Long Time, No See....Sorry!!!

If you are reading this blog, then you already know how much I love my two boys!!! Seems like they are growing up right in front of our eyes...almost in just one blink! I could talk about these two for DAYS to just about anyone that would listen! It was too hard to choose just one good shot to post, so I just posted a handful of my favorites! I took all these on Election Day when I was trying to capture some good shots for our Christmas card. Think I was successful...what do you think?

Even though Logan isn't smiling in this one, I love it! He was pouting because he said he felt like a "ba-foon" (his OWN words!) for falling in the water and having to wear his brother's oversized hoodie. I told them to say "waterfalls!" and he said "water-hurts!" And, in a matter of two seconds he went from this to.....

THIS....when his (awesome) big brother giggled at what he said. ;)

And, luckily, Katelee came with us and she was able to take a picture of me with my boys. I am usually the one behind the camera...LOVE these two!!!

Did I mention....I LOVE these two!?! Nothing I wouldn't do for them!!!

Lunch surprises for Logan!

Grandparents Day continued over for Logan when Gam-ma, Granddaddy, and Cara surprised him at lunch with McDonalds! What a happy boy he was! He even got to show off his artwork hanging on the wall displayed in the hallway! Notice the tiger paws over his city?!?

A $700 Copperhead :(

So, last Saturday and Sunday night we noticed it felt warmer in the house than normal (the thermostat was reading 82 but was set on 78, and it wasn't really hot outside). We changed the air filters Saturday night (it was time) and it cooled back off through the night. However, on Sunday it got up to 86 during the day so we knew something was wrong. (UGH!) Roger went outside to check inside the AC Unit fuse box just to be sure nothing was wrong in there....and, this is what he found....AHHHHH!!!!!! Luckily it was dead when he opened the box because it was a 2 ft. long Copperhead. Not sure how it got in there or why it would have even crawled in there, but it did. Shorted out some stuff and made us have to replace the coils and some other things. Half day off from work (crazy at this time of year!!!), 4 days with no working AC and inside house temps of 89 (miserable sleeping conditions!!!), and $700 later we had air again! If anything else breaks, I think I might have to find a part time job! Fingers crossed everything else stays good like we need it too! :) ** We've had to explain to Logan that this snake was OUTSIDE and not where the air vents in the ceiling are. Poor thing was staring at the ceiling worried on might come out of the vent!

Football, Labor Day, & Grandparents' Day Breakfast

This time of year is always one of the busiest times of the year for our house...simply because it's when we all get back in school, and it's football season! Seems we've been going full force! Austin has adjusted to middle school nicely so far (though a water fountain apparently exploded near him Friday...funny story), Logan is doing well in 1st grade, and I am ALMOST in a normal routine with things at school with my new group of kiddos! Football season has been a much different this year (HUGE BLESSING) with us being back with our REAL coach! In fact, Austin has a game tomorrow, and we all can't wait! Labor Day was nice with having the day off from school...Haylee and the girls even came over to hang out at the pool (since we had no air...diff. story to follow for that!)! I know things will continue to settle a little more as a couple weeks go by, and we are welcoming those changes, as well as the cooler temps we have today!

Austin on Labor Day!

Logan puttin on his flippers!

Austin's football picture!

Logan and Pa-paw at Grandparents' Breakfast! Gam-ma and Granddaddy are going to come eat lunch with him soon! :)

1st Day of Middle School/First Grade

The first day of school is always bittersweet for me for a couple reasons....ONE, it's a constant reminder of how quickly my boys are growing up (someone find/discover a pause button!!!)...TWO, it's an end to my summer/days off (I LOVE being home with my boys and not being tied down to a schedule! And, this was the first summer in two years I actually had OFF with no course work/horrendously long papers to write)...THREE, I get to hear the excitement my boys have as they talk all about their days in school (and, of course, the occasional grumbles too!)...FOUR, it's football GAME time (and, for me that means I get to watch Austin "slobber-knock" people)...FIVE, we get back on our "normal" schedules (haha, I know this contradicts what I just said a minute ago! There's something about being on a schedule that helps me get more accomplished!)....

Gotta have a first day picture with Mom! :) My boys can snap a pretty good photo, huh?

Austin came home on Day 1 and said Middle School is like a vacation....Day 2 he said Middle School is exhausting....Day 3 when I got home he was sounds asleep on his bed and thought it was the next day when I woke him up! I can't believe he's in middle school!!!!

Logan loves that he has some friends in his class from last year's class! He LOVES being able to go to the "big" playground for recess, and they had watermelon with lunch on Friday (you KNOW he is a happy boy!)!!! Here's to another great school year!!!

Austin turns (GASP!!!) ELEVEN!!!!

