Can it be happening?

Can Zach really be turning 4? It's funny because he's so tall for his age, that sometimes I forget that he's only 3 1/2. I tend to expect more from him, probably because he's the oldest. I know this is all part of the birth order, but I'm really trying to not do that to him. I don't want him to feel like he has too much responsibility and can't have fun, but I also don't want him to be irresponsible and create bad habits. I suppose this is all the balance of parenting...I just can't believe I've been doing this for almost FOUR years!!!! It's incredible to me!

Here's his 4th Birthday Party Invitations...

Another Zach-ism {brought to you by mommy}

So the other day, I was watching Dr. Phil and he had a bunch of singers on and he was talking about how many Grammy's this person had won.
Zach comes flying out of the kitchen and yells, "Mommy! I have a Grammie!" It took me a sec, and then I busted up laughing.
I love that boy!

{Grammie}

{Grammy}

Trick or Treat!

{turtle turtle turtle}
{Handy Manny}

{not such a happy pumpkin}

{Zach and Drew before the candy madness}

Oh the fun we had. We ate hot dogs {Drew's first hot dog in a bun--very exciting}, then we headed out to trick or treat around or neighborhood, which we've never done--always at someone else's house. Then we headed to Amy & Steve's house and went trick or treating around their neighborhood, which is also my mom and dad's neighborhood, so we ended our evening over there for hot chocolate and s'mores. It was a really nice night. Zach can almost keep up with his cousin Kyle and Drew loved his candy {which was all over his face by the end of night}. Ty just loved being snuggled in his daddy's arms and blanket all night {although I'm sure Carl's back was killing him by the end of the night}. Good Times!

Oh The Places I'll Go...

So I just got back from my cross country adventure! I traveled to Southern California for my friend, Michelle's, wedding. Other than missing my boys terribly, it was such a great trip.
First, I got to stay with my best friend, Bri. I got to finally meet her baby girl, Megan, who was born 2 weeks before Ty. That was helpful because I got my baby fix. :) Thanks Megan for letting me love on you.

Second, I got to see some {I was going to say old, but seeing as how we're all around 30ish, I won't say that} dear friends. Bri, Megan and I had dinner with Jess Ochoa, Jason Flanagen, his fiance Corina and their son Jonah. When I was out there the end of February, Jonah was just a few weeks old and now he's 8 months. He's sp precious. It was good to catch up and the mexican food was awesome {not to mention the margarittas}

We also had lunch with some friends whom I've known forever it seems like. Andrea and 2 of her 4 kids, Kasey (4) & Kobi (2). She sells Cookie Lee jewlery and even rememebered my birthday and brought me some jewlery. Now that's a friend! Thanks girl! I love it. {Our parents have known each other since before we were born, so we've been friends for 30 years--good grief that's a long time} Shannon and her daughter Sophia were able to join us which was great since we seem to always miss each other when I'm out there! Sophia is a precious 1 1/2 year old. So much energy and wanting to learn all about her surroundings. I wish we lives closer so Drew and Sophia could play together. He'd give her a run for her money. {Shannon and I have been friends since the 6th grade...let's see that's....19 years?!?!} And what would a lunch be without my friend Ashley and her daughter Hannah? I love this girl. And her daughter Hannah is her mini me--for real. It was so good to catch up with her. She's one of those people who you could not see for years and then when you do see them again, you pick up right where you left off. I love that. She's also coming to NC next month, so we're planning to meet half way. {Ash and I met freshman year of high school and once talked about traveling cross country on Harley's....remember that, Ash? I also smoked my first cigarette at her house after school. Thank goodness that trend didn't stick...Memories...haha!}

Unfortunatly my friend Alicia couldn't join us because of her sweet teething baby boy, Jack. So we just went to her house after lunch to say hello. It was great to catch up with her and see her new home. It's beautiful, girl. I now you're going to have some great memories there. {Alicia and I met sometime in high school during choir class. She's one of those people that I don't remember ever NOT knowing. She's just always been there....}

Here're some pictures from my time with my friends...

September 11th

I'm a little bhind in posting these, but better late than never, right? Well, as some of you know, I'm Vice President of a mom's group, MAC {Mother's Association of Chapin}. For the past few years we've been doing a little outreach activity on 9-11, but this is the first time I've been able to participate. The moms and kids all went to the local fire station and we all brought baked goods to show our appreciation. We also brought a card we made witht he kids handprints that said "Thanks for making the world a safer place". We wanted them to know how much we appreciate what they do for us. We also invited the local police to stop by.
The kids had such a good time getting to climb all over the firetruck, and seeing the firemen dress in their firesuits.
Here're some pictures from our time there.

First Day of School

Last Wednesday was Zach & Drew's first day of school. Zach is now in the 3 year old class {he goes 3 days a week for 3 hrs.} and Drew just started Mother's Morning Out {he goes 2 days a week for 3 hrs.}.

They both did fabulous. Drew has always been the one who just gets right out there while Zach tends to stay back for a little bit and check things out. Well, this day, Zach walked right in, went straight to the toys, checked out his new cubby, gave us all hugs bye and that was that.

Drew was the one who when he walked into his new room, came back and hugged my leg for a minute or two before wandering over to the toys. Granted, this was his first true first day of school ever, so he's allowed. :)

They both LOVE it and I think it'll be so good for both of them. Zach loves the idea that his little brother goes to his school and they even play together on the playground.

