Me & My Great Ideas!

This is Carter's big boy carseat for daddy's truck - he thinks it is so cool!

This morning was cleaning morning at the Hogan house which basically means that Lincoln follows me around & Carter gets to watch too much t.v.! Anyway, I got the bathrooms cleaned and house dusted although there is much more to do, I feel like we have a start on things. So after showering I decided that we needed to get out of the house and was thinking lunch out but then had a GREAT idea! Let's take a picnic to the pond - Carter even said "what a great idea, mom" but no it didn't exactly turn out to be a GREAT idea after all. I guess I sort of forgot, sort of didn't care that we had a lot of rain last night so we had to sit on the path, not a big deal until Carter got his shoes dirty and insisted on taking them off & then said "Mom, there is a snake" and I looked down and it was a worm that Linc had also noticed and was suddenly trying to catch - that with the bugs was our cue to come back home for a picnic on the back porch which is much more our style! On a very separate note, the egg timer nap idea seems to be working for Carter today - yippee!

Woo-hoo for the Zoo

This is Carter's firetruck, he got it when Lincoln was born and Papa took him on a trip to Toys R Us - when you ask him what he is going to be when he grows up it is "A fireman" and when I ask what he thinks Lincoln might be the answer is "a fireman with me" of course - why didn't I think of that! I think it is sweet that he can't imagine not being with his brother all the time! He was really upset this morning that Lincoln got to wear a firetruck shirt and he doesn't have one - so if anyone sees a firetruck shirt out there - let me know, I'm also still looking for a fireman hat!This is my so-called help with planting flowers! My neighbor was over and we were chatting and the next thing we knew Linc had spilled the planters, now they have plants in them and he hasn't been allowed out front yet!

Carter "cheesing" with the Flamingos for G-GMa and Don!

We were at the right place at the right time this morning and got to watch the Galapagos Turtles eating their bamboo - these guys are between 80-100 years old, in trying to explain their age I told the boys that they were older than Grandpa - sorry Grandpa you are the oldest person they would identify with!

The held hands for a long walk at the zoo and both thought this was super cool!

This is why it is woo-hoo for the zoo - it may have taken me another 4 miles for Carter to fall asleep but them being knocked out in the car was worth it - off to wake up the big guy so he can sleep tonight!

Boat shoes

I bought the cutest little boat shoes for the boys for Easter but only 1 boy wore them, Sean and Carter protested this look although I will fight to the end that they were simply adorable, anyway the little boy will be wearing them all season just to show the big boys how stinkin' cute they are!

We are having a great spring day in OK and spent some of the morning cleaning the back porch and the boys digging in their sand table and are going to try out our green thumbs this afternoon with planting, maybe. This morning I put some potting soil in the pots and Lincoln picked up the small one and dumped it out right away so maybe this project isn't a good one for the little guys.

I haven't been camera happy this week - I haven't taken pictures since Easter which is so unlike me, guess I better get busy taking some new ones. The picture of Linc in front of the door is to tell you all that if you only know that our house is the one with the red door - well it isn't anymore, it is now a brown door that will hopefully soon have some great looking plants next to it!

Checking out the loot from the bunny - golf clubs, books, water wings & CANDY of course

Carter & his - licksi-pop and Lincoln realizing there was something inside those eggs

Project Complete!

Sean and the boys have been working tirelessly on the little back patio project and I'm glad to say they are done and that we beat the rain too! I'm so glad to be married to a Mr. Fixit and to be raising two more - I'm sure there are many more projects in their futures! They also got to take a ride around the block in the dump truck and modeled their new swim shorts from Grandma and Grandpa.

A 100 Picture Kind of Day

I took many, many pictures today - not for any good reason but because it was kind of an average day - we played outside and even got Popsicles from the ice cream truck (this was a first for both boys) and then assisted Sean at "the dig site" Carter is going to be really sad when this project is over this weekend. Here are some pictures - you'll notice that Lincoln was a bit more excited about the Bomb pop than Carter.

Handy Carter & Handsome Little Linc

Becky got some cute pics of Linc - he loves her and his smile shows it!

Notice that he's wearing gloves because daddy does & also has a tape measure on his jeans!

We have a little backyard project - really it is little but you'd think it was massive as Carter calls it "the dig site". This morning he told me he couldn't go to school because something might happen at the dig site - I had to inform him that nothing would happen while daddy was at work because lets face it I'm not going to be doing any physical labor by myself. On that note some of you will be impressed to know that I did help remove the concrete and can swing the sledge hammer if you need some assistance. I hurt so bad the first few days of this week because that isn't my typical activity. Carter and Lincoln are such little outdoor boys and they love helping their daddy with this little project - basically we removed the little slab of concrete outside our screened in porch and are making are little bit of a larger area to sit out there - not a big deal but such a big deal for a 3 & 1 year old! They have both put as much effort into this as they possibly can! Here are a few pictures of our little workers.

Mmm - bug juice!

C helping his "little buddy"

Handy Carter

Marker eating child? So proud of himself.

A cold water bath - note to self, do not leave him alone in the bathroom

Chocolate Easter Eggs from Mimi & Papa

A birthday hug for his Papa

Not only does she car dance, Mimi living room dances too!

Trying out their new bench from Grandma and Grandpa

Learning proper organization tips from Papa

We've had another busy week - we love company! The boys love to be spoiled and that they were - between Easter presents from the grandparents and their Auntie they have all sort of new gear to play with. The weather hasn't exactly cooperated lately with our company - I have big plans of playing outside or some sort of fun venture and then we get stuck with cold & wet be it rain or snow! Oh well, quality time is quality time, I guess. Linc had a bit of a fever and virus starting on Saturday but he's back up to speed after some long nights of screaming at us and sleeping in the big bed. Sean said yesterday it was nice to not have a little burrito in the middle of the bed. I've been rearranging the house a little bit - Linc doesn't have a rocking chair anymore - it was a bit of a step towards being a big boy and a bit sad too! I'll probably have real trauma when the crib comes down but we have plenty of time for that to happen. Carter got the nightstand for his room and now has his very own bedside light which he thinks is big stuff and might be helping to keep him in his bed at night a little bit better. They are both napping together (at the same time) for the second time this week - feels almost like vacation to me, except I don't get up before 6 on vacation like I did today!

We are dealing with all sorts of paperwork to get our roof replaced - what a hassle! I jokingly told our mortgage guy we were going to have to switch companies because of all the papers they make us fill out to get our stinking roof replaced! Oh well, I guess it needs done and will get done. Off to the next before wake-up time task!