I cannot believe Austin turns ELEVEN tomorrow! I am AMAZED at how quickly time has flown by. He is almost as big as me, and he is certainly as strong (if not more)!!! He went for his MIDDLE SCHOOL Orientation today...sniff, sniff! I can sometimes feel that slight lump in my throat I felt when he was walking to his kindergarten room (that this teacher mom used to secretly laugh in my head at "those" weepy moms...until I had my own child going and felt that way) as I think about him going to a different school than where I am (though, he couldn't be more excited!!!). He makes us SO very proud at everything he does!!! He has always (thank goodness) done well in school! He's got great choice in friends (so far we've liked them all!)! He's a wonderful BIG brother (Logan adores him and aspires to do everything his big brother does! And, in fact, JUST taped a secret message and $1 from his own piggy bank to his big brother's door since he heard Austin say he wanted money for his birthday)...he even came RUNNING in the house for the bendryl when the two of them were outside playing the other day and Logan got bit by ants. He rocks it on the football field (ability wise and more importantly HEARTwise)...can't wait to watch him play in Sportsarama tomorrow!!! Of course, I will post pics of that tomorrow!!! I could go on an on about or oldest (really about either of our boys)...I love his personality and sense of sarcasm, I love that he helps out around the house, I love that he still likes to sit and chat with both me and his dad, I love that he likes to watch some of our shows (and talks to us about them) with us...BIG BROTHER! I love that he and I can read the same books (SOME OF THEM ANYWAY) and talk about them...HUNGER GAMES! I love that he still lets me put him to bed and say his "lay me's" (aka prayers)...and I love that he will even add special prayer requests when appropriate!!! I love how he can randomly quote animal facts and tidbits! I love his blue eyes and freckles! I just LOVE him!!!! Happy 11th Birthday, Austin!!!! aka "my Snoodle"

The Rest of Disney Trip

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I can't believe summer is coming to an end and I am just now getting around to posting the rest of our trip from the beginning of summer! We've been SO busy! Don't worry! I have more pictures from the summer to post! Maybe I can make myself get caught up before school starts back up! My goal was to do a slideshow from each park/day of our trip, but this was quicker and helped me get this one done so I can move on to other posts! I don't want to get behind on the blog too much! LOL! So, enjoy some pictures from Hollywood Studios, Universal, and Epcot (probably my favorite park!!!).

Our Day Off....Downtown Disney

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We learned from our first Disney trip (when Austin was just about 4 years old) that when we do Disney the way we do (non-stop) we NEED to take a day off in the middle to rest up! It really does make a HUGE difference for the 2nd part of the week! Even the boys like/need that day off! This trip we went to Downtown Disney on our day off. It was our first time going here, and I am SO glad we did! The boys (mainly Logan) really wanted to go to the Lego store (it was closed for remodeling on our last trip), and it was everything they had hoped it would be! The best part of our time here was where we ate! The restaurant was FABULOUS!!! If you ever go here, this is where you should eat! Great food and fun times!!!!

Animal Kingdom

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We really like going to Animal Kingdom because it is sort of a "relaxing Disney day," if there is such a thing. There aren't as many rides at this park, but there is so much else to see and do it is still really fun! This park also closes earlier than the others so it's helpful to come here after two longer days because you can get home at a more decent time and rest (that's important when you are on the go CONSTANTLY)!!! Austin is our "animal lover" and he's always liked coming here, and Logan REALLY liked riding Everest Expedition for his first (and second) time! That really is a NEAT roller coaster if you like them! It's by far at the top of my list!!! Hope you enjoy some of our best shots of the day!

Islands of Adventure....Universal Studios

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This is the day the boys looked most forward to before coming, and I think it lived up to their own "hype!" This park of Universal has the Harry Potter ride, etc....and the BUTTERBEER!!!! It was oh so yummy!!!! We're going to try to re-create it here! The wait for the Harry Potter ride was long (90 minutes), but there was stuff to see along the way, and it was well worth the wait (for Harry Potter fans)...it even allows you to go through it all up until the ride so you can experience all that is inside if you don't want to ride. This was certainly one of our favorite days of our vacation!

Day 1 @ Magic Kingdom

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We started off our trip at Magic Kingdom, and again, we were not disappointed! Despite weather forecasts of thunderstorms all day, the rain luckily held out until almost 9. The boys had a blast on all their favorites: Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Stitches Great Escape (I still don't like this one!), The People Mover, Dumbo, Goofy's Barnyard Roller Coaster, Winnie the Pooh, Pirates of the Carribean, and more!!! There is always SO much to do, and even though this is our third trip to Disney EVERY trip has been so different! It really depends on the interests of the kids that plans out what you do!!! This was the first time we have gone in June (both other times were in July), and the weather was MUCH cooler this time, and the crowd was lighter too! It was a great first day!!!!

We're Back from the "Happiest Place on Earth!"

