Die Hard Clemson Tiger Fans!

Clemson Tigers are ranked as the #1 college football team in the nation right now! What a fantastic season.  These guys love to go see the Tigers play (day or night, rain or shine :/ ).  I wish they could do as well on their schoolwork as they can with their football stats.  They can rattle off names, stats, wins, losses, etc. of most football teams - college and pro.  C-L-E-M-S-O-N!!!

First Communion (Last Spring)

I almost forgot to mention that the boys received their First Holy Communion this past Spring. They took classes for two years and worked very hard. They were thrilled to 'graduate' and be able to go up and receive communion and the wine.  They still get nervous and excited to do this at church!  I think they thought it was pretty special... and it was.

Boys Are Eight

The boys are eight and in 3rd grade. They are doing soccer this fall and also had their first tennis lesson/clinic last week. They both liked it! I'd like for them to try out a bunch of different sports before we start to focus on just one. I really do not want them to play tackle football and that is the one sport they beg to play. Trying to hold them off for (ever) as long as I can! They have recently been introduced to fishing - Holden really has the fishing bug and LOVES to fish! They are both just as silly as ever.

Ready or not... here comes Summer!!!!

I never thought I'd say this – but I think I'm ready for summer! I know the boys are.  We need a break from the normal routine.  I need to find one or two more camps for them so they don't get bored. Right now we are going to be doing swim team, and music camp for half day one week and also a basketball camp for a half day one week in July.  Branson has been dying to do a wrestling camp – I think he's finally gotten Holden onboard, so I may sign them up for a short wrestling camp just to introduce them to the sport. They wrestle with each other all day long anyway so I think they will really enjoy it!

I'm adding this from my smart phone… I've never tried this before but I'm hopeful that I will keep up with the blog better now that I know my phone can help me do it. 😄

Technical Difficulties Really $uck

I cannot figure out what has happened... I can't upload/ download any pictures. Argh! Very frustrating. I will have to do some trouble-shooting and see what I can figure out. I will admit that computer problems and math are right up there with going to get a tooth pulled...THINGS I DON'T LIKE (i've never had one pulled and don't plan to). ;)

The boys are doing really well. First grade is going great. I am amazed at what they are learning in school. Some of this stuff I wasn't learning about until 3rd grade or 4th. And the computer skills - wow! They are learning about things I didn't know how to do until I was in college. It really blows me away. The school they go to has a strong emphasis on Math, so that probably means that this is the last year I'll be able to help them with their homework. It will be getting too complicated for me by next year I feel sure. haha! Thankfully, they can go ask their father.

Hey, maybe he can fix my computer problem with adding pictures too! I'm off to ask... hope to be back on track soon.

Dagnabbit!

Main Entry: dagnabbit Part of Speech: interj Definition: god damn it Example: Dagnabbit, where's my cell phone? Etymology: based on "dang rabbit," said by the character Elmer Fudd in Bugs Bunny cartoons Usage: euphemism Dagnabbit! I can't believe it has been SO LONG since I've updated this blog - I was shocked at how long ago the last entry was. I think about it sometimes, I just never get on the computer much anymore because now I mostly just use my smartphone. (And I don't have Beverly sending me reminder emails haha!) Dagnabbit is the boys' favcrite new word lately. It's on some stupid insurance commercial and they just get a kick out of it for some reason. They love saying it. But Dagnabbit! is what I want to say because now I know I'm going to cry. I'm going to update this blog with the death of their Poppy (Hollis Cone, Ashley's dad) and I don't want to cry!!! Dagnabbit! Dagnabbit!!!! Man, what a shocker! You know that saying "Go Big or Go Home"? Well, let's just change it to "Go Big and Go Home" because that's exactly what Poppy did. He always went big. With good food, good wine, gifts and presents, and most of all his presence etc. You knew when he was in the room with you. And the kicker is, the ending of his life was no different. He went BIG before he went HOME. He had an aggressive form of liver Cancer and only had about 2 weeks to say his good-byes. Well, in that whirlwind of 2 weeks a lot went down. But since this blog is focused on our boys I'll try to keep it on track.... (quick shout out to Ashley and his sisters and nephew for getting baptized during that time!) Like I said a lot went down. haha! Hollis Cone/ Poppy as the boys called him. He was fun to be around... ask anyone that knew him; and he enjoyed being around people. You could tell by his smile and the stories he told. He was loving, generous, spoke his mind, cursed (in a cute kind of way doing it) and went out of his way to see our boys. He went to swim meets, soccer games, Grandparents Day at school, etc. etc. Crap, the tears are really flowing now - Dagnabbit!! Branson and Holden really loved him and they are so young. But I know they felt the love he had for them and I hope they carry that with them throughout their lives. I hate thinking what could have been... he would have been in their lives, helping them along the way with his love and sense of humor but now that's gone. We will truly miss his cute Cottageville accent, his handsome tall funny self. Thanks for all the fond memories (and there are only fond ones) Poppy. Much Love To You, You Are Now Home.

