Our new everyday life

Has my folks in it - and we are love it.  The ease of just seeing them everyday brings so much to our life.  Here is a typical Saturday morning soccer tailgaet - Anyone see the donuts?  Shane, Drew and Nick are convinced that goomba brings donuts EVERYWHERE he goes.

There is something about being around munchkins that can either make you feel really old - or much younger - my father believes he is younger - he is quick to play with them, happy to hug them and excited to amke them smile.  I love seeing the look in HIS eyes when my boys go running to him for daily or weekly hugs - that will never get old.

My mom soaks up and plans the time with each dude.  Having one separately really gives you the chance to bond with them.  Recently she popped over just to grab Nick to go shopping for his brother's birthdays.  Nick was super chatty, inquisitive and got some valuable time with his grandparents.  He also got to run the show choosing the dinner place (Hot Heaven the local pizza place that to Megan and I sounds like a strip club!!) than onto McDs for Ice cream - which he had to gobble in the car as to know divulge to his brothers where he was.

This time is a treasure

Our little golfers

We love some mini put - the fall afternoons after school are really perfect.  Here is a course just 10 minutes from our house - of course I don't take a photo of the course (I am busy making sure the boys use the clubs on the ball and NOT each other!!)  But I couldn't resit this photo along the farmington river.

Maybe they are getting TOO good.  Ast week when we went DREW got a hole-in-one on the 19th hole.  We were SCHOCKED!  The ramp was all lumpy but his ball just rolled right in.  AMAZING - free game - come back next week hot stuff.

Make the miles and years melt away

You know when you meet that friend that really makes life, better, more enjoyable, more spiritual - you are thankful for every moment.  

Megan was visiting her grandmother Josephine in Long Island who recently was in the hospital.  She drove all the way from NoVa and realized we were 2 more hours north.  So after her visit with her Grandmother and sisters.  She comes here!!  We got to enjoy an afternoon and evening with just her and Nolan!  She even wore Michigan for me.  Love love love her.

And that same evening we had already made plans with this colorful group.  Recognize any faces here?  I cannot believe that Rib and his family moved to CT just months before us.  They even linked up with my folks during their transition time - I have so enjoyed connecting with Heidi during their transition and look forward to more times together.  

This was the first time we got the both families together.  Michigan LOST HORRIBLY to ND - but thankfully we were in good company that night.  

Cheers!

Yikes that stings

The week after school started was SUPER hot - hotter than weeks previous - so we opted to soak up a few more afternoons at the local pool.  Chris dropped us off and took Nick to his soccer practice.  Drew Shane and I soaked up the baby pool.  

With clouds coming in, the lifeguards ejected us to sit outside - no biggie as its time to head home.  As we sat waiting for Chris to come grab us, a bee OUTTA no where came and grabbed Drew - 

ON THE EYE lid.  No fair.  He instantly squealed and my heart dropped.  No fair no fair.  

I asked the lifeguards if they had after bite or something.  They gave me an ice pack which I was shocked when Drew willingly put it on his eye by resting his face on my shoulder.  

Poor dude - He will never forget this one...  

Took a photo just so I would remember too.

He got benedryl and extra hugs that night.

Back to School

Its a BIG day for this Leadbetter crew!!  New house, new neighborhood  - new school!  Shane and Nick will ride the bus together.  I love how Nick is so excited to help his brother and Shane is so confident.  He is READY to join Nick and be a big kid (even though his mom still isn't sure....  but one thing she is sure of - school starts today!)

Here we go

Anyone remember our bus stop last year?  Well this year we are 2/3s of the bus stop.  Sweet Lili makes up the other 1/3 - love our new neighbors.

Here they go.  Full day for both -

Wait a minute, what are you still doing here??  O.k. 719 more days - lets enjoy our Drew time.

Yup, Those are mimosa's

I love and treasure having my folks so close by and WANTING to share in this excitement.  Here the boys are coming off the bus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBHjOezKbls

Less than a week later and Drew is off to his start of pre-school.  A sweet school in Simsbury that he can enjoy 2 times a week.  Notice I said, Simsbury, know anyone else that lives in Simsbury?  Yup, Om and Goomba - lucky little dude.  He was SO excited to go (but didn't understand why the bus didn't pick him up...)

He walked like a big boy all the way into class....  Than... well, you can probably guess it, the big boy face turned into red crying tears.  Oh sweet drew - but honestly my heart goes out to those magical preschool teachers - talk about a tough first day!  Turns out he did great and came home with some wonderful paintings.

He barely stayed awake on the car ride home and we tucked him in bed.  He napped for about an hour until something woke him - not sure what.  But I was in our family room doing 'Body Flow'  (thankfully not kick boxing or something wildy aerobic) and he sweetly laid down next to me.

And went back to sleep  - and this - is the sweetest Drew picture ever.  Our little angle, that for the moment, is as sweet as can be.  O.k. I guess you don't have to grow up that quick.

Cheers to school!!

Lets get this party started!!

Back to school day and Cherry Brook Elementary.  Shane got to sit with his class - learn his teacher's name (Mrs Theriault - its a tough one for a little guy) and.....

Practice riding the bus!!  Success!  That is his principal in that photo.  Great guy and very relate-able!

Drew desperately wants to ride the bus - but for now he will just be the hugger on the return trip.

How can I forget this gem of a story - Since coming back to CT, more specifically, the Farmington valley, faces tend to look a bit familiar to me.  Who knows why, a high school buddy, someone from church...  When Nick and I had HIS meet and greet on the Monday before school it was exciting to walk down the hall and imagine what his new room would look like.  Knowing nothing about the school, we just strolled along looking for classroom 20.  I could see in the distance a cool monkey hanging by a door, silently I hopes that would be Nick's class as it already looked fun an festive.  Turned out it is!  In our quick introduction of his super fun teacher Nick started looking around the room and checking out life.  Meanwhile I did a second glance of his teacher, than a 3rd.  Than I asked her if she was from Simsbury - my hometown - yes, - o.k., she said her maiden name...  O.k., still thinking.  Than off goes the light bulb - she was my babysitter!!  Only a few years ago right?!?  I LOVED her.  She always let Stosh and I try her make up and she always had so much energy - well, she still does and we are over the moon to have her as Nick's Teacher!!

Already Love you Mrs. Nani!

Final Days of Summer

Even thought I am CRAVING routine and 'normalcy' I do want to 'remember' or cherish the final days of the carefree schedule.  It was HOT - so lets hit the sprinklers.

Looks awesome right?

Just when you thought it was a Norma Rockwell kind of day - it wasn't....  at the least the photos are cherished!

Gotta have the pool progress video.  Drew is a fair 'water' swimmer.  Its gotta be warm.  So its' been tough as I feel like this summer has been a tad chilly - he totally loved the Canton baby pool and I loved this little clip.  Check out Shane doing the crawl.  If I had topredict a confident swimmer in this crew it would be my Shane!

http://youtu.be/GFTrSkSDTiQ

And with the final days of summer I leave you with the result of a bummer crop of bees.  Yup, Drew was happliy snacking on pretzels while we were waiting for Dad to come grab us.  Than a bee flew by and nabbed him right on the eyelid!!  Poor little guy.  His squeal for so heart wrenching.  She took him to the lifegaurd shack and grabbed an ice pack.  With a little benedryl it all went down the next day.  But man, that is a bummer of a spot.