Okay, summer has come and gone and once again, I realize it has been FOREVER since I have posted.
The boys are changing so much. Duncan is talking a mile a minute, which might be normal for some, but is (was anyway) the polar opposite of Roland. So for us, this is all new. He says "horsey"-"dog"-"cat"-"pawpaw"-and the more bossy ""go"-"help"-"watch me"-and "turn." And tons more. He is a real sweety giving lots of hugs and kisses. He loves to wear my sunglasses and walk around the house with the cell phone to his ear. He looks like a teenager.
"Where go?"
Duncan is here watching me type saying, "Train. Train."
Roland has become quite the ingenious little man. I caught him stacking all of his books up to get to the top shelf of the closet (where Shane had put something that Roland had gotten taken away). In the mornings, he stacks his Rubbermaid boxes of toys by the bed so Duncan can get down by himself. The other day I kept hearing strange noises and finally went to investigate only to find that Roland had opened the lock on our attic door with a stick and Duncan was in the attic, alone. I asked him why he would do something like that, and he said "Duncan wanted to go up there." That's my boy, always looking out for his brother. Roland has really been learning a lot in school, also. He goes through the alphabet and says, "Big A, little a. A says a-a-a as in apple." (multiply this by 26). He can also write his name and is a an awesome color-in-the-liner. He still hates school (except for music class, of which we hear no complaints, but lots of serenades) but at least he is getting something out of it. For the record, Roland has totally made up for lack of talking in the earlier years.
Here are the boys waiting to ride the train with Dad at the museum.
Against my better judgment, we took a 1800 mile, 5-day road-trip to Little Rock Arkansas to celebrate Aunt Barbara's 70th birthday. The boys did surprisingly well. I was impressed. We got to see a lot of aunts, cousins and family (and there are a lot-Shane's mom is one of nine kids), and of course MamMaw, PapPaw, and Aunt Trish. We had a blast. Oh-and there was cake. Good cake.
The birthday girl.
Duncan trying to break free from Aunt Trish.
Uncle J.B. and Duncan (pouting). Uncle J.B. loves him some little people.
Relaxing with Aunt Judy.
The gang enjoying the celebration.
Pitstop at MawMaw's house on our way back.
We also had an earlier trip to MawMaw's to celebrate her (56) and PawPaw (62). We got to spend some time with all the family and ride the 4-wheelers. Good times! Oh-and there was cake. Good cake.
Customary Dollywood trip. What a Hoot!
Duncan is a sucker for Jesse, too.
Look at all that cheese.
How cute.
And..as always, my favorites.
Shane on the left circa 1973. He still has the same look.
Shane's last hours as a 39 year old. Still smiling. We are all fortunate to have such a great dad and husband. We celebrated at home a day earlier because we took a little trip to the beach with Grammy and Pawpaw on Shane's real birthday.
We also met the grandparents earlier in the week to celebrate Pawpaw's 58th b-day. 
"Where go?"
Duncan is here watching me type saying, "Train. Train."
Against my better judgment, we took a 1800 mile, 5-day road-trip to Little Rock Arkansas to celebrate Aunt Barbara's 70th birthday. The boys did surprisingly well. I was impressed. We got to see a lot of aunts, cousins and family (and there are a lot-Shane's mom is one of nine kids), and of course MamMaw, PapPaw, and Aunt Trish. We had a blast. Oh-and there was cake. Good cake.
Duncan trying to break free from Aunt Trish.
Uncle J.B. and Duncan (pouting). Uncle J.B. loves him some little people.
Relaxing with Aunt Judy.
The gang enjoying the celebration.
We also had an earlier trip to MawMaw's to celebrate her (56) and PawPaw (62). We got to spend some time with all the family and ride the 4-wheelers. Good times! Oh-and there was cake. Good cake.
Customary Dollywood trip. What a Hoot!
Duncan is a sucker for Jesse, too.
Look at all that cheese.
How cute.
And..as always, my favorites.
