North Carolina is Awesome!

We made it! We love it! After our initial unpacking, we headed straight for the Atlantic. This is Sawyer's first time at an ocean, and my first time at the Atlantic. It's even warm enough to swim here already! Here are some pics of our first visit to Wrightsville Beach the night we arrived.

You think he likes it?

He makes friends so easily!

Good luck getting us to come back for another school year.

Country Fun in West Bend!

We spent a few days with my parents in West Bend, and really enjoyed some "country living". Joe and Sawyer climbed a tree:

Sawyer fed Grandma's horse, Jackson, and then asked if he could "Ride the force". He can say his H's, but refuses to call it a H orse.

"Nice Forcie"

Joe couldn't resist climbing the silo.

Grandma (Sawyer's great-grandma) asked if we wanted to join her to go "mushroom hunting" back on the property. Apparently there are morel mushrooms that grow in random places in the woods, so we thought it'd be a fun morning to hike through the 89 acre farm! And it was!

After finding a nice sized patch of mushrooms that we picked, it was more fun just to explore and enjoy the country. Here's Joe and Sawyer enjoying a nice view from the top of a hill.

Grandma found a hollowed out tree:

Joe spotted a toad and Sawyer wanted him to put it on his shoulder, so he did. It hopped down his neck, too:

Sawyer surprised us by going off completely on his own, just walking down a field far away from us, without looking back. I take this as immediate proof that the country space and air is good for little souls (he'd been SUPER clingy and whiny for the days before this).

On his way back to us, totally relaxed (and only after great grandma yelled for him to come back by us):

Oshkosh Fun!

Joe's grandparents live right on a large pond, so we asked if we could take out their canoe Monday morning. It was Sawyer's first time, and he was mesmerized by it. About halfway through our trip, we noticed Sawyer had been quiet for awhile, so asked him how he was doing- no response. Joe looked down close in his face: he sat straight up in the center of the canoe, propped up by his thick life jacket, with his sunglasses and his hat on... he was asleep! I guess we'll never know if he was just sooo relaxed, or soooo bored.

Hanging out in the serene setting after canoing.

Tuesday morning we visited the Paine Art Center in Oshkosh. Here are the boys with a bejeweled lion created by local artists.

Walking through a section of the beautiful gardens:

Another section of beautiful gardens:

WI Trip- High Cliff Hike

We spent a week up in Wisconsin visiting families before our move, and spent a morning hiking at High Cliff State Park, which is on the north tip of Lake Winnebago. There is a huge wooden watch tower that looks over the lake; here's Sawyer with his uncle Peter part way up:

Peter, Joe's mom, Sawyer & Joe at the top:

Climbing down the rocks to explore:

Joe climbing the walls of a gulch as Sawyer looks on:

Me and Joe after climbing up the dead tree to a rock ledge:

Mommy Tag Reply

I was blog "tagged" for the first time! Yay! Thanks Ashley. Looks like we're both addicted to blogging. Here are my mommy answers:

1. What time do you wake up? 7:30ish
2. What time does your kid go to bed? 8:30pm
3. How long have you been a mommy? 2 yrs 3 mo
4. How old were you when you became a mommy? 23
5. What is your favorite kids show? Veggie Tales
6. What is your least favorite kids show? Barney
7. What is your favorite chore? Laundry
8. What is your favorite meal to cook? Cajun chicken pasta
9. What meal do you cook most often? Pasta
10. What is your child's favorite meal? Pasta
11. What is your favorite thing your husband does with your kid? Ride the bus around ND campus just for fun. Sawyer loves the bus, but I get sick on it.
12. Name 5 things that make you smile about being a mom: Kisses on the nose, Sawyer making his funny face, Sawyer yelling "HI Mommy!" and running into my arms, Sawyer saying bedtime prayers, Sawyer still looking like a baby at bedtime with his blankie and pacifier.
13. If you could take your kids anywhere, where would it be? Seaworld or an African safari
14. When was the last time you went out without your kid? Running errands 2 nights ago
15. What is your favorite activity with your kid? Singing
16. Name one thing you said you would never do as a mother: Food/pacifier just to be quiet in public (turns out you just have to at church, or you leave).
17. Name something you do that your own mom did: Haven't noticed one yet
18. What is your favorite quality that your own mom has: Patient & relaxed
19. What is your favorite kids book? Pajama Time by Sandra Boynton
20. What is your best advice for new moms? SAVOR the quiet moments just snuggling your new baby- because even if/when you have more babies, you won't just get to be alone with it 24/7 like you will with your first one.
21. What is your most heartbreaking moment as a mom? When we leave Sawyer with a sitter and he cries for us as we walk out the door. Don't worry, he gets over it in about 30 seconds.
22. What is your most joyful moment as a mom? Seeing when he learned something new, particularly something I taught him.
23. When was the last time you told your kid "I love you"? Putting him down for the nap he's taking right now.
24. When was the last time your kid told you "I love you"? Same, I think.

I LOVE SAWYER AND BEING A MOMMY!

I tag all mommy blog-aholics who read this. Go for it!

Transportation Adventures!

To get to Denver, we had to take a few steps: two trains and then the plane! It was fun to give the experience to Sawyer, with his love of all things with engines. He'd been looking forward to our "train and airplane" day for WEEKS! Here we are getting on the "South Shore Line" in South Bend, which took us to downtown Chicago.

Sawyer knocked out once we got on the Blue Line in Chicago that would take us to the airport.

FINALLY! Sawyer got on an airplane!!! Happy boy!

Friday in Denver!

On Friday we went for a walk to a nearby park to play. Sawyer got a chance to hold Patrick's leash, which was very frustrating for him because Patrick was too strong (obviously)!

Isn't this view of their neighborbood and of downtown Denver GORGEOUS?! They are really leading a beautiful life here!

Emily and me, chillin' in the park while our kids play.

Who would've thought these two best friends/roommates would be pushing their kids on swings together 4 years later? It's great to have amazing friends!

Daddy and Sawyer, showing off their muscles when they reached the top!

Saturday in Denver

Saturday we went to the Colorado Chocolate Festival. Here's Joe and I with our spoons of different truffle flavors.

Joe tried the chocolate soup! It really was like hot fudge, but at the consistency of a soup. Very stingy on the throat by the end of the bowl!

Sawyer had to have a turn playing Guitar Hero, of course.

The Boyds have a fantastic little dog named Patrick, whom Sawyer absolutely LOVED! I think Sawyer was taking advantage of how nice Patrick was. What do you think?

The husbands playing video games, of course. Can't blame him, though- Joe doesn't ever get to play video games! I got hooked for awhile on Mario Kart on Wii myself.

Mother's Day in Denver

Our babies all ready for church! Sawyer and his second cousin, Gracie.

The boys made us dinner after church! Amazing grilled steaks!

Joe made a fantastic chocolate cake for us!

In the evening we went over to the Boyd's for a visit (Dave's parents). They have all the equipment for "Rock Band", which was a lot of fun! Joe's trying the drums, and I did some singing with the mic.

Sawyer tried out the drums, too! It was so sweet to watch him really focusing and trying so hard.

Potawatami Zoo!

On Saturday we went to the Potawatami Zoo in South Bend with Notre Dame's MBA Family Life Committee. The weather cooperated for the most part (in the morning at least!)

I love this because Sawyer looks like a supermodel.

Lunch with the MBA's & their families.

We got a show from the chimps! I caught some of it. Watch for the throwing of food (twice)!