Reeves has been riding his 12" bike with training wheels since he was just over 2. He loves that thing and can pretty much make it go wherever he wants. Even out in the country, there is almost nothing Preston can do on his big boy bike that Reeves can't do on his little bike. Well, that didn't last too long. In his constant effort to "be just like Preston", Reeves randomly requested, a couple of weeks ago, to have his training wheels removed. Right, so here it was then, this day I have dreaded only slightly less than the potty training and big boy bed milestones. Luckily, Aileen has been recently pushing me (kicking and screaming) into regular exercise, so running along beside him wasn't nearly as bad as I had envisioned. 
Here he is all geared up for the first attempt. It literally took only about 4 or 5 times up and down the driveway before he got it. After he mastered the art of riding in a straight line, we headed across the street to the big grassy field to attempt turning. This took a bit more practice and angst because it is so different than what he did with the training wheels, but it wasn't long before he got the hang of that too.
I wish we had taken more still shots of him on this little 12" bike because it wasn't but a day or two before we realized he really needed to move up to 16". 
He rode with Bryant all the way to The Back that weekend, and his little legs were moving way more and way faster than they needed to to get him where he was going. Luckily, Preston had graduated from his 16", so we were able to inherit that. 
And who knew, it's blue! We still have a ways to go before he's starting on his own. (This part is driving me crazy!) He has done it a couple of times, and as soon as he remembers that he can do it, I know we'll be fine. 
Now Reeves is beaming because there truly is nowhere Preston can go that he can't follow. As for Reeves' old bike, it has found a perfectly wonderful new home in the very capable hands of a two year old little brother who absolutely adores that he gets his big brother's bike now.
Here he is all geared up for the first attempt. It literally took only about 4 or 5 times up and down the driveway before he got it. After he mastered the art of riding in a straight line, we headed across the street to the big grassy field to attempt turning. This took a bit more practice and angst because it is so different than what he did with the training wheels, but it wasn't long before he got the hang of that too.I wish we had taken more still shots of him on this little 12" bike because it wasn't but a day or two before we realized he really needed to move up to 16". He rode with Bryant all the way to The Back that weekend, and his little legs were moving way more and way faster than they needed to to get him where he was going. Luckily, Preston had graduated from his 16", so we were able to inherit that. And who knew, it's blue! We still have a ways to go before he's starting on his own. (This part is driving me crazy!) He has done it a couple of times, and as soon as he remembers that he can do it, I know we'll be fine. Now Reeves is beaming because there truly is nowhere Preston can go that he can't follow. As for Reeves' old bike, it has found a perfectly wonderful new home in the very capable hands of a two year old little brother who absolutely adores that he gets his big brother's bike now.Bryant and I keep asking each other, "Are we really already at this point?" The older is riding without training wheels and in a couple of weeks, the younger one will be riding this little bike right along with him. What's happening to our "babies"?
It’s not that I didn’t want to cut his hair out of some fear that it would make him look too old, it’s just that, even though it was such an disorderly mess, it was my baby’s disorderly mess, and I was afraid I would miss seeing that toeheaded rat’s nest every morning, miss trying to put his hair in a ponytail or pigtails, or miss having people mistake him for a girl just because he happens to have on something smocked and have longish hair. OK, maybe I wouldn’t miss that last one too much.
Anyway, we finally bit the bullet and made the appointment. Bryant met us there. Reeves was thankfully at the beach. Sometimes, despite their best intentions to make the little brothers happy, big brothers create nothing but a rambunctious child and a stressed out mommy. Bennett did a great job masking his immense nervousness about going under the scissors. He drank his milkshake, talked on the phone, and played right into the hands of all the grannies waiting their turns along with him. 
Finally it was his turn. He sat right up there on his daddy’s lap and let Ms. Cindy do her thing. He didn’t squirm too much, didn’t cry, and didn’t get distracted by all the hair falling around him. 
He was very focused on the task at hand.
He was definitely ready to leave. Little does he know he will be back in just a few short months to repeat the whole process. And no, I do not take for granted the fact that my children only need haircuts every few months. It’s nice to be able to have at least one thing we don’t have to do too often! 
This is what I get for asking them to make funny faces. Check out the pouty lips. I think they're practicing out to be models.
And, never to be left out of any big boy fun, this is what I get when Bennett realizes what's going on.
It was also much dirtier, but I quickly learned there was no way to keep them clean, so I let them go to town. R and H were great strawberry pickers. There were very few that they shouldn't have picked, and once they learned that they could cross rows without destroying the plants, a whole new world opened up to them. 
They got to the point where they could spot the good ones from a couple of rows away. I do need to apologize to all the pickers who have come in the days after us, because, as good as the big boys were at crossing rows, Bennett was equally terrible at it. There were a few destroyed plants left in his wake, but I'm just trying to convince myself that they were already past their prime and he was merely putting them out of their misery.
