5 mile race with Bubba

On Saturday, Karalee and I ran the Run for the Fight 5 mile race together. It was a great day for it, not too warm, and we LOVED the course! It started out at Keriakis Park, followed the Greenway to Riverfront Park, crossed the river on the ped bridge, rounded the old dump (I know that sounds terrible, but it's just a grassy field now) and then headed back for one last loop around the park. We really enjoyed it, and we finished in around 52 minutes!

Next up, BG 10k Classic!

Gobbler in the backyard

Last Friday night, we were getting ready to get on the road to Scottsville. There was a spaghetti supper there hosted by the race I was running in the next day. I really didn't want to be late because they were giving tours of the facility at Camp Courageous. The boys were just about ready, Heath had just gotten home, and so we were rounding up sippies and heading towards the garage. 

Heath went out to get things in the car. When he opened the garage door, he saw some gobblers coming down through the side yard. He rushed in the house to grab his bow and went to the back porch. Just as they were coming toward the backyard, he pulled back and shot. After some dramatic running in Birkenstock sandals down the hill toward the river, he appeared back up the hill with his kill.

Baylen stood there awhile taking it all in. :)

Yes, indeed! Congrats to Heath!

The boys were very excited for their daddy!

We were late for the spaghetti supper, but we have some great turkey meat in the freezer! :)

2.5

Two and a half years ago God gave us our second little gift.

Baylen Neal made me the mother of two little boys, and over these past thirty months, we have seen how really unique and "perfect" he is.

This two and a half year old blondie is strong-willed.

He's more dramatic than big brother has ever been.

He's also much more goofy and playful, carefree than big brother.

He is so fun!

Most say he's Heath made over, but he has those Pelham eyes.

Not sure whose smile he has - it's seriously his very own and cannot be copied!

He loves his daddy; follows him, pretends to be him, is sad when he leaves and the first to run and give hugs when he walks in the backdoor. 

Mommy is more for cuddling, snuggling and holding now, but that's okay by me. 

Big brother is his best friend, he is his shadow.

He is our talker, our singer, our gibber-gabber in the backseat. He loves Itsy Bitsy Spider, the ABC song, Long Black Train, Hambone-Hambone and Wheels on the Bus.

He is special. He is loved. He's our sweet B. 

And he is now two and a half. 

Every good and perfect gift is from above, -- James 1:17a

Brothers

It was a Thursday morning, so I was in fast mode packing a lunch, getting myself ready and trying to get three of us out the door to drop off Cash at preschool. Super Why, the boys' new favorite show, had just come on, and it immediately grabbed the attention of both my little guys. I decided to let them watch it for a few minutes while I finished Cash's lunch and gathered some things before we headed out the door. As I came from the laundry room headed toward our bedroom, I noticed something so very sweet.

My two sweeties, who sometimes drive me crazy aggravating each other, were sitting and holding hands while watching their show together. Melt. My. Heart.

Not sure what prompted them to hold hands, but I'm guessing it's just the fact that they enjoy each other, they love each other, they are brothers and best friends. And that warms this mama's heart.

And so I took a picture or two.

And then I noticed that my four year old had some crazy rooster-tail hair going on. 

Some things never change ...

including this little guy loving to cheese for my camera. :)

First lesson

After church and then naps one Sunday, this is what I found outside.

Yes, Heath was giving Cash and Baylen (but mostly Cash) his first lesson in shooting a BB gun. He went through the safety, how to hold it, where to look ... and Cash was pretty attentive.

They had their targets set up; a box and an aluminum pan hanging from a tree.

It was hard to tell if he understood where exactly to look and how to line it up. Little brother was watching and learning.

I love watching these two little guys being "men" with their daddy!

Saturday morning at PawPaw's

On the 15th, we had our usual big Saturday morning breakfast then headed to Scottsville to see PawPaw. Heath had been wanting to get over there to help him work on his garage, but was having a hard time squeezing it in. So we all loaded up in the car and went to visit and help.

PawPaw and Heath had already done some work on the roof, but they need to put some finishing touches on the edges.

Heath started up the motorcycle to listen to it "hum," and without thinking, Cash touched the very hot pipes on the side. Oh, dear. After a fair amount of crying, he proudly showed off his new blister. *sigh*

They had fun "playing" with the dog next door. They would run up and down the length of the fence while the dog chased them. If you know Cash and B and their feelings about dogs, you know that this only was fun because they were on the opposite side of the fence from the dog.

Baylen said that Daddy was a "hard worker guy."

I guess that makes two "hard worker guys," right?

This is what we had on the way home though. I guess it doesn't matter who worked hard. These two played hard and before lunch they were both out. That's what happens when you have a fun morning at PawPaw's.

Fighter jets and a "tool" uncle

On Friday, the 14th, the boys and I met my uncle David at the Aviation Heritage Park here in Bowling Green. I've been wanting to take the boys since last year around Veteran's Day, but with the weather being nasty in November, we decided against it, and since then it has been forgotten about. But recently, we've been taking Three Springs Road to church on Sunday mornings, and of course, we pass by the fighter jets on the way. The boys remind me often that they "want to go see those."

So I called my uncle Friday morning and asked him if he had lunch plans, and although he was working (at the Harley store), he said he could get off early and meet us over there. I wanted him to explain some things to the boys and answer any questions. On top of that, we just don't get to see him enough!

There are three planes on display right now. Of course, the boys like the camouflage one the best. I picked up some Zaxby's on the way, and we ate a picnic style lunch in the shade under the wings of it.

They liked this one, too. It was a smaller one, but the boys had fun running under it and asking questions. Honestly, I learned a lot about these three planes.

Sun-in-their-face smiles!

See our picnic blanket? It was the perfect shady spot for lunch with uncle David.

My uncle David is a retired Colonel in the Air Force. He has served in a gazillion different places, been to all fifty states and lived in a handful of countries. He served in Desert Storm as the head of security for all the bases and was in charge of the personal security of the main Air Force guy. (Can you tell I listened but don't remember all the specific names?) He had even met many of the pilots that were mentioned on both the Air Force planes' plaques. The boys had more fun touching the planes and running around them, but I think it made an impression. Again, I hope they grow up with an appreciation for those who serve our country and its history.

I don't have to worry about them having an appreciation for great motorcycles! When uncle David arrived on his Harley, Cash's first question was "Can I sit on it?"

Yes, indeed he surely is a pretty "tool" uncle. 

*"tool" being "cool" in Baylen's language, and that it what he called uncle David the rest of the day

Ring pops and a warm day

Even though we were not able to go to my cousin's daughter's fourth birthday party, Kenle sent the party favors to Bowling Green. The boys were super excited about the fun sand buckets and I loved the beach-themed picture frames. Also included in their favors were ring-pops. They were very interested in them, but I decided to wait until the next warm afternoon, and they could enjoy them outside while playing (sticky stuff is always more safely enjoyed out-of-doors!)

So yesterday, the 13th, after picking Cash up from school, the boys played outside while enjoying their very first ring-pops. It was love at first lick! It didn't take them long to finish them. Baylen's tongue was bright green, while Cash's teeth, tongue and lips were blue.

Then they got to work enjoying the beautiful weather!

Big smiles!

 

Cash wanted me to take a picture of his "dirt-bike-racing-fast!"

B was busy "helping daddy mow."

This boy loves his bike, which makes me happy. I'm not a fan of the battery powered toys, although I can see where they are lots of fun. I loved my bike when I was young, so I'm glad these boys enjoy pedaling around, too!

The boo-boo

Not sure if anyone really wants to see these pictures, but I wanted to document the afternoon's boo-boo. He took it pretty well considering the damage done.

This is the picture I took on the way home to send to Heath.

This was taken after naptime. Notice the red forehead and nose. It got him from top to bottom.

But amazingly enough, by bedtime that night this is how he looked. If you look closely, you can see that his gums above his front teeth were cut, too, but he went to bed smiling, so all was good!

Still need to get ourselves some peach ice cream though!

Orchard time!

On Monday, we met some our friends at Jackson's Orchard to play, have a picnic and get some homemade peach ice cream. We hadn't visited this very-fun-hilltop place since last season, so the boys were ready for it all. It was a beautiful morning, not too hot, and we were meeting some of our good friends, so it looked to be a perfect outing.

Here's Mr.-I-won't-stand-still-anymore-for-a-picture

And here's my sweet, smiley I-love-my picture-made boy (covered in Kroger stickers)

We checked out the goats and laughed with friends.

They were loving it all - the animals, the slide, the wooden tractor and 4x4 truck, and they also had a big time with the "rolling black pipes."

But in a quick second, the fun ended when the "rolling black pipe" bounced off its bumper and popped Cash in the face busting his lip and nose. After cleaning him up, icing it down, I decided my two sweeties needed some rest and we headed home.

I still owe them (and myself) some peach ice cream...

Then and now

Cash at the balloon festival in 2009

(fourteen months old)

Cash at the festival last week

(four years old)

Balloon Festival

All week long, the boys had been noticing something out of the norm going on at the airport in Bowling Green. We would pass by on the way to town, and they would see the signs, flags, and eventually the carnival and lights. I let the secret out of the bag early and explained that we would be going to the carnival at the end of the week. Of course, I received lots of questions and inquiries every day until it was finally time...

We were supposed to meet one of our good friends there, Richard, and his gal, Shelby, but we decided to go a bit early to ride some rides and jump in the bounce houses. It was the perfect afternoon for  it, not too hot, a slight breeze, and the crowds hadn't gotten there yet.

The boys had never been on carnival rides before, so we bought just a few tickets and checked them out. The first was a fishing boat ride. The boys went around and around. Cash loved it, but B wasn't so sure.

See what I mean? Questionable face and huge smile!

The next was a a very small roller coaster. They both climbed in and it "took off." They were okay at first, but by the second time around B was screaming. They slowed it down and ended it early. Cash was having a blast, but that was the end of rides for little B.

So Cash got a new ride "partner." They both got dizzy on the spinning strawberry!

B stayed with me. He was much happier staying in one place just watching.

Next was the ferris wheel. Seriously, Cash could have ridden this all night long!

And B could have sat here all night long!

Around and around, up and down! I think Heath was getting a little queasy...

But they loved it! We would have ridden this one more, but tickets were expensive and we were all out!

So we headed to the bounce houses where we ran into AR and Emaline! AR did some bouncing with our boys, but it was soon time to get our chairs and make our way toward the balloons!

This is B telling me that he has "strong muscles" and wanted to help carry chairs. :)

Watching the balloons inflate - we all picked out our favorites while we were waiting for Richard and Shelby.

I've been told that when two balloons touch like this they call it "kissing." 

This was my favorite, blue, green and white!

1 ... 2 ... 3 ... GLOW! It was a beautiful night for rib-eye sandwiches, great friends and pretty hot-air balloons!