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.