Student of the Month

Jake was chosen as student of the month for April!  Each month they choose a specific character trait and the teachers nominate a student who exhibits that trait, and April was perseverance.  I think this is very fitting for Jake- he never gives up and always tries so hard at everything he does.

I'm so proud of Jake!  I started crying when I heard the news!  I know how awesome my child is, but it means so much that other people know that, too. ;)

Walker's First Goal!

This past Saturday, Jake had a baseball game across town at the same time that Walker had a soccer game close to home.  Tyson has only been to one of Walker's soccer games but has gone to a handful of Jake's baseball games, so we decided that Tyson would go with Walker and I would go with Jake.  Well, low and behold, what should happen at the very first soccer game that I miss?  Walker scored his first goal!!  I can't believe I missed it!!  Here is the phone call that I got from Tyson:

Tyson: Walker scored his first goal!
Beth: Really???!!!!
Tyson: Yes...in the other team's goal.
Beth: Hahaha!

Yep, apparently they were really close to the other's team's goal and Walker kicked the ball really hard and it ended up going straight in to the goal.  One of the other moms told me that Walker started jumping up and down and was so excited...he obviously didn't realize (or maybe he didn't care?) that he had just kicked it into the wrong goal.  Ha!  Poor kid.  I told Tyson not to tell him that it was the wrong goal, but somehow, he figured it out.  He was still excited he had finally made a goal, though. ;)

So once Tyson and Walker got to the baseball game, Tyson told me a little bit about the rest of the game.  Here is that conversation:

Tyson: Walker's team ended up winning 12-1.
Beth: Oh good!
Tyson: Yeah, Walker was the leading scorer for the other team.

Ha!  Sweet, sweet Walker!  We are so proud of you!!!  You'll get the ball in your team's goal soon enough. ;)

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!  In honor of the occasion, I asked the boys some questions about their grandmothers:

My mom

1) How old is she?
Walker (W): 44
Jake (J): 64

2) What color is her hair?
W: blond
J: red

3) What's her favorite thing to do?
W: go see dinosaurs
J: go to Jeremiah's (our italian ice place here...it's delicious)

4) What does she say the most?
W: Let's go to the pier and eat icecream.
J: Let's go to Jeremiah's.

5) Who does she look like that is on TV?
W: Gingka Hagane (beyblade character- click here)
J: Ginger from Gilligan's Island

6) What is her favorite thing to eat?
W: strawberries
J: shrimp

7) What is your favorite thing to do with her?
W: Go out on the pier with her
J: Go to Crab Trap with her

Tyson's Mom
1) How old is she?
W: 42
J: 43

2) What color is her hair?
W: blue
J: brown

3) What's her favorite thing to do?
W: Play hide and seek
J: Go to Jeremiah's

4) What does she say the most?
W: Very good!
J: You are the smartest grandchild ever!

5) Who does she look like that is on TV?
W: Kenta (Beyblade character- click here)
J: Mary Ann from Gilligan's Island

6) What is her favorite thing to eat?
W: Pizza
J: Salad

7) What's your favorite thing to do with her?
W: Play tag with her
J: Play hide and seek with her

We love you PaPa and G-Mama!!  Happy Mother's Day!

Muffins with Mom with my Walker

 My sweet boy and I at Muffins with Mom at school.

 Graham and Walker

 Dalton, Graham, Walker, and Quinn...besties

 Love this...other than me being "43."

Walker said this is a painting of me (the yellow part)..."with no eyes." :)

Walker's 4 year Stats

My big 4 year old!

 Anderson thinks Walker is the funniest thing in the world.

 Getting into the blinds.

Walker had his 4 year check up yesterday; he weighs 37 lbs (58%) and is 41.5 inches tall (75%).  For comparison, Jake was 44 lbs (90%) and 42.25 inches (80%) at 4 years.

Walker has SO MUCH personality!  Tyson says it all the time and I totally agree, Walker is one of the funniest kids we know.  He just has this natural ability to make people laugh; in fact, he was who got Anderson to giggle first and can find a way to always make him laugh.

Walker is a leader.  His teachers have always told me this, but I've seen it on the soccer field.  Walker is by far the smallest, youngest, and most inexperienced player on his team, but he is still one of the leaders of the team.   And he is a good leader!  His teachers have always told me that he's a good role model and all the kids look up to him.

Walker is my sweet, loving, affectionate boy.  He loves to sit in my lap and gives me hugs and kisses- that drives his daddy crazy, but I hope he never grows out of it. ;)  He is 100% a mama's boy.

Walker's best friend is his big brother, Jake.  They have their occasional fights, but for the most part, they get along so well.  I pray they stay this close always.  And fortunately for Walker, all of Jake's friends love to play with Walker; he is never the annoying little brother.

Walker is super smart.  Not only does he know all of his ABC's, numbers, shapes, etc, but he also knows all of his letter sounds.  I wouldn't be surprised if he could read before Kindergarten.  Jake really had to work hard to learn all of these things, but Walker just picked up on it all so easily.  I've said it before, he's just got this natural ability for doing things.

Walker is also pretty sporty.  He really likes soccer (but I think it's because that's what his friends play), but he's also really good at baseball.  He seems to really like football, too, so we'll see about that one.

