If you don't have a pool...

A container of fun on a hot day

Tyson likes "hands on" demonstrations in pouring technique.

Cole prefers no help

But Jolly Old Tyson doesn't mind, he just plays along and spashes by himself.

Happenings around The Garrison

We've had a lot of storms lately so I like to be prepared even on a sunny day. One day we had to sit in the closet for a very long time for a tornado and I pulled out all kinds of wrapping paper, bows, and ribbon, but Momma said it was ok as long as I was happy...and I was :)

3 mornings a week we get the excitement of trash trucks and a recycling truck coming by. This morning I was helping Mommy make cookies when we heard the rumble.

I think I might need my own apron...this is treacherous to walk in. In this picture you can also see one of the most important landmarks on our street...who am I kidding, one of the most important in the NEIGHBORHOOD. Baxter, my most beloved canine friend across the street, often sits at the top of the hill right by that window (in the picture) and watches. I love to muse about what he's doing. Usually I decide "Baxter eat bitfist (breakfast)", "Baxter take nap", or "Baxter yootin (looking)".

And another of my favorite treats, "Momma, Watch dog beedeo (video)?" Every now and then she'll search "funny dogs" on YouTube and let me watch a few minutes of silly animals.

Someone has a twinge of their mother in them...a nice organized line of items :)

Celebrating 6 years of God's goodness!

Me and my love celebrating 6 years of marriage. God has been so good to us and we praise Him for the joy, laughter, and everyday enjoyment he's given us in our marriage.

I'm a MAN!!

Cole talking again. People always say "what a big boy you are." I thought I'd show you that I'm not a big boy, I'm a MAN! I even know how to mow. First you go around in a circle like this:

Then when you get to the middle you go forward:

And backward:

Momma, please, let a man work without being distracted.

Enjoying the beautiful weather

Cole is 2 1/2 and loves to "fix" things, build things, color (more like methodically pull the paper off the colors), eat, wrestle with Daddy, play with Tyson, and talk about, think about, and wonder about Baxter, the dog across the street who is an integral part of our day.

Momma and Tyson representing our Bulldogs!

"It too tall!!" says Cole as he tries to reach the garage door.

We bought a used bike trailer that Thomas has taken Cole on numerous bike rides in. Yes, they wear helmets, and no, Tyson doesn't go yet. He's still a a bit too small but he did enjoy trying it out.

The weather has been so beautiful that we've eaten supper outside and sat until almost dark every night for the past week. Cole loves to "fix" (which sounds like "stits" b/c he can't say his f's) on his trike.

Cole at 2 1/2 years old

More pudding please!!

Momma, where's the playdough?

"I talk to Mimi and Grandpa!!" (notice that the phone is a calculator)

What Cole Says

I walked into Cole's room one afternoon where he's playing with his trains. Tyson is asleep in the other room. I immediately smell something funky.

Mommy: "I smell stink. Is that you?"

Cole (Looks up at me, smiles knowingly, and says): "Ty-Ty Stinks!!"

Good try, son.

A few days later I lay Tyson on Cole's bottom bunk about a foot from the edge (which has a rail on it). Cole loves to wrestle with Tyson and often rolls around on top of him while they play. I walk out of the room leaving Cole playing on the bed with Tyson. A minute later Tyson starts crying. I go to see what's the matter and Cole is standing a few feet from the bed, guiltily looking at Tyson who has slid down between the mattress and the mesh of the rail.

Mommy: "Cole, you didn't push him off the edge did you?" (Tyson hadn't really mastered rolling over at this point)

Cole stares at me silently.

Mommy: "Cole, did you push him off or did he just roll?"

Cole: "Ty-Ty just roll!"

We'll never know.

Today I was sitting outside with Cole reading books while Tyson napped inside. He has a "nature" book that has a page for fruits, a page for vegetables, a page for water animals, land animals, etc. On the vegetable page he was naming the vegetables and came to a pineapple.

Cole: "That's a....that's a....What's that?"

Mommy: "You tell me. What is that?"

Cole: "That's a...PORCUPINE!"

At least he's making associations :)

As his vocabulary explodes we are thoroughly enjoying hearing about what his little brain thinks about. What a gift!

Picnic in the yard

Today we got to eat lunch on the sidewalk! I'm pretty excited as you can see. What is that thing in the walker behind me, you ask?

It's Tyson wearing a ridiculous hat. The story I heard from Momma is that the hat she put on him the other day was too small, and being conscientous about the sun she wanted to keep him covered so she pulled out a much bigger brimmed hat. Keyword: MUCH bigger.

So big, in fact, that even after she inverted the brim it still looked like this most of the time.

That's ok, though. If his eyes are covered he can't see me eating this pudding that Mimi gave me in my Valentine's Day treat bag.

Exploring the walking trails

One of the features of our neighborhood that we love the most are the walking trails that lace through it. What a great place for a little boy to explore!

Seeing the "blue ducks." I've told Cole that there are "white ducks" and "mallard ducks" at the lake, but somewhere along the line he got confused and always asks to go "see the blue ducks."

His 2 favorite walk activities: Finding sticks and throwing sticker-balls in the water. He would do this for HOURS if allowed to.

And this sweet little guy will sit in the stroller for 2 hours happily as we putter along on our walks. His "bendy bunny" is his favorite toy.

When the trail widens away from the water and Cole can't throw sticker-balls anymore he likes to "push Ty-Ty". What a blessing to live in a "woodsy" place even though we don't live in the country. We LOVE exploring together :)

Do You Want to Help Momma?

Momma: Cole, you want to help me unload the dryer?

Cole: (sitting on the couch with a book) No.

Momma: (trying to tempt him) Are you sure? You can pull the clothes out by yourself.

Cole: Don't want to.... want READ BOOKS!