This year I got smart and asked my sister, Lisa, to take the boys school clothes shopping.  Yep, it’s time to outsource that experience.

Here’s the thing, I can’t help but want my boys in tailored preppy shirts with a collar and streamlined shorts.  I have a problem dressing them older than baby Gap.

I’m completely aware that my boys are almost young men and want to look a little more rugged and cool.  Therefore, I called in reinforcements and had my sister give then each new looks for school.

She did a fantastic job!  Not only did they have the best bonding experience with their Aunt but they love their new looks.  I’m thinking this is a tradition I could get very used to.  It made getting ready for back to school a breeze!

Thank You Lisa!  You’re the best!

Since Davis is going into 6th grade, this will be his last year in Intermediate school.  He has a full schedule this year with Honor Choir, playing the french horn in band, Scouts, and Karate.

He’s already started having that snarky tween attitude. {{said lovingly of course}}  He’s trying to grow up and have more privileges but doesn’t quite understand that comes with respectful behavior.  HA!  Hopefully, he’ll clue in soon enough.

He’s such a good and bright boy!  You would never know that at 4 years old the doctors didn’t think he would be able to be fully integrated into public school and thriving so well.  I cannot tell you how proud of him I am.  He’s overcome so many obstacles and challenges in his short life.  I’m honored to be his mom.

Dylan is going into 4th grade which also be his last year in Elementary school.  He’s such a wonderful peacemaker and sincerely good little boy.  He excels in everything he tries, but it takes him a while to warm up to the idea of trying something new.  This year he will be busy with soccer, Scouts, and Karate.

He’s still an avid SciFi reader which makes me really proud of him.  He’s probably the most like me out of all the boys.  It’s nice to be able to understand what he is thinking and how he is feeling.  It makes my job just a little easier with him.

We are so excited for this school year and we know that it will bring new challenges, great adventures, and wonderful learning experiences.  Bring it on!

This is what happens when Daddy gives the boys full access to the toys in the attic.  {{sigh}}  Normally, I only let them have one bin at a time.  I think the reason is obvious. HA!

It ends up being a lot of clean up, but it also becomes a day of full imaginary play!

It’s like their creativity is unleashed and they spend hours in their own little world.  Today they made spaceships out of their laundry and toy bins.

It makes me so happy to see Davis’ influence in their play day.  Since he’s on medication, I only get rare glimpses into his creative brain these days.  Although there’s no doubt he needs it,  it’s nice to see the creativity flow from him and how he creates these over-the-top experiences with his brothers.

Today the mess was worth it!

This was Drake’s reaction when he found out Jason was going to be his substitute teacher at church.  He immediately grabbed Jason’s face and gave him Eskimo kisses by rubbing noses.  It was darling and such an endearing expression of pure love.  I quickly grabbed my camera phone and captured this special moment between the two of them.

Drake has had a crush on his Daddy since birth.  I’ll tell Drake that I love him and he always responds, “I love Daddy.”  Which is my queue to reply, “I do to!”

The boys had so much fun and loved being apart of the team.

I had the opportunity of chaperoning Dylan’s Scout Camp this year.

Played cowboy horseshoes.  Which got a little too competitive at one point.  Who ever thought that giving 9 year old boys toilet seats to chunk around a field was a good idea – obviously doesn’t have a 9 year old boy.  {{just sayin’}}

Panned for gold.

  Herding a cow.  Yes the boys were the cow.

This year I made the boys ‘end of school year’ t-shirts that thank their teachers on the front. I made Davis’ smaller since he’s now in Intermediate School.

I told him he didn’t have to wear it if it would make him uncomfortable. He ended up wearing it under another shirt to school.  During the donut party he took his other shirt off and wore it proudly.  {{giggle}}

On the back of the shirts it said, “Look out 4th grade, here I come!”  I got this idea from Kristy when I featured her on Tip Junkie.

We went to Davis’ donut party.

And Dylan’s game day and Ice Cream party.

I  had the “Welcome to Summer” banner all ready for them when they came home from school.

This little man helped me make it and was terribly bummed that I didn’t have green paint.  {{his favorite color}}

The boys always enjoy running through it to mark a new day of sleeping in, lots of computer games, the pool, and play dates with friends.

Davis went to two end of school year parties at friends houses this year. Needless to say, we ended it with a bang!