To sum up Walker, he is funny, cute, sweet, smart, happy, easy-going, out-going, a pleaser, and always smiling.  I get really sad for him that he's the "middle child," but I think if anyone is more perfectly fit for that spot, it would be Walker.

Oh, and about the blinds from above- Anderson has discovered them and it drives me crazy!  I hate those blinds; they break so easily and are just a pain!  I've started pulling them back so he can't mess with them, and instead, he keeps running into the sliding glass door (kinda like a bird does).  It's hilarious.  He'll be crawling and then BUMP...he'll back up and then BUMP again.  Hahaha!  The boys think it's the funniest thing ever. :)

I Think I've Seen This Table Before...

 Anderson with the table

 Jake with the table in August 2008

 Walker with the table in December 2010.

 Have I told y'all that of my three boys, this one is my biggest mama's boy?  My right hand man, this one right here.  He hates to be photographed, though.  Ha!

I still don't understand how he managed to get food on his forehead.  Hahaha!

Things have been a little crazy this week as we're having to adjust to Tyson being gone again recruiting.  Luckily with him being the defensive coordinator now, he won't have to travel quite as much; it still stinks, though, when he does travel, and the boys and I miss him terribly.  It's like just when we get into a routine of having him home for bedtime, he leaves again. :(

Supper, bath, and bedtime can be a little hectic with just me and the three boys.  I feel like some days I'm just running in circles.  Anyways, on this particular day in the pictures above, I was in the middle of feeding Anderson when I had to run and help Walker in the bathroom.  When I got back, Jake had taken over and was feeding Anderson.  *tear*  After my heart got done melting, I grabbed the camera before Jake could see me and snapped these pictures.  I'll tell y'all what, Jake Summers drives me absolutely crazy sometimes, but then he goes and does something like this.  He is the best big brother...he really is.  And he is such a big helper.  Not that Walker isn't all of these things, too, but it's like Jake knows that when Tyson is gone he has to step it up and be the man of the house.  Sweet, sweet boys.

Weekend Wrap Up

 The pool was a little too chilly for Anderson, so he just enjoyed hanging out in his float.

It was a pretty gloomy weekend in Orlando; it rained nonstop from Thursday until Sunday morning.  Both boys had their games cancelled, so we just hung out, started packing/sorting for our move in June, went furniture shopping, and just enjoyed being together before the dreaded recruiting starts.  The sun did come out Sunday, though, and we (well, the 3 big boys) were able to play in the pool for a bit.  And that's about it.  This was definitely one of the most low-key weekends we've had lately, but it was very much needed. :)

Tyson is the DC!

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/blogs/knights-notepad/os-ucf-tyson-summers-defensive-coordinator-20140429,0,4774281.post

http://www.ucfknights.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/042914aaa.html

Anderson Crawling Video

Jake dressed up today as a scientist for his community helper at school, and he insisted on having gray hair. (He had to put the rest of the costume on at school, so I didn't get any pictures of that...just the awesome hair).  Wouldn't he be so cute if he prematurely went gray?

"dadadada!"

Here is Anderson crawling!

It's been another crazy, busy, sickly week at the Summers' house!  Anderson has his first ear infection- a double ear infection at that!  The doctor was surprised at how bad his ears looked but yet how happy he seemed.  She said he seems like he's really tough, which is going to make it difficult for me to tell when he's sick. I thought it was just his teeth that was giving him problems, but when my big boy stopped eating quite as much, I knew something was wrong. ;)

So yes, Anderson has an ear infection on top of cutting his two upper teeth.  His bottom teeth didn't seem to give him any trouble, but these teeth are doing are sorts of crazy things- like tearing up his face (the doc said the saliva is more acidic when teething).  I sure hope it's acidic saliva and not food allergies.

We also went to the cardiologist (FINALLY!) this week about Anderson's heart murmur.  The doctor said he has a Still's heart murmur, which is completely benign and very common in children.  It shouldn't cause any problems and should disappear before adulthood.  Yay for that report!  

Have a good weekend!

Chalybe Fest at Disney World!

 Jake and Walker at the Animal Kingdom

 The househusbands of Hoover

 Jake and Ryan Madden

 Kaitlyn Madden, Walker, Jake, Ryan Madden, Brantley Turner, Bricen Turner, and Anderson and Becklynn Turner in the chair.  Colin Madden wasn't down with the picture taking. 

 Bahaha!  Becklynn kept smacking Anderson in the face.  I didn't realize it til all the picture taking was over.  Sweet boy just sat there and took it. ;)

Yikes.  I look disgusting, but I had to get a pic with my Bham besties, Ginger and Ashley.  I couldn't have survived Birmingham and being a new mom without these girls.

Today, we met up with our old Birmingham neighbors, the Maddens and the Turners, at Disney World.  The Turners were in town for Spring break, so we decided to have a Chalybe Fest (that's what we used to call our backyard get-togethers) at the Polynesian Resort.  It was so much fun and had been WAY TOO LONG since we have all been together.  I'll tell you what, though, it was like there had been no time lost at all between us- we just picked right up where we left off.  I sure miss these girls, their kiddos, and their husbands!