The Nicholas & Jillian Show

 

We met up with Ryan, Cindy, and Jillian this weekend at the lake. Saturday's weather was absolutely perfect so we spent just about every minute outside soaking up the warm rays. We did some fishing, boating, rock throwing, golfing, BB gun shooting....you name it, we did it.  Nicholas and Jillian played their little hearts out from the moment their eyes popped open until they collapsed into bed that night. They have such a sweet relationship and it's so fun to watch their imaginations run wild.

 

Taken shortly before Nicholas fell in the water.  Just his legs got wet but I think

the cold shock has taught him to be a little more careful in the future. 

 
 

 

 

 Not his beer.  Swear.

Um, please ignore the red blotches on his face.  This mommy feels real

bad that I somehow missed a few spots when smearing on the sunscreen. 

 Luckily, he was fine by the next morning.

Later, gators.

Cannonball King

We just resumed swim lessons after taking a break over the winter months.  Of all the activities we do, I think swimming is Nicholas' definite favorite.  I wasn't sure we'd be able to start up again with our busy schedule, but we made it happen and he couldn't be more thrilled about it.  I think one of the reasons he loved it so much was the coach he had all last year.  As he advanced in class rank, this same coach followed him and they developed a really great friendship.  He just loved her so much and I think she felt the same way about him.  Unfortunately, when class started this month we realized she was teaching a different class which meant he would have a new teacher for the first time.  But he adapted really well to the change and it hasn't slowed him down one bit.  It just surprises me how much they learn and how fast they learn it.  In the last few weeks he's been learning swim strokes, how to dive deep for rings on the pool floor, and has improved his back float by leaps and bounds.  I feel like I'm pulling out my phone to take video every other minute.  At the end of each class, the teacher gives the kids a few minutes to practice jumps or dives, whatever they prefer, in the deep end.  I'm not sure where it came from but Nicholas decided he would try his version of a cannonball, which was really just him jumping freestyle and yelling "CANNONBALL" as he did it.  So right before the next class I demonstrated how to do a real one and he immediately caught on.  Now he's the official cannonball king and has started a new trend among all the kids who quickly followed his lead. 
I hope you enjoy the videos of our little fish in action!

Gone Fishin'

When Nicholas was about 2 years old he became completely and totally obsessed with one video that we watched over and over and over and over....Bill Dance Bloopers.  Bill Dance is a famous fisherman who has his own TV show and somehow Greg ended up with this DVD of his bloopers like 100 years ago.  Nicholas wanted to watch it one day so we gave it a whirl and the rest is history.  We watched it at least once a day and probably much more than that for longer than I care to remember.  Seriously, we drove all the way home from Colorado to Oklahoma that summer and Nicholas watched nothing but that video.  We couldn't believe it.  The movie itself was silly and nothing short of mind-numbing, but he loved it with every bit of his heart and soul so therefore it has been cemented in our family memories as something very special.  I can remember many nights I sang him to sleep with Bill Dance's theme song on perpetual repeat.  As with many things involving children, once was never enough.  He doesn't ever watch that video anymore and he can't remember the words to the song now, but he definitely remembered his old friend when he got the chance to meet him face to face last weekend at the Bassmaster Classic Expo in Tulsa.  I wasn't there but Greg sent me this picture of our boy. And like the complete sap that I am, I got all choked up. 

I've been told that seeing him at events is very rare, so this was just perfect timing.  He even got an autograph on the bill of his beloved Bass Pro cap as well as one from Jimmy Houston, who's another  fishing legend.

(P.S.  Nicholas told me he was scared of Jimmy Houston at first because of his hair.  I get it.)

Overall, I think they had a great afternoon and they returned with a very happy, very sleepy boy.  He had a big bag of cotton candy and about a million booth freebies to play with, so all was good with the world.

 

 

 



 

 



All You Need is Love...and Perhaps a Little Snow

This year's Valentine's Day was preceded by the perfect little winter snow storm.  And after the major let down over Christmas break, Nicholas was more than ready to get out in the middle of it and have some snow fun.  Usually I prefer to do without any form of snow, ice, sleet, etc. but this particular snow was just my style - just cold and wet enough to stick to the grass and put a beautiful blanket of white over everything...everything but the streets.  And it was one of the prettiest snowfalls I can remember, with giant, fluffy flakes gently drifting through the air.  As soon as we got home that afternoon, Nicholas and I suited up and headed out to play.  We made snow angels, giant snowballs, and even made a sad little attempt at a snowman.  He was short and lumpy, he didn't have arms, and his eyes, nose, and mouth were made from crap in the garage I scrounged up in less than 2 seconds, but hey, he was ours and we loved him.  By the time our fun was ending, Nicholas had reached his max of the cold.  Once he decided he was done, he was DONE (cue the tears), so we retreated to the house to warm up by the fire and watch the snow still falling outside with some cookies and milk in hand.  By the next afternoon, all but a tiny bit of snow had melted away and it was back to 60 degree weather and nothing but sun. 

 

Officially over it....

And then came V-Day.  We didn't do anything over the top, but we did have Nicholas' school party in the afternoon and then delivering of the homemade cards for the grandparents.  Unfortunately, I'm not really the crafty type which Nicholas will likely inherit from me (sorry, son) but we committed to making those cards with full force and I have to say they were pretty neat in the end, even if they were a bit plain.  And to top off the whole day, we made a Menchie's run after Daddy got off work and stuffed our faces with yummy fro-yo.  So, like I said it wasn't anything too exciting but it just the right amount of special with my two amazing Valentines!

Checking out his gift from Grammy & Papa, which included a new helicopter t-shirt!

 

 And this awesome Batman balloon from Mimi!  He wasn't too sure about it in the beginning

and actually told her she could take it home with her.  But he eventually warmed up to it and now Batman is living in his bedroom closet. 

And my beautiful orchid from my beautiful boys.  Lucky mama.

We are Back!

My apologies for the blogging hiatus but life of late has been ridiculously normal (that is not a complaint).  But over the weekend we took a break from the real world and enjoyed some R & R at the lake.  Aunt Julie and Robi drove down from Missouri to join us and we all had a great time introducing Robi to our little piece of heaven on Eufaula.   Now, I'd really hate to assume anything but I'm pretty sure he liked it. 

 

Bunny face with a moustache, of course.

And trying to give one to Robi.

Not sure if you notice Nicholas' wide open mouth, but he was shrieking with laughter

that I could hear all the way down the beach as Daddy did doughnuts in the sand.

Treasure hunting.  "What's this, Daddy?"

 

And we did some exploring at the "scary house" up the road. 

Lots of fun things to discover here.

 

Thanks for checking back with us and I promise to be more diligent in the future!