Squishy/Snuggles/Snubs

When they fall asleep like this you just have to realize how good you've got it and love the moment.

Visit from work

Two of my dear friends from work, Jessica and Bonnie, brought Beau and I lunch today while visiting me and the kids. It was so great to see them! I'll be back to work in three weeks!

Two months

They're two months. Compare the photos. I would add that Gray gave us (Kathryn really) almost 9 hours last night.

Man I've got a good looking wife

Aunt Jennipoo and Riley-roo

I'm a poet and didn't even know it. Stop rhyming I mean it. Anybody want a peanut. Seriously though, Jennifer should be charging us for all the advice she provides us.

Uncle Marty and Aunt Ivania from the Myrtle Beach weekend

What great kids...

They can see and I think I know that they're thinking.

Gray: Mom needs to put that camera down and feed me.

Caroline:The fan on the ceiling goes round and round, round and round,...

The dog days of summer are almost here

This picture says it all. I have been wearing the man out with chasing balls on the beach every Saturday which takes days to recover from.

The kiddos are in the spurs & feathers

Check out page 12. Go Gamecocks!

http://issuu.com/spursfeathers/docs/spurs___feathers_527/13?e=10409248/13057615

First tears

This makes me want to cry. Shots are never fun.

My new faves

My two new favorite people the ones I can't seem to stop taking pictures of. So much so I've filled up my phone and have no more storage available. These are the two people that can unravel me and me so excited to put them down for a nap so I can get some quiet time. But they're the same ones I miss terribly when they are taking naps and I get excited to wake them up and see their precious faces!

Both of them are smiling now. Caroline can focus on us and can follow us with her eyes. Both react to our voices and Caroline loves it when her daddy whistles.

Caroline can officially roll over, front to back and back to front. Both like to scurry themselves around he crib. I go up there to find they aren't where I left them at all!

They've both outgrown anything resembling "newborn". And they're sleeping less. They like to sit and look around and see what's going on.

They've stolen our hearts and we love them.

Smurf killer

Walks

The kids have moved to The Bob stroller now which is much easier to navigate through the park. They're still getting used to it but overall they love our morning/afternoon walks!

Mother's Day #1

A great 1st Mother's Day in the Evans' house. We attempted church. Got the kids all dressed up and everything. But they were too fussy to sit in the back of the service. Thankfully next week they're allowed to go to the nursery for the first time!

We sat around and relaxed for the afternoon, and of course, fed the babies. But then Beau made dinner! He opened a nice bottle of wine for Donna and I and got to work. He made a salad and shrimp scampi. What's not to love about a pasta dish with shrimp swimming in butter and lemon!?!? It was fantastic and I can't wait to have the leftovers for lunch today!

We finished the night off with sharing a couple of the delicious cupcakes my sister got me for Mother's Day. Love it!

Mother's day

This is really my first time understanding what Mother's day is all about. Obviously I had an amazing childhood and wanted for nothing, but I never fully understood the mysteries of motherhood. I have seen my wife display complete patience. She is unwavering in her commitment to take care of Caroline and Gray. The grace that she has exhibited in all this has been amazing. I think of what a pain I must have been to my mom and for her to have no backup. Wow. So to all the mom out there, I take my hat off. Without you civilization would have died out long ago.

Full-on Saturday

After our 7:00 feeding yesterday, Beau and I packed up the kids and headed out to Sullivan's to throw the ball for Argos and let him swim in the salt water. Afterwards we headed downtown toe Farmer's market at Marion Square only to find out it wasn't open. (Darn it! I had my heart set on a fried chicken biscuit with pickled onions and pimiento cheese.)

Since the biscuit wasn't in my future, we headed to the bagel shop. Not equal, but certainly delicious!

Needless-to-say, we were all exhausted. All five of us took a nap that afternoon only to head back out downtown to the Greek Festival. (Pics posted below.)

And Happy Mother's Day to me because the kiddos slept 6 hours last night which is a record thus far! Yippee!!!!

Greek Fest.

So as if a trip to the beach and one downtown to the farmer's market wasn't enough we headed to the Greek Festival. There we ran into Matt and Jen Mieres with their two children and a friend. We caught up over gyros and greek beers and then the rains came. They ran us into a tent but fun was had by all especially Gray. In mid conversation with Matt, Gray decided to pee and poop down my legs. I took it in stride and Matt, a old pro, told me it was common for him to have phantom wet spots. Anyway, good times.

Argos is trying to kill himself

Argos broke into the nursery and ate a bag of chocolate. The kids are driving him nuts, he's sleep deprived and ready to end it. Just kidding but glad he pulled (and pushed) through.

Kathryn's Birthday

So K had her first birthday as a new mom and I wanted to do something cool. First, I played it off until it was mentioned the day before and had told her that we were going to have steaks at the VFW! On the day of I let her know the plan. I had to work so I offered to get my mom over here to watch the kids while she picked strawberries. Unfortunately the weather didn't allow it but Mom was still here at 3 to help out while K went and got a message. When she got back Morgan was ready to Uber us to Minero for margaritas and tacos and nachos and the best queso fundito (EVER!) She also got a fitbit charge HR. It was a fun night and it seemed to make a big difference getting driven there...kinda like vacation or something. Thanks to Mom and Aunt Carolyn for watching the kids.

Mastering the Egg

The last two weekends we have had wonderful weather and I have utilized the egg to make some awesome meat.

First with the help of Tony and Kathryn we made a wonderful pork butt.
One secret I learned was to start a small fire in the box maybe only 3 inches deep of coals. Get it up to 300 and churn it to make sure it is well lit. Then layer soaked chips and lumps for 2 more layer up to the top of the box. This made for a consistent burn with the smaller chunks in the bottom of the bag. I kept it between 250 and 300 beginning at 9 and took them off at 5 or so. I then rested them for a couple hours in a cooler and enjoyed with our German neighbors.

The next weekend I tackled the tough task of a brisket. Same process on the fire but after it hit 170-180 I wrapped in foil and poured the mornings coffee in it. I let this heat up to 200 and took off to rest. Worked out splendidly.