Stars, Stripes, Streams, and Steel

This is a post within a post, within a post!  

First...
The boys had their 18 month check-up on Friday.  Yes, they are actually 19 months but with the end of the school year being so busy I needed to wait and not take off work.  They are both doing great and are practically perfect :)  Here is a very quick and abbreviated rundown.
A:  27 lbs and 33.5"
F:  25 lbs and 33.5"
Both boys eat great and love their big boy cups.  They have been bottle free since 10.5 months and are always sneaking drinks from our cups.  They love straws and use a spork at every meal.  When the doc was going through the list of things they can and can't do Kale and I laughed about the "speaking 2-6 words" let's try 20-60!  They can name tons of body parts: eyes, ears, nose, mouth, tongue, arm, fingers, belly, leg, knee, foot, toes, back, and bottom!  They can also identify and make the appropriate noises for all things that go (cars, trucks, trains, motorcycles, etc.).
Anderson loves to identify and have mommy draw hearts.  Our driveway is COVERED!

 He can also name and "draw" a circle.  Rooster is great about telling you thank you after he gets something.  It is so cute to hear him say, "Thanks Momma."  Fletcher likes to catch and throw balls.  The boy has an arm!  He also loves to watch daddy mow.  Both boys can look at family photos and name everyone in them.  This includes grandparents, great grandparents, great-great grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.   The newest fascination for Anderson is stacking cups, blocks, toys, and movies!  Fletch likes to count "1,2,3, GO!" and take off around the house.  They like to hold hands and give hugs to one another.  Growing bigger and smarter everyday!

Second...
This weekend Aunt Sarah came home.  We spent Sunday out at Tanyard Creek splashing and playing in the water.  It was a perfect day for a picnic and family time.  The boys had fun skipping rocks, throwing them into a bucket, trying to catch crawfish, and getting all wet.  Fletch fell ALL the way in the water within three minutes of getting to our spot.  It took Rooster a little bit longer, but he fell in too!  Neither one of them got upset about it, they just kept playing.

                                                                            Yes, that's a crawfish in her hair!

Skipping rocks with dad.

Splish Splash

Digging for fish!

                                                      

Third...
Today we drove out to Newton County in search for the perfect place for the men's baptism later this summer, July 28th.  We decided to have them baptized on the Buffalo River.  It is a special place for Kale and I and one of the most beautiful places in our state.  You truly can see God's work in the beauty of nature.  We looked at a few different locations and finally settled on Steel Creek.  It think it will be just perfect with the beautiful bluffs in the background!

Now it is time to grill hot dogs and finish our day with some backyard playtime.  I hope everyone has had a great and safe Memorial Day weekend.  We sure did!  

-Stephanie