My Little Fish

Chase started swim lessons in May and has now completed two sessions at the Woodstock Swim School. After those two sessions, he can swim from one end of the pool to the other without floaties, float on his back unassisted, and dive down to the bottom to get dive rings/toys. He still has his moments where he gets scared that he can't do it (usually about halfway across the pool), but I think all in all, he has proven to himself that he can do it if he wants to.

I didn't get many pictures of his last lesson today b/c my camera died minutes after we got there (go figure!). However, I did get a picture of him after he dove to the bottom to get the rings and one of him with his teacher, Mr. Francisco. Francisco was awesome and a GT student to top it off...you know that scores extra points in my book! I am so proud of my little fish!

...now, if only Cole would stop crying at lessons long enough to learn something...

Backyard Transformation

Over the last few months, we have worked diligently to create a backyard that is suitable for two wild and crazy little boys! We started with a yard that had multiple dropoffs and unusable pinestraw areas and ended with a wonderful play haven for the boys. Now, they can run loose and exert energy somewhere other than in my living room :)

Before

After

Because Chase did it...

That is the reason for everything that Cole does these days. He thinks he is the same age as Chase and wants to do everything that Chase does. That is really cute until you have a morning like I did yesterday. I was woken by my two little boys as they rambled on and on about something and I attempted to ignore them and catch a few more minutes of sleep. However, after a few minutes I felt the need to check into whatever it was that they were talking about (and it proved to be a good thing that I did). I entered their bedroom and it smelled like pee, so I knew it was going to be bad. Turns out that Chase had an accident during the night...it happens, no big deal. This time it turned out to be a big deal. Apparently when Chase woke up, he told Cole that he wet the bed and left out the part about how that was a bad thing to do. Cole proceeded to stand up, pull down his pajamas and his pull-up and spray the entire bed, stuffed animals and the floor. When I asked what happened, he told me that "Chase wet his bed, so he did too!"

I am telling this story now so that I can laugh about it over the years. Needless to say, I was not laughing yesterday while I cleaned carpet, beds, sheets, and animals! Hope this gave you a good laugh for your day.

Spring Break: Day 1

Easter Egg Decorating Day

The boys and I bought a sports egg decorating kit the other day and have been waiting on a day that was fit for the activity. Well, the weather for Spring Break day 1 fit the bill! I set everything up on the island in the kitchen and then surprised the kids when they got up from their nap. They were very excited and so anxious that they didn't want to leave the eggs in the dye for more than a minute (that is why some don't even look colored)! They each worked diligently on their eggs and then proudly displayed them for photos. It was a lot of fun and very cute!

Play Ball!

Chase has begun yet another baseball season! He has gone from being on the DiamondJaxx to the DiamondBacks. Last season he played 4-yr-old T-ball and got a little bored with batting on the tee and not really keeping score. So, this year, we requested that he play up a level and on a 5-yr old coach pitch team. It has been a lot of fun so far, but very busy. We have multiple practices and games every week...making for a lot of mommy taxi time (and very little blog time)!

Must be tough...

...to be a kid these days! I don't recall having the luxury of headphones and movies in the car when I was little. We just played made-up games or sang along with the radio. Cole on the other hand, doesn't know how to just ride in the car, even for a mile. Regardless of where we are going or how long we are going to be in the car, the first thing he asks for is his headphones and a movie. One afternoon, I decided to stop and grab a few pictures of him chilling in the back!

A "Zoo"tiful Day

The past few weekends have felt like Spring and we have been loving it. Even though I am not totally ready to throw on a swimsuit, I do enjoy the samples of warmer weather that we have been receiving lately.

Our family has tried to do as much as we could outside before the cold came back again. One of our outings was to the zoo with our neighbors. It was so much fun and such a beautiful day to be outside! Below are just a few of our pictures...

Chase and Cole looking at one of the exhibits

Cole telling Michael about the animals

Chase flying on daddy's shoulder

Family Shot

Chase at the lion exhibit

Cole's New Love

I thought it was bad enough that one of my boys had interest in girls, but both is so much worse. Chase's friend has a little sister, Whitley, that Cole is totally crazy about. Every time we pick Chase up from school or her mom is on carpool duty picking Chase up from the house, Cole has to know see Whitley. He gets all shy and smiley whenever she is around...it is just so cute!

The other week, I got the pleasure of keeping her at my house for a little while. Cole loved having her around!

WhitleyCole hugging her as she tries to crawl away (already playing hard to get!)

Hugging again (I promise he isn't hurting her even though it looks like he has her in a chokehold)

Camera Crazy!

As we have done in past years, Jason and I decided not to exchange Christmas gifts this year, but instead just put the focus on the kids. So, I guess when he gave me a new camera on New Years Eve, that counted as "not a Christmas gift". I was totally surprised and very excited about my new toy. As everyone knows, I am a little camera/picture crazy with the kids. Becuase of my love of capturing all life's special moments, I have really wanted a Digital SLR for the last few years. Now I have one...yay for me...however, not so much for the boys! They are so tired of me using them as subjects for testing all the settings. However, I did manage to chase them around the house enough to capture a few shots!

Christmas at the Villano House

Christmas was a little crazy at our house this year with me being under the weather. However, we made the most of it and tried to enjoy every moment with the kids. Santa visited the kids and left them some great presents (as if they needed anymore toys in the house).

Chase with his Power Ranger helmet

Cole and his power tools...dangerous isn't it!

Cole opening his Buzz Lightyear gun
The boys at their new table from the grandparents!

Brotherly Love!

Cole Turns 2

Since I am really behind on my blogging, I thought I would post a slideshow with tons of pictures from Cole's second birthday. It was a wonderful time with family and friends. And, Cole truly enjoyed every minute!