Summer in Texas!

The Hedges are having the best time with friends and family this summer! Clayton turned three this month, Colin turned seven. We've had birthday parties, visits from family, vacations and a lot of time at the pool. Although I miss having a little baby around, I love the freedom of picking up and going at a moment's notice with my big boys!

After YaYa and the Maryland crew left, Nana and Papa came to visit. While they were here we also visited Granny in Big Spring and went to Ruidoso, New Mexico with our friends Cassy and Paul and their two little boys Owen and Levi. We had a BLAST and on our way out of town Cassy saw a BEAR! Right in the neighborhood where we were staying! It was a relaxing and fun trip where we got to play by the river, race go-karts, paddle boat, and play cards and watch movies with our friends.

For Colin's birthday we had a pool party at Uncle Rick and Aunt Mindy's house and then Andy and Dukes took Colin and Xavier to Main Event where they played and played. (Clayton was sick so I stayed home with the little boys who had a great time playing with Colin's new toys while he was living it up with the X-man!) Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate Colin's birthday! We love you and appreciate the love you show to our boys!

I can't believe tomorrow is the last day of July. Summers go so fast but I feel like we do maximize our family time and fun.

FUNNY: While we were visiting Granny she said, "I'm just an old grandmother" to which Carter replied, "Yeah. But we still like you." :)

Clay Turns Three After July Fourth!

We are having an incredible summer! Museum school was last week for Colin and Carter in the new Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. The boys, of course, loved it! This week was our first week of swimming lessons and we'll finish those next week. Colin is swimming back stroke and Carter is still learning freestyle. Clayton has mastered "big arms" so I'm proud!

YaYa, Tommy, Anna and Camden came to visit us and we have had the best time with them. We went to Canton for the first time and had a blast! We also at a lot of good food--Babe's Chicken House, Joe T's, and plenty of Sonic and Whataburger thanks to Uncle Tommy! Cam is the sweetest baby and the boys had a great time playing with him.

For the fourth of July we exploded our own fireworks at Uncle Rick and Aunt Mindy's house and the boys especially had a fantastic time!

We also celebrated Clayton's third birthday by going to Chuck E. Cheese and having a party with our friends at Cherry Park. I don't have any party pics posted but it was a great time!

Here are some pics--enjoy!

Spring Break!

We spent the last few days at Horseshoe Bay in Marble Falls and it was a little chilly but we all got sunburned and had a fun time on the beach on Lake LBJ. Here are a few pictures. More to come this summer!

The Days are Long but the Years are Short

Today is the last day of July, 2009 and it has been an eventful and exciting month! We have had two birthdays, a family reunion, museum school, swim lessons, lots of nights out with our friends, and just all sorts of fun! I am a little sad that today is the last day of July because next month school starts and summer officially ends and this has been a really busy, really wonderful summer. The boys are getting bigger and it makes the days long in a different sort of way than with feedings and naps, but I know these years are going to pass quickly. When I take the boys out and I'm about to lose my marbles because one of them is climbing a shelf, one is dumping something out and one of them is screeching at the top of his lungs, a little old lady will look at me and smile and say: Honey, these days will be over in no time and these are the moments you will miss most. Sometimes it is difficult to believe but I know it's true.

A few funny quotes from Colin...

Colin: Carter,that girl's name is Natalie. And Mommy's name is Natalie. So there are two Natalies.

Colin (after I agreed to do a science experiment with him): Mommy, you're the best person in the whole world.

Colin: Mommy, are you happy I'm six years old?

After swimming lessons the instructor gives me a report on how the boys did. The other day after his lesson, Colin looked at his instructor and said, "How great was I?" =)

The Spice of Life!

Colin's birthday party was SO much fun! Thanks to Uncle Rick and Mindy who let us have a pool party at their house and to everyone who helped us celebrate in one way or another! Andy and I still can't believe we have a six-year-old!
Funny story: The other day I found dirt in Carter's bed. It felt like sand but looked like soil and I couldn't figure it out.
Me: Carter, do you know what this is in your bed?
Carter: Pepper.
Me: Why do you have pepper in your bed?
Carter (throwing his head back crying): I'M IN HUGE TROUBLE!!!!

Terrible Twos, Hissers and Croakers

This summer is flying! We had a fun weekend with firworks at home and Clayton's second birthday with Nana and Papa, Aunt Bertie and Uncle Dukes. Then Colin had museum school this week. Yesterday was his last day of "Hissers and Croakers" and today he is occassionally tearing up when he remembers it is over. He LOVED it! If you have little ones, check out Fort Worth's Museum School. Today we're relaxing at home: it's 100+ degrees outside so we'll probably stay indoors or else go to Uncle Rick and Aunt Mindy's pool down the street!
And tomorrow? The Weatherford Peach Festival!!

My best friend Stephanie had her second baby (a little boy!) this morning--congratulations, Steph!