Two Dates in One Day

Today I had the amazing opportunity to go on two separate dates with two fabulous gentleman!  I don't think that has ever happened to me.  The first?  Jack and I dropped the boys with our dear friend, Jon, and went to a little brunch place for mimosas and breakfast.  Jack even had grits.  (When in Rome...)

The second?  Walker and I headed out for a late afternoon trolley run.  But first we stopped for an ice cream cone.  Then after our trolley ride we both decided we were hungry and needed something to nosh on.  Walker thought burgers sounded nice.  So we went to the very swank Village Burger Bar in Uptown Dallas.  We made a paper plane out of his menu and had a wonderful time talking about the summer ahead.  When asked what he's looking forward to this summer... "swim school in Utah".  Yes sir!

Back at home, we tried out his menu airplane.  It worked great!

Watch it fly!

Charlie and Daddy had a nice time while Walker and I were out on our date.

Here is Charlie reaching for the camera with his LEFT hand!  Amazing!

And here's a video of Charlie giving high fives with both his right and LEFT!  More awesomeness!

Walker 4.5

Walker is four and a half now... and you know what that means?  According to Walker it means, "You're not big enough to be five, but you get to play more."  Here is a little snap shot session of our sweet, smart boy.  I caught these photos of him right after he "served" me a "BBQ feast" he had created over the "fire pit". 

P.S.

Walker is starting to look a lot like my cousin Jansen (my dad's brother's son). 

Here's a pic of Jansen back in the day.

Run the Highlands

This morning I dragged my kids out of bed to join me at Run the Highlands - a 5k race in our neighborhood benefiting local schools.  They hosted a one mile fun run just for families, so Walker and Jack registered and came with me!  We had a blast and Walker was even awarded a medal at the end of his race!

During the race, we met up with Walker's friend, Blake, and his grandmother!

I love our neighborhood!

Then Jack took the kids off for some play time at the Carnival while I ran my race.  Here I am with my dear friend Ladonna.  I met Ladonna through the Square Pegs group (parents of children with special needs) and she is the one who invited me to boot camp way back in November.  I owe a lot to this sweet woman. 

Charlie wasn't sure what all of the cheering, and high school band drumming, and carnival-ing was about.  But he sure enjoyed the people watching.  Charlie was a gem!

At the carnival, Walker rode a train, slid down a huge inflatable slide, chased a Pygmy pig around the petting zoo, rode a pony, acquired and lost a series of balloons and had an all around great time. 

I had a good run, although there were some serious hills that I just couldn't run.  So I did some intermittent power walking.  Overall, I felt good, had fun and completed my third 5K!  It was much more fun having my family present.  Thanks Greenman men!

Walker Loving on Charlie

Walker:  It's been a long time since I held Charlie.
Me:  Well, you're welcome to hold him any time.
Walker:  How 'bout now?
Me:  Sure!
Walker:  I'll do it as long as he doesn't slobber on me.
Me:  Well, honey, there's no guarantee. 
Walker:  Nothing is ever guaranteed, right mommy?
Me:  That's right kiddo.

Lighter Moments

The boys are really giving me a run for my money this week.  Lots of melt downs (Walker) and screaming jags (Charlie) that leave me totally exhausted by the end of the day.  There are however, lighter moments in the day when all seems right with the world.  Here are a few from today.

I bought Walker this Balsa Wood glider.  We put it together and went to the park for its maiden voyage.  It sailed high and far, just like the man at the toy store promised.  Five minutes after these shots were taken, another boy asked to give it a try.  Walker obliged because he's a sweet sharing kind of kid.  After he chucked it into the air, it crashed.  The boy ran up to it, stepped on the tail and split it into three pieces.  A short lived dream, but lots of fun while it lasted.  And for a buck 25, we'll try again another time. 

P.S.  Check out Walker's visor!  He made it in school just before his field trip to the zoo.

And of course, who could forget Master Charles?  Not me certainly.  He enjoyed about a minute and a half of swinging before throwing down a big ol' tantrum.  I don't know why, but he was PISSED.  Bucking and arching and screaming and throwing his arms and ... WOW.  Can you say, Leo Tiger?  Again, it was nice while it lasted.