Per usual, I was planning to write a real quick post on one little topic...until I took a look at the pictures currently on my camera! The one little topic was: my boys and magic. I didn't realize until yesterday that we have several little rituals that involve having or being "magic":


1. Every time we go into or out of a store where there are electric handicap doors, the boys run and compete over who gets to push "the magic button" (which is nice because I need those doors open for the stroller!). It's gotten to the point where I have to monitor the whole process "ok guys...there's a magic button on this door...Logan gets to push it on the way in and Aiden gets to push it on the way out". For the most part, they are very courteous about sharing the magic.


2. Aiden loves to "use magic" on automatic doors (the ones that open via sensors as you approach). At Home Depot one day, for example, he stood about 5 feet from the front door until the person in front of us went through and until the doors slid shut. When everything was all set, he quickly ran towards the door, jumped into a sort of crouched position and waved his hands, palms out, towards the door. Ah...every time he does that, it cracks me up!

3. This is what made me think of all our "magic" stuff: Last night, we were playing outside with friends. It was time to go in so I asked the boys if they wanted to eat real quick and then take a bath so that they could play with daddy when he got home. Logan said "sure....but can you do the magic tonight?!" Aiden chimed in with "ya!! do the magic!!" Mommy's magic started one night, over a year ago, while I was giving the boys a bath (in our bathroom as always...which is right over the garage). I heard the garage door open and then I heard Brian walking up the back stairs. Anyway...I turned to the boys and asked, "you guys want to see mommy do a magic trick?" They were totally excited. So...I said, "abracadabra....hokus pokus"....and a bunch of other words, until I heard the door open to the bathroom. Then I said "TA-DA!" and in walked Daddy. Now we have a system. The boys ask for the magic if Brian isn't home, but is supposed to be home before bedtime ("do the magic in the bathroom mommy!!"), Brian will call me when he's in the neighborhood and I'll say "ok guys....it's time for the magic!" They get so excited...especially when I finally get to yell TA-DA!



And now for the pictures on my camera:



Last week the boys needed something to do. I wanted them to go outside. I set up this little bubble machine we got after our super cool one kicked the bucket. I told them that Darth Vadar had created clone bubbles and that they needed to be destroyed as they rolled off the production line!! Here are the boys battling the clone bubbles.



Last weekend we went to Wisconsin for Charlie's open house (a chance for everyone to come and meet the new baby!) We were at the beautiful home of Aunt Sara's mom and dad and got to see a lot of people we haven't see for quite a while (lots of new babies in the mix!). Right before we left, we took a picture with Charlie. He's sitting on Aiden's lap. It was a really fun little party and our boys were like shockingly well behaved. We were a super happy mommy and daddy as we drove home. Of course we went to The Brat Stop to grab some of Brian's favorites for the freezer.

So...we're all familiar with Logan's pictures from my camera. Aiden got a little curious about it Sunday morning while the two of us were making pancakes and eggs. He kept wanting to take pictures of himself.

Ouch...I wonder if the flash hurt!

I love making photo albums using shutterful.com. At one point, I was looking at all the different albums they offer and noticed a recipe one. Brian was making an AWESOME meal for us on Sunday and mentioned that he would like to make a family recipe book. The only problem is that each page in the shutterfly album layout is accompanied by a picture. So....we have a new family mission: make all our favorite recipes, take pictures, and make a book! We had Meemaw and Grandpa over for dinner on Sunday (belated bday for Meemaw, early Father's Day for Grandpa). We decided to take pictures of the food...and a few of the family.

Aiden loved the corn! The night's menu included smoked ribs, rotisserie chicken (the best we've ever had!!!), grilled packets of red potatoes with blue cheese crumbles, and corn. Excuse me while I wipe the drool off my keyboard! I'm saving the pictures of the ACTUAL food for the book :)

And now we have a series of pictures that Logan took yesterday. I will narrate what I think might have been going through his head:

mommy said my friends are playing outside....here I go!

There's my brother Aiden!

He has a bunch of monster stickers on his shirt today! (from Ella)

Here is my friend Ryan! He just got done playing in the water. WATER! That sounds like fun. I should go get my bailing suit!

I'm walking back home....that's my patio! I need my bailing suit to play in the water!

Here I am walking back inside. Where is mommy??

Wait....no....I don't think I'm done playing with the camera yet. I'm heading back outside!

Here is some stuff on the porch....

This is me sitting at the little picnic table...

This is me laying my head on the patio couch

I think I came off too serious that last time....here I am grinning

Wait...that wasn't a very good picture....I didn't get my whole head. Let me set this shot up one more time. That's better!!
Oh my gosh....did you think this post should be over?? me too! But...the boys were playing in the rain today and I thought it was cute. Brady was a bit upset because.... He was having some initial problems managing the big umbrella his brothers gave him.

Logan offered to take the big umbrella from Brady. He thought it was pretty cool that you can hit a button on the handle to make it pop open. Here he is saying "look Aiden...I can cover us both!"

Brady did a bit better with the smaller umbrella, although I kept holding mine over his head so he wouldn't get soaked.