Christmas 2015.

This post should also be called, Would You Like to See the Tops of Their Heads? The pictures from Christmas this year are just not that awesome. That's okay though -- as I wasn't really concerned with pictures but rather with soaking up the enjoyment and fun of Christmas with kiddos. They were precious in their matching PJs and so excited when they woke up. They opened Hank and Hannah's stockings first and then moved on to theirs. They both got movies, wipe away activity cards, baseball ice packs for their lunch boxes, and a toy. Then they tore into Santa presents. Fawn got a bow, a target, and a massive deep sea Lego set. Small Fry got a vet set (he calls it "the puppy and kitty set"), an Imaginext Batcave, and a Jake and the Neverland Pirates play ship. They were both beside themselves with excitement. They also got presents from Buck and me. We tweaked our gift giving this year to something to wear, something to read, a fun surprise, something you need. They got Alabama PJs, books (an adventure mix and match for Small Fry and The Yeti Files #2 for Fawn), two surprises to share (marble maze for home and go kart with new mohawk helmets for the farm), and camo wallets. It was a great Christmas morning for all!

Small Fry saw this vet set at Barnes and Noble (along with the Batcave) and changed his Christmas requests well into December. Good thing Santa is flexible!

Biggest Lego set ever!

"Look, Dad, I can pull back this bow!"

We headed to Mimi and Pops' house after breakfast. The boys picked out their clothes -- we are not the type to make them dress up on Christmas day -- and it was all Under Armor for our crew on this muggy, warm Christmas. 

Fawn got a circuits electricity set. It is super cool and a great big boy toy!

Small Fry got a toy car engine to take apart and put back together. Over and over and over. It is a big hit.

After visiting with Mimi and Pops, we were off to Lulu and Doc's house where all the boys got scooters. Which they rode around the house because it was raining outside! Luckily nothing got broken. 

The ring leader.

His faithful followers.

We went home to rest, and put Legos together, and eat, and put Legos together, and play, and put Legos together. Just about every family member made their way by our house -- including the great grandparents (Voncille, Mema and Abou). We had lots of goodies and the boys were happy to show off their toys, archery skills, and did I mention Legos? We actually had some bad -- and kind of scary -- weather come through in the late afternoon. Fawn would not leave his Lego post by the huge dining room windows but all was safe and sound in the end and the tornados and bad storms missed us. It was a great day -- long and full, but tiring. We got to see all of the family we love -- and those people who love our boys so dearly. We are in the fun and easy years of Christmas in terms of Small Fry and Fawn. And we are enjoying it!

Target practice.

Merry Christmas from the Nichols!

Take two. Merry, Merry.

Christmas Eve.

We continued our Christmas Eve tradition of eating brunch together as a family of four. The boys love the meal -- breakfast casserole, monkey bread, and grapefruit. And they also love sitting in the dining room and having a fancy meal. The rest of the day was low key until it was time for church. Boy can they dress up well!

Super handsome boys before Christmas Eve church at Covenant.

And their handsome Daddy.

And their lucky Mommy.

Fawn took a picture of Mom and Dad!

So nice to have a picture -- that's not a selfie -- of my sweetie and me.

Church was lovely -- we were joined by our favorite Uncle Pak and my sweet, dear cousin Annie from NYC. The boys, Annie and I walked around to get our energy out before church and Fawn helped Uncle Pak log some steps on his Fitbit. During the children's portion of church, Small Fry eagerly got up to join the other children up front. In true Fawn fashion, he was having none of it. And, we did not light ourselves or the sanctuary on fire during the candlelight portion. Winning! Truly, it was a great service and our boys did a great job of sitting through the whole thing. After a quick dinner for the boys, it was time for reindeer food and putting out cookies for Santa.

Now these faces...if I could bottle up this excitement and joy, I would. Christmas with children is magical. Merry Christmas Eve!

iJune.

Oh summer how we love you! May was gone in a flash and we enjoyed every bit of summer fun June threw our way.

We have fallen in love with McWane's Itty Bitty Magic City. It's a great place to beat the heat.

Daddy caught a snake in the backyard after Hannah barked at it. It was a perfect conversation starter for their photos with Barbara Harbin later that day.

They get tired at the lake -- especially after they learned to tube.

A little 12th anniversary celebration at the Garth Brooks concert. We started with dinner at Ollie Irene with great friends and then hit the 10:30 pm show. Best concert ever!

We blasted off with Covenant's VBS. Kelly and I taught Fawn's class -- a super fun group of rising 1st grade boys. Small Fry got to do mini VBS with Miss Anne in the nursery. Both boys had a great week and we've been jamming to the CD of the VBS music all summer.

Happy Father's Day to Buck! He was the happy recipient of new camo Crocs.

The boys loved tormenting the bait fish at the lake.

Photos for Dad.

With the promise of playing on the Slip N Slide, I bribed the boys to take these pictures for Buck for Father's Day. Melt my heart, they are precious!

Happy Father's Day to Buck! The best and most fun dad there is. When I married him, I knew he would be a good father but he has far exceeded all of my very high expectations. We love him and are so proud to call him ours.

Memorial Day Weekend.

We went to Lulu and Doc's new lake house for the first time over Memorial Day. We had a great time. Though the weather didn't look promising, it turned out to be not bad at all. I can deal with clouds! The house is beautiful and the boys are all set with a playroom and bunk room. We ate great and had tons of fun enjoying God's creation. The television was never turned on -- the boys were outside or on the porch the entire weekend. We swam, swam and swam some more (despite the pretty chilly water). We went on walks with Hank and Hannah. Buck took the boys fishing each day. We played in the yard, read books, played games,and built Legos. It was a great holiday weekend and a great way to kick off the summer.

Small Fry and I did lots of cooking to get ready.

He especially loved the juicer.

Happy lake rats.

We found out we were expecting Fawn seven years ago on Memorial Day. How can that be? SEVEN years!!! My how life has changed but it is so much sweeter to share it with our boys. Seeing the lake through their eyes is a blessing.

Bye Bye Gymnastics.

Small Fry had his last gymnastics of the year and I tried to take some extra pictures of him to remember this sweet stage. He loves gymnastics and I can see how proud of himself he is. I'm proud of him too. He follows instruction really well and tries everything they ask him to do. He's one coordinated little guy.

Look at him climb.

Big baby in a blue tunnel.

He can do a front flip.

Parachute time.

iSpring.

Monkey Man loves Mountain Brook Gymnastics.

Small Fry was my helper on a big kitchen project -- repainting and putting up a "mom" center. It looks great thanks to my real helper Pops.

Happy 34th Birthday to me!

I am not a fan of birthdays but because my boys love birthdays so much it makes them better!

The BEST presents ever! And I get to hang out with them every day!

First Doodles trip of the season.

Mommy-Son hiking trip at the Preserve.

The water was rushing and the waterfalls were amazing.

Barons Baseball in the box with friends.

Heading to Cinco De Mayo at Mimi and Pops' house.

Last baseball practice -- trophy from Dad!

Don't get too excited about the carousel.

Just a little baseball watching on a Saturday afternoon (followed by a six plus mile canoe trip...our bright idea to celebrate Mother's Day! It actually was so much fun but Buck and I were so sore!)

Mother's Day flowers from my boys.

Another one bites the dust...he lost another tooth.