put his window down too so he can say hi) he told her, "I'm going to bring food to my daddy's office." Later as we were driving to the office our conversation went like this: 

E: "Mommy?"

Me: "Yes Easton"

E: "I love Daddy."

Me: "Yes Easton, I know you love daddy"

E: "Mommy?"

Me: "Yes Easton"

E: "I love you too."

Me "Awe I love you too buddy."

E : "Awe, that is so sweet!" 

Truly a heart melting moment right there folks. 

Going to see daddy at his office is a favorite activity. 

He is a little cheese ball and loves to get his picture taken (Photographer's child syndrome)

He absolutely loves when friends come over! Missionaries, mommy and daddy's adult friends, or his church friends, all in the same to him. He has a sweet little friend who lives down the street from us. One day her mommy was visiting teaching me and when it was time to go Easton begged her to stay and play. So she did and mommy got to go home and take a shower. Win-Win. Emery stayed until lunch time and then, like a gentleman, Easton walked her home. He often gets his "girl friends" mixed up and calls them by their wrong names. Guess we'll have to work on that. On days where he is just playing and talking to himself, I hear names like Emery, Kennedy, Becca, and Zoey (Ya, not sure how that happened Katie) But I think he pretends he is playing with them and having a conversation with them like they are there. It's so cute. 

Since we moved to doing naps about every other day now (on off days we do quiet time, which is really nice), but since then he often falls asleep in the car or on our bed. He looks so peaceful when he sleeps. 

He is so fun-loving and sweet when he wants to be, and yet can also be a typical 3 year old- crabby and whiny.

His favorite shows right now are Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Cartoon Avengers from Netflix, Space Jam, Wreck-It Ralph, and the Incredibles. 

His favorite foods are pizza, grapes, and Happy Meals

Favorite activities are swimming, sprinklers outside, seeing friends, and puzzles. I sometimes wonder if Easton is at the level he should be, but then I see him do puzzles and I'm amazed. He's so good. We have also been working on shapes, letters, and numbers. He's got the first one down, but we're still working on identifying the others. 

His favorite books are "We Are in a Book" (Super cute if you've never read it) which he also can read to you because he has it memorized. He also likes "Should I Share My Ice cream" and "If You Give a Moose a Muffin"

He is still warming up to little brother being more mobile because he plays with all his toys, but things are getting better

He loves to say prayers and lately tells me he wants to go to "Jesus land" (Not sure if I should be worried or not)

He also said his first prayer in Primary as a Sunbeam. Proud mommy moment. He did so good with only some help from daddy. Sometimes we have to remind him to say his prayers nicely and be reverent, but his Primary prayer was his best prayer yet, completely reverent and sweet!

We love our Easton!