Training Wheels Are Off!

We just took off the boys' training wheels... and success!  Probably because we could've done it months ago... but they were able to do it pretty easily.  Branson could use a little more practice, but I think the real problem is he is too tall for his bike.  He wobbles a bit and starts and stops a bit much; but he can do it.  I give him one more day of training and he'll be smooth as butter.  Holden is zooming up and down the street with no problem; he is an expert already. His coordination and athletic ability constantly amazes me.  We only took the training wheels off around 5:30pm this evening ~ so really there was only about a 30 minute window to practice, if that long.  Tomorrow will be fun I'm sure! Zoom Zoom!  (I'll try to take a picture of it, if they aren't going by too fast.)

Trying not to think 'deep thoughts' and get misty.  It's hard not to as they are crawling towards you one day and then the next they are pedaling away from you.  Our baby boys are growing up so fast. (sniff)

Go Green Socks!

First Baseball Team! Was a fun and wonderful learning experience.  The season ended mid October but I think they want to sign up again in Spring.  Flag football is next!

Year of the 5 year old

Well well well, I didn't know we'd be MIA for so long! Sorry about that and I hope to post some pictures a little more regularly. The year of the 5 year old is BIG.  Meaning big changes this year for our boys.  They have a totally new schedule, new school, new friends and new teachers this year. And I must say I am so proud and impressed with how well they have adjusted to it all.  (I think I'm still adjusting, but a bit slower.  But then again, I'm not 5 so I think that's to be expected??)  They are enjoying Kindergarten so much.  Just yesterday Holden's teaching assistant for his class was just gusshing over him (I'm not kidding... gusshing) over how it is so fun to see a student so excited to learn.  He gets excited and gets his classmates excited about learning! She says she has never seen a student with such enthusiasm and she hopes he never loses that. (That really meant something, especially since she is in her late 60s or 70s... so she has seen years and years of students).  She just hugs on him and sends nice notes home, etc.  Branson is a split personality student I'd have to say.  He is so well-mannered, follows the rules, is always a wonderful student, teachers love him - while he is away at school.  But then when he gets home after school.... it goes a little differently some days.  It's like he has been so good for so many hours that by the end of the school day he is just tired and let's it all hang out when he gets home. A little whiney or a little hard-headed/hard of hearing. Sheesh!  I guess I'll take it though, I'd rather him be good all the time but if I have to send him out into the world I choose for him to do well out there than at home.  He's just my parenting challenge child somedays and other days he is as sweet and loving and helpful as can be.  I mean "hello" he's five.  Afterall, it IS HARD being five!

5 Years Old, Can You Believe It?!

Wow! It hardly seems like 5 years has blown by, but it has.  Our sweet boys are turning 5 tomorrow and they are beyond excited.  Me too really, because they've been asking me for months "how much longer until our birthday" on a daily basis ~ so, just happy for them... happy for me. ;)  It's a little bittersweet though, because 5 seems a little old to me, no more 'toddlerdom' for them. All I can say is WOW!

    

Branson (5) 

Holden (5) and Dusty (10mo)

Photos courtesy of Chris Hamilton Photography www.hamphoto.com

A couple of Disney pictures from January

They loved loved loved watching the fireworks... glad we stayed late!

