Spriggs Family

1st Day of School PreK

After trying to go through the application process for our local county public pre-k programs we decided for the boys to go back to Kindercare where they had been going for preschool.
The cost was definitely a factor.
Public Pre-K is definitely pricey and we don't qualify for any sort of tuition reduction.
The boys love their little school. They know all the teachers and loved going there.
Yesterday was their first day back from their summer off with Nana.
I am pretty sure Nana was ready for them to go back to school as well!
They were super excited to be going back and seeing all their friends and their favorite teachers.
They said they had a great first day back and met new friends.

Still sleepy

Big PreK boys!

Volcano Making

Besides the copious amounts of Star Wars toys the boys got for their birthday they also got a Volcano kit from our friends Michele & Jason and their kids.
They've been itching to make it since they opened it and we finally did this week.
Nana had it all set up to start when I got home from work the other day.
Callum wasn't nearly as into it as Taylor.
He loved putting on the mad scientist goggles and helped with every part of making it.
Callum checked in on our progress from time to time. But as usual he is a very busy boy and had lots of other things to do.
Nana was kind enough to take some pictures of Taylor and I making the volcano since I am always the one taking pictures and rarely in them.

Taylor's ready to go

Getting started and pouring the mix with Nana

Callum coming to check out what we're doing and doing what he does best....acting like a nut!

He decides to help mix in some water

Taylor mixing

Mommy & Taylor start putting the mix on the volcano mold

It was really messy

Checking out our finished product and waiting for it to dry.

I resorted to the only thing to make Callum look directly at the camera and smile

I told him I was going to toot on him.

Hey, whatever works!

We've had many eruptions from our new volcano this week, but I haven't had the chance to take pictures of that just yet.
To be honest the eruptions are kind of weak.
I think we need to reposition the tube that goes through it that controls the "eruption"
But either way, the boys love it!

Visit with Grandpa John

My dad came to visit us during his annual trip back to the states.
It was a nice visit. We did a lot of relaxing and general loafing about.
Typically our visits are a whirlwind of activity which wasn't lacking totally on this trip with the boys birthday falling on the weekend he was here.
I realized that with all of our laziness that I hadn't taken a picture of him and the boys.
I made sure to grab the camera before he was getting ready to leave for the airport and snap some shots with him and the boys.

That picture proves just how squirelly Callum can be. He's always very busy and has things to do and people to see at all times

Taylor & Grandpa John

Callum trying to be good, but Grandpa John looking the wrong way.

Fourth Birthday!

The boys fourth birthday was this weekend.
We had my dad in town for the weekend too, they were super excited to have Grandpa John in town for their birthday.
We did it at home and rented a bounce house.
We lucked out and found a guy in our neighborhood newsletter that was cheaper than the rest and a super nice guy.
He's a local fireman that runs the business on his own.
The bounce house was more than I could imagine!
Of course the boys picked Star Wars as this years "theme" for their birthday.
I usually try to go light on the themed stuff....I got the Clone Wars napkins, a tablecloth and a banner.
My mom and sister came over early and helped me decorated and get the backyard set up.
The boys had a GREAT time.
We had a pretty good turnout.
We bought way too much pizza and had tons of cake left over.
I baked the cakes Friday and Ashley constructed an R2D2 cake for the boys.
They were really stoked about it.
My sisters were such a huge help at the party, between the cake and helping clean up they were so awesome.
I even had someone ask to adopt my family because they're pretty awesome.
I have to say I did definitely luck out in the sister department.
The boys favorite teacher from their preschool even came by for a little bit. They were so excited to see Miss Sharon stop by.
They had to show her the whole house and their Star Wars room of course.
I can't believe how fast four years have gone by!
Where are my babies?!
They make me proud. They are such great big boys.

the birthday boys playing with balloons before anyone got there

the enormous bounce house!

Callum in the shark pool that sprayed water out of his head

slip n slide

presents!

Miss Sharon watching the boys open presents

The kids all shooting my cousin Justyn. The boys favorite present was definitely the Boba Fett helmets

Taylor with Pappaw Floyd and Mammaw (my mom and stepdad)

Cake time!! The boys were so mad, one of the little girls blew out their candles before they could! lol lovely little meltdown....no biggie, just lit and let them go again. They also refused to let me put holes in their R2 cake so I had to put the little candles in cupcakes! haha

Taylor and Miss Isabella the Noodle

Jumping with Aunt Shannon, my cousin's son Cayden & Taylor

Jesse was doing flips with the kids

Josh going down headfirst

Callum

Taylor sums up the end of the day! lol exhausted and grumpy

Daredevils

The boys new thing is practicing their jumping, practicing their dancing, pretty much practicing everything.

They have been building things with their chairs so that they can jump off into a pile of pillows and stuffed animals.
This gives me a near heart attack to watch them do.

I had to put a stop to this after Callum did this exact jump and hurt his foot. Thankfully nothing was broken or hurt badly.
They weren't very happy but I couldn't feel good about just letting them act like Evel Knievel.

This is a fine line for me. I don't want to be the mom that won't let them do anything that little boys do and it's hard to sit idly by while they do things that could potentially have us visiting the nearby Emergency Room.

I guess having little boys we'll always be walking a fine line of being overprotective and letting them do what little boys do.

Science Museum

The boys and I went to our local Science Museum Saturday.
We spent almost five hours there. I was exhausted by the end of the day.
They had a blast. Right now they have Body by Sesame Street as a visiting exhibition.
They loved being able to see Elmo's house, play in Harper's grocery store and especially the grosser parts of the exhibit about poop, sneezing, and stomach acid.

Besides that part of the museum they love going to see the giant Polar Bears the museum has had for years. They're still scared to stand too close to the glass figuring they will wake up any second.

This was Grover's relay to teach them over, under, through, sliding and jumping. Callum was getting mad at the other kids that were going the wrong way.

Sneeze Machine

We were stopped more times than I can even count to ask if they were twins. Everyone had the usual "you have your hands full" "I'm glad I'm not you" the typical stupid comments that people normally make when we're out in public.
The boys hardly notice anymore when they're being ogled and I am being questioned about if they were conceived the "regular" way or not.

Birthday Coming up!

I can't believe it. The boys will be four in exactly one month!
It really does seem like a million years and just yesterday that they were born.
We've come so far, but it's gone by so quickly.
They amaze me everyday.
Their speech is getting better and better. They're so smart and perceptive. Nothing gets by them.
I feel totally amazed at these two little guys.
I'm thankful every day to have them in my life.
I couldn't imagine it without them.
They're becoming so independent compared to just a year ago.
It's strange, sad and exciting all at once.
We're having a hard time figuring out what to do for their birthday this year.
I would like to have it at our new house in the backyard and inside. I just like the feel of home birthdays.
It's a lot of work with clean up before and after.
I keep swaying between doing it at home and just doing it at a kids play place.
We have a great place local called Puzzle's Fun Dome.
You have limited time in their party room, but you can play in their play area basically until they close.
When we did the party at the other place last year you get a total of about two hours to play, eat pizza, do cake and open presents.
While crammed into a short time frame it seemed so frenzied.