Togetherness

Monday, March 30, 2015


I have boys. Brothers. Two little men. 

I have boys. Brothers. Two little men. And they cannot keep their hands off of each other. 

If I say it once I say it 18,000 times per day..."keep your hands to yourself", "stop messing with your brother", "stop leaning on him", "this is not going to end well"...you get the picture. While it frustrates me to no end, I still would not have it any other way. If this is the worst thing that I am going to encounter with the little fellas then bring it. The one thing I know with the hugging, hitting, squeezing is that they love each other. A lot. 

I have been told by both Wip and Duncan's teachers that they talk about each other all of the time. When Duncan wakes up and Wip has already headed to school the first thing out of his mouth is "where is Wip?". When I took Wip to Sea World, the entire day he kept talking about what his brother would like to ride or see..yep, they love each other.

Wip is my little routine man and today we were running a little late. Duncan and I had to walk him into school because we missed carpool and Wip kept asking me if he was late (I was just walking fast and ignoring him, because I did not want a meltdown). He seemed a little anxious and then we walked into the courtyard where he saw his friends. He looked at his brother and said "come on Duncan!" it was like he was beaming with pride to be walking in with his brother. This was one of the most special little moments I have witnessed as a mama of these boys. This one just hit me.

We have been watching the HBO show Togetherness (SO GOOD!!!). The show is written and played by two brothers (but they do not play brothers on the show). In this scene, Alex is dissed by a girl and Brett is trying to comfort him (totally worth the one-minute view time). Something about this just screams "brother moment" to me. I hope and pray that my boys have a million moments like this (and hopefully learn to keep their hands to themselves:). 

I'M GOIN' TO JACKSON

Monday, March 23, 2015


Picture the panic...we are set to get up at 4:30am to catch a 7:20am flight. This is our first time flying out of Orlando as a family and we are so excited to head to Jackson Hole. We start moving around and I am getting ready to jump in the shower. I glance at my phone and notice that it says 6:20 and not 4:20....holy craaaaaaaaaaaap! We threw the kids in the car, zipped up the suitcase and headed to the airport {I did not even brush my teeth}. I was trying to check in and the lady just started laughing. She said that there was no way we would make the flight. I started crying and told her that we overslept. She looked at me and said "thank you! thank you so much for being honest with me!". She put me in touch with Karen F. who got us on an 8am flight to Atlanta and even though we had a 5-hour layover, we made it to Jackson by 6:00pm. Shooooo weeeeeee. The drama.
Thank goodness for devices when traveling

Snow angels on the wall 

We made it!

Ahhhhhh

This year, I was the only girl on the trip {outnumbered again}, but that did not stop me from having an absolute blast. I love that Wip and Duncan are not only learning how to ski at such a young age, but they LOVE it. 
Poor little man

Duncan woke up pumped to ski each morning

Feeling better

No coat needed...it was SO warm

Double it {water and lemonade}

Granddaddy is that you?
Nice
Day 1 of skiing Wip had a little altitude sickness that he needed to sleep off, so Uncle Scotty, B.P., Patrick, and Duncan hit the slopes and I stayed with Wip so he could rest. When he woke up, he was so ready to get to ski school that he was practically running up the stairs. When we arrived we got to see Duncan taking on the mountain {click here}. After a great afternoon on the slopes, we hit up a great BBQ place that allowed you to put your peanut shells on the floor. Consider Duncan's mind blown. Wip introduced us to his new favorite app called Zoo Me in which you take a picture of someone and then put their face on an animals body...it was pretty funny.
Ready, set, ski!
My boys


Love.

I received this precious picture while I was on the slopes and just had to throw it in...cute she be any cuter?

Hey-ooooo

Me and Granddaddy

Gondola ride!

Day 2 was filled with ski, sun, and fun. The boys rocked it at ski school {click here for Duncan's progress}  and then took a gondola trip with daddy. Being out all day sure does make bedtime come early. I think everyone was passed out by 8pm.


Every morning.


Granddaddy with tiny goggles

Uncle Scotty

He was FINE!