(And yes, that is Benny sitting in a big chair all by himself and staying in it throughout the meal. I love second children. Reeves NEVER would have done that!) I have to admit here that as good a baseball player as I bragged about Reeves being on Easter, Henry blows him out of the water. He hit two over the fence - way over the fence. He is REALLY good. Unfortunately, I was pitching, so I didn't get any pictures of it. David cooked our burgers on his Big Green Egg. I have never thought that the cooking device really made that much difference, but these were the best burgers we have ever had - EVER! Even better than any we've had in a restaurant. It might be time to seriously look into investing in one of these things. And if you happen to have one, feel free to invite us over for dinner any time.
Oh yeah, and it's super sweet to see The Daddy cuddling with and reading to The Boys. But mostly it's just The Me, sitting silently and watching, and if I feel up to it, snapping a couple of pictures.
The whole scene made Benny's hair stand on end. 
The older children, the ones who are supposed to protect our growing brood, they were content to make dinosaur nests and toss the youngsters to the maddening crowd. 
You just can't get good help anymore. I suppose we have to continue keeping our eyes out for them still.
We didn't hide the dyed eggs this year because I was afraid that Bennett would pick them up and squish them in his hands. But next year, the tradition continues - first find your basket, then find your eggs, then you can go through the loot.
This was the only halfway decent picture I could get of the boys together all day. Good thing I took it early as both outfits ended up with various bodily stains on them. Thank heavens for OxiClean!
After church we headed to Gammy and Pops' for a little down time before the big family feast at Big Laura's. Reeves pulled out the carrot bat and ball that the Easter Bunny had given him. 
We were all pretty impressed. He hit it way better than I could, but like his momma, he tended to pull it right down the third base line.
It wasn't long before he was going all Babe Ruth on us and calling his shots. We may have to skip T-ball altogether and go straight to coach's pitch!
I can't believe these two can even stand up now as they were hunched over these things all day, pushing them not only around the yard but even through the whole neighborhood. Thanks so much, G and P, for the awesome gifts!! 
Benny discovered his could also double as a self propelled stroller given any slight decline in terrain.
Leeze and Reeves both found silver eggs this year, and they were super excited to open them up and find a dollar bill inside.
(You might be a redneck if the Super Special Silver Egg at your family Easter egg hunt is actually just a big plastic egg covered in aluminum foil.)
After the children hunted their eggs, we all gathered around Laura's wonderfully decorated tables and enjoyed a delightful meal of ham, mac and cheese, squash casserole, asparagus, red rice, and corn pie. 
Miller was, as usual, a dream. He played with Reeves pretty much the whole day. I hope his girlfriend didn’t mind, but he certainly made our day easier.
Again, following in last year's footsteps, it took a while for Reeves to warm up to the whole idea of being social and friendly. He worked through those issues this year by "vogueing" with his Easter basket. 
Luckily, like all children, mine soon warmed up when they realized they would be let loose in a field full of little candy treasures. 
Reeves was a super egg hunter this year. Bennett quickly realized that the things inside the eggs were sugary and yummy, so he would open his each time he found one.
We put out about 2500 eggs, and after about 57 seconds the hunt was over.... and the begotiations began. 
I found this group already trading goodies. "I have two jelly beans. I give them to you for your one malt ball." Look out, Wall Street, these ones are growing up really fast!
This party was a wonderful success and I love that my family is a part of it with all of your's.
Not wanting to do anything too involved before I had to leave to handle my part of hostess duties for the big hunt, Bryant and I decided to take the boys down to the park on the Old Navy Base. The boys absolutely adore this place, and unfortunately, Bryant hasn't had too many opportunities to join us there, so this was a special day. 
Of course, R and B were ecstatic to have their daddy joining us on an "adventure", and we made the most of our limited time there. First we visited The Big Blue Playground. (I capitalize it because it is THAT important around our house.) The boys showed Daddy all the wonderful things about one of their favorite playgrounds. 
Bennett even took a twirl in the spinning seat, and Reeves climbed higher than he ever has on the rope structure. 
I think they were both showing off.
Before we knew it, Bennett was soaked too. Once he's halfway there, why not let him go all the way. He would be warmer running around in it than with me holding him.
Oh well. At least we had brought a blanket so we could wrap them up. They loved it! And stayed in it, running back and forth, batting at the streams of water, and covering up the jets with their crocs much longer than Bryant or I would have guessed. 
Reeves did eventually admit that he was getting cold, so we headed back to the golf cart, stripped them both down and wrapped them up in the blanket - and Daddy's undershirt which he removed to at least partially clothe a naked Benny Boy. It was a pretty classy scene.
I can't wait till the weather warms up for good (although I definitely will miss a few cool days here and there). In this coastal town, it opens up a whole new wealth of fun possibilities when your plans for the day can include, "Bring bathing suit."