Mini-vacation in Chicago Pics

We had an awesome time in Chicago. We got to see a couple of shows (Jersey Boys & The Second City - I know I'm using it wrong), hang out with one of our college friends (Joy, who HOOKED us up with the tickets for Jersey Boys), spend nice time outside (the weather was perfect), eat at a Chicago Institution (Gino's East), stand in line outside a restaurant for the first time (Gino's East), and experienced the tourist trap known as the Navy Pier.

It was a great time for me and Steph. It felt like it was the first time that we've had to actually focus entirely on the other person for any length of time since the boys were born. I think it is. God bless my mom (for watching the kids).

Pics continued...Mother's Day in June

I experimented with the smaller pictures thinking I could load more into 1 post. Wrong.

Pics - Mother's Day...in June

Not really. These are pics from the real Mother's Day where we spent great time in The Woodlands with YiaYia and all the cousins and Uncle Nick and Thea and Uncle Matt. We surprised YiaYia :) It was emotional for everyone on many levels. It's just so nice being around family, especially moms.

Updated pics of the kids

I never take good alone pictures with Nick. It's always Max. I'll fix it in the next round.

Backyard Project 2

1 5x8 flat bed trailer: $100
1 ton of flagstone: $250
1 friend (Rich) and 1 dad who help dig, load, and unload 4 tons of grass & soil from my backyard so we can move to the next grueling stage of the landscaping (loading in dirt and sand): Priceless

Backyard Project 1

We're landscaping our backyard. We have a small backyard. We're digging up 1/4 of it, easy. Unlike when we did our front yard, we don't have a vacant lot right across the street to dump our dirt. It's a whole other process to actually do something with the dirt. It's OK, though. With a little resourcefulness, we'll get it done. Question is - how long will it take us? (We started Friday.)

Our trip to the zoo

The Cearleys did the Dallas Zoo today. We got there just after it opened and were able to stay about 3 hours. Good, right? We were equipped with plenty of food and drink - without it, no way the boys make it that long. Gracie lost her interest by the time we got to the monkeys. But we did get to see the flamingos, turtles, reptiles, elephant, tiger, giraffes, birds, monkeys and kangaroos. She also got to pet an Australian Blue Tongue Skink. It rocked.

The ol' band-aid trick

Max didn't bust the under-the-skin stitches. The doctor said he should be fine. Just put a band-aid on it and get right back in the game.

Max's surgery update

Max just busted his stitches out. He couldn't be controlled at the grocery store and one thing after another, he hit his head on a box of diapers and bam - they were out. So, we're about to go to the doctor to see what happens next.

My prediction is that we'll do whatever needs to be done today and then he'll hit it at least 2 more times before it's all healed.

In other news, the cyst came back benign.

Nick's first step!

Nick just took his first step. Everyone (except me) was at Melissa's and Nick was crouched down, balancing and then he took his first step. Then, immediately fell over.

We've predicted that he would be the first one to walk. He's just going to look so funny because he's so little. It will look like a little 6-month old baby walking.

Keep up the good work, son!