Happy boy

Granddaddy and his first grandson

Day 3 was our last day and by 1pm the mountain was full of slush (i.e. making it very difficult to ski). It was St. Patty's day so the adults decided to enjoy some adult beverages before we had to pick up the boys from ski school. We got a call about 2:30 that Wip had hurt his knee and we needed to come to the clinic. We did not get the "EMERGENCY COME NOW" vibe, but we still made our way up the mountain to make sure he was ok. Upon arrival, he was sipping some apple juice and seemed fine as wine. He told me that when he was on the mountain he heard a "pop" in his knee and told his instructor. We had him walk on it and put a little pressure on it, and he was absolutely fine. We thanked the staff for taking such good care of him and the nurse stopped me on the way out and said "you have a good kid here...he is really sweet, I have a three-year-old and I just hope when he is five that he will be as sweet as your son". Well if that just isn't enough to melt you, I don't know what would be. After the clinic we went to check on Duncan and this is what we found...such progress!

We came, we ate, we skied, we loved it. Until next time Jackson!

Best Week Ever

Friday, March 20, 2015

It is funny how much the little things can bring so much joy to a 5 {almost 6 year old}.

On Monday Wip was insistent that we go to the craft store to get the experience {materials} so that we could make a hat for "crazy hat day" on Tuesday. Check.

On Tuesday he knew that I was coming to school for the "Pop In Parent" event. I got to plan an activity and then read a story to the children. I picked We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Helen Oxenbury and Michael Rosen. We made a map of the bear hunt and then followed along with the story. Afterward we had teddy grams (get it, bears?) for a snack. It was a hit. The best surprise was seeing Wip's face when his daddy walked in the classroom to help me with the lesson. He was beaming with pride. He has no idea how much I cherish those little moments.

On Wednesday it was Crazy Hat Day. He created a "monster" hat. He was pretty excited to show it off. When I picked him up from school he also informed me that he found the treat that the leprechaun left {and then got sick from eating all of the candy}.

On Thursday he got a catered lunch at school. Park Maitland offers catered lunch and Wip has asked me ALL year to get it for him. I honestly forget every week. Except for this week. When I told him he did not have a lunchbox because he was getting catered lunch...he flipped. Later that day we had a playdate with his buddy Jackson. Jackson is one of the sweetest kids on the planet and Wip has the best time with him. After 2.5 hours on the playground together, they could not understand why they had to leave and go to dinner...precious boys.

On Friday school was closed for Wip and Duncan still had school. I took advantage of our Sea World passes {thanks Grams and Poppy} and we had a mother/son date. It was so much fun and a great way to end what might have been Wip's best week ever.
Started the day at Dunkin'

He went nuts over this hat...I just had to say yes.

He climbed in and out of this thing for about an hour.

Silly moment

Ready to ride the coaster

His favorite part was the show

My guy {the other hat was for Duncan}


Meanwhile, in addition to several hiccups in Duncan's week, he got stung by a wasp while eating dinner...clearly not his best week ever {he is fine}.

Easy Friendship

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

We entertained our first house guests a few weeks ago. It was the kind of weekend when you laugh and forget why and do not stress one bit about the bathroom being a little messy or not yet having the paint color you want on the walls. It is was I like to call the easy friendship visit. It had been a while since we had been together. In 2011 we all gathered in Vermont and had a blast (a non air conditioned house, in July, with a three month old baby...it was a blast, I promise.).




Fast forward a few years and add a couple of kids and you have #2015spillmansbernamulloyvisit. At one point in the weekend I noticed the guys on the patio laughing about something (it is not hard to make them laugh...a story about Breadloaf or a weird food picture will usually do the trick). Sarah looked at me and said "I sure am glad that they met". Me too friend, me too. Needless to say this visit was just as fun. The kids played, the adults ate/drank, and eventually we explored a bit. Take a peek...
We played at the park
In our pajamas 
I know it is weird to say I "bonded" with a 3 year old...but this little girl stole my heart
Valentine treats
Play, play, play
These two formed a bond that I know will last forever...and it melts me.
We climbed trees
I am so lucky to have these beautiful ladies in my life
They got in my makeup...
But it was so darn cute I could not be mad
Duncan had the best makeover
Did I mention that this ADORABLE baby was there? Duncan was OBSESSED with him.
Bedtime stories with Uncle Spills
Happy Heart Day!
Duncan giving Hadley a little touch up
Windy beach trip

Looking out

We took our kids to a bar

Duncan and his buddy Grifbear

We are family

Hey-ooooooo

Animal dress up

We went to the zoo

Lots of art
Fast, forever friends.
Thank you for coming to our home, thank you for being such wonderful Godparents, thank you for being such a special part of our lives.

A little timeline...

Vermont 2011


Orlando 2015

Next up?



Wip has been really into playing "teacher" lately. His favorite subject to teach is Art. While we were playing Art on our chalkboard he said "wait! you can not erase Delia's picture. Delia made that and I want it to stay there." It will be here for her when she comes back:)