Egg Hunt

We had a great Easter Egg hunt in the neighborhood this morning. We gathered at the stop sign at 10:30. The boys didn't seem too excited but once the "start" was given, they started off in a trot. Hughes racked up and Banks didn't do too shabby, either. We made sure to leave some eggs for the little ones.

Before the egg hunt on our front porch with their empty Easter baskets.

Banks in mid-hunt. Very serious.

Hughes showing his loot! I promise he didn't get all of the eggs!

Group shot of our neighborhood hunters.

Family Picture - more interested in what's inside the eggs!

Best Buds - Banks, Wyatt, Conley and Hughes

Easter Eggs or Dinosaur Eggs

Around our house, we have dinosaur eggs. Hughes and Banks keep changing the different types of dinosaurs but, nevertheless, they are definitely dinosaur eggs. Some are pink, some are blue and some are swirled. The boys did a great job dyeing them and, well, I'm just glad it's over. My fingers have finally turned back to their normal color and we made it through without ruining any clothes (of course, we weren't in our best duds)!

It's always great to dye eggs with friends. One big mess, lots of little hands busy at work, and lots of adult hands cleaning up and managing the fun!

Same Son, New Name

Hughes has been going to Little Lambs at church for the past couple of months. It is a Sunday School class for Hughes' age group during big church. They ask that you wear nametags because there are a lot of children and the teachers switch every Sunday. Hughes, in typical fashion, refuses to wear a nametag. No big deal to us. Well, this past Sunday he wanted to wear one. Not only did he want to wear a nametag but he wanted to write it himself.

Apparently, we have been calling our son by the wrong name.

We should be calling him "Hesh" and not "Hughes". He can write his name so I'm not sure where this came from. Luckily for him, his Aunt Elizabeth was his teacher last Sunday so I'm positive she knows his name is not "Hesh"!

12 Week Appointment

I had my 12-week appointment yesterday. Everything is going great. Here is a picture of our latest and greatest!

Boy or Girl? Who Knows?

#9 for the Pirates

We had our 1st T-ball game tonight and to say that I was concerned was an understatement. But, I had no reason to be concerned because Hughes did great! He listened to the coach and really enjoyed trying to get the ball not to mention hitting the ball and running! I'm so proud of him!

Modeling our uniform - Go Chick-fil-A Pirates!

Stopping the ball.

Waiting for his turn to bat - sitting with Connor, Wyatt, and Banks

Group Shot of the Team - they all did really well and waited patiently for their turn to bat. Hayden and Banks sat with the team, too.

#9 up to bat!

Tagging 3rd, Giving the Coach a high five, and running home!

Here is a video of Hughes during the beginning of the game. I'm still in shock over how well he did! He had a great time!

Special Delivery

I've done it again. I've messed up football season! With Clemson and Carolina playing in Auburn this Fall, you would think I could hold off getting pregnant in light of those games. But,

There's a new Holman arriving in early October. We're expecting our 3rd on Oct. 8th. I'm now feeling great (tired, but what's new?) and am looking forward to really showing and not just looking pudgy. Hughes surprises us every now and then and tells people "Mama has a baby in her tummy". We've told him but we never thought he was listening. Anytime I talk about the baby with Banks he points to his stomach.

So, we're thrilled to be pregnant. We're 11 weeks and had an ultrasound last week. The baby was doing flips and looked like a future Olympian. The one thing I'm not looking forward to is being pregnant in the summer again!

T-Ball - like it, hate it, who knows?

We had our first t-ball practice this past Tuesday. Hughes insists on calling his

'baseball pants and cleats" "his running pants and running shoes". We arrived a few minutes late so the Coach was already talking to the parents and kids. I didn't quite get a warm feeling from him but much more a "cut'n dry" type feeling. I realize this is t-ball but it is their first experience with an organized sport. Anywho, the coach led all the players out to 2nd base and told the parents to back-up. Hughes ran out there with the team but then got scared and refused to do anything. He just stood there while the rest of the team practiced catching and throwing. (Hughes was not the only kid who was scared and refused to participate)

Oh, he did pull his pants down and te-tee around 2nd base. I guess he was trying to get his point across of how he really felt. I was mortified but all the other parents just chuckled (probably thankful that it wasn't their kid).

Team Huddle on 2nd base - Hughes is in the blue/navy striped shirt.

On 3rd base standing with the group but still refusing the participate.

All this poor boy wanted to do was to play ball with the big boys. It was heartbreaking. How do you explain to a 2-year old that he has to wait 2 more years before he can play on a team?

Conley did great. Hopefully, his excitement will rub off on Hughes.

Hughes did decide during batting practice that he would participate. He really enjoyed that part. They only got to hit once but, hey, at least he did something. After hitting, you're suppose to go to the outfield and field balls. Well, I had to break my lent pledge and promise chicken nuggets to Hughes if he would go out to field balls. All he did when in the outfield was yell to me "Mama, now can I get chicken nuggets?"

