Summer of Sports - H & Deuce

Parenting is hard.

Little boys are hard.

Teenage boys are hard.

I'm sure there's something to be said for little girls but I have no clue.

Never will, lol.

Unless my sister has all girls.

Which will probably happen.

But even then she'll have to deal with all the drama and periods.
She'll get to buy all of the cute dresses and shoes,

While I'm over here washing all the stinky socks and sports gear.

But these two boys....

There is something special about their friendship.

And I think it comes from our friendship as parents and how closely aligned our philosophies are.

So here is to our summer of sports and all of the seasons that will follow with these 2 as teammates.

Can't leave out little bro. He might be the biggest of them all.

The boys participated in a Triathlon this summer.

Swim, Bike, Run

I had no idea how it would go.

Deuce took swim lessons every.single.day. at summer camp at the Y.

But I was still nervous for him to swim without a floatie for the race.

I was afraid he would get too nervous with everyone screaming and cheering for him.

Afterall, he did cry on his first 2 birthdays with everyone staring at him singing "Happy Birthday."

I know how he is and although I offered his float to him before he started, he looked at me like "Really, mom?" I still brought it.

He took off and I couldn't believe the determination he had.

And how fast he swam.

And how he swam the first half free style and then finished off with lord knows what kind of variation of the breast stroke. Where did this kid come from?

He decided 2 weeks before the race that it was time for 2 wheels on a bike only. And he is so stubborn - not sure where he got that from ;) - that he didn't really want much help. If he fell or lost his balance it was somehow my fault. I was in the way. Fine boy. Go ahead and figure it out on your own. That seems to be my motto a lot these days with him. It's raining you need a jacket. Don't run on wet concrete. You're going to miss the bus if you don't get your tail in gear. Okay, you'll figure it out the hard way. You know...

 So I kept telling him to practice every day so he would be confident. I was still afraid he would fall off during the race. Especially in crocs and a wet bathing suit. The kid totally hates being wet and hates not wearing socks (unless he's swimming) so I was waiting for the meltdown between swimming and biking about how he couldn't change clothes. But to my surprise he didn't say a word.

He only had to run one lap around the open field and I've obviously seen him do that plenty of times because he likes to is always.running. 

The finish line.

Heart swell.

He placed very high in his age. But I didn't tell him. And he never asked. He just wanted to play on the playground with Harrison. He had fun. He knew we were proud of him. And that was all that mattered to me.

3.

Y'all know how when you're a kid and you see someone for the first time in awhile they're all, "Man you're getting so big!" and you kind of roll your eyes like yep? I found myself being one of those people at Deuce's 3rd birthday party last weekend. Standing back and looking at him and his buddies made me happy, sentimental and sad all at the same time. They used to be so small and cuddly and sweet. Now they're potty trained and big and stubborn and opinionated and wild. But their smiles and their laughter resonate with me just the same as it did when they were babies.

excuse the cheese puffs in the teeth....

We had Deuce's birthday party at the Children's Museum of Alamance County. It was awesome! It just opened last fall and is right off of Hwy 87 in Graham. If you haven't taken your kid you should. $5 is all it costs and there is endless fun. We set up the big party room and had snacks and cupcakes. Then we released them to the wild to let them play. I know they all had a blast and hopefully slept good, despite all of the sugar I gave them.

Thank you to everyone that came out to help our little guy celebrate being 3. He had a wonderful time.

The Zoo with Harrison.

Last weekend I took Deuce to the zoo in Asheboro. We met Harrison and Blake & Finley and had a blast! My big boy refused the stroller and walked the entire time. I mean from about 10am until 2pm. Refusing to get in his stroller once we passed through the entrance and made it to the elephants. And he didn't complain or cry one time. He was a little slow moving occasionally but I really think it was only because he was so intrigued with the animals. I know I've told you before but Davis is Harrison's dad. Davis and I went to high school together. And my mom was Davis' first teacher after he moved to NC, in the 5th grade. Luckily for Deuce, Davis was willing to run with him all over the zoo. They would chase each other and run and run and run. I surely appreciated Davis taking care of my little guy.

 Checking out the elephants, rhinoceroses, and some other animals I have no recollection of what they were. They weren't big enough. Maybe some antelope or deer or something. You know, they looked like they run out towards my car at night all the time.

 These were the baboons. I didn't really get any good shots of them because I didn't want any traumatizing pictures of their terribly sun burnt arse.

 Harrison found a plant in the aviary.

 Deuce kept trying to get Harrison to walk with him.

 Looking at birds.

 I have to call his name and snap a picture of him when he least expects it for him to look at the camera. This results in a "huh" look in all of his pictures. Nice. Otherwise he refuses to acknowledge my existence as long as I am holding a camera.

 Blake checking out the baboons. Blake is Davis' niece and she is 2 months younger than Deuce.

 Harrison was determined to pick up this bronze turtle that was stuck to the bench. He was grunting and everything. Super cute.

 The littles checking out the gorillas.

 Watching the 450lb male gorilla eat his lunch. Of leaves. Seriously 450lbs and he eats leaves. This is why I don't bother to eat salad. It's not going to make me any skinnier.

 First ride on a carousel. He was petrified but when it was all said and done he loved it.

 Finley on the carousel. Finley's dad is Alex who I also went to high school with. He graduated with Ed and Davis' older brother Robert (Blake's dad) and they grew up playing ball together.

 He was very serious about the carousel and he would not loosen his grip on the pole.

 I kept trying to get him to look at himself in the mirror but he refused. He was afraid to turn his head. And this was all before we began moving! I mean, I was excited enough for the two of us though. goodness.

 Deuce loves him some Val. He stuck to her side for most of the day. Even when she was carrying Harrison.

 The sea lions put on a show for us down below. They were playing with each other and flipping all over the place. I think this was definitely the highlight for Deuce. He was calling them goldfish. All things that swim are goldfish because Grandpa has goldfish in his backyard.

 Deuce was so good at the zoo that we left with a monkey he appropriately called "George." He was showing George the zoo as we rode the bus back to the parking lot. We had a great time at the zoo and I am looking forward to taking him back with Nana over the summer.