Gosh, I have SOOOOO many pictures and things to say about our most recent Disney trip! I think the best way for me to do blog all this is to do a separate post for each park (and that is what I will be working on now), but for now...here are a couple of pictures to jumpstart it all! I am so very glad to have been able to go here with the boys! It really is a trip that I think ALL families should go on at least once....no matter the ages of your children! There is something to do for everyone at every park!!!! Priceless memories and family time!!!! Here's a family shot in front of THE castle! Here's are our boys showing off their smile for me! Butterbeer at Hogwarts....SO yummy!!!! We're going to attempt to make it here! Austin after riding Everest Expedition. Logan after riding Everest Expedition!

We're SO Proud of Logan

It really doesn't seem like the school year should already be over (though I promise there are days I felt summer would never get here)! Not sure I'm completely ready for my "just finished kindergarten child" to be a first grader just yet! He's had an amazing year (thanks to his AMAZING teachers!!!!), and I know he's more than ready for first grade! His reading and writing are really taking off, and he said he wants to read a chapter book this summer (like Junie B Jones!). He seems to be a math wiz! He amazes me at some of the stuff he can do...really, he does things I teach my 2nd grader (and I am not "one of those moms" that does the skill and drill thing at home). SO proud of our "Logan Bogan!" Can't wait to see all he continues to accomplish!!! You can see how proud he was himself to get these awards!!! Here he is on the rug in his classroom after the ceremony! Boy, we sure do LOVE Mrs. Pollock!!! ) Logan LOVED that Mrs. Branham is a Clemson fan just like him!!!

We're SO Proud of Austin!

Oh.My.Goodness. I cannot believe our "Austin Boston" is no longer an elementary student! It will be rather weird for me to not have him at school with me next year! He's had an amazing year, once again! We're so proud of all his hard work, and we know he'll do great things in the future!!! He got NINE awards this year (very proud Momma and Daddy!)...PAWS Cafe, A/B honor Roll, National PE Fitness Awards, Jump Rope for Heart, District Chorus, Regular Chorus, Most Improved Reading (he had the highest Reading MAP scores in his class AND he went WAY over his own Target score...wahoo!!!), a certificate of completion, and a Typing Award (for how many words per minute he can type already)! Austin, we are SUPER proud of you!!! LOVE you BUNCHES!!! Here's a picture of all his awards (minus the PAWS Cafe Certificate)! A PROUD Daddy! I love this picture! Austin and Mrs. Lowe (his reading and social studies teacher). He LOVED her sense of humor! Austin and Mrs. K (aka Mrs. Kropinski), his math and science teacher. He really liked having her this year! And, there's our big guy up on the stage sporting his big ole' grin after getting A/B Honor Roll!

Butterflies in My Classroom

Last year Logan was a little scared of the butterflies fluttering around in the tent...obviously he's overcome that fear! :) k

Mom, There's something in my eye...ha! Austin has ALWAYS liked being in the butterfly tent! One of my FAVORITE things about teaching 2nd Grade is when we get our caterpillars come in and we get to watch them change into butterflies! The coolest part is the "butterfly tent" we have that allows students (and my OWN kids!!!) to get in and experience butterflies up close and personal! It is always a favorite memory of my students, and, of course, by me too! I always get AMAZING photos of my students (and my OWN kids) with the butterflies!!! Too good not to share!!! I can't believe our big guy "graduates" from elementary school next week! I am going to try (really hard) not to shed any tears at their 5th grade ceremony next Friday! Our little man will finish up his last week in kindergarten! Where does the time go? They are growing up SO fast, but I can tell ya I am loving EVERY minute I have had with them! Those two boys are "OUR HEARTS!" Love them to pieces!!!

Logan's Field Trip to the Zoo

Logan had his field trip to the zoo on Friday, and you would have thought he had never been to the zoo before by the way he was (SUPER) excited about going! He could not wait to be there with HIS friends! I am very glad I was able to go with him! I got lots of great pictures...here are a few!

One of the first things we did was feed the birds. IF this is something you like to do, I highly suggest you do this when you first get there (as the zoo opens)! ALL the birds were active and wanted some of the nectar! The swooped in on Logan pretty quickly! He LOVED it!!!

I can't go to the zoo and NOT feed the giraffes! This is my FAVORITE part of Riverbanks Zoo! I love how close you can get to some of the animals...especially these beautiful things!

Here's a group shot of Logan and his class. Mrs. Pollock and Mrs. Branham have been amazing!!! Logan LOVES going to school, and he's made so much progress this year! So proud of how well he's doing!

Some of Logan's friends...Timmy, Braeden, and Reed!

And, this is the face Logan made when I told him Austin still had two hours of school left (as we were leaving the zoo). Can you tell he has enjoyed his day with Momma!?! Don't worry, Austin, we get to go on your field trip to Charleston on Thursday!