Papaw Bell

Since November when I lost my Papaw Bell, I have wanted to do a post about him, but I have felt like I could never capture what he meant to my family.  That is still true, but I have decided to just share a little bit about him.

My brother and I are so fortunate to have had four truly wonderful grandparents, all of whom had big parts in our lives.    I think every little girl and boy should have the experience we have had of growing up with such wonderful grandparents.  I have so many sweet memories of playing Candyland, Checkers, cars, Little People, and Cooties in my Mamaw and Papaw's living room floor growing up. He carted us around anywhere we wanted to go, was at all our "events", gave me my first car and kept it running until I got a new one when I was married, and was our family Mr. Fix-It.  He had patience that was unmatched and a good sense of humor.

I have been struggling over this post for months because how do you truly capture what a person means to you with a few paragraphs and the handful of pictures you can round up?  Well, you can't, and that is okay.  I have those memories and I am blessed that my boys were able to know him too.

I have always loved this picture - this was taken in April 2009

This is a picture of a picture but it is from their 50th anniversary, when I arranged for some friends and family to surprise them at a restaurant. It was worth every moment!  Scotty and I were "taking them out to dinner" and they weren't even suspicious when I pinned these flowers on them.  I told them, "This is what you do when it is your 50th anniversary!"  So thankful Jessica was there to take pictures for me - the first event I asked her to do! 

This was taken in the July 2006 at Scotty's graduation from fire academy

This came from a picture of a picture that I took (I dislike scanning) so the quality isn't the best but I love the grin! This was when Scotty first got an apartment in Richmond - Papaw was there to help with everything.

Love this one because it illustrates my Mamaw's efforts to always have Papaw's clothes match or compliment hers, haha!  This time, it looks like she picked out my clothes too!

Cannot even guess how many times I saw him just like this.  

I love this one from Christmas 2006 because when I see it, I can hear his laughter.  He loved a good prank. 

We miss you Papaw!

Handing Over the Keys

Since last November, Caleb has been content to sit in the passenger seat and let Adam be the driver. Or in this case, even let Brennan have his turn. 

But on this day, he had a thought.

He wanted to take a ride, but Adam was inside. 

This is the moment he really decided to make his move.

He hit the gas a few times, and loved the result!  He looked at me like, "Look Mom!  I can do it too!"

Brennan was like, "Hold up, there, cuz!"

"Make sure you put some gas in right there!"

That must have been his "in".  Now, he was bravely Caleb's first passenger. 

Can't beat this!

Brennan's face might tell a little bit more about Caleb's driving.  

He's probably thinking, "Where's Adam?"

Trucks and Stuff

We enjoyed the Touch-a-Truck event at Keeneland today.  Big trucks, a crane, a helicopter, a hot air balloon - what little boy wouldn't love that?

My boys

Driving some big truck 

My oldest speedracer

 ...and my youngest.

 Inside the giant hot air balloon

I liked this cute little machine - a mini excavator - but LOVED the look on my boy's face!

Long line to sit in this crane, but it was worth it!

Cue the garbage truck song here!  This one was really cool.

Adam got to dump the garbage can!

Caleb inside the fire truck

A hay ride to finish off the day!  

Bittersweet Changes

Following our June vacation, we had a big day for both boys.  Adam started preschool (summer camp) and Caleb started at a new daycare.  Big changes!  At the end of April, we learned that our previous daycare was closing at the end of June.  I was extremely emotional about this - it was literally days before I could even talk through it with David without crying.  There were no major issues, but the church had to make some tough decisions and unfortunately decided to close it.  We have loved our daycare, the friends our boys have made, their wonderful teachers, and they have just thrived there.  It is so important to feel confident and happy with childcare, and we certainly have been blessed.

We ended up at our daycare on the recommendation of a friend.  Because Adam was born in early November rather than when we expected him in January, we were still far down the lists at the places we had applied.  Our daycare had just opened in January, and we visited and liked it.  Caleb joined Adam there when I went back to work too.  We loved having the boys there together and they truly learned so much in an environment where they also learned about Jesus, and I am so thankful for that - I could truly go on and on.  As a working mom, it means the world to me to know that my babies were (and are) in good hands.

We spent some time looking at new places, trying to factor in location, getting the boys where they needed to go in a way that still worked with our early morning schedules, etc.  We decided to leave Adam in the preschool where he was already enrolled (same campus) and take Caleb to a nearby daycare program.  We were sad to have to separate the boys, and were most worried about Caleb's adjustment to a new place with new kids, teachers, and not having Adam nearby.

We have completed 3 full weeks now, and the boys have done really well.  Adam was always super pumped about preschool.  Caleb has done well but drop offs have been hard on both him and David.  He is always having a blast when I pick him up and the teachers continue to tell me that he has done very well with the transition.  Relief!

Breakfast the morning of their first day at new places.  Not sure why Adam is now in the high chair - this was a recent change at our house.  I think he likes being in the tallest chair.  Thankfully, Caleb wanted to sit in Adam's booster seat at the same time.  Whatever - we just go with it around here!

Adam at dropoff.  He is so proud of his backpack!  He loves preschool summer camp, and says ,
 "When I get REALLY big, like Daddy, I'm going to go to BIG preschool, and take my water bottle!"  So cute!

Caleb at his new daycare.  The first day - not so fun for Mom and Dad but I called to check on him and he was doing great so no emergency pick-ups were needed.  

Sign on the door to Caleb's new class

The boys took flowers to their teachers on the last week at the previous daycare as a small gesture but a BIG thank you to being so great!  Each person along the way has meant so much to our family. 

Splish Splash!

These days, we do what we can to stay cool!  These boys are spending some time in their swim trunks, between water days at daycare and preschool, our neighborhood pool, Uncle Scotty's new pool, Lan and Pop Pop's pool, and the lake, we are loving the water!  And when it's a good day to stay home, we break out the 'ole whale pool.  

Who says you don't need goggles in a blow-up pool?

My cute boy!

Caleb seriously ponders something important, I'm sure.

Oops.  Caleb has a farmer's tan despite our sunscreen efforts.  

 Serious face.  Love this kid.

 And this one too!

Come swim with us!

A Sweet Surprise

One day last month, the boys and I were playing when we had an unexpected knock at our door.  Nana had come by and brought a surprise treat for the boys.  What says 'summer' more than ice cream?

Yummy!  We dug into them on our back deck.

Chocolate!

Cheese?  There's no cheese in that, thank goodness!

I have no idea what's going on here!

Awww, that is cold!   Thanks for the treat Nana, and thanks for bringing Mommy one too!

Look What's Blooming

I love plants and flowers.  Most of you already know this about me.  We bought a house with even more flower beds than I can handle, and I've even added more. Hydrangeas are hard to resist, I just think that they are beautiful.

David bought this hydrangea for me the week of our wedding six years ago.  I planted it at our first place and moved it with me when we bought our house.  Since that first year, it has not bloomed until this year.

Just a few blooms, but I was pumped!

Lately...In Pictures

My little buddies love to play together!

Caleb found another reader!  He LOVES books.  This is Miss Haley, who is our soon-to-be niece. The boys love when Haley-Bug visits!

She is so patient with both of the boys.

My little lion...He thinks this towel is so funny!

Excuse the less-than-professional picture, but I had to get my shark too!

The new weather has allowed us some fun time outside.  We had our first dinner of the year on the back porch last week.  

Caught Adam looking at me!  Three year olds are difficult to photograph. 

Come on summer!

Here's Caleb watering my "flowers". 

I'm going to have lots of helpers this summer.