These two are soo EXCITED to meet Buzz LightYear - what a thrill

Branson's favorite thing was the Castle and Holden's favorite thing was Splash Mountain; which we got to ride 2x in a row because there were No Crowds when we went!! Great trip!

Branson and Holden

Well, it has been an interesting start to the New Year.... we went to Disney World with the boys in early January and had a wonderful time. Got to see Mickey, Buzz Light Year, Woody the Disney Castle, Sea World, etc. Very fun! Then, Beverly (GramBee) passed away near the end of January, today is her birthday by the way! Happy Birthday GramBee - we love and miss you so very much!!

What the boys have been up to lately:
continuing to do Karate (a 30 min exercise class really, at the school) after preschool once a week
signed them back up for gymnastics class again - once a week; they kept asking me to sign them up again
trying to decide whether to sign them up for soccer this next season - they really liked it and excelled in it, so I probably will... not sure when it starts back

Branson and Holden's all consuming activities, thoughts, ideas, etc. revolve around construction. They want to build things, use their tools, dress up like contruction workers, put the orange cones out in the road. They LOVE contruction stuff right now! Thanks to Aunt Courtney, they can now carry on in style with the outfits she got them for Christmas - Contruction Worker Men! Also, whenever we are driving on the highway and they see those work zone orange signs on the side of the road... they immediately yell out "Man Working Ahead"!! Pretty funny the first 920 times really.

Very Sad Loss...

It has been an incredibly sad week for us. Beverly aka "GramBee" unexpectedly passed away on Sunday evening, January 22nd. It has been rough on Ashley and his entire family, as she was only 67 years young. I've gone through my mind over and over how I would update this blog about her, and there is just no way to do her justice with what I would have to say. I was going to make this lengthy and mushy (even brought in a roll of toilet tissue before I started because I knew the tears would be rolling)... but I've decided to keep it short and sweet.


She was a very talented beautiful woman
She loved beach music and other good music too - had hundreds and hundreds of awesome songs on her computer
She was a very good shagger, loved to dance... was going to teach Branson and Holden to shag one day
She was an artist, she dabbled in paintings a while ago... but her best artworks were her beautiful quilts she made - so gorgeous and detailed
She was a dog person - I'm a dog person too; I think it says something about a person if they like dogs ;)
She was incredibly generous and very kind and loving, always had a bright smile and a fun laugh
Loved to be around family and friends - knew how to throw a good party so everyone had fun; it also helped that she was a good Southern cook too
She loved being Grambee and she loved her three grandsons so much ~ Spencer, Branson and Holden

The part that really kills me is that Branson and Holden are only 4... ONLY 4 Years OLD! and it just doesn't seem fair that they won't get to grow up with her in their lives and really knowing her. She was a wonderful lady. That makes me the saddest when I think about it. What a loss for them and for us all. She was too young to die but I have to trust in God's plan. He has a plan for all of us and that gives me comfort.

Psalm 30:5b “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (*KJV)
Lamentations 3:31-33 “For men are not cast off by the Lord forever.Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.” (NIV)

Go Tigers!

Clemson Tigers sure have some cute fans! haha The boys are really starting to 'get into' football this year; it also helps to follow a winning team. They are starting to learn the cheers and love to hear the cannon go off after a TD and also the LOUD tiger roar in the stadium ~ so cute to see them so excited!

First Day of PreK 4s!!!!

Hooray for preschool starting back!!! Last week Branson and Holden started school again and were very excited to see their old friends and teachers. This year is a little different in that they have separate classrooms and teachers. I was a little worried that they would be anxious but they weren't at all. In fact, I think they were really excited that they each had their "own" teacher and classroom. I've gotten great reports from the teachers on both boys that they are doing fantastic separated. (I've even noticed Holden has a little skip in his step these days. haha) Off to a great start this year!! WooHoo!

ps Branson is doing a thumbs-down mainly because I said let's do a thumbs-up picture on school starting. I think if I said please don't clean up your room... it would be spotless in about 5 min. ;) Love that willful boy!