Next practice is on Saturday morning and David is taking him. We'll see how it goes!

My Birthday

Well, where do you go when you ask your 4-year old "where you should celebrate your birthday?"

Chuck E. Cheese, of course!

Today has been a great day. David surprised me this morning with the Wii Fit Plus Balance Board and took Hughes to speech this morning. Oh yeah, and he wished me a happy 33rd by mistake (I'm 34 but I'll take 33) Then, off David went to work and the boys and I headed to Chuck E. Cheese to meet some friends. They gave me a crown and I had my picture taken with Chuck E.

What more could a birthday girl want?

The boys have been great all day and I couldn't be happier with how the day is turning out. Now, we're off to our first t-ball practice.

Banana What?

While sitting around the table Saturday morning, Dawa said she had brought some banana bread down. To this Hughes' ears perked up and he got the biggest grin across his face. He asked, "banana bread" in an absurd tone. We all said, "yes, banana bread. Do you want to try some?" He thought that the phrase "banana bread" was absolutely hysterical and silly. He then said in his 4-year old humor, "like banana underpants".

I think that might have been his first crack at a joke. I guess to him "banana" and "bread" are two words that don't go together.

Mischievious Banks

Where do I begin? Banks is full of surprises and he shows me daily that he's got a mind of his own. Here are the latest of Banks' deeds:

Banks likes chocolate pie. This is how I found him when I came into the kitchen. He was so proud of himself and kept saying "cheese". I couldn't get that mad because that chocolate pie was delicious!

This is after Banks had been playing quietly in his room for about 20 minutes. It suddenly occurred to me that I should go and check on him. Well, apparently baby powder is really fun to play with! It was everywhere! Thankfully, my vacuum did the trick.

Well, there you have it - Banks and his adventures. I have a feeling there will be many more to come!

Creek Weekend

This past weekend, we ventured to the creek house for some rest and relaxation. The weather was perfect and the fish, well, the fish weren't biting. The boys fished and fished off the dock but no bites. Finally, David threw in the cast net and caught some little ones for the kids to see. We ate well, we slept well, and the kids were perfect. It was a great weekend!

Mary Bec and Banks taking a stroll down the dock.

Lucy and Hughes were really excited to fish. (sun in your eyes = crazy facial expression)

All four looking for fish.

Hughes working the Superman fishing pole.

Lucy using her Strawberry Shortcake pole.

Our crab trap that came up empty.

David pretending to reel in The Big One.

Rachel testing the waters.

Banks enjoying some fishing time.

The Cast Net and his thrower.

What's that White Stuff?

The boys' were beyond shocked when they looked out the window Saturday morning. They had already gone to bed when it started snowing Friday night so we just decided to let them sleep and enjoy the snowfall and Olympics to ourselves. The boys woke up bright and early (of course) and we opened our top window for them to see it and touch it first thing in the morning. Hughes was so cute and announced that it was winter.

Our snow-capped house

Hughes working on his snowballs. He had quite a snowball war with Dad. Somehow I got involved and, well, let's just say David has better aim than I do.

The Holman Men starting to make our snowman.

Both boys plopped right down in the snow and started making snow angels - how they knew how to do this is beyond me.

Our Snowman - thanks to Mr. Potatohead for letting us borrow his features!

We had a great time playing in the snow. We took one little break for pancakes and to dry Hughes' shoes in the dryer. We did realize that even though we live in Charleston we do need to get the boys' some appropriate winter clothes - i.e. real gloves, boots for Hughes, coats - barn jackets don't do much when it's 30 degrees outside. Maybe I'll do some shopping at the end-of-the-season sales:)

Below are videos of the boys sledding. We used a tray and a rope. It worked perfectly and the boys had a blast. The snow was gone by noon but it was here the perfect amount of time for me. I'm dreaming of beach weather!

Muffins for Moms

The boys' preschool had Muffins for Moms this past Monday. I think they were more excited to eat muffins than me being there. Actually, I think it quite confused Banks as to why I was there. But anywho, they were cute and really enjoyed themselves.

YeeHaw!

Yesterday morning, Hughes came downstairs and for the first time in his life had dressed himself. By that, I mean went into his drawers, picked out his clothes, and then proceeded to put them on his own body without any help - yahoo! Not that Hughes couldn't dress himself - he just wasn't interested until now that it is.

So, while I'm getting ready in my room, Hughes saunters in with a smile beaming across his face obviously quite pleased with himself.

So, I had one cowboy and one sidekick with me yesterday. Hughes clicked all over the place in his cowboy boots (thanks Lisa) and wore his straw hat proudly. We did leave the horse at home.

And, this morning(before 7am), Hughes again proudly picked out his clothes but this time we forgot the underwear and also chose a Christmas turtleneck. Good thing we're staying home for the day!