The "Finnster, et al."

Sam has never had a compact bowel movement in his life.  Michael and I decided that we would give lactose free milk a try.  We told Sam that he got him some special milk that I will help him have an easier time going to the bathroom.  Sam voiced his understanding.   Yesterday, Sam asked me if he could have some "bottom milk." We was so serious; he wasn't trying to be funny.  He legitimately thinks that lactose free milk is called "bottom milk." 

On Tuesday, the school nurse called and informed me that Finn had fallen off of the monkey bars and he needed to have the arm x-rayed.  Michael picked Finn up from school early and took him to the emergency room.  Sure enough, Finn has a buckle fracture in his right forearm. (Of course it would be his writing hand.)  The ER doctor wrapped the arm and made an appointment for Finn to get a hard-cast later that week. We met Finn and Michael at Dairy Queen for some "I'm so sorry you broke your arm" ice-cream. Finn did really well.  He said that it hurt when he fell, but it didn't hurt too bad when he kept it still. He hated the sling and refused to wear it after we got home.  He slept well considering - and we iced it the next morning.  On Thursday I took Finn to the orthopedist to have his arm casted.  He spent the first part of the morning at work with me - which is appropriate since it was nation "Bring Your Kid to Work Day."  ...

Morning is my favorite time with the boys.  They are really supposed to stay in bed until 6:45 during the week, but for the past few weeks they have been up by 6:00.  I am usually up and getting ready at that time and really enjoy the company. They are so sweet and talkative in the mornings. They really like to get in my bed.  They think my bed is the most comfortable.  Sam decided to read his school books.  This morning, Finn laid down in the bathroom floor and we talked for an hour. 

Just a few pictures of the boys being sweet.

Will is starting to recognize our faces in pictures.  This picture is on our dishwasher in the kitchen.  Will gets so excited every time he happens to spot it. Recognizing Sam's coloring - he is so good! Last week after school while I was cooking dinner, Sam sat down at the bar and colored this for me.  I was browsing the HCA website the other day and found this. 

In an attempt to keep the Easter post as sterile as possible - I didn't mention what actually happened on Easter.  Sam had the stomach bug.  Sam has had stomach bugs before and knows what to do - i.e. get a bucket! Unfortunately, this "bug" was uncharted territory for Sam.  I am speaking about "diarrhea." All I have to say is poor, poor Sam.  He didn't know what to do.  He felt like he needed to throw up, so he stood face down over the commode.  That's when it happened.  And, yes, it's what you're thinking.  Poor Sam looked up at Michael with confusion etched on his face and said exclaimed what had happened (as if an explanation was necessary).   This happened early in the morning so we put Sam back in bed and hoped that he would feel better before church.  No such luck. His second episode came after he was fully dressed - in his Easter clothes.  Fortunately, there was no "leakage" so the Easter outfit remained in tact.  I pu...

Well, here it is . . . the Easter Morning family picture session.  I thought the boys looked quite handsome. Thank you Gran for the adorable Easter clothes. Thank you Emily for the little white shoes - I love Will in little white baby shoes. Sam took this one.   Sam's booger shot.  As per tradition, we attended church with Gran and Pa.  When we went to Gran's house for lunch, Easter baskets and egg hunt.  The "crew."  Griffin Thomas Begley "Finn" - 7,  Samuel Hunt Begley "Sam" - 5,  Charles Henry Begley "Henry" -2,  Cade Atlas Begley - 14 months,  William Rex Begley "Will" - 9 months,  Mason Thomas Begley - 5 months 

Our "wilderness" trip entailed both a stay at the "Wilderness in the Smokies" waterpark lodge and an actual trek through the "wilderness" in the Smokey Mountains National Park.   Our first stop was the water park.  We got there a little after noon and immediately went to the outdoor park first.  Finn and Sam both warmed up on one of the smaller slides.  Then I took Sam up to do the big double float slide.  He was a nervous wreck and almost "lost it" when I put him into the float. I had to lace my feet under his armpits and squeeze so that he wouldn't jump out.  The lifeguard gave us a push and off we went down the tube slide.  When we hit the bottom, Sam immediately yelled "THAT WAS AWESOME! I want to do it again."   His second time down the tube slide was with Papa.  From that moment on, Sam rode every slide that he was physically big enough to ride and loved every second.  Finn did great too.  His first slide was ...