New Family Addition! Dusty

Well, we waited long enough according to the boys,"years and years", to get another dog. So we went to the Pets Inc. place and Fate pushed lil Dusty our way; so we adopted him and brought him home with us. He was a new little puppy at the orphanage, dropped off that morning the evening we were there and the rest is history. He has the sweetest little personality and loves playing with the boys. We were told he is a Terrier mix and shouldn't get too big. Branson and Holden named him Dusty; Branson was adamant about the name and Holden was agreeable. We adopted him the day before Preschool started. Timing could have been a little better, but WTH... sometimes you just gotta roll with it.

Branson and Holden really love having a little dog around to play with. They want to help with everything. Feeding, brushing, giving treats and toys to, walking him, etc. Ashley may be more smitten with little Dusty than the boys! He's a good fit for our family. They keep asking if we have to give him back and if we get to keep him forever and ever.

Buzz Off Kid!

I know, I know... where are any new pictures?! I've slacked off for a while... updates will return when I get my sanity back (could be a while).

Today Branson was in the bathroom with the door locked. I knocked on the door and asked what he was doing. He responded "going to the potty... now buzz away please". I think he was trying to tell me to "buzz off". I guess kids really do pick up what you say sometimes!

Bowler Boys and Guppy Guys

We went bowling today! They really like bowling.
Holden was really getting into it; fist pumps and all!

Here's my man Branson, looking all serious like; nice form good grip!

Most days we try to make it to the pool. A couple nights a week, we wait for Ashley to get home from work and all go together. It's nice to go in the evening, and it helps these guys sleep well too.

The boys have practiced swimming a few times without the swim-vests and are really doing well. I'm thinking that if they weren't twins, they would be swimming now. But if only one parent is with them, it's hard to watch them both at the same time (makes me nervous); and they most likely would have had a little more one on one time in the pool. But nevertheless, they love the water and are getting so much better at swimming!

SUMMERTIME (kickin' my arse) FUN!

Geez Louise! The boys got out of school mid May... and will be out for summer break until around the second week in September!!!!! Not to complain or anything, but the days are long and the temperatures are rising. Hello!?!! I'm 40 years OLD...and I'm dyin' and beat down. ;) My bones are weary and we still have months to go. (sniff) Just wanted to share, that's all.

I know I shouldn't complain about God's precious gifts; and most days I usually don't. Today was just a long one ~ well really, this week has been a long one. They've been doing great, not fighting (too much) with each other and they could still practice on cutting back with whining. On a positive note, they are both pretty good helpers. They helped me clean out my car today and vacuumed it too. I bet you have no idea how messy and gross a car with twin 4 year old boys can get; I had no idea how bad it really was, and it was my car!

Branson is still a little bossy, but I'm thinking that just comes with the territory. He is the older brother afterall. He also likes to tease, but he's been doing that for years now. Holden has been cracking us up lately, on finding "coins". He gets soooo excited when he finds a penny or any kind of coin these days. And usually he doesn't mind if Branson tries to take a toy from him, but buddy watch out if you touch his coins! He goes ballistic!! I think Branson is learning.... don't take the man's coins OR ELSE.

1st Week At The Beach

Well, we started off the summer with going to Myrtle Beach for a week. These boys had a great time. They especially love riding in the golf cart to the pancake house in the mornings! I've always thought we've been lucky since the earliest they wake up is around 7:30... and at the beach it was 8/8:30 most mornings which was much appreciated. ;)
Branson likes the ocean/beach much better these days, thank goodness. He still loves the pool the most, but will actually get out on the beach now and build sand castles, ride his boogie board to catch waves, and dig for crabs! Both Branson and Holden were champs on their boogie boards; I was really kinda shocked at how good they were. They held on tight and rode waves into shore ~ so fun to watch them. They loved it. Another thing that Ashley and I were really shocked about was that they now do flips off the side of the pool!! I kid you not.... they do belly flops, dives and "flips" into the pool. Very impressive! I wish I had taken my camera or video recorder to show you (sorry). Happy Summer ~ Stay Cool!