(This post is an attempt to catch everyone up on what we’ve been doing this week. It’s really just a picture dump. Apologies in advance… )
I told y’all that posting would be a little lighter than usual this week. Truthfully, the less frequent blogging was nice this week. I didn’t spend any time on the computer in the evenings, and we were so busy during nap time this week that I just didn’t even think to get to the computer.
My brother has been here this week. Half the time he has been visiting with friends that live here and the other half he has just been making us laugh and playing with the boys. We love having Uncle Walker around! We get to see him only 2-3 times per year that we really cherish the visits.
Hudson had swim lessons this week. We chose an 8:00 a.m. lesson time because I thought it would be easier on him to just get up and go swimming rather than having to wedge it into his day and interrupt whatever fun he was having. He cried a little bit on the first day when Coach Zia was reminding him how to hold his breath and blow out with his mouth. He did not like being dunked.
But he started having fun really quickly and every morning on the way to his lesson he’d say, “I’m going to swim with Zia!!!” He loved it. And he did really well. I’m hopeful that when we go to the beach next week he’ll be even more comfortable swimming unassisted. (With supervision, of course!) The most important thing he learned this week was how to get to the wall and pull up out of the water.
On Friday morning, Walker and I took the boys to the zoo. We had a lot of fun and Hudson got his first blue ICEE. Yum! Hudson loves the animals and Hayes just liked looking at everyone and smiling.
We have already gotten our money’s worth out of our zoo membership. It’s such a great deal and we will probably go once per week this summer. On Friday night, we went back to the zoo with Todd’s parents because it was Family Night. There are a few times per year that the zoo stays open late and has fun activities for the family. They keep the animals out later and it’s great because they normally close at 5:00. So we saw a lot of the zoo on Friday! (Are flamingos the stinkiest animals ever, or what?)
Today, we loaded everyone up and drove to Charleston for the day to go to the South Carolina Aquarium. We stopped and ate lunch on the way there. Hudson was really excited to see all the fish.
And we made a new friend! (Hey, Tiffany!) I love this picture of Hayes with his face for the octopus face. He’s so happy.
Some of the fish and animals were outside, so we loved being out and looking at the water. It was a beautiful day and we had a lot of fun with our family.
My boys are loving each other more and more every day. Hudson absolutely loves to get in Hayes’s crib when Hayes wakes up from a nap. So they both get in there together. Hudson was actually willing to give Hayes a hug the other day!
But then I took this picture and realized that his smile looked a little bit scary. Maybe he’s hugging a little too tight? Ha!
Happy Memorial Day weekend to all of you!
P.S. I am so happy that Phillip Phillips won American Idol. He is just a class act and so humble. I loved his final song, “Home” and will be buying that one on iTunes. Y’all should read Emily Freeman’s post that she wrote the day after Phillip won. I love it!
Oh my goodness. DYING over that picture with Hudson on the bench with frog statue!! He looks so big!
Glad y’all have had a fun week with your brother 🙂
Kirsten loves to go into Simon’s crib when she hears him wake up from a nap too, melts my heart every time. And I think Hayes looks a lot like your brother! Glad your summer is off to a wonderful start!
Erin – It looks like you’ve had a great week with your family! Don’t you just love summer!?!? I love your outfits lately that we’ve been seeing on the blog. Especially love the pink t-shirt today with the adorable necklace! Could you maybe do another post about fashion/clothes for summer? Have a great Memorial Day!
I hear you on having a brother out of town & limited visits! Cherished moments…. def!!! ps couldn’t help but notice in the first few pics Hudson looks more like a boy (meaning he lost a his baby look) Too sweet, very handsome 🙂 Just couldn’t believe the change, just seems drastic scrolling through your past few posts…. why do they grow up so quickly? So sweet that Hudson is being sweeter towards Hayes, its a bond they’ll have forever! (random, unoreganized comments… yep thats how I roll 🙂
Anyways, Happy Memorial Day!
looks like your summer is off to a great start!
HEY!!! 🙂 so glad you had such a fun visit with your brother.
Love the crib pix! My oldest climbs in with the baby in the mornings too! It is so darn cute! Glad you are having such a great time visiting with your brother.
Cute photos! The kids are so big already! too cute!
I thought I saw you at the aquarium yesterday! I told my husband that I thought it was you! I didn’t want to disturb your family time, so i didn’t introduce myself! We’re staying on Kiawah island-love it! Glad y’all had fun!
What a fun week. The boys look adorable, and that flamingo picture seriously made me crack up. I have never seen them just laying around like that!
Just wanted to let you know that your photos look great! You can tell that you’ve taken your camera off the auto setting (cute subjects don’t hurt either!). Also, where is your pink tee from, if you don’t mind me asking?
Erin, I have said it before but I must say it again (and I rarely comment). Although we are so very different (I’m not a mom, not married, not a Christian, I’m very liberal), I really like you and like your blog. You seem so genuine and are totally willing to admit your shortcomings, which makes you very relate-able and approachable. Most of all, you seem like an amazing mom! You do so much for them and your family, and you seem to have so much fun with them – they are clearly happy kids! My boyfriend and I do plan to get married one day, and we will definitely have a family – blogs and photos like yours make me extra excited for that! Just keep doing what you do 🙂
I should add that I am a photographer, so I especially appreciate the pics you take of the boys!
If you’re ever in Florida and want to do a shoot, just email me! I think we’d get some really great shots. You are the one who introduced me to Tracy Turpen’s work, so she has been a huge inspiration to me for the past couple of years.
Just discovered your blog. Love it! Your children are precious!
Aww! What a fun week! 🙂
Soooo fun! We’ll look for ya’ll at the zoo this summer! We’ll be there alot too! Hope to run into you!
What a wonderful time you guys are having! The boys get more and more adorable every day
So glad you were able to visit with your brother. The boys are taking swimming lessons soon. I can’t wait! The picture of Hudson with the frog is precious as is the “too tight hug” photo!