Thank you Nana for the matching shirts...even Ty matches. Precious!

I've given up getting a good picture of all three of them together. It's just not going to happen, I don't think.

Look. They even wear their backpacks the same way--off the shoulder!

Ms. Sarah showing Zach his new cubby

Hugging brother goodbye

Drew striking up a conversation with the girls. I think he said "come here often?" Smooth!

Drew says "you can go now Mom. I like this place"

Ty hanging out with mommy and her friends at the coffee shop waiting for brothers to get out of school.

Ice Cream Truck

Everyone has an ice cream truck memory. Whether it's that your parents wouldn't let you go near an ice cream truck {mine}, or you were always saving your nickels and dimes for the next time you heard the music coming down the street and have very fond memories of summers with ice cream from the ice cream man {Carl}, or since you hated fish, your parents called it the fish truck instead of the ice cream truck so you'd run away from the music coming down the street {my best friend, Bri}. Everyone has memories...
Well, we've heard that sweet music a few times this summer, but just as we run out of the house, it's already rounded the cul de sac and is heading back down the street. Now if I was 8 or 9, I'd probablly chase it down, but seeing as I'll be 30 in a month and a half {oh geez...that soon?}, I thought, I'd just wait it out.
We heard it today and so we rounded up the boys and ran outside, Carl and I very excited about Zach & Drew's first ice cream truck experience and Zach & Drew wondering what the heck was up with their parents....yes, we're dorks.

Our Newest Addition...

The boys just got this new swingset from their Grammie & Papa! They love it and we love having it. Drew, of course, climbed right up the ladder, turned around, and slid down feet frist on his belly. Zach took a little more time to scope things out and has fallen in love with the seahorse. We actually ordered a wooden one instead of the plastic, but it's on back order, so it'll be coming soon. Now we just have to get the ground cover, and we're set! We're so excited!!!!

Prayer Request!

Carl & I are asking for your prayers concerning Carl's mom, Myrna. She has Ovarian Cancer and has made the extremely hard decision not to continue with chemotherapy. It has reached the "quality of life vs. quantity of life" point. This is probablly the hardest thing any of us has ever gone through, so I ask for your prayers not only for Myrna, but for our whole family, including Carl's dad, Guy.
Myrna is such a strong woman and I learn so much from her. I know that this time we have with her is a gift and I treasure every moment. She loves her grandbabies more than anything and I look forward to capturing those precious moments she has with them in my photography so they will always have those pictures to look back on. They will always know their Grammie.
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!

Tyler's Baptism

On Sunday, August 17, 2008 Tyler Anthony was baptized at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church. Deacon Charles La Rosa performed the baptism and it was his very first baptism which made it that much more special! He did a great job! Steve and Amy Rule are Tyler's godparents.

Here are some pictures from the day He's all set for his baptism.

Look! It looks like he's talking to Deacon Charles. He was like this the whole time. It was like he knew what was going on. Sweetness!

Pouring the holy water. He didn't cry, just whimpered a little.

Look at that face!

Deacon Charles, the Parents and Godparents with the boys

Deacon Charles and Tyler

The whole family

This is as good as it gets

Because then this happens

And then it's just over...

under the table

Drew now thinks he's big enough to sit at the table to eat. In fact, he won't eat if we're all sitting at the table and he's in his highchair. It just doesn't cut it for him anymore. He can even climb up on the chair on his very own now. He's such a big boy. Nothing makes him happier right now then to sit next to his big brother and eat.

Zach-isms

So Zach says some of the funniest things and I told myself I need to start writing them down for posterity. So here I go trying to recall them:
* One day he took out his play piano and says "1-2-3 Hit It!" {I thought, "huh?" Where'd he learn that from? I later learned he got it from cartoons}
* The other day, while cleaning the house before Ty's baptism, he says "Mommy you're a cool mommy because you know how to clean" {Wierd...}
* He has Carolina Gamecock Crocs he got from Grammie & Papa. He calls them his "Game-Crocs" {Man, I think he's on to something}
* When he talks about renting movies from the movie store, he says he wants to go home and watch them on his "movie feeder" {Ok, so he's obviously getting the movie theater and DVD player confused, but he stinkin cute is that?}
There are more, so I'll be updating this often...

night night

So after we got home from my friend Kelly's house yesterday, I put Zach down for a nap and got Drew settled with a snack and some juice. Then I looked over at Ty who was in his carrier still. He was fast asleep. I decided to leave him be until he woke up...3 hours later Carl got home and he was STILL in the seat.

Hey, why move a sleeping baby, right?

Zach

Zach got to meet his teachers at preschool yesterday. We killed some time before we went and played outside. Of course he had dirt and grass all up and down his legs. Picture me loading everyone in the van and taking baby wipes and cleaning the boys before we went into the school. Classic Jeffcoat moments...

Here's some pictures of Zach playing outside

hanging out on the John Deere

look at those dirty legs

being silly

he loves to play ball

he's such a sweet kid

Drew Drew

Some new pictures of our "Drew Drew". have no idea why we started calling him Drew Drew, but we do and now he calls himself that. Zach however doesn't to abbreviations and always calls him Andrew. It's pretty funny because we hardly ever call him Andrew, but Zach does. We also call Tyler, Ty. Not Zach. He calls him Tyler. Funny how that happens.

I love this picture of Drew

He was so tired

I love the concrete as the background in this picture

Love this one too. He loves it when